#building a tribe of people since everyone else has left :/

[dulcewrites]

i think it would be so fun to see modern fcc myrah and rhaenyra interact! esp because of the lil ficlet u posted of aegon and rhaenyra (i loved it)

You asked, and you shall received! Just for housekeeping/reminding: viserys gets sick in this universe as well.

Try a Little Tenderness

Rhaenyra always hated hospitals. The smell of sterile cleanness, and the bright halogen lights gave her a headache. She had only been to hospitals for the most terrifying, stressful moments in her life: giving birth, watching Alicent or Laena give birth… her mother dying.

The chemo wing of the hospital was a new low in terms of doom and gloom. The only thing that made it worse was the empty seat next her. Everyone had agreed to take shifts coming to the hospital for Viserys’ chemotherapy rounds. Alicent had went as far as to make an extremely detailed calendar that worked around everyone’s schedule.

One thing Rhaenyra had learned about Alicent over the years is that she’s far too softhearted for her own good. Softhearted and crafty; it makes for a dangerous combination. Rhaenyra already knew what Alicent was doing when she paired Rhaenyra and Aemond up several times on the schedule. But the seat next to her bare, and she is alone. A feeling she had grown accustomed to. Rhaenyra did not even care to text or call Aemond, she already was in a bad mood. She could not handle getting her head ripped off.

She doesn’t even want to go in and check on Viserys alone. There is a sickness that permeates through her the way it does her father - the feeling of abandonment. Her attention goes from the book she was pretending to read to the window near where she was sitting. The obnoxious brightness of the sun taunting her sadness.

Her morbid thoughts are broken by the sound of a familiar voice.

“Rhaenyra,” she looks up to see Myrah standing there with a nervous smile on her face.

“He has resorted to sending his girlfriend?”

It sounded more harsh then she intended it to be. Myrah crosses her arms, wrapped in a oversized leather jacket that Rhaenyra assumes is Aemond’s, with her lips quirked to the side in slight annoyance. “I decided to come myself, but I can go if I am not welcomed.”

“No,” Rhaenyra winces at how loud and desperate it comes out. “I’m sorry I just - I didn’t expect you is all.”

Myrah sits in the seat next to her. Silence seeps through the area before Rhaenyra pipes up.

“Is Aemond ok?”

Myrah opens her mouth, then closes it with a frown. “Ok in the sense that he’s at home…”

She trails off and Rhaenyra just nods curtly. He’s fine, he could not be bothered to come. More silence follows for the next few minutes.

“Oh,” Myrah brightens before digging into her large purse. “I crocheted something for you.”

She pulls out a crocheted red hat. “I made one for all you guys. You got red, Aegon got orange, Helaena got blue, Daeron got green, and Aemond got black.”

Rhaenyra stares at the hat, rubbing her thumbs over the soft material, then looks at the earnest look on Myrah’s face.

Tears fill her eyes immediately.

Big, fat ones rolling down her face. It had been a regular occurance lately, the crying. For someone who pride herself on trying to be rational, maybe even slightly cold, the overflow of emotions she has felt lately ratted Rhaenyra to her core. She hated feeling this powerless over elements of her life.

“Oh, Rhaenyra,” Myrah hand rubs her back softly. She uses her other hand to dig in her purse again, and pulls out a packet of tissues.

“Why did he not come,” Rhaenyra whispers. She told herself she didn’t care but she does. She cares a lot about why Aemond is like… that. “Our father is dying and he seems to not care.”

Rhaenyra remembers the dinner where Viserys broke the news. The way Aemond just huffed and left, a sheepish Myrah following after apologizing.

Myrah sighs. “Have you ever thought that maybe that is something you should ask him yourself? Why he feels that way about viserys.”

Rhaenyra sniffles, looking at Myrah. “Everyone will work through this in their own way,” she continues. “You want to be here for your father, and that’s your prerogative. It is the prerogative of whoever wants to come here too. Your experience and feelings are valid the same way Aemond’s are, even if they are different in the moment.”

Needing a girl more than 10 years her junior to tell her does make her feel a bit foolish. Her therapist does tell her that looking outside herself is hard, but a necessary tool to working through her own baggage. Being wrapped in her own world had been a knock against her since she was a teen.

Rhaenyra would like to think growing up, having kids, and getting help slowly made it easier for her to peel back and examine that selfishness. To break it, but she still had her moments. Myrah continues to rub her back, alternating between big and little circles. Rhaenyra can’t help but wonder if this is the way she comforts Aemond. Calmly but authoritative. Sweet but stern.

“Do you want to go see him,” Myrah eventually asks, motioning her head towards the private room Viserys is in. Rhaenyra blows her lips out before nodding.

All she can think about is how funny life is. A folly to trick you into a false sense of security.

“Honey, I’m home.”

Aemond had came out of the bedroom embarrassingly fast at the sound in Myrah’s voice.

He had sent the afternoon and evening pretend to be busy. Scrolling aimlessly through files, flipping through sheet he had already read over a plethora of times. He even resorted to watching Vhagar continue to shed her skin. Myrah just kissed him on the forehead and said she was going to the hospital. Simple and to the point, not asking for feedback or permission; it was always how Myrah did things.

Guilt, anger, and sadness swirled in the pit of his stomach for hours till Myrah got back.

That was until he saw Myrah taking off Rhaenyra’s coat and hanging it in the coat closet. His coat closet, in his apartment.

“Have you ate already,” she leans up to kiss, and when he doesn’t reciprocate, she frowns. “Rhaenyra, will you excuse us?”

She just nods, standing awkwardly near the door. Myrah grabs Aemond’s hand, and pulls him back towards the kitchen.

“Why did you bring her here?”

“I felt bad. She cried at the hospital,” she whispers. “I didn’t want her to be alone tonight.”

“She’s not alone. She has Harwin and the brats,” Aemond pinches the bridge of his nose.

Myrah sighs, grabbing both of his hands. “I know this has been rough on you - Aemond, let me finish,” she interrupts when he tries to rebut. “This has been hard on you, on all of your family. She was upset. I’m sorry if this makes you uncomfortable but I would hope the same curtesy would be extended towards you. I can ask her to leave if that is what you want.”

Aemond squeezes her hands, and she squeezes back. “Dinner and then she leaves.”

“Dinner and then she leaves,” Myrah repeats. She leans up and kisses him again.

She drags him back out into the living area, and smiles. “I’m thinking Italian food.”

Rhaenyra had been looking at the table of photos near the door. A mirage of ones across the years. One of Aemond and Alicent when he graduated from university. Another of him, Aegon, Helaena, Daeron at the family cabin. A picture of Myrah and Aemond at a football match.

But there is one particular photo that makes Rhaenyra pause. One from her wedding to Harwin. By that point jace and daeron had both turned five. Luke just turned three; Joffrey had been born yet. Every single child lined up with her, Harwin, Alicent, and Viserys in the back.

It made her heart hurt a bit. Tittering between feeling like nothing had changed while everything has.

“Italian is fine with me,” best agree to everything while in someone else’s space.

“Oh, and we can get cannolis,” Myrah beams.

Myrah’s disposition is infectious in a way. It takes little time while being in the apartment for Rhaenyra to feel looser than she did before she came in. By the time the food arrives, they are sat at the table, gossiping of all things.

“I think Jace has a girlfriend,” she replies sheepishly after Myrah asked about her kids.

“Do you think we’ll get to meet her,” Myrah gasps.

Rhaenyra shrugs. “He’s away and keeps things under wraps. But I have a hunch.”

“Hmm all mothers do I think. My mom knew about Aemond and I before I even told her,” she reached over and brushes a stray hair out his eyes.

Watching Myrah and Aemond interact with each other will always be fascinating to Rhaenyra. Something almost awe worthy in seeing Aemond that relaxed and open. His gaze softens and melts while focused on her.

She can only pray whoever had her son’s attention is just an ounce good for Jace as Myrah is for Aemond.

“I’m gonna go get the ice cream,” Myrah gets up, grabbing the plates.

Aemond and her sit together at the table, quiet and still.

“I do… understand why you would not want to come.. to - to the hospital,” Rhaenyra starts. “I do hope you can go eventually. It would mean a lot to him.”

Aemond just stares blankly.

“I am sorry, Aemond. For whatever part I played in all of this. I know I wasn’t the best sister to you growing up. To you or to our brothers and sister.”

His gaze shifts to the table, swallowing hard.

“You’re just like him you know,” he whispers. “Always apologizing after the fact.”

“That’s not fair,” Rhaenyra frowns.

“No,” Aemond throws back quickly. “It’s not.”

You have to give him time, Alicent told her one day. He has spent years building up an immunity, a protective barrier.

“I always make sure to keep chocolate and caramel sauce too,” Myrah walks from the kitchen juggling the cannolis, ice cream, bowls, and the sauce containers.

Her smile falters when she senses the tense energy.

Rhaenyra can’t make up lost time or course correct what happened. Aemond’s attitude didn’t make her more upset with him, only with her father. He did a number on all of them, and now he will die and leave them with the carnage of how fucked up they are.

“Would you mind if I take my cannoli to go. I’m sure Harwin is staying up even though I told him not to.”

Healing takes time… and space. The least she can do is give Aemond that.

[teecupangel]

What if Desmond, Ezio, Edward, Connor, and Haythem ended up in the witcher universe where they meet Geralt?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zswe2lSkID4&pp=ygUJV2l0Y2hlciAz

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5F6EJmTk80g&pp=ygURV2l0Y2hlciAzIGdlcmFsdCA%3D

Okay, since the two youtube links (especially the first part) focus more on the first part of Witcher 3, that’s where we’ll focus the setup of this idea.

So we’ll throw them in White Orchard, the first ‘area’ of the game. And this is a world currently embroiled in war and conquest, not a pretty sight, that’s for sure. Their main priority would be to find a way to get back to their world because those monsters and all these unfamiliar names? Yup, definitely not their world.

For this scenario, let’s say we’ll take each of them during the ‘epilogue’ of their story. For Desmond, that’s when he’s just died after saving the world. For Ezio, it has to be after he finds Altaïr’s Library (maybe even after he retires from the mentor role). For Edward, it will be around the time of the epilogue showing him and his children in the theatre. Ratonhnhaké:ton’s would be after finding out his tribe had left without telling him anything. As for Haytham… Well, Haytham would be taken just after he dies.

So there’s gonna be pure awkwardness between Haytham and Ratonhnhaké:ton, not to mention that he doesn’t necessarily lie and say that he’s actually an Assassin to his own father but he definitely didn’t tell him outright that he’s a Templar or correct his assumption.

Desmond and Ratonhnhaké:ton notice it right away and they both kept quiet for different reasons. Ratonhnhaké:ton believes that the truth should come from Haytham and not anybody else. Desmond says nothing because he’s following Ratonhnhaké:ton’s lead.

So, they’re stranded in an unknown place and, strangely they can understand each other and the other people they talk to (who thinks they’re traveling mercenaries of all things). According to Ezio and Ratonhnhaké:ton, they hear everyone speaking their native language (not English) while Desmond and Haytham hear English instead.

So something definitely fishy is going on, that’s for sure. For now, they need to stay together and keep their heads down while looking for information.

Ezio is their de-facto leader with Desmond serving more of a second-in-command role. Funnily enough, Desmond doesn’t notice it as all he’s doing (in his eyes) is keeping everyone from doing dumb things (and he’s weirded out by the fact that he understands Edward’s personality so easily even when he shouldn’t know him at all). Ratonhnhaké:ton mostly keeps to himself but follows Ezio’s orders whenever he must. He only speaks up when he believes he has something worthwhile to say but he’s closer to Desmond than to anyone else, mostly because he knows Desmond understands him without him trying to ‘speak up’ as Haytham likes to say. Edward knows Haytham is hiding something but he’s waiting for his son to say it so he doesn’t push. He tries to connect with Ratonhnhaké:ton as well but mostly, he sticks by Haytham because he can feel the slight animosity between Haytham and Ratonhnhaké:ton (and Desmond who is in Ratonhnhaké:ton’s corner and who is also questioning why Haytham is with them and not… someone worthier in Desmond’s eyes). Haytham plays the devil’s advocate and keeps them focused on their goal of finding a way out even though the urge to help and build their own Brotherhood as a way to help the people of this wartorn land was definitely building on the surface, no matter how much Haytham tries to snuff it out.

By the time Geralt and Vesemir reached White Orchard, Haytham had given up and they have a budding Brotherhood already set up. The inn the two witchers go to is actually the first bureau they built and Desmond serves as the ‘bartender’ (with Edward playing the owner). Geralt and Vesemir are surprised by how polite everyone was but they both know something is wrong.

Something is definitely strange and they’re not sure what it is yet.

So the inn they go to is witcher-friendly and they learn about how the griffin that attacked them will ‘be taken care of’.

“So there’s a witcher here already?” Geralt asked curiously.

Desmond kept smiling politely as he replied vaguely, “We deal with our own problems.”

And that only makes Geralt wary because a lot of people die when they deal with problems outside of their ‘range’.

Geralt goes to fight the Griffin still, especially after receiving the ‘request’ from the Nilfgaardians. During his fight, a group of five hooded figures helps him out and Geralt is impressed by their coordination. It was clear that three of them were more inexperienced but the other two could definitely handle their own.

Together, they all defeat the griffin and Geralt tries to find out who they are. The two most experienced of the group talk to him, telling him about how they were simply a band of ‘samaritans’ and they don’t mind if Geralt takes the head as a trophy as long as they can share what they can harvest from the carcass.

Geralt knows they’re hiding something and tries to get it out of them by using Axii but then he feels something block him. It wasn’t just that his Axii was too weak… something about these two hooded figures blocked Axii specifically.

Another curiosity that makes Geralt wary.

Anyway, the thing with the Nilfgaardians happened as it did in the game and Geralt said nothing about the hooded figures, although he has heard the whispers of the Nilfgaardians guards talking about how they were being attacked by hooded figures, taking their supplies and such. They seem to believe they’re a band of rebels, and might even be remnants of the Temerian army with how organized and strategic the attacks were.

Geralt returns to White Orchards to tell Vesemir what he found out but stops when he recognizes one of the patrons. He sits on the other side of that person and asks him straight out if he’s the leader of the rebel army making the Nilfgaardians’ life miserable.

Ezio (who had been with Ratonhnhaké:ton to assist and gauge their recruits’ skills in the Griffin fight) simply smiles and asks Geralt if he knows how to play Gwent. Geralt tries to push the issue and Ezio tells him he’d talk if they play.

And that is how Geralt learned how to play Gwent in this one because Gwent is an integral part of Witcher lore, damn it.

And Ezio does talk. Not about everything, of course, but enough for Geralt to understand that they’re not necessarily an army nor are they truly allied with the Temerian army at all, but they’re more… on the side of the people.

Their conversation is cut when they hear that Nilfgaardians are outside and they’re looking for the Witchers and…

The ‘Prophet’.

Geralt goes outside to find out what’s the problem now while Ezio and Desmond both looked at one another because only a few people know that Ezio was Desmond’s Prophet and all those people shouldn’t be in this world. Not even the Kenways know about Ezio’s title as the prophet.

They don’t go outside, of course, that would be too risky.

Until Desmond saw the man next to a woman with black hair and purple eyes currently talking to Geralt.

Before Ezio could stop him, Desmond opened the inn doors loudly and ran outside as he shouts the name of the man next to Yennefer of Vengerberg.

“Altaïr!”

.

… you might have excluded Altaïr in the ask, nonny, but it’s me. I’ll include him anyway XD

.

Unorganized Notes:

So this could be a case of more Assassin protagonists getting booted into Witcher 3 but not in the same place as Desmond and the others or Altaïr could have been a special case and got booted near Yennefer for some reason.

Altaïr and Yennefer do not necessarily get along. They’re both stubborn and, really, just allying with the Nilfgaardians for a bit irritated Altaïr.

Unfortunately for him, he and Yennefer needed to ally up while he looks for people ‘like him’ because he holds an important piece of information.

The Wild Hunt is looking not just for Ciri but for someone else. They’re hunting Altaïr because they say he ‘knows’ who they’re looking for. They share the same stench after all.

So it’s more of the enemy of my enemy is my ally deal between him and Yennefer.

Altaïr believes it’s Ezio, the prophet, that the Wild Hunt wants. Ezio believes it’s Desmond they want because why would they want the prophet when the chosen one (which sounds like what this ‘Ciri’ is as well) is with them as well?

This does end with Altaïr joining Desmond and the others and they decide to leave White Orchards after they got chased by the Wild Hunt.

They start building bureaus all over while keeping hidden from the Wild Hunts so they see Geralt from time to time, acting more like reoccurring NPCs in Geralt’s story.

Altaïr stole a few of Yennefer’s magic books. Yennefer knows and made sure Altaïr could only take the ones she didn’t mind losing. Mostly the basic spellbook and grimoires and maybe a copy of bestiaries and such.

Fuck it, Altaïr learns magic. He’s weirdly good at it. The others also learn a bit of magic with varying degrees of success and ease. Desmond is good at it as well but everyone believes it’s because Desmond is good at anything he does while Desmond believes it’s because of his connection to Altaïr (the Bleeding Effect). It’s not.

[mimiqote]

[ TASINA YHISA! ]

The Warrior of Light that really, really doesn't want to be a Warrior of Light anymore. What began as a thirst for adventure has turned Tasina into a bit of a stiff and bland person, tied back by the overbearing weight of responsibility. Though her demeanor can be a bit intense, there is a part of her that still yearns to relive the moments where she was being a bit reckless.

‣ [ BASICS! ]

‣ Name: Tasina Yhisa ‣ Age: 28 around the time of EW ‣ Race: Seeker Miqo’te ‣ Pronouns: She/her ‣ Height: 5’2” ‣ Build: On the muscular, lithe side ‣ Main class: Dancer

‣ [GENERAL INVENTORY!]

    All things practical: water, rations, weapons, armor. The only thing of sentiment she keeps is a necklace that was made for her by her mother before she left her tribe, though she doesn’t wear it on her person. Sometimes she’ll have a bit of drink in a separate flask, though that’s a rare occurrence.

‣ [ HISTORY ]

    Tasina was born to a small wandering tribe of Miqo’te, often moving along shorelines in search of a variety of fish which were their main trade and hunt. Though she traveled throughout much of Ul’dah, before the Calamity there was not much reason for her tribe to go anywhere else as Ul’dah was where they may sell their quarry anyhow. The Calamity had made things difficult, of course; There was not much coin buyers could spend, and not a lot of fish they could trade it for due to the ecological impact of the Calamity. As Tasina turned 20, she did wonder what life was like for people outside of Ul’dah, and outside of her tribe. Her tribe allowed a journey of discovery for those of age, and Tasina took advantage of that to travel. She set out for Gridania, looking to learn of the world she knew but didn’t know all at the same time. When first joining the Scions she was very eager, bubbly, and amiable, though as time wore on and more and more of her friends and allies died or betrayed her she began to lose that spark she once had. She is, before all else, exhausted, but she knows she is unable to stop. Her sense of responsibility and love for her family and friends launches her ever forward despite this. She has visited her tribe only once since her departure (post HW), and though everyone was still welcoming and loving she felt horrifically alienated due to her own experiences.

‣ [ RP CONTACT ] IM me on tumblr, or i can exchange discords!! I tend not to rp in-game because i find it easier to keep logs in these other avenues.

[thatsgay-writes]

Maybe a Korra x reader who has the powers of she ra

(Female Reader)

You were a non bender and had been friends with Korra way before you found the sword. The two of you had been friends since childhood, before Korra and her parents even knew she was the avatar. You were even there when Korra found and took in Naga. When Korra was sent to the White Lotus compound, the White Lotus had tried to end all of Korra’s friendships so she could focus on her training, but you would sneak into the compound almost every night. The guards were usually asleep half the time you snuck in, so it was never that hard to sneak past them.

You were there for Korra when she would reach new achievements, mastering water bending, fire bending, earth bending, etc. You had managed to befriend Katara, who had been the first to recognize the looks of love that you sent the avatar (reminding her of how Aang looked at her). So you didn’t have to sneak in as often the older you got and would just go with Katara instead.

You didn’t go to Republic City with Korra, which broke your best friend’s heart. But she understood why, your mother had gotten sick from an unknown disease and someone had to watch your family bakery until she got better. The two of you would send letter through out the time of separation and all was going well, until your mother passed.

---

Her death had been sudden but not surprising. You had lied to Korra that your mother was getting better when in reality, the last family member you had was slowly slipping away. Not even Katara could heal your mother. You went into a deep depression soon after your mother’s funeral and threw yourself into work. The more you worked, the less time you were alone with your thoughts, the less time you were stuck in an empty house. Slowly, but surely, your letters to Korra were blander and less frequent. Your love for her never faded, but the excitement in your life had.

Finding the sword was your saving grace. You didn’t know how much longer you could last, all the days slowly meshing together into a mess. You had gone on a walk, not something you did often because it left you alone with your thoughts. But something had been, seemingly, calling out to you, urging you to walk. When feeling the urge, you didn’t hesitate to follow it, maybe it was the spirits calling you home to be reunited with you mother.

A cave, a freaking cave... Is what you thought as you stood outside of it. By now, the snow that was falling softly had picked up and you knew you wouldn’t be able to return home until it had calmed. You walked slowly into the cave, trying to make sure there was no wild animal inside of it. As you were checking the cave, a light caught your eye. You followed it to its source, interested in what shone so bright in a cave so dark.

The sword was stabbed into the ground, vines wrapped around it. The light was coming from a bright blue crystal in the middle of the hilt. Who would leave such a beautiful sword here? You wondered as you walked closer to it, looking for traps or even a dead body. When you found nothing, you grabbed the sword and pulled it from the stones and vines. As soon as it was released, a surge of power blasted you back and into the cave wall, knocking you out.

---

You kept and studied the sword after you had woken up in the cave, sword still in hand. You told no one else of what you had witnessed or found and studied in silence, continuing to run your bakery in the day time and practice with the sword through the night. The Legend of She-ra is what the sword was, or supposed to be. You read through the book that most people called a fantasy novel and not non-fiction. You read about the adventures of the best friend squad and a world called Etheria, that was filled with princesses and magic.

You had been confused of the reason that the sword had ended up on Earth but by doing more digging, you found that over thousands of years ago your earth had been Etheria. The magic of the planet slowly effecting everyone and giving them the ability to bend. You learned about how there was light and dark magic, what Raava and Vaatu were made of. How someone named Prince Peekablue created the spirit world with the last of their magic for loved ones to wait for each other before finding eternal peace. Having used their magical powers to see beyond perception to make what they imagined a reality and how the spirit world only became stronger and visible as the magic of the spirits grew.

You read how when the last She-ra, Adora, died the sword wouldn’t work again until it was needed. You read how the sword was hidden for generations until the last of Adora’s bloodline had died out and the sword was lost to the world. Luckily, there were instructions on how to use the sword and practice with it for when it was found. You thanked the spirits that Catra, Finn, and the other authors of the book had left such important information.

---

When Korra returned to the Southern Water Tribe, you weren’t there. After greeting her parents and showing her friends were they would be staying, she ran off towards her best friend and crush’s house. She had missed you since she left the South Pole and even more when you both stopped sending letters. She had tried to get over you and date Mako but it ended almost as fast as it happened. She hoped that being back at the South Pole would rekindle your friendship and maybe even let it go beyond that if she convinced you to return to Republic City with her.

---

“Korra! Slow down!” Bolin yelled at the avatar as she ran towards your family bakery. Korra just rolled her eyes at Bolin, “C’mon, if you keep up with me, I’ll get you some food. They have the best kale cookies in the world!” Bolin’s eyes lit up at Korra’s proposal and he managed to keep up with her the rest of the way. Both of them ignoring how Mako and Asami rolled their eyes at the two’s childish behavior.

Korra reached the door to the bakery and attempted to enter, being confused when the door wouldn’t budge. “What the...?” Korra muttered as she looked through a window in the building to see that it was empty with chairs put on the tables. Bolin was sad that he wouldn’t be getting any cookies. Korra noticed someone standing across the street and ran over to ask about the bakery. “Excuse me? Excuse me!” “Huh? Oh wow your the avatar!” The kid said as Korra got their attention. “I... Um, yeah. Do you happen to know why the bakery’s closed?” The kid looked around Korra and at the building she was motioning to. “Oh, yeah. The bakery hasn’t been open for almost a month! It sucks too cause they had the best muffins.” The kid said with a frown, causing Korra to frown as well. “A month...” She mumbled to herself, what had she missed while she was away?

Korra tried your house too but you weren’t there. She let her friends go do whatever as she went to Katara to try and find you. “Katara!” Katara looks up from what she was doing and gave Korra a kind smile. “Korra, what can I help you with?” “Do you know where y/n is? Or her mom?” Korra asks hoping Katara knew and not liking it when Katara gained a frown on her face. “You mean y/n never told you? I had just assumed...” “Told me what?” Korra asks, worried at Katara’s reaction. Katara lets out a sigh before responding, “Korra... Y/n’s mother passed away. Y/n hasn’t been the same since. A lot quieter, more reserved...” Katara just trails off, not knowing what to say, while Korra feels like the air got knocked out of her. “What...” Korra says, not really asking, with tears in her eyes. Your mom had been like a second mother to her growing up and hearing that she sick was bad enough but finding out she was dead and that you were dealing with it by yourself, hurt more than she could imagine. Katara pulls the young avatar into a hug trying to comfort her. “Y/n has been gone for almost a month. She told me she would be safe before she left. She didn’t want me to worry.” Katara says, hoping to lessen the worry on Korra.

---

You had left to go to the swamp where the Bayan-grove tree was located. You wanted to go to the spirit world and learn more about magic. You knew that only air benders were supposed to be able to go to the spirit world, but with the new knowledge of magic, you hoped you would be able to as well. So you went to the place most tapped into magic. The tree had grown right over where you read the heart of Etheria was located before all the magic in it got released. You meditated and practiced with the sword everyday, wanting to master using the sword and the other things it could turn into. You hoped that going to the spirit world could connect you with Mara or Adora or anything to help you know that you were the one meant to get the sword, that you were doing what you were supposed to do with the sword, and that you were ready to use it if need be. You weren’t able to enter the spirit until Korra opened the first spirit portal.

---

You spent days in the spirits with a spirit that went by the name of Swift Wind. He was an alicorn that was the previous She-ra’s animal companion, similar to how Aang had Appa and Korra had Naga. You had inquired about when you would be able to get an animal companion but Swift said that it had to happen naturally. You didn’t know how long you had spent in the spirit world but it felt like days before you felt a sudden shift through out the spirit world. “What was that?’ You ask Swift Wind as you felt a sudden disheartening feeling. Swift Wind lifts his horn into the air and you watch as his eyes get big. “Vaatu has escaped.”

(There will be a part 2🙂)

Part 2

[reinerispretty]

reminiscence. (? x f!reader) pt1

so THIS idea came to me the other night and i wasn’t quite sure if i wanted to make it into a fic or not but i’m already like way too excited about it so here we go hehe

!!! this is also my first legend of korra fic !!!

pt2

She could hear the heavy footfalls of someone coming down the steps and braced herself. The door swung open, revealing a tall and lanky man with dark hair. A red scarf was draped around his neck. She smiled gratefully up at him.

“Hi!” She said cheerfully, her voice wavering only slightly.

The door slammed in her face. After the initial shock, she started knocking. “Um! I’m not really sure what that was about but I could really use your help! If you would just give me a second-”

The city was incredibly loud. As the girl walked, she flinched at each new sound. It was overwhelming. She hadn’t experienced anything like this before. At least, she didn’t think she had. Her last week had been spent below deck on a freight ship, listening to the crash of the waves and the blow of the foghorn. The sound of people shouting and bells and the small beeps of the mobiles that drove past her all seemed so...loud. She didn’t want to be here. But she was in Republic City for a reason and it was currently a piece of paper that lay bunched in her fist in her pockets. The city was cold, too.

She followed the street signs and made a left, turning into a residential area. The buildings were nice, she thought to herself. She liked the architecture.

Her brisk pace slowed as she reached her destination. She walked up the concrete steps and took a deep breath, pressing her finger against the doorbell. Why did she feel so nervous? Was that normal?

She could hear the heavy footfalls of someone coming down the steps and braced herself. The door swung open, revealing a tall and lanky man with dark hair. A red scarf was draped around his neck. She smiled gratefully up at him.

“Hi!” She said cheerfully, her voice wavering only slightly.

The door slammed in her face. After the initial shock, she started knocking. “Um! I’m not really sure what that was about but I could really use your help! If you would just give me a second-” The door swung open again but she realized half a second too late and accidentally hit against his chest. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

“What do you want, (Y/N)?” The man’s tone was as sharp and biting as the cold air. It made her wince.

“(Y/N)?” She repeated, tasting the name in her mouth. She couldn’t tell if it was familiar or not. “Is that my name? Do you know me?”

The man scoffed and gave her a massive eyeroll. “I’m sick of your games. Bolin’s not here, why don’t you go find someone else to bother?”

“Who?” She shut her eyes tight and shook her head. She was so frustrated. All week, she had been frustrated. “Please, just listen to me! I don’t remember anything about who I am. I woke up a week ago in a place I didn’t know but I didn’t even know if I really didn’t know it! All I had was this.” She hesitantly gave him the piece of paper. It was the only thing that had kept her grounded. It was all she had.

The man took the piece of paper between his fingers and eyed it. A flash of recognition crossed his face, but the girl did not notice it. She would have if she remembered who he was.

With a tired sigh, the man stepped aside, allowing the girl to enter. “Come upstairs.” She followed him quietly to the top of the steps, where the room opened up into an apartment. It was large, with windows overlooking the city. The view took her breath away. She looked around, trying hard to recognize something, but she couldn’t.

“Tell me everything that you know,” He said. He had a pen and paper. She swallowed.

“I don’t really know. I remember waking up but I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t know anyone. I don’t even know my own name, or how old I am, or if I have any family.” She could feel the tears stinging at the back of her eyes. She looked away so he wouldn’t see them fall. If she thought about how lost and alone she felt, she became worked up. “All I had was that piece of paper in my pocket. It seemed to be the only thing I had left of my life so I asked a man where it was. He told me Republic City and let me board his ship to get back there. He was very nice,” She finished quietly.

The man finished writing down her story and eyed her curiously. She stared back at him. “I know it seems insane,” She whispered, “But I really don’t know who I am. I came here to get some answers.”

“You’re (Y/N) (L/N),” He said, walking over to pick up the telephone. “I haven’t seen you in months.”

The next thing she--(Y/N)--knew was that the man was walking her down the street. He had introduced himself as Mako. She repeated his name slowly in her head. Mako. Mako. Mako. None of it rang a bell.

They walked to the docks where (Y/N) had started her day. He bought them two tickets and they waited patiently on a bench for the ferry to arrive. “Where are we going?” She asked. Mako made her nervous. He didn’t seem to like her very much.

“Air Temple Island,” He explained. “I know a few people who might be able to help you get your memory back. And then we never have to see each other again.”

(Y/N) frowned. “I can tell you don’t really like me, but I don’t have any of my memories so I don’t know why.”

“You’re not a very nice person,” Mako said simply. (Y/N’s) frown deepened and she looked down at her shoes. That didn’t make her feel very good. Was she mean in her past life? She didn’t feel mean now.

“I’d like a clean slate,” She said. She hated how small her voice sounded. “At least while I don’t have my memories.”

“I’m not the one who gets to decide that.” He stood and walked to the end of the dock. “Ferry’s here.”

The ride was quick and comforting. It reminded her of being out on the ocean. When they reached the docks of Air Temple Island, (Y/N) looked around for the person that would be helping her. Suddenly, a giant polar bear dog bounded in front of them, with a Water Tribe girl riding it. She was pretty, with copper skin and dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Her face was oddly serious.

“Who’s this?” She asked, her question directed at Mako.

“This is (Y/N),” He said. She gave a small wave.

“It’s nice to meet you.” The girl looked at Mako, her eyebrows shooting up high in surprise.

“This is (Y/N)?” She asked. “The (Y/N)?” Mako nodded.

“I think I’m missing something,” (Y/N) said. “Do I know you?”

“No, I came around after you were gone. I’m Korra. I’m the Avatar.”

(Y/N) looked up at Mako. “What’s that?”

“What’s the Avatar?” Korra asked, shocked. Mako held up a hand to stop her.

“(Y/N) has amnesia. She can’t remember anything. She didn’t even know her own name until I told it to her an hour ago. Can you or Tenzin help?”

Korra eyed her up and down. Her scrutinizing gaze made (Y/N) feel nervous, like she had done something wrong, but she wasn’t sure what. “We can try,” She said. “Kya’s here. She might do a better job than either of us.”

They walked up so many flights of stairs that (Y/N) was panting by the time they reached the Air Temple. An old man with a dark beard and an arrow tattooed on his head stood next to a woman with grey hair dressed in clothes that were similar to Korra’s.

“Tenzin, Kya, this is (Y/N),” Korra said. “She showed up on Mako’s doorstep this morning.”

“She doesn’t remember anything,” Mako said. “I had to tell her what her name was.” (Y/N) felt her cheeks get hot as she stared at these strangers. When she had imagined walking up to the address that was on the piece of paper, she had assumed it was going to be her family. Now she just felt like everyone was eyeing her as if she were a specimen.

“Why don’t you come inside with me?” Kya asked, taking (Y/N) by the arm. Her voice was the nicest one she had heard all day. (Y/N) smiled at her gratefully. “Quite a day you’re having, huh?”

“It’s been quite a week,” (Y/N) sighed. “I thought when I came back here I’d have all the answers but now I just have more questions than I started with. And that’s saying a lot.” Kya let out a chuckle. She led her to a room at the back of the house. It was simple, just a wooden room, but in the middle was a pool of crystal clear water.

“I’m a waterbender,” Kya explained. “Do you know what that is?” (Y/N) nodded. She knew the basics of the Four Nations. She even knew a little bit about Republic City, but that knowledge was a little more fuzzy. “Fantastic. I need you to take off your coat. I’m going to see if I can heal your memories.”

(Y/N) tossed her coat to the floor and with Kya’s help, entered the pool. “Just lie down and relax.” She did as she was told and let herself float atop the water. She closed her eyes. She could feel the warmth that radiated from Kya’s healing hands. For the first time since she woke up, she felt completely safe.

Outside, they were completely unsure of what to do. Tenzin, Mako, and Korra discussed the odd nature of the girl’s return. “You’re telling me,” Korra said, “That she just showed up out of nowhere after months of no one hearing from her and that doesn’t scream suspicious to you?”

“It’s definitely suspicious,” Mako admitted, “But I knew (Y/N). The old (Y/N), at least. When she told me how she felt, all I could think was that it seemed...genuine.”

“Seems like a trick to get Bolin back,” Korra grumbled.

“You both need to remember that the girl inside is not the same girl you know,” Tenzin held his head high as he imparted his wisdom onto the two teenagers. “You might have preconceived feelings regarding her but until she gets her memories back, you cannot hold the past against her. Especially if she doesn’t know what the past is.”

Kya emerged a few moments later, her face looking grave. “It’s worse than I expected. She didn’t just hit her head and forget a few things. Someone stole her memories.”

“How can you be sure?” Mako asked.

“I can feel a hole in her being,” Kya explained. “Everything that she ever knew about herself is gone.”

“How is that possible?” Tenzin mused.

“I don’t know. But it’s important that you all refrain from telling her everything about her past. It could overwhelm her and seriously damage her chances of ever getting her memories back.”

As if on cue, Bolin walked up the final steps of the temple, giving his friends a big wave. “Hey guys! How’s it going?”

Then, (Y/N) exited the house. Her hair and clothes were sopping wet. “I was wondering if I could get a change of clothes? I’m freezing.” She crossed her arms over herself to keep any warmth she might have had. Her eyes locked with the dark haired, green-eyed boy from across the pavilion. She smiled at him.

Kya and Korra rushed over to (Y/N) and quickly ushered her back inside. Mako watched as the smile on Bolin’s face slowly fell. He looked at his big brother, his expression sad. “Why is she here?”

Mako pulled Bolin to the side. “I told you not to come looking for me.”

“How was I supposed to know that you’d be here?” Bolin questioned. “Mako, tell me what’s going on!”

Mako sighed. He had hoped that he would’ve gotten a few days before Bolin found out about this, so he could perfectly piece together his explanation in a way that wouldn’t absolutely shatter all of the progress his brother had made in the past few months. “She showed up earlier today, at our house. She doesn’t remember anything about who she is. She doesn’t remember us.”

“You’re lying,” Bolin said, shaking his head. “It’s a trick. She’s just trying to--”

“Bolin,” Mako placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Kya said that someone stole her memories.”

Bolin’s eyes started watering and his bottom lip began shaking. He wasn’t sure what was worse: that his ex-girlfriend was back or that she didn’t remember him.

“This is all she had with her.” Mako pulled the piece of paper (Y/N) had given to him at the beginning of their day. He handed it to Bolin, who unfurled it. He laughed bitterly, half-choked by the tears that spilled down his face.

“I wrote this,” He said softly. “I gave this to her on our first date and told her that if she ever needed to find me, this was where I’d be.” Mako stared sadly at his brother before pulling him into a hug.

---

Tag List!

@beifongsss , @realimbo , @lavendercrystals , @tomshollandz , @zukosvice , @itsivyberry , @awesomelupe , @musicalkeys , @aroyaldarknessblr ,

[itcameuponamidnightqueer]

happy birthday, @banrions! birthdays are dumb and stupid in these quarantimes but these sentinel babes are not. i hope your day was at least covid-good or, ideally, regular-good :)

//

it’s something to get used to again, a dedicated sleeping companion.

being with the mighty nein is not so different from growing up with her tribe. it is a more positive experience, to be sure, but yasha is used to being part of a small, tight-knit group. she is used to being around the same people every day, perhaps all day, and rarely tiring of them. since zuala, she knows what it is to seek intimacy and comfort from one person in the middle of a group that will not leave you alone.

the difference with the nein is that they will. yasha only needs to make eye contact with caleb or jester and she has privacy, space to herself, though always enough that her favorite monk can come cuddle up if she wants to (and she always seems to want to). it isn’t a thing overtly acknowledged, either—jester stops teasing after a few nights in the tower when beau and yasha disappear into beau’s room. on the occasions where they have to make do with the dome, they all settle in pods rather than one big pile—caleb and veth curl around each other protectively; jester winds her tail around fjord; and caduceus stretches out on his back, in reaching distance of everyone but he never moves in his sleep.

yasha’s favorite spot to sleep now is anywhere along the edge of the dome, propped on her side as beau wraps an arm around her stomach and burrows into the back of yasha’s neck. beau’s hands are small compared to hers, and yasha makes sure that the last thing she does before she falls asleep every night is to kiss them thoroughly.

the tower is a different story. she and beau get less sleep there than the rest of the group might think—or maybe just as much as they might think, depending on who’s doing the thinking. sometimes they stay up because of sexy stuff, sometimes it’s just talking. sometimes they stay up just because this part is new and exhilarating, and yasha can’t speak for beau, but she doesn’t want to miss any moment of it.

lucien doesn’t deserve to know beau, but yasha is slowly coming to accept that she does.

it feels inescapable on mornings like this. yasha has learned that there are inevitable things in life—death and loss are at the top of the list and slowly, with an endless amount of determination, beau is inching up to number three.

yasha ponders this as she watches beau sleep. it isn’t often that yasha wakes up first, and given the day they’d had, neither of them should stir for hours. but she hasn’t yet reached a point where beau doesn’t make her nervous, even now that they’re navigating how they fit together. beau is exuberant and restless and it’s catching, the energy she has. yasha wishes she could have been there more in the beginning, when they couldn’t travel everywhere via teleport. she daydreams sometimes about leisurely travel days, sitting in the back of a cart while she watches beau and jester goof off. maybe someday soon she can persuade the rest of the group into a vacation or something and sneakily give herself the opportunity to observe beau at rest—in the sun, in a field, in a warm and happy place where beau can expand to fit the air.

it’s astounding, yasha thinks, the adaptability beau has. yasha hadn’t really noticed it until kamordah, until beau stepped into her childhood home and shrank underneath the net of her father’s expectations.

yasha, having left and come back so many times, has kept a catalog of her friends’ immutable qualities. jester is idealistic, caleb seeks absolution, caduceus coaxes growth out of neglected things. fjord defines himself by what he chooses to offer his loyalty, and veth, so often on the outskirts of any group, devotes her energy to making sure her friends never feel abandoned.

yasha had never imagined there was a world in which beau wasn’t in control of her own life, until kamordah showed her that there used to be.

beau inhales deeply, stretching her legs and hugging her arms closer to her chest. her toes point and just reach the tops of yasha’s feet. yasha smiles fondly, brushes a tangled lock of hair behind beau’s ear. she smooths her fingers over beau’s forehead, over her cheek, down the length of her nose. yasha’s hands have seemed too big with other people, too clumsy and cluttered. it’s not that that’s gone away with beau, but yasha doesn’t seem to care that much anymore.

“been awake a while?” beau murmurs. she doesn’t open her eyes.

“for a bit, yeah,” yasha whispers back. “i like your nose.”

beau huffs sleepily. “s’been broken a bunch.”

“you could break it a bunch more and i’d still like it.” beau smiles slowly, cracks open just one eye. “i mean, please don’t break it,” yasha blushes. “i think you should try very hard not to break it. but i just, i mean—”

beau kisses her.

“you’re beautiful, is what i was trying to say,” yasha finally finishes when they break apart. “do you like that word? should i call you handsome instead?”

beau kisses her again. she slides forward and wraps herself around yasha, tucks her head underneath yasha’s chin, hooks her feet around yasha’s shins.

“when it comes to you, yash, there isn’t much i don’t like,” she says. beau’s breath is hot against yasha’s throat, but it has nothing on the flush she feels warming in her cheeks.

“well. yes. thank you.”

four words, all of them inadequate to express the roiling amounts of love she feels for beau. it’s been a few weeks since their date and yasha had panicked that night at how quickly she’d revealed her feelings. she couldn’t have known that the panicking wouldn’t stop, that revelations and feelings would only continue to build. she knows what it is to fall this way, to love and care until she has given each part of her to someone else. she didn’t know that she’d be lucky enough to do it more than once.

yasha has spent her whole life very aware of her size, it just somehow had never occurred that she might have to check her big feelings, too.

“i thought i was supposed to be the overthinker of our group,” beau mumbles, “but i can almost smell the smoke comin’ outta your ears.”

yasha chuckles and absently kisses the top of beau’s head. “nothing bad,” she promises.

“y’wanna talk about it?”

“later.” yasha rustles against the pillows, gathers beau in her arms and pulls a sun-warmed blanket over both of them.

zuala was free with pet names when she could chance it, peppering in sweetheart and my love any time they were alone. yasha had never tried to come up with any of her own, had never believed that anything else would taste as sweet on her lips as zuala’s name. but beau is solid against her, her cheeks smooth and worry-free in the early morning. she is more than a name meant for someone else, bestowed by a disappointing father.

yasha closes her eyes and snuggles in deeper.

she will dream about it.

[wtfgaylittlezooid]

I haven't watched Ninjago in ages just summarize the entire plot for me please. All I remember is Zane being a robot.

I would do this seriously but I can’t keep focus long enough to do so, so I’ll reblog it later with a better summary but for now

Season 1: found family adopts Lloyd who unearths snakes and he turns out to be the chosen green ninja, destined to defeat his forced to be evil father, Garmadon

Season 2: preparation for big fight. Snake people accidentally unearth the stone warriors and the dark island or whatever appears. Garmadon is on it and finds the Overlord, who possesses him since Garmadon can’t bring himself to kill Lloyd. Lloyd defeats Overlord, which takes all the evil out of Garmadon’s blood so he’s just himself

Season 3: Big technology advancement in Ninjago City, the big inventor Cyrus Borg builds big tower over the Overlord’s resting place for symbolism but the Overlord comes back as a virus and infects technology. We also meet Pixal, his nindroid daughter and at the end Zane uses the golden power to kill the Overlord but in the process kills himself

Season 4: Group is broken up over Zane’s deaths since they struggle to cope with it. They end up going back together after a paper for the Tournmanrt of Elements claims it has Zane. Garmadon goes with since it’s led by Master Chen, his former master. They meet other elemental masters such as Karlof, master of Metal, and Skylor, master of Amber. Skylor is Chen’s Daughrr, Chen wants to turn him and his cult into anacondrai to take over Ninjago City and takes others elements to do that, and Zane has a new body and loses his memories temporarily before Pixal reminds him. She also gets scrapped so he puts her chip in the back of his head so she stays with him as a voice. They defeat them, and Garmadon sacrifices himself to switch places with the anacondrai warrior spirits in the Cursed Realm.

Season 5: Wu’s original student and master of Wind, Morro slips out of the Cursed Realm and summons some friends. Nya starts her training as the water ninja. Cole gets turned into a ghost. He possesses Lloyd to get to the FSM’s grave and find the realm crystal. Using the Realm Crystal, he leaves Lloyd’s body and summons the physical manifestation of the Cursed Realm, the Preeminent. They defeat her and Nya unlocks her true potential.

Season 6: A djinn (similar to a genie) called Nadahkan starts picking off the ninja one by one to recreate his realm Djinnjago. Group finds out a tiger Lily’s venom can slow him down enough for them to defeat him, and they get the venom. Everyone else aside from Nya and Jay get picked off, and Nadakhan kidnaps Nya so he can marry her so he can get the ability to grant himself unlimited wishes. Everybody dies, including Nya, and Jay wishes that this never happened. Him and Nya are the only ones who remember this now, and the timeline is erased.

Day of the Departed: Master Yang from s5 tricks Cole into freeing spirits of their old enemies: Samukai, Kozu, Cryptor, Chen, and Morro. Pythos comes along for the ride and they’re told to kill the ninja to take their place in the living realm. Yang opens a rift so he can resurrect himself, and Morro goes behind Yang’s back and informs Wu of the situation to help the ninja. Cole calms Yang down and enters the rift and is back as a human

Season 7: Former masters of them, Acronix and Krux find the time blades and want to rule everything so they construct a giant machine using the time blades to go back in time and defeat everyone where it began. Nya and Kai find their parents who were kidnapped by Krux and forced to make weapons. Wu sacrifices himself by throwing himself, Acronix, and Krux into a time loop. Samurai X comes back, but it’s no longer Nya

Decoded: A miniseries recap where Zane’s body isn’t working so they go through a ninjigma to get to the source of the issues which is trying to take over Zane and delete his memories. It’s a strand of code from the Overlord Virus left over from the memory of Zane’s sacrifice which he repressed

Season 8: New redesigns. Biker gang wants to revive the worst parts of Garmadon using the three oni masks. Also as a result of the time loop, Wu comes back but as a baby and grows up a lot faster. Samurai X is revealed to be Pixal. Their plan works and Garmadon comes back, and he nearly kill the others but they escape to the First Realm: The Realm of Oni and Dragons. So Lloyd, Nya, and Pixal are seperated from the rest who are in the First Realm. Lloyd also nearly dies and loses his powers.

Season 9: First Realm: Group gets kidnapped by dragon hunters, Wu grows up a little, they escape and the leader’s second in command goes after them. She joins them after hearing Wu is the son of the FSM. Wu gets the golden armor and uses Firstbourne and the other dragons to get everyone back. By now he’s normal age. Meanwhile, Lloyd, Nya, and Pixal are trying to survive and start up a resistance against Garmadon. Others come back and big fight starts and Garmadon and the gang is defeated.

Season 10: Oni inavde Ninjago, Cole nearly dies, and everyone takes care of it. Only a four episode season so not much

Season 11: Group accidentally unearths yet another snake tribe, the leader has a vendetta against Wu. She uses the scrolls of forbidden spinjitzu which heavily boosts power but corrupts. Zane uses the scroll to freeze her and her Army, and she sends him to the Never Realm. Group follows Zane there and it’s being ruled by a cruel emperor called the Ice Emperor. Turns out it was Zane, after getting his memory wiped by Vex, a petty formling, who heavily manipulated him and basically made him his weapon. They get him to remember and he fixes what he did

Season 12: Basically Ready Player One. Really nice twist on the “rogue ai” trope tho and has a heartfelt end

Season 13: Gang gets invited to Shintaro. In the mountains there’s two enslaved races who hate eachother and both worship Cole’s mother. They work together to defeat the Skull Sorcerer who is also the king of Shintaro and save the day. Also Cole gets epic ability

Season 14: Gang goes to island to save Misako and Wu. Gets kidnapped by tribe and Jay gets sacrificed to Wohira, spirit of the storm. Turns out it’s just Ronin cheaply getting money

[five-rivers]

I was talking to my little brother earlier about ATLA and LOK, and we got to talking about what we would do if we were doing an ATLA sequel.  (I never watched LOK, first episode triggered my sympathetic embarrassment too hard, my brother watched some of LOK, but was disappointed.)

Highlights follow.  

(Retired) Fire Lord Zuko hears about the new Avatar, Korra, going on an adventure, and he’s like, you know what, I’m gonna go live my best life and have fun.  It’s my turn to be the cool responsible adult.

Problem: Zuko wouldn’t know cool if it punched him in the face.  He follows Korra around with tea, mangling every proverb he comes into contact with.  Still manages to give surprisingly good advice.

Korra and friends try to ditch incredibly uncool old man repeatedly.  He refuses to stay ditched.

Korra: How did you find us?

Zuko: I have lots of experience.  

Or

Korra: How did you get here before us?  We flew over a mountain range to get away from you.

Zuko: *Staring at map and sipping tea*  Hm.  By all accounts it doesn’t make sense.

Zuko: *Later, walking out to his dragon friend*  Why and how do people always forget I’m friends with a dragon?

Or

Korra: We literally threw darts at a map to decide where to go.  How are you here?

Zuko: Well, I just thought to myself, ‘What would Aang do?’ and then I bought some darts.

At one point Zuko follows them around with a Blue Spirit mask on for an entire episode, after they yell at him and hurt his feelings.  Everyone knows it’s him.  He refuses to acknowledge this fact.

Korra: *fails at something*

Zuko: Hey, it’s okay to fail.  Remember, the important thing is that you get back up.  Never give up without a fight!  That reminds me, did I ever tell you about the time I chased Aang all over the world for three months?

Korra: *deep inhale, heavy sigh* Yes.

Occasionally Mai is with him.  She is just as dark as she was before.  Zuko somehow gets even more bright and cheery when she’s around.

Toph (who does not become a cop) decides to build a giant underground city.  She fills it with badgermoles, her 1,000 adopted runaway children, and declares herself King (not Queen, this is very important, she is a king) of Melon City.  On occasion, she also uses the title Melon Lord.  

She has a standing challenge: Anyone who can defeat her in an earthbending fight gets a ruby the size of her head.  No one knows if this ruby exists.  It hasn’t been an issue yet.  

The Fire Nation recognizes Melon City as an independent kingdom.  So did Earth King Kuei.  But it doesn’t matter what anyone else really thinks of the matter, because Melon City is entirely full of highly trained earthbenders and metalbenders, and Toph could pwn an entire army on her home turf all on her lonesome.  

Zuko and Toph regularly meet up to plan shenanigans.  

Sokka and Suki live on Kyoshi Island (now that they’re super old, they prefer warmer weather).  Their relationship was a bit difficult for a while, since they were both sort of leaders of their people, and that required them to be in different places a lot of the time.  Katara stays at the south pole, mostly.

Seriously, why did they kill so many of the original Gaang off (plus make Toph go live in a swamp)?  I know Aang had to die, but really.  Could they not come up with a plot that the original Gaang (minus Aang) couldn’t solve, even though they’re all 70+ years old?  Could they not think of any better way to remove them from play?

Look, it’s easy.  My little brother and I came up with one.  

I mean, you just take a major unaddressed problem from ATLA.  That is, the fact that there are no more airbenders.  

(Like, I understand this got addressed in LOK, but bear with us here.)

Aang really is the last airbender.  None of his and Katara’s kids turn out to be airbenders.  They’re all either nonbenders or waterbenders.  

This is a problem.  This means the world is out of balance.  Avatars are supposed to bring the world back into balance.  

Aang, of course, tried to fix this.  Turns out, in order for there to be new airbenders, they need the blessing of the air spirit (the equivalent of the moon and ocean spirits for the Water Tribes).  After a lot of research, at age 66 or whenever it was he was supposed to die, he goes into the spirit world and never comes back.  Eventually his body wastes away.  

This is something only the Avatar can fix.  The Gaang can’t.

So, Korra has to talk to the other great spirits (and do other research) in an effort to find the air spirit.  

Unfortunately, they run into the following problems.

Fire Nation:  Sure, you can have everything, we’re happy to help!  Sadly, Sozin, Azulon, and Ozai tried to destroy all the history that didn’t make them look good.  Also, our last Avatar temple was volcanoed.  

Earth Kingdom:  The Dai Li (who were dismantled with prejudice following the whole treason thing) are the protectors of our cultural heritage.

(Northern) Water Tribe:  You thought we would be the easy ones?  You fools.  We were an isolationist patriarchal nightmare before all the special snowflakes left for the south!  Plus, the last time we let an Avatar see our spirit fish, the moon got murdered.  So...

Also:  You want stuff about spirits?  Do you want the real stuff or the fake stuff?  Just kidding, we can’t tell the difference!  

Surprisingly, (Retired) Fire Lord Zuko knows the most about spirits.  

(Really, this shouldn’t surprise anyone.  He spent three years on a boat chasing after Avatar legends and visited and researched all the Air Temples.)

Thus, you have an overarching plot of Korra reconnecting with the spirits and eventually bringing back the blessing of air, so new airbenders can be created and/or born.  

IDK, this is just what me and my brother were talking about.  

[the-badger-mole]

Traditional

“You scared?” 

Zuko’s mouth pulled down slightly at the corners, but after years of practicing diplomacy and his uncle’s lessons on holding his temper, that was the only show of Zuko’s displeasure. 

“I have no reason to be afraid,” he said. He quirked his brow at Katara and met her gaze pointedly. “According to you.” Katara shrugged, though it was difficult to tell under her heavy, fur lined parka. 

“Well, Dad and Sokka already like you,” she reminded him.”It’s just everyone else you have to convince.” 

Zuko rolled his eyes, wishing that the Southern Water Tribe was like...well any place else in the world. Having the Chief and his heir on his side would have been enough in literally any other country in the world. But this wasn’t anywhere in the world. This was the Southern Water Tribe. Their numbers were still small after all this time, and they were fiercely loyal to each other. Families were intimately involved in each others’ lives. Beside him, Katara nudged him gently. He felt the comforting pressure of it through his own thick parka. 

“You’re going to be fine,” she promised, flashing him a reassuring smile.

 Her eyes were full of trust and confidence, and it bolstered Zuko’s own. But only just slightly. After all, he was about to ask her entire extended family for their blessing to marry her. It was...daunting. 

“What if...what if they don’t like this?” Zuko asked. Katara shrugged with a bravado that Zuko knew she didn’t feel. 

“I already said yes,” she said. “I’m old enough to make my own choices. Dad, Sokka and Gran Gran will understand. If anyone else has a problem with it...well, we just won’t invite them to the wedding.” 

“I don’t want to cause problems with you and your family,” Zuko lowered his voice, as if anyone could hear him. He and Katara had climbed to the ship’s crows nest, both for the privacy and to catch the first glimpse of Katara’s home. Katara sighed and rested her head against Zuko’s shoulder.  “You’re my family,” Katara said firmly. “I love you, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Besides, we’ve been dating for two years. There were only two ways for this to end.” 

Zuko sighed and pressed his forehead against  Katara’s hair. She was right, of course. As Fire Lord, openly courting a woman meant that she was being seriously considered as his wife. He and Katara had spoken at length about the expectations before they decided to start dating. Then they spent another eternity talking with Iroh, Hakoda and Sokka about the expectations before going public with their relationship. If anyone was taken by surprise by their engagement at this point, then it was really out of Katara and Zuko’s hands. They had followed protocol more strictly than any Fire Lord and potential Fire Lady had in at least the last two centuries.Still...

“Why won’t you tell me what’s going to happen here?” Zuko asked. Katara sat up and shrugged. 

“I’ve told you what I could,” she said. “You have to speak to my father, Gran Gran and Sokka about your intention. Then you present me with your gifts, and then my closest male relatives take you hunting.” 

That was the part that gave Zuko pause. He knew better than to think Hakoda or Sokka would harm him (permanently), but Katara said that Bato and Pakku would likely be there as well. Zuko had interacted with both men a handful of times since the end of the war, and they had been courteous, if a bit cold. They grew even more frigid after he started dating Katara. He wasn’t sure how either of them would treat him out on the tundra. Away from Katara. Away from witnesses in general. It would be all too easy to arrange an accident...

“Would you stop worrying?” Katara reached up and poked Zuko where his brow furrowed over his nose. “It’ll be fine. You’ve been hunting before.” 

“Not on ice,” Zuko grumbled. “And never while trying to impress my fiancee’s family.” 

“Don’t worry, they already like you!” 

Zuko recalled the last time he had interacted with Katara’s step-grandfather and waterbending master. He had given the Water Tribe elder a deep, respectful bow-something unheard of for a Fire Lord to do. He rose to find Pakku eyeing him critically and prepared with a comment on how sloppy the bow was, and how in the Northern Tribe, young men were taught to show their elders the utmost respect. 

“We’ll be there soon,” Zuko said, casting his narrowed gaze over the horizon. “Are you ready?” Katara leaned up and pressed a kiss to Zuko’s cheek.

“I’ve been ready for this for two years.” 

****

Per the Southern Water Tribe’s custom, Katara disembarked the ship first, on a dinghy, so she could greet Zuko with her family. As the chief’s daughter,  all of the Southern Tribe was considered family, and so had the right to be there when Zuko came to ask for a blessing on his and Katara’s upcoming marriage.

 For two days Zuko was left on his ship while the village prepared for his official arrival. Any representatives from the surrounding villages who wanted to be present would arrive during this time, and the family members who would be joining the hunt would make sure that their supplies were ready. Ordinarily, the suitor would have his own preparations to make, but Zuko had done everything he was supposed to before he left Caldera. All he could do for two days was drive himself, his uncle and his crew insane with last minute worries. 

“What if she doesn’t like what I got her?” Zuko asked his uncle.

“I’m sure she’ll love your gifts,” Iroh assured him. 

“Has the guest room been prepared in case her grandmother wants to come back with us?” Zuko asked the ship’s captain. It was a possibility that Katara had prepared him for. Usually, the mother of the intended went with her daughter to her future home to help get her set up and meet her future in-laws. Kanna might not feel up to the cross ocean trek, but she might decide to go after all. Zuko wanted to make sure the voyage was as comfortable as possible.

Then Zuko had inventory taken on all the supplies he had brought for Katara’s village. In the eight years since the end of the war, the Southern Water Tribe had slowly, but surely begun to come into their own power. Still, Katara assured him that the extra fabric, metal, and spices would be welcomed. When he was done with all of that, there was nothing left for him to do but wait. 

Finally, at around noon on the second day, it was finally time for the Fire Lord to arrive in the village. Stepping off of the boat felt eerily similar to the first time he had first set foot onto the icy land eight years earlier. Things had certainly changed. He was no longer a desperate 16 year-old boy on an impossible mission. He wore practical wool and furs instead of slightly too large battle armor. The piers had been rebuilt in the intervening time, and Zuko had seen them himself several times before without the odd knot in his stomach. But like that first time, he was met with rows of solemn faces staring at him, uncertainly. He was once again an unwelcome foreigner come to disturb their peace.

There were some friendly faces in the crowd, Zuko had to remind himself. There a few Tribesmen and women he had gotten the chance to know over the past few years of peace. Some he had begun nascent friendships with before he had even allowed himself to hope Katara liked him the way he liked her. Nukilik, the village armsmith flashed him a grin and what Zuko could only assume were two thumbs up. It was hard to tell through the thick mittens, but it made more sense than the man balling his hands into fists. 

Hakoda and Sokka were there, too. Zuko noticed with relief that neither of them seemed upset to see him. Hakoda smiled the placid, slightly tired smile Zuko had learned to recognize over the years. Sokka’s grin was slightly more disturbing- more of a baring of teeth than a smile, paired with a mischievous gleam.

“Welcome, Fire Lord Zuko,” Hakoda greeted him formally, but warmly grasping his forearm in the traditional Water Tribe greeting. “I heard your trip was smooth. I hope it was also pleasant.”

“It was,” Zuko said loud enough for the bystanders to hear.”We made better time than I’d hoped.”

“Of course you did,” Sokka declared, grabbing his friend’s arm the way Hakoda had. Then he pulled Zuko into a one armed hug, slapping the young Fire Lord hard on the back. “You had a master waterbender with you.”

“We should get going,” Hakoda said. “There are others who are anxious to see you’ve made it here safe.” Zuko blushed a deep red as a wave of laughter passed through the crowd. They knew exactly what Hakoda meant. And just like that, Zuko was accepted by them. The awkward suitor of a daughter of their tribe.

The crowd fell in line behind Zuko’s small entourage. He walked at the head with Hakoda and Sokka in an informal procession through the town. The buildings were nowhere near as ornate as those he had seen in the Northern Water Tribe, but Zuko recognized a bustling, prosperous town. The houses and shops were like the people of the Southern Tribe- practical, sturdy and possessing a unique grace all their own. In the middle of the village stood a long low hall that served as Hakoda’s seat of power, the village community center, and for today, a banquet hall. 

Katara sat at a table on a raised platform with her Gran Gran and Master Pakku. She wore a parka lined with pristine white and grey fur. Her hair had been done in elaborate looping braids that had been fastened with bead and ivory combs.On her forehead had been painted a dark crescent moon. The mark of the brave she earned years earlier, she had once explained to Zuko. She was all Water Tribe today. To Zuko, she had never seemed more regal and queenly- not even in her Ambassador’s robes- and he wanted to stop and thank everyone present for giving rise to the most compassionate, strong, intelligent and beautiful Fire Lady the world would ever know. But he restrained himself. He hadn’t officially declared his intentions yet. 

Hakoda and Sokka clapped Zuko on the back almost hard enough to knock him to his knees, but Zuko managed to stay standing. Then they left him at the foot of what he now recognized as a dias, and took their seats. Hakoda at the center with his children on either side of him. 

“Fire Lord Zuko,” Hakoda addressed him in a somber tone. “Why have you come?” It wasn’t exactly a friendly start to this conversation, but Katara had told Zuko to expect this.He glanced up at Katara and found her watching him. She gave him a small, supportive smile and nodded slightly. Spirits, she was gorgeous. Zuko tried to swallow and unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth and say the words Katara had told him to say. 

“Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe,”he managed to say clearly.”Honored elders,” he bowed to Kanna and Pakku, “beloved family,” he turned to acknowledge the people gathered in the hall. “I have come to make it known that I intend to marry your daughter, Master Katara, and I humbly ask your blessings.”  The room fell uncomfortably silent. After a moment, he risked a glance up. Hakoda was watching him with a stoney eyed stare.  It wasn’t quite angry, but it wasn’t exactly encouraging, either. 

“Here in the Southern Water Tribe a marriage is not to be entered into lightly,” he began after a long pause. “When a couple decides to join their lives together, they agree to protect each other. Each has their own duty to the home and family they will build together, and neither is more or less important. Can you promise to help her build a safe and sturdy home together?”

Safe and sturdy were so subjective. He could provide Katara a palace with loyal and well trained guards. Even with the Fire Nation’s funds diminished with the costs of rebuilding infrastructure, providing for the financially devastated poor and making reparations to the nations damaged by his family’s war, Zuko’s wife and children would want for nothing substantial. Still he knew that as beloved as Master Katara, the Water Tribe Ambassador had become, there would always be people opposed to a foreign Fire Lady, just as there would always be opposed to the Fire Lord who ended the war that made whole generations of Fire Nobility wealthy. But Katara had acknowledged those obstacles, and she had still chosen him- him!- in spite of the risks. Zuko wasn’t afraid for her or himself or their children. They had faced down worse odds together. Zuko met Katara’s eye once more, taking courage from the way they seemed to gleam in the lantern light. 

“I promise,” Zuko swore. He knew what was coming next. He was neither surprised nor dismayed when Hakoda spoke again. 

“Words are not enough. Words alone are empty and can be spent lightly.” Hakoda’s stone-faced expression broke slightly, and Zuko thought he saw the beginning of a smile. “You will have a chance to prove your ability to provide. Tomorrow you will join me and my son, Sokka on a hunt. If your kill is acceptable to my daughter, it will serve as your betrothal feast.” 

 With that, Hakoda stood and left the assembly with Sokka and Katara following behind him. Kanna and Pakku feel in behind them, followed by the village elders. Finally, Zuko and his entourage were guided to where they would stay for the duration of the trip. Iroh, who had been uncharacteristically silent for the ceremony, nudged his nephew in the ribs. He grinned up at Zuko excitedly. 

“You did so well, Fire Lord Zuko!” he stage whispered. “I’m very proud of you. And so, may I add, was Master Katara.” Zuko didn’t feel that he had done much at all. He’d barely spoken- had barely had the chance to speak- and he would have to trek the icy tundra the next day and hope he didn’t embarrass himself too badly in front of his future in-laws. But then he remembered how Katara’s proud look when he’d caught her eye, and Zuko knew he’d go anywhere and accomplish any task if it meant he got to be with her for the rest of his life. 

*.*.*.*.*

“I know Dad has to look strong and dignified in front of everyone,” Katara said.  “But he could have at least cracked a smile up there.” 

There hadn’t been an official banquet that evening. Hakoda had predicted that his guests would be tired after their journey, so Zuko’s crew had gone to dinner at the inn where they would be staying for this trip, and Zuko and Iroh, along with a couple of guards, were staying with Hakoda and his family. After dinner, everyone adjourned to their rooms for the evening, leaving Zuko and Katara the common room. They were curled up together on a pile of cushions and rugs in front of the fire, discussing the day, just like they had done almost every night for the past two years. 

“I’m sure this isn’t easy on him,” Zuko pointed out in reply to Katara’s complaint. “You’re his only daughter, and you’re not only getting married, you’ll be moving across the world from him.” 

“I’ve been the Water Tribe Ambassador for three years!” Katara reminded him. “It’s not like my living situation is going to change. Well,” Katara looked up and winked at Zuko, “not much.” 

“It’s going to be  a bigger change than you think,” Zuko said thoughtfully. “The Ambassador thing was always going to be temporary. Eventually, you would have decided to move on to something else, or get married and start a family-” Zuko allowed a small smile to cross his face as he pulled Katara a bit closer. “He probably assumed you would be a little closer to home when that happened. He’s going to miss you.” 

“I’m going to miss him, too,” Katara admitted. “And Sokka and Gran Gran and Suki and Pakku. But I’ll visit as often as I can. Besides, it’s not like I’ve ever been Daddy’s Lil’ Princess.”

“Katara, your dad is the Chief of the entire Southern Water Tribe,” Zuko chuckled. “You’re everyone’s princess.”

“I told you, that’s not how it works down here,” Katara huffed. “I’m not-”

“Officially a princess,” Zuko completed, rolling his eyes. “I know, I know. But you are still really important here. Whether you want to admit it or not, you pretty much are a princess.”

“I am not!” Zuko noticed with no small amount of amusement that Katara was blushing. He grinned mischievously. 

“I think I should talk with your dad about getting you a crown,” he teased. Katara jabbed his ribs with her elbow. 

“Don’t you start giving people ideas,” she chided. “If dad gives me a crown, Sokka’s going to insist on having one, and his head is swollen enough without adding the weight.”

“You’re going  to have a crown soon anyway,” Zuko pointed out. “Maybe you should have one just to get used to it.” Katara hummed thoughtfully and nestled into Zuko’s side. 

“Do I have to wear a crown?” she asked. “What if I just got some really fancy beads?” 

Zuko reached up and brushed his fingers against Katara’s braids. The truth was he couldn’t care less about what she wore when she was Fire Lady. He’d made it clear to his advisors that she would be welcome to integrate elements of her own culture in their day to day life at the palace. Still..

“You should probably have one for formal occasions, at least,” he said thoughtfully. “But aside from that, you can do whatever you like with your hair. And your clothes.” Zuko’s fingers wandered away from her hair to the thick fur lining her hood. “I wouldn’t recommend fur, though.” 

“I don’t know,” Katara shrugged. “I think showing up to a council meeting in a full fur parka would be a serious power move.”

“Most of them are already afraid of you. But whatever you want, my love, is fine with me.” 

“Aw!” Katara twisted around and planted a kiss on the edge of Zuko’s jaw. “You’re so good to me.” Despite two years and many kisses, Katara still managed to make Zuko blush. 

“Ick!” The pair turned to find Sokka cringing in the doorway. “You two are so gross.”

“Oh, please!” Katara snorted. “You and Suki are just as bad.” At the mention of his wife, Sokka’s face crumpled miserably. 

“Suki!” he wailed. “Why’d you have to bring her up? I’d almost forgotten to miss her today.” 

“She’ll be home in two weeks.” Katara rolled her eyes, unsympathetically. Suki was back in Kyoshi to visit her aunt. It was the first time she’d been back since her and Sokka’s wedding almost a year earlier, and Sokka had been supportive of the trip, but he hadn’t counted on missing her so much. 

“It feels different being apart when you’re married,” Sokka lamented. “You’ll find out.” Then with a menacing smirk he added, “You know, assuming you come back from the hunting trip.” Katara felt Zuko tense up and she glared at her brother. 

“Stop teasing him,” she scolded. She brushed her fingers across Zuko’s cheek. “He’s going to be fine.” Zuko turned his head and kissed the palm of Katara’s hand. Sokka shuddered. 

‘Have you ever actually been hunting?” Sokka asked Zuko. “This is a pretty big deal. The entire village is invited to this party. It’s a bad look if you don’t bring enough food for everyone.” 

“Sokka!” Katara sat up and fixed her brother with a warning glare. Sokka threw his hands up in surrender. 

“Whatever,” he said. “But you really should go to bed soon. We’re leaving early tomorrow. Anyway, I’m turning in. Go back to being gross.” When he was gone, Zuko glanced down at Katara nervously. 

“I have hunted before,” he said softly as if spilling some deep dark secret. “But it was just small animals. It was right before...before Ba Sing Se. Never anything like...” Zuko motioned around the room at the trophies from other hunts. There were large ivory tusks hanging from the walls and thick, furs trapping the precious heat. Everything came from animals at least as big as he was. 

“Are you worried you can’t do it?” Katara asked. Zuko felt a rush of heat to his face. 

“Well...what if I can’t?” he asked. “If this is how I propose, will we not be allowed to marry if I can’t bring in a...a...” Once again, Zuko gestured around the room. Katara sat up, pulling away from Zuko’s embrace so she could face him. 

“First of all,” she held up a finger under his nose, “I’ve already agreed to marry you. All we’re doing here is telling people and giving you a chance to bond with my family. Second,” another finger joined the first, “Dad and Sokka are expert hunters. You’ll come back with something, I guarantee it. Third, I love you, and there’s nothing that can change that, so stop freaking out about this. It’s supposed to be fun.” 

“Fun,” Zuko snorted, but he did feel better. 

“Promise you’ll at least try to have fun?” Katara rolled her eye, feigning exasperation. Zuko kissed her forehead and nodded. 

“I’ll try,” he promised. 

“Great!” Katara resettled into her previous spot, curled up with Zuko with a happy sigh. 

“I have to go to bed,” Zuko protested weakly. 

“Fire more minutes,” Katara said. “I won’t see you for a few days, so I want my cuddle time now.” 

Part 1, Part 2,   Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

[tchallasbabymama]

Make it Better

Heyyy y’all! Here’s Ch 8 of Playlist. Check out my masterlist HERE to catch up and read my other stories. This is a long one....

Check out the actual Playlist HERE

Word count: ~10k

CW: Smut

“What?!” K’Hari yelled at his only child as she cried at the kitchen table. Tamala had sat both of her parents down to tell them the news and so far her father was not taking it well. “Say that one more time so I know I understood you. You’re what now?”

“I’m calling off the wedding,” she said through her tears.

“What happened, busi?” her mama asked softly as her baba continued to seethe next to her.

“What happened doesn't matter, Aja. What matters is your daughter has lost her fucking mind if she thinks-”

“Baba, he loves someone else!” Tamala yelled as K’Hari’s eyes rolled in exasperation. “He’s always loved someone else.” She hung her head and berated herself for not seeing it sooner when her mother’s hand reached out to tip her chin upwards to meet her gaze.

“Sithandwa, he could learn to love you,” Aja said softly while using her other hand to wipe the tears from her daughter’s eyes.

Tamala moved away from her mother and looked at her in horror. 

“I thought you would be on my side! He doesn't love me, mama, and he never will. He said so himself...he only loves her.”

“Who is this elusive love of his?” K’Hari’s voice took on a sinister tone.

“H-her name is Ashanti, she's from the Merchant Tribe-”

“Owns an art store?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Y-yes, how did you know?”

K’Hari sighed and his head fell back. He should have known all along.

“She’s the girl that got herself kidnapped by Princess Zenzi, but the king never said why she was the target. Demethi!” He struck the table, shocking Aja and Tamala. “Does he still see her?”

“No,” Tamala sniffled, “I put the fear of Bast in her and told her I would have her exiled if she contacted him again. It must have worked, I’ve never seen T’Challa so angry before.”

“Did he hurt you?” 

“No, mama, not physically anyway. He told me...he told me I would be his queen but she would always have his heart and that this was just an arrangement. What does that even mean?!” Tamala broke down crying as her parents gave each other a look.

K’Hari and Aja Obu had wanted nothing more than for their daughter to marry well, so when the opportunity to have her marry the king presented itself they took it. In council meetings K’Hari and several of the other elders voiced their concerns about the king not being married. He would always brush it off until K’Hari had the idea to align himself with the Border tribe and not allow his immigration proposal to pass. He knew the king would want to speak with him one-on-one about it, and during their meeting he insinuated that his vote could be bought if the king would marry his daughter. Three birds, one stone. They didn’t expect the king to be so cruel and tell Tamala about their deal though. 

There was a long silence as K’Hari shook his head frantically at his wife, knowing she was on the verge of telling Tamala everything.

“Busi-”

“Aja, no-”

“Thula! This was all your idea anyway,” she snapped and K’Hari shrunk into himself. Aja wiped Tamala’s tears and held both of her hands. “Honey, your father made a deal with the king-”

“What kind of deal?” she asked through her stuffy nose and freefalling tears.

“My dear, I-” he cut himself off with a sigh. He never imagined his plan going south, so he had hoped that he would be able to get away with not telling her what he did, but all of that got thrown out the window the minute she showed up at their house in tears. “I made a deal with the king. He wants to open Wakanda even further to the Lost Tribe and allow them to immigrate here. It is a good proposal, but I split the vote and convinced Hodari of the Border Tribe to follow my lead. The king came to speak with me about it and well, uh, long story short I promised him my and Hodari’s votes if he would take you as queen. I knew how important his proposal was to him, and how the rest of the council had been pushing him to find a wife. It was the perfect plan.”

“No it wasn’t! You used me! And mama, you knew about it!” She snatched her hands away from her mother and stood from the table.

“Busi, we-”

“No! You basically sold me to the king! Actually, nevermind, because in order to sell something the buyer has to actually want it! You pushed me onto him and you thought that was ok? You thought I wouldnt eventually find out?!” She quickly gathered her things and ignored her parents’ protests as she stormed out of their home.

Tamala had nowhere she could go and be alone away from everybody, so she retreated to her temporary quarters in the palace. She stayed in there for a week, only letting kitchen staff in and out, but she was upset even more by the fact that nobody came to check on her wellbeing. She already knew she wasn’t wanted by the king, but it wasn’t until then that she realized how much the rest of the royal family never seemed to like her either. She knew she could be abrasive at times, but for them to be so cold? Then it dawned on her that they must have all thought she was involved in her father’s schemes.

“I wouldn’t like me either.” she mused to herself and decided she would go set the record straight at breakfast. 

The next morning Tamala was so anxious that she almost couldn’t make it in time, but she was able to pull herself together at the last minute. She emerged from her room and made the long walk to the elevators that would take her down to the dining area. The butterflies in her stomach flew faster and faster the closer she got, and she was sure other people could hear her heart beating out her chest. By the time she reached the door she had forced herself to calm down again, knowing that what she had to do required a clear head and an unwavering disposition. 

The palace guards opened the doors for her and when she saw them she immediately lost all of the confidence she had worked so hard to build. She had expected to just see the four of them there, but for the first time since she moved into the palace a month ago they had several guests at the table as well. 

M’Baku and his chieftess Shani were seated next to each other across from Queen Mother and Shuri. N’Jadaka sat next to his little cousin with Okoye to his left. It was her off day so they had invited her to join them for breakfast. Her ex-husband W’Kabi was nowhere to be seen, but instead there were two colonizers at the table next to M’Baku. One that looked like a human version of a golden retriever and the other seemed to be part robot. The empty seat at the foot of the table was her only option, so she sat down and tried to drum up the courage to make her announcement.

“Tamala, we have barely seen you this week,” Ramonda remarked, without looking up from her food, only partially interested in her response.

Tamala cleared her throat and when everyone reluctantly turned to look at her she locked eyes with the king. She could still feel how cold and detached he was towards her, which only solidified her decision.

“I needed some time to myself, to think. I have decided to...to call off the wedding.” Everyone was shocked. They all knew of the arrangement since they had each cornered T’Challa at some point to try to talk sense into him. None of them liked Tamala. She was rude, she was entitled, and she had a jealous streak that rubbed them all the wrong way. Worst of all, they thought she was only with T’Challa because she wanted the throne. “I didn’t know about my father’s plan, but I do now and I can’t go through with it. I can’t spend my life with someone who doesn’t love me.”

She kept her eyes on T’Challa and saw his face fall when he found out she was unaware of her father’s plan. He immediately felt bad for what he said to her when he realized her feelings for him were real.

“Tamala, I-”

“I know. You thought I was after the title. I wasn’t, but my father was.”

“That still doesn’t excuse what I said to you.”

“No, it doesn't, but I would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes.”

A silence fell over them and she looked around at the guilty faces surrounding the table.

“Did all of you know?”

Everyone nodded or grumbled their response and she felt even more embarrassed knowing that everyone knew it was a lie but her. She sat back in her chair in disbelief.

“If it helps, that’s not the only reason we didn’t like you,” N’Jadaka stage whispered to her from across the table. Shuri and M'Baku snickered as Ramonda reached behind Shuri’s chair to hit her nephew upside his head. 

“That does help, thank you N’Jadaka,” Tamala said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. 

“Could someone fill me in on what just happened?” the blonde colonizer, Steve, asked of his friends after another silence filled the table.

“I got you, man. So basically T’s been trying to make it so Black people can move to Wakanda, but her daddy is head of the Mining tribe and won’t let it go through unless he marries her.”

“What happens to the proposal now? Will he still block it from going through?” Okoye asked.

They all turned to look at Tamala.

“I-I don’t know.”

“Have you told your father about your decision?” Shani added.

“Yes, a week ago.”

“So you decided to wait until the wedding was damn near upon us to let us know?” Queen Mother was getting a headache. “Come with me after you finish eating, we have to call the press and cancel all the vendors and-”

“Mama, I will handle whatever needs to be done. Tamala has been through enough in regards to the wedding.” Ramonda wanted to argue with her son, but she knew he was doing the right thing.

“Very well then,” she gave in.

“So what are you gonna do now?” Bucky asked Tamala and everyone’s ears perked up in curiosity. 

“I’m not sure, but I definitely can’t go back to my parents’ after this.”

“That is understandable. You are welcome to stay as long as you need to.” T’Challa said across the table.

“Thank you, T’Challa.”

“It is the least I can do.”

-------

With three weeks left until the wedding, Ashanti was finally leaving for her month-long trip to New Orleans. She had purchased a cell phone and linked her beads to the archaic device so she wouldn’t have to use them in public. She had done her research on the city and even though her itinerary mostly involved just letting her creative juices flow, there were a few things she knew she had to see and do before she left.

When Chidi and Bisa dropped her off at Wakanda International they were still a little uneasy about Ashanti’s plan. She had never left Wakanda before, but here she was flying across the globe by herself to a city where she doesn’t have any friends or even extended family to look out for her, but they were supportive because they knew it was her dream. When she was young she always wanted to explore the world, but Wakanda was still closed to the outside so she let the idea slip away. She thought the only way she’d get to see it is if she became a War Dog, but Ashanti never had any interest in being a spy. Now her dream was finally coming true, and despite the anxiety twisting her stomach she couldn’t be more excited. 

Her flight only took about 7 hours on the Wakandan jet, and when she touched down and stepped out of the airport she was met with the wet heat of the southern United States. The temperature wasn’t too different from what she was used to, but the humidity made her feel like she was under water. She summoned a Lyft and people-watched as she waited for it to arrive.

She was relieved when it finally pulled up, looking forward to what she hoped would be an air conditioned ride.

“How’s it going ma’am?”

“Hi, uh, it’s good. André, right? How are you?”

“Yes ma’am. Here picking up,” he looked at his phone for confirmation, “Ashanti, but uh, I’ve had better days. Where you from? I hear your accent.”

“Do you hear yours?” she asked playfully as she slid into the back seat while he put her bags in the trunk. He laughed and the warmth of it brought a smile to her face. “I’m from Wakanda.”

“Ohhhhh, Wakanda huh? What made you leave paradise?” He asked as he plopped into the driver seat and closed the door.

“It’s not a paradise.”

“For those of us out here it is.” He looked at her through the rear view mirror for just a second. Her face fell, forgetting how privileged she was to grow up where she did. She had been so focused on getting away from the king that she forgot just how beautiful her homeland could be. “You should be careful out here, I’m sure it’s pretty different than what you’re used to. Crazy folks out here...you going down to Bourbon at any point?”

“Most likely, I’ll be here a while.”

“Hm. Well if you do please, please be careful chère. People get real stupid when they drink.”

“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind. Are you from here?”

“Born and raised. I moved up to Memphis for a while, but came right back. Always on the Mississippi though. What brought you here? You don't seem like the partying type and judging by all that luggage you’re planning to stay for a while.”

She sighed, not sure if she should get into it with her driver, but decided there was no harm in talking to him. 

“My ex is getting married and I just needed to get away for a while.”

“Still love him?” he looked at her through the mirror again and she looked back at him before nodding.

“Yeah I do, it’s complicated…”

“Sounds like it. I been there though. My babymama moved on a couple years ago and I still ain't over it. He’s a nice guy though so I can’t be too mad about it. As long as my girls are taken care of, that’s what matters.”

Ashanti listened and nodded along, watching the city pass by as they drove down the interstate to her new temporary neighborhood. She knew they had arrived when he turned off the exit and she saw a mural painted along a wall that read “Tremé” in colorful letters. They drove a few more blocks before André stopped the car in front of a house with a colorful, plant filled fenced-in courtyard. There was a fat tabby cat lounging in the walkway by an adorable little iron bistro set. Before getting out of the car she used her iphone to review the instructions the host sent her, then she swung the door open, ready to see her living space in person. André grabbed her bags out of the trunk and placed them on the sidewalk for her.

“Could you help me carry them in?” she asked of her Lyft driver who turned to look at her like she was crazy.

“Ma’am, you sure are trusting. I’ll help you, but you can’t be out here just letting people in your place like that.”

Ashanti blushed, she hadn’t even thought of the danger she was putting herself in and she was thankful that André seemed like a good man. He brought her bags into the living room and took a look around, whistling at the sight. 

“I’ve never actually gotten a look inside one of these new Air Bnb’s, these are niiiice. Ruining the neighborhood though, but what can you do?”

“How is it ruining the neighborhood?”

André chuckled a little at her naivety before concern crept up on him, too. This girl had let him into her home, alone, and he wondered what other stupid things she might get into.

“You know, how about I show you around. I’ll be your personal chauffeur while you’re here. For a fee, of course.”

“Of course. That sounds like a good idea...ok lets do it.” 

“Great, did you want to settle in or go out now? I can run some quick errands while you rest up”

“I’ll be hungry in about a couple hours. Come back then?”

“You got it miss lady, see you later,” he turned to leave the house but turned back with a serious look on his face. “Make sure you keep these doors locked, you seem like the type to just keep them open.” 

“I will.”

He squinted at her, not believing a word she said.

“I said I will, Bast!”

“You better,” he pointed at her as he closed the door behind him.

She plopped on the couch and she was thankful to have the space all to herself, but the vibe was quickly ruined by him yelling at her from outside.

“Lock the door Ashanti!”

She scrambled from her spot and locked the door.

“Happy now?” she shouted at him.

“Thank you!” she heard him say right before the car door closed and he drove off. 

She was finally alone and could really feel the energy of the place. It would be perfect for her little artist getaway. The south facing windows let in so much natural light that she wouldn't even need to turn the lights on during the day. She had already scoped out where she would set up her easel, and she made a mental note to ask André about art supply stores since she could only bring so much on the plane.

She made her way to the bedroom and plopped down on the bed, testing its softness. Once she was satisfied she rolled off and went to the bathroom to set up her toiletries. When she opened the door she was thrown back in time to when T’Challa first invited her to his quarters after their first date. The monstera in the corner and the ivy draping down the walls reminded her of what she always called his “jungle chic bathroom”, but she quickly shook the thought out of her head. She stripped down and stared at herself in the mirror as the water heated up, but ran back to her suitcase to grab her kimoyo beads. They were synched to her phone, but she thought the sound quality was better on the beads.. 

“Hey Kim, play music.”

How do you mend when you worlds apart?

Ooh, carry on

Ooh, from the start

Somehow, we fell in love, then fell right out of touch

And ooh, that was hard

But ooh, here we are

And it's easier to walk away

Than to look for what would make you stay

“Next song please.” she grumbled, not in the mood for a love song. Thankfully the next song was anything but. 

“There’s some whores in this house, there’s some whores in this house…,” she sang along loudly while scrubbing down.

When she was finished she got out and did her usual routine before laying down to take a nap until André came back. When he did, she was excited to see that he brought gumbo. 

“I wasn’t sure if you were too tired to go out or not. Either way, this’ll heat up pretty good tomorrow. I made a big pot yesterday, figured you’d like some authentic ‘Nawlins’ cuisine.”

Her eyes lit up and she dug right in, obviously hungrier than either of them thought she would be.

“Mmm, this is amazing. You made this?” she asked, having yet another flashback to her first date with T’Challa. 

“Sho did, my daddy’s recipe.”

“Well tell your daddy I said thank you.”

“Tell him yourself. We having a fish fry this weekend, you should swing by. His place is just a few blocks from here.”

“I’ll be there! It’s not like I have any real plans or anything.”

“Yeah, what you gonna do while you're here?”

“Walk around, explore, paint, take in some sights, do some touristy things.”

“Let me guess, voodoo museum and cemetery tour?”

“That’s on the list, yeah.”

“Nah, my granny can probably tell you all that better than some tourist trap.”

“Will she be there this weekend?”

“Oh she never missed a fish fry in all her 79 years.”

Ashanti laughed

“Good. So about our chauffeur situation, how about $2,000 a week?”

He stared at her in disbelief.

“What? I’m sorry, is that too low? I’m not good with the conversion rate-”

“No that’s way more than I been making, you got yourself a deal. Hell I’ll be your protection detail too if you need it.”

She giggled a little bit and finally felt her shoulders relax. As much as she knew she needed this trip, it scared her to be so alone so far from home, but André’s warm aura made her feel safe in his presence. As far as she could tell, he was a Bast-send.

The two stayed in for the night, talking and getting to know each other until André left around 9. Ashanti locked up behind him and carried herself up to bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

-------

The king chose to take the day to himself, and he decided to spend it the same way he spent his favorite off-day, with Ashanti at her shop. She had to have seen the news by now and known the wedding was off, but she was still not answering his calls. He grew concerned and decided to use his day off to try to make things right. 

As he walked through the market with his Dora, waving at the occasional excited passerby and stopping to talk to the children that wanted his attention, he felt lighter than he had in a while. He was finally free of Tamala and once her father’s scheming was revealed to the council, he and Hodari were replaced by their second in command. The proposal to open Wakanda to the Lost Tribe had passed and now they could start prepping for the day when their doors would truly open to the world. His plan had gone through, he wasn’t being forced into marriage, and the council had even backed off of their incessant need to marry him off. All he needed now was his lady.

Chidi was the first to see him round the corner and he waved the king over, saluting him to keep up appearances in public. 

“What are you doing here, my boy?”

“I wanted to see Ashanti, do you know if she’s in?”

“She’s been gone for about three weeks now, she needed to get away from all the wedding coverage. She’ll be back next week unless her plans have changed. She barely calls us so I have no idea. Can you believe it, my only daughter goes halfway around the world and can't even call me to say she’s alive! Don’t have kids, T’Challa, they’ll rip your heart out.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Where did she run off to?”

“New Orleans.”

“That fits her,” T’Challa smiled fondly while picturing her painting on an old balcony with jazz musicians playing down below or eating beignets and sipping coffee at Cafe Du Monde. 

“Not enough to forget about her parents, it doesn’t!” Chidi fussed, causing Bisa to stick her head out from the back. Her face lit up when she saw the king.

“Oh hi T’Challa dear.” She came out from the kitchen and gave him a hug, surprising the few customers  Zana Cafe had during the after lunch lull. 

“Bisa, a pleasure as always.”

“I’m sure he told you Ashanti is off galavanting around the world avoiding your wedding. By the way, congratulations on being single again. I could tell you hated every moment of being with that woman, she seemed too clingy for you.”

“Thank you, it is good to be single again.”

“Not for too long, I hope,” Chidi’s eyebrow raised as he stared up at the king.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Good.” Chidi clapped him on the back and the king said goodbye to who he hoped would be his future in-laws.

As he crossed the street to Taj’s his nerves picked back up.

“She’s not even here man, chill out.” He spoke to himself softly and took a couple deep breaths before entering the store.

The doorway chimed every time a customer passed through, so when Zina heard it chime and  looked up she nearly dropped the beads she was sorting.

“M-my king!” She saluted him as Jafari came from the back room to see what all the commotion was about, before stopping and saluting him as well.

“Please, no need for that.”

“What can we do for you, your highness?” Jafari asked since Zina seemed to be stuck in a trance staring at the handsome king. 

“I was hoping to place a custom order.”

“The jewelry artist is out of town currently, but we can still take your order. It probably won’t be ready for another month or so. She doesn’t allow special orders to skip the line.”

“That is fine, I can wa- is your friend ok?”

Zina was still glued to the spot, staring at the king.

“Z, why don't you finish the beads in the back, I’ll handle up here.”

“Yeah. Ok, yeah, sorry, heh.” She shook herself out of it and rushed towards the back to get away from the king so she didn't embarrass herself further. 

The two men shared a knowing look and the king chuckled, used to that reaction by now. He had, after all, been fine as hell his whole life.

“So, what would you like?”

“First, I would like it to be anonymous.”

After about 30 or so minutes of finalizing the design, the king left the shop still feeling light, but now with a tinge of anxiety. He wasn’t sure how she would feel seeing him again, but the one big obstacle keeping them apart had finally been removed and he hoped she saw it that way, too. 

-------

Ashanti’s time in the Crescent City was coming to an end, and she didn’t want to say goodbye to André and the rest of the François family. She invited them to come visit her in Wakanda and she was sure at least a couple of them would actually take her up on her offer. Saying goodbye to everybody had been rough, but she was more than ready to go back home. She even said goodbye to the fat cat that laid around in her courtyard most mornings. When André dropped her off at the airport they were both misty-eyed. They had become the best of friends and he was already planning to come visit Wakanda during the summer with his daughter Désirée, who simply adored Ashanti. They hugged and kissed each other's cheeks before he sent her on her way through security.

The flight back seemed to take a whole lot longer than the flight there, but she still made it in about the same amount of time thanks to the jets being infused with Wakandan tech. As they got closer to the border, she could feel the tattoo on her inner lip start to tingle, and when they landed it finally subsided. She nearly ran off the plane when she saw her parents and roommates waiting for her at the gate, and she attacked all four of them with a giant hug.

“I missed you all so much!”

“Chile no you didn't, you barely texted me.” Kwame joked as she hit his arm.

“And you barely called us. Must have been some trip!” Chidi added.

“It was! I have tons of pictures. I met this guy who-”

“A guy?” her mother interjected, concern written on her face. Ashanti misinterpreted it as concern for her safety but she was actually concerned about the state of her and T’Challa’s possible relationship. 

“Yes, mama, a guy. He was my driver and we became friends and his family sort of took me in for the month. It was great!”

The five of them made their way to  Zana Cafe and were met with Zina and Jafari, who were both ecstatic to have their boss back.

“Bosslady! You look well-rested.” Jafari pulled her in for a hug before Zina could do the same.

“That’s because I am. I need to do the whole vacation thing more often. Travelling is so cheap thanks to the conversion rate. Did you know our money is worth five times as much as American money?”

“Can’t say I’m surprised. Why don’t you go ahead and start telling stories and I’ll bring the food out?”Chidi suggested.

Ashanti had them hanging on her every word all night long. She told them about everything, from the cemeteries to the swamps to Bourbon street to the history of Marie Laveau. She told them about the jazz musicians and what she learned about the effects of hurricane Katrina and gentrification. She told them about the François family and the kindness they showed her, and even pulled up some pictures of her work on her beads to show them.

“I’m definitely going back at some point.”

“Don't you want to go somewhere else instead?” Zina asked, stuffing her face full of food.

“I want both,” Ashanti said with a laugh. She had missed her friends and family, but wouldn't trade the last month of her life for the world.

It started getting late so Zina and Binta left to go be with their respective significant others, while the others cleaned up the table. Jafari was the next to go, and after he left the remaining three descended upon Ashanti too quickly for her comfort.

“Do you know already?” Kwame asked her suspiciously.

“Know what? You’re freaking me out.”

“About the king.”

“Why would you- I left to get away from him, I don’t want to think-”

“Intyatyambo, they called it off weeks ago,” Bisa added.

Her whole world stopped, but she was too tired to process the information they had just given her.

“I-I don't...why?”

“Nobody knows, but the king came down here looking for you the other day.” said Chidi.

“He did?!” Ashanti asked, looking to her mother for confirmation.

“He did.”

“Well, um- that’s cool I guess. I-I need to get some rest, it’s late and my brain hurts.”

“Get home safe sithandwa,” Chidi ordered.

“I will baba, bye. Bye mama.'' She hugged them both before she and Kwame drove home in his new hover car.

“So this André guy?”

“Just a friend, Kwame.”

“Ok but is he cute?”

“You know that American show you like to watch? Oh, what’s it called...Insecure! He looks like the light skinned guy on there.”

“Nathan?! Girrrrl and you didn’t hit that?”

“No, ew, he felt more like a brother.”

“Mmmhm, so you didn’t go get your groove back?”

“Meaning…?”

“Did you get that back blown out in Nola or no?”

“No.”

“Girl I swear, the wrong one of us is doing all the travelling.”

The two laughed as they entered their home and said good night before going their separate ways.

As comfortable as her bed back in New Orleans was, it pales in comparison to her bed at home. She knew not to even sit down until she was ready to pass out. She quickly showered and threw on a big t-shirt before hopping in her bed and drifting away to dreamland.

Mmm, Ashanti.

Come sit on your throne, kitten. 

Ride me just like that.

Bounce on it.

Cum on my dick.

Nah-uh, don’t fucking move, I’m cumming in this pussy. My pussy. 

“Your pussy, baby,” Ashanti whimpered in her sleep just moments before her eyes flew open. She hadn’t had a dream like that in months, now all of a sudden her body was acting crazy just because she heard he was single again. As far as she knew, the council could have another wife lined up for him so there was no need to even get excited. Apparently, nobody told her pussy that. 

She looked at the clock and was surprised it was well after 10am, until she remembered she probably had jet lag. Her thoughts were interrupted by a light knock at the door.

“Oh good you’re up, I was just checking to make sure you were breathing,” Binta joked as Ashanti threw a pillow at her from the bed. 

“I’m alive, just jetlagged. I don't think I’ve ever slept this late in my entire life.”

“Yeah girl that's why I came up here to make sure you were ok!”

“I guess it’s something I’ll have to get used to if I’m going to be travelling a lot.”

Binta sat on the end of the bed.

“You really did love it huh?”

“I did, and there are so many places to see!”

Binta laughed and was about to say something when her beads rang.

“Oop, gotta go. Mrs. Obi is going into labor, but her doula came down with a stomach bug this morning so I get to step in.”

“Good luck!” Ashanti shouted at Binta as she frantically ran down the steps to grab her work bag and go.

Ashanti sat up in bed and stretched her arms out wide before swinging her legs over the side and standing up, stretching even further. She padded her way to the bathroom and checked herself out in the mirror while brushing her teeth. She decided to shower again since last night was more of a quick rinse, so she cut the water back on and got naked. 

“Hey Kim, play music.”

How do you mend when you worlds apart?

Ooh, carry on

Ooh, from the start

Somehow, we fell in love, then fell right out of touch

And ooh, that was hard

But ooh, here we are

And it's easier to walk away

Than to look for what would make you stay

This time she was in the mood for the love song, so she allowed it to play all the way through.

Remember when we first met?

We were having so much fun

So, now, how can we both forget

Telling each other, "We're the one"?

We would make love (We would make love)

At the drop of a hat

Remember that?

(Yeah)

I remember you and me (You and me)

Close as any two can be (Two can be)

Now we're strangers in the night (Strangers)

Awkward in the tight

Oh baby, do you want to make it better?

Do you want to stay together?

Hey, if you do

Then let's please

Make some new

Memories

The song was cut off by her beads ringing. She finished rinsing off and hopped back out the shower to see who was calling her. She threw on a robe, then answered the call. She was surprised to see Zina on the other end.

“Hey Z, how’s it going?”

“Hey Shanti, so um the shop is really busy and Jafari got that stomach bug that’s going around and-”

“I’ll be there in 30, no worries. Breathe Zina.”

She took a deep breath and was able to destress a little bit.

“Sorry, I just get a little tense sometimes.”

“I understand. If it's too busy for you to handle, just close the doors and we can reopen when I get there. See you soon.”

She ended the call and searched for something to wear. She threw on a white t-shirt and colorful joggers with sneakers before grabbing her bags and heading out the door. 

When she arrived at Taj’s the customers had died down so she was able to work in the back and look through her commissions. There was one that stood out to her, it was an anonymous client who wanted a very simple necklace. They could have bought one like it at the front of the shop, but she guessed this person wanted it made just for them. Looking at her calendar and other commissions she guessed it would be ready in a  month or so, but with it being such a simple design she decided to go ahead and make it to get it out of the way.

-------

The king was surprised when Jafari called him to come pick up his order. It was way earlier than he had expected, but he would never complain about getting to see Ashanti sooner rather than later. T’Challa decided to take the day off again, and he knew his sister wouldn’t take too kindly to it so he decided to make her favorite breakfast for her. When his mother and sister rolled into their en suite kitchen, following the delicious smells wafting through the royal wing of the palace, Shuri immediately knew something was up. 

“Unyana, shouldn’t you be working?”

“Oh no. Is this a bribe?” Shuri asked, eyes scanning over the American-style breakfast and mouth watering at the fluffy golden pancakes. She wanted to stand her ground, but they called to her. T’Challa knew what he was doing. 

“Don’t think of it as a bribe, think of it as a thank you in advance,” he said with a sly smirk on his face.

“Let me go clear my schedule-” she sighed.

“No need. Already done,” he smiled at her as he shovelled scrambled eggs onto her plate.

“You’re the worst. This better be for a good reason.”

“It is.”

“Are you going to tell us what it is?” Queen Mother inquired. 

“No, not yet.” T’Challa didn’t want his family to get too excited.

“Ugh, I deserve to know since you're making me queen for a day.”

He stared at her, deciding between telling her and keeping it to himself. His decision was cut short when his kimoyo beads rang and he answered to see Nakia looking very excited.

“N’Jadaka told me everything! How did it go?”

“Oh so you told him but won’t tell us?! Your own mother and sister? Your own flesh and blood? How rude.” Shuri said, crossing her arms and giving him a look of disapproval, making him roll his eyes at her dramatics.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to start anything, I was just so excited. You know the prince can’t hold water, I don’t know why you ever tell him anything.”

“You are right as usual, umhlobo wam.”

“Well, I’ll let you go since you obviously have some explaining to do,” she looked behind T’Challa at the princess and Queen Mother who had looks of displeasure on their faces. “Call me after!” And with that she ended the call and her hologram disappeared from his hand. He took a deep breath and turned to face his family.

“So?” Ramonda asked impatiently, Shuri nodding along.

“So...I am going to see Ashanti.” He paused as their faces lit up and he couldn't help but smile, too. “I went to see her on my off day a couple weeks ago, but she was out of town. Apparently she left to avoid the wedding coverage...but she’s back now, so I took the day off to go see her.”

Their smiles were up to their ears despite the silence that followed T’Challa’s explanation.

“I haven’t seen you look this happy in a long time, unyana wam.”

“Thank you mama, I’m hoping all goes well.”

“Bast be with you, dear.”

“Ugh, I guess I’ll do your job for you. Tell my sister I said hi and I miss her!”

Ramonda smirked at her daughter’s choice of words, and T’Challa fought to keep a smile off his face.

“I’ll do just that.”

“Well, go ahead and eat so you can get out of here,”  Ramonda encouraged her son.

T’Challa chuckled at his mother’s insistence, but did what she said. He tried his best to not rush through the meal, but his excitement took over and he inhaled his breakfast before kissing Shuri and Ramonda on their foreheads and running out the door.

As soon as he left the kitchen his nerves kicked in and he decided to smoke a little something on his balcony before heading out. The royal grower had left him a nice hybrid strain, and after a couple of hits he felt calm enough to do what he needed to do. He ashed his blunt before making his way down the palace elevators and out the front entrance. 

He strolled through the city with Okoye and three other Dora, standing tall and smiling at the few other pedestrians when they caught his eye.

“You’re in a good mood today. Is it the weed or our destination?” Okoye teased him.

“Yes.” he responded and chuckled as she gave him a knowing glance. She hadn’t seen her king this happy in...well it’s been a while.

They stopped just around the corner from Taj’s and T’Challa took a deep breath before walking forward. Thankfully it was still early and the market hadn’t livened up yet, so Taj’s would most likely be empty or at the very least not busy. 

The Doras stood watch at the open doors and he stepped in, causing the chimes to ring out once again. He was met with the same smiling faces as before and he immediately deflated since he had been hoping he would get to see Ashanti.

“My king.” Zina and Jafari said in unison, saluting him in the process. 

“Hello, I received a message that my order is ready. I would love to speak with the artist if she is in.”

“Sure, I’ll go grab her. She’s just in the back working on another order, I’ll be right back,” Zina said before hopping off her stool and disappearing behind a multicolored curtain that had been dyed by children in one of their art classes.

By the time Zina reached Ashanti’s workstation, she was overflowing with excitement.

“The-anonymous-client-is-here-and-they-want-to-meet-you!” she rushed out.

“Zina, breathe. One more time, please.” Ashanti looked up from measuring the pair of pendulums that would become pearl drop earrings when she was through with them.

“Just come out front and see for yourself.”

Ashanti sighed and set down her tools, brushing off her clothes as she stood and following Zina out to the front. She figured the anonymous order was either from someone she knew or from someone of nobility from one of the tribes, but nothing had prepared her to see T’Challa standing in her shop just like he did almost two years ago. She froze on the spot when she saw him and her two employees snickered at what they assumed was her “starstruck” face, not knowing it was anything but.

“Hi.” he said softly with a smile.

“Hi. So you’re my anonymous client?” her voice softened as she took in his form. T’Challa was many things, but he was not someone who repeated outfits, yet here he was in her shop wearing the exact same clothes as the day they met.

Zina and Jafari’s jaws fell to the floor as they both realized that Ashanti knew the king.

“That I am. I hope you don’t mind, I needed a way to see you. I didn’t want to just pop up at your home, but you blocked me, so...I understand though-”

“Holy shit-” Jafari said under his breath but much louder than he anticipated, causing Zina to elbow him in his side.

“W-we’ll just be in the back,” she stuttered as she pushed Jafari into the back room to give them privacy.

There was a tense silence for a moment before T’Challa spoke.

“I heard about New Orleans. How was it?”

“It, uh, was great. I was there about a month and met some really great people. Got a lot of painting done-”

“Hm” T’challa nodded with a warm smile on his face.

“What?”

“When Chidi told me you were in New Orleans that’s exactly what I pictured you doing. You, on a balcony, painting, with Jazz musicians playing on the street below.”

“So you pictured me, huh?” she teased.

T’Challa laughed. “Yes, quite often I’m afraid,” he took a step forward. “And you? Do you still think about me?” he asked her while moving closer so that the only thing between them was the counter.

Ashanti’s heart beat faster and her palms got sweatier with every step he took.

“All the time.”

“Do you have someone special in your life?”

“No. Any more arranged marriages on your end?”

He chuckled and shook his head, “No.”

“Good.”

“Good?” 

“Mhm.”

“Ashanti,” he took a deep breath. “I really am sorry.”

“For what?”

“I should have never let you go-”

“I needed to go, T’Challa. If you had chased me I just would’ve run further away.”

“Ok,” he nodded. “However, I know that if I had to see you with another man it would tear my heart to pieces, so I am sorry from the bottom of my heart that you had to experience that pain.” His big brown eyes twinkled with sincerity and her nerves simply melted away.

“Eh, I’ve had worse,” she joked, shrugging and holding up her pinky.

The two of them stared at each other in silence with small smiles plastered on their faces.

“Ashanti,” he began as he grabbed her hand and kissed it, feeling the cold metal of her robotic pinky beneath his lips, “I know it’s been a rollercoaster, to say the least, but my heart will always be yours.”

Tears welled up in her eyes and one escaped, prompting his thumb to reach out and swipe it away.

“Please don’t cry, kitten.” he said as tears threatened to escape his eyes, too.

“I’m sorry, I just-”

“Don’t be sorry, my love.”

She looked at him in that moment and took in his face that she missed more than her heart could bear. She missed his deep dark eyes, his broad nose, his bushy yet tamed eyebrows, and that lopsided gap toothed smile. She missed scratching his beard when they kissed and oiling his scalp with him seated between her legs. She missed the little things about him and their time spent together, and she was tired of running. She was tired of letting her fear dictate her happiness. She was tired of other people standing in their way, but now there was nothing in their way but a wooden countertop.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispered. 

He quickly rounded the counter and pulled her body in close, planting his lips on hers. She melted into him as they both finally let their tears fall. They stayed in that embrace for Bast knows how long, taking in the moment and reacquainting themselves with the feel of each other. 

T’Challa had missed the smell of her perfume and the pomegranate leave-in conditioner she used in her hair even more than he realized. Her soft body conformed to his and it took all of his willpower to not explore her body more, so he leaned back to untangle himself from her momentarily only to be pulled back into her embrace. She rested her head on his chest and listened to the comforting sound of his heartbeat.

“Not yet,” she whimpered as she pulled him in tighter. He chuckled and rested his chin on top of her head after placing a light kiss on her crown. He saw the curtain ruffle slightly and knew her employees were eavesdropping.

“I think we have an audience.”

“I figured.” She refused to let go. “Can we go somewhere else?”

“Anywhere you want.”

The wheels in her head turned and turned. She didn’t want to be bothered by either of their loved ones, but she wanted privacy.

“Take me back to the lake.”

“Anything for you.”

She looked up at him with a twinkle in her eye. This time it was true, he really would and could do anything for her. There was no fiancee or council standing in his way. 

“Zina, Jafari, you two can come out now,” she said as she pulled only halfway out of the king’s embrace, his arm still around her waist. Her two employees tripped over themselves from behind the curtain and emerged with guilty looks on their faces.

“I’ll be gone the rest of the day. If it gets too crazy I trust you two to handle it on your own.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Of course, bosslady.”

She momentarily left T’Challa’s warmth to grab her bag from the back before they sauntered out of Taj’s hand in hand.

-------

When you take somebody for your own

It can't survive on history alone

Meet me at the hotel, motel

Though we got a room at home

Go to a place that we don't know so well

It be nice, add a little spice

Try some new seduction

Show each other how

Give each other new instructions

On what makes us

Feel good

Now

I just wanna make you feel good now

Do you want to make it better?

Do you want to stay together?

And it's easier to run away

Than to look for what would make you stay

The music played in the background as they swayed back and forth. Her ear was planted directly over his heart again, listening as it beat in time with her own. His right hand intertwined with her left as he held her close and his chin found its home on the top of her head once more. They were both too full of emotion to speak, so they let the music do the talking for them. 

Do you want to make it better?

Do you want to stay together?

If you do

Then let's please

Make some new

Memories

Do you want to make it better?

Do you want to stay together?

If you do

Then let's please

Make some new

Memories

Do you want to make it better?

Do you want to stay together?

If you do

Then let's please

Make some new

Memories

Do you want to make it better?

Do you want to stay together?

Eventually the two of them tired of dancing and laid back in the grass talking about their time apart. When she spoke of New Orleans her face lit up, and he made a mental note to take her around the globe. The conversation turned serious about halfway through and T’Challa told her the whole truth about what happened with Tamala, even telling her of his behavior towards her.

“That poor girl.”

“I know. Had I known she was serious I wouldn’t have been so crass with her, but in my mind she was just another obstacle blocking me from you. We’ve since made up and are on good terms, but I still feel like shit about it.”

“Challa, you hold on to too much. You apologized, she accepted, and you two made up. Let it go, don’t let it eat you up inside.” She cupped his face in her hands.

He nodded in understanding and kissed her wrist, sending chills down her spine.

“How is the sobriety going?”

“It’ll be six months next week.”

“I’m proud of you, you know that?” 

“For becoming an alcoholic?” he joked.

She pinched his arm.

“No, silly. For getting a handle on it. My umalume was an alcoholic and I saw what it did to him. I’m happy you were able to get better.”

“I am too.”

They sat in another comfortable silence staring at each other until Ashanti got an idea. 

“Want to go for a swim?”

A smile slowly crept up the king’s face before he bolted up, already pulling his shirt over his head.

“I’ll take that for a yes,” Ashanti laughed. “Help me with my zipper?” She stood up and turned around, moving her beaded cornrows out of his way.

“Of course,” he said as he came up behind her and pulled her zipper all the way down, revealing a lavender lace bra and the top of what he assumed to be matching panties. “Still into lingerie, I see.”

“Oh please, like you aren’t into it too.” She looked at him over her shoulder and smirked.

“You’ve got me there’” he said with a chuckle that rumbled from deep within his chiseled chest and made her weak in her knees. Ashanti turned around and her dress dropped to the ground, revealing her almost naked body. She undid her bra and let it fall next, freeing her breasts that he loved oh so much. Last to go was her underwear, which she slowly slid down her legs before standing back up and looking him in his eyes as if to challenge him. “You’re next” her eyes said to him. 

T’Challa undid his belt buckle before unzipping his pants and pushing them to the ground. He had nothing underneath and Ashanti’s eyes were immediately drawn down to his thick, beautiful dick. She moved closer to him and placed a light kiss on his lips before taking his hand in hers and leading him to the water. The waded in to where Ashanti’s feet could still just barely touch the ground and she finally let his hand go and turned around to face him.

“I want us to start over. Like you said, we have a rocky history and I don’t want to carry that baggage with us anymore. We deserve a fresh start,” she brought her hands up to his shoulders, “You know, my umakhulu used to always tell us to take our problems to the river. He said freshwater had healing properties and could wash away your sorrows...well, it’s not the river, but I imagine this could work about the same way.”

A smirk fell on T’Challa’s face as he listened to her speak. “I never told you the name of this lake, did I?”

“I don’t think so, why?” Her big brown eyes stared up at him curiously.

“This is the Ichibi Lokuphilisa, blessed by Bast herself.”

“Oh...damn, I’m good.” she said as they both busted out laughing. Her bringing them to the Lake of Healing must have been a sign from Bast. Just like the dreams she had before meeting T’Challa and the ones she continues to have to this day. 

“You brought us here for a reason, what will you have me do now, my love?”

“Do you mean that? Do you love me?”

His hand splashed up out the water and cupped her face while his other arm snaked around her waist, pulling her into him.

“I’ve loved you since our first date. Before I even met you I had these dreams-” 

Ashanti’s eyes widened in shock.

“I saw you, too! I mean, it was blurry, but I saw you come into the shop and then I’ve had like a million sex dreams about you. Those haven’t gone away, either.”

“Neither have mine. My dream was blurry too, but I kissed you in your shop and then when we met and you dropped that broom, I felt sparks when our hands touched. I knew then you had to be the woman from my dream. Ashanti, my soul loved you before I even knew who you were.”

He wiped away the tears that were steadily falling from her eyes before kissing her forehead, her nose, then her lips. 

“I love you too,” she whispered against the king’s lips while they stood there forehead to forehead, looking deep into each other’s souls. “And I don’t want to be without you again. I know I’m the one that left-“ she was cut off by him pressing his lips to hers.

“None of that matters now. Fresh start, right?”

She looked up at him and nodded.

“Fresh start.” 

He leaned back in for a kiss and the two of them got lost in each other’s mouths, lips suckling and tongues swirling. Her hands found their way to his curls and his travelled down to her ass before giving it a squeeze, making her melt into him even more. Her legs came up and wrapped around his waist and he growled into the kiss, deepening it and holding her tighter. His dick rested between her cheeks as she rocked her hips back and forth along his length, grinding her clit into his pelvis as she let out a soft moan. She had missed how he felt inside her and couldn’t wait any longer, so she lifted herself up to place him at her entrance, and he rolled his hips forward to enter her slowly.

Ashanti hadn’t had sex with anyone since Zane, but her body immediately opened up for T’Challa, allowing him to slide into her with ease until they were connected pelvis to pelvis. Neither one of them realized the tears that fell from their eyes as they kissed and rocked into each other, letting the water hold them steady.

“Ndiyakuthanda” he whispered over and over in her ear, imprinting himself on her body once more as he nibbled on her earlobe.

Ashanti couldn’t open her mouth to form words, only moans of pleasure. She wanted to return the sentiment and tell him she loved him too, but the feeling of him inside her overwhelmed her senses. Tears continued to  stream down her face as the pain of being apart from him  the last year and a half washed away. Her body felt tingly all over and everywhere he touched her a searing heat followed, warming her skin from the inside out. 

It took most of T’Challa’s strength to keep his knees from buckling from the pleasure he was feeling , but the lake waters kept him upright. He felt at home inside her and he couldn’t help the words of praise and adoration falling from his lips.

“You’re so beautiful.”

“I missed you so much.”

“Mmm you feel so good around me.”

“I’m yours, Ashanti.”

The tension inside her rose with each whisper, and when she was finally able to find the strength to speak she pulled back to look at him, taking in the tears that had made their way down his beautiful face. 

“Ndiyakuthanda, T’Challa. With all my heart.”

Their lips smashed together and he lifted her higher, allowing the water to cushion her fall back down on him as he went impossibly deep inside her. His thrusts got rougher and she saw stars.

“Come with me, kitten.”

That was all Ashanti needed. She had missed so many things about T’Challa, but hearing him call her by her favorite nickname of his sent her over the edge.

Every time their hips met she grinded further into him and the tension rose in both of their bodies. His toes dug into the sediment as she wrapped her legs even tighter around him, both preparing for their orgasms. Ashanti was the first to break, his thrusts sending her over the edge. She called out his name as she released all over his dick, making his thrusts falter. Her walls contracted around him, locking him in place as he came deep inside her.

Neither could bear the thought of not touching the other, so they stayed just like that, trading light kisses and declarations of love as the waters around them stilled.

Next Chapter

Taglist: @maddeningmayhem, @theblulife, @ljstraightnochaser @determinednot2fall

[kyber-crystal]

here again || s.r

words: ~2k

summary: you & steve reunite in wakanda after two long years apart

warning: literally none, just fluff. also bad writing bc this is an old ass oneshot

a/n: so uh,,,this was apparently the result of me falling in love with nomad steve rogers all over again. IW was actually the first avengers film i saw and let me just say, hot damn...also i’m horrible w/titles i’m so sorry. if you’d like to be added to my taglist to be the first to know when i publish something new loml!

tags: to @wxstedhexrt​ ! THANK YOU FOR BEING SO SWEET AND SUPPORTIVE AND ALWAYS TAGGING ME IN STUFF ILY

Time flies, people told you. Make the most of every moment. Take nothing for granted. Appreciate those you have around you while they’re still here, because you never know when they’ll leave you. 

What they didn’t mention was what happened between those long hours, the immense pain that came along with missing someone you loved and held near and dear to your heart. The countless sleepless nights awake, wondering if they’d be alright, wondering if they were safe and not in danger. The countless nights hoping and praying they’d come back to you and crying yourself to sleep.

They didn’t tell you that sometimes, you never knew what you were missing until it was gone. 

In your case, your ‘what’ was Steve Rogers. 

Initially, you’d started off on Tony’s side. Not because you agreed with his argument - that wasn’t the case at all - but because you couldn’t stand the idea of turning your back against the man that had sacrificed so much for your sake. But as soon as you saw Steve on the other side of the battlefield, eyes soft and pleading, you couldn’t take it anymore. You caved.  

Being in love made people do strange things, you thought.

You were lucky enough to have found refuge in Wakanda. T’Challa was more than happy to let you stay, knowing you had nowhere else to go and wanting to make sure you were looked after at all times. The others - Sam and the rest of Team Cap, had been sent to the Raft - they weren’t as lucky.

You felt awful. Here you were, living out a peaceful life (well, as peaceful of a fugitive’s life could be), while the rest of your teammates were trapped within the iron fists of the government.

Two years passed, and you still hadn’t gotten a message, any sort of sign, from any of them. You began losing hope. Maybe they weren’t coming back...

“Miss Y/N?” a calm voice suddenly jarred you from your thoughts. 

You turned around to see T’Challa standing there with his hands behind his back. “How many times have i told you to just address me as Y/N?”

“My apologies, Y/N,” he nodded curtly, correcting himself. “Are you alright?”

“Just...thinking,” you hummed. 

“It seems as if you have a lot on your mind,” he guessed. “Is there something that’s bothering you?”

“No, no...”

“Miss- Y/N, you’ve been here for two years, and you think by now, I wouldn’t know when something’s up?”  The Wakandan king raised an eyebrow. 

“T’challa-”

“Hopefully, some good news will lift your spirits?” he offered. “I have received a call, they’re on their way.”

Your brows furrowed in confusion. “Who?”

“Captain Rogers and the others are due to arrive soon. War is coming, and we need to prepare.”

You froze. “D..did I just hear you correctly?”

“Indeed. Okoye will meet you outside your chambers in half an hour, so take some time to wash up and rest, will you? You seem exhausted.”

“You know me so well,” you yawned and stretched your arms in the air. “See you in a bit.”

After you finished washing up and drying your hair, you changed into a comfortable cable-knit sweater and dark jeans before opening the door to see Okoye and Shuri standing there. “Hi.”

Shuri came forward and squeezed you into a tight hug. “Hey!”

You chuckled lightly and ruffled her hair. “So, what’re we doing?”

“T’Challa’s already there, we’re going to see Barnes,” she explained.

“Bucky?” 

“The one and only.”

Okoye offered you one of her rare smiles. You’d formed an unexpected close friendship with the fierce warrior during your time here - she made an excellent sparring partner, and even taught you how to work her weapons.

You headed outside to meet T’Challa, and made your way towards the fields together. 

...

“Drop to 2600, heading 0-3-0,” Steve stated as he walked up to the pilot’s seat. Despite the calm tone of voice he had, everyone could tell he was on the verge of losing it.

“I hope you’re right about this, Cap,” Sam said, “or we’re gonna land a lot faster than you want to.”

“Nervous, Rogers?” Natasha nudged him gently in the side. 

“No.” But the look in his eyes gave it all away.

“It’s been a wild two years, huh,” she exhaled as she stared out ahead, the Quinjet passing through a camouflage forcefield into the Golden City’s valley, landing at the airfield outside the palace.

“Yeah...it has.”

“So when are you gonna tell her?”

“Tell her what?”

“That you’re hopelessly in love with her.”

“Natasha-”

“Don’t bullshit me, Rogers, I know you are,” she gave the super-soldier an accusatory look. “Otherwise you wouldn’t have woken up in the middle of the night because you had a nightmare that she died, and it was only after talking with Sam for an hour that you fell back asleep. Which has happened multiple times before.”

“But, Natasha-”

“Come on..why can’t you just admit it? Are you afraid she’s gonna reject you? Because that should be the least of your worries. She’s head over heels for you.”

“What makes you think that?” he tilted his head to the side slightly. 

“Intuition. And the way she looked at you.”

“When you said we were going to open Wakanda to the rest of the world...this is not what I imagined,” Okoye commented as she and T’Challa walked side-by-side.

“And what did you imagine?”

“The Olympics. Maybe even a Starbucks.”

The Quinjet’s back gate dropped open and its occupants disembarked. Steve and Natasha stepped down the ramp first, followed by Bruce and Rhodey, with Vision and Wanda in the back.

“Should we bow?” Bruce whispered into Rhodey’s ear.

“Yeah,” he replied, dead serious. “He’s a king.”

“Seems like I’m always thanking you for something,” Steve said as he and T’Challa shook hands. 

Bruce awkwardly bowed. Rhodey pretended to look shocked, but there was a hint of an smile on his face. “What are you doing?”

“Uh, we don’t do that here,” T’Challa motioned with his hand. Bruce shot Rhodey a look, and was just answered with an amused grin. “So how big of an assault can we expect?”

“Uh, sir, I think you can expect quite a big assault,” Bruce replied as they began walking back into the administrative building.

“How we looking?” Natasha questioned.

“You will have my Kingsguard, the Border Tribe, the Dora Milaje, and...”

“A semi-stable, 100-year-old man,” Bucky finished with a wide grin as he walked towards his best friend. The two men exchanged a tight hug. 

“How you been, Buck?”

“Uh, not bad, for the end of the world.” He paused for a moment before speaking again. “But I think I’ve been holding up better than she has.”

“Who?”

“Everyone’s favorite retired Olympian, ex-nurse, and fugitive electrokinetic hero.”

“What-”

Before he had the chance to answer, your familiar figure stepped out from the shadows.

“Y/N?”

“Steve?”

You felt your breath catch in your throat and froze on the spot. He still had that same lean, muscular figure that any girl would swoon over, but his hair had grown out from years on the run and a rugged beard now covered his sharp jaw. His suit was darkened from dirt and grime and the star in its centre was torn out. But he was still absolutely breathtaking - bright blue eyes shining through the coverage. 

His expression immediately softened upon seeing you. After many nights praying to see your face again his vision had finally become reality - and he had to keep pinching the inside of his palm to remind himself that this in fact, wasn’t a dream at all. He wasn’t dreaming. You were real, and you were standing just a couple yards away. 

You felt your chest ache at the sight of him - it had been two years since you heard him speak. And it didn’t seem to matter how long you were apart for, because his voice would always make you weak at the knees. You hated him for making you react the way you did - or was it yourself that your hatred was directed at more?

But then all feelings of resentment and frustration starting to bubble up to the surface suddenly evaporated. You snapped out of your temporary trance and broke into a sprint, running as fast as your legs would carry you and launching yourself towards him, flinging your arms around his neck. “Steve-”

You slumped against him and broke down, your body trembling from your sobs. He pulled you closer against him and circled his arms around your waist. You didn’t know whether you were crying out of frustration or relief - but the feeling that was brought upon you by being held by him was unlike any other - you’d never get tired of it. You felt so safe, so protected in his tight embrace that you didn’t want to think about anything else. You didn’t want to think about the inevitable war on your way, you didn’t want to think about the past nor the  future, you just wanted to live in the moment - with your head on his chest, his chin on top of your head. That was it.

Steve felt his heart shatter into a million tiny pieces. You were crying. You never cried. You never cried and now you were breaking down - because of him.

“I missed you,” he mumbled, voice muffled by your hair. “God, I missed you so much. I’m so sorry I left you-”

“It’s okay-” you choked out, “I’m just glad you’re alive-”

You lifted your chin up slightly and he rested his forehead against yours, so close that there were only a few millimeters that kept your lips from touching. That’s when you realized he, too, was crying - tears streaming down his face and you swear there’s literally nothing that could make him look any less handsome. You felt your heart stop momentarily. A strange feeling settled in the pit of your stomach. If it weren’t for his steady gaze, you’re almost 100% sure you would’ve forgotten how to breathe.

Steve let out a shaky sigh of relief, inhaling the fresh scent of roses in your hair. It’s been two years since he was last able to hold you like this - and two years later, he still believes you fit perfectly together and that you were made to be held by him, and him alone. 

Then you were overcome with a sudden surge of confidence and quickly cupped his face in your hands and pressed your lips to his, closing the gap. 

It was like fireworks were shooting through your veins as he deepened the kiss and pulled you closer - if that was even possible, given that you were practically pressed against one another - your heart racing at what felt like a million miles per hour at the feeling of his warm lips on yours and his hand between your shoulder blades and on the small of your back. He tasted like everything between euphoria and heartbreak, salty tears and berries and warm coffee, and his touch was electrifying.

You probably could’ve gone on like that for hours on end. It was only when you heard someone cough awkwardly that you broke apart, eyes still glassy with tears, your faces flushed, and lips swollen.

“Are you and lover boy gonna keep up the baby-making or are you gonna say hi to the rest of us?” Sam interjected. “Just a friendly reminder that you aren’t the only two people here.”

“You’re gross,” you muttered as Steve released you to go greet the others. “Hey, Sam. It’s been a while, huh.”

“Long time no see,” he agreed.

“Well, well, well, I see you’ve finally worked up the courage to make a move, both of you,” Natasha smirked as she brought you in for a quick hug. “I’m proud of you both.”

“Nat! I missed you.”

“I missed you too. You know, Cap wouldn’t stop rambling about you the entire way here-”

“Shut up, Nat,” Steve cut her off. “I wasn’t rambling.”

“Not rambling my ass,” Bucky muttered, “you were talking my ear off that day we took the Quinjet. Wouldn’t stop worrying about her when she insisted she’d be okay.”

“If there was an Olympic sport of being passionately in love with your best friend and mutually pining over one another for years before finally breaking the through-the-roof tension, I assure you you’d win, Captain,” Shuri grinned mischievously.

“Oh, my God.”

[bellatrixobsessed1]

From Chin To Yon Rah (Part 39)

This part was typed mostly on mobile. Sorry for any typos.

She remembers the first time she had seen snow. The feeling...it was bizarre. If she were to be completely honest, she would best compare it to the sensation of her worst days--the days when her mind is slipping and everything feels off and nothing feels real. But instead of fear, she feels awe. Instead of dread, she feels an almost childlike sense of delight.

And perhaps, in some sense, she is a child again; she has something new to discover. Something curious and strange.

"Hajime,look." She points out the window. "It's everywhere." And perhaps it is a silly thing to ask but she inquires anyhow, "how do we walk through it?"

"Like you walk anywhere else?" He quirks a brow.

"But in the Water Tribes...I've heard that there is special equipment used to navigate the snow."

He laughs, "the snow isn't that deep here!" He opens the door and gestures for her to exit.

"It's cold." She complains. Even under her winter wools, she finds herself shivering. And here Atsu goes, dashing out into the winter with no coat at all.

"Git back in here!" Hajime calls. "I tol' you last year 'bout going outside without a coat!"

Atsu comes to a halt, the magic of the morning coming to an abrupt pause with him. " But dad!"

"You need to help Rikka get dressed, she never had to wear a winter clothes before."

This seems to allure the boy and with a wide and gleeful grin he darts back into the house. "Hurry up and put your coat and gloves on, Rikka! We have to build snow people and throw balls of snow at each other and…" he chucks a coat and a pair of gloves at her--Hajime's she assumes based upon the size of them.

Azula stuffs her fingers into the gloves. Only one layer doesn't seem sufficient but another layer or two seems to aggravatingly restrict her finger movements and if she is going to destroy Hajime and Atsu at this snowball war, she is going to need a full range of movement from her fingers.

She steps out into the snow, she hears it sift beneath her weight. So far everything is going accordingly, there is no ice to land her on the ground.she deduces that, in most places, the snow only reaches up to her ankles which is, though an inconvenience, manageable enough. But she can't imagine that running from enemy fire will be as easy. She supposes that if she needs a speedy getaway she can just melt some of the snow and listen to Atsu screech about her cheating. Perhaps she would feel more guilty over it if Atsu weren't a merciless little brute. He does not wait for her to assemble her protective mound of snow before bombarding her with an onslaught of tightly packed snow.

"Gotcha!" He whoops with each hit that she fails to evade. It would seem that while she was assessing her surroundings he hand been stockpiling an extensive artillery.

"Geez, Atsu, show mercy, this is her first snowball fight." Hajime chuckles from his spot on the porch.

It is a nice thought but Atsu, the feral beast, knows nothing of mercy. He tosses snowball after snowball. She manages to create only one but before she can throw it, Atsu fires another shot. And this one sails directly down the front of her shirt. She feels it slide from her chest to her belly leaving her with a full body shudder as itself away. She had dropped her snowball. Never in her life has she felt anything quite like it; uncomfortable and somewhat biting but I'm a way that wasn't exactly painful.

She tosses a pathetically pleading glance to Hajime who throws his head back in a howling laugh. "Alright, alright." He gets to his feet and steps out into the battlefield.

"Uh oh…" Atsu mumbles, he is now we'll aware that he should have built himself a snow fortress. Azula gives him a smug smile as she lifts a new snowball.

"Uh oh." He repeats as her very second snowball sails right into his face.

Maybe she should feel guilty over it but he isn't crying and he brushes it right off. And besides, she is certain that he was aiming for her face the whole time anyways, he simply didn't have the arm strength to land any hits higher than chest level.

And by the end of the hour she is almost embarrassed by how satisfied she feels to have beaten a child at a children's game. Any tickles of shame are washed away by Atsus delightful giggles. His enthusiastic, "wait until Caihong and Kim get here! We'll kick yer butts until you don't have butts no more!"

People have bestowed upon her many threats. But none have been quite like that.

That day she learns that Atsu is very much a little shit and that, likely, she will never truly shake her competitive nature.

.oOo.

She has been to plenty of awkward dinners but the silence of this one is so thick that it is dizzying. She can’t help but notice the way that Sokka twiddles his thumbs and looks in every direction but his father’s and Katara’s. It occurs to her that he is ashamed of her. Is embarrassed to be seen with her. She supposes that it is a good thing that the snow storm has picked up too strongly to go for a stroll through the village. She can only imagine what sort of looks she will get from everyone else. A firebender...the princess among people who the Fire Nation has displaced and nearly destroyed. She is everything that they detest and she supposes that Sokka has every right to be embarrassed by that. Embarrassed in the same way that she had been to parade him around the Fire Nation at first.

“Aren’t you going to say anything, dad?”

The man gives something between a hum and a sigh, “I’m trying to figure out what to say.” Hakoda looks at her. His face isn’t as steely with stubbornness as Katara’s.

Azula stares at her palms. She should take her mittens off. But any little motion will draw too much attention. Not that Katara's resentful gaze has left her since she got to the table. She wants to have a taste of her seaweed stew but she is already mildly nauseous with nervousness and the scent of the stew doesn't exactly kindle her appetite.

"Just talk to her for a bit, dad, you'll like her." Sokka promises.

The flutters in her tummy intensify that much more. She wishes that he wouldn't make promises that even he isn't certain of.

"She likes history and strategizing just like you do and…"

"And she used it to foil our invasion and get him sent to the Boiling Rock." Katara folds her arms across her chest.

Azula cringes to herself, truth be told, she had forgotten about that. Comparatively speaking, it seemed much less profound than some of her other misdeeds.

"Yeah well she's done a lot of changing since then." Sokka insists. “See, she even has the redemption haircut!”

“The what?” Azula finally speaks up.

“Yeah, Zuko said he cut his hair before joining us and now look at him, he’s happy--but in a grumpy old man sort of way, he’s a good friend, and he’s got long flowing tresses.”

Azula rolls her eyes. She isn’t sure if she wants to slug the man to death right in front of his father and sister or if she finds his recant amusing. She supposes that it would ruin her chances to make amends of she murdered Sokka now. “It wasn’t a redemption haircut I had matted hair and, maybe, lice.” Ji-Zhang had only mentioned it being matted. She supposes if she had lice that they would have shaved…

“Azula.” Sokka manages to cut through her comfort musings. Granted her musings weren’t at all pleasant but her inner monologue very much beats the external alternative.

She realizes that Hakoda has extended his hand. It is far less formal than a bow but she will take what she can get. He gives her hand a shake. “I’m Hakoda.”

“Sokka told me that, already. And he has already told you my name.”

Sokka flushes, “you’re supposed to introduce yourselves to each other.” And then he turns to his father, “she’s still working on the whole having a normal conversation thing. It runs in the family.”

“I can have a normal conversation just fine.” She folds her arms and holds her head high.

“Well it’s...interesting to formally meet you, Azula.”

“Dad!” Katara says sharply. “She’s not a part of this family. I don’t care how much Sokka likes her.”

“Come on Katara.”

“Don’t ‘come on Katara’ me! You’re the one trying to welcome her into the Water Tribe.”

“I get it, this is for the whole Jet thing isn’t it.”

This time Katara blushes.

“Who is Jet?” Azula furrows her brows.

“Yes, who is Jet?” Hakoda agrees.

“You don’t know about Jet?” Sokka asks at the same time as Katara says, “you weren’t supposed to tell him about Jet!”

“Jet’s just some jerk that flooded a whole village full of kids. To drive out some Fire Nation soldiers.”

“Gaipan?”

“Yeah.” Sokka nods. “You know about that.”

Azula returns the nod. “We lost a few soldiers there. There were noble men and women.” She pauses. “Stubborn too. They might have been alright if they fled with the rest of the village but…”

“Firebenders and their pride.” Hakoda clicks his tongue.

She wants to call the man on his generalization but frankly she hasn’t met a firebender yet who didn’t value pride. And maybe that is why it is so hard for her to apologize to Katara and Hakoda. Though she isn’t certain that she particularly needs to apologize to Hakoda--he had led an invasion to defeat her father. He had encroached on her land. It was her duty to see those plans foiled. Though pointing that out probably won’t serve her too well.

“Can you give her a chance, Katara? I gave Jet a chance.”

“No you didn’t. You were protesting and whining the whole time.”

“And I ended up being right.”

“So will I.” With those three words, she storms out into the snow.

“That went flawlessly.” Azula grumbles.

“Just give her some time, she’ll come around when she realizes that you’re actually kind of a really sweet person.”

“I will set everything you love on fire…”

“You just like to pretend that you aren’t.” And to Hakoda he mutters, “It’s part of the firebender pride thing. You can’t let anyone know that you’re nice.” He slings an arm over her shoulder and pulls her in closer.

Azula sighs, it is going to be a long, long vacation or whatever in the spirits’ name she could call this.

[nova-is-a-writer-now]

FOOLS pt.3

[[Zuko x Reader]]

<- previous next ->

Summary: Zuko and Y/N had liked eachother for a while even though neither of them knew it. Y/N tries to get over her crush for him, failing miserably. So just when she decides to let go and embrace her feelings, the new Fire lord finds himself feeling jealous and decides to take matters into his own hands.

A/N: I’m still impressed by how many people have liked this series and I’m so grateful to everyone who reads, it’s getting a little angsty in here so be prepared. (Edit: I wrote that before actually finishing this part, scratch that cause things got REALLY FUCKING ANGSTY. Also this part is a little shorter than the others but believe me, it’s as much as your little hearts will be able to take.) As always if there’s any mistake or anything let me know.

Side note I’ll wait for a request to start writing pt. 4

Warnings: Angst but it’ll end well i promise

-IF YOU HAVE ANY REQUEST DONT HESITATE TO ASK-

You walked up to your friends once again, noticing someone was missing. “Hey... where’s Zuko?” You asked everybody as you saw the packaged dress in Katara’s hand.

“He said he had business to attend at the palace, acted really weird and stormed out the marked.” She replied looking at you with concerned look in her eyes.

“That’s...weird. Maybe he got bad news, firelord stuff.” You said more to yourself than to the others.

Sokka interviened, cutting your thoughts short. “He did say we could stay and eat around here, so let’s find a place, I’m starving.”

———————————

After lunch, you and your friends walked around the market a while longer. You saw the same thing you had seen the day before from the carriage, people were happy. This was a major concern for all of you once the war had come to an end, how would the people of the Fire nation take the new way of things?but Zuko definitely did a great job with it all.

Sokka ended up buying a bunch of junk against Suki’s advice, while you and Katara bought some pieces of jewelry to go with your dresses, Toph bought a set of nunchucks which worried all of you a little bit, and Aang bout a toy for Momo.

Soon enough you were back at the palace, Zuko still no where to be seen. You tried not to pay much attention to it, yet worry still lingered in the back of your mind. It was almost dusk when you proposed the idea of setting up a campfire outside for old time’s sake. It felt like forever since all of you had sat down around the burning flames to talk or eat or simply lay down and look at the stars. So after a while, when everyone went to their chambers to leave the things they’d bought and change to a more appropriate attire for the weather, the group was back outside setting up the fire.

You laughed at sokka who tried to light it up, struggling thanks to the fact that the only wood you had found was very old and affected by the humidity of the Fire nation’s weather. Ever since Aang learned how to firebend and Zuko joined the gaang, he hadn’t had to light up a fire from scratch.

“Hey, Sokka. It’s ok, we get it, it’s been so long since we’ve done this, you’ve kinda lost your touch.” You teased, knowing he was mostly trying to impress Suki with his abilities. Toph who was sitting next to you suppressed a laugh.

“I haven’t lost my touch, Y/N!!” He replied not taking his eyes away from the wood in front of him. “Actually it’s not a ‘touch’, it’s ability and knowledge, ok?”

Your only response was to laugh looking over at Katara. She looked at him worried and said “Are you sure you don’t want me to water bend the humidity out of the wood, Sokka?”

“No, Katara! No bending, just ability and knowledge”

“I could get the flame started for you” interviened Aang.

“Is no one listening to me? Ability and knowledge!!”

All of you let Sokka stay entertained trying to light up the camp fire for a few minutes more, after that you collectively and non-verbally decided you didn’t want to be there all night waiting, so you signaled Suki to distract him while Katara and Aang worked their quick magic. When he turned back around he saw the sparks consuming the wood slowly at first and then turning into a bigger flame. He smiled satisfied with himself and turned to look at all of you. “See? Ability and knowledge.”

“Of course it is , babe.” Suki hugged him from behind while the rest of you held a laugh. 

The laughs and giggles didn’t take long to begin. It had always been so easy to get along with eachother, like you’d been friends for way longer that you really had. Before all of this, you never had any real friends at the Northern water tribe, the boys didn’t like you because you were a girl, and the girls didn’t like you because you liked fighting and bending. But when you met the gaang, it was like you could finally be yourself and not be judged, they were more of a family to you than anyone else had ever been.

You’d been outside for a while when you heard steps getting closer behind you, the night sky already spread above you. You were about to turn around, big smile on your face assuming it was Zuko, when you realized the look on all of your friends’ faces. The smile faded as you turned your head around. In fact, it was Zuko who was approaching the campfire, but he wasn’t alone. Holding onto his arm was Mai, in a jaw-dropping dress, looking as beautifuly dark as ever. You were sure the sound of your heart breaking must’ve been heard through out the entirety of the Fire nation.

Mai? You asked yourself internally making an outworldly effort to take your eyes away from them. Everyone but you greeted them equally as shocked, then he proceeded to take a sit in a log placed right in front of you, pulling Mai into his lap. There were a few seconds of awkward silence before Sokka started speaking again. You could hear his voice, but you weren’t paying attention to his words. Your eyes were glued to the floor, too scared to even dare to look up, your face lacked any color and a now familiar knot in your throat and tightness in your chest were forming again.

You reminisced to the previous months. After Mai and Ty Lee had been released from Boiling Rock, Zuko told you he’d talked to her. They’d left things in good terms, she understood why he did what he did, and he realized how he’d treated her wasn’t the best. But you were sure that didn’t mean they were back together, I mean, that happened almost a year ago, and this was the first time you’d seen Mai since the coronation.

Has he been seeing her in secret all this time? Why keep it from me? Did he know I liked him all along and was simply trying not to hurt my feelings? But why now? And why like this?

All these thoughts ran through your head while you tried your best to keep the tears that were threatening to roll down your cheeks inside. Suki’s touch dragged you out of your head. “Y/N?” She called in a soft and low voice.

“Yeah, sorry.” You replied looking up at her.

“Wanna go get some snacks from the kitchen?”

“Sure, let’s go” You took her hand and walked with her away form the open and into the palace.

Once you were sure you were out of the group’s sight, you let out a deep breath you didn’t know you were holding up until then.

“Oh, Y/N. Are you ok?” She pressed your hand reassuringly

You forced yourself smiled at her. “Yeah, everything is fine. I’m ok.” You lied.

“Zuko is an asshole for doing this. If you want me to punch him in the face I can do that, I’m still training all the time, I’m sure I could kick his ass no sweat.” She tried to lighten the mood while leading you to the kitchen.

“No Suki, thanks. It’s ok. It’s not like we’re a thing or anything, he can go out, be with and do what he wants with whoever he wants. I’m no one to tell him otherwise” you spat, trying to convince yourself as much as Suki.

You finally arrived to the kitchen. Chef Karou took one look at you before noticing something was wrong. “Child, what happened? You’re white as a ghost.”

“It’s nothing Chef, I just got a little dizzy out of the sudden, but I’m ok.”

“Well you’re in luck, I have your favorite dessert freshly made. That’ll make you feel better.”

You and Suki carried each a basket of treats and small snacks Chef Karou had sent for you and your friends. You had to brace yourself before walking back outside, only to realize Zuko and Mai weren’t there anymore, instead a head of white hair filled the space where they’d been sitting before.

“Iroh!” You called handing your basket to Suki and walking up to him.

“Hello, my dearest.” He replied, opening his arms to give you a hug. He’d always been one to give great hugs. Since you met him, the two of you had connected through Zuko. He cared for him deeply for a very long time, and even though you had just met him then, you cared about him too. He’d shared his wise words with you, advising you about your worry regarding the war, and you listened to his stories in return. He was warm and caring and he had a very special place in your heart. Hugging him helped release the tightness in your chest that had been building up for a good while, and that came with a few tears as well. “Miss Y/N, there’s no need for tears, this is a joyful reunion.”

“I’m just...very glad you’re here.” You tried to explain wiping the wetness from your cheeks.

“I’m very happy to be back, and to see this nation be rebuilt and led honorably. Talking about leaders... have you seen my nephew around? I haven’t gotten the chance to greet him yet.” He asked looking around for him.

“I um... I guess he’s back at his office or in his chambers.” You hoped he couldn’t tell the way you were trying not to let Zuko mess with your head.

“Do you mind calling him for me, dear? I’m a little tired from the trip.”

You wanted to say no, specially since you knew Zuko had left with Mai, but saying no to Iroh had always been a hard task for you. “I... yes, don’t worry, I’ll let him know you’re here.”

And with those words you walked off to find him. His office was your first stop, you hoped he was there, sitting on his desk and going through paperwork as you’d seen him do many times before, because if he was that meant Mai wouldn’t be there, and you wouldn’t have to deal with seeing them together anymore. But to your despair, he wasn’t.

Gathering all the strength you had left, you made your way to his chambers. The walk there seemed painfully short, you wished you’d had more time to prepare, although after knocking on the door and proceeding to open it, no amount of time could’ve prepared you for the sight. Zuko and Mai were both sitting on the edge of his bed, he had his hand on her jaw, holding her tightly in her place, while her hand layed on his neck, holding onto the roots of his hair. They were kissing... really kissing.

The sound of the door opening made them realize someone was there and forcefully Zuko pulled apart. He looked at you for a few torturous seconds before saying. “Y/N, what can we help you with?”

We, it was such a dumb thing to notice but you did. Zuko said we, as in him and Mai, as in the girl who’s throat he had his tongue down mere seconds ago.

“Your uncle is here, he wants to see you.” You replied, your voice slightly shaky making you pray he didn’t notice.

“I’ll be right there... anything else?” His tone was one you hadn’t heard before, it was harsh, merciless, out of everything that had happened that evening that small detail was what hurt you the most.

“No, good night.” With those words you turned back around closing the door behind you. You couldn’t hold back the tears anymore, your heart ached in a way you’d never felt before. You cursed yourself in silence for being so dumb, so gullible to even think Zuko would think of you as anything more than a friend, a colleague. You cursed yourself because you knew this was how things were going to end from the very beginning.

Now he was kissing another girl and you were alone in your room, sitting in the dark, thinking about how you were going to pick all the pieces of your heart and put them back together.

A/N: sorry don’t hate me <3

Tag list: @harmlessoffering @zukoshonourr @marvel-ing-at-it-all @booksandwonderlands @bison-whistle @darthsokaaa @royahllty @godoftheabyss @ilovespideyyy @literally-anythin @daddystevee @annie-are-u-ok @whalerus @galacticamidala @mangoberry43 @eridanuswave @katherinethedork @littleninjablake @taeeemin

[cora-vizsla]

Hi Mai! You said you had request open so I wanted to ask, if you'd write a little Paz x Reader cuddle fluff? Maybe they've been crushing on each other for a while now, but neither made a move, so when their mutual friends organize a movie night, they "miraculously" end up sitting beside each other on the couch and eventually cuddle up and it's so comfy they fall asleep? (PS: I loved the last Hypnotic chapter! I can see a rollercoaster coming up and dragging me with it and I'm here for it xD )

Alright I am HERE for this ask. It was rainy all day today and I want movie cuddles so badly! Here is 1.5 almost 1.6K of awkward pining with movies and Din being a di’kut. (Also, I am so glad you like Hypnotic! I really enjoy writing Obi Wan even though I didn’t think I would! And yes. You know my writing well enough to know that the rollercoaster is ALREADY IN MOTION AND THERE IS NO GETTING AWAY! XD)

Warnings: awkward. like these two are SUPER AWKWARD. Cuddles. There was only one couch. 

“And I just don’t understand. I mean we spend so much time together!”

“Well, have you just told him that you like him?”

“Are you kidding me? No! What if he laughs at me or something?”

“Laughs at you. Of all the mando around here you’re afraid that behemoth of a man will laugh at you?”

You shrug and fall back onto your bed, covering your face. Your friend rolls her eyes and gives up for the time being.

---

“A what night?”

“A movie night.”

Paz turned to look at his brother and crossed his arms.

“What the hell is a movie night.”

“I don’t know. Something that the local villagers do. They sit around and watch holovids together.”

“That’s stupid.”

“Your little girlfriend will be there.”

Paz punched Din in the shoulder and scowled under his helmet.

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“No? Then why do we both know who we’re talking about without uttering her name.”

“Shut up.”

Din crossed his arms and looked up at the blue Mandalorian who was now pacing.

“Fine. I’ll just let her know you aren’t interested.”

“What? Why would you tell her that? Then she will think I don’t want to spend time with her or something.”

“Why would that matter.”

“Dank farrik. I’ll go. When is it?”

“Two days from now.”

---

Your friend made you late. Like so late you weren’t even sure it was worth going anymore. When you both walked into the room you just barely saw that there were two open spots open. The one you noticed first was Din. You gave him a smile and a wave then scowled when you saw your friend basically sprint to sit next to him.

“Last spot is over there.”

You flipped your friend off with a fake smile and turned.

One seat left.

One seat left and who is it next to?

Of course, it was Paz.

You walk over and plop next to him. You weren’t sure why you were even nervous in the first place. Paz had been spending so much time with you he basically lived with you.

“Hey.”

You looked up at him and gave him a nervous smile.

“Hey, Paz. Kind of surprised you even came.”

“Yeah. Din pushed it. Sorry you uh.. didn’t get to sit by him.”

“Oh. No. It was just the first seat I noticed. It’s not like I mind sitting by you.”

He looked at you for a few moments before looking back up at the makeshift screen. The town was poor but having movie nights was always a highlight. Since the tribe had moved in, the village had tried to integrate them as much as possible.

“Do you know what this movie is?”

“No idea.”

“This wasn’t your plan?”

“Huh? No. Sylva set it up. I just found out about it today.”

“Today.”

“Yes?”

Paz hummed once and shot a glance over at Din. He whipped his head back around when you groaned at the title on the screen.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

“No it’s just.. I don’t really like this movie.”

“Oh. What’s wrong with it? Violence? Blood? War?”

“No. Worse. SO much worse.”

The title popped up and you could practically hear the gears turning in Paz’s head.

“Love Across Star Systems?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a.. romance movie?”

“Yep. And it’s the worst.”

Paz cleared his throat and shift a little, keeping his hands planted on his thighs.

“You uh.. you don’t like romance?”

“Uh. I don’t know. I mean.. this movie is just corny. Not much realistic between two people running across a beach holding hands at sunset.”

“You don’t imagine yourself holding hands at sunset? I thought women loved that shit.”

“On a beach? I friggen hate sand, Paz. Plus, if you sit down then you get wet. No. No thank you.”

“I don’t know, cyar’ika. There has to be someone you’d like doing that romantic shit with.”

You looked up at him and burst out laughing. The idea of him running down the beach in his clunky armor was probably hands down the funniest thing you had ever thought of. You covered your face and tried to bite back your laughter. He stared down at you and when he tilted his head to the side you laughed even harder.

“I think you need to go to medical.”

“No! No. I’m okay. I’m sorry I just.. never mind. Let’s just watch the movie okay?”

He nodded once and you sat back, letting the movie start. As the movie played you found yourself laughing at it more than anything. Paz would look down at you but say nothing.

---

Unbeknownst to you, your best friend and Din were rather upset that the romance movie wasn’t working. The plan was for the two of you to get closer, not you laughing so hard you couldn’t breathe. Din hit a few things on his vambrace and suddenly the movie stopped. Most of the people groaned but he saw that you sighed in relief.

“Why did you stop it?”

“She’s laughing too hard to realize she’s sitting in the dark next to him. And he’s too much of a di’kut to just put his arm around her.”

“What then?”

“Act like the movie isn’t working and we put on something else. Does she like scary things?”

“No. She usually ends up hiding under a blanket.”

“Perfect. She doesn’t have a blanket. But she does have a Paz.”

---

Once they got the new movie started you started to shrink back into the couch. Paz looked down at you and tilted his head again.

“Don’t like scary?”

“Uh. I mean. I like it but.. I just.. I get-“

You were cut off by your own yelp that you tried to cover up. You turned involuntarily with your hands covering your face into Paz’s side. He looked down at you and hesitated before wrapping his arm around you.

“It’s not.. you’re really scared by this?”

“Yes! Oh, I hate jump scares.”

You felt your face heat up when you realized that you were now nestled into Paz. Part of you wanted to move away but truth be told he was warm. It sharply contrasted his bekar armor that always seemed to be cold. You had wondered what it would be like to curl up against him and now it was happening.

“Is this.. uh.. is this okay, cyar’ika? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or..”

“No. This is okay. As long as it’s okay for you?”

“It’s okay.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

You grimaced at yourself and heard Din clear his throat across the room which suspiciously sounded like a laugh. You spent time with this man, yet you acted like an awkward teenager. You stayed nestled up to him and could feel him relaxing the longer you did. Other than burying your face into his side a few times, you were just comfortable.

His hand was gently resting on your waist. He was stiff at first but when he started gently rubbing his thumb across the small part of skin that was peeking out from under your shirt, you couldn’t help but smile. You tentatively moved your hand so it was resting on top of his thigh and you could have sworn he sighed at the contact.

Eventually you started to get sleepy. You knew you should excuse yourself and go back home but you didn’t want to leave Paz. Sure, you could ask him to come back with you, but the fear of rejection was just too much to handle. Plus, it was your friends building everyone was in, you’d be safe either way.

The next thing you knew, you were waking up. You picked your head up and saw that you were basically laying on top of a sleeping Paz. You froze, looking down at the couch. You both had fallen asleep and at some point, he had moved both of you to stretch out, you laying directly on top of him.

“You snore in your sleep.”

You let you some type of noise of embarrassment and buried your face downwards into his bekar. He rumbled out a laugh and pat your back.

“Don’t worry. It didn’t keep me up.”

“I didn’t even realize I fell asleep. I am so so-“

“Don’t. Nothing to be sorry for.”

You fell into an uncomfortable silent until you both started talking at the same time.

“Paz, I-“

“Listen, I-“

You started laughing and shook your head.

“Go ahead, cyar’ika.”

“Uhm, I guess I’ll just be blunt. I really like you. I mean.. stars why am I so awkward. I really value our friendship, but I do feel more for you than that.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. If you don’t feel the same it-“

“I do.”

“You do?”

“Yep. Pretty sure Din and your friend set this entire thing up. He brought it up days ago and said he would tell you I wasn’t coming if I didn’t agree.”

“Oh, that bastard.”

Paz roared out a laugh and you couldn’t help but smile with him.

“That’s uh, why I was laughing when you said I must have someone in mind to do corny shit like that with. I imagined you trying to run down a beach with all that armor on.”

“Hey. I’ll have you know I am surprisingly agile.”

You looked up at him just in time for both of you to burst out laughing again.

“Alright, then I’ll need to see that some time.”

“Sounds like a date. Yeah?”

“Yeah. A date.”

[randomideasmybrainhas]

What makes you beautiful (Suyin)

Inspiration from "What Makes You Beautiful" (1D)

--

"I don't know what to do that will make her fall for me, I've tried everything Lin!!"

"Have you tried impregnating her? Worked with the last one." Lin continued as she flipped through the newspaper at the dinner table. It was just the two of you, since everyone else was out training. You were apart of the Zafou guard to try and impress Suyin, the love of your life. Your attempts to get Suyin to notice you haven't gone unnoticed, just not what you wanted. Su would always just smile and give you a brief kiss on the cheek or little side hug and be taken away to attend to some sort of emergency. You were desperate at this point.

You got along with all her children, and ever since their father left, and it left their mother a hundred more times busy, Su barely took time to sleep, let alone try dating again, saying all she needed were her children. Everyone saw through it, but couldn't convince her otherwise.

"Not funny. I'm serious, you're her sister!! Shouldn't you have some ideas?!" You exasperated, arms outstretched and head on the table. Lin gave you a side eye and then rolled her eyes, folded her newspaper down and looked at you deadpanned.

"Su likes big gestures. Hell the last one helped her build this entire city. You have a lot to compare to. Those little flirty moments, won't cut it. Whatever you do, make it big, involve her family, and show her you're not leaving." Lin then got up and left you to your thoughts. You instantly started planning away.

--

"Opal!! Hey, I need your help, and I need you to get everyone but your mother involved, but figure out when she can get a day completely free." You ran up to Opal to explain the rest of your plan, and she was fully on board, along with the rest of her siblings. They all loved you, and already half viewed you as a parent almost, or good friend or some sort. They all loved the idea of you with the mother, and couldn't imagine anyone else with her. Even Kuvira appreciated you and all you did to help Su with the city and her family.

--

"MOM!! I need help!" Opal shouted, sounding completely frantic and worried. Su instantly dropped what she was doing and ran to find her daughter who was shouting at the dinning room. She ran up to her to make sure she was safe.

"Opal, honey, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Su asked worried as she made sure Opal was okay. Su was very tired and stressed out about the train station being behind schedule for the grand opening, affecting the loan for the project, making her stay up even later than she normally does. With dark bags under her eyes, and her hair a little untamed, everyone could see that Su was stressed and overworked, but she refused help from anyone.

"Mom, come here, follow me! Hurry, you're going to miss it! Mom, stop walking so slow!! Lets go!" Opal started shouting while grabbing her mother's hand and pulling her behind her as she ran to the back yard where her twin brothers would train with their power disc game. Su, completely sleep deprived and over stressed wasn't sure what was happening, but Opal wouldn't let up or explain.

"Opal, where are we going, I need to get back, what's happening?" All her questions getting ignored, and she just continued to get pulled to the back. She started to worry that her boys got injured in a game, and needed medical attention ,but then why would Opal call for her and not a medic?

Instantly when Opal broke out into the back yard, there was giant speakers and a crowd gathered of her entire family and friends. Su looked so confused, as people started cheering and confetti blasted everywhere and puffs of fire on the side line went up when she got dragged to the middle of everyone and sat into a chair. Su who was still shocked to see her mother of all people amongst all of this, and wondering what was happening, just open and closed her mouth a few times until she spotted you.

You had gotten with Varick to get all the speakers and band and all the lights. You were dressed in the typical clothing that Su and her children wore, the green robes, with a metal top and black pants and boots. Your hair was pulled back into a high ponytail with make up and bits of glitter on, you slammed on the guitar and started singing.

"You're insecure, don't know what for. You're turning heads when you walk through the door."

You sang atop the stage while looking at her, and giving her a quick wink. Su looked completely dumbfounded and confused, with a small smile on her face staring up at you. The avatar gang and her children were all jumping up and down and cheering.

"Baby, you light up my world like nobody else. The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed. But when you smile at the ground, it ain't hard to tell that you don't know, you don't know that you're beautiful!"

You continued to slam on the guitar and wink at Su again at the end of the chorus. You took off the guitar and tossed it to the other band member who could play it. You took the mic and hopped off the stage and ran up to 3 giant covered tarps, and pulled the first one down while you continued to sing.

As it fell, Su could see a giant rock statue of herself and her children all together all with smiles and hugging each other. Su felt her eyes tear up as she looked at it, and you ran to the next one and pulled it down to reveal another statue, but of just the two of you and Su. Hugging and smiling at one another, and looking into each other's eyes.

You watched as Su brought a hand to her mouth to cover a gasp and dart her eyes to Lin and her mother who stood next to each other looking half impressed and half bored. They just gave her a little head nod back to you as you ran to the last tarp and continued to sing.

"If only you saw what I can see, you would know why I want you so desperately."

You smile at her and pull down the tarp and it reveals a giant statue of you, her, and her children. All together smiling and hugging and the two of you looking at each other. Su looked to her children who all gave her thumbs up and were cheering, even Kuvira gave her a nod.

Everyone started to sing along "nana, na, na, na, na, na." as you made your way up to Su, and panting slightly and a giant grin plastered on your face, you took a knee before her and held her hand with your free hand, and continued to sing softly.

"Baby, you light up my world like nobody else. The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed. But when you smile at the ground, it ain't hard to tell that you don't know, you don't know that you're beautiful."

You pause, breathing heavily staring at Su, holding your breath a bit.

"Su, I've been in love with you since I moved to your city, and I couldn't imagine to continue living in it without you by my side every day and night. I know you were done dirty, and it left you with a lot on your plate, but I am asking, no begging you. To let me in, and help you take on that load together. I promise I'll never leave, or make rash decisions without your input, and I promise to help you raise your amazing, brilliant, hilarious, talented children until we grow old and happy together. All I want is to be there every step of the way with you." You breathed out hard staring intently into Su's eyes still on a need with her hand in yours. This was it. She'd either take you and you'd be happily ever after, or she'd reject you and you'd become a heartbroken woman and leave to the fire nation. I mean, at least its warm there, the North and South water tribes were cold and you weren't exactly a monk...

"I-i, I don't know what to say." Su says a little speechless while looking from you to her family and friends.

"Oh spirits, it's not going to get better than this, you say yes Suyin Beifong. She's promised to leave me alone if you say yes, and if I ever visit she'd let me kick her ass in bending." Toph screamed throwing her hands in the air.

"Please say yes. She's been bugging me for weeks about how to ask you out." Lin says flatly, while raising her eyebrow. Su looks back to you and just stares.

"Mom. We all love her. Just say yes, we know you like her too." Opal says softly giving her mother a little nod of approval. You continued to be on a perched knee while looking at Su intently.

"What do you say Suyin Beifong? Will you let me take you out on a date?"

"I, there's so much to do. The train station-"

"-has been taken care of. The bank has a 2 week extension penalty free, and the men are working round the clock without extra pay because their company guaranteed it would be done by today or else you get your money back, and the guards are helping with the production line to go over more smoothly. You haven't slept a proper day in months. I have everything taken care of, and a perfect spa day planned for you, followed with a bottle of the best wine I could find." You continue as you search her eyes.

"H-how did you do all of this?" Su asked eyes wide at the station being finished today.

"When I want something, I make sure it gets done." You say with a slight smirk and wink. Su flushes deep red and shakes her head. She pulls your hand up and hugs you tightly, you instantly returning.

You pull back and look at her, "so does this mean yes?"

"Yes." Su says while bringing you in for a kiss and wrapping her arms around your neck and you brought her even closer, deepening the kiss and smiling into it, while everyone else shouted and the music started up again.

"Baby, you light up my world like nobody else. The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed. But when you smile at the ground, it ain't hard to tell that you don't know, you don't know that you're beautiful!" (x2)

You finished singing and lifted Su up and spinning her around as she laughed and kissed you again, sweetly and just shook her head and smiled at you, resting her forehead against yours.

"You really are beautiful Suyin, and spirits am I in love with you."

[muertawrites]

Two Halves - Chapter Three (Zuko x Reader)

Part Two

Word Count: 2,450

Author’s Note: Something very important to note about this series is that in it Zuko has very long hair. I’m talking like feudal era Japan hair (use this post from @frogydraws​ for reference. It is *chef’s kiss* gorgeous). Also, I feel like I’m missing people who asked to be on the tag list - if you asked but don’t see your name, PLEASE direct message me so I can fix that! Other than that I don’t have much else to say about this chapter. It’s mostly exposition but who doesn’t love some good plot speculation?

~ Muerta

Everyone gathers in a sitting room in Zuko’s personal wing of the palace, clustered in groups or pairs in an attempt to create some sense of comfort after the night’s discord. Katara, Aang, and Sokka gather in the center of the room - their typical formation, still very much a reflex due to years of working as a team. You sit with Iroh and Toph to one side of the room, Iroh sharing a chaise with you and Toph seated on the floor beside you, one hand laid protectively over the top of your foot. Zuko stands at the room’s fireplace, passing a ball of flame between his hands; you watch him closely, already innately drawn to him as your partner, noting that while the others (mainly Katara, Aang, and Sokka) discuss the evening’s events, attempting to formulate a plan for whatever should come next, he remains silent, secluded deep within his own thoughts. He looks every part the leader you’re now married to, in a way you hoped you’d only see much later in your relationship. 

“It had to be someone within the palace,” Sokka states. “The gates were too heavily guarded for anyone to get in from the outside.” 

“But how could they commit a murder without being seen?” Aang wonders. “There were too many people around for something like that to go unnoticed.” 

“That’s just the thing,” Katara counters. “There were enough people to create a big enough distraction that nobody saw until whoever did it wanted us to.” 

“And we’re absolutely positive it was that specific guy who was the target?” Sokka proposes. “It wasn’t just a random attack to make a statement against the whole government?” 

“No,” Zuko chimes in. “They meant to kill him. When I proposed making someone from outside the Fire Nation queen, he was the only one in favor of the idea. He convinced the rest of the board to support me.” 

“Do you think maybe they wanted to make a statement against just you, then?” Aang asks. 

“It wasn’t just a statement,” you tell him, speaking for the first time since entering the room. Everyone turns their heads towards you; the only one who doesn’t show any surprise is Zuko. “It was a threat, meant for both of us.” 

“And probably on behalf of Ozai or Azula,” Toph adds. 

“Do you think he’d really still have followers within the palace?” Katara questions. “Everyone who served him was imprisoned after the war.”

“It’s possible,” Zuko responds. “My father radicalized more people than we could possibly know of. I expected his resistance at some point.” 

“If Ozai intended to stage any resistance, he would have done it much more gruesomely,” Iroh interjects. “He wouldn’t have wasted time with threats. He would have killed one or both of you, if not everyone in attendance tonight.” 

“But who else could hold that much of a grudge against not only the Fire Nation, but the alliance with an outsider?” Sokka asks. 

“It could be someone from the Water Tribe,” you suggest. Your words are deadpanned and grim. “It’s very possible they see this as another form of colonization.”

“Nobody else from either tribe is here, though,” Katara says. “It’s just me and Sokka.”

“I don’t think they’d be here officially if they planned to kill someone,” Aang reasons. “If it was someone from the Water Tribe, they’re probably in disguise.” 

“They couldn’t have been,” Sokka replies. “They’d have to have been inside the palace, and nobody got in without official documentation.” 

“Our concern right now should not be the manhunt,” Iroh speaks up in his firm, tepid way. “It should be the safety of our loved ones; our lord and lady especially.” 

“He’s right,” Toph agrees. She stands, placing a hand on your shoulder. “I think she should stay with me tonight. I have the best chance of seeing someone and stopping them before they can do any harm.” 

“She’s staying with me,” Zuko quips. 

The entire room falls into a heavy silence, the air itself seeming to drop to the floor. Everyone stares at Zuko in shock, yourself included. 

“We’re married,” he explains. “It’s our responsibility to look after each other. She’ll stay with me in my chambers.” 

Five sets of eyes shift to focus on you. You meet Zuko’s gaze, the steely determination within them only serving to remind you of the bond you now share. You nod, keeping your eyes locked with his as you speak. 

“It’s okay,” you affirm. “I’ll stay with him.”

After a few more minutes of deliberation, everyone parts ways for the night - Sokka is sent with Katara and Aang to provide them extra defense, and Toph goes with you and Zuko, moved to the guest chamber just outside his sleeping quarters so she can monitor any movement that happens during the night. 

You follow Zuko into his rooms, arms linked together in a mutual nervous embrace. His chambers are divided into three spaces; two rooms connected by a sitting room and a large, covered porch. Zuko leads you down a short hall off the right side of the sitting room, opening a set of doors to reveal an ornate bedroom - your things rest at the foot of the four poster bed, your sleeping clothes already laid out on the mattress. 

“This used to be a sunroom,” Zuko tells you. “But I had it converted into a bedroom. I figured it would be weird sleeping together, but also weird keeping you in your own wing across the palace, so… this seemed like a good way to be close to each other without making it too awkward.” 

You squeeze his arm in a gentle, appreciative hug, turning to look up at him. 

“Thank you,” you say. “I really appreciate all you’ve done for me.” 

Zuko nods, laying one of his hands over where yours rests on his bicep.

“Let’s get changed,” he murmurs. “I’ll call for some tea and we can try to have a normal night.” 

He leaves you, and you draw the curtains of the room’s sweeping windows so you can dress in peace; one side overlooks a garden courtyard, while the other gives a view of the ocean beyond the palace’s farthest wall. The sights are stunning, but the suspense you feel building in the pit of your stomach makes it hard to enjoy them in full. 

Your hands shake as you undress, letting the layers of your wedding robes drop to the floor and leave you naked at the foot of the bed. You stare down at your night dress, the pristine white fabric glaring virginally up at you. You warily slide yourself into it, then cross the room to the vanity that’s been set to the left of the bed. 

You can hardly control the shiver of your fingers as they work the beads out of your hair, taking the freed locks behind your head into the single braid you typically sleep in. You stare at yourself in the mirror, clutching the totems Katara gave you to your chest; your eyes are wide, your cheeks sunken, your knuckles white. A small voice, somewhere in the far reaches of your mind where the sound can hardly carry, tells you to have faith in your new husband; he’s treated you with nothing but kindness since even before the moment you set foot on his soil, and has showed nothing but the utmost respect for you - he wouldn’t be the man your family loved and trusted with your life if he shifted his behavior in such a sudden, drastic way by forcing you into his bed. 

Despite these cries of reason, all you can hear is the voice of the beautician who prepared you for tonight - she hovers behind you in the mirror, her face contorted into a heinous, scowling grin as she cackles with laughter. She reminds you of the children you’re meant to bear, her nails digging into your shoulders as she goes on to tell you that, as the Firelord’s wife, he’s entitled to all the pleasure your body can give him, and will take it at any cost. 

Your terror turns the man who’s been so endlessly sweet to you into a monster. 

Through the bedroom doors, you hear a servant enter with a tray of tea, followed by Zuko’s gentle voice thanking them. You swallow, taking the strands of beads in your hands and twining them together, forming a necklace which you place over your head and tuck into the front of your night dress. After a few deep, quivering breaths, you stand, making your way out to the shared sitting room. 

Zuko sits on the side of the room closest to his bedroom, head turned towards the now lit fireplace and eyes lost within its glow, his gaze distant and glazed with worry; he snaps back to the present when he notices you enter, giving you a faint, slightly defeated smile. His military uniform has been replaced with a simple set of pajamas and a robe, his long hair free from its knot, now hanging loosely about his shoulders and down his chest; he’s even more handsome this way, his features contoured by the darkness of the room and the light of the fire. You feel a rush of lightheadedness as you lower yourself across from him, nervously returning his smile. 

“Uncle took the liberty of preparing our tea,” Zuko greets you. His voice is soft and welcoming, tinged with a mirth that feels almost ironic given the circumstances. “He didn’t want to subject you to my awful cooking skills so early in the marriage.” 

You huff amusedly, sharing a genuine smile with him as he serves you. You sip the scalding liquid slowly, letting it ease down your throat and warm you from the inside out; it relaxes you, the shaking in your limbs disappearing. 

“I’m glad we have him,” you say. “I don’t think we’d know what to do with ourselves otherwise.” 

Zuko chuckles, his grin causing a manic tremble to erupt in your chest. 

“He’s definitely the romantic one in the family,” he agrees. “He hasn’t stopped talking about you since he met you. I think if he were forty years younger, he’d have married you before I could.” 

You giggle, a timid blush coloring your cheeks. 

“I never thought I’d be so popular among Fire Nation men,” you tease. 

Zuko smiles, wistfully and exhaustedly, letting out a soft breath of laughter; you can tell the nights events anchor his thoughts. 

“I’m sorry tonight ended the way it did,” he tells you. “I wanted your arrival to be a source of happiness for our people. Maybe I was too hopeful.” 

You sigh heavily, running a finger along the brim of your teacup as he meets your eyes; you can tell he blames himself for what happened. 

“A hundred years of hatred doesn’t end in a decade,” you console him. “It isn’t just here, either - many people in the Water Tribe feel just as divisive as people do here.” 

You cautiously reach forward and take his hand, letting your thumb stroke over his knuckles. His fingers tighten around your palm, and you can feel every callous and scar that marks his alabaster skin. 

“We have to stand together,” you say. “We have to show the world that we can overcome the past; that things are different now, for the better.” 

Zuko nods, raising the back of your hand to his lips and pressing a light, tender kiss to the knuckle of your forefinger. He smiles faintly, letting his mouth linger on the bone for a long moment before placing your hand back where it was on his knee, still twined with his. 

“I really did make the right choice in a queen,” he muses. Heat spreads across your skin, your lips curling up slightly at his endearing remark. 

“It’s late,” Zuko says after a beat, letting his fingers slip away from yours. “We should both get some rest.” 

He stands, leaning over you and placing a docile hand at the back of your head. Your heart leaps from your chest and into your throat, your fingers curling to grip the skirt of your night dress as anxiety rushes to your head. You deny every instinct you have that tells you to fend him off. If this is when he chooses to take you, you have no choice but to go willingly - you can’t form any rifts in a relationship that’s already somewhat fragile, especially when doing so would mean driving a wedge through the center of an already divided country. 

Zuko lowers himself and rests his lips to your forehead, etching the phantom of a kiss just below your hairline; he parts almost as soon as he arrives, leaving you dazed and flustered in his wake. 

“Sleep well,” he murmurs, offering his arm to help you to your feet. You accept it, feeling much smaller beside him than you did only hours before. “I’ll see you in the morning.” 

You each return to your respective bedrooms, your legs floating towards your bed of their own accord and dropping you backward onto the mattress. You stare up at the sheer, billowing canopy hung from the ceiling as the shivering in your limbs returns, your body completely unable to accommodate with what your mind can barely seem to process. 

He didn’t force himself onto you. He didn’t violate the comfort between you simply for the sake of tradition and lineage. The extreme relief you feel is overwhelming, so much so that you think you might throw up or faint. 

You fall asleep to the sound of the ocean beyond the palace walls, the danger that looms within them doing little to deter the peace that washes over you as you drift into a pleasant dream.

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