#evergreenonthehorizon

[forever--rain]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Katara/Zuko (Avatar) Characters: Katara (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Izumi (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Sokka (Avatar), Suki (Avatar), Iroh (Avatar), Kanto (Avatar), Mai (Avatar) Additional Tags: Dadko, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers, Past Aang/Katara (Avatar), Oral Sex, implied unprotected sex, Unprotected Sex, Morning Sex, Sukka, kantoph, Past Mai/Zuko (Avatar), Sokka/Suki - Freeform, Toph/Kanto - Freeform, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Smut, Explicit Consent Summary:

Fifteen years of friendship amount to quite a lot of history. Katara and Zuko come to terms with the realization that some risks are worth taking.

[halfhoursonearth-writes]

Can you recommend fanfiction that you personally really like?

Yes! Love this ask. I’ve never made a Zutara fic rec list partially because I’ve read so many wonderful stories over time that I find the prospect daunting! 

But there are absolutely certain stories that I have a personal soft spot for, that I return to again and again. And that’s my criteria for what’s included below. This is a sampling of fics that I find myself coming back to, in no particular order. I may come back and add more, because this list is so far from exhaustive. A mix of ratings (marked), so keep that in mind.

Wish I Was the Moon by Like a Dove (T), post-canon: There’s so much that I love about the way this one-shot explores Katara’s character and what she faces post-canon, how she frees herself, strikes out in the world and finds her way home. Her feelings for Zuko, and her inner-conflict around them, are rendered tangibly, both through scene and subtext. A really good example of how an author can show a character’s lack of/journey to self-knowledge without breaking voice.

Refraction by caroes3725 (E), post-canon: When I started reading Zutara fanfic (for me this was in 2020), this was the fic I was looking for—a deep, realistic-to-canon, in-character exploration of how Zutara could unfold after the events of ATLA in a way that gives Katara in particular the arc she deserves. Really well-done development of the Fire Nation court world, well-developed characters, shining dialogue. An amazingly well-worth-it slow burn.

Wildfire by rainstormdragon (E), post-canon: To me this story is kind of a steamy Zutara thesis. The characters are so spot on and alive, their flaws are on full display in a way that feels realistic, and their chemistry is powered by their compatibility—matched in passion and stubbornness, and also in what they want from life. And I think it really gets Aang, too, which is something that can be hard to find in ZK fic. Also really hot, but that's only part of what makes it really shine.

Partners in Learning by evergreenonthehorizon (T), Modern AU: One of the things I love in modern AUs is watching an author weave that invisible string between these characters. Sometimes, it’s by writing narrative arcs that parallel the series, and sometimes it’s by drawing out the personality traits that make the characters both lovable to readers and such a compelling match and watching that spark bloom into flame. This beautifully written story does that so, so well in a really compelling Modern AU setting. Zuko and Katara here are so wonderfully lovable, and it’s a joy to watch them fall for one another, too.

Journeys by Smediterranea (E), Modern AU: In real life, I want to see my friends in relationships with people who can recognize why they’re so particularly amazing. That potential, I think, part of the appeal of ZK as a ship, and that’s part of the special magic of this fic. Watching these two characters get to know one another—really see one another—and fall in love deliciously sweeps the reader up. Plus, really fun, in character cameos from the rest of the Gaang along the way.

Spark, set fire by marijayne (T), Modern AU: literary fanfic, and I mean that in the best way. This story is beautiful and bittersweet, the latter is not often something I seek out in fanfic (where I hide from life), but here it’s gorgeous and worth it. The world building here is really cool—allows the author to explore some of a set of cultural issues/interactions that both echo the ATLA world and ours. The characters are so tenderly drawn (dadko especially)—and the connection between them builds beautifully and tangibly—and the longing is…chef’s kiss. 

Wrong when it's right by nire (T), Book 1 Canon Divergence: Before I read this, I couldn't imagine wanting to read a Book 1 Zutara. After, I wanted more. Bickering, bed-roll sharing, shared heat, tenderness and common ground. A delight from start to finish.

Anyway, thanks for asking and happy reading! <3 And if you want more recs, let me know.

[calderacitylovers]

Zutara SlowBurn FanFiction: Personal Favs, part I

·        I AM STILL HERE by owedbetter Published: 2017-10-09 | 77K words | 7 Chapters

After the Last Agni Kai K heals Z with the help of bloodbending. Very sweet.

 ·        THE SUMMIT by AJLenoire

Chronicles post-war years, as Gaang and other characters gather for annual summits to keep peace and build relationships between the Four Nations. Katara yearns for a bigger purpose than the Avatar’s companion and slowly grows into a shrewd diplomat. Very sweet slow burn ZK story. Has mature scenes.

 ·        CLOTHE ME IN SEASONS, DRESS ME IN SNOW by sadladybug Published: 2015-01-05 | 62K words | 7 Chapters

Follows old Zuko as he reflects on his life and what would have been if he kept Katara closer. Absolutely beautiful, but also a devastatingly heart-breaking story about loss and pain.

 ·        SILENT DECLARATIONS by Megara Pike (Megara_Pike) Published: 2021-01-20 | 2,6K words

A short story based on animation by Hayley Wong. Z finds K asleep in her study and carries her to bed. Very sweet, gentle story.

 ·        COVERED IN YOU by evergreenonthehorizon Published: 2021-04-02 | 55K words | 14 Chapters

Eight years after the war Z convinces K to take on a role of a Southern Water Tribe ambassador in the Caldera city. Both are completely clueless about each other’s feelings. Features political talks, big gestures, and a ball. Very cute, sweet slow-burn story. Has mature scenes.

 ·        TEN STRIDES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION by evergreenonthehorizon Published: 2021-04-03 | 29K Words | 12 Chapters

A collection of short stories filling in the gaps between some of the events of ATLAS3 and up to the Last Agni Kai. Features accidental cuddling, embracing in the rain, sharing a bed for warmth, post-Ember Island Theater discussions, being discovered, waiting to be kissed, Suki & Katara being good friends, battle plans, Zuko & Sokka getting drunk, slow burn & angst. Very sweet.

 ·        THE SWAY OF THE SUN by TheBlackBriarSparrow Published: Published: 2019-10-14 | 102K Words | 27 Chapters

Two years post-war Gaang reunites in Caldera city for a secret party in honor of the overworked Fire Lord’s birthday. Rebels attack the palace setting a thrilling consequence of events in motion. Adventures, investigations, and fights ensue. Z & K work together and enlist old friends to help find missing people. Beautiful slow-burn story with an exciting plot.

·        A WARM EMBRACE by ewinkie Published: 2020-10-06 | 19K Words | 7 Chapters

An ATLAS3 rewrite from Southern Riders to the Last Agni Kai. Katara and Zuko have to hide in a cave following their encounter with Yon Rha. Comforting turns to cuddling, which turns to waking up on Appa's tail in each other's arms. Katara is shocked at how comfortable she is. Zuko is shocked that Katara doesn't hate him for it. Features sharing a bed, being discovered, slowburn, and lots of teenage silliness.

 ·        FOLLOWING BLUE by Boogum Published: 2018-11-07 | 39K Words | 10 Chapters

ATLA S2 rewrite. After Katara falls from Appa’s saddle during a pursuit, the Blue Spirit becomes her reluctant companion and helps her reunite with her friends. Ba Sing Se scenes are completely rewritten, and Z ends up joining the Gaang much earlier. Thrilling beginning, sweet middle, average ending.

 ·        ANOTHER WORD FOR ALCHEMY by FanPanda13 Published: 2014-08-19 | 108K words | 24 Chapters

Five years post-war Aang summons old friends for a summit and invites them on a trip to investigate mysterious locations where he experiences loss of bending. Features Gaang setting Z & K up, travelling on Appa like in the olden days, lots of sparring, royal courting, magnificent navy ships & war ballons. Thrilling story with fun banter between old friends. Slowburn, mature content.

 ·        CONSUME ME WITH FIRE, FLOOD ME WITH DESIRE by Dacamia Published: 2020-08-14 | 86K words | 24 Chapters

Steamy ATLAS2 and ATLA S3 rewrite. Z & K accidentally meetup on their way to Ba Sing Se and decide to travel together. Features aged-up characters, lots of intimate scenes, staying in a beautiful cave, helping villagers, betrayal in Ba Sing Se, reunion, forgiveness, etc. Explicit mature content.

 ·        ROOTS AND WINGS by zukoscomet Published: 2020-08-14 | 250K words | 25 Chapters

A series of short stories of Z & K as they grow closer, confess their love for one another and start a family.

 ·        THOSE WHO FAVOR FIRE by hiwasseelane Published: 2021-05-02 |29K Words | 13 Chapters

An ATLAS3 rewrite. Sweet, teen-appopriate.

Here’s a link to Part II of my personal favs.

Here’s a link to Wholesome Zutara Short Stories.

[perfectlypanda]

@nyctoqueen and anyone else looking for a few Ambassador Katara/ Fire Lord Zuko Zutura fics: 

All Good Things Start with Tea - yodalorian (G)

Zuko's advisors want him to get married. Fortunately, they've found the perfect candidate.

A Month of Sundays - ok_boomerang (T)

Fire Lord Zuko is desperately trying, and continuously failing, to successfully propose to Ambassador Katara. She's oblivious; everyone else is entertained. Meanwhile, Zuko is giving weekly Sunday speeches to the Fire Nation in an effort to help his people feel closer to their government. This effort was not supposed to include telling the entire Fire Nation about his plans for a future with Katara before even she knew about them. But it's fine! They promised not to tell!

Covered in You - evergreenonthehorizon (M)

Zuko can’t keep a Southern Water Tribe ambassador to save his life. Ten years post-war and he’s gone through eight of them. They all keep leaving to get married and start families. The Fire Lord is getting desperate.

The Solace of the Night - goldilocks23 (E)

The Southern Water Tribe Ambassador's diplomatic Fire Nation visits coincidentally coincide with sightings of the Painted Lady and the Blue Spirit.

[nostalgicfortomorrow]

zutara fanfic recs bc absolutely nobody asked

PLEASE REBLOG AND TELL ME IF YOU LIKED MY RECS BTW :)

the art of holding on and letting go - teen and up - by evergreenonthehorizon

genuinely one of the best fics i've ever read. it's aang centric and it's from his pov so zutara isn't as prominent as you would have hoped but it's a modern au where they all go to the same high school and aang learns how to let go of his infatuation with the idea of katara rather than who katara is as a person. deeply underrated, please check it out.

we hold our hearts in silence - general audiences - by psychadelic_sya

it completely follows the canon timeline and it features geriatric and ancient zutara who meet again after many years and when you read this, please listen to last kiss by taylor swift on repeat. that's how you get the full experience. it hurts so so so much.

the colour of the stars - teen and up - by bluenebulae

it's a season 3 rewrite from the day of the black sun onwards where katara and zuko both get captured and they work together to try and find the gaang. it's pretty long but the slow burn is so well done, they absolutely nailed the characterisation and it might be my favourite fic ever. they learn everything about each other and the moments zutara shares makes my heart burn with happiness. cannot recommend this one enough.

figure it out - mature - by clearascountryair (uncompleted but ends in a good spot)

they aged up all the characters by two years and it's basically about ember island and what happened after southern raiders. it's a bit uncomfortable at times for some, because there's quite a lot of sex mentioned and featured and drinking as well but the messages overall and the lessons are really good. and it covers the non consensual kataang kiss and there's so many good takeaways. not finished, but ends up in a good spot.

the chemistry of cooking - mature - by smeditteranea

hear me out, hear me out, HEAR ME OUT, it's another college modern au (yeah, sue me, i love my modern aus) but it's really well done, the characterisation is done right, no hate to any of the characters whatsoever, supremely adorable, there's some smut but just scroll past that. so zuko and katara basically end up being lab partners in a cooking class which ozai seriously frowns upon. ozai runs this really morally bankrupt company and zuko works in it, and basically figures out that ozai is doing illegal dumpings and tries to report it.

BONUS:

i feel something (when i see you now) - teen and up - by glowgal

katara is an up and coming popular actor and is zuko's high school crush. they meet again and it's so adorable.

[the-badger-mole]

Favorite Zutara fics?

It varies. There are also a ton of great fics and it's hard to winnow down. What I'd like to do instead is to give my top 5 underrated fic recs. These fics have under 10 k hits, and I think they deserve a TON more love.

The Art of Holding on and Letting Go by evergreenonthehorizon

One of the best "Aang makes good choices" fics I've ever read.

(Don’t) Follow Me Down by eleventy7

A retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth with Katara as the queen of the underworld and Zuko as the god of the spring. Beautiful prose.

Heartsong by we-were-angels (untilwefallinlove)

Katara as a sea siren and Zuko as the pirate who loves her. The ending leaves me wanting a sequel. Maybe the author will give me us one if we're REALLY good?

A Drop in the Desert by damagectrl

A Zutara fic with lots of The Mummy vibes. Also, this author in general is fantastic and if you don't know them, you should read all of their works! Dancing in the Dark was the first work of theirs I ever read and it is to this day one of the best Zutara falls in love in Ba Sing Se stories i've ever read.

I Think You're My Sole-mate  by cablesscutie

Adorable one shot I wish had a follow up. I love a good Zutara meet-cute

[soopersara]

The Art of Holding on and Letting Go written by evergreenonthehorizon (aka @forever--rain)

Aang watches his first love fall in love with someone else.

Podfic on AO3

[stupidkitten]

Aang watches his first love fall in love with someone else.

[forever--rain]

I’m thinking the Zutara Dadko fic wil be posted this weekend. If I can think of a name for it.

[kyonkyon69]

ZUTARA FANFICS

>The Blackfish and the Dragon by ama

>Mending Wounds by FictionIsSocialInquiry

>Covered in You by evergreenonthehorizon

[thebluesunflower44]

Sokka gives off such

vibes when he's talking about or interacting with Suki and I love it.

you're right you're so right!! here, just bc sometimes we need to be reminded what true love looks like, i made a tiny, definitely not all-inclusive, compilation of sokka looking at suki adoringly

he just loves her so much it's staggering

they are THE couple that's all that can really be said for it

[calderacitylovers]

What ifs...

I have read so much beautiful, nuanced, wholesome, thrilling #zutara fanfiction that in my mind Zuko and Katara always fall for each other like pieces of a puzzle. It's natural and inevitable conclusion of their journeys and story arcs. I feel we're very lucky that we didn't get an original zutara ending though. At this point I feel I would only watch a zutara ending if @hayleynwong was directing and at least emicha, marked mage, cablesscutie, sadladybug, soopersara, evergreenonthehorizon, zukoscomet, and jasminetealatte were in the writer's room.

***

wholesome zutara short stories

zutara personal favs, part I

zutara personal favs, part II

[kaligraphy]

Happy birthday, Kal!

AAAAAA thank you ever!!!!!! 🥺💖💖💖💖💖

[mintchochipkookie]

5. Stitch, Ever, and Nanu

Oh lordy okay

5. go on a six hour road trip with (no car radio, you choose who drives), sit next to on a six hour plane flight, sit across from on a six hour train journey

Go on a six hour road trip with - @stitch1830. We’ve spent the day in the car already so this would be fine. Also. We probably shouldn’t be around many other people in a cramped space for 6 hours together. For logistical reasons stitchie will need to drive, and i know this says no car radio but it didn’t say anything about any other music system so fuck you we’re jamming to The Playlists

Sit next to on a six hour plane flight - @nanunanu22. I think we would both be good at minding our own business and I really don’t need to be full of energy on a plane

Sit across from on a six hour train journey - You because stay away. Jk idk how to explain but you + me = train vibes. I genuinely love train rides too, would be a good time.

Send me a fmk-alternative ask, or anything else

[similistic]

Do you have enough charge left in that introvert battery for me?

evergreen_on_the_horizon, “A Delicate Balance”

[airiustide]

🌹

Hi! 💕 just a little something I plan on posting here soon, following a very certain fic I’ve written before. 😊

Everyone stared dumbfounded at the admiral. The audacity. Katara is just as taken aback, his comment crossing the line and yet she finds she doesn’t dislike it all that much. She cannot allow him to get away with this in front of the others, she must stay composed. “Need I remind you of your place?”

Kaine doesn’t bother to hide his grin. “My apologies, Master Katara. I was merely observing out loud.”

Does he think little of her? “I suggest you refrain from verbally announcing such things and keep your observations about me private next time.”

His grin only widens, sly and unfazed. If only she could knock that smirk from his face because it’s all too familiar and she’s thankful she’s sitting because her knees are weak and are starting to shake. “As you wish.”