#from Azula's pov she has no reason to fear him

[blu3berrydraws]

Hey. do you ever think about when Azula said

I'm about to celebrate becoming an only child

Because I think about that sometimes. At length

[princecosmosanon]

Suzukka/Zukki Arranged Marriage AU Omegaverse Regression fic

Regression: A trope where a character, often after dying in an awful and tragic way, is brought back in time with their memories before the worst begins and does their best to fix what went wrong.

Zuko, as an Omega gifted to the Southern Water Tribe to be Sokka’s mate, he struggled to integrate into their society. After a few years, however, without warning, the Fire Nation broke their treaty with the Tribe and killed everyone, including Zuko. So when Zuko wakes up just after receiving a facial scar from his Agni Kai against his father, he determines to never let what happened before come to pass.

This fic will be told from Zuko’s POV. It will also have language barrier shenanigans, which is something I’ve wanted to write for a long while.

Content Warnings include: racism, xenophobia, canonical child abuse, violence, sexual harassment, and general omegaverse trends and tropes. There will also be moments when Zuko, in his second life and still as a minor, remembers details of his past life’s adult sexual experiences. Later there will also be some teenage sexual exploration as well as explicit sexual situations, referenced and full on out, between adults.

In his first life, Zuko was not banished after his Agni Kai, instead he was stripped of his previous princely duties and shuffled into marriage training. A treaty, a promise, had been worked out between the Fire Lord and the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe; the firstborn Omega of the Fire Nation royal family would be wed to one of Hakoda’s children, and in return they would stay out of the Fire Lord’s war and thus earn the Fire Nation’s protection.

Zuko struggled with his change in role, often ignoring his teachers or being obstinate, though not enough to draw his father’s wrath ever again. By the time he’s sent off to be married at the age of 20, he has accepted his role grudgingly.

Zuko was never quite able to make a good connection with his new mate or the Southern Water Tribe. He learned so little of their language in that time, Sokka being rather cold towards him, and Sokka’s Beta wife, Suki, tolerating his presence. Zuko often stayed only in his room, except after a time he felt compelled to try to give Sokka a child and fulfill his duties as an Omega.

Then, one day, he was suddenly locked into his room and refused to let out. It took some fighting and awkwardness, but eventually Zuko heard—the Fire Nation had broken their treaty, or, they were claiming the SWT had broken it, at least. Zuko was certain it was a lie spread to defile his homeland’s honor, but before long he learned the truth.

One night, Sokka and Suki unlocked Zuko’s door. Zuko could only barely understand what was going on, and he was scared as Suki led him away into the dark, cold night. They had only barely left the outskirts of the village when the fight broke out; this time it was clear the Fire Nation was invading with intent to kill. Suki tried to get Zuko into a small skiff, tried to ensure their mutual survival, but they were cut off on their escape route by Azula.

Zuko tried to reason with his sister, did everything he could to talk her down, but in her eyes he only saw wrath and… pity. Then she killed Suki and, without further hesitation, also Zuko, saying all the while she should have known he would have turned against his homeland. Zuko died screaming while engulfed in blue flame.

Then Zuko woke up. Again. Like he had at the age of 13. His face in agony and his mind reeling from memories of his past life. This is where the fic truly begins.

Once again, he was brought back to the moment his whole life changed. At first, Zuko wanted to believe it was all a terrible dream, but when he heard his father once again repeat what his fate would be now that he was stripped of his place in line for the throne, he couldn’t bury his face in the sand.

Dread filled him and for the first week of his convalescence he only knew fear and misery. But then, one night while Zuko was dreaming fitfully, he had a thought. What if… he did things differently? What if… he set a course for fate that would ensure not only his own safety, but that of the people he had grown if not to love then at least to respect?

And so, Zuko Does Things Differently.

He takes all the knowledge he retained from his previous life and followed through with his classes to perfection, earning the praise of his marriage tutors and their firm approval. He snuck in lessons on SWT language, doing his best to supplement what he knew with all else he could find on it to ensure a swifter, smoother integration process into the tribe.

He also finds an uneasy friendship with his sister once again; with himself no longer in position to vie for the crown she finds his company quaint at first. But he listens to her, really listens, as she eventually begins to unload her stress about her situation onto him, often in little bits meant to pick at his own inadequacies… but he now sees the truth in the matter. Azula believes in securing the best future for the Fire Nation at all costs. He can respect her for that even if he thinks her loyalties are misguided. Still, he finds himself re-growing an old fondness for her and believes she starts to reciprocate.

And then, at 16, Zuko made a request of his father. He asked to go live among the Tribe early. At first his father was resistant but when Zuko spoke to Azula, he convinced her he only wished to ensure he had a proper grasp on their “enemy” before he was fully entrenched in their politics. And Azula, after years of Zuko lending an out-stretched hand, offers her own in the form of convincing their father it’s the perfect way to further gain the SWT’s loyalty and trust.

It helps convince her, perhaps, that Zuko suggested also sending back letters; ciphered in codes only the two of them understand, so he can let her know if anything traitorous is at hand…

So it’s settled. Zuko sails south, accompanied by a translator he only partially needs, and is brought once again before the Southern Water Tribe. But things are different, almost immediately.

Whereas in his past life Sokka either ignored Zuko or, at best, treated him indifferently, now he is openly hostile. Young, angry, and unaccepting of the situation—the reality of his future marriage to an omega not if his choosing—Sokka makes Zuko’s first day in the SWT as unwelcoming as possible.

It doesn’t help that Sokka’s younger sister, Katara, is just as vicious of not more than she was in his previous life. And Chief Hakoda, who had at least been welcoming, does not have time to deal with a child during one of the SWT’s worst fishing seasons in decades.

Zuko finds himself isolated much like his last few precious days alive in his last life. And for a time, Zuko thinks maybe he was foolish to ever think he could change anything. It’s clear he will never truly be one of the SWT and he no longer belongs in the Fire Nation either. But still, Zuko keeps his temper in check, knowing his old tantrums never worked out before. He remains polite and as calm as he can, until at last, one tribesman, Bato, takes pity on him.

Bato does what no one ever did for Zuko before; he explains the usual comings and goings of the Tribe, their culture and history, and he explains the truth behind Sokka’s mother…

Bato is also the one to suggest Zuko try sparring with Sokka during his warrior training. At first, Zuko is certain that’s a bad idea. He wasn’t allowed to train in weaponry anymore after he was declared only fit for marriage in his previous and current lives, but he retains more knowledge of his swords and firebending then he did in the past so… he tries. And finds that Sokka actually enjoys the challenge as they fight. It’s exhilarating for Zuko, too, who had thought this part of his life over forever.

For a time, things seems fine between him and Sokka and Zuko is still learning so much about the Tribe. Then comes a trip to Kyoshi Island, which Zuko is brought along for so he can learn more about the Tribe’s trade culture. It’s there that Sokka becomes distant again, almost mean and aggressive once more, and Zuko learns why. This is where Suki lives. Sokka’s Beta partner from his previous life.

Zuko can’t believe he almost forgot Suki! She usually ignored him in his last lifetime, but she was a constant presence. A reminder that Zuko was only meant to be a physical proof of a contract between nations, who also was tasked with birthing Sokka’s future heir. But Suki was Sokka’s true love, even if he hadn’t shied away from Zuko’s bed.

Zuko wonders in this life… will things be different? Sokka only met Zuko in their last life after he and Suki were together, but with Zuko already a physical presence, did that change things for Sokka and Suki?

At one point, while sorting through his thoughts, Zuko accidentally traps himself in a grotto where he went to hide and think on his plans. He didn’t realize it was the place Sokka and Suki would go to explore their still budding sexual feelings; and thus he’s forced to endure a really awkward blow job and fingering experiment.

It’s also when Zuko decides he won’t be in their way; he never had Sokka’s love before and he won’t steal his happiness this life either. Zuko confronts Sokka the next day when they get a moment alone, and he encourages Sokka to be with who he wants to be. At first Sokka is suspicious but that fades when Zuko explains he expects their marriage of convenience to be just that; Sokka is free to be with whom ever he wishes as long as he also tries to fulfill their role in securing an heir.

It’s a logical agreement, one that Sokka is happy about and Zuko can live with. Then Sokka actually introduced Suki to Zuko, already having explained their agreement to her, and thus she insists on becoming Zuko’s friend for being so understanding. Zuko is shocked, she never had anything to do with him before the night she tried to help him escape on the day of their death, but he finds himself happy for the change.

And thus, time moves on and Zuko grows more familiar to the Tribe. And all this time he has been sending letter after letter to Azula, telling her of his situation, the truth in ciphers just for her eyes. He never hid the Tribe’s contempt for him in his writings, but as time goes on he allows himself to remain truthful; they do not hate him anymore and he has become familiar in their eyes. Perhaps one of them, but he assures Azula he remains faithful to the Fire Nation above all else. He can only pray she believes him.

When the time comes for the wedding, Zuko is younger than he was on his first marriage night. Sokka has only just turned 18, Zuko having already reached that age half a year prior, but they’re willing to move forward with it, both having come to a mutual understanding. The Chief gives his blessing. Katara storms off in a rage. But Sokka and Zuko are content with their lot. Suki is also there; she’s set to marry Sokka less officially three months later, after enough time has passed for Sokka and Zuko to share a heat that they are assured will surely result in a child. (Zuko has never had it in him to suggest it’s possible he won’t ever bear a child; his previous life had been barren, despite how they tried again and again.)

The next morning it’s revealed Katara had brought back a stranger who seems to have been locked away inside of an iceberg. The boy is energetic and strange in a way Zuko isn’t sure how to read, but he doesn’t seem dangerous. He’s kind and obviously smitten with Katara. It’s cute.

When it’s time for Suki to marry Sokka Zuko expects to be sent to a separate room, possibly even the one that was his in the past, but instead he is welcomed to stay. At first, it seems they only want to have one another while he watches, but in time he is also brought into their bed, and Zuko has no thought beyond how this possibility never even crossed his mind.

After about six months of being married, and three with Suki as well, Zuko is surprised once again; Azula, for the first time, has written him back. She wants to see him, she writes, and now that he is wed, she is officially in-laws to the SWT’s leadership, so surely they can host their beloved Omega’s sister for a time? Zuko is worried and perplexed. Azula isn’t asking, she’s insisting on coming. She also did not use a cipher that he can figure out. It seems she wrote her letter exactly as if she has nothing to hide. Or else, she doesn’t have anything other than the direct contents that she wants Zuko to know.

For the first time in a while, Zuko dreads…

Azula’s visit is met with as much fanfare as Zuko can drum up. He knows she expects to be treated like the crown princess she is, so he convinces Sokka to have Hakoda pull out all the stops for her arrival. And of course, Azula arrives a day before she originally stated, trying to throw them off, but Zuko knows his sister better than to expect less than that.

He doesn’t know what other curveball life plans on throwing at him, but now with Azula in the midst of the Southern Water Tribe, with Sokka and Suki seeing him as equal partners, and with Zuko now fully entrenched in his role within the Tribe, he knows he won’t just die easily this time. He has people to help protect, a land and a culture he wants to see thrive. Come what may, he will never again let himself die a hopeless, helpless death.

[chocomd]

ATLA rewatch thoughts, Book 2 (ep 2, 3)

2) The Cave of the Two Lovers: One of THE classic Kataang episodes! The very first time I saw the title card, I was like, “The cave of what” 🤣

Sokka playing the pessimistically logical straight man...poor Sokka 😂

Chong and his nomad friends are ICONIC

“What if we...kissed?” 😳😘

Aang digging himself a hole without earthbending lol

For some reason, the legend of Oma and Shu hit harder than I thought it would 🥺😭...maybe because Aang and Katara are discovering their stories while standing in their tomb, and because of how much the story parallels and foreshadows Kataang in the rest of the series 

This was the episode where I knew that Kataang was going to be endgame. No way the creators would write a whole episode like this and not have it happen 😤

Zuko is a wanted exile, but he’s still an entitled prince at heart - he throws a temper tantrum in his first scene in this episode. “I can't live like this! I wasn't meant to be a fugitive!”

When Song mentions that she hasn’t seen her father after he was taken away by the FN, Zuko broodingly mentions that he hasn’t seen his father in a long time, either. He’s still hanging onto happier memories of the relationship he used to have with Ozai (in the previous episode, when Iroh places his hand on Zuko’s shoulder, there’s a flashback to Ozai’s hand on Zuko’s shoulder - such an impactful way of showing how much Zuko values his relationship with his father, and that Iroh is now that familial connection for him, even if Zuko’s doesn’t fully realize or accept it yet). In this episode, Zuko still clearly wishes for his relationship with his father to be restored. Even though Iroh acts as his surrogate father, no one can take the place of Zuko’s real father, even with everything that has happened.

When Zuko sees the burn scar on Song’s leg, this is the first time he is faced with a real person who was harmed by the FN in a similar way as he was. It’s his first step to stop centering the world around him, and to feel a little compassion for an unimportant commoner on the enemy’s side. It’s the first time he starts to see someone like Song as a human being with intrinsic worth.

But it’s only a first step. Zuko still feels like the world owes him what he wants and needs, and he steals Song’s ostrich horse. Iroh can’t stop him, so he joins him (and Iroh benefits, too). For me, Zuko sinks to a new low here. I have many thoughts about this, which led me to write this fic from Song’s POV.

3) Return to Omashu: 

Katara and Sokka don’t want to risk going into Omashu and suggest that Aang find an earthbending teacher elsewhere. Aang says, “This isn't about finding a teacher. This is about finding my friend.” Bumi is his only friend left from before the iceberg, and one of his last connections to his life back then 😭

The pentapi are so cute 🥰

The Omashu citizens really escaped by acting like a zombie plague 😂

Azula, Mai and Ty Lee!!! Love all the nuance in their interactions. Azula is clearly the queen bee popular girl, the one with status (because she’s the FL’s daughter, duh), and the one who calls the shots...and even if Mai and Ty Lee disagree with her, they’ll never say so and won’t buck her authority. Because they know that Azula has the power and will to make their lives miserable if they don’t comply. So they’re friends because they grew up together, went to school together, and were part of the same friend group. Their loyalty to Azula is based on their history together and her status. They’re committed to the mission of capturing Zuko and Iroh (and the Avatar), but only as far as they value and fear Azula’s hold on them. 

Btw I love Mai!! One of my faves 😍

The fight scenes and action sequences are so much fun 🙌

Bumi talking about neutral jing at the end: “Neutral jing is the key to earthbending. It involves listening and waiting for the right moment to strike.” There’s that theme again of waiting to do the right thing at the right time 🤌

[justanotherthrowaway1950]

Why Do People Think Zuko Wants to Help Azula? Or That It Is His Responsibility to Do So?

Note: This is where Gene Yang heavily implied that Azula’s mental state in the comic is due to her “treatment” in the asylum.

Note: This is Aaron Ehasz’s tweet chain detailing a hypothetical Season 4 Azula redemption arc.

Note: This is Bryke disconfirming there was ever going to be a Season 4 of ATLA.

Note: This image contains Iroh’s canon views in regards to Azula and her upbringing.

I understand that people like the idea of Zuko helping Azula heal and redeem herself, not only fully breaking the cycle of abuse, but also becoming a better man than Iroh, who canonically never really cared for Azula and blames her for her abuse. Especially after Aaron Ehasz tweeted about his plan to redeem Azula through Zuko if ATLA ever got a Season 4, WHICH WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN PER BRYKE’s WORDS.

But the idea that Zuko would help Azula heal and redeem herself is literally not supported by canon.

For he left Azula in an abusive institution for at least a year without giving a damn, which was well within his rights after everything she did to him, and was content with leaving her there until he realized the shitty state of his nuclear family badly reflected him on, and that he needed Azula to extract intel from Ozai about Ursa’s possible location before putting her under house arrest with 24/7 surveillance in an effort to send a message to his subjects and the world.

And that the only reason why Azula was eventually able to travel free and unbound with dignity was because she managed to blackmail Zuko with Ursa’s possible location.

Moreover, deep down, when you push back against Zuko’s facade of wanting to “help” Azula, you find someone who blames her for making his life hell from the moment she was born, like his primary abusers weren’t Ozai and Azulon, and thinks she does evil for the sake of evil.

For when Zuko finds out Azula is tied to the Fake Kemurikage kidnappings, he doesn’t react with sadness like Ty Lee, or shock and disbelief like Mai, two people who, despite rightfully fearing and loathing Azula, did know her best outside of her family.

No…when asked why Azula would be a part of such a vile enterprise for no apparent reason, Zuko basically shrugs and says that it is Azula, and so there is no need to understand why she is doing it.

So why would someone who blames Azula for all the misfortune in his life and is quick to assume the worse out of her want to willingly help her?

And before anyone brings up the climax of The Search, just think about it for a moment from Azula’s POV?

She just tried killing Zuko’s beloved mommy their mother in front of Zuko after a tumultuous trip in which Zuko and his friends found out that she was planning to overthrow Zuko using the “Zuko is a bastard” letter and only let her keep it because they still needed her to find Ursa.

Moreover, Zuko has already made it clear that he blames her for making his life hard in addition to her belief that Zuko locked up her in the abusive institution to break her, when in reality Zuko is so absent minded he never bothered to check the conditions there, not that Zuko's intentions in sending Azula to asylum makes her "treatment" there any better.

So when Azula hears Zuko say he wants to help her, why would Azula believe that Zuko would do anything other than have Aang de-bend her for good before throwing her in a prison cell next to Ozai for life, or worse, back into the asylum?

But moving on, even if one were to disregard the comics, it is pretty clear that Zuko is clearly not the person to help Azula.

For he compares Azula to Aang in terms of how easy bending comes to her, when it is obvious from Azula’s training scene with Lo and Li that she had to work almost as hard (key word almost) as Zuko in order to manifest her natural talent.

Zuko, in order to not face the reality that his grandfather and father are abusive bastards with no love for him, comes up with the mantra of, “Azula always lies,” even though it is clear that she isn’t always lying. For example, when she tells Zuko in his room that Ozai is really going to fulfill Azulon’s order to kill him, or that Ozai views the beginning of Book 2 Zuko as a miserable failure, and so he wants to lock up him up so he can stop “embarrassing” him.

Or when Azula tries opening up to the rest of The Dangerous Ladies and Zuko about how she views herself as a monster, and how Ursa was right to view her as one, Zuko stays silent due to a combination of resentment, fear, and believing Azula that is just lying to gain brownie points with the rest of group after they revealed their various long-standing traumas, despite Azula, along with Mai and Ty Lee, helping him deal with his own issues.

Or how about when Azula is apparently falling to her death during the start of The Southern Raiders, for Zuko initially appears worried that she will die, but the moment she is able to launch herself to the cliffside, he acts annoyed that she even survived.

But the crown jewel that shows TV!Zuko’s care, or lack thereof, for TV!Azula is when Zuko asks Katara to help put Azula in her place when he asks Katara to help him take down Azula so he can take the throne.

For there is no hesitation or any reflection that the reason why he has to outright kill Azula is because he had the right circumstances to overcome their indoctrination and abuse while she never had anyone to help her do the same, and thus has to be put down for the sake of the world.

And yes, Zuko was clearly intending to kill Azula considering he was going to redirect her lightning to win the final Agni Kai until Katara foolishly stepped into the arena, giving Azula a chance take advantage of Zuko’s protectiveness to hit him with lightning without Zuko being able to properly redirect it.

But before anyone accuses of me of twisting Zuko’s behavior and actions to make him seem like a jackass or woobify Azula, there is a reason why I did so other than to show that Zuko doesn’t want to help Azula: to show that not only is he ill-equipped to help her, but also that it is not responsibility to do so.

For what Azula needs, other than medical treatment to help her deal with her, in my opinion, canon schizo-??? disorder (she has severe audiovisual delusions and hallucinations for at least a year straight and her master plan in Smoke and Shadow comes about due to giving into her delusions), is a parental figure who can teach her that love is not conditional while also showing her unconditional love and that fear is for fools, trust is the only reliable way.

For once she learns how to be a functional person and heals, she will be able to start atoning for all her various evil acts and eventually become a healthy, productive member of society.

Which ties back into why it is not Zuko’s responsibility to help her; for in addition to being a teenager who is still trying to overcome his abuse, on top of having reform a superpower after a hundred years of indoctrination while reintegrating it into the world community, Zuko is one of Azula’s principal victims!

For Azula was Zuko’s secondary abuser, abused Mai and Ty Lee, and tried killing or jailing Zuko and/or his loved ones several times (and succeeded several times).

In fact, a key part of Azula's hypothetical atonement is her apologizing to Zuko for her behavior towards him and the people he cares about while also making it clear that she is not entitled to be part of his life, or part his government, and thus wield (real) power again.

Not to mention showing through repeated actions that her words are not just another attempt at manipulation for her own benefit.

But now that I have made it clear that Zuko doesn’t want to help Azula heal, nor is it his responsibility to do so, I am sure people are going to ask who can serve as that parental figure who can help Azula heal?

Well, there are a lot of options: Iroh, if you are part of the group of people who ignore the comics and extended lore; post-comics Ursa, who has already indicated a desire to make up for her parenting mistakes in regards to Azula; an actual medical professional once Zuko realizes the bad state of the asylums and reforms them; or even some random adults who decide to help an obviously broken person desperately seeking guidance in AUs that don’t take into account the comics.

For this is an aside, but it seems pretty clear to me that post-Smoke and Shadow Azula, who is most likely a legal adult, will most likely never find support, even among civilians, due to her crimes and status as the most wanted war criminal fugitive alive.

But getting back to the main point, I don’t get the idea why people think Zuko would want to help Azula, at least in an earnest fashion where Azula is given the time, space, and ability to make mistakes just like Zuko did during his redemption arc? Or why is it his responsibility to help her, when he himself has a lot to figure out about himself and is one of Azula’s victims?

Not when there are a lot of potential adult figures who can help Azula heal from Ozai’s abuse.

Also, it would be nice for one of the remaining Royal Family adult members to try and actually make up for doing absolutely nothing to counter Ozai’s grooming like they did with Zuko, but this post is neither the time nor place for that discussion.

[wingsfreedom]

Zuko Alone flashbacks: a metaphorical narrative

It's interesting to look at Zuko Alone flashbacks as reflection of Zuko's feelings at that point in time of his exile instead of literal, especially after Ozai's disowning and execution decree.

Ozai's face is hidden and you don't know what he's feeling, he's not around often. Azula on the other hand is deeply depicted in an image of malice even on harmless things like doing a prank on Mai and Zuko.

Ozai's hidden face is Zuko’s refusal/denial/fear to face his father's cruelty and rather clings to his positive memories as seen in both The Storm and The Avatar State flashbacks than face the pain that Ozai, indeed, think he's worthless. So we don't get to see Ozai's face because Zuko emotionally can't bring himself to face him. These flashbacks were directly drawn from Zuko's PoV.

On the other hand, Azula is an easier target to direct all his misery on, so he's lashing out on her more. He sees her "in the way" as much as he sees the Avatar in the way of getting his throne, honor and his father's love back. Zuko has compared Aang to Azula after all in the Seige of the North confession.

P.S The reason Zuko has not change his antagonism with Azula because he believes she doesn’t care about him after she "set him up" in the Awakening episode and because he didn't grow out of his inferiority-complex.

[sokkastyles]

Responding to this because this person blocked me, after coming onto my post to try and start shit, with nonsensical arguments. I'm not interested in talking to them further but I do have something to say about this comment, in particular. Like I already said and as was shown in the quoted transcript of the show, Iroh was not immediately hostile, he was polite but wary despite Azula being immediately rude and hostile to him, but I CAN think of a very good reason why Iroh would theoretically be hostile to his fourteen year old niece, who, when he last saw her, was cheering upon seeing another child being violently burned (but oh, Iroh must have imagined this, because everything we know about Azula is that she is a kind, gentle-hearted pacifist who would never do such things! This is not how pov bias works; if everything else we see in the story confirms it, it isn't the bias of one character), and that is this:

To protect another child from harm.

Azula came there to harm Zuko. Iroh knows, the audience knows, Azula knows, and on some level Zuko knows because he reacts with fear and defensiveness towards her, although he is also vulnerable because he has been conditioned to accept members of his family treating him this way. This is a very dangerous situation and Iroh has a very good reason to be wary, but what he does is try to remain calm and de-escalate the situation, because he knows that Azula could escalate it at any moment, because she was already that way the last time he saw her, and he also knows that she can and is ready to shoot lightning at either of them, since he saw her do it earlier in the episode, when she was practicing for this very encounter. You are deliberately ignoring the existing dynamic between Azula and Zuko as well as the one between Azula and Iroh to try and make it seem like Iroh is wrong for trying to stop one child from being violent towards another.

It's amazing that people like this will try and say that Iroh should be appreciated for the flawed, dark and complex character that he is but will completely ignore that the character they actually want him to be is much closer to who Azula is.

I am a trained educator and Iroh does exactly what he should have done in the situation. He calmly tries to de-escalate and mollify both Azula and Zuko until he can get Zuko away from her, then tries to dissuade Zuko from trusting her. He only becomes firm with Azula when she actually attempts to hurt Zuko, and stops it.

That's without the context that Azula is MUCH more dangerous and powerful than a real child, and that this is a world that runs on fantasy cartoon logic where adults and children battling is not considered unusual and something like Iroh pushing Azula into the water wouldn't cause her any actual harm, but her shooting lightning at Zuko while he is down would likely kill him instantly.

I think Azula would actually feel a lot of confusion and possibly regret (though she would repress it) if she actually did land that shot and Zuko died here. She'd at first feel triumphant because of the praise that Ozai would shower her with, but I think in the back of her mind, she does feel something for Zuko and probably does not understand the full extent of her actions. This is an actually very interesting AU to explore, I think, and could be a (dark, tragic) way of exploring an Azula redemption where she is forced to analyze the consequences of her actions and who she is and wants to be. But that's a tangent for another time.

What differentiates Azula's violence from the family friendly fantasy violence that the show often uses is that she is in a position of power over Zuko and even Iroh (who is in exile with Zuko, and they've lost all the resources they had in the previous season) and she uses manipulation tactics to get them into a vulnerable position before she strikes, and has no moral compunction about causing them serious harm.

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Imagine telling Azula the abuse she suffered isn’t okay and that she’s not a monster

Your POV

You’d initially been very excited when Azula told you about the holiday on Ember Islands but it had taken a bleak turn on your very first night. Ty lee had gotten you invited to some party and somehow that led to Azula terrifying the host, Zuko and Mai breaking up and now everyone was sat in a circle talking about all the horrible things they’d experience as children. Everyone had told their story apart from you and Azula. Mai and Zuko were finally getting along when Azula ruined it by making fun of him. Zuko seemed in no mood and snapped back at her. He implied she was perfect sarcastically and you watched amazed as just for a second Azula’s mask dropped. Her face lost it’s guard and genuine pain and emotion was present as she talked about her childhood and her mother.  "My own mother thought i was a monster" Azula whispered and you shivered. Silence stretched out and you felt the urge to comfort her but this was Azula, when she sensed weakness and snuffed it out. "She was right of course but it still hurt" she smirked and everyone relaxed going back to normal. Azula was Azula again, sure she’d shown feelings for a few seconds there who cares? 

You did. 

The others all just carried on talking, acting as if Azula hadn’t just said what she had but you couldn’t just go back to normal. You’d seen what was beneath the princess’ mask and it was haunting.

Azula’s POV

The group bonding over, Mai and Zuko wandered back to the house together. Ty lee and Azula were right behind them but Azula paused as you made no move to get up. You were sat knees tucked up into your chest staring at the fire intensely. You weren’t moving and you didn’t even seem to be blinking. Azula sighed wondering what else could happen tonight. "You go ahead, i’ll be there soon" she told Ty lee who nodded and left. Azula approached you and only as she got closer did she see you were crying.

Your POV

You heard a snort followed by "are you crying?". When you didn’t aswer Azula knelt down to look at you "stop being stupid, why are you crying?". You breathed and looked at her "i don’t know" you admitted "just hearing all your stories" you sighed wiping your eyes "it makes me sad". Azula went to insult you but saw the distraught look on your face and couldn’t quite bring herself to. "Well it’s not that bad,we all have demons" she shrugged sitting beside you. "But that doesn’t make it right" you cried "any of it!". "Well no" Azula agreed with you "but it’s in the past". "But it effected you all, it still does! All of you! All because of what your parents did to you when you were children" you spat more tears falling. Azula didn’t like emotions and was going to try stop this when you spun on her "and you, you know what your mother said to you wasn't okay right? How your father treated you wasn't correct Azula, you're not a monster you never were". Azula felt struck as you spoke those words to her, it felt embarassing to have someone tell her that, almost intrusive. She felt exposed and she didn’t like it. "Of course i know that" she spat standing up "i don’t need someone like you to tell me that! I’m the princess! I’m the firebending prodigy of the fire nation!". "But that doesn’t mean the abuse didn’t effect you, that it wasn’t painful! You’re human too Azula! What your parents did to you....". "Stop" Azula commanded and you could tell by the tone of her voice and look in her eye this was dangerous territory. Nobody had ever talked to Azula about this and it was raw painful ground. Azula wasn’t ready for this, if you didn’t back down she might attack you. You took a breath and lowered your eyes "i’m sorry Azula i didn’t mean to be so opinionated, i shouldn’t have talked to you like that, i was just concerned for you". You wiped your eyes waiting for Azula’s verdict and she eventually replied. "No you shouldn’t have, do not speak to me like that again, yes?". You nodded your head but Azula couldn’t seem to meet your eye. "Let’s go back" she said and started walking. You followed her and noticed how fast she was walking, how tight her fists were clenched and it killed you not to be able to reach out and comfort her...but you knew she wasn’t ready, the pain was still too fresh...but you’d shown her you cared. You’d told her it wasn’t right and she wasn’t a monster. Those things would stick in her head and you hoped they’d grow and fill Azula with the truth of them. And some day, just maybe, Azula would be willing to talk about it. You’d be right there when she did.

2 Months later

You couldn’t help but keep a closer eye on Azula once you returned to the fire nation and what you saw wasn’t good. Ozai was still using her and you could see the damage his expectations were inflicting on her. Then Zuko left and Azula seemed to be even less stable. The final nail in the coffin was Ty lee and Mai’s betrayal of Azula, that pushed her royally over the edge.

You were with her when it happened, when Ty lee intervened to save Mai and you didn’t. When Azula fell after Ty lee attacked her you rushed to her side, managing to catch her and looked up at Mai and Ty lee who stared at you. “Y/n let us go” Ty lee pleaded and you paused utterly caught in the middle. “I...” you started when guards rushed in and took the decision away from you. You helped Azula to stand and looked away as she gave the orders to send Mai and Ty lee off to prison. You couldn’t even look your friends in their eyes. They’d chosen Zuko and you’d chosen Azula. You hadn’t realised you had chosen her but instinctively you apparently had. It wasn’t even like you agreed with everything Azula had done because you really didn’t. You hated seeing all the pain she caused and seem to revel in. But after the beach you could see why Azula was like that. She was hurt and craved love, that’s why she did everything Ozai said, she’d do anything to gain his affection and it broke your heart. Azula was so broken you couldn’t leave her, not even if it meant siding against Mai and Ty lee. You could feel Azula slipping and you wouldn’t let her go through this alone. You refused. 

You returned to the fire nation after the incident and everything seemed okay for a while. Azula seemed to trust you a lot seeing as you’d shown loyalty to her but soon the suspicions started creeping back in. When her father announced she’d be firelord it got even worse. As Azula’s coronation got closer her erratic behaviour got worse and worse until finally she cracked.

You recieved word for Lo and Lei that Azula had been banishing everyone and cautiously appeared in her throne room. You old friend looked truly scary, sat in the dark surrounded by fire but all you saw was the girl from the beach...only now she had no mask to hide behind. The true terrified Azula was here for everyone to see.

“Azula?” you asked your voice a lot stronger than you felt “what’s going on? Why is nobody here?”. “They’re fools all of them” she spat not even looking at you “I couldn’t trust them, I can’t trust anyone”. You frowned unsure what to say to make it better. “I....i’m here Azula” you said and you winced at how small your voice sounded in the room. “You?” Azula asked turning to face you “yes I suppose you have been loyal but for how long?”. “Azula you can’t think like that”. “It’s all I think about” she snapped “and with good reason! That’s all anyone seems to do around here, betray me" Azula cried "Mai and Ty lee did! Zuko left, so the question is when is it your turn? Is that why you’re here now? Did you want to stick the knife in my back personally?". "Of course not Azula" you cried and she snorted "if it’s not to kill me then it’s to get power or...." she trailed off "it’s the worst option of the three, you’re here because you pity me". Your voice caught in your throat as Azula carried on "on the ember islands you spoke to me so patronisingly, like you knew everything about me...telling me i’m not a monster when you’re wrong, look before you y/n, i am a monster and you shouldn’t pity me but fear me". 

Azula was surrounded in blue fire, the look in her eye matched the spark of the fire. She looked terrifying you could admit that but you still couldn’t fear her, you were scared but cared for and wanted to help her more. "No" you said strongly and Azula actually flinched "i don’t fear you Azula because you’re not a monster". Azula’s eyes widenned and her lip rose into a snarl. She went to yell so you carried on "just because the others left doesn’t make what your mother said true, they didn’t leave because you’re a monster! They left because you pushed them away, you were so scared they’d leave you that you drove them to! That what you’re trying to do to me right now but i’m not leaving Azula! I’m not going anywhere". Azula glared "again with this nonsense, i am not like you pathetic people with emotions, i am the firelord!". "You are a human!" you cried "you feel things Azula, i’ve seen it and thats okay! Feeling fear, having emotions, feeling sad and depressed! It’s all okay! It’s okay to feel like that, it doesn’t make you weak or a freak it makes you human, you’re human not a monster Azula". "Stop saying that" Azula cried but you walked closer. "No i will never stop telling you it! You are not a monster Azula, you are just a girl, a girl abused by her father and neglected by her mother...a girl pitted against her brother, made to feel like she had to manipulate anyone to make them care about her because of your parents but you don’t Azula! What you parents told you isn't true! You’re not superhuman and you’re not a monster you’re just human". "I am not' Azula cried her fire rising and envoking the room and your exit "i am the heir! The ruler of the strongest nation! The best fire bender this world has seen! I took Ba Sing Sei when nobody else could, i killed the avatar when Zuko was too weak to, i did what needed to be done when Mai and Ty lee couldn’t...i am not the same as them, as you! I know you want me to be weak, they all did...my mother, my father, Zuko but i won’t be! I will not be weak". "Weakness is not what you think it is!" you cried back “Azula what your father told you was wrong". "Really?" Azula asked "because if you don’t leave this room and never come back you’re weakness is going to get you killed". Azula’s threat made you pause but you were done letting her hold these messages in her head. "I am not going anywhere" you repeated and Azula’s smile fell. "Why?" she screamed "i don’t want or need you!". "Because I won’t let the fire nation take you, I won’t let your parents win! I refuse” you yelled walking through Azula’s fire to get to her "i won’t let you believe what they’ve told you! You are good enough Azula! Just as you are! You’re not a monster or weak, you are just you!" you said finally reaching her "you are Azula" you said softly "Not a fire bending prodogy, not the leader or heir, not a monster or least loved child, those are all things other people have told you, none of that matters. You are azula. That is enough to be proud of, that is all you need, just Azula". Azula let our a screetch and you flinched and closed your eyes ready to be engulfed in fire but you weren’t. You opened your eyes to see all the fire was gone. It made it difficult to see the state of the room but when your eyes adjusted to the darkness you spotted Azula.

She had collapsed as a heap on the floor, her body shaking from the tears as her whole world imploded. You approaced her carefully unsure if she'd allow you to hug her but watching her body convulse with pain and sadness you risked it. You flung yourself over her holding onto her. Azula tensed but you patted her back "it’s okay Azula, it’s going to be okay i promise" and Azula shifted. She grabbed ahold of your arms and leant into you. She buried her head in your shoulder and you held her as she clung to you. She’d shook vigorously and she’d sometimes scream or yell, fire escaping as she did, but the fire never harmed you. Eventually she stopped all of it and that was worse. 

1 hour later

Zuko appeared on the flying bison and you were there to meet him. "Y/n?" he asked "where’s my sister?". "She’s not going to fight you" you told him and Zuko paused "y/n did you stop her, have you..". "I didn’t hurt her" you told Zuko quickly "i’m taking her away from here, i’m going to get her help, i know a good guy in the colonies who can talk to her, she needs help Zuko not prison and i’d like your approval to do so but if you stand in my way...". "No of course i won’t!" Zuko cried "y/n that sounds...you have my permission, look after my little sister". You nodded "always, we'll be gone in 10 minutes". Zuko didn’t see you bundle Azula away and thought that was probably for the best but he saw the throne room, it was all black from fire, from Azula’s fire. He wondered how you’d gotten through to her. Why you’d risked your life to do it when even he wouldn’t have...

1 year later

Zuko’s POV

Zuko paces back and forth nervously when Suki announced she was here. The door opened and Azula entered you beside her. It had been just over a year since he’d seen his sister and Zuko was suprised at how different she looked. She definitely looked paler and more unsure of herself but she looked more...well natural, she looked more human than Zuko had ever seen her. “Hello brother” she spoke and Zuko smiled “Azula, it’s good to see you...and you y/n”. You nodded to Zuko from Azula’s side and he smiled at the way Azula seemed to gain comfort from you. She seemed keen on keeping close to you and Zuko was pleased she had someone to comfort her. “Sit” Zuko smiled pointing to the table filled with food “i am sure you are hungry from the trip and we have lots of catching up to do”. Azula nodded her head but didn’t move “we do but first Zuko I’d like to apologise”. Azula glanced to you and you smiled at her encouragingly. “Zuko I know all our lives I’ve hurt you, physically and mentally and I want to own up to that, admit it was wrong and apologise. What I did to you was wrong and I understand if you struggle to forgive me but i would like to be a good sister and for us to try from the beginning”. You’d written to Zuko regularly about Azula’s recovery and the letters had always pained him. He knew he hadn’t had it good in the fire nation but he never considered it could be bad for Azula too, when he considered what it must’ve been like for her all alone with their father....Zuko was furious he’d never realised sooner. Him and Azula had been turned against one another when they could’ve been each others greatest allies, well not anymore. Zuko’s eyes filled with tears and he smiled “Azula of course i forgive you your my sister” and he rushed to hug her. Zuko hadn’t hugged his sister since they were infants but now Zuko felt like he could have a sister again. Azula hugged Zuko, awkwardly as she still wasn’t used to physical shows of affection but Zuko appreciated her trying. “I would like very much for us to be a proper brother and sister...to be how we were when we we’re very small children”. Azula smiled and nodded “I would like that too”. Zuko grinned and looked at you behind Azula. You were beaming looking at Azula so proudly and Zuko smiled. He led Azula back to the table and pulled out her chair for her. Azula smiled, her face an expression Zuko supposed must be an attempt not to cry and took the seat.

Your POV

Considering how well the meal had gone Zuko led you and Azula into the throne room where Mai and Ty lee were waiting. Azula approached them cautiously, her apologies for them fresh in her mind from all the rehearsal you had done and you watched as she performed them just like you’d practiced. She finished and an awkward silence settled. You grew worried they’d reject her but Ty lee lasted 3 seconds before throwing her arms around Azula. Mai rolled her eyes but joined the hug. You grinned watching your friends make up when you felt Zuko beside you. “Thank you” Zuko smiled brightly at you “for helping my sister, for saving her when I couldn’t, for not giving up on her when i....”. “It’s okay” you smiled cutting Zuko off “I didn’t do it for you, or for myself, I did it for Azula, I knew she could be happy and I’m so glad she is, just seeing her so content” you sighed and Zuko smiled at the way you spoke about her. “You love her don’t you?” he asked and you blushed. Zuko smiled, your reaction confirming his suspicion. “Have you told her” Zuko asked and you shook your head, “Azula was too vulnerable and in pain for me to say anything before”. “But now?” Zuko asked smiling. You blushed “maybe...i’ll see, i don’t want to scare her off”. Zuko shook his head “y/n you were the only one able to reach her, the only one she could confide in...i don’t think you’ll get a bad reaction”. You blushed again, your eyes going to where Azula stood smiling with Ty lee and Mai. “I hope so... she’s pretty incredible”. Zuko smiled “she is, but so are you”. You smiled at Zuko and then suddenly Azula looked up noticing you and Zuko watching her. She smiled at you and your blush grew. Azula blushed too and Zuko grinned “you may not have to tell her after all, it appears she already knows”. 

-----

So this was born out of my desperate need for Azula to get help and for her and Zuko to become friends because I just want them to be a loving brother and sister!!! 

Also I want to clarify i do not condone, approve of or encourage the use of physical or mental violence or manipulation in friendships or relationships. In this case because of Azula’s suppressed emotions i thought anyone who tried to comfort her would get physical resistance so I put that in there to keep it realistic to Azula’s character. I do not approve of that but i do think getting Azula mentally healthy would involve her being physically and mentally resistant at first to whoever was trying to help her but I think she'd eventually stop and start having healthier relationships. Again not condoning it but trying to realistically show what it would take to get Azula mentally stable after years of abuse from her parents and not trying to sugar coat it.

[vickyvicarious]

do u have any atla fic recs? all time faves? can be shippy or not

Fun fact, I am incapable of holding back on reclists. In other words: brace yourself, anon. There’s a reason I put most of this behind a cut.

First off, these are almost all Zuko-centric, because I shamelessly play favorites. I’ll sort them by author rec, gen, shippy, and then by other characters because honestly the numbers break down well that way. Within those categories it’ll be more just as I think of it, so no special meaning to the order. I’m not always good about bookmarking even my faves, so some excellent stuff will no doubt be missing, especially since I haven’t read a lot of the more recent stuff yet/forgot some really old stuff, but this will definitely still give you plenty of fic to enjoy.

There’s a good number of FFN links on here so apologies to people who dislike it, but a lot of great stuff is still on there so give it a chance.

Author recs

Everything by @awesomeavocadolove​​  Such hits as Another Brother (Zuko adopted by Hakoda pre-S1), and currently has a Zukka soulmate fic I’ve been meaning to start reading, as well as Unchained Melody, one of my favorite Zukka fics ever. Always quality, you can’t go wrong.

Everything by KimberlyT.  I do not kid. She’s written a variety of ATLA fic ranging from Zutara/other romance to gen, seriously emotional to cracky cabbagebending. I think my favorite is probably Mismatched (S1 Zuko adopts a baby) but honestly just go read it all.

Everything by @emletish-fish​​. She has a very fun writing style and honestly her end-of-chapter notes on why she’s made the choices she has are fun minimetas worthwhile in their own right. Some of her top fics are the Stalking Zuko series (S3 suspicious Katara to Zutara) and The Worst Prisoner (the Gaang kidnaps Zuko in S1 and can’t get rid of him). I think there’s still a good amount of her fic that can only be found on FFN so check there too.

Everything by @botherkupo​​. Especially her Undying Fire series (healer!Zuko) but also just literally everything she writes, it is all so great. Tends toward Zutara but strong gen fics as well sometimes and a lot of fun. Check it all out!

Everything by @muffinlance​​. Loves to toy with her readers’ emotions in the best of ways. Tons of fantastic gen Zuko-centric AUs, I have adored every single fic I’ve ever read by her, can’t praise them enough. Very productive as well, her tumblr is a hub for the ATLA renaissance and her fics inspire lots of others. Has also organized a fanmade ATLA coloring book for charity so get that once it’s out. In the meantime read everything she’s written.

Everything by Haicrescendo. My favorite is What We’re Given (the series where Zuko finds more air bisons and raises them), but there’s a lot of good Zukka fic too. I tend to steer away from explicit works in this fandom unless it’s a smaller part of a much longer plot-centric fic, so there are a number I haven’t read, but I really like the Pokemon!AU Zukka.

Everything by @gaycinema. I really love the EK fight club series (Zuko fights in Rumbles/etc.) but all of it is a good read. Some Jetko, mostly a lot of introspective or emotional oneshots. Which isn’t really a great depiction of how good they tend to be, you’ll just have to read them and find out. You won’t regret it, trust me.

Everything by @captainkirkk. So far eight stellar fics, starting with kind Fire Lord Zuko and ranging to Floating Tea Shop!Zuko who doesn’t want to hunt the Avatar. I love her style and have laughed out loud at multiple of these. 

Gen Zuko fic

Bringing Out the Blue by maguena1. [unfinished, long] Definitely worth the read. The first ATLA fic I ever got really sucked into. The Blue Spirit never gets knocked out so Aang doesn’t know his true identity; he joins the Gaang on a recurring basis, while Zuko attempts to tell himself this is only for information on how to catch them, they definitely aren’t his friends.

It’s Impossible by Sandra Phillips. [abandoned, long] One of the earliest Avatar!Zuko fics (sort of) and a really interesting take on some spirit stuff.

Embers by Vathara. [complete, long] A landmark fic in the fandom, and for good reason. I didn’t love everything about this fic, but it is very well-written and an absorbing read certainly worth the praise. 

the art of description by incandescens. [oneshot, short] Five descriptions of Zuko and Toph’s field trip from various perspectives. Short, sweet, and funny.

Breaking Point by Kryal. [oneshot, short] Zuko isn’t banished but instead sent to serve in the Home Guard. I love Zuko loving his people, and alternate canon explorations, and this is exactly that.

The Alternative by Lunatique. [oneshot, short] The reason Zuko is so determined is because he fears what will happen if he isn’t the next Fire Lord. An idea I support in canon, to a degree, written well.

Hands and Knees by gigerisgod. [oneshot, short] Zuko reflects on the choices he’s made, and experiences he’s had, when joining the Gaang. A nice introspective fic.

Relative Misery by peroxidepest17. [oneshot, short] Toph complains about her family and Zuko takes her on a field trip. Not a fic I take too seriously, but funny in a sad way.

Second Nature by lazyartisan. [possibly abandoned, long] An AU stemming from Zuko’s capture at the North Pole. Well-written and characterized, an old favorite that I actually find needing to reread to give you more detail, but I can promise it’s good.

Year One by peroxidepest17. [oneshot, short] Lessons Zuko learns in his first year being Fire Lord. I really like explorations of Zuko’s journey as Fire Lord and this is a lovely little window into that.

Soft by PenPistola. [oneshot, short] Zuko and Toph bonding after the Ember Island Players. Short and sweet.

The New Phoenix King by JoeMerl. [oneshot, short] Fire Lord Zuko is overthrown, and no one but him is bothered at all. In fact they help. Hilarious crack.

First Name Basis by JoeMerl. [oneshot, short] There’s some popular posts going around Tumblr lately about Zuko not knowing the Gaang’s names, but this fic did it first back in 2008. As amusing as you’d expect.

Male Bonding by glamaphonic. [oneshot, short] The original ‘Zuko and Sokka bond and are also dumb idiot boys’ fic. Katara is permanently rolling her eyes.

it’s not the waking, it’s the rising by isamagicdragon, thegracious [ongoing, series, medium] Azulon tells Ozai to kill Azula instead of Zuko, which leads to heartwrenching fire sibs adventure. I haven’t caught up on the last chapter yet but god is it fantastic and also just a really interesting and new perspective on what could have happened.

Doe-Eyed by Anonymous. [complete, medium] Zuko is a baby, Azula is a loving big sister. More fire sibs and a great exploration on Azula’s POV of turning against Ozai.

kintsugi by discordiansamba. [ongoing, series, long] Zuko doesn’t have Iroh after being banished, and winds up hired as a guard to protect the frail Beifong daughter. Fantastic preseries Zuko+Toph found family fic.

Legacies by WildInkling. [ongoing, medium] Far in the future, a historian studies the journal of Fire Lord Zuko. Also, he was secretly a famous author but no one knows. A funny and poignant outsider POV.

#UndercoverZuko series by naggeluide. [complete, series, short] A completely cracky concept written straight enough to be actually quite touching in parts, but also just really funny. Zuko goes Undercover Boss on his ship pre-series.

Avatar Ficlets by JaggedCliffs. [series, oneshots, short] An ongoing series of disconnected oneshots, mostly post-canon and mostly Zuko-centric. Some a pretty fun, one is a great view on Zuko and lightningbending, all worth the read (and follow for when more come out).

The Blind Leading the Blue by BrusselsSprout. [ongoing, medium] An epic Zuko and Toph field trip set in S2. I love them and this.

half in the shadows, half burned in flames by r_astra. [oneshot, short] Iroh dies, Zuko gets caught on the Day of Black Sun, everything ends up all right but damn does it hurt getting there.

A Tale of Earth and Fire by chiiyo86. [complete, medium] Zuko and Toph are married for Politics in a FN Wins AU, and follows them slowly bonding as friends to beginning a revolution. They’re married but it’s not romantic, just some good friendship.

Eight Principles of Yong by psocoptera. [oneshot, short] An exploration of immediate post-show FN politics (sort of), calligraphy, and Zuko. Also has some lovely non-fighting firebending; I always love when people explore other uses of bending.

Healing Properties of Cinder Sage by Dawen. [oneshot, short] Zuko gets very sick in the Western Air Temple. Some good interaction when he’s new to the Gaang, and Toph+Zuko friendship.

We Ourselves Must Walk The Path by WinterSky101. [complete, medium] The Gaang agrees to make Zuko their prisoner in the WAT. Speaking of new-to-the-Gaang, tension, this fic has plenty of it, and also features some good Toph and Zuko.

Frozen by Aris Merquoni. [oneshot, medium] Zuko is captured in the NWT. Some politics, lots of angst, and eventually, healing. Also actually makes me somewhat like Hahn? Incredibly enough.

Reluctant Hero by PAW_07. [ongoing, long] Avatar!Zuko fic. I got to beta it way back when for a little while before I got too busy, and have always been a huge fan of this fic. Great concept, one of the best executions of it I’ve seen, and also one of the first. Definitely read this.

Morality Chain by Pureauthor. [abandoned, long] Azula and Zuko were always on each other’s side; how this changes canon. I love this concept and would happily read a lot more fics with it (please guys, I need more fire sibs).

A viper-lizard’s tales series by Yumi_Take. [ongoing, long] The world needs more of Zuko adopting pets and small children, and those are just facts. This only has one of the two, but it’s a EK baby! Jet plays a big role in this fic as well, a weird kind of uncle-ish to the baby/friend/murderer Zuko needs to watch closely and hold back kind of thing.

(life happens) wherever you are by howlikeagod. [ongoing, long] Katara doesn’t find Zuko and Iroh in the teashop, and canon takes a sharp left turn. Excellent Gaang fic.

The Best Path series by EudociaCovert. [series, ongoing, long] Zuko meets Jet in ‘Zuko Alone’ and winds up getting claimed as theirs by the remaining Freedom Fighters. Really really well-written, I got quite emotional over some scenes.

Shippy Zuko fic

Balm by Thyme In Her Eyes. [Maiko, oneshot, short] A sweet little fic about Mai’s thoughts on Zuko’s lightning scar.

The Black Games by Mrs. Pettyfer. [Zutara, complete, long] Hunger Games-esque AU. It’s the first in a series, and I lost interest after this one but I remember enjoying the fic and it was more personal preference rather than a drop in quality that had me leaving.

Lie To Me by Inkcharm. [Toko, oneshot, short] I’m not actually a fan of this pairing romatically (at least until years down the line), but this little fic of Toph and Zuko bonding through lying to one another is sweet. I choose to ignore the more shippy parts and enjoyed it.

Zutara? What the heck is that? by Ryxl. [Zutara, oneshot, short] Complete crack, have a good sense of humor and I think you will enjoy. Just the mental image of the Gaang finding a Zutara propaganda flyer had me chuckling.

The Three Chores series (1, 2, 3) by Fandomme. [Zutara, threeshot, short] Zuko and Katara slowly bond as he helps with chores. I will admit it’s been years and I barely remember this, but what I do recall is lovely and I always appreciate people lightening Katara’s load.

read the inscription by suzukiblu. [Zuko/Song, complete, series, medium] When Zuko is banished, he is left alone in the Earth Kingdom to fend for himself. Very touching, and I love Song in this.

Hooked by TGP. [Jetko, complete, long] A classic ‘Jet didn’t see Iroh warming his tea’ fic. They’re almost all this premise but so many well-written and very long ones. 

Something To Hold Onto by Wildgoosery. [Jetko, complete, long] The EK fell and Li stayed to fight with the Freedom Fighters to protect the city during its foreign rule. Jet didn’t see the tea fic that goes very AU from canon.

Foxfire by Rahar_Moonfire. [Jetko, ongoing, long] Zuko loses his memories Jetko fic, but with heavy spirit influence and lovable EK OCs, both of which I adore and should be in far more fics.

Once Upon A Teashop by anaer. [Zukka, Jetko, ongoing, long] Cracky Ba Sing Se AU that gets gradually more and more serious. Jet hits on Zuko a lot and Sokka gets a job in the teashop to keep an eye on both of them. Endgame Zukka but heavy Jetko, and both pairings are handled pretty well, not a love triangle that makes me too mad, although as always bear in mind Jet’s messed up. 

Names by TGP. [Jetko, complete, long] I feel like I’m forgetting some more excellent Amnesia!Zuko fics, but this is one I do know of. To be honest I don’t remember it super well because it may be mixed up with other Jetko/amnesia fics in my mind, but I think it was really good. I’ll have to reread myself.

Epistles by Lady_of_the_Flowers. [Zukka, ongoing, long] I love epistolary fic and I love Zuko and Sokka bonding earlier in canon. I will be honest I haven’t read this in a long time and been updating all the while, but the premise alone (Zuko and Sokka become messenger-hawk-pals in S1 and then fall in love) is fantastic. 

Ozymandias, King of Kings by Think_of_a_Wonderful_Thought. [Zukka, ongoing, long] Zuko rebels earlier and actually is sent to the mines, until he is ‘rescued’ by the Water Tribe. Dark but getting lighter over time, and more reluctant-to-rule Zuko which always wrenches my heartstrings. I prefer super loyal and dutiful to his people Zuko but this trope always makes me feel things.

Crossovers

Fallen Drops of Fire by Chasmfiend. [Fullmetal Alchemist, ongoing] Young Azula and Zuko somehow appear in Amestris, and encounter Roy Mustang. I adore the fire sibs, and their relationship in this strange situation is the star of this fic for me, but it’s also fun seeing the FMA perspective of these two.

The Dragon-King’s Temple by Kryal. [Stargate SG-1, long, complete] The best crossover fic out there. Zuko and Toph get stranded on the other side of a Stargate. I don’t know anything about SG-1 but it didn’t matter, the fic was fantastic, they were badasses, it explored language and culture from an outside perspective, and it was just a ton of fun. Must-read.

Other character fic

Loyalty by Julia451. [oneshot, short] The ship captain didn’t misspeak when he called Iroh and Zuko “prisoners” in the start of S2. A lovely look at a nameless character, giving depth to a small moment and humanity to a FN soldier which I always love.

The Only One by HarlowR. [oneshot, short] An excellent exploration of Azula’s mindset regarding Zuko, her desperate need to be loved and jealousy of him matching his own. I think Azula was one of the greatest tragedies of the show, and this fic makes me feel it.

Blood by theAsh0. [oneshot, short] Katara-centric thinkpiece on bloodbending and healing. Dark but really interesting.

Touch and Go by Cadence. [oneshot, short] After Iroh’s struck by lightning, Toph doesn’t let Zuko drive them all away. A momentary alliance and the seeds of friendship. More Toph-focused but still heavy on the whole Gaang.

Shortcomings by Menamebephil. [oneshot, short] Iroh thoughts during his imprisonment, on the theme of mistakes. I love this man and don’t understand why I am so drawn to fic about him that makes me sad.

Watch And Review, Please by Becca Stareyes. [oneshot, short] The Ember Island Players receive some constructive criticism... sort of. Funny and quick.

Azula Redemption Trilogy (1, 2, 3) by Mistress of Sarcasm. [threeshot, short] Second person and deeply introspective, three short little fics delving into Azula’s head and bringing her closer to redemption.

Echoing Refrains by catie_writes_things. [oneshot, short] I really like nuanced explorations of the whole FN royal family. It’s perfectly fine to write Ozai as pure evil bastard, but exploring  what might have been or how he got there, or even as in this fic his talent for music being inherited by Zuko is really interesting too. Iroh-centric.

our curse by ohmygodwhy, and the last dragon by thesometimeswarrior. [twoshot, complete, short] Stay away if you don’t like to cry. In the first Zuko learns Ozai is executing Iroh, and isn’t able to stop it; the second is even worse because it’s Iroh’s POV. I put this in the other characters section because honestly I adore the second fic even more than the first, but they are both fantastically written and will hurt you a very great deal.

Finally, I’m not quite bold enough to put my own fic on a reclist, but just shameless enough to mention I’ve written a few Avatar fics I quite like if anyone feels the desire to check them out on my AO3. ;) But seriously give love to all the rest of these, they deserve it. (And as I said, there’s lots more excellent stuff, this fandom is so prolific and well-written!)

[zuko-always-lies]

Why Do People Think Zuko Wants to Help Azula? Or That It Is His Responsibility to Do So?[submitted by justanotherthrowaway1950]

Note (This is where Gene Yang heavily implied that Azula’s mental state in the comic is due to her “treatment” in the asylum): https://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/1027/avatar-last-airbender-search-cbr-interviews-gene-y

Note (This Aaron Eschaz’s tweet chain detailing a hypothetical Season 4 Azula redemption arc): https://twitter.com/aaronehasz/status/1112814662393847808?lang=en

Note (This is Bryke disconfirming there was ever going to be a Season 4 of ATLA): https://www.polygon.com/animation-cartoons/2020/8/31/21405084/legend-of-korra-netflix-bryan-konietzko-michael-dimartino-interview-avatar

Note (This Iroh’s canon views in regards to Azula and her upbringing): https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b6924eaab671b1b851cdb574fa9e78/c21e8fb4ef323ad3-de/s1280x1920/5d45b3fa9c49e00093cb30d085df1ad615b1ffaa.jpg

I understand that people like the idea that Zuko would help Azula heal and redeem herself, not only fully breaking the cycle of abuse, but becoming a better man than even Iroh, who canonically never really did care for Azula and blames her for her abuse. Especially after Aaron Eschaz tweeted about his plan to redeem Azula through Zuko if ATLA ever got a Season 4 (WHICH WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN PER BRYKE’s WORDS).

But the idea that Zuko would help Azula heal and redeem herself is literally not supported by canon.

For he left Azula in an abusive institution for two years without giving a damn (which was well within his rights after everything she did to him), and was content with leaving her there until he realized the shitty state of his nuclear family badly reflected him on and that he needed Azula to extract intel from Ozai about Ursa's possible location before putting her under house arrest with 24/7 surveillance.

And that the only reason why Azula was eventually able to travel free and unbound with dignity was because she managed to blackmail Zuko with Ursa’s possible location.

Moreover, deep down, when you push back against Zuko's facade of wanting to "help" Azula, you find someone who blames Azula for making his life hell from the moment she was born like his primary abusers weren't Ozai and Azulon and thinks she does evil for the sake of evil.

For when Zuko finds out Azula is tied to the Fake Kemurikage kidnappings, he doesn’t react with sadness like Ty Lee or shock & disbelief like Mai, two people who, despite rightfully fearing and loathing Azula, did know her best outside of her family.

No...when asked why Azula would be a part of such a vile enterprise for no apparent reason, Zuko basically shrugs and says that it is Azula so there is no need to understand why she is doing it.

So why would someone who blames Azula for all the misfortune in his life and is quick to assume the worse out of her want to willingly help Azula?

And before anyone brings up the climax of The Search, just think about from a moment from Azula’s POV?

She just tried killing Zuko’s beloved mommy their mother in front of Zuko after a tumultuous trip in which Zuko and his friends found out that she was planning to overthrow Zuko using the “Zuko is a bastard” letter and only let her keep it because they still needed her to find Ursa.

Moreover, Zuko has already made it clear that he blames her for making his life hard in addition to her belief that Zuko locked up her in the abusive institution to break her (when in reality Zuko is so absent minded he never bothered to check the conditions there but this doesn’t really help).

So when Azula hears Zuko say he wants to help her, why would Azula believe that Zuko would do anything other than have Aang de-bend her for good before throwing in prison next to Ozai for life or, even worse, back into the asylum?

But moving on, even if one were to disregard the comics, it is pretty clear that Zuko is clearly not the person to help Azula.

For he compares Azula to Aang in terms of how easy bending comes to her when it is obvious from Azula’s training scene with Lo and Li that she had to work almost as hard (key word almost) as Zuko in order to manifest her natural talent.

Zuko, in order to not face the reality that his grandfather and father are abusive bastards with no love for him, comes up with the mantra of, “Azula always lies,” even though it is clear that she isn’t always lying (ex. Ozai is really going to fulfill Azulon’s order to kill Zuko or that Ozai views the beginning of Book 2 Zuko as a miserable failure who wants to lock up Zuko so he can stop “embarrassing” Ozai).

Or when Azula tries opening up to the rest of The Dangerous Ladies and Zuko about how she views herself as a monster and how Ursa was right to view her as one, Zuko stays silent due to some combo of resentment, fear, and believing Azula is just lying to just gain brownie points with the rest of group after they revealed their various long-standing traumas despite Azula, along with Mai & Ty Lee, helping Zuko open up about his issues.

Or how about when Azula is apparently falling to her death during the start of The Southern Raiders, Zuko appears worried that she will die but the moment she is able to launch herself to the cliff-slide, he acts annoyed that she even survived.

But the crown jewel that shows TV!Zuko’s care, or lack thereof, for TV!Azula is when Zuko asks Katara to help put Azula in her place when he asks Katara to help him take out Azula so he can take the throne.

For there is no hesitation or any reflection that the reason why he has to outright kill Azula is because he had the right circumstances to overcome their indoctrination and abuse while she never had anyone to help her do the same and thus has to be put down for the sake of the world.

And yes, Zuko was clearly intending to kill Azula considering he was going to redirect her lighting to win the final Agni Kai until Katara foolishly stepped into the arena, giving Azula a chance take advantage of Zuko’s protectiveness to hit him with lighting without Zuko being able to properly redirect her lighting.

But before anyone accuses of me of twisting Zuko’s behavior and actions to make him seem like a jackass or woobify Azula, there is a reason why I did so other than to show that Zuko doesn’t want to help Azula: to show that not only is he ill-equipped to help her but that it is not responsibility to do so.

For what Azula needs, other than medical treatment to help her deal with her, imo, canon schizo disorder (she has severe audiovisual delusions and hallucinations for two straight years and her master plan in S&S comes about due to giving into her delusions), is a parental figure who can teach her that love is not conditional while showing her unconditional love and that fear is for fools since trust is the only reliable way.

For once she learns how to be a functional person and heals, she will be able to start atoning for all her various evil acts and eventually be able to be a healthy, productive member of society.

Which ties back into why it is not Zuko’s responsibility to help her; for in addition to being a teenager who is still trying to overcome his abuse in addition to having reform a super-power after a 100 years of indoctrination while re-integrating it into the world community, Zuko is one of Azula’s principal victims!

For Azula was Zuko's secondary abuser, abused Mai & Ty Lee, and tried killing or jailing Zuko and/or his loved ones several times (and succeeded several times).

In fact a key part of Azula hypothetical atonement is Azula apologizing to Zuko for her behavior towards him and the people he cares about while making it fully clear that she is not entitled to be part of his life or to be a part of his government (and thus wield power again).

Not to mention showing through repeated actions that her words are not just another attempt at manipulation for her own benefit.

But now that I have made it clear that Zuko doesn’t want to help nor is it his responsibility to do so, I am sure people are going to ask who can serve as that parental figure who can help Azula heal?

Well there are a lot of options: Iroh (if you are part of the group of people who ignore the comics and extended lore); post-comics Ursa (who has already indicated a desire to make up for her parenting mistakes in regards to Azula); an actual medical professional once Zuko realizes the bad state of the asylums and reforms it; or even some random adults who decide to help an obviously broken person desperately seeking guidance (in AUs that don’t take into account the comics).

For this is an aside, but it seems pretty clear to me that post-Smoke & Shadow Azula, who is most likely a legal adult, will most likely never find support even among civilians due to her crimes and status as the most wanted war criminal fugitive alive.

But getting back to the main point, I don't get the idea why people think Zuko would want to help Azula, at least in an earnest fashion where Azula is given the time, space, and ability to make mistakes just like Zuko did during his redemption arc. Or why is it his responsibility to help her when he himself has a lot to figure out about himself and is one of Azula’s victims.

Not when there are a lot of potential adult figures who can help Azula heal from Ozai’s abuse.

Also, it would be nice for one of the remaining Royal Family adult members to try and actually make up for doing absolutely nothing to counter Ozai’s grooming like they did with Zuko but this post is not the time and place for that discussion.

submitted by justanotherthrowaway1950

Yes, I mostly agree here. Of course, once Azula(a badly traumatized child soldier) falls under Zuko's control, it's his responsibility to ensure she receives proper care and treatment(and to ensure that she's not abused), but not his responsibility to personally insert himself under her life. However, I must protest about the characterization of Azula's actions as "abuse," as I don't think that's a useful paradigm for understanding them, and it only serves to demonize her. Still, she hurt her friends and they hurt her, but she hurt her brother and her brother hurt her back far worse(and Zuko hurt her far worse than she ever hurt him). The last bit strongly suggests that the Fire siblings should, at the very least, spend some time away from each other.

[aitarose]

THORNS | AZULA

PAIRING: Azula x Reader x Zuko [fem]

PLOT: Though Azula always said that she’s never believed in love, she failed to stop herself from falling head over heels for her brother’s betrothed. companion piece to roses; based on these requests by anons

WARNINGS: angst, fluff, unrequited love, mutual pining, somewhat friends to lovers

WORD COUNT: 5.3k

A/N: this connects to the events that occur in roses. this piece can be read as a standalone, but roses gives more detail to the reader’s feelings and relationship with zuko

ALT. END: Blossoms | ZUKO’S POV: Roses

WRITER’S ANALYSIS: Here

MY MASTERLIST

thorns : a symbol of sinful thoughts, extreme sorrow, and hardships. when paired with a rose, denotes both pain and pleasure in the sense of love.

Year one, day one.

Azula slammed her hands onto the skin of her face, repeatedly making contact with her dry cheeks. She let out a deafening scream of anger, punching the wall next to her, leaving a dark black mark in its wake.

She’d been in her room for less than three hours and she was already going mad with boredom. 

The princess huffed, plopping herself down onto the twin-sized bed that was nestled in the corner of her so-called suite. 

She knew that Zuzu had done his best to give her the best commodities the Fire Nation could offer, but her former people weren’t exactly jumping to meet her pretentious living standards. 

Which was actually something that Azula somewhat understood. She knew deep down that what she had done was wrong—trying to kill the Avatar, trying to kill her mom, kidnapping the nation’s children, the whole gist. 

She’d done bad things, some really bad things in her past, but that’s all that it was—her past. Azula wanted to get better, she wanted to be better for not only Zuko, but for herself.

So she and her brother had devised a plan. A plan that would, in its entirety, take five years to complete. 

Zuko was giving Azula half a decade to prove to him that she could be good, truly good. Which to most would seem like quite a bit of time, but for Azula, she didn’t know if it would be enough.

She wrapped her arms around herself, warming her ice cold shoulders. Azula hadn’t been alone with her thoughts for this long in a while—and if she was being honest, there was nothing that scared her more than her own mind. 

“Princess?” She jumped, startled by the frail voice calling from the opposite side of her door. Azula hastily marched to the entrance, yanking it open in annoyance at whomever was bothering her chosen isolation.

Standing before her was a girl about her age, she couldn’t have been older than eighteen. She was holding a tray with various Fire Nation delicacies stacked on top of one another, steaming with heat and the kitchen’s aroma.

Azula rolled her eyes at the sight she was seeing. Of course Zuko had ordered for her to have a late dinner, he’d most likely been preoccupied with all of his new and earned Fire Lord duties.

“Come inside, peasant.” Azula gestured to the small dining table in the center of her confinement. She pulled out a chair for herself and expectantly looked at her companion with the expectation that she’d serve her. 

The other girl hustled, quickly placing the princess’s meal on the placemat and taking the seat opposite to her. She laced her hands together, her fingers tapping the wood nervously.

Azula threw her palms flat on the table. “What are you doing?” She questioned, interrogating her helper, who was cowering in her seat. “Does my brother expect you to monitor my meals? What damage could I possibly do with this slob? Start a food fight in the palace?”

Her uninvited guest took a deep breath, seemingly focusing her stress and fear into the idea of feeling zen. She swallowed hard, her gaze on Azula evolving from anxiety to empathy.

“Actually,” she trailed off, her lips rising into a thin smile. She looked into Azula’s golden eyes, searching for any signs of discomfort or rising anger. “The Fire Lord didn’t send me here, his advisors did.”

“The council knows that your brother has a soft spot for you.” She explained, watching as Azula slightly nodded her head along to her words. “Spirits, everyone knows that when it comes to you, he has no reason.”

“I’m only here to monitor and report your progress.” Azula scoffed at the thought of her father’s old council dictating the direction of her own life, but at least they’d sent someone she could relate to. A girl that she could actually form a conversation with.

A scowl flashed across Azula’s face as the admissions her companion had stated ran through her mind. No matter, at least she had some entertainment now.

“Do you have a name?” Azula asked pointedly as she began to pick at her meal. “Or should I just call you ‘Servant’, like I do with all of the others?”

The girl lightly laughed at the unintentional joke, finding humor in the thought of being stuck with the princess as nothing but her worker. She shook her head, smiling slightly, before responding.

“You can call me Y/N.”

Year one, day ninety-four.

“You’re late.”

Azula crossed her arms over her chest, huffing loudly as she attempted to seem angered by her new friend’s timing. She’d become well accustomed to the daily routine they’d developed over the past months.

Seeing Y/N was honestly the highlight of Azula’s day.

She’d never verbally admit that she enjoyed the kind girl’s company. That she felt refreshed by her positive and warm nature, that she relished in the judgement free outlook that Y/N had on life.

And Azula would never mentally admit to herself, that she may have developed unwanted feelings for her friend. 

She always told herself that love wasn’t real. After witnessing the so-called love her mother and father had shared first hand, Azula wasn’t necessarily looking forward to potential love in her future.

No matter who she was involved with.

“Sorry about that Azula.” Y/N hustled through the doorway, her hair tangled and dusted with dirt particles. She had a large scratch on her right cheek, most likely self inflicted. Y/N was clumsy like that.

Azula let out a short laugh. Taking in the appearance of her crush. She even makes dirt look good.

“I was running on time, but then I saw this adorable booth in the market and I just had to make a stop.” Y/N rambled, waving her hands in the air in exaggeration. Her cheeks were flushed red from her sprint through town, resembling the color of a blooming rose.

“As if it matters to me.” Azula shrugged nonchalantly in her best attempt to seem as if she didn’t care about her friend’s dilemma.

As if she didn’t care about every second of her day. As if Y/N’s overall excitement wasn’t the only thing that truly kept Azula going nowadays.

Y/N brushed off Azula’s feigned disinterest as if it was nothing. It wasn’t uncommon for the princess to ignore her daily shenanigans. Most of the time, she felt as if Azula didn’t even listen to anything she said.

Which Y/N had quickly realized not even weeks into their meetings, really really hurt her. It hurt her heart that Azula didn’t care, that she didn’t matter in her eyes.

In their time together, Y/N had developed inklings of feelings for the firebender as well. Feelings that she had come to internalize and push aside.

After all, it wasn’t her job to fall in love with her client. Her job was to help Azula learn to love her own people, to help her gain the love of her people.

“Well, Azula.” Y/N stumbled towards her friend, accidentally tripping over her own feet in embarrassment. She proceeded to hold out a single flower not yet in bloom. 

“This is what the vendor was selling.” She smiled warmly, letting Azula take the flower into her own hands. “It caught my eye, because it reminded me of you.”

Azula studied her gift. It was a red rose, the shade being so vibrant it could be compared to her brother’s firebending. The stem was thin, yet covered in thorns of various sizes. They prickled Azula’s fingers, puncturing her callouses. 

As she gazed at the budding rose, Azula realized how fitting the gift was to her. She had never been the kind of girl who longed for bouquets and sweets, but when coming from the right person, perhaps she was. 

Whilst she struggled to come up with a reply to her friend’s kindness, Y/N mentally applauded herself. She’d finally found a way to make Azula speechless.

“It’s not terrible, I suppose.” Azula threw the flower to the ground, lightly kicking it away from her with her right foot. She turned away from Y/N, not bothering to see the heartbroken look on her crush’s face.

“I’m sure that garbage was all you could afford anyways.”

Azula cringed as she heard the door close lightly. Her eyes were rimmed with tears, realizing that even while upset, Y/N would never respond to her own awfulness with anger.

She felt herself collapse, her knees buckling beneath her. Soft sobs escaped her lips, silent cries filling the hollow room. 

The sorrow-filled girl looked up from her lap with tear-filled eyes. Azula could see the faint outline of the young rose beside her. As she lifted the thorn covered flower with careful hands, she saw what Y/N had meant with the gift.

That Azula was dreadful and hurtful to others on the outside, but when encouraged and supported, she could become something beautiful.

Someone that could one day be compared to the beauty that was of a blooming rose.

As she sat alone, staring at the budding rose in her palms, Azula realized that she would only be able to become that person with the help of Y/N. She was the only person that had even come close to seeing her for who she truly was.

The only person who would think of giving a gift such as this to the princess of the Fire Nation. The only person who Azula had ever come to feel true and honest love towards. 

Azula had to become better. Not only for herself and Zuko—but for Y/N.

Year two, day one-hundred and six.

“Can I ask you something serious?”

Y/N rolled over to face Azula on her side, resting her elbow beneath her chin. She tilted her head while scrunching her nose in thought.

Azula was laying beside her, staring up at the dark vaulted ceiling. She’d been allowed to move back into her old bedroom at the palace with Zuko and his advisor’s permission, after they’d been informed of all of her progress with Y/N.

It was a room where Azula had never truly been comfortable in when she was younger, she used to feel so alone in the spacious and empty bedroom—but with Y/N’s company, she hadn’t felt alone in years. 

“That depends,” Azula responded, crossing her arms over her chest. She frowned, taking a moment to consider what Y/N could possibly ask her. “What is this serious question that you’re deliberating?”

Y/N dropped the arm that was supporting her upper body, allowing herself to fall back onto the soft red carpet. She stretched her arms out, nearly hitting Azula in the process before mimicking her friend’s position.

She let out a deep sigh as she closed her eyes tight. Her heartbeat raced in her chest, preparing herself for whatever reaction Azula could possibly have to her curiosity.

“Have you ever been in love?”

Azula nearly choked on air at the sound of Y/N’s words. She had to physically stop herself from bolting upright and leaving the room, before whipping her head around to give her crush a look of confusion.

“Love?” Azula cringed, pushing the thought of the emotion to the very depths of her mind. “That’s what you really wanted to ask me? If I’ve known love?”

The firebender could faintly see Y/N’s head nod in the darkness surrounding them. She lit a single flame from the tip of her pointer finger to get a better glimpse of Y/N’s beautiful face.

She could see the stress in her eyes—spirits, Azula could feel the anxiety rippling off of Y/N’s body in waves. She didn’t know why a question like this could possibly affect her companion in the way it was now. 

She didn’t know why it was affecting her in the exact same way.

“My parents were my only example of love when I was a child.” Azula shared, trusting Y/N with the inner secrets that she’d never verbally spoken before. “My mother left before I knew she even cared for me, and my father..”

Azula trailed off, not wanting to finish her sentence. Y/N pursed her lips at the princess’ silence, taking her shaking hand into her own soft palm. She rubbed her fingers against Azula’s, doing her best to comfort her during her confrontation with her past trauma.

“My father was a monster.” Azula grimaced, basking in the feeling of Y/N’s touch. The feeling of being so close, yet so far from the girl she was painfully in love with. “Their love wasn’t real, and I fear I’m so similar to my father that it’ll never be real for me either.”

Y/N gasped in disbelief. “Love is for anyone, ‘Zula. You just need to believe that one day, it’ll find you when you least expect it.”

Azula shook her head, refusing to face the fact that she had her love right in front of her. Someone who would care for her and understand her throughout all of her outbreaks and dilemmas. Someone that would choose her everyday, as long as she’d let her. 

“That’s unfortunate then.” Azula pried her hand from Y/N’s, shivering at the overwhelming feeling of emptiness. “Because I don’t believe in love.”

With that, Y/N was speechless. She’d expected something from Azula. Anything to affirm her suspicions that her crush was in love with her as well—but all she’d gotten in return was an answer even worse than rejection.

Azula groaned, sitting up from the floor and tucking her knees into her chest. “What about you? Have you ever been in love?”

Y/N took a minute to contemplate what she had asked. Azula mentally counted down the seconds of silence that followed her out-of-character question. 

“I think that I have.” Y/N pondered, lacing her own fingers together over her stomach. “But lately I’ve realized that they’ll never feel the same.”

“It’s about time that I move on, isn’t it?”

Azula barely heard the last words Y/N whispered under her breath. Her voice was so faint, it sounded like nothing but an echo in the void. She could tell that Y/N was frowning, but Azula had no idea how to make her smile.

And words couldn’t describe how much Azula loved her smile. There was nothing that she loved more to see. That bright, beaming grin and the gorgeous girl behind it—that girl always being Y/N.

Year three, day eighty-seven.

Azula stretched her arms above her head, the bright sun radiating beams of light around her. She felt a genuine grin spread across her face, brightening her features with honest happiness.

She’d just recently been given the privilege to roam the palace ground freely, and had chosen to spend every single day of the past week in the garden courtyard.

Being surrounded by the tall cherry blossom trees, the whistling birds, and the frail little turtle ducks gave Azula a sense of nostalgia that she never knew she had missed.

She used to shun the memories and longings of her past friends and family members, refusing to accept the fact that she had been the true problem in their relationship troubles. That she had caused all of their strife. 

But now, with the new idea of freedom on Azula’s mind, she finally understood how terrible she’d been. How unfairly she’d treated her peers and the people who had offered her guidance. She vowed to herself to never become that person again, that monster.

“Enjoying the warm weather?” Y/N called from the entrance of the courtyard, a large picnic basket in hand. 

Azula spun to face her friend, laughing at the sight of the mess Y/N had brought with her. She ran over to the girl, instantly taking a hold of the supplies she’d been lugging around with her.

Y/N smiled at Azula, overwhelmed with joy at the sight of her unprovoked helpfulness. She walked with the firebender, taking a seat in their usual spot under the largest pink tree.

She and Azula had grown in indescribable ways in the past years of knowing each other. They’d gone from nothing but strangers, to somewhat friends, and now best friends. 

Azula knew in her heart that Y/N was the only person who was real in her life. The only one who knew her in a way where she didn’t automatically shy away from the boldness and arguably maniacal tendencies Azula had.

She knew that if she ever really had a chance at love, it was with Y/N.

Which was the reason why today was so special for Azula. It was the day that she was planning to finally confess and accept the undeniable love and adoration that she held for Y/N.

“I hope you brought actual food,” Azula ripped off the lid of the basket, peering inside to find all of her favorite desserts made by the kitchen staff. She stuck her hand inside, grabbing a small fruit tart covered in bright red frosting.

“This is so much better than that garbage you gave me the first day we met.”

Y/N bursted out laughing, clutching her chest as her teeth sparkled in the sunlight. She scoffed, stealing the tart out of Azula’s hand, before taking a bite of it herself.

“Sorry, your majesty.” She rolled her eyes in amusement, giggling at Azula’s reaction to her thievery. “I wasn’t exactly allowed to choose what the Princess of the Fire Nation could eat.”

Azula smirked, shooting a short line of fire towards the delicacy in Y/N’s palm, scorching the remainder of the tart and obliterating it to ashes. “Don’t steal my food.”

Y/N blew the dust off of her lap, shaking down her body before smacking Azula’s shoulder. “Well, don’t set my food on fire.”

The two girls glared at each other, refusing to break eye contact in an unspoken staring contest. Y/N struggled to match Azula’s stone cold gaze, blinking hard before being overcome with a fit of giggles. 

Azula felt her cheeks flush red as her crush’s head fell into her lap. She gazed down on the hysterical girl, holding her cheeks between her hands. Before she could speak, Azula saw someone standing in the corner of her eye.

She looked up to find her Fire Lord brother shyly waving at them, one hand raised in the air while the other disappeared in the pockets of his grand robes. 

Her relationship with Zuko had greatly improved since the beginning of their arrangement. While she used to loathe the sight of his scarred face, now she had grown to find comfort in it. They’d finally become the family they should’ve always been.

“Zuzu?” Azula called out, confused as to why her brother was interrupting her time with Y/N. In all the time she’d spent with Zuko, he’d never been around when Y/N was there. “What is it that you need, brother?”

Zuko shrugged, now stuffing both hands into his pockets as he rocked back and forth on his heels. He stuttered for a moment before pointing at Y/N, who’d just now noticed the prince standing at the distance.

“I need to speak with Y/N,” Zuko slightly chuckled, biting his lip as he tried to suppress a grin. “I have some business that we need to cover, it’ll only take a second.”

Azula had never seen Y/N move so quickly. Her friend was there for one minute and then the next thing she knew, her lap was empty—barren from the feeling of warmth and belonging she’d felt seconds before.

She watched in confusion as Y/N stood before Zuko. Her brother and her crush spoke at a comfortable distance, not too close, but also not far enough. Azula wrinkled her nose in disgust as she saw him ruffle Y/N’s hair, an act that she thought was only reserved for her.

They continued conversing, their voices too faint for Azula to hear. As the ‘deliberation’ concluded, she sighed seeing Y/N turn away from Zuko—only to see him take ahold of her forearm, pulling her close to his body.

Zuko took one of Y/N’s hands in his, before finally revealing what he’d been hiding beneath his robes the entire time. 

He offered Y/N a rose, a somewhat crumpled rose, but a rose nonetheless. It was a soft shade of orange, the petals oozing the same effect as Zuko’s flames. Even Azula could admit that it was beautiful, more beautiful than any flower she’d ever come across.

Azula frowned at the sight of her crush’s red cheeks. Why doesn’t Y/N have that reaction to her compliments anymore?

The princess internally gagged as Y/n reached up to wrap her arms around Zuko’s neck, pulling him into a tight hug before pressing a light kiss to his cheek. She waved a quick goodbye to him and skipped towards Azula, tripping over countless stones on her way back.

She plopped down onto the ground, delicately holding the large rose in her hands. Azula noticed the smooth stem of the flower, free of thorns and pain.

“I see you and my brother have quite a bit of explaining to do.” Azula deadpanned, dreading to hear what Y/N could possibly have to say about the kiss she shared with Zuko. 

Y/N huffed out a puff of air, pushing away the loose strands of hair that were blowing around her forehead. She sat back against the cherry blossom tree, a lovestruck grin stretched across her face. 

“I’d meant to tell you earlier, ‘Zula.” She explained, twiddling the rose between her fingers. “A lot earlier actually—months ago, even.”

“Zuko and I ran into each other on my way to your room one day, and we just really clicked.”

Y/N felt her heart pounding in her chest, not from nerves but from the love that she felt for the kind Fire Lord. “We’ve been seeing each other since then and I think it’s going really well.”

“I think I’m in love with him.”

Azula felt her heart drop in that moment. She’d been anticipating a confession for the entirety of the day, though that confession was not the one she’d had in mind. 

Heartbreak was an unfamiliar feeling for Azula. Sure, she’d felt loneliness and emptiness before, but never this. She’d never known the true and utter despair of losing the one that you love to someone else. Someone that is undeniably better in every way.

Azula knew she’d never shine in comparison to Zuko in this new world—but she had thought that she was the diamond to Zuko’s rock in Y/N’s eyes.

But perhaps she was nothing more than a friend in the eyes of Y/N.

Year four, day two-hundred and two.

“I have news!” Y/N sprinted down the beach, sand flying everywhere as she giddily ran towards Azula. “Big big news that you’ll love to know!”

Azula raised an eyebrow at Y/N’s natural chaos, she’d never seen her so utterly unruly and dismantled. What could possibly cause her to act this way?

By the time she reached the seashore, Y/N was out of breath. She collapsed onto the sand, shrieking as the tide came in and brushed against her bare feet.

“Calm down, crazy! Don’t get that debris all over my new swimsuit!” Azula shouted, confused by how jumpy she was acting.

The only other time Y/N had come close to acting this way was when she and Azula had gone to see the famous play rights in the Fire Nation colonies, and ended up laughing at all of the ridiculousness they displayed.

“Sorry, sorry!” Y/N laughed, shaking the sand out of her clothes and hair. The state of being she was in reminded her of their early days together. Specifically the day Y/N had given Azula her favorite gift ever.

The budding rose covered in thorns.

“I’m just so excited.” Y/N went on and on describing her joy, her hands were waving in the air dramatically gesturing here and there to absolutely nothing. Azula wasn’t even listening to whatever she was saying, just admiring how pretty she looked in the sun.

“Take a breath, it’s not like we don’t have all day.” Azula chimed in, stopping Y/N from completely combusting with energy. She patted the seat next to her, nodding in approval as the girl she loved gladly took the spot.

Y/N wrapped her arms around Azula’s waist, laying on the towel beside her. She hummed in content at the platonic gesture she was showing her friend. Azula however was racing at Y/N’s touch, confused by the intimacy of it all.

Azula shrugged off her feelings, instead choosing to trace circles over Y/N’s back. Easing the girl out of her excitement and into a state of quietness and relaxation. 

Silence overtook the two girls, the only sound being the splashing waves upon the nation’s coast. Azula stared blankly at the soft currents, seeing them rise and fall over the shoreline. She wished she could come and go like them.

That way she wouldn’t have to witness first hand the love between Y/N and Zuko. The love between the girl she saw as her soulmate and her own brother.

“Zuko proposed.” Y/N whispered, an unintentional smile gracing her lips. The unconditional love she felt for him was so visible, the perfect stranger would be able to pick up on it. “And I said yes.”

Azula swallowed hard, feeling tears prickling the corners of her eyes. She let the waterworks drip down her cheeks, feeling like a run down battery with no energy left to hide her sadness. 

Y/N sat up, startled by the sparse water droplets hitting the back of her neck. She gasped, concerned by Azula’s obviously helpless emotional state. She reached up, taking Azula’s face in her hands while wiping her tears away.

“What’s wrong?” She asked in concern, doing her best to comfort the crying girl. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against Azula’s in an attempt to hold her close. “It’s alright, ‘Zula. You can tell me anything.”

“You know that I’m always here for you.”

In the storm of confusion and sadness that was raging in Azula’s mind, she did the one thing that she had promised herself she’d never do. She followed through with her own selfish wish of jeopardizing Zuko and Y/N’s relationship.

Y/N’s eyes opened wide in shock as Azula’s lips touched her own. 

The firebender poured all of her emotions into the one-sided kiss, not realizing that Y/N was unresponsive. The latter girl was frozen in place, trying her best to process what was exactly happening in the moment.

She’d dreamt of this moment, the time where Azula would finally admit that she had feelings for her too—but she hadn’t had those dreams in years. Those dreams had ended once Azula had said that love wasn’t real.

As Azula pulled away, tears still dripping down her chin, Y/N had a look of bitterness on her face. Her normally beautiful and positive features were overcome with anger and distrust.

“Why would you do that?” She cried, her eyes turning bloodshot red. Y/N stood hastily, backing away from her friend, holding her hands in front of her to show that she didn’t want Azula following her. “You know you shouldn’t have done that.”

Azula screamed in frustration as she watched Y/N storm away back in the direction of the palace. She grabbed fist-fulls of sand, flinging them at the sea and shooting blasts of blue fire in the air. 

She had perhaps ruined the best friendship she’d had in her entire life. All because she couldn’t keep her love to herself. Her true and overwhelming love for Y/N.

Year five, the last day.

“Are you prepared, Princess Azula?”

Azula stared into the mirror in front of her, seeing nothing but a coward in her reflection. She nodded absentmindedly to the servant that was serving her, doing her hair, dressing her, whatever it was that servants do.

She ordered her to leave the room, wishing to be alone for the remainder of the time she had to herself. There was a big event today, the biggest in the entire Fire Nation.

It was the wedding of the Fire Lord and his bride-to-be.

Azula would be lying to herself if she said that she hadn’t been dreading this day ever since Y/N had told her about the engagement that day on the beach—for that was the last day she’d even spoken to Y/N.

The former best friends hadn’t seen each other in months. Not because they were too busy or forgetful, but because Azula was too embarrassed to contact the girl. She was ashamed of her actions and regretted them wholeheartedly.

After all that time in the dark, Azula was shocked that she’d gotten an invitation to their ceremony. She didn’t think they’d want her present after what she’d done.

But here she was, all dolled up to watch the woman she loved marry the man she’d always been jealous of. Zuko had their mother’s love, the honor she’d always wanted, and the person she was supposed to spend her life with.

Sure his life had been nothing but hard since the minute he was born, but in the end Zuko was the better one out of the two of them. He was the one who was truly deserving of all of the power and glory that was their birthright. 

Azula glared at herself in the mirror’s glass, remembering the last time she’d looked at her reflection in such a distraught mood. She shook her head at the memory, choosing instead to pull open the small drawer of her vanity.

Inside was a long and thin wooden box, locked with a golden pad. She took the necklace tucked into her dress and fit the key charm into the socket, twisting it open.

Her hands reached into the keepsake, carefully gripping the decaying rose from its hiding place.

For four years she’d had the gift, and in those four years Azula had managed to find help from the plantbenders of the swamp to discover a way to keep the rose alive. 

However she’d become careless after her falling out with Y/N, forgetting completely about the flower, only remembering its existence in that very moment.

She spun the flower in her palms, wincing at the prickling feeling of the small thorns on the side. The rose still hadn’t bloomed, she’d told the plantbenders that she preferred it that way no matter their interjections.

Azula wanted to have the gift exactly how Y/N had meant it for her, it was more meaningful that way.

Fire raced up the stem of the rose, encasing the wilting petals in flames. Azula watched intensely as the flower turned to nothing more than ash and dust, all that was left was the four thorns she’d chosen to spare.

She poured the little dust she had back into the box, locking it with her necklace before taking the thorns with her and out the door. She was running on a tight schedule and wouldn’t for the life of her, miss the wedding.

The ceremony had begun beautifully. Romantic music surrounded the guests, filling their ears with the selection of tunes that Zuko and Y/N had hand picked. Orange roses erupted from the vases and archways in the courtyard, reminding Azula of her fateful picnic with Y/N.

She clutched the thorns in her palm at the thought of her, telling herself that this was always meant to happen.

Y/N deserved someone like Zuko. Someone good and loving, someone who would never turn their back on her. She was deserving of the entire world, and Azula never would’ve been able to give that to her.

She wasn’t meant to have Y/N’s love. She’d always known that, and now it was just time for her to accept it, move on, and cut her ties. Her future was nearing, and her new sister-in-law was not a part of it. 

Perhaps this was a positive, a truly good thing to come from the constant struggle that she’d faced since childhood.

After all, she could finally leave her prison. Abandon her memories in replace of new ones where she wasn’t the fire princess, where she was simply Azula—just Azula.

TAGS: @practicallylivesonline @cherryskyies @shell-bells-ringding @xapham @mochminnie @lammello​ @bombardia​

[hello-yue-here]

maiko- “you matter to me” waitress

TALK ABOUT THIS ONE ???? i'm just here for maiko tbh

mailee- “lay all your love on me” -mamma mia (I KNOW THIS MAY SEEM OUT OF PLACE BUT THIS IS JUST WHAT MY BRAIN TELLS ME OKAY)

oh? do go on i ADORE mamma mia

okay is the title itself isnt maiko enough think of it like this:

zuko is a kid whos literally hada two people care for him his entire life: his mother and iroh (the maiko for this context is maiko when he returns to the fire nation before joining the gaang). and his mother left and he betrayed iroh. zuko already has issues with believing people actually care about him and love him

on the flipside mai has been in a safe and secure household her entire life. she has a present mother and father. the thing is: she feels stiffled by them. Now i know pretty much nothing about her relationship with her parents because i know it goes a lil more into that in the comics so from my own perspective: mai is taken care of, be she is not cared for. remember ember island? remember how she said her life was perfect except for the fact that she straight up wasnt allowed to be herself??

from my pov its fairly easy for me to say that these kids dont feel like they are cared for

but the thing with maiko is: they still care for each other

"i dont hate you" "I dont hate you either"

for this song mai is pottamer because of this line: "come out of hiding im right here beside you / and ill stay there as long as you need me"

Mai is always seen as being there for Zuko. Her first appearance with him in book three on the boat she is trying to reach out and talk to him and make him feel better. she just wants to talk with him and make him feel better. She is loyal af to this boy.

and zuko is jenna in this song because of these lines: "It's addictive the minute you let yourself think / The things that I say just might matter to someone"

once again were gonna look at ember island for this jawn:

mai azula and ty lee are all pressuring him to open up about his feelings, granted in different ways: azula because it seems amusing to her. ty lee because shes confused as to why zuko is upset. mai because she cares about him. HE MATTERS TO HER.

mai, a character who really doesnt seem like she cares about anything. cares about zuko.

zuko matters to her.

and zuko, a character who cares a little too much about everything, still has space in his mind and heart to care about mai.

mai matters to him.

fuck i love this song and this ship. fuck.

~

mailee lay all your love on me

okay okay okay. this one isnt as deep as maiko because it rlly do be the fact that sophia and ty lee give off such similar vibes to me but lets dive into the lyrics anyways shalle we?

"i feel a kind of fear / when i dont have you near"

these two are always with each other. always. they always have each others backs and in tbr mai does seem a little scared before ty lee betrays azula and saves mai.

"i still don't know what you've done with me / a grown up woman should never fall so easily"

think ab this one from mai's perspective: once again its established that she keeps things she loves a secret. she tries very hard to remain apathetic and detatched from everything. but ty lee isnt someone she can hide from. mai isnt used to falling hard and fast and yet it happens with ty lee

once again: the major reason for this song being a mailee song to me is strictly because ty lee has sophie vibes (also i think she would think the dancing boys in funny flippers would be so amusing; mai also would like it because hey at least it isnt boring)

ask me about why i think these songs go with these ships!

[is-that-another-soulmate-au]

Zukka Soulmate AU part 7

@mypureessence

@chaoticidiott

@ari-shipping-stuff

@knightedbot

@idkhowbutimgayer

@swampy-beans

@angrylittleintrovert

"Get away from. Him Azula" Zuko said while standing between his sistet and Aang

"Aw, do you really think you can capture him first Zuzu" she mocked

"No" he narrowed his eyes at her but turned his head to the right just a bit to see that Aang looked exhausted, of course he was. He was tracking his sister while her Mai and Ty Lee terrorized the group. He sent Jee and Iroh after the others to make sure they were safe while he want after Azula

She gave a huffed laugh "come on Zuko, why turn against fathers orders now? You could still get his love back yo-"

"Has it ever occurred to you that I've realized he never loved me in the first place?" He growled out "do you honestly think that two and a half years at sea wouldn't open my mind to the reality that a family isn't supposed to burn half your face off?"

"Come on Zuko, you know you deserved it, he had to teach you a lesson-"

"Shut up!" He fired a blast that she easily lept over and the chase was on once again, Azula chasing Aang and Zuko trying to stop her.

When she almost had a grip on Aang, Zuko picked up a large rock and chucked it at her managing to hit her in the wrist and send her spinning to an alley. She turned to glare at him while clutching her wrist while Aang managed to hide behind Zuko like he was Aang'solder brother or something "so your aim has gotten better I see, mommy's little assassin"

He held tight to a wooden plank he managed to grab as well and glared daggers back at her "no, youre just an actual target now"

"Is that so" she took a stance and went to fire a blast but was launched away by a block of earth under her feet revealing Toph, Katara, Sokka, Iroh and Jee.

"Toph!" Aang shouted and Zuko managed to relax just a bit

"Hey twinkle toes, we figured you guys could use some help with crazy over here" Toph jabbed her thumb in the general direction of Azula

"She's not crazy, she's just stuck and stubborn" Zuko pointed out

"Two very bad traits that lead to crazy Zuko" Aang said while elbowing the older teen in the side.

[Not a scene shift but a pov shift from Zuko to Sokka]

The group circled around Azula with their weapons at the ready and Sokka glared at this girl they had cornered, the way she looked mockingly at Zuko and the look Aang was giving him told him everything he needed to know. This girl had hurt Zuko in some way or maybe many ways.

Perhaps she's part of the reason they share so many scars. Regardless he knew she was a threat. "Alright, you got me" Sokka narrowed bis eyes, she was lying. "I know when I'm beat" she turned her back to them and started to kneel but shot a blast, at Zuko's Uncle. The expression that twisted Zuko's face was heartbreaking, it was as if Iroh was the only thing he had to hold onto and it was just ripped from him in an instant.

Filled with an almost unimaginable amount of rage Sokka threw his boomerang at Azula mere seconds before the rest laid on the bending and Azula disappeared

[And now we shift back to Zuko because I said so]

As soon as Azula was out of sight Zuko was at Iroh's side, he leaned his head down and pressed his ear to Iroh's chest listening for a heartbeat. After hearing one but noticing it was weak he let out a breath he didnt notice he was holding. Though the moment of slight relief didn't last long. He should have protected his Uncle, he's younger and faster, besides its him and Aang that Azula has quarrel with not Iroh.

Iroh was the only family he had left and now he might lose him too. All because he couldnt protect him. He felt his palms growing hot, like they were about to burst into flames so he clenched them in an attempt to suppress the fire. Jee sat beside him with a look of both fear and sympathy on his face.

"Zuko" he heard Katara softly call out behind him

"Leave us!" Zuko cried out over his shoulder

"Zuko I can help!"

"I said Leave!" He went to swing his arm back and release the flames begging to escape but Jee caught his hand halfway there and gave him a hard glare. Zuko stared at him with confusion but then his gaze shifted over to see Sokka staring at him with tear filled eyes and his heart sank.

He gave a sigh and Jee let go of his hand. "Oh... okay" he said in a soft voice before moving to let Katara take a spot beside Iroh so she could heal him. "Just... dont hurt him please" he whispered

"I would never" Katara reassured as Zuko watched her closely. He watched mesmerized by the glow in the water around her hands, he didnt even realize Sokka had moved beside him until he heard the dirt beside him scatter from the slump Sokka did.

Turning to Sokka he found himself pulled into a half hug and stiffened, he wanted to cry but didn't want to let himself until Sokka reached up and played with his hair as a comfort touch. It was like the floodgates opened, he held onto Sokka holding back sound but letting his tears flow with a few small whimpers.

It wasnt until three hours later when they were all huddled up in a small earth town inn that Zuko managed to bring himself to check on Iroh. He walked into the room and found Iroh sipping a cup of tea with Katara and Jee who all turned to him with smiles. "Zuko, how are you feeling?" Iroh asked with a grin

Zuko gave a snort and a stifled laugh that quickly devolved into a full belly laugh "me? How am I feeling?" He leaned against the wall with his hand and tried to catch his breath "you ask that like I was the one shot with a blast of blue fire!" He gave his uncle a grin "stop doting Uncle, its my turn for a while, okay?"

Iroh gave a hearty laugh and sigh "alright Prince Zuko, but I have one more question" he raised his brows with an unspoken question

"Oh no" Zuko slapped his face in a face palm motion, hearing a loud 'ouch!' From the other room

"Oh yes, that is the exact question" Iroh, Katara and Jee all snickered

"Not right now, they haven't even accepted us into the group, she's healing you and they might just up and leave us after that so Im not giving my hopes up"

"First of all mister gloomy!" Katara said while standing up and jabbing her finder into his chest "we have accepted you guys, and Second! You already have" she flicked his now very much out in the open blue ribbon tied around his forearm given his change of clothes into short sleeve earth kingdom clothes

Zuko flushed and turned away "thats.. uh... I have an explanation about that"

"I'd love to hear it" she put her hands on her hips and gave an expecting look.

"Uuuuhhhh... well you see... uhm..." he paused for a while and then just sighed while sagging his shoulders "okay fine I got it because Sokka's eyes are blue.... and really pretty...."

Katara clasped her hands together and inhaled with a big grin plastered across her face "Oh my gods thats so cute!"

"Shhh! Just... dont tell him okay? I know he doesn't like me so I'm just gonna wait for him to ask me to attempt to tell him okay?"

"Ugh! Fine!"

"Thank you" and with thst he snuck out of the room and back into the shared bedroom where Sokka and Aang were pressed against the wall. Shooting them a glare he made a 'tch' sound and walked out and sat outside the Inn on the small steps in front of the building.

Agni this day was a rollercoaster.

[hello-nichya-here]

Rough Draft of Fire Warrior (Fake Kemurikage) Headcanons

Note: Hi Nichya! I am currently writing a long fic dealing with how post-Imbalance Avatar would go for the Fire Nation Royal Family and their close friends and I was wondering if you could please look at my headcanons and critic them? Cause I don’t want to engage in the usage of stereotypes, or bad writing in general, especially since I am writing about characters with mental illness. Also, I have been trying to send you an ask about lighting bending for the past couple days, and it keeps on not getting through to you. Considering my asks only had trouble getting to you around the same time you very recently IP banned that one dumbass who tried roasting you for liking Azula, could it be you accidently banned me as well (I am using a coffee shop to upload this)? If so can you please unban me for your answers to my asks have enriched my understanding of Avatar greatly. Thanks!

Here is the ask: How would you write Azula and/or The Fire Warriors teaching Zuko lighting and smoke bending (as part of their reconciliation/rehabilitation) while Zuko teaches them the true meaning of fire, the dragon dance, and the philosophy behind lighting redirection? Cause I thought part of Azula’s and Zuko’s reconciliation would have been teaching each other the bending/skills the other one was lacking, uplifting each other instead of trying to compete with each other or hurt each other. But canon is what it is.

Anyway, my headcanons are down below

Starting from left to right I am going to list the names, backstory, and mental illness(es) of the non-Azula Fire Warriors:

Beam (DID plus avoidant personality disorder)

Born in 84 A.G., as the second child of three, and the only daughter of an upstart noble and a stay at home mother, Beam was expected to marry into nobility considering how well her father had done selling steel to the Fire Nation Navy and the fact that she had inherited her mothers’ good looks.

But Beam, for a lack of better words, was often detached from reality and quickly became a source of shame for her family. For Beam would often drift out of reality into her own little world whenever confronted with large amounts of stress. 

And what causes stress in Beam? Being around strangers, especially large numbers of them like parents’ hosted one of their frequent parties in an attempt to move up in Fire Nation High Society.

In fact, Beam started wearing her distinctive hairstyle plus dye in an attempt to avoid having people come to her much to her brothers and parents displeasure. And when that didn’t work, she started to wear masks such as those based on the dark water spirit or the dragon emperor.

On a side note, the only thing that really helped Beam was firebending, where she had a natural gift. However, due to her performance issues, whenever her brothers and/or parents came to watch, she always messed up her routines, leading them to cancel Beam’s lessons when she was 16 in order to focus on making Beam marriageable. 

This caused Beam to despair and undergo a nasty episode in which she wholeheartedly believed she was the dark water spirit and almost killed her older brother, who was “obviously” the Dragon Emperor. Said brother also happened to be the one who suggested her parents cancel the firebending lessons and make Beam a proper woman since he was going to get married soon and didn’t want his fiance’s family to revoke the marriage contract once they better got to know his “weirdo” of a sister.

The above incident was the last straw for her parents, who had her involuntarily committed after coming to the “conclusion” that nothing would fix their “madwomen” of a daughter.

Aiko (Clinical Depression)

Born in 87 A.G. as the unexpected last daughter of a merchant and a very low level noblewomen, life has always been a struggle for Aiko. Her mother had her in her early 40s after unexpectedly getting pregnant and giving birth to Aiko prematurely. Aiko and her mother barely survived but her mother ended up suffering from postpartum depression, hurting their mother-daughter bond.

Aiko grew up seemingly loved, but in reality she was always sad. And no amount of gifts, such as some of the best firebending tutors in the land, could ever make Aiko happy for it appeared from Aiko’s pov that her mother never wanted to do anything with her while she happily gave her love and time to her oldest two kids, who were both boys and going to join the war effort. 

That and she was relentlessly bullied in school for her demure size; one day she tried standing up for herself by getting into an impromptu fight with her main bully, but she accidently badly burned her due to being actually quite skilled in firebending. While Aiko managed to avoid jail or getting into trouble, the trauma of almost killing some made Aiko withdraw further into herself much to her parent’s grief.

Her brothers were the main positive thing in her life, for they were understanding of her and didn’t really push her that hard…except in firebending where they were the only people she felt safe enough after her incident.

However, things took a turn for the worse when her brothers finally joined the army and died in the very same maneuver that Zuko talked out against as a 13 year old. And in her grief, Aiko tried hanging herself though the noose broke just before it went taunt and she ended up knocking herself out.

And when she woke up, she found herself in the asylum….

Chyou (Bi-polar disorder)

Born in 84 A.G. as the adopted child of two low tier Hu Xin Provinces (colonial) nobles who were unable to have kids of their own. Her parents tried their best with Chyou, but she was a very difficult child to raise, for, in their perspective, one moment Chyou was a hyper energetic girl who was all too willing to do anything to achieve her long-term goals and whims. Goals that included being the best firebender in her school and being a proper noblewoman. And whims including a desire to shave half her head though that particular fulfilled whim didn’t really harm Chyou for she liked the hairstyle and kept it much to her parent’s dismay. 

But in other moments, Chyrou was a heavily depressed girl, who couldn’t even be bothered to get out of her bed no matter how hard her parents tried to encourage/bribe/threaten her. 

However, these “cycles” were just subtle enough that with her parents covering for her, Chyou could pass as a normal kid…that is until one night, she overheard a conversation between her parents talking about how much Chyou looked like her mother’s sister. Confused since she thought she had no blood relations with either of her parents (they told her she was adopted from a young age since Chyou doesn’t share that much in common with either with her parents), she confronted them and the told Chyou her true origin.

Chyou was in fact the love baby of an Earth Kingdom soldier and a Fire Nation noblewomen who was Chyou’s “mother’s” sister. While the Fire Nation is progressive in terms of gender roles, it is against the law for Fire Nation noblewomen to copulate with the males of the other nations. 

For Sozin’s reasoning was that the strong men of the Fire Nation could civilize the demure women of the other nations while the barbarians’ uncivilized blood could easily overwhelm the wombs of their wombs. Wombs that were needed to make sure their great nation would never lack loyal citizens. In reality, due to the patriarchal nature of inheritance and property ownership, Sozin feared the colonized enemy would marry into Fire Nation nobility and basically overthrow him once their numbers reached critical mass.

But getting back on track, it wasn’t discovered that Chyou’s real mother was having the baby of an Earth Kingdom soldier, let alone she was going to elope with him. So the Fire Nation tried to capture the soldier and kill him, but he ran off. However, after allowing Chyou’s true mother to give birth, the Fire Nation had her killed off. But, Chyou’s Aunt and Uncle took pity on Chyou and successfully begged the authorities to let them raise Chyou as their own kid.

Chyou’s Aunt and Uncle begged for Chyou’s forgiveness and she gave it to them…though she later had a manic episode that caused her to sneak out of her Aunt’s and Uncle’s house to search for her father, hoping she would get to meet him.

It took several weeks and all of the tracking and survival skills she learned in school, but she found the last place her father inhabited. But when she knocked on the door, her bio grandma opened the door and, once Chyou explained who she was, told the “lying ashmaker to get away from me and never come back unless you want to die” in addition to telling Chyou that her father died during General Iroh’s march to Ba Sing Se. 

For Chyou’s bio grandma never knew about her son’s relationship with Chyou’s mother, let alone that he was going to have a child with her and thus thought the young firebender was punking her…not that it would have made a difference for after she couldn’t even bury her son due to him being completely burned to ashes, she developed an intractable hatred towards the Fire Nation and especially firebenders. And that hatred wouldn’t dissipate even if her own granddaughter was one of those “ashmakers.”

Heartbroken at the rejection, Chyou then fell into a serious depressive state and was going to kill herself until she was apprehended by June and returned to her family, who had been paid by Chyou’s parents to find her before the colonial authorities did. For if the “mixed breed” had been found going “back” to her Earth Kingdom family, Chyou would have been killed for her “genetic disloyalty” caused by her parentage.

And when Chyou kept uncontrollably talking about her failed trip, Chyrou’s parents made a hard decision and had her temporarily involuntarily committed since they would rather have her suffer at the asylum (as well as get help for her myriad of issues) than have her rambling expose her “genetic disloyalty” and have her brutally executed, making all their pleadings to allow them to raise her pointless.

However, bigoted political hardliner healers in the asylum saw her history and decided unilaterally that she was a threat to society and so manipulated her record to make so she had died, leaving Chyou’s Aunt and Uncle (who were pretty old) heartbroken to the point they died within a couple of months of each other and turning Chyou’s temporary stay into a permanent stay.

Chyou, depending on whether she is having a manic episode or depressive episode, oscillates between believing her Aunt and Uncle haven’t given up on her and believing that they have finally given up on account of being a disgrace due to her mental issues and bloodline.

Zirin (Oppositional Defiant Disorder with mild Conduct Disorder)

Born in 85 A.G. as the only daughter of some minor nobles who live in Caldera City. She has ODD, which manifests in her explosive temper, which her parents tried solving by doing everything, including getting her training in firebending, which Zirin has a natural aptitude in considering she became a master by 16.

But despite her parent’s best efforts, her anger still didn’t really subside, leading up to an incident where she burned a highly sought out suitor for rubbing her the wrong way, leading her reputation to sink and make her unmarriageable, making Zirin worthless in her traditionalist parents’ eyes.

Zirin offered to join the Fire Nation military so she could be useful, but her traditionalist parents said no since the military is not the proper place for a young noblewoman. So they had her involuntarily admitted to the asylum…

Ting (Schizophrenia)

Born in 82 A.G. as the daughter of a minor Fire Nation noble and an Earth Kingdom commoner (that her father took a liking to) who lived in Yu Dao, Ting on the surface supposedly lived a charmed life. But her life was anything but charmed, for she didn’t not inherit her mother’s slim face and body, but had the stout body and face of a typical Earth Kingdomer. Meaning that it would be next to impossible to marry her off to another noble family for even in the colonies, there was a preference for Fire Nation traits among the nobility.

Not helping was just after Ting was 6, she would suffer periodically from hallucinations of her father whenever she messed up in school or in court, often having her speech deteriorate into “incoherent” babbling (ex. Ting asking “him: to stop hitting her) and often fighting back against a person who wasn’t there.

Obviously, this was just another thing that made Ting a massive disappointment in her father’s eyes.

So upset as his “mistake” Ting’s father often beat up his wife and daughter and seeing how Avatar takes place in fantasy land 19th century Asia, there was no one who they could turn to. In fact the only reason why Ting was “tolerated” was because she was an elite firebender, who naturally excelled at Sozin Style firebending due to her rage and self-loathing caused by her “madness.”

Thus, even if Ting was unmarriageable, she was likely going to have a good career in the Fire Nation Army. That is until one night when Ting was 16 witnessed a really bad argument between her drunk parents that ended up with her father breaking her mother’s arm.

Enraged and having enough, she fought her father and ended up badly burning him in public as he tried to escape her. 

The authorities then restrained her and tried to put her on trial, but horrified at what she had done, she had a severe episode that made the authorities doubt her sanity.

So sensing an opportunity to save face and not have his dirty laundry aired, Ting’s father authorized the colonial authorities to ship Ting to a homeland mental asylum for “treatment” damn well knowing they would most likely never let Ting out. And he had authorized Ting’s involuntary committal at the dead of night so Ting’s mother could not disapprove.

Gamon (Higher Functioning autism)

Born in 83 A.G. to two high functioning autistic former soldiers living in Hama’s village, Gamon would have been raised in a loving family. That is until her parents one night disappeared during a full moon and never came back (they were captured by Hama and tortured to death but the little shred of humanity left in Hama caused Hama to leave the baby alone despite wanting to spite Gamon’s pleading parents). So Gamon was given to her next of kin, who were mid tier nobles. 

It turned out that Gamon’s mother was once a noble, but renounced it so she could join the Fire Nation Army due to her special interest being the military alongside firebending. This had caused Gamon’s maternal grandparents and Gamon’s Uncle great shame and had also caused them to disown Gamon’s mother. And the sad thing was that despite Gamon’s mother wanting to reconcile, her parents died just after she got pregnant.

So when Gamon’s Uncle and Aunt got a hold of her, they promised that they would raise her into the proper noblewomen Gamon’s mother should have been.

And they were very harsh in doing so, making sure Gamon took to heart what her tutors told her what was necessary to do to be the perfect noblewomen. However, lightning struck twice, and Gamon developed a special interest in both firebending and military history, which she hid from her Uncle and Aunt by practicing firebending in the morning before either of them woke up and reading military history at night after they had gone to bed.

Gamon managed to hide it until she was 15 years old, where, after being suspicious of Gamon knowing an obscure military battle that took place during the start of Azulon’s reign while also giving pointers to a boy she was courting, they had one of the maids spy on her and report to them.

This, combined with Gamon’s symptoms such as her stimming (she likes to rub her knuckles because she likes how they feel) plus her social awkwardness (no matter how hard they drilled her, Gamon always floundered in noble get togethers), made her guardians give up her.

And not wanting a repeat of what happened to Gamon’s mother and the resulting loss of face, they had her involuntarily committed to the asylum and washed their hands of her.

***

1 - I absolutely loooooooooooove the idea of Zuko and Azula teaching each other, and it could start with Zuko playcating Azula by letting her bend again (which he knows she desperately wants) by making it clear she’s going to have to do it his way - seeing fire as a source of life, not just death. They’re likely to end up fighting a few times because of course, but it would mostly work out as intended, and Azula would then teach him what she knows.

2 - Zuko sharing what he learned from the dragons (while still keeping the secret) with the people who needed to learn it the most is what he should have done from the begining, especially with his sister, and it fits with his new goal of guiding his nation towards peace and showing them that this idea that war and destruction is “the Fire Nation way/culture” is absolute bullshit.

3 - It’s hard to say how “accurate” your portrail of mental illness is since I’m seeing just “your notes” so to speak, but it looks like you’re in the right path. Just be sure to remember that, while mental illness and disabilities do play a huge part in someone’s personalities that is not ALL of their personalities and you’ll be good to go.

4 - I recommend you either retcon some of the most ableist bullshit the comics pulled (like Zuko straight up abandoning Azula and not thinking about her until he needed something from her, not noticing the clear signs of abuse she was showing, all the times he and his friends physically assaulted her when she wasn’t doing anything, and him taking her on a mission knowing nothing about her condition) or make the characters realize just fucked up that was and then genuinely trying to be better.

[stayflaminhotmen]

Katara and her trauma with the fire nation

The reason why some people like me can’t see any romantic between Katara and Zuko with that ATLA put in the show because Katara experienced deep trauma from the fire nation is completely reasonable.

My problem is how Katara experienced trauma first hand from the fire nation and it affected her a lot. If it was the next generation of kids who never experienced a traumatizing war and saw the fire nation in a good light first hand despite the history, then it’s not a problem in general (unless there’s specific problems such as them still experiencing oppression in some sort of way then it’s up for discussion but in a general sense, I don’t see a problem.) This is because the next generation KNOWS about the war and what it caused, that’s not the same as EXPERIENCING it first hand. That’s the problem that people like me are anti-zuatara are saying. Katara experienced it first hand and had personal experience and trauma from it. Her mother getting killed IN HER OWN VILLAGE when they attacked and she was only 8, then Katara first meets Zuko wearing fire nation armor and comes with fire nation soldiers and threatened her village and then the siege of the north where fire nation attacked and Katara saw it first hand. Zuko was there while the fire nation attacked the north pole (which is her sister tribe). Zuko used this opportunity to his advantage to get the Avatar, attacked Katara, called her a little peasant and even knocked her unconscious in the process. She was there and she experienced it. I genuinely believe that is traumatizing no matter how much they down played the trauma for the sake of it being a kids show. They even showed how much it affected her by how she immediately talks about losing her mother to the fire nation whenever anyone brings up the fire nation. The trauma she has of losing her mother is tied to the fire nation. Yes, Zuko helped her get closure about that which is literally so amazing for him to do. But closure doesn’t mean that the trauma isn’t there anymore. It’s something she has to live with for the rest of her life and deserves sufficient time to work through it.

Which is why some people are a little hesitant to ship them. It’s not just because he’s fire nation, but because she experienced TRAUMA from the fire nation specifically multiple times. It’s has more to do with trauma she experienced and it just so happens that the trauma she has is linked to the fire nation which is Zuko is heir to. Not to mention, he contributed to that. I don’t find that racist because it’s addressing the rightful trauma that Katara has. It would be racists if Katara never experience trauma from the fire nation and I wouldn’t want her to be with Zuko just because he’s from the fire nation. That’s why I’m saying the next generation of kids who only know about what happened, isn’t a big problem (again, unless they still experience oppression and are deeply affected, it becomes something that needs to be discussed.)

That’s why people like me would really like for Katara to really deal that trauma first and for Zuko to take action into fixing the political problems within the fire nation. This is actually why I genuinely find the whole Zuko and Katara reconnecting in their old age when Aang has died and Zuko is single actually non problematic in terms of LOK canon. We see how Zuko actively worked on fixing the problems within the fire nation, Katara has seen and helped rebuild her tribe, and the world as a whole is in a new era of peace with each other. No more being scared of the fire nation. On top of that, much time has passed that it’s realistic for Katara to no longer be traumatized of her past. She no longer fears the fire nation or would be hesitant towards having romantic feelings for Zuko because of the changes made. His actions showed it.

Personally, I’m not into it because it’s not my thing but that’s besides the point. The point is that it’s an unproblematic way for things to be post canon for Zutara in the Avatar universe. If it’s like AU, then it’s non problematic either because it’s in a different world where that “never” happened. It’s just the characters personality in fanfic. However, I find it highly uncomfortable when I see things like pictures of Katara and Zuko kissing after she heals him. It just feels like it’s diminishing her rightful trauma. If others don’t find that problematic then that’s on them. I have my reasons which I think are valid as to why I don’t like it and I hope others consider.

Anyways, I’m not saying that Katara and Zuko can’t have a romance together but I’m just saying that for the sake of Katara, I would want her to work towards working through her trauma within the fire nation more. I think that’s completely reasonable. That’s why it’s hard for me to realistically look at Zuko and Katara connecting in the Cross Roads to Destiny and think romantic partners just at looking at those scenes. That’s why, it’s hard for me to realistically look at Katara and Zuko forgiving each other in TSR and think romantic partners! Call me uptight but I just find it hard to believe that Katara’s subconscious wouldn’t think about all that before even consciously considering him as a romantic partner. Or that Zuko would be slightly hesitant because of what his people, the people he’s going to lead did to her people. He listened to her story of how the Southern Raiders attacked and I can only assume that he would think that it’s something she needs more time to work through. Zuko more than anyone knows how people need space and time to work through their trauma. Zuko more than anyone knows that even though he gets closure, that trauma doesn’t go away. That’s why if he truly cared for her, he’d give her the space to heal and make changes in the fire nation. People like me feel like it should be separate from romance because we don’t like to romanticize situations. I guess I like to see things for what they are especially when that’s the situation presents to us in ATLA. 

(Which is why I’m annoyed that the creators thought it was a good idea to use this ship as bait in the video teasers for season three. Like if this was the background of a ship, they really were going to bait the viewers like this, give them hope, not make it happen and then make it such a big deal. I’m just like really. They really just had to do this. I’m just like, how can someone create such a masterpiece tv series and make such a problematic promotion video that’s like what 2 minutes long or less. Like REALLY. smh) 

And I get that Katara helped a village because they needed help, but she didn’t see them as fire nation military. She saw them struggling as well which she empathizes because that’s literally how her village was too. It was also small and the people were scared of fire nation too. That different with how she saw Zuko when they first meet - him threatening his village for the avatar. He knew that he was in a position of power seeing that the village feared him. He didn’t stop to think about the oppression they faced due to his father, grandfather and great grandfather. He didn’t know, but that doesn’t excuse what he did do. That doesn’t excuse diminishing that act as if it was nothing in Katara’s POV. 

My problem is that even they do connect and share chemistry, some people have trouble passing all that hatred and trauma after ONE interaction in the crossroads of destiny when they open up to each other and immediately see romance. Then in the southern raiders, again, I have trouble seeing that with her trying to forgive him after his betrayal, she suddenly feel romantic feelings or that Zuko would. I just feel like it would kinda be a bit odd how Katara would be confused with her feelings for Aang because they’re in the middle of a war when they’ve been best friends, but would suddenly fall for Zuko also in the middle of the war almost immediately despite their shaky foundation and the new found trust they have. Not to mention, seeing anything romantic in him saving her but seeing that he’s really changed from when she last caught Azula the cross roads of destiny. It signifies their friendship at least in my perspective, not exactly anything romantic (there’s potential, I admit) but for what was given to us, it’s just doesn’t make sense to be canon or even see any romance in the near future with all that trauma. 

Like I said, there’s potential for a romantic relationship for Zutara but the show didn’t give some of us enough interactions between them to be 100% on board. Not to mention, if I wanted a good relationship dynamic, I’d pick up a romance specific book and go read it. ATLA is not a romance, it’s a fantasy story which is why I love the series so I’d rather not fantasize over a romance that’s problematic for me. Especially since I’m not a fan of the whole enemies to lover trope. I just believe that a proper redemption arc shouldn’t mean that a guy should then be allowed to get a romance interest they hurt. Especially with Zuko and Katara’s relationship throughout the series. It showed boundaries which is a really good underlying message for young kids. That’s why I really love Zuko’s redemption arc because he got his honor and became fire lord which was done so freaking well. Like what truly mattered in the end for Zuko wasn’t who he ended up with, but that he got his honor back and the title of Fire Lord Zuko. 

Back to the boundaries thing, I wanted to adress that the difference between a friendship and a romantic relationship, at least for me, is that a friendship has more boundaries than a romantic relationship. Because of their shaking foundation of their relationship, I want those boundaries there for Katara and Zuko. I see the potential, but like I said, it’s hard for me to literally see Katara and Zuko as more than friends in those scenes where they’re friends knowing all that in a short amount of time. I’d just very much for more time for them to work on those others things before I see romance. That’s a valid reason and one that I don’t think people should just toss around and be defensive about, and calling people racists or ignorant. It’s not, it’s seeing this specific situation of Katara and Zuko in terms of boundaries.

Basically, wrapping this whole thing up, it’s hard for me and others to look past all the stuff that Katara and Zuko went through and see anything more than a deep friendship and understanding for each other with such little time and in such few episodes. Which is why I feel like them ending off as platonic friends in canon was the right move. It gives them time to work on building an even stronger friendship, Katara working through her trauma, and Zuko actively trying to change the problems within the fire nation. It also opens people in fanfic to explore romance if anyone’s into that. That’s why I personally believe that Zutara as a couple has a place in fanfic, fanart, etc, but it was the right move for them not to make it canon in terms of what they made canon in the tc show. 

Again, this is my personal opinion and people don’t have to agree. People are entitled to their own opinion. However, I feel like people saying that this isn’t a valid excuse are being extremely defensive and not considering thinking about why others feel this way. I also addressed just Zutara because it’s where I see this problem not being considered the most or being downplayed. It’s in Zutara that I see the argument that it should have been canon the most and not in other noncanon (but valid) pairings in ATLA. 

[seyaryminamoto]

I've read both ATLA novelization books from Azula's PoV. It was great how a perspective of her was considered worthy at that point in time, but while I enjoyed E.K Chronicles and find it's portrayal dimensional and spot-on I didn't like S.C's portrayal that much, there were sympathetic elements but overlapped with how angry and entitled Azula was, esp in the next page when she said Ozai is gonna regret this but there was no animated version. What's your opinion on the quality of that PoV?

Both have a few elements of inaccuracy, truth be told, though I can’t remember all the inaccuracies in the EK Chronicles right now. I think some lines are different from the show’s, and I think it implies that Azula herself is the one driving the train-tank when I believe Bryke mentioned in another source that Lo and Li did? (I think in the creators’ commentary of The Chase?). That particular kernel of mixed-up information has always kinda bugged me, since it’s a bit weird to have the creators and the novelization’s writer giving out contradictory and different explanations... and I think I was rubbed the wrong way too by Azula’s occasional “I’m going to be Fire Lord” comments that, while I won’t outright call OOC, isn’t something I’d incorporate to my interpretation of the character. Within the show itself, Azula displays no direct, overt interest in the throne until the finale. Wanting a throne, yet helping Zuko come back as an honored crown prince, is 100% contradictory and it doesn’t really suit Azula to sabotage her own interests to that extent: she could have easily screwed Zuko over one more time by dragging him home in chains, regardless of his help in the Catacombs, if the throne was her priority. It makes far more sense to me to think she doesn’t start vying for the throne consciously until after Zuko betrays the Fire Nation and is banished for the second time.

That being said, I like the EK Chronicles much better than the Sozin’s Comet novelization, and it’s for the reasons you mentioned. There’s interesting new elements in EK Chronicles that do offer new angles to Azula, such showing her disheartened after several failures to capture the Avatar and make progress with any of her missions. In Sozin’s Comet, I think the only worthwhile element of the sort is the moment where Azula is portrayed as fearing her father will even be physically violent with her, despite that’s easily connected to her “You can’t treat me like Zuko!” declaration. If he’ll treat her like Zuko, it means he can absolutely be violent to her, just as he was to Zuko when Zuko disappointed him...

Yet, beyond that, I don’t think there’s much in Sozin’s Comet’s novelization that felt worth my while. I haven’t read that one in a long time, so maybe there’s something else worth salvaging in it...? But from what I remember, yes, it seemed hung up on presenting an entitled, obnoxious Azula who outright wanted to avenge herself after being slighted by her father, even. Which, as you said, isn’t seen anywhere within canon. While I know we all want Azula to break off Ozai’s influence upon her, that’s not even close to what we got there: this was basically Azula deciding she’d avenge herself after her father discarded her and cling to power (that HE gave her, keep that in mind), above all else. Honestly, if anything, it sounds to me like this is the proto-Yang!Azula. If, hypothetically, he had prepared himself to portray her in his comics by using that novelization as his prime characterization reference, it explains EVERYTHING he ever wrote about her :’)

Soooo... yeah, I definitely wouldn’t put my hand in the fire for that particular portrayal of Azula. The EK Chronicles, with what flaws it has, was definitely far more reliable reference material than this novelization could have been.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Wan High Weeping (Part 3)

This chapter was interesting being as I don’t often work within Mai’s POV.

Mai hadn’t planned on spending that day, or any day in the Jasmine dragon. But Azula was just as much of a fan of demands as Mai was of avoiding arguments. Anyways she had gotten more than her fill of those through the duration of the summer.

Summer, summer, summer. Mai hated summer because Zuko hated the season. Summer was when he was more or less stuck at home. At home was when he was stuck with their father.

 A waiter came around and dropped a single black coffee in front of her. Black coffee, TyLee would have gotten a kick out of that one. But she wasn’t in the mood for TyLee right then, the girl was too perky for her. Mai felt around her pocket, until her fingers grazed the item she was looking for. The urge is very strong. She squeezes her eyes shut and clenches her fists. Not here, not now. She told herself. But she was losing her grip quickly. She was both thankful and vexed by the buzzing of her phone. She hadn’t even picked it up but she was already annoyed. It could only be from one of two people and both of them bothered her.

Frankly she hoped that it was Azula as opposed to Zuko. That late into the summer, Azula was the lesser of two evils. Reluctantly but quickly, she withdrew her hand from her pocket and unlocked her phone. ‘Are you already at the Jasmine Dragon?’ Mai sighed to herself. Azula had a habit of expecting people to leap when she demanded it but had no concept of jumping for anyone else. She replies with a simple, ‘yes’ regardless.

 She supposed that it would be good to try to explain things to Azula. She wasn’t in the mood for people much these days, but she didn’t want to cut ties entirely. Perhaps the truth was the best thing to tell in this case. She took a prolonged drink of her coffee. It was so much easier to keep things inside. So much easier to release them in one thin red line.

Her hand goes to her pocket again.

 “Not here.” She mumbles to herself. “Not here.”

 She was trying so hard to break the habit. How long had it been since the last time? She thought that it was maybe back in February when Zuko had his Valentine’s Day meltdown. God forbid they just act like a normal couple for the holiday. No, he always had to go out throw his money around—try something elaborate and over the top that always didn’t quite work out as he planned. He’d get frustrated and things would derail from there. She pinched the bridge of her nose, the man was much too intense for her. All she wanted was to stick with her stoic moods and her quiet time. A novel would do her well, maybe something like Carmilla…but that reminded her too much of TyLee in some dark way. She’d find herself a novel, hell, at this point she might even be willing to stoop to stereotypes and throw in some Evanescence and Black Veil Brides. But then, the band didn’t really matter so long as she had something to drown out her own thoughts, lest they overtake her, climb up to the surface, and claw their way out.

 She was growing impatient, she looked at her phone. With nothing else to do it began to settle and she found herself going to Zuko’s text window. Her fingers hovered over the buttons. She promised herself that she wouldn’t do it, that she wouldn’t go crawling back, not after what happened just before the summer’s start.

She became once again aware of the object in her pocket. It suddenly feels so heavy.  

 It was not like Azula to be late and she was beginning to think that she just got stood up. Petty vengeance was in Azula’s nature, she thought that it might be in the girl’s blood. Mai didn’t know what she had done, maybe she had given a bigger cold shoulder than she had thought. Azula didn’t take well to being snubbed.

 She tossed back the rest of her coffee. She needed something to dull her mood because she could feel a creeping anger churning within. She felt it stirring in her belly and beating behind her eyes. Just when it was beginning to reach its peak she hears her text tone. ‘I won’t be meeting you after all…’ She should have felt pure unsaturated rage right then. But all she feels is a hollow and cold sense of indifference; if Azula didn’t want to hear it then that was fine. It was fine. She didn’t need Azula. In fact, it would be just dandy in Mai’s world if Azula severed ties with her. That way she wouldn’t have to deal with the woman and her edgy, uptight moods nor the higher odds of running into Zuko, but she could also pretend like the burned bridge wasn’t of her own doing.

And then the volleyball star texted her again and she knew that she would still have to blame herself because Azula explained that she was on her way to the hospital. A part of Mai feels bad that she wasn’t there for her. Most of Mai feels a wild lack of care as per usual.  

 She didn’t know what possessed her to do it. Maybe it was roll over agitation and impatience, the remanence of thinking that she had been stood up. Maybe it was some undetected, underlying resentment—the kind the existed only at an unconscious level.  Whatever the reason, she texted ‘pics or it didn’t happen’. As soon as she hit send, she had a vague sense that she just broke things off with Azula without trying.

 Yet she received a picture.            

 In that picture she found a new sense of guilt. The girl didn’t look angry at all…okay so that wasn’t strictly true, she looked absolutely and fantastically pissed even for Azula. But there was a sort of franticness about it. She could see fear. Fear and pain and a lot of it. She was laying down with her stomach exposed, it was swollen and bruised at the ribcage. A closer observation of the image had her quickly closing out of the texting app and shoving her phone into her pocket. She was never good with body horror; ‘Saw’, ‘Body Melt’, those were not on her to watch list by any means. So noticing the way Azula’s ribcage was protruding in some places, jutting at an awkward angel, had her squirming.

She should have said something. Something supportive and comforting. But her stomach was lurching and she didn’t really want to see the picture again. She couldn’t be mad at Azula though, she did ask for it. In retrospect it was painfully stupid. Ambulances always meant body horror.

 Her squeamishness at the sight of broken bones and massive amounts of blood only made her actions more confusing. It was different somehow, she justified, when it was her own blood. She got up from her chair and muttered a thank you to her server.

 Her phone buzzed again and she full expected a scathing remark from Azula about being ignored again. What she found was worse. ‘Mai, I’m sorry. Please talk to me. I don’t know what I’m going to do…’

 She stole herself away in the bathroom and drew the razor out of her pocket.

 .oOo.

 By the end of the summer her arm had the texture of a cracked mirror. After her initial relapse in the bathroom of the Jasmine Dragon things had nosedived. Had made her way back to an empty home that seemed that much more so with her parents off on business trips, the one that they constantly complained of. Apparently, they weren’t done with the Beifong’s yet. Between their lawsuit and Ozai’s competitive company, she didn’t see much of a way out for the other family. Once upon a time she would have been longing for them to come home. If she were still in middle school she’d be begging them to come home and spend the summer with her. By now it has settled in that, that just wasn’t a realistic wish.                                      

She gave her arm another slash for her loneliness.

 She indulged herself in her destruction twice more that summer. The first of which was just a perfect storm. Tom-Tom was pitching up a good fuss because she didn’t fancy a trip to the pool. With skin so pale she didn’t do anything but burn.

 “You never take me to the pool.” He accused. “You didn’t take me last summer either and I want to go.” It would only be a matter of time before he started wailing.

 And Mai couldn’t take it, not one more minute of the screeching and whining. She wasn’t angry with Tom-Tom, he was a kid, he just wanted to enjoy the summer with the other kids. No, she was furious with her parents. They should have been there. This was their job. “Why don’t you swim in our pool.” She suggested, at least that way she could sit on the porch, in the shade, or watch from the inside with the a/c pumping.

 “I don’ wanna play alone no more, I wanna see Fifi.”

 Mai winced. She winced because she knew that by being so introverted, she was depriving him of a healthy social life. But she couldn’t putt on a bikini with her arms all crisscrossed. That would earn her too many questions. “Either swim in our pool or find a new way to have fun, Tom-Tom.”

Just like that he was bawling and she felt horrible all over again.

 Later she tried to get him to eat but he refused. Just like he refused to change out of his swim trunks and into his pajamas. He cried through the night and she wondered if this temper tantrum would ever come to pass.

 Just when she was feeling alone in her stroke of ill luck, she got the text. She would rather be alone than hear from Zuko. She couldn’t handle his slew of problems that night, his begging and crying made Tom-Tom’s sound like music. Awful, half-assed screamo songs, but music no less. She swiped the message notification away and powered the phone off.

She took pride in her self-control, in her ability to leave it powered off for another three days.

 When she did turn it back on she found an onslaught of awful things. The last several were scathing messages from her mother and father. Tom-Tom must have complained to them about being housebound for so long. She opted not to reply, she was already in three days deep, responding then would be a waste of text.

 Zuko, as expected, also helped to blow up her phone. ‘I just want to talk.’ ‘I won’t do it again.’ ‘Please, I really need someone to talk to.’ ‘Azula’s hurt you know?’ He must have been getting desperate if he was willing to toss in a faux sympathetic message regarding his sister. She swiped those away too, wondering why she didn’t just block him.

Because she is a stupid bitch. A tried and true idiot.

She was that person.

 Zuko wasn’t the final straw.

Scrolling up she came to find that it had been Azula. She was the one who had texted her first. The message itself wasn’t even that bad. It was rather mundane, almost pleasant actually. The Azula version of an apology for skipping out on her. She decided that Azula must have been lonely or desperate. She had texted again after that, asking ‘Mai are you there?’ And then an, ‘believe it or not, I don’t know what I did.’ And finally after three days of being cold shouldered, ‘fine, don’t talk, there are plenty of other goths around.’

It would seem that she was replaceable. She felt like she deserved it. If she hadn’t jumped to conclusions, if she hadn’t assumed it was Zuko then she might have had some company in this lonely house. Well, that was not strictly true; she and Tom-Tom would have gone for a drive to Ozai’s estate. Instead she further isolated herself.

 She counted the texts, four from Azula, six from her mother, three from her father, four from Zuko.

Her arm had seventeen new cuts.

Small things. Small, thin dripping things. Slashes that had just as much depth as her decidedly bland personality.

 She couldn’t answer Tom-Tom when he asked why she was wearing long sleeves in the summer. God forbid he take a chapter from her book in his later years.

 .oOo.

 Her arm has taken so much abuse already but she runs the razor across it again. It was not her usual razor. No, this time she drew blood in the shower, telling herself that she was ‘just shaving’ like a normal teen.

 “Showers are good for you, they help you relax.” Claimed every magazine ever. Claimed all of the internet sources. Showers were apparently the ultimate self-care. She momentarily forgot that she wasn’t a typical teen. For her, showers were time to think. Time to realize just how foolish her actions had been.

 Zuko had texted her again, a long and detailed spiel about how his father had only been home for a little while but had already slammed him into a wall among other things. About how his dad was hollering to a magnitude that even Azula was flinching. About how his dad had flown completely off the handle this time, reminded him that he was a ‘sad, useless sack of shit’ and stormed off to go on his third?—Mai didn’t know the exact number—business trip that summer. He sealed the message off by telling her that he hit up Chan again. That he would stop if she talked to him.

So she did.

 She pressed the razor down harder and dragged, removing not just hair, but a few layers of skin. She cried out. She heard Tom-Tom’s little voice calling her name. “You ‘kay, Mai?” He asked.

It made her feel even more awful, she was failing as a sister just as she was failing as a friend for Azula and a girlfriend for Zuko. Not to mention as a daughter. She dragged the razor down her other arm with just as much force, that time keeping her cry muffled. But Tom-Tom called for her again so she replied, “I’ll be out in a moment and then you can get your bath.”

 Without the water to wash it away, the blood was flowing free. It was a fight to get it to stop and she feared that she had dug too deep that time.

 “Hurry up Mai, I wanna get squeaky clean!” He sounded so joyful. He didn’t know and that made her allt he more desperate to make it stop. She unraveled more than half of the toilet paper trying to soak the blood. She had underestimated how much damage a simple shaving razor could do.

 “Just a second Tom…” she was fighting back tears as she pressed her towel to her arm. “I’ll be right out Tom…”

 .oOo.

 She was a rare breed in that she was excited for the school year. She couldn’t dwell on her demons if she was pouring all of her brainpower into her studies. Last year her problems had her one A away from the high honor role. This year she could see straight A’s and a hollow sense of meaningless accomplishment that her parents wouldn’t pay any mind to.

 So far though, it has been all gossip. By lunch time, she knew all about Katara’s little sex scandal and about Suki’s surprise. She knew without having seen Azula, that the volleyball captain was no longer so. That apparently, she was no longer the pinnacle of beauty. Just as apparently the girl hadn’t even set foot in the school yet and people were just taking Usha’s word for it. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Azula had a very large and long bitch streak, but Usha. That girl was all bitch with no redeeming qualities.

 She hadn’t even gotten to finish her spaghetti when her phone rang. She stole a glance around the cafeteria, deeming the coast clear, she picked it up. “I’m going to need you to come over tonight.” Zuko requested.

 “Zuko, I have to watch Tom-Tom, you know that.”

 “You can bring him over.”

 “Can I? Your room is the last thing I want him to see.”

 “I’ll…” He paused, trying to find the right way to phrase things. “I’ll clean up a bit.”

 “Zuko, I promised Tom-Tom I would take him to a friend’s house.”

 She knew that he was going to snap before he did and held the phone away from her ear. “I’m your boyfriend! You can’t make time for me? I really need you right now and you’re just going to leave me by myself. Mai I need you. If you don’t come over—”

 That time she decided that she has had enough. "You know what, Zuko? No, I have my own things to deal with…" She paused. "How about this? How about instead of…” She could feel a pair of invasive eyes on her. Could sense a set of curious ears listening in, ready to bring fresh gossip to a talkative mouth. “Hold on."  

She fixed her glare at the eavesdropper. She was relieved to meet the gaze of Katara, the girl wasn’t a gossiper, she was one of many topics of gossip. Still, Mai didn’t apricate the intrusion.  She saw her mouth an apology, wincing and squirming under her own intense stare.

 "Whatever." She picked up her phone again. Her retort for Zuko was well and lost on her. She had the mind to mutter a quick, ‘thanks a bunch’ to Katara, but the girl had already picked up her silly backpack and fled the scene. “The answer is no Zuko, do what you want in your alone time.”

 He always left her to her destruction, why should she do him any different?