#gaang bonding

[thebest-medicine]

Hi!! I’d love something with lee Aang and ler Sokka with 8. “I’ll have you know, I was the reigning tickle fight champion in my house growing up.” Also congratulations!! 🥳💖 Loving everything you’ve been writing!

Prompt 8 - “I’ll have you know, I was the reigning tickle fight champion in my house growing up.”

A/N: I love me some gaang bonding time ;)

…

“I’ll have you know, I was the reigning tickle fight champion in the water tribe growing up!”

“Only ‘cause you were the oldest and therefore the biggest kid!” Katara interjected from several paces away.

Sokka’s ears reddened a little. “Shut up! Not helping!” He dismissed, waving a hand her direction.

“Well, I did train with some of the most lighthearted and light-footed pranksters in the air temple…I’ll take my chances.” Aang smirked, flexing his fingers slightly.

“You’ll regret that.” Sokka narrowed his eyes.

Aang laughed.

“HiyaAAA!” Sokka shouted, jumping forward just as Aang slipped right out of the way and reached out to catch Sokka around his middle. “EhHH?!”

Suddenly, nimble fingers were tickling all along his side and stomach. Sokka screeched, indignant at his blunderous and swift defeat. And soon, he was laughing too hard to worry about all of that.

…

[more sentence starter fic prompts]

[other sentence starter fics]

[read this & further avatar drabbles on ao3]

[demaparbat-hp]

Toph as a Goalball player 💪💚

[dreamchasernina]

I think a lot about Toph saying “I’m 12 years old and I’ve never had a real friend”

And then her face in the last pic and I want to cry…I want all the best things for her!!

[jjkyaoi]

how different the atla main group and the lok main group are is Still the funniest thing in the world to me. like, the gaang are real sweet best friends, would die for each other and kill for each other, probably, a sprinkle of found family, friendships CAN last more than one lifetime, etc. and then korra has dated literally all of her three best friends. everyone in that group wanted a piece of the avatar’s ass

[heromovesaretotallyyourstyle]

y’know what’s wild. there were only six episodes where zuko was officially part of the gaang, including the episode where he joined. i could have sworn there were like thirteen.

[watery-melon-baller]

theres people who only have one ship and people who don't have any ships and multishippers well im inventing a new kind of shipper and it's "all of these people are gay and a little in love with each other but the romance is up to interpretation"

[sokkastyles]

Zutara Week 2023 Day One: Home

The night was stretching thin, and the popcorn bowl was down to kernels. Everyone was too tired to take the initiative to make another bag by the time the credits rolled across the screen in Sokka and Katara's living room. Aang finished off his soda bottle and stood up when Suki switched off the television.

"Well, I'd better get home," he said. "Gyatso is expecting me for temple in the morning."

"I'd better go, too," Suki said, disentangling herself from Sokka's goodbye kiss. He made a small whining sound as she left his arms, but Katara made a face at her brother to remind him of dad's rules in the house. She loved Suki, but sometimes she thought it would be a blessing when the lovebirds went to college.

"Hey," Toph said, pointing a little to the left of the couch where a lumpy shape was sprawled out beneath a blanket. "Zuko fell asleep!"

"He missed the part where the Emulsifier emulsified the soldiers who were trying to prevent him from going back to his home planet!" said Sokka, put out. "That was the coolest part!"

"Well, Toph said, standing up and stretching her arms above her head with a yawn. "I'm not waking him. Mr. Grouchy Pants can stay there."

Katara wondered if they should wake him. Zuko didn't usually stay this late, even on movie nights. But she also knew that Zuko didn't sleep much. He always seemed to be awake whenever she would text him in the middle of the night with whatever stray thought was keeping her awake. He spent a lot of his time sleeping in class, too, to the consternation of their teachers.

"Let him sleep," Hakoda said, coming into the room and helping Katara pick up the popcorn and soda bottles.

Katara bit her lip. "But his dad..."

"I'll talk to Ozai in the morning," her dad said gently. "Let the boy be for now. I might be wrong, but I don't think he gets much sleep at home."

Katara was the last to leave the living room, lighting a small nightlight so that Zuko could find his way in the dark if he woke during the night. She took one last look at his peaceful, sleeping form on the couch before heading up the stairs to her own bedroom. If she woke in the night, she wouldn't wake him, but it would be a comfort to know that he was there in the living room, home with her.

[agnisleftpec]

neflix's atla for me is just "wow! that idea's cool! i hope someone writes a fanfic with that but good :)"

[hererafjastori]

I got inspired by @captainkirkk 's writer!Zuko AU, so have a thing:

The premise would require Aang to know about Zuko moonlighting as an author.

I imagine Zuko coming up to Aang one day and going: “Hey Aang, I … have a proposal. I know this might seem insensitive, and you have every right to shut this idea down but…” “Just tell me.” “I was thinking that I want to write a book about the fate of the Airnomads.” “Go on” “You know that in my search for you I researched a lot about what happened to your people, and I learned a lot about your culture. And having that knowledge I can’t stand to see the way the last 100 years of propaganda have mischaracterized your people and twisted their teachings. I am in the unique position of knowing a lot about the happenings back then, having the resources to learn more, and in Dante’s fans the assurance that this story will have a large platform. I want to portray your people in an accurate, sympathetic light and reach readers in a way no museum will be able to replicate. I want to tell a story that accurately portrays not just your people’s suffering, but also the rich culture, philosophies and traditions. I want to raise awareness both of the horrifying betrayal at the hands of the fire nation, but also for the Airnomads as a distinct people, beyond ‘those who’s genocide marks the official start of the war’! But I am also well aware that as Fire Lord and descendant of Sozin, I might be the last person who should tell that story. So I have two questions: 1) Are you ok with the concept of me writing this, and 2) if you are, if you would be willing to advice me in writing it. Because this is your story more than anyone else’s, and I am not writing a single line without explicit consent. What do you say?” “Let me think about it?” “Of course.”

Aang does some thinking, and comes to the conclusion, that Zuko knows his stuff better than most others, that this is a great chance to educate about his lost culture, and that Zuko is very aware of the responsibility he has in writing this and treat it accordingly. He will ask, Aang, rather than making assumptions, taking “creative liberties” or filling in the gaps with misinformation. He will respect the subjects of his writing.

And so, he says yes. So Aang and Zuko start meeting regularly, and Aang tells him stories lost to time. Of holidays and sacred days nobody remembers to celebrate. Of a culture build around communal life, change and an active separation of one’s roots no other nation is able to understand with their respective cultural upbringing. Of the philosophies of airbending and the typical schooling a monk would go through. Of elders who led those communities, and the faces they made when hit with a well aimed fruit pie. Of games played in the courtyard, bison bonding, typical topics of the gossips interest. Of both, the official order of things and the actual social dynamics of his people. Of the various ways people reacted to him being a prodigy and the avatar. Of music, and dancing, and stories, and legends, and crafts, and recipes, and colloquialisms and proverbs. Of whistle tongue, a language spoken purely through whistling, that was impossible to reproduce for non-airbenders, that would sound through the Temples at all times of the day. Of being able to travel freely between the nations, and being encouraged to learn other cultures and their perspectives. About befriending the prince of Omashu. Of traditional southern waterbending dances he can’t remember in detail and Katara never got the Chance to learn. Of being shown hospitality in the earth kingdom, and being seen as a good omen. Of Dragons and of Kuzon’s parents being shunned for housing a *insert slur against airbenders* because the propaganda machine had been working for a while. Of tsungi-horns and the camelafant strut. From both the Airnomads and the other nations, the good, the bad, the ugly, the mundane and everything else that was lost to war.

And Zuko sits, asks, writes, and most importantly: listens. On top of that, the whole Gaang regularly meets to go through all the stolen stuff stored in the fire palace like it’s the British museum and working to bring everything back to it’s original owner. While they do this, they all explain the cultural significance behind each item, so that everyone gets a better grasp of each others culture.

Afterwards Zuko begins to write, with Aang as a sensitivity reader. He tells the story of an average Airnomad called Sanna, about 7 years older than Aang. They grow up in the southern Airtemple. He writes about philosophical debates, schoolyard games and quarrels, important holidays, traditional foods, common jokes, and Airnomad humor. About wise teachings, annoying teachers, cultural norms, traditions, pets, language and writing. But all of that is in the background, given enough explanation that ignorant readers can follow, but the narrative treats it as the everyday life of the protagonist, seamlessly interwoven with the story that it doesn’t feel like a textbook or lecture, but simply like it actually takes place there. Because the reader learning the Airnomad alphabet and gaining a better understanding of Airnomad culture is goal, but the heart of the story is the protagonist growing up into this increasingly hostile world.

Of the Sanna being faced with more and more adversity, the farther they venture from the temple, the more aware they grow of negative sentiments against them, the more vicious the propaganda becomes. Of the night of Sozin’s comet and Sanna trying desperately to survive afterwards. Of the inner conflict between the Airnomad’s teachings and doing what they have to do to survive. Of dealing with being uprooted in a way that never should have happened. And of all the friendship, betrayal, small kindnesses, prejudice, companionship, trauma and precious memories made, lived and suffered along the way. A lot of it is drawn from Aang’s dealing with the destruction of his culture and his confrontation with Ozai, but a lot of the feelings of displacement and flitting through a world that is unwelcoming towards you, are taken from Zuko’s banishment.

When Basco’s book is published the dedication reads: “To my friend

, your advice in creating this was invaluable, and without you I never would have dared to write something like this. May this live up to your hopes and expectations.” Once the readers of the book have gained a vague understanding of the airnomad Alphabet, and learn that

translates to Aang, pandemonium breaks loose. Aang claims that he and Dante only corresponded through letters and he doesn’t know his identity, but that he got to fact check everything, and that every mention of airnomad culture is accurate. This book goes on to define the widespread understanding of pre-war Airnomad culture, and even scholars sometimes relying on Aang’s assurance of the accuracy of this book to gain a better understanding of culture and context of their topics of research.

[ultfreakme]

Zuko with Gaang: Can I offer you some murder and crimes in these trying times?

[sobeksewerrat]

Season 1 Zuko is so pathetic like "I NEED TO CAPTURE THE AVATAR" no you don't bbg you need to listen to ur uncle and get urself a nice found family consisting of fellow traumatised teenagers

[carebooks]

overlooking all the other reasons why the show went downhill: katara’s feminine rage missing, aang getting guilt punched every episode, bumi being ooc, almost zero gaang bonding episodes, three episodes compiled into one (done twice), azula being introduced too early + given too much screen time, the cave of two lovers being in s1 when it was a s2 episode— all of that is valid but the show can really be pointed out in two ways where they went downhill:

aang never waterbended once during a season where it is literally called book one: water.

yue’s wig.

[muffinlance]

INCREDIBLE addition from @gillfox

#toph: *causally joins him* #sokka: okay so have no idea what's going on with evil sunbathing stalker #but i know it's not going on with you #toph: can't a girl just want to know what flies taste like? #sokka: huh #---later--- #katara: sokka get off the ground #fire lily au #photosynthetic zuko #atla #zuko #sokka

Edit: wait were those my original tags

Help I don't know how to check prev consistently anymore

Okay yes I think those were mine but I FORGOT so thank you for the reblog where I... got to laugh... at myself. On multiple levels, apparently. And enjoy some new tags!

Thought on the Fire Lily AU: Wouldn't Zuko still need to eat anyway? Plants get energy from photosynthesis, but they absorb nutrients from the soil. Zuko is a growing boy, he needs nutrients too. Photosynthesis will keep him going in the short term, and help him limp along in the medium term, but in the long term he would still end up with malnutrition. And eventually die.

Okay so, real fact: if you get super deprived of certain things in your diet, you can start getting really weird cravings. My mom was once super low on iron, and reported that eating dirt was starting to sound like a good idea.

So.

Fire Lily Zuko: *sprawled lethargically on ground by the Gaang's campfire*

Toph: *digs a pebble out from between her toes and flicks it*

Katara: Toph! Not by the food! We've talked...

Zuko: *stares at pebble*

Katara: ...about...

Zuko: *squirms closer to pebble*

Katara: ...this...

Zuko: *eats pebble*

Katara:

Toph: *cackles*

[nylpad]

DANCE OF STEAM

Warnings: enemies to lovers, war

In the heart of the Water Tribe, there lived three siblings: Katara, Sokka, and you, Y/N. You were the youngest, born with a unique gift of waterbending unlike any seen before. Your abilities complemented your siblings', and together, you were a formidable team.

When Aang, the long-lost Avatar, was discovered, your life changed forever. You joined him, along with Katara and Sokka, on a journey to master the elements and defeat the Fire Lord. But among your adversaries was Prince Zuko, a firebender with a fierce determination to capture the Avatar.

At first, your encounters with Zuko were fraught with conflict. His fire clashed with your water, his anger with your calm. Yet, as the moons passed, you began to see the pain behind his eyes, the burden of a destiny he didn't choose.

During a skirmish, you found yourself face-to-face with Zuko. Instead of attacking, you reached out with your waterbending, not to harm, but to heal a wound on his arm. Surprised by your act of kindness, Zuko hesitated, and in that moment, something shifted.

As the Gaang continued their quest, Zuko's path intersected with yours in unexpected ways. He saved you from a dire situation, and you, in turn, offered him understanding. Slowly, the enemy became an ally, and the ally became a friend.

When Zuko finally joined your group, the balance shifted. You found in him a kindred spirit, someone who understood the weight of expectations. Together, you trained, your water tempering his fire, creating a harmony that resonated within the group.

The war ended, peace was restored, and through it all, your bond with Zuko deepened. You balanced each other out, the yin to his yang. And as the world began to heal, so did your hearts, entwining like the merging rivers of your homeland.

In Zuko, you found not just love, but a partner who stood by your side as you helped rebuild a world where balance reigned supreme. And in you, Zuko found not just a lover, but a beacon of hope that guided him towards a brighter future.

[lady-iskra]

Are Katara stans more likely to become Zutara?

To be fair: I also saw Kataangers, other- or non-shippers who care at least a little about Katara and did complain about the nerfing of her character. But still…maybe it is because of the communities I visit, but it appears to me that most Katara stans are more likely to become Zutara.

The reason I prefer this ship is that I’ve become a Katara stan first. I love every side of her, the loud one precisely, when she stands up for her ideals. And, as for Zutara: There is a deep understanding of each other’s needs along with mutual respect and a special bond those two share with no one else in the Gaang. They are equals—Zuko respects, accepts and loves Katara as a whole, and the same goes the other way around (canon-platonically or headcanon/ship-baiting-romantically doesn’t matter).

So, here’s what I don’t understand: if someone ships, I would assume they care about both characters and how they fit with each other. Yet, I’ve seen many Kataangers care only about Aang: What Aang wants. What his intensions are. That he is just flawed when he kisses Katara without consent…never how Katara feels about his actions, never how she is presented at the end of the OG, in the comics and in Korra.

Regarding The Southern Raiders in this case: I truly believe that Aang just wants to help, as many Kataangers argue in defense of his behavior. The teachings of the monks helped him during his dark times, plus, he is just a kid. He panicked, bc he thought Katara would follow the same dark path, and didn’t know how to express his worries. However, this is also my point against Kataang: He is just a kid. He still has so much to learn before even thinking about a serious relationship; especially with Katara whom he still sees through rose-tinted glasses—including that forgiveness to receive closure is not the right path for everyone.

If you mention this to some Kataangers, even very carefully, they immediately become defensive, saying that it’s just about making Zutara look better and demonizing Aang. And don’t get me started on the kiss by the end. 🙄 I’ve never read anything from them beyond “Katara is clearly happy.” But what makes you think she is happy? No explanation. People who agree with me, showing that they care about Katara, are mostly Zutara- or non-shippers.

Me, on the other hand: I can easily say that Katara has every right to hold a grudge against Zuko after The Crossroads of Destiny, bc he wronged her the most. Totally understandable that he had to go the extra mile with her to receive her forgiveness. I won’t sugar coat his actions to make him or Zutara look better, so much for their complaints—that isn’t necessary anyway. The difference: Zuko stood up for his mistakes, helps Katara to find her closure without asking for forgiveness, even if that is what he hopes. Let’s not forget how she opens up to him, even during this process; more than she did to anyone else.

Aang’s mistakes weren’t that huge, and it would take a scene of maybe a minute or two to truly show the regret of his actions towards Katara.

I believe that if you care about a character like Katara with such huge beliefs and intensions to create a better world, you wouldn’t be okay with reducing her to nothing more than an attachment whose world revolves around her boyfriend/husband—or her sweetie *ugh*. Yet, some Aang-stans seem not to care about this side of Katara and really consider her happy when her life is nothing more than pampering her partner.

[melu-lis]

anyone who simplifies the popularity of zuko to people liking "dark bad boys" is showing a sign of low media literacy. even before i watched atla, my friends recommended that i watched it solely bc of zuko. and after i watched it, i understood why. in the first episodes, most of the audience perceives him as this hot-headed jerk who's obsessed with capturing a 12 year old boy. but then we get to the episode "the storm" and we learn that the reason zuko wants to capture aang is because he was banished by his father; it doesn't excuse his actions but it is a reason. and then in the 2-parter of "the siege of the north, we learn that he has a sister and that their father often pitted them against each other, making him more sympathetic to the audience. from book 1, it is established that zuko will be more than just a villain. we don't see much of a change in zuko's character until book 2 after him and uncle iroh are branded as fugitives by the fire nation. throughout the season, we see him have an identity crisis and grappling with who he is. by the end of book 2, zuko seems to be content with his life in the earth kingdom and figuring out who he is by himself. that's why in tcod, the audience expects him to join the avatar especially after bonding with katara and confronting his uncle about teaming up with aang. but the show defies our expectations by having zuko join azula in her takeover of ba sing se. some people have a problem with this since he showed a lot of growth in book 2 and thought his betrayal was made to not make zutara a possibility but i think it make sense because zuko was more content being a neutral bystander and joining the avatar would be more risky especially he still wasn't on friendly terms with aang. when we see him return to the fire nation, we see that he's gotten everything that he ever wanted, he has father's approval and is hailed a hero by his country, but he isn't happy. this is why his confrontation with ozai is so satisfying, he realizes that not only the way his father treated him was inhumane and his approval is meaningless, but that his nation's century-long war was never a noble pursuit. when he joins the gaang, he tries his best to atone his past mistakes and demonstrate his sincerity of wanting to end the war and ends his arc by becoming the new fire lord ushered in an era of peace and kindness with the help of his ally and friend, aang. i think this why zuko is more popular compared to aang, the protagonist of the show. while aang and zuko are constantly portrayed as narrative foils to each other, aang doesn't have this constant inner turmoil that zuko does. this is why a lot of fans and casual viewers have an issue with gaang's confrontation with ozai. aang talks about how he struggles with killing ozai since it goes against the principles of his culture, a culture that is basically extinct, but this is never brought up until the series finale! it's not like there aren't any episodes where aang struggles with fulfilling his duties as the avatar, there are plenty and it does make him a sympathetic character. it's even more frustrating when you learn that aang not killing ozai was the plan since the production of book 1. there were countless opportunities where aang's struggle between wanting to maintain his identity and be a full-fledged avatar could've been addressed! i think this what aang stans who are resentful of zuko's popularity don't understand, aang's character arc is a lot more disoriented compared to zuko's.