#hakoda/bato

[bylightofdawn]

So stuff I've discovered in my second full rewatch of Avatar: the Last Airbender. Note it's prolly been 10+ maybe even 15 years since I fully rewatched the show and my tastes have changed, as have I as a person. I used to be all about the Zutarra lifestyle back in the day. I was so disappointed they were cowards and didn't give us that delightfully spicy couple as canon. I didn't mind Kataang and thought it was cute but it didn't really do much for me.

I still see the appeal of it but uh...I've kinda shifted to Zukka hardcore but with a caveat. I don't want teenage Zukka with them constantly butting heads and arguing. I want like 10-15 years post-canon Zukka who are older and more mature and still fucking idiots. I want a disgusting amount of pining and suffering in silence. Them going through multiple relationships that just don't work out for some reason or another. It's because they aren't Zuko or Sokka but neither want to admit it to themselves.

And then they get their shit together and everyone around them is like "FUCKING FINALLY. OH MY GOD"

I've also come out of this re-watch with a burning love for Hakoda/Bato because oh my gawd long-term friends who slowly realize even through tragedy and heartbreak, they can still find happiness and maybe the one you wanted all along was right there in front of you the whole time? asgjdhglkdhgkljdhgljkdhfljkashflkjdshx that's fucking kryptonite for yours truly.

Give me middle-aged people pining and finding love for the second time in their lives.

[chiptrillino-art]

Hello! Wellcome to my sort of 2023 recap!

ID in ALT text shockingly i drew more zukos then sokkas this year.... which is weird to me personally? although... i did have a sudden 'i have no clue how to draw zuko?!?!?" moment this year. oh also..uh... i was wondering if i drew egnouth faces to make them 'turn around' and well...

kind of?

[sulkybender]

Hakoda not realizing Zuko and Sokka are a couple because they act just like he does with Bato and they’re *obviously* just bros.

Obviously.

[panther-os]

I see a lot of "oh this was an accidental proposal and katara continuing to wear it is an on purpose acceptance"

I don't think that's accurate and the ship is really not my thing anymore anyways but you know what would be absolutely hilarious?

katara tells her family about this and then fast forward to a post-war zukka relationship where zuko's for real proposing and is asking Hakoda and Bato - who love chaos as much as they love their children and son-in-law - for permission as a courtesy and they're just like "we cannot in good conscience allow this while you're still betrothed to our daughter" and Zuko's just like "WHAT" and it turns into a comedy of zuko doing more and more absolutely fucking weird and outlandish things to "break the engagement to katara" so he can marry sokka. just 100% a twelve labours type thing except they're actually achievable because there's no need to repeat that trauma (although maybe the final task is "bring me the avatar" and that's when he realizes he's being fucked with)

katara gets roped in and is having a blast. sokka however is blissfully unaware until the final moments - or if angst is more your thing, he's wondering if the reason zuko is always busy lately is because he's getting ready to break up with him, maybe throw in zuko spending more time around katara and sokka's "guy with a boomerang" insecurities for shits and giggles

[befloweringg]

You gotta love no matter what ship you support; Zuko x Katara, Zuku x Sokka, Aang x Katara, Suki x Sokka, etc. there is no ship war when it comes to Hakoda and Bato, that ship unifies the atla community

[allgremlinart]

uhm happy uh uhm happy minor old man characters monda Tuesday. 

[waterfire1848]

I gotta suggest something here.

Kya was taller than Hakoda, Ursa and Ozai. The only one who was taller than her was Bato.

[erisenyo]

So excited to finally be sharing my @zukkabigbang2024 fic, betaed by the amazing @kartoonkrazy and with wonderful art from @lizardlicks (link incoming)!

Featuring culture sharing, culture confusion, gossip, a very sassy Kanna, a very over-it-already Katara, meeting the parents when you and the parent are both world leaders and also you have issues with parents, and Sokka's daddy issues.

[“Right,” Hakoda manages. “An honor.” “Once we will endeavor to meet with equal honor in return,” the Fire Lord says so quickly he starts almost before Hakoda gets out the last syllable. “Sure.” Hakoda has to forcibly unclench his teeth to grind out, “We’re happy to welcome the delegation.” As if they had any choice in it. Fuck, but it would have been a lot easier to say no if the Fire Lord weren’t dating his son.] Or, Zuko is nervous about making a good impression on his first visit South as Fire Lord, which certainly has nothing to do with meeting Sokka’s father. Sokka is excited to see his boyfriend after months apart, and is absolutely totally fine with not being involved in the week’s political negotiations. Totally. Hakoda already has a headache just thinking about how exactly he’s supposed to interact with a fellow world leader who is also a teenager, and also dating his son, and wait--Sokka’s old enough for dating now? When did that happen?

To all the people who on my other longfics kept going 'wow, I cannot wait for the conversation with Hakoda about this one!' to which I kept going '…about that.' -- this one's for you :)

[feral-jackdaw]

It's so cool that Hakoda and Sokka found themselves matching boyfriends who both have burn scars on the same side, don't you think?

[emkini]

Zuko and the masseurs be talking mad shit about certain high ranking Fire Nation military officials

(Based on a scene from @muffinlance​’s Salvage that has unfailingly made me laugh every time I read it)

+Bonus Content

[Text in cursive because I always think mine is legible but you never know: Come collect your child. - Madame Sun]

[Text behind Hakoda: I am not going to murder this boy I have put too much work into keeping him alive] 

[azulaang-chakras]

You ever think about how Bato knew Hakoda since they were kids, and he still stuck by his side for decades despite enduring the puns and other wordplay that served as the forerunner of Sokka's sense of humor?

[bestoldmanyaoi]

Old Man Yaoi Tournament Round 1

[sulkybender]

Zukka.

Also Bakoda.

[hypnoticsphere]

i love polyamory

zuko, suki and sokka

kya, bato, and hakoda

azula, ty lee, and mai.

atla is just so poly-able

[chaotic-tired-bastard]

I FIXED IT YALL WE CAN GO HOME WITH OUR HAPPY QUEER CANON

Edit: Fixed it bcs the burn scar was on the wrong side ;-;

[a-todd-illustration]

Another great trope is BAMF!Sokka showing everyone how good of a fighter or strategist he is. He deserves all the love