#his fear of toph / sokka / katara being hurt

[zukosdualdao]

i do like the way the zuko plot relates to the whole nightmares and daydreams title and the realization that what he’d been dreaming about was really the nightmare all along, and just under the surface of all the trappings of royal life he finds once again available to him, he realizes (and can’t stop thinking about) the horror of what his nation is doing, of who his father really is.

… unfortunately, that makes me like the aang plot even less because it feels like another aang & zuko parallel that just. really misses the mark.

[sokkastyles]

Katara felt exilhirated, her hands catching the cool night air as it whipped past. Bright flashes of colorful light popped on either side of her, accompanied by the huge crackle-boom of what she had learned were called fireworks.

At first, she'd been hesitant to the idea of explosions during a festival, but over time, she'd become more used to the Fire Nation's idea of fun. She had even found it beautiful. Aang laughed, leading Appa to race through the colored smoke while Sokka and Suki screamed in delight, and Katara screamed, too, holding up her arms and feeling free.

Until she looked over at Zuko, whose face seemed to be turning a shade halfway between ghost-white and bogwater green.

She tried to edge closer to him in the wide saddle, but it was impossible to move with how fast Appa was flying. Zuko's eyes met her gaze, and she asked "are you alright?" Her words were swallowed by the wind, and Zuko hadn't heard her, his eyes far away. There was another reverberating boom as an explosion of color went off on her other side.

"You want to know what fireworks are like for me?" Toph said to Sokka as Appa landed, a mischievous grin plastered on her face. She had not been enjoying the festivities any more than Zuko had.

Katara winced as Sokka closed his eyes at Toph's bidding, then watched her brother yelp as Toph screamed "BOOM!" into his ear.

Sokka wasn't the only one to jump. Zuko was still clinging to the side of Appa's saddle, even after they had stopped.

"Hey," Katara said, holding out her hand to him. "You alright?" she asked again, now that she could hear herself talk.

Zuko stood up without taking the offered hand, and climbed out of the saddle only a little shakily.

"I'm fine," he said, and walked off.

She found him later sitting on the edge of a fountain ringed by lantern light.

"I used to love fireworks when I was a kid," he said as she approached, his gaze on the bright reflections in the water. "Now it's just...I...I can't see as well, when Appa goes so fast, and it's hard to hear anything."

Katara remembered how noisy it had been when they were in the air. She remembered her first Fire Nation festival, back before the war had ended, and how afraid she had been of the fire. Now, fear was part of the thrill. Experiencing something like that in a way that was safe and fun, knowing it couldn't really hurt you. It was the kind of fun that Zuko must have grown up with. He must have always known that the fire couldn't really hurt him. Until it had.

"It took me a long time to be able to bend again, after," he said, looking up at her, finally, and Katara didn't have to ask him what he meant.

"Maybe someday I'll be okay with fireworks again," he said.

"It's okay," she said. "Even if it's never the same as it was."

It would never be the same, of course. Sometimes, a part of her wondered when she had become so desensitized. It had to be the opposite for Zuko, now. She saw the way he looked sometimes, when people made references to his past, the way he cringed when he spoke about it, how angry he grew on behalf of the Earth Kingdom citizens he had once considered beneath him. It was funny how time changed the way you looked at things. She wondered if it changed the way Zuko looked at her, the way it had for her. Sometimes it seemed to her that they were always just missing each other. Maybe they would never be able to see each other face the face, but for that one moment long ago, under Ba Sing Se. There would always be a part of her that remembered the feeling of being seen, of being known and having been known, by an enemy who was no longer an enemy, but something else entirely.

Together, they sat on the edge of the fountain, just the two of them. They stayed beneath the lantern lights, while everyone celebrated around them, and remembered what it felt like, to burn.

[hypnoticsphere]

Zuko and Sokka are truly the unstoppable force versus immovable object.

Sokka who stood alone in front of a Fire Nation ship ready to defend his people no matter what. Ready to sacrifice himself without a second thought because it’s his duty. Sokka who is always throwing himself over Katara and Toph to protect them. Sokka who thinks so little of himself, that he’s weak for being a non-bender, but despite it all, will always put himself in the center of danger so no one else gets hurt.

Zuko who does not understand the meaning of giving up. At first, so blinded by the need for his father’s love and his honor, that he spends 3 years hunting for the Avatar. Zuko who wants nothing more than to be a good leader, moving forward with such tenacity. Zuko who, once he understands his destiny, never stops fighting for his people. Zuko who throws himself into danger, who no longer fears of standing for what he believes in.

I truly believe that Zuko admires Sokka for his bravery, and for his unwavering ability to always do what’s right.

[the-badger-mole]

A Kya lived (but with some serious burns) AU.

Katara's relationship with the other characters?

In what way would this also affect Sokka?

Aang accidentally burning Katara?

Yon-Rha being alive or not,and Zuko and Katara hunting him down.

Depending on what ripple effect Kya being alive has on the series, what other changes do you think would impact things going forward?

Do you think kat*anng would still happen or zutara?

To answer your last question first, Kataang shouldn't have happened in general, so, no they absolutely don't happen here.

This would've been an extremely traumatic event for Kya, and I think she would become very protective of Katara. Sokka would have a complicated relationship with it because on the one hand, he'd get it, and he'd be very protective of Katara too (even more than he was in the show). On the other hand, I think it would very much read as favoritism to him, and he'd probably pull some very dangerous and stupid stunts in order to get his mother to fear for his life like she does for Katara's. I think instead of being sent off with well wishes, Katara would have to sneak away, and Sokka would come with her to protect her.

I think Zuko seeing the burns that Kya suffered would give him pause. He would still try to go in with all his bluster and bravado, but it would be a sight that would startle him. I think it would change the dynamic when he confronted Katara (does Katara get Kya's necklace here? I don't know. I could see it go either way). He might appeal to her desire to end the war instead, promising that once he got home and took back his rightful place, he'd make ending the war his priority so no one would have to suffer like Kya. His arc would then be centered on trying to reconcile what he knows of his father with his own hopes for how the war would end. I don't know if they still go after Yon Rah. I don't think it would have the same impact, to be honest. I think Katara's mother would be what bridges the gap between them still, but I think instead of focusing on their mutual loss, Katara would find out explicitly how Zuko got his scar and why. They would still connect over maternal sacrifices, but also the scars.

Katara, I think, would be the biggest change. I think she'd be a less maternal figure and less inclined to play caregiver to the people around her (which is part of the reason I don't think Kataang would happen). Her anger would be a lot more apparent because not only did her mother sacrifice herself for Katara, she treated her like she was too vulnerable to be let out into the world on her own (this version of Katara would probably have an easier time connecting with Toph, tbh). I think any attempts of people trying to protect her or tell her she can't do something would be met with much more force. Her fight with Pakku would've been much more feral and unhinged because I think she'd actually be out for blood. Like for real, for real. And her stint as the Painted Lady would probably end with a few dead soldiers. I see Zutara not only happening in this version of the story, but happening way sooner because Katara's anger would be easier for Zuko to see and understand, and then connect with. I think her pain and anger would hurt him for her sake, too. Getting to know her would make him finally understand everything Iroh was trying to do for him, and he would in turn try to be that for Katara. In the end, they'd both wind up helping each other find peace.

Also, as for what happened when Aang burned Katara? He'd have gotten a double barrel of anger from the siblings. Sokka would possibly lay hands on him, and Katara would resent him for not taking any of his learning opportunities seriously. I think Katara in this version would be much more militant (a reason why I don't think Aang would have a crush on her in this scenario to begin with). This episode would see him getting thee crap scared out of him, and possibly set him down the path of understanding just how badly the war needs to be ended.

[stormiclown]

What I truly love most about the DC universe is how stupidly large it is. There are so many different Earths and timelines that you can merge it with another pic of media, and you can justify it by saying it's an entirely different timeline. The DCU is so diverse and wide that its compatible with literally everything.

The MCU? Bruce and Tony know each other due to being billionaire playboys with genius intellect and using their skills to become formidable heroes. Thor and Diana know each other, the League of Assassins is aware of Hydra and the Red Room, etc.

Miraculous Ladybug? Diana and Queen Hyppolita (a former ladybug) know all about the Miraculous and Marinette goes to the Justice League for assistance with Hawkmoth. Given the people they've been up against before, Hawkmoth would fit right in. The addition of the miraculous would be very natural to the DCU.

Danny Phantom? A teenaged boy with ghost powers from another realm ends up in Gotham and starts trolling people is something that would definitely happen in Gotham at some point. It was only a matter of time.

I swear the next DCU & Batman crossover fandom is going to be Avatar the Last Airbender or something. With the Justice League adopting these gremlin children. Bruce "I adopt strays every other week" Wayne would see Katara, Aang, Toph, Zuko, Sokka, and Suki and go "Mine." Sokka cracking jokes with Dick, Zuko and Damian getting on each other's nerves, Katara and Alfred bonding over how they have to keep feral children in check, Toph and Jason trying to declare dominance over each other every other second. Aang going around Gotham and following Bruce while he does Batman things, and surprisingly getting along great with Damian over their love for animals (Damian refuses to admit he got excited when Aang allowed him to ride Appa). The spirits in the atla world won't be so far off base in a world where there are aliens, demons, and demigods walking the earth.

Gothamite criminals everywhere would be getting their asses kicked. Soon Gotham has six more vigilantes, four of which have terrifying elemental abilities and the other two can throw hands. Blue Spirit Zuko throwing hands, Painted Lady Katara thrashing people with water and healing innocents, Blind Bandit Toph crushing people into the dirt, Kyoshi Warrior Suki striking fear in the hearts of hundreds, Boomerang Sokka coming up with these crazy but effective plans that give Batman a whiplash, Avatar Aang greasing anyone who hurts his friends.

And the rest of the Justice League are terrified.

Actually you know what?

alta x dc anyone?

[julietwiskey1]

If ATLA had a fourth season, what do you think would have been the plotline of Book 4 and what would likely have been the good and bad parts of it?

If we keep the original three then I think it would have gone into Book Four: Air. Likely seeing Aang work to restore the Air Nation and searching for traces of any survivors. Perhaps he sees that culturally they are dead but their are still people who can bend air. Now Aang’s role in the previous three seasons is flipped upside down, he is no longer the student but the master.

We also probably see Zuko, Azula and the gaang search for Ursa. It would serve primarily as Azula’s redemption and growth arc. Let her heal and find love with Zuko and Ursa, maybe even forgiveness by the gaang. Zuko’s story focusing more on his growth as a leader and facing the problems that beset his people that it’s his job to fix. Not just punching the lone corrupt official but making actual changes to his government.

I think to keep it on theme we would see Sokka and Katara try to find parts of their culture stolen. Perhaps even look for water benders like Hama who still know the southern tradition. Though I see this being the most likely to be cut.

The best part of the season would be its emotional beats. Focusing on healing, coming together and love. It would nail down the hope Aang always inspires. Show him and Zuko leading everyone into that new world of peace and harmony they promise.

I think something like this would struggle to keep everyone together. All of these character naturally want to do their own thing now. So why Zuko and Azula need to search with the gaang would be in question. Why aren’t Katara and Sokka going home to heal their tribe? Shouldn’t Aang be heading off on his own now?

That’s what I think is most likely.

Though I personally think if the show knew they would have a fourth season it would have been better to split season three into two. Season one takes place up until the day of black sun. Have it take place in the colonies. Focus more on Ozai and his role leading the war and the struggles Zuko and Azula face at home. Show him as a villain by showing how two of our previous villains who love him still fear him. The gaang runs into a lot more stories like the headband and Hama. Show the oppression of the colonies and how the Fire Nation exploits the land.

Then with the season four show Zuko earning his way with the gaang as they hide in the Fire Nation Islands (not colonies but Fire Nation proper). Show him slowly earning their trust. But most importantly let him interact with the Fire Nation and learning what has to change about his nation. But I think he needs to also serve as a supporting character in several episodes. Where he’s not the focus, but rather holds up or steps out of the spot light for Katara, Sokka, Toph and Aang to shine.

Aang could also be discovering energy bending or another Ozai solution. Make the reveal of energy bending at the end feel like an earned discovery and not a deus ex machina.

During this fourth season Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee take the secondary story plots. Show the fracture of the friend group. How Azula is struggling under Ozai expectations and how it forces her to act contrary to a teenager with her friends. Give her breakdown time to fester and grow. But also show a girl who is deserving of redemption. Who quite simply currently does not feel or does not see any way out or can fully see what is wrong. Her side story can pair with Zuko’s. When Zuko finds a problem and fixes it give it to Azula and show how constrained she is.

And most importantly show Ozai being the villain beyond Azula and Zuko. Let him personally hurt and burn people. Maybe even give an episode where the gaang nearly runs into him and show how he can take them. Make him a terrifying enemy before the final fight.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

I Am Blackened Bones (Part 10)

The fire spirit watches the angry man go. And good riddance to he and his selfish nature and his unpredictable, albeit, short lived bouts of anger. At least she will no longer have to worry about he and his moods. She only has to fret over the man that they call Sokka. She supposes that she would rather tiptoe around Sokka, at least he is comical when he snaps at her. She senses more stress and trepidation than outright hatred and annoyance from him anyhow. She doesn’t think that he hates her, mostly he wants her to stop tinkering with his belongings. 

The humans seem very fussy over what belongs to them. And maybe she doesn’t understand because she doesn’t have anything to call her own to be fussy over. 

No, nothing at all unless her own body is to be counted. But even that doesn’t feel like it is hers most of the time. The things that happen to it are controlled by things that she can’t understand. Things that she suspects she doesn’t want to understand. 

What she does know is that it is better if she doesn’t know.

If she doesn’t know the things that she doesn’t know, then she can’t be distraught over not knowing them. The desire to know won’t nag at her.

And yet it seems to be nagging at her right now. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to know why she is on fire? And why the fire never goes out. She could possibly stop it if she knew why it is happening—what is causing it. 

Perhaps that is precisely why she doesn’t know; she is meant to burn and the forces that scorch her want to keep up the smoldering. 

There are, however, other forces at work. Those forces have blue and gray eyes. Those forces have big ears and arrowed hands. Those forces also have waterbending and a soothing voice. To the side, Sokka and Toph go about their own business; mostly picking up the things that Zuko has left behind.

He will be back sooner rather than later, the fire spirit deduces. 

“Are you listening to us?” Katara bites her lip.

Truth be told, she hadn’t been. The spirit finds it hard to pay attention—the world around her is so vivid and so busy. There is alway something or another going on; the canopy is always rustling, some critter is always snapping twigs, the light always filters through in different ways, sunrays always dance differently…

“Hey!” the fire spirit jerks at the sound of her voice. “Aang and I want to try something. It’s going to hurt a little bit, but we need to test a theory so that we can help you.” The fire spirit senses that Katara hopes that she understands what she is saying. She clenches her twiggy fingers and that is answer enough for Katara who tells Aang, “Alright, Aang. Firebend. Just a little.”

The spirit fire squirms.

She doesn’t want them to go through with this little trial; whether the flame is the size of a tea light or the size of a bonfire it all sears her the same. But Katara has mistaken her fearful clenching for bracing herself and, by extension, permission.

Heedless and unaware of her unease, the Avatar calls fire to his fingertips. Just two tiny little dots of glowing orange but her own fire reacts with just as much fury as it usually does. It retracts from the surface and sinks deeper and the twitches begin. They are mostly involuntary, a series of jerks and jolts that she doesn’t want to resist anyhow. For as much as it hurts, there is not enough fire to bring the twitches to full on spasms. They do, however, leave her pacing and agitated. 

“Hold still.” Katara instructs.

The spirit is keen on continuing to pace until the irritation subsides to a more manageable level. 

“Please sit still so I can…” She holds up a flimsy square of water. 

The fire spirit does not cease her pacing and so Katara puts herself in the spirit’s path. She seems to inspect her, look her over until she grows terribly uncomfortable. The spirit does not like being observed. She enjoys doing the observing. 

“Well?” Aang asks. 

“The fire is definitely inside of her now.” Katara confirms. 

The chatter, she realizes too late, has rendered her careless. The fire spirit, also much too late, realizes that she had let her guard down and now she is dripping wet. She half-screech, half-hisses at the waterbender. 

For some reason the waterbender is laughing at her vicious outburst. 

Steam ripples off of her arms and probably her head too. It outlines the entirety of her body and curls through the space between her ribcage. Her heart, still glowing a dull orange, constricts. They have put her fire out.

They have…

What have they done?

The fire spirit trembles. Have they killed her? They must have because she doesn’t feel anything…

She doesn’t feel anything. 

She doesn’t feel pain.

“It’s alright.” The Avatar smiles. The fire spirit holds her arm out in front of her. “See, no more fire.” 

And that is exactly what she fears. It will come soon, she is certain of that. That fire was her lifeforce…wasn’t it?

Katara takes her hand. “That feels better, doesn’t it?” 

The no-longer-on-fire spirit eyes the hand that strokes the back of hers as she mulls the question over. It doesn’t feel better…it doesn’t feel at all. Is that how not being in pain is supposed to feel? Like nothing at all? Feeling better is not the presence of something but an absence. This absence feels much different than the absence that comes when she tries to recall what her old mantra had meant. 

“Does it still hurt?” 

At the shake of the spirit’s head, Katara is grinning. 

“Great! That’s amazing news!” And she wraps her arms around the spirit. And the spirit is confused. But she feels something. Two things; relief and…something light and spinning. Something like feathers and nervous jitters. 

The spirit concludes that she is, in fact, not dying.

She is just wet. 

Wet and a touch sad because she is wet.

.oOo.

The fire stays out for a while but then bursts back and the spirit is whimpering again. Katara could be imagining it but it seems as though the spirit is whimpering more than ever, having experienced a window of peace only for it to be taken from her. 

“Should we do more waterbending?” Aang asks. 

Katara bites the inside of her cheek. “Aang, we’d have to do it every hour. And a good portion of the water evaporates as soon as it hits her skin…we can’t waste water like that. I mean it’s not a waste, it’s for an important cause but we also need enough water to drink…”

“I don’t know, she seemed dripping wet to me.” Aang replies.

“Yeah, kind of like a sad polar bear dog.” Toph remarks. 

“I don’t know.” Katara murmurs. “It might be better to just let her stay used to the pain—so that its more tolerable for her—until we find a more long term solution. What if we are just making it worse.”

“We can travel close to the river.” Sokka suggests. 

“Great idea, Sokka, lets just chuck the spirit into the river whenever she gets all fired up.” Toph laughs.

“Th-that’s not what I mean and you know it!” He exclaims. 

“Man, I love it when your voice does that thing where it gets several pitches higher.” Toph wipes a tear from her eye. “You’re a real riot, Sokka.”

Katara glances at the spirit who has taken to pacing around again. She has been wandering in circles for at least fifteen minutes now. And she has taken to doing it on all fours. Katara speculates that the spirit’s legs are too shaky to carry her on their own. If not…

Katara’s stomach tickles. 

If not, the spirit might be regressing? Devolving? Can that happen; can a humanoid spirit become less human over time? Is it a choice?

She hopes that she is just reading too much into it. That the pain is simply making the spirit less social and less rational. 

“We could stick close to the river.” Aang agrees. “And that could help us with our search for Azula, she’d be smart enough to stick close to a source of water.” 

“Wait, we’re still doing that?” Sokka asks. “I thought that we’d give it a rest now that Zuko is off doing…”

“Impulsive, stupid shit?” Toph fills in.

Sokka nods. “I thought that we were just going to focus on…” he gestures to the spirit with his head. 

“We can manage two things at once.” Katara replies. “Alright, we’ll try sticking to the river for a few days and see how it goes. But we have to find a better way.” She turns to Aang. “Do you know anything about what kind of spirit that is?”

He shakes his head. “If we can keep that fire out for a while and get the spirit to focus I might be able to talk to her and get some answers.”

“What if she doesn’t want to or can’t communicate?” Sokka asks. 

“I…I guess that I could try energybending. I don’t like it but…” He frowns. “In this case it might be worse to not try.”

“Think it over, Aang. I know that you’re afraid to energybend. In the meantime, I’ll try to comfort the spirit.” Katara takes a deep breath and pulls some water from the river. She hovers it over the antsy spirit and lets it drop. 

There is a horrible hiss as the fire douses and the steam begins to rise, blanketing the spirit entirely. And when the steam lets up Katara is granted a view of the poor spirit bunched in on herself, legs drawn up to her chest with her arms wrapped tightly around them. Thick wisps of steam still roll gently off of her body. 

Katara wraps her arms around herself. The spirit looks so small and vulnerable. She is shaking.

Katara isn’t sure how many times she can do this. She doesn’t think that the spirit understands that they are trying to help. For all she knows, the spirit probably thinks that they enjoy pestering her with water. 

And so she kneels down by the spirit. “Hey. Come on, lets…” lets what? There is nothing to do really. Nothing but lift the spirit into her arms. It is a risk when the spirit can burst back into flames at any time. But she decides that she is willing to accept that risk when the spirit nuzzles herself into the embrace.

[tickle-bugs]

Wait… ATLA… I need some zuko fics for suree!! ❤️

.. I know you’re not currently taking prompts at this time but maybe something to considerrrr when you arrree :3 hehe

zuko my beloved my skrunkly my sweet <3 headcanons for you as a treat <3

when Zuko snorts, a lil puff of smoke comes out his nose. I know it to be true. Iroh told me.

He has a rly sweet breathy laugh that sometimes goes silent prematurely. very giggle prone and he pretends to hate it, but if he actually did he would barbecue everybody so. checkmate.

This one might be a hot take but I feel like he might actually be great at pretending something doesn't tickle if it's one sensation in one place. I'm choosing this hill because I think it makes things so much funnier if the gaang is trying to catch him off-guard and can't. and he knows. and he's smug.

but, flipside to this coin, he's like a jumpy cat. if you do catch him off guard he will launch directly into the stratosphere and squeak. there's nothing he can do to recover.

if zuko knows you're going to tickle him he will giggle uncontrollably before you touch him, get mad that he's doing it, and then (rare phenomenon) angry giggle. very cute.

Zuko can't firebend if he's laughing because firebending needs air. When he throws his little tantrums or goes to do something reckless (and stupid), whoever is closest to him is quick to poke his sides and the air leaves him in this big woosh. If he tries to firebend (which he probably doesn't, he doesn't wanna hurt anyone), lil sparks come off his hands.

tickling Zuko is objectively funny because he curls up like a lil pillbug, but when you hit a bad spot he uncurls and every limb seeks violence. category six flailing event. Sokka comes back to camp with a black eye and Suki and Katara are ready for bloodshed, but he has to stumble through an explanation of why on earth he thought tickling Zuko was a good idea (worth it, no regrets. not pictured: toph smirking bc she could feel zuko's laughter reverberating through the ground)

mai does not know this about him until Ty Lee finds out. Mai takes full advantage and Zuko pretends to hate it with all his might.

i think if we're exiting the lil utopia bubble here for a sec zuko canonically probably hates being tickled. azula strikes me as the kind to torment him with it. but i'm choosing to remain within the bubble. i like the bubble.

zuko mirrors behaviors that he sees other gaang members doing to try and fit in. and i just. Zuko getting bold enough to poke someone and everyone is delighted because he's graduated to physical contact. and then he's like "why are you all looking at me like that"

i can one hundred percent see the gaang having like a 'days since zuko's last temper tantrum' counter or whatever. like as he mellows out it becomes harder to provoke him. Except one day Sokka goes too far and Zuko jumps him and everyone has a split-second fear that he's like genuinely snapped...until Sokka is shrieking and everything's fine actually. (the counter gets reset).

zuko and toph being touchy besties is everything to me actually and i like to think they are constantly irritating each other with lil pokes and stuff. toph likes to drape herself over Zuko at her own peril.

Aang sometimes won't take his training seriously because he's just not intimidated by Zuko anymore. Zuko's like. well. I can fix that. and aang Flees.

Zuko has so much respect for Suki and refuses to lay a hand on her and hurt her when they spar, but Suki's like. C'mon fireboy. Zuko remembers something about her that Sokka said in passing and he's like well! this will work! (i just have this visual of aang being like 'wow the kyoshi warriors are so cool zuko's so special getting to train with Suki'. meanwhile Zuko and Suki are in a tickle fight so intense that they've smashed and burnt furniture).

[narrativelysignificantturtleduck]

I don't know if you mind me asking this, but how different would things be if Jeong-Jeong accompanied Aang, Katara, and Sokka to the North Pole? Would Jeong-Jeong be ok with Pakku's sexism or would he against it? Also, would Jeong-Jeong try to save Zhao from the giant ocean spirit or would he let him die?

i don't mind at all! if you ever sent me an ask and i didn't answer it's probably just because i forgot.

i've thought about jeong jeong joining the gaang before (i think he and toph would have a fun dynamic) but having him along for the northern water tribe storyline is something i haven't really explored. i think he'd be very eager to visit the north pole, to see waterbending in action and learn more about it. the pakku dynamic would be interesting. on one hand pakku would be the person vouching for him not being a dangerous firebender (since they're both in the white lotus) but on the other hand i think jeong jeong would support katara. under different circumstances, he might be like "healing is better, why do you want to bother with combat?" but he's seen the war, he knows what she's up against and why she wants to learn to fight. and i think pakku's condescending attitude of "go back to the healing huts with the other women" would piss him off BECAUSE he respects waterbending healing. how dare you act like that's an inferior place to be!

i've mentioned before that i'd love if we had another episode in the northern water tribe exploring

why the north & south gender roles are so different

pakku actually reforming, becoming less of a mean teacher

aang learning healing

and i think jeong jeong would be especially relevant to that last one. after burning katara in jeong jeong's episode, aang is scared to firebend for fear of hurting someone again. learning waterbending healing might make him more comfortable learning firebending because he knows if something like that happens again he can fix it. and jeong jeong would want to sit in on the water healing classes out of curiosity, and maybe he'd figure out how to adapt their techniques for firebending. it could help heal both of their relationships to fire and make them more capable of being teacher and student again.

(jeong jeong still might want to hold off on lessons until after they find an earthbending teacher though. like he's got a point about learning the elements in order)

jeong jeong's role in the siege of the north would be interesting. his wall-of-fire style isn't exactly suited to defending a city made of ice, and as a former admiral of the fire nation navy he could provide information that could help them take down the fleet. maybe he leads the undercover plan, and it's more successful bc his intel is only 10 years out of date as opposed to 80. or he might avoid active combat entirely, staying in the healing hut and using his new fire-healing to help with battle injuries. in any case, i don't think he'd affect anything that goes down at the spirit oasis. whether he's in combat or not, his knowledge would probably make him more useful closer to the front lines.

throughout the whole thing, he'd definitely have this feeling of "if i hadn't come to my senses that could've been me". i don't think admiral jeong jeong was like zhao but i do think jeong jeong sees some of his past self in zhao. as a character, zhao is a one-note imperialist, existing simply to represent the fire nation's cruelty, to be the embodiment of their ideology of relentless conquest. jeong jeong as a powerful firebending military leader was supposed to be that person, but he eventually realized that's not who he wanted to be.

i think if you asked him he'd say his past self had to die. but in the moment, like zuko, he would reach out a hand. he's not cold-hearted - that's why he had to leave - and he might deep down have some compassion for his past self. caught in a horrible system, made to be a horrible person.

but zhao would reject him just like he rejected zuko, because he's not jeong jeong and he's not zuko. he'd rather die than touch a traitor. he'd rather die than show any ounce of vulnerability or regret. he's just not that deep.

...this was a really good ask thank you

[ao3feed-zukka]

Where you never knew youd go

Read now on Ao3 at https://ift.tt/NcuiQUW by LaniAhava Zukka set in Love and Monsters setting, where cold blooded animals mutated into giant monsters and the world entered its post-apocalyptic era. While Sokka watches over the young survivors, his sister Katara and their navigator Suki travel ahead to find another safe area. Just as Sokka laments a possible boring time with keeping the troublesome group alive: enter Zuko and Toph. Zuko was just passing through, only to end up being part of a group who cares despite the lack of blood connection. Sometimes you never where you’d go and its ok. Words: 3175, Chapters: 1/5, Language: English Fandoms: Avatar: The Last Airbender (Cartoon 2005) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: M/M Characters: Sokka (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Aang (Avatar), Moku (Avatar), Chong (Avatar), Lily (Avatar), Zhao (Avatar) Relationships: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Toph Beifong & Zuko Additional Tags: Getting Together, De-Aged Moku, De-Aged Chong, De-Aged Lily, fear of bugs, Sokka going through it, but he will be ok, Panic Attacks, Katara cameo, Suko cameo, Momo is a kitten, Appa is an alligator, Giant Cold-blooded animals, Monster Tamer, Hurt/Comfort, Alternative Universe - Love and Monsters fusion, Alternate Universe - Post-Apocalypse, Action/Adventure Read it on Ao3 at https://ift.tt/NcuiQUW

[evilwriter37]

Stench

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Rated: teen

Warnings: ptsd, panic attacks

Pairings: none

Word Count: 1,145

Summary: After his injury, Zuko is left with the smell of burning flesh.

A/N: Brilliant idea from @lashlamb13!

Read on ao3

He could smell it: the stench of burning meat. It was more than just unpleasant, was also a harsh reminder of what had been done to him. 

Firelord Ozai had taken half of his son’s face. He’d burned him, set him aflame. 

And Zuko could never forget.

Especially not while he could still smell his own burnt flesh. It wasn’t hard to smell it, given that the burn took up almost the entire left side of his face. The stench of it was directly in his nose. 

It took about two weeks for the smell to finally go away. At least, Zuko thought it had gone away. Maybe. There were times he could still smell it. 

It took him much too long to realize that he was now bothered by the smell of cooking meat. It didn’t matter that it was food, didn’t matter that it wasn’t his face. 

Because it smelled like it was. Even faintly. 

Zuko, for a long time after, refused to eat any meat for this reason. He was pressured by his crew as to why this was, but his uncle must have placated them with something, because eventually they stopped asking. 

He thought the smell didn’t bother him anymore, but he’d been struggling being in his family’s old vacation home on Ember Island. Memories came up, memories of times he’d thought were good, but really weren’t now that he was looking back at them years later.

His father…

He’d refused to go into the Firelord’s old bedchamber, but even just walking by it set him on edge, like his father was there and was going to make him suffer with his insidious words or his blows.

And so the smell of meat cooking bothered him again, given that now his scar and the way his father had hurt him was often on his mind.

He was trying his best to hide it, but, sitting around a campfire with his friends, he let his guard down.

That’s when it struck, when the stench of his burned flesh mingled with the smell of cooking meat. 

Zuko’s breath hitched, his heart beginning to race. He wasn’t feeling right: lightheaded, chest aching. The Gaang didn’t notice at first, as he was trying his absolute best to exude calm and composure. 

But eventually he felt like he couldn’t breathe, and he was doubling over, putting his head in his hands.

“Zuko?” He didn’t know whose voice that was. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and usually he would have thrown the hand off, but he let it stay. He let it stay, because for a brief moment, it had felt like his mother’s. 

“I… I…” He didn’t know how to speak. The world was spinning. 

He abruptly stood, now shaking off the comforting touch, and rushed to the nearest bush. He hated doing this right before dinner, but he found himself vomiting into the shrubbery, bent double, hands clutching his stomach.

The smell! The smell was everywhere! He couldn’t escape it. It was his own face!

Zuko sat on the ground by the bush, trying to breathe, trying to calm his roiling stomach. The Gaang had come over now.

“Zuko’s sick,” Toph said, as if that hadn’t been made obvious. It felt like she wanted to say more, but didn’t. He knew that, because of her earthbending, she could sense his fear, his panic. Saying he was sick was the simplest way to put it without revealing how he was feeling to the others. He was grateful to her for that.

“What’s wrong?” Aang asked. 

“Guys, give him a minute,” Toph said. “And maybe some space.”

And so the Gaang backed off, leaving Zuko sitting there, trying to catch his breath. Dinner was burning. His face was burning. The smell was rank and everywhere. 

“Is… Dinner… Anyone… Burning…” He couldn’t get out full sentences.

“Oh no!” Sokka ran to take the meat off the fire. Hopefully, without it there, the smell wouldn’t be as bad. 

“Zuko, I don’t think that matters right now,” Katara said. She shot Sokka a glare as he was worrying over their ruined dinner. Zuko didn’t mind though. 

“It does,” he said flatly. He drew in a deep breath through his mouth, so as to lessen the effect of the stench. It worked a little bit. “I’m okay.” 

He knew Toph knew that he was lying, but she luckily didn’t say anything. She knew it wasn’t her place to push him to talk if he didn’t want to. 

“Let me at least help you to your room,” Katara offered as Zuko began to rise. His legs were unsteady, and so he was grateful for her arm. 

The rest of the Gaang didn’t say anything as Katara led Zuko away and into the house. She didn’t say anything either, not until he was seated securely on his bed. Moonlight shone through the open window, the only light offered at the moment. 

“What was that?” Katara asked. 

Zuko turned his head so that the unblemished side of his face was showing. “Nothing.” 

“No, not nothing.” She sat on the bed beside him, very gently took his hand. Zuko, surprisingly, was alright with this. 

“The smell,” he started. “It… For the longest time, after I was wounded, all I could smell was my own face burning.” He didn’t look at her, but he squeezed her hand. “I stopped eating meat for a while because I couldn’t stand the smell of it.”

“Why was it triggered tonight?” Katara didn’t sound shocked or horrified, though that’s what she probably was.

The old Zuko would have gotten angry at all these questions, but instead he just felt tired. 

“It’s this place,” he finally said. “This house. Every time I walk past my father’s bedchamber I expect him to be there.”

Katara said nothing. He hadn’t told his friends that it was his father who had burned him, but he was sure they knew, or had an inkling of it. He had practically admitted it to Katara just now. 

“I’m sorry,” she said. “This must be really hard for you.”

He pulled his hand away. 

“Yeah.” 

With a sigh, Katara rose. “Do you need anything?” 

Zuko shook his head. 

Katara just nodded, and made to leave.

“Katara?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.” He wasn’t used to thanking people, but it was needed here. Her presence had calmed him immensely. 

Katara just dipped her head in acknowledgement, and then was leaving the room. 

Zuko lay flat on his bed, hands above his head. His chest still hurt a little, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his face. Though it was a scar and had been for a long time, it could still hurt. 

Even so far away from the cooking fire, even with his face completely healed, all Zuko could smell was the stench of burning flesh.

[juniperhillpatient]

The Serpent's Pass Re-watch

Ooh, I love this episode so much - the return of Jet & Suki, two characters with criminally low amounts of screen time! Also, I'll admit I'm a sucker for storylines about hope & what it means to regain it during a dark time in the characters' journeys. Call me corny, but I love it. The baby being named "Hope" in the end gets me every time.

Seeing Katara have fun at the start of this episode is so endearing. I love her water-bending bomb. I do wish that the Gaang could've taken a moment to thank Katara or acknowledge how brave she was in the last episode because she was kinda treated like crap despite being the hero & now everything is back to normal.

Suki popping up & pretending to harass Sokka as a guard is so cute. I love their dynamic in this episode & I love the complex layer added by Yue. I've been waiting for my favorite moon girl to haunt the narrative a little more & here she is. I'm obsessed with this shot.

'The Swamp' hinted that Sokka was struggling with guilt over Yue's death & I'm so glad that they went somewhere with that arc for Sokka in this episode. Sokka was tasked with protecting Yue & even though she chose to sacrifice herself, that's going to weigh heavy on Sokka. I loved that in the end, it was the knowledge that Suki had come along to protect him that allowed Sokka to move past his fear of getting close & his obsession with protecting Suki from harm & kiss her.

Suki is a character that I've always said I love on the surface, but I wish the writers had dived just a little deeper. She's a warrior, but she's also a girl. We see in this episode the way she teases Sokka & the entire dynamic between them that she's brave but she's also goofy. She's also vulnerable & deeply understanding & forgiving (a lot of people would have been more hurt by Sokka's brief rejection.) There's a layer of complexity to Suki that is scratched in episodes like this but she's simply not given enough screen time or background which is a shame. Oh well, I really enjoyed her in this episode. +1000 iconic behavior points for rescuing Toph & +100 to Suki & Sokka each for their goodbye kiss. (Sidenote - why isn't Suki/Toph a more popular ship after that accidental kiss?)

Katara & Aang's arc in this episode is great. It's funny I keep saying how much I love their dynamic & what they mean to each other because I think that most of my mutuals & followers know I dislike them as a romantic pairing. But, this re-watch is reminding me how much I love their friendship (the first time I watched, I never even knew they were meant to be a serious romantic pairing until toward the end of the show, I thought it was just a fleeting crush from Aang.) I shouldn't have let parts of the fandom / the comics ruin that for me for a bit, & I'll try not to from now on & instead just focus on what I like in the actual show. Aang feeling hopeless because of Appa's loss is just.... heartbreaking. This line especially got to me: "Hope is not going to get us into Ba Sing Se and it's not going to help find Appa. We need to focus on what we're doing right now and that's getting across this path." It's a reflection of Aang's character development, in my opinion, that he is continuing to try to be strong. This isn't the same goofy kid from Book 1, he's grown & accepted his responsibility as the Avatar, & he's trying so hard to be strong despite his own inner hurt. And for Katara, someone who believes so strongly in hope, to have to hear that...ouch. We saw it last episode & we see it again in this episode, Katara is completely motivated by hope & idealism against all odds. She can't just focus on the moment, she has to believe in a better future. So, of course, it's her, in the end, who brings that hope back to Aang. Also, +1000 Iconic Behavior Points for delivering a baby at 14 years old. She is now in the lead, even surpassing Azula.

Jet is back!!! And he's on his own journey to redemption. I gotta say, I feel like Sokka & Suki's scenes & Jet & Zuko's scenes kept happening back to back & like these two duos were sort of the a plot b plot romances of the episode, like I'm just saying -

I'm going to play devil's advocate & say that Iroh joking about being a tourist wasn't quite the dick move many fans say it is. I don't think Iroh actually thinks of himself as a tourist, I feel like he was just trying to cheer Zuko up because Zuko was feeling so upset about the idea of being a refugee. Which - I mean, understandable. Zuzu is used to being a pampered prince, of course, he's freaking out about eating grubby food but there's more to it too. He's being hunted by his own nation - his own sister. On his father's orders.

Then along comes Jet, & Zuko has his bisexual awakening & decides to help "liberate some food." Be gay do crime anyone? +1000 iconic behavior points each. Genuinely though, this episode gives us yet another look at Jet's more heroic traits. Even in Jet's titular episode where is an antagonist, we see a traumatized kid who is trying to take care of other traumatized kids, whether he goes about it the right way or not. Now we see that Jet still considers himself an outcast, & cares deeply about looking after other outcasts & victimized people - just now without quite such violent methods. What changed though? I would love to know more about what Jet & the Freedom Fighters were up to during the time between Book 1 & this episode. Jet seems to deeply regret his past -

Jet: I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of, but that's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se: for a new beginning. A second chance.

Iroh: That's very noble of you. I believe people can change their lives if they want to. I believe in second chances.

Jet & Zuko's journeys parallel each other so strongly. They meet while they're both questioning everything & feeling lost & uncertain, both heading to Ba Sing Se because they hope for a better future - & "hope" as a theme makes itself known again! This episode hurts more upon re-watch because I know that Jet won't actually get to experience the hope for a better future or second chance that the narrative is hinting is possible. Also, I want to throw in that I think it's heavily hinted that Katara's anger was the catalyst for Jet's change of heart about his methods. What happened after the Gaang left? I guess the villagers now know that Jet & the Freedom Fighters were planning on flooding them out...Maybe Jet was confronted by some of the people that he planned to hurt, & he was forced to face his own intentions & consider why they were wrong?

Jet: You know, as soon as I saw your scar, I knew exactly who you were. You're an outcast, like me. And us outcasts have to stick together. We have to watch each other's backs. Because no one else will.

Zuko: I've realized lately that being on your own isn't always the best path.

I'm supposed to just move on with my life after this scene?

Also, sorry but - "In case you haven't noticed, I'm weird. I'm a weirdo. I don't fit in & I don't want to fit in. Have you ever seen me without this stupid wheat in my mouth? That's weird."

Legitimately though, the way that they set up Jet & Zuko as both on a similar path to redemption & the potential for Jet to face the idea that the Fire Nation prince isn't so different from him after all & that they work well together & for Zuko to bond with one of the people his country believes should be wiped out & crushed & to see himself in this other broken kid....I'm so normal & fine about them it's great 🙂

This is a great episode, possibly my favorite non-Azula Book 2 episode thus far. I loved the Sokka/Suki & Jet/Zuko scenes, I found Toph & her moment with Suki funny & cute, I loved Katara's perseverance & hope against all odds, & I loved Aang regaining his hope in the end - followed, of course, by a scary cliffhanger with the appearance of the drill!

[enchantedquill-40]

Part 4

Zuko sat beside Sokka, his expression a mix of concern and understanding. Sokka, having just awakened from a particularly distressing nightmare, took a moment to catch his breath. The aftermath of the dream clung to him, the pain and fear still vivid in his eyes.

"It was big, and it hurt so bad. Like my body was being torn apart," Sokka whispered, his voice carrying the weight of the night terror that gripped him.

Zuko's gaze softened, recognizing the vulnerability in Sokka's admission. "You don't have to go through this alone, Sokka. If you want to talk about it, I'm here."

Sokka hesitated, the remnants of the nightmare lingering in his mind. "They did it over and over again."

Zuko's jaw tightened at the revelation, the anger simmering within him tempered by a determination to provide support. "You don't have to recount the details if you're not comfortable. But know that we're here for you, whatever you need."

Sokka took a deep breath, the weight of the nightmares and memories pressing down on him. "I never thought I'd feel so helpless. It's like they took everything away from me."

Zuko listened attentively, his presence offering a silent assurance. "Sokka, what happened to you was beyond your control. It doesn't define you, and it certainly doesn't diminish your strength."

Sokka ran a hand through his disheveled hair, a sense of frustration evident in his eyes. "I know that logically, but the nightmares… they make me doubt everything."

Zuko placed a comforting hand on Sokka's shoulder, mindful of his friend's sensitivity to touch. "You're not alone in this, Sokka. We'll help you navigate through the nightmares and the doubts. You're stronger than you realize."

In the days that followed, Zuko and the group rallied around Sokka, providing unwavering support as he confronted the shadows that haunted his dreams. The nights were challenging, marked by moments of vulnerability and shared reassurances. Zuko, understanding the importance of patience and compassion, remained a constant presence by Sokka's side.

One evening, as the group settled around the campfire, Sokka took a deep breath, a resolve building within him. "I don't want to keep facing these nightmares alone. It's time I let you all in."

Aang, Katara, Toph, and Zuko exchanged glances, acknowledging the significance of Sokka's decision. The warrior, often the pillar of strength, was choosing to share his burden with those he trusted.

As Sokka began to describe the nightmares, the group listened attentively. Each word he spoke unveiled a piece of the pain he carried, and with every admission, a collective understanding emerged. The nightmares were an echo of the trauma Sokka had endured, a relentless reminder of the scars that lingered within.

"I feel so exposed, so vulnerable," Sokka confessed, his voice raw but determined. "But I can't keep letting it control me."

Katara, her own experiences with healing guiding her empathy, spoke up. "Sokka, facing these nightmares is a courageous step. You're not alone, and we're here to support you every step of the way."

As the group shared stories of resilience and recovery, Sokka found strength in the collective bond they had formed. Zuko, in particular, became a steadfast ally, offering a silent promise to stand by Sokka's side through the darkest nights.

One night, as the group settled into their sleeping arrangements, Zuko heard a rustle from Sokka's tent. Concerned, he approached quietly and found Sokka, his expression pained, grappling with the remnants of another haunting dream.

"Sokka, you don't have to face this alone," Zuko whispered, offering a supportive presence.

Sokka, his guard momentarily down, met Zuko's gaze. "It was so vivid this time. I could feel everything, the pain, the helplessness."

Zuko sat down beside Sokka, a shared understanding passing between them. "You're not alone, Sokka. We're here for you."

As the night wore on, Zuko stayed by Sokka's side, offering silent companionship. When the nightmares threatened to overwhelm, Zuko's presence became an anchor, a reminder that Sokka was not navigating the darkness alone.

Over time, with the group's collective support and Zuko's unwavering presence, Sokka's nightmares began to lose their grip. The warrior, once haunted by the ghosts of his past, found solace in the shared warmth of the campfire and the camaraderie that surrounded him.

Zuko, witnessing Sokka's gradual transformation, felt a sense of fulfillment in being part of his friend's journey toward healing. The unspoken pact they had formed – to face the shadows together – became a testament to the strength found not only in battling external foes but also in confronting the inner demons that threatened to unravel even the bravest of warriors.

[prying-pandora666]

Only because you asked anon, and you’re so sharp I fear you’ll puncture the hull of my blog!

Azula: Chieftain, I demand you sign this bill I wrote which requests reparations from the Fire Nation for harms done to your people!

Hakoda: Azula… this is very well written but you’re asking for a lot. Won’t the Fire Lord be offended?

Azula: Of course not! It’s my brother! He’s the same blend of guilt-ridden and well-intentioned that he’s ever been! Really, he should thank me for the opportunity!

Hakoda: I’ll… go ahead and sign this then.

Azula: …

Hakoda: …

Azula: … I did it ALL out of the generosity of my heart and for No. Other. Reason.

Hakoda: Oh! Job well done, Azula. I’m proud of you.

Azula: *happy sighs*

—

Azula: *dressed as a Kyoshi Warrior* Shut up! You’re going to give us away!

Sokka: *also dressed as a Kyoshi Warrior* You literally threatened a guy just for complimenting my figure!

Azula: FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS BE HARRASSED!

Sokka: YOU’RE JUST JEALOUS THAT I GOT THE COMPLI—wait, we’re friends?

Actual Kyoshi Warrior: Are you two playing dress-up and sneaking around our village again?

Sokka: You see? You should’ve let me do your eyeliner. Your make-up skills give us away every time.

Azula: YOU. ARE. A. MAN.

Sokka: A man… with perfect eyeliner!

—

Toph: Playing beach games against the boys is never fun! I can barely see in sand and they cheat!

Katara: They don’t cheat. They just have Aang.

Toph: PFFT! Whatever, I can take Aang! He’s a softie! It’s Sokka that’s the problem!

Katara: His strategies do give them an edge that’s hard to predict…

Toph: …….. I just had an idea. You won’t like it, but we’ll be unstoppable.

Azula, sunbathing on her own: What do you two want?

Toph: STOP SITTING HERE LIKE A RETIRED OLD LADY AND HELP US BEAT THE BOYS!

Azula: What, in a game? No thanks. I don’t engage in childish competitions anymore. I’m a good person now.

Toph: Not even to beat Zuko?

Azula: Oh please. We’ve put that petty rivalry behind us and anyway I’m obviously the winner.

Katara: *under her breath* My-brother’s-smarter-than-you.

Azula: !!!

Toph: Uh oh.

Azula: OH IS HE!? THEN TIME TO BRING THOSE BOYS IN FOR RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT!

Toph: …?

Katara: …?

Azula: Y-you know. Because they think their wit is so sharp?

Katara/Toph: Ohhhhh…

Toph: I don’t get it.

The boys never won a match again.

—

Zuko: Azula?

Azula: Yes?

Zuko: How do you know if a girl likes you or is just being nice?

Azula: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Zuko, later: Anyway, she must’ve laughed for like an hour. She nearly passed out, actually.

Sokka: That’s rough, buddy.

Aang: But did she ever give you an answer?

Zuko: Yes. Eventually.

Aang/Sokka: What did she say!?

Zuko: You can’t.

Aang/Sokka: Awwww!

Sokka: I was SO sure that would work!

Aang: On the bright side, she gave us an honest answer? So she must be starting to care about us. At least a little.

Sokka: Either that or she was just being “a good person”.

Aang: Good point. How can we tell which one it is?

Zuko: …. We can’t.

—

Sokka: Okay Azula! I’m calling a truce! I hate you and you hate me—

Azula: I don’t hate you.

Sokka: No, no, don’t start—wait you don’t?

Azula: Of course not! I didn’t even hate you during the war when we were trying to kill each other. You were just doing your duty.

Sokka: Oh… I… did not know that.

Azula: You… hate me? As a person?

Sokka: Hate is a strong word—

Azula: And an accurate one, apparently. Excuse me. I wouldn’t want to darken your day with my presence. *leaves* Sokka: Wow. I feel like a bad person. Was she about to cry!? Gaaaah! Way to go, Sokka! So stupid!

A month later…

Azula, drinking tea: Anyway, then I burst into tears and ran away! Haha!

Ty Lee: Wow Azula! Pretty devious of you! I totally believed your feelings were really hurt!

Azula: I was devastated! Cried for a week. More tea, anyone?

Mai: So you’re just going to pretend nothing is wrong?

Azula: Of course!

Ty Lee: Oh… but why?

Sokka, from outside: AZULA! I’M SORRY! Look I hunted and cooked a whole leopard moose for you AND made you another coat with its pelt! It’s my best one yet! Pleeeeease will you talk to me again!? No one else will play “Infiltrate Kyoshi Village” with me!

Mai: She has no idea how to respond to that.

Ty Lee: Oh!

—

Toph: You ever feel like the world is a mess and you just want to take it in your hands and SHAKE IT until it does what you say and BEHAVES!?

Azula: … are you seriously asking me this right now?

Toph: Sorry. I’m used to having these talks with Katara.

Azula: Oh she’s no fun!

Toph: THAT’S WHAT I’M SAYIN’!

Azula: Want to sneak into Zuzu’s vault and rearrange all his ceremonial crowns and robes just sliiiiightly so he thinks the pressure’s getting to him and he’s going insane?

Toph: OOH! Maybe he’ll argue with a painting of Iroh like last time! That was GREAT! If he does, you have to describe it to me again!

Azula: In meticulous detail.

—

Zuko: You and Toph rearranged all my stuff again so I’d think I was going insane, didn’t you?

Azula: Slanderous allegations! You have no proof.

Zuko: You left a note mocking me and explaining what was done.

Azula: Someone left a note mocking you and explaining what was done.

Zuko: You signed it!

Azula: *shrugs* You got me. I didn’t want you getting stressed again, but I didn’t want to ruin Toph’s fun. She can’t read the note, so I left it for you.

Zuko: Oh… That… is actually really thoughtful.

Azula: Why are you surprised?

Azula, smug: I’m a good person now!

Zuko, at the same time, dead inside: You’re a good person now…

Zuko: How could I forget?

(Want more? Check out @book4air)

Okay but people are seriously sleeping on the comedy potential for a redeemed Azula.

She canonically likes making jokes and has a wicked sharp wit. She’s also as charismatic as she is socially awkward. Just imagine the possibilities!

——

Katara: Azula, did you stew and eat the reindeer meat my dad was saving!?

Azula: Don’t be ridiculous. I’m a good person now.

Katara: …

Azula: …

Katara: …

Azula: I seared it. I’m not a monster.

——

Sokka: Hey, Azula! Wanna join us in a snow fight?

Azula: Didn’t you learn from the invasion, peasant?

*Proceeds to absolutely DESTROY Sokka’s team by perfectly commanding an army of small children.*

Azula: HAHAHA! I’VE DEFEATED YOU FOR ALL TIME! YOU WILL NEVER RISE FROM THE COLD STING OF HUMILIATION!

Suki: Why do you keep inviting her to play?

Sokka: Honestly? Improves my tactical skills to watch a master.

Azula: TAKE THE PRISONERS TO DINNER! THEY’RE BUYING!

——

Aang: Oh hey, Azula! You’re up early. Would you like to join us for morning meditation and vegetarian dumplings?

Azula: I’d rather die.

Zuko: Azula! That’s rude!

Azula: You’re right. I apologize. I’m a good person now. *ahem* Aang, if you don’t eat some meat, YOU are going to die.

Sokka: FINALLY! SOMEONE SAYS IT!

——

Toph: Boy it sure is awkward around here since Azula joined!

*no one says anything*

Toph: Anyone got any embarrassing stories about baby Zuko?

Azula: DO I!?

Zuko: Why do you hate me, Toph?

——

Zuko: I love you. You know that, don’t you?

Azula: Haha! You love me! You’re stupid!

Aang: We all love you, Azula.

Azula: … *trying not to cry*

Katara: Azula? You okay?

Azula: YOU’RE ALL STUPID!

Sokka: I think I sense a group hug coming on. Toph?

Toph: *cracks knuckles* I’ll hold her down.

[koiotic]

Fuck it, posting the glass eye fic I’ve been sitting on for a few months

•••

Katara didn’t trust Zuko as far as she could throw him, and based on past experiences, she couldn’t throw him very far without waterbending. Not that she’d hesitate to waterbend at him if he tried anything- and at this point, she was just waiting for him to slip up.

Which was why she was immediately ready to water whip him off the side of the temple when she heard Sokka’s terrified shriek. Okay, so maybe she didn’t exactly have proof he’d done anything, or even that he was anywhere near Sokka, but she ran towards the noise, water pouch at the ready, planning the best way to toss him out a window anyway-

And it was Zuko! She let herself have the vindication for a moment. Just a moment. Then asked “Sokka, what did you do?”

Look, she hated Zuko’s guts, but he didn’t look like he was actively hurting anyone right now, staring at Sokka in shock and clutching his face (the scarred side, she noted).

For good measure, she repeated the question at Zuko, because Sokka had screamed and he didn’t usually do that for no reason.

“I was just getting dressed!” Zuko protested, halfway between confused and afraid. “And he just came in and started screaming!”

Sokka made a strangled noise and gestured emphatically at Zuko, which cleared up absolutely nothing. “He- he- his- I-“

“Sokka!” She snapped. “What happened?”

Zuko lowered his hand a little and Sokka let out another half yelp. The firebender glared, then winced a little, still not uncovering his face.

“Wait, Sokka, did you hit him?”

Katara was a responsible person, who disapproved of hitting people on principle. She was not frowning at Sokka because she was jealous.

“No!” Sokka managed to get out. “Zuko- he- his eye fell out!”

Oh.

“Sokka...” she sighed. “Are you high again?”

“Wait-“ Zuko cut in, looking a little less confused (Katara would be angry with him for interrupting later, when she was less desperately perplexed). “You were freaking out because I took my eye out?”

“You... you what?” Katara was now matching Sokka’s confused horror. “You took your what out?”

Zuko lowered his hands, and yep, one eye. One eye and one not-eye, because Zuko only had one eye, and an empty eye socket, because what in Tui’s name was-

“What the fuck-“ She wasn’t sure if that was her or Sokka.

One - one - creepy gold eye blinked at them. “It’s a glass eye,” Zuko said slowly. “I kinda have to take it out sometimes.”

That explained everything and nothing at all. “It’s a what?” Sokka demanded.

“Glass eye,” Zuko said, then waved something small and eye-shaped in their general direction. He looked slightly more annoyed than usual, and then it struck Katara that someone screaming when they saw your face probably didn’t do wonders for self-esteem. “An eye. Made of glass.”

Sokka looked outright terrified. “But... how did your eye turn into glass? That happens? Do I have to worry about that?”

Katara did not slam her head into the wall, showing incredible self restraint. “Sokka, you idiot!” she groaned.

He grabbed her by the shoulders, eyes wide. “Katara, why didn’t you tell me this could happen?!”

As a healer, she had a duty to tell him he was being an absolute idiot and that it was clearly a prosthetic.

As a little sister, she had a duty to fuck with him, and that was a far more sacred duty.

“I’m sorry, Sokka,” she managed to sigh. “I didn’t want you to worry, with all the stuff you do that- no, don’t worry. It’s not so bad.”

“What?” His voice was strangled in fear. “Katara, what? Katara what am I doing?! How do I stop it?! Katara?!”

She’d almost forgotten about Zuko until he very sadly said “why do you think Aang doesn’t eat meat? The Avatar needs two eyes, and if one falls out, it could cause problems.”

She did not like Zuko at all, but right then, she loved him.

Ten minutes later, Sokka had sworn off meat, and then the other contributing factors to eyes spontaneously turning into glass and falling out: sarcasm, boomerangs and being an annoying big brother.

“He knows we’re joking, right?” Zuko asked cautiously after Sokka sprinted out to apologise to the spirits for making fun of waterbending.

“Eh, he’ll figure it out.”

———

“So,” Toph said as they settled down for dinner - with Sokka being late for a meal for the first time in his life, “why is Snoozles throwing seal jerky into the canyon?”

“I have a glass eye,” Zuko explained.

The earthbender nodded sagely. “Yeah, makes sense.”

Aang was slowly looking between the three of them like it would make any of this any more sensical. “Uh... what?”

“Long story,” Katara sighed.

Her brother strode up to the campfire with his usual level of theatre, then remembered that being dramatic was also a risk factor and very calmly and slowly sat down. “I think I’m safe.”

“What about your hair?” Zuko asked, completely blank faced.

“... please tell me this isn’t why you had the bald ponytail.”

“You think I did that willingly? No, I needed at least one eye working.”

Sokka sprinted into the temple.

“You’re not actually going to let him shave his hair, are you?” Zuko asked, looking mildly concerned.

Okay, this was perfect and Katara would remember it lovingly for the rest of her life, but even her natural little sister sadism wouldn’t stretch that far. “Toph, please bring him back here.”

———

“Toph, let me out of the rock! I need my eyes!”

———

“Wait... what?”

———

“What do you mean it’s not a medical condition?!”

———

“What do you mean it’s a prosthetic!?!”

———

“YOU LET ME THROW THE SEAL JERKY AWAY!”

———

“Okay,” Sokka said calmly, two hours and a lot of yelling later. “That was a very cruel prank and I’m never forgiving any of you.”

“Shut up, Snoozles,” Toph scoffed.“There are more important things than your dignity. For example,” she turned to Zuko with a huge grin, “can I touch it?”

“It’s been in his head!” Sokka screeched. Apparently the dramatics were back on. “It has head goo on it!”

Katara frowned. “Sokka, how do you think bodies work?”

“Please?” Toph begged, giving very impressive polar-puppy-dog eyes for someone who couldn’t see. “No one ever lets me touch their real eyes.”

“Because you’re a menace,” Katara scoffed.

“Please, Sparky?”

“Ugh, fine,” Zuko sighed. “Give me a second.”

It occurred to everyone a moment too late that, oh yeah, if anyone was going to spontaneously invent glassbending, it would be Toph.

[innocentimouto]

Katara and Zuko’s scene in BSS

I don’t like it. I want to be clear in that because I don’t want to offend anyone who might find this. If you love this scene and would hate to read someone, um, destroying it, please ignore this. Though this is more my hate to how it was written, but that is inevitably connected to being critical of Zuko because. Well.

Why does Katara even apologize to Zuko? Somehow his emotions become the center focus when if he really changed, he should be making the effort to reach out, not the other way around.

She apologizes for yelling at him.

‘Well it’s hurtful.’

You know what else is hurtful?

Toph getting in Aang’s face and telling him how pathetic he is in “Bitter Work”. Very few people give her any flack for that. In that episode, none of the characters think she needs to apologize. But it’s justified to help Aang?

There were other ways to teach him. She could have still been dismissive and mocking and been much less hurtful than that. I’m still confused on why Aang didn’t tear up there like when Katara snapped at him in Book 1.

And Katara had every right to be angry. Zuko invaded her home, destroyed it, threatened her grandmother, women, and children, her brother, Aang, etc. 

So she apologizes for shouting, but he can’t apologize for threatening her grandmother? For burning down Suki’s village which definitely hurt people, if not killed? For supporting the FN and that he was wrong and he’s sorry? I’m sorry, there is something very biased here.

What Zuko did to Katara and her people was horrible and I genuinely can’t watch that episode without tearing up or going cold.

Just. The writers rushing to make sure she apologizes. Just imagine them clutching their hearts because no, she can’t be mean to Zuko. Her popularity will drop! Her popularity---

Maybe you should have focused more on fleshing out the victims of the war than the literal colonizers----

Then it’s written off as she hates Zuko and that’s wrong. Zuko isn’t innocent in the war. She doesn’t hate him because he’s FN. She didn’t hate Jeong Jeong. She hates Zuko for supporting the Fire Nation throughout all their interactions. It’s not that she hates him because of his race. He personally did harm. The way it’s portrayed as wrong or ignorant never sat well with me.

(They made her bring up Ozai just to increase sympathy for Zuko. She never mentioned the Fire Lord before.)

Anyway, Katara hears him talk about what’s going on in his head, and then offers to use very special healing water on his scar. Immediately she offers him a solution, an actual way to deal with his problems, and a few minutes ago they were enemies.

She also conveniently didn’t mention: You know, that place where you stole Aang from? Where you taunted and looked down on me? Where you nearly killed Aang accidentally? Where you reduced the odds of us stopping the NWT from being conquered by taking the Avatar? Where, because of you, Zhao was able to reach the Spirit Oasis before us and the waterbenders lost their bending which would presumably end with many dead? And because of that, I lost my bending? And because of that, Yue died? And because of that, my brother lost someone he loved? And because of that a father lost his daughter? That place.

When did she ever show hatred for Zuko before this? She says he’s the face of the enemy, but we get no fear or hatred before this. We get hatred after this, which seems entirely because of his “betrayal” and not for his actions against her family and her friends.

Sokka mentions Yue and doesn’t even blame Zuko for it. And they still hadn’t learned Zuko wasn’t working with Zhao. How---

They also act like her saying her mother was killed by the FN is a revelation or something. Excuse you, atla writers. You couldn’t even bother giving her different lines, let alone a flashback until then! And then you have her saying that to Zuko, whom the writers went over and above to show how much he regretted leaving Iroh in Book 3, in so many different ways. And showed his trauma and reasons for doing what he did throughout Book 1 and 2.

So even to me, who loves Katara, I almost want to roll my eyes when she brings it up in BSS. Because it’s so lazy. Bring that up organically. Why didn’t she say 

your people took away all the waterbenders. Do you know how that feels? To lose that many people and to lose bending? To always be afraid it will happen again? Your people were so heartless and obsessed with destruction that you raided us again and again and would kill and destroy anything. 

Your people wanted to do that to me! And my mother sacrificed herself for me!

We never did anything to your people. We were innocent. Mom was innocent! I didn’t understand why. The parents of the benders your people would kill didn’t understand why. The kids who were orphaned didn’t understand why. But we learned. Because we had to. Because your people forced us to.

The Fire Nation are monsters. They never stop. They’ll kill because they can. And they’ll burn because they can. It doesn’t matter if the people they attack are unarmed, or children, or innocent, or not involved in the war.

And you’re just like them. You did the same thing. You were going to kill us when we were innocent. You were going to kill us for doing nothing wrong. You were going to do the exact same thing until Aang sacrificed himself for us. 

You’re no different from them.