#i live for awkward!zutara

[artkaolinite91]

(9/366) Zutara- the scarf scene

Yeaaah... I was like audibly "AaaaaaaaAaaaaaaaa" and screaming inside "ZUTARA CRUMBS !!" OTL in front of my TV when this scene appeared!! Hahahaha

It was fun experience... XD

(my family saw me...I know they judge me but anyway....😂😂)

I was glad they add a bit of Zuko and Katara interaction other than battle (the dialogue during the final battle in NP pretty funny too...tho unfortunately no that legendary lines of sun and moon 🫠)

!!!!Please do not repost/use/edit/ my artworks!!!!

please support me via Koffie if you like my arts~ thanks

more review...

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I think episode 3 was my favorite because there's a lot of Jet and Live Action Jet is so HANDSOME.. (he looks like One Piece Ace (in my imagination at least). At the beginning I thought he was the shorthaired Haru.. but apparently no Haru at all 🫠

Anyway..this zutara art is one of my first art that released in Tumblr first.. xD

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I really want to draw Jet, Hahn and Suki now... although I don't really like Suki liveaction potrayal because she's more awkward hahaha (I missed confident and sassy Suki)

So.. have you watched the liveaction? What do you think?

[asongofstarkandtargaryen]

I think the funniest thing to accuse Zutara fans is that we are all projecting into Katara bc we want to date "bad boy" Zuko.

Setting aside for a minute the gross implication that all zutara shippers are into men,

calling zuko "bad boy"??? That's hilarious. He's an awkward boy! He practices his making friends speeches on frogs and impersonates his uncle and has a diary with drawings ( in live action version). He's the most awkward boy who ever lived.

[rifari2037]

Here we go again!! Okay, let me breath first!! 😮‍💨😮‍💨

Zuko was 16 years old, Katara was 14 years old. So, their age gap was only 2 years!

2 YEARS!!!

It wasn't like Zuko was a grown man, while Katara was a little girl.

They were both teenagers!!!

A teenage girl having a crush on a teenage boy with 2 years age gap and vice versa was normal.

Aang was 12 years old boy, had a crush on 14 years old Katara. What was their age gap? 2 YEARS!! So, when Katara was 16 years old, Aang was still 14 years old.

Jet was 16 years old, had a relationship with 14 years old Katara, yet no one talked about their age gap! What was their age gap again? 2 YEARS!!

It's not wrong but it doesn't feel right!

Even Anon said it's not wrong! But it doesn't feel right, because Anon just making things up to bashing Zutara!! Who cares if the arguments don't make any sense?

Katara literally bully Zuko, that's why we should ship Zukka??

That's called relationship development, Honey!

To show that two characters are well written, their interactions must have a reason and make sense. More importantly, there should be no holes/jumps (how to say that? I don't know the right word) in their development so it doesn't feel rushed or forced.

Anon said Zutara was the worst ship, but actually Zuko and Katara were well written because they act as they should!

Zuko and Katara were enemies and they act like enemies.

Katara and Zuko still enemies when they met in Crystal Catacomb, but then they tried to understand each other. They weren't friends yet when Zuko betrayed her.

Katara got mad and bullied him!

That's make sense!! I mean, what should Katara do after someone betrayed her? Hug him???

Actually, these scenes showed that Katara could vent her anger too, she could demand someone to understand her feeling, and not always her who understand others like she always did.

And what Zuko did? Yes, he made it up to her!! He understand what she needed and accompany her to facing her trauma without told her what she should or shouldn't do (except told her to get some rest).

Then Katara, by her own choice forgive him and they become partners/friends who can complement each other.

They even saved each other lives!!

What made them the worst ship after their relationship development written with this coherent storyline? No rushed, no forced. They were enemies to friends (and to lovers 😂) after all, of course they had conflicts like a great war.

And it was way way way better than, lets say...

Two characters fought in one episode, then they separated in a few episodes later, and they kissed in the end of the story without resolving their problem, even without any conversation at all.

Or like one character left their lover in jail, forgot about her for a few episodes, didn't even remember to release her out of the prison, and then they met again like nothing happened and kiss.

Those are examples of rushed and forced storylines.

Wait, those storylines sound familiar?? 🤔🤔

And what make Zukka better than Zutara, though? Why should I ship them?? Zukka were just crack ship and didn't even have relationship development!!

Or maybe because of this??

But, really? Because Zutara had more than that!

Or this??

Well, first of all, Sokka was going on a date with Suki. And second of all, don't forget their conversation after that!!

Sokka : So what's on your mind? Zuko : Your sister. She hates me! And I don't know why, but I do care what she thinks of me.

Or, maybe because they were so awkward toward each other that make them cute?

But it seems like these two teenagers were more awkward when they couldn't get rid of boyfriend-girlfriend allegations. Oh, wait, do I see a blush on their cheeks? I wonder why.

Well, what else?? Because I can't think of another scene in the show that makes Zukka a better ship than Zutara.

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

In my opinion, one of the worst patterns of the Zutarian fandom is how much they refuse to believe Katara is happy and thriving in her post-canon role. No, she must be neglected, depressed, misunderstood, disempowered until the great Firelord Zuko saves her.

Her relationship with Aang, canonically her best friend? Where they protected each other, laughed and had fun, stood side by side as they faced overwhelming challenges together? Nope, all lies. Aang never understood the real Katara, always neglected her, and she was forced to sacrifice all her dreams and hopes as his love interest.

Her relationship with Sokka , Aang or Toph? Long-suffering Momtara who always did unasked emotional labour that was never reciprocated. They never understood her trauma, pain, or rage; she could never be herself around them.

Especially Aang who she mothered and spoilt; apparently he was a 3-year-old toddler she was forced to take care of against her will.

(even though in literally the 1st episode, Aang sacrifices himself just like Kya did to protect her, and promises to help her achieve her dreams of being a master waterbender.)

Rebuilding the South Pole with Hakoda and her fellow Water Tribe members? She feels trapped and stifled in her role, nobody takes her seriously because she's a woman with opinions.

Then there are the fics where she marries Zuko out of self-sacrificial duty to her tribe.

The fics where she's captured by Zuko as a pawn of war and eventually falls in love with him because he's so brave and honourable.

The fics where she and Zuko start a relationship and Aang is so jealous he stops talking to his canon best friends forever. Toph and Sokka don't care because they never cared about Aang, they were rooting for Zutara from the beginning.

The fics where all her friends and family are so horrified by bloodbending and her dark thoughts that she runs into Zuko's arms where she finally feels understood.

It's so utterly degrading. Why do they hate her so much? Why do they refuse to believe she's happy post-canon? That the only way Katara would ever fall in love with Zuko is because he saves her from a life of utter despair?

WHERE are the fics where Chief Katara of SWT and world diplomat is happy and thriving? And in a decades-long situationship with Zuko because the sex and companionship is good but ew she would never abandon the SWT? And she and Avatar Aang are besties and trade embarrassing stories about Zuko every time he comes to visit?

WHERE are the fics where Kataang break up but remain chill best friends? And Zuko writes Aang 1,000 letters for advice on how to approach Katara because he's an awkward dork? Because Aang is Zuko's best friend as well and a charismatic mf'er who canonically charms people wherever he goes?

WHERE are the fics where Katara feels miserable and trapped in the FN because everyone thinks she's a savage barbarian and she's forced to assimilate in an alien culture? And Mai , Ty Lee, and Azula intimately understand how much pressure she's under; and support her as she decides to leave and travel the world on her own terms?

WHERE are the fics where Zuko and Katara are overwhelmed with their responsibilities and make a wrong decision that ruins people's lives; because they can be stubborn, self-righteous, and quick to anger? And Aang's wisdom, Sokka's pragmatism, and Toph's craftiness bail them out?

I could go on and on. There are so many cool possibilities! Especially since apparenly ONLY Zutarians care about the Real Katara and Zutara is feminist and empowering, and every girl's dream.

But instead, we have this. Cinderella Katara who is rescued from her life of drudgery by the rich, gentle, and kind Zuko Marx. Whisked away to live a FN palace where she'll never be sad again.

Gross.

It also doesn't make their ship look as good as they think it does, since it kind of implies that Katara would only ever have feelings for Zuko if EVERYONE ELSE ON THE PLANET was terrible to her. Zuko might as well be the last man on Earth in these scenarios. This isn't Katara finding her soulmate, this is Katara settling.

If someone only pursues a relationship with you because they believe you're literally the ONLY option left and that they are basically stuck with you anyway so why fight it, instead of because they genuinely like you for who you are, that is going to be a MISERABLE relationship.

[yourhighness6]

What is your favorite Zutara headcanon?

I hope you have an amazing day! ^.^

I'm so sorry this has been sitting in my inbox forever! I haven't had a chance to answer asks and I kind of forgot about it, so I'm going to give an extra long answer to make up for it lol. I have a few that are tied for first and second, so bear with me.

Firstly, I absolutely love the idea of Zuko helping out Katara with the chores after he joined the gaang. It just makes sense that he would try to help her out, and that he would feel guilty and try to do extra work. Of course, it takes Katara awhile to actually appreciate his help, but after TSR they actually manage to have fun together while they're doing dishes and laundry together, and she can't imagine it any other way.

This one is kind of cheesy, but I love the idea of them both being musically inclined, but in different ways. Zuko is obviously great at the tsungi horn, but he's an absolutely awful singer, and Katara can't play an instrument to save her life, but she has the voice of an angel. They like practicing songs with each other to let off steam, and even after the war whenever Katara finds herself in the Fire Nation or Zuko in the water tribe, they still get together to make a bit of music. They're also both wonderful dancers, Zuko from growing up learning dances in the FN court, and Katara because it's a big part of her culture, and she also just thinks it's fun. Zuko never really liked to dance, because it reminded him of being boxed in at court, but Katara shows him some different steps and he actually enjoys himself for once. In an AU where they end up together, their kids grow up combining the dances of both their cultures and creating new trends in both the FN and the SWT.

This one isn't really Zutara-centric, but Toph teases the HELL out of them. She literally goes around making the snarkiest comments and she will not stop until they are both blushing like tomatoes.

In an AU where they get together, they are the second in the gaang to get married, after Suki and Sokka but before Aang and Teo (I said what I said). Their wedding is obviously a huge event, and Sokka and Aang are the groomsmen while Toph and Suki are the bridesmaids, obviously. Katara is super into wedding planning and picking out her dress. Uncle Iroh helps her with the plans and buys fireworks and organizes the guest list and Zuko rebels against the both of them at every turn because he doesn't really want a huge, ostentatious wedding. He eventually realizes that this is way more important to Katara than it is to him, though, so he stops trying to get them to tone things down and only helps her with the planning when asked, to give her all the creative freedom her heart desires. In canon (where they don't get together) I like to think that Zuko would be Katara's 'man of honor' at her wedding with Aang. Partially because of pining and angst, but mostly because they want to be there for each other and see each other happy, even if they aren't going to be the ones spending their lives together.

Zuko would be the first one to realize his feelings for Katara, but he'd be in denial for so long that by the time Katara realizes her feelings back, they're at about the same place when it comes to their relationship. She's the first one to say "I love you" and even though it takes him a little time to say it back, it's only because he's scared to be so vulnerable with someone at first. She gives him time, and his love confession ends up being simultaneously the most awkward and the most romantic thing in the world. Zuko is the one to propose and Katara says yes without question.

They end up having two kids, twin girls named Kya and Ursa after their mothers. Kya, the nonbender, is set to inherit the throne, and Ursa, the waterbender, has a special gift for healing. Zuko only wanted one kid because he was afraid of messing them up, but he ends up being a wonderful father. Katara is a great mother as well, of course, and she loves to teach Ursa waterbending while Zuko helps her incorporate firebending moves into her fighting style. Kya feels a little left out of these family training sessions at first, but Zuko teaches her how to use the dao swords, her Aunt Mai teaches her how to throw knives, and her Aunt Ty Lee teaches her chi blocking, so she's just as deadly as the rest of her family.

Katara's first project after becoming firelady is to help spearhead pollution reform and create industrial regulations that help the FN become more environmentally friendly. She eventually travels back to the village in "the Painted Lady" with her daughters to show them the value of respecting nature.

This one also isn't very zutara-centric, but I don't think Katara and Azula would ever really reconcile. Although she becomes good friends with both Mai and Ty Lee (who are dating, obviously), she can never forgive Azula for some of the most traumatic events of her life. Zuko and Azula do eventually have a healthy relationship after Azula realizes the error of her ways, but she decides to move away from the palace of her own accord. There are too many bad memories there.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my headcanons! These are the only ones I can think of right now but I probably have more somewhere in my brain.

[ecoterrorist-katara]

Do you think that the gaang atla movie might make casual fans realize bryke are not the best writers? Like Everywhere they get praised but honestly if the writing in the movie is at the levels of the comics I could maybe see ppl turn on them a bit ( it also sucks bc I doubt katara and zuko will even interact in the movie)

Hi anon! I think people will almost certainly be disappointed in the new Avatar Studios movie, because nothing has even come close to the quality of ATLA after the original show ended. However, from what I’ve observed in the fandom, there’s always someone other than Bryke to blame. For example, when people rag on Korra, they blame Nickelodeon. When they rag on the comics, they blame Gene Yang (and incidentally I’ve actually seen a K/ataang shipper say that the reason the comics are so bad is because Gene Yang is a Zutara shipper — as if a grown ass professional would compromise his contract / reputation for a ship war). And when they rag on the first live action movie, they rag on M. Night. I’m not saying that Bryke are completely at fault for the shortcomings for these projects — collaborative creative pursuits are wonderful, magical things and it’s hard to know where credit and blame go when the whole point is that collaboration is beyond the sum of its parts — but the bottom line is that when certain fans are hellbent on not blaming Bryke, there are always other scapegoats.

I’m friends with many casual fans, and they were the ones who got me into the show. Honestly, I don’t think they even gave a second thought to Bryke until they left the Netflix production, which is convenient because now people can credit Bryke for the ingenuity of ATLA and blame Netflix for driving them away. I’m not sure casual fans will turn on Bryke for making a mediocre movie…BUT: if Zuko undergoes a character regression similar to his comics arc, people will probably get mad. Zuko’s redemption arc is widely considered one of the best on TV. You cannot find a Reddit thread about “best redemption arcs of all time” without Zuko being one of the top answers. From Bryke’s interviews, it kind of feels like they don’t really understand his appeal, and if they butcher his character in the absence of writers who got him more…well, I think people will be real mad about that. I mean, people got so mad about NATLA Katara, and she’s nowhere near as beloved as Zuko b/c misogyny and racism and many people found her annoying but that’s a whole other thing

And on a related note, I agree that Katara and Zuko will probably barely interact in the new movie, and it will seem kind of stilted and awkward. I remember an interview with Aaron Ehasz where he said that he’s not really a shipper and he doesn’t write stories with shipping in mind: what matters more is letting the narrative drive itself. That POV, undoubtedly shared by others in the writers’ room (including MVP Elizabeth Welch), is what was responsible for the development of the Katara - Zuko friendship in the original show in the first place. It’s very, very stifling to prioritize a ship war over the actual story. Antis claim Zutara shippers create convoluted fanfic plots where other characters and relationships are downplayed in favour of their ship, but that’s exactly what happens in the canon comics wrt K/ataang. I don’t know if it’ll seem so transparent to the casual viewer, but even if the motivations aren’t obvious, the decline in quality sure will be. For the sake of my love for all Gaang-related shenanigans I hope Bryke won’t go down that road for the new movie, but…well, they’ve done pettier things.

Thanks for your question anon, and please share any of your further thoughts!

[seraphixv]

Look, I ship Zutara as much as anyone else, and I’ve seen some posts as to some changes in the live-action that felt Zutara coded like changing Oma and Shu to blue and red, and Aang being swapped with Sokka in the cave.

But that obviously doesn’t mean they’re changing the endgame. The cave change was probably done cause Gordon was so young during filming that any scene with Kiiawentio would’ve looked awkward (which would’ve made a good point against Kataang ngl lol)

If they get a second season, I do think they’ll amp up the Zutara teasing cause they know it works, but they’re definitely not changing that ending lmao.

[broadwaybalogna]

Zutara Prompt

Zuko is visited by the mysterious Painted Lady and becomes enamored.

Mmmm pre state testing brain go brrr with silly ship.

FEATURINGG: Sly Zuko and awkward Katara, I mean- Painted Lady.

Zuko had heard stories of the painted lady when he was a kid. She was an old legend that lived among the poorer people of the fire nation. Nonetheless, his mother still insisted on telling him stories about the woman. Through the years, Zuko had learned to associate the Painted Lady with the good parts of the fire nation. A nation that had destroyed so many others could still have creation. This nation that he had learned to despise could still be good. He knew that there was still good.

He never expected, however, to meet the woman in person, outside the small tea shop his uncle owned in Ba Sing Se.

And he cursed his mother for never telling him how beautiful she was.

It was only for a split second that he had seen her, dashing through the streets in a flash of crimson, but he recognized the silhouette and memories came flooding back to him.

Then she stopped and looked at him. Zuko felt his face flush at the sudden stop of movement from the woman now right in front of him. And damn, she was beautiful. Even though he could barely see her face from the veil that covered her head, he still got a good view of her from how close he was.

Then, almost as soon as she stopped, she left, dashing away and leaving nothing behind.

Zuko blinked in confusion.

-

The next day, there was more commotion when the painted lady came. More people were outside watching the woman dash from once place to another, this time, with soldiers on her tail.

Zuko didn’t move much, but he still got a good view of the chase from where he was in the city. Then, after ducking down into a small alleyway, she reappeared atop the buildings that layered the large city.

Then, she finally disappeared among the shops and houses, close to where he was. He let out a sigh and went to the top of the tea shop where his room was (well, it was less of a room and more of a slightly large closet with a window). Once entered, he stopped in his tracks.

The painted lady was in his room.

Oh.

Oh.

This was awkward.

“Um… hey-“

“Shh,” she rushed over to him and covered his mouth with her hand. Outside, they could still hear guards running and yelling to find the woman.

Once she was certain they had left, she uncovered his mouth.

“Nice to meet you too,” Zuko said, sarcastically.

“I apologize,” She took a long pause, “I thank you for your- er, hospitality, but I must be leaving.”

“Wait!” Zuko stammered out before she left, “Guards are usually stationed around this area for the hour. And I doubt you want to be caught up in another police chase,” he rambled.

The lady pursed her lips then slightly nodded. “Thank you.”

“Yeah. I’m Zuko.”

“I- um… well- Painted Lady,” she rushed out.

“Bit of a mouthful but okay.” The lady rolled her eyes at his remark.

“Here,” he said, gesturing her to come downstairs, “my uncle makes a great tea.”

“Oh! Thanks.” She sputtered.

She and Zuko sat in a spot that was unseen from people behind the windows outside. Seeing the Painted Lady from the legends they were told as children sitting and drinking tea in the jasmine dragon would be an interesting sight. It was a good thing business was small.

“Any reason you’re here? Or do you just run away from soldiers for fun?” Iroh laughed as he dropped off a second cup of tea.

“I’m just trying to help. Though it feels like I’ve been causing a lot of harm as well,” Katara mumbled.

“Hmm,” Iroh hummed, he took a seat next to Zuko who was sitting across from Katara, “well I’ve heard great things about the business from lower classes this past day. Many people are happy there is more clean water to be accessed.” He nodded in recognition at a memory, “I know I am too.”

The Lady sighed in relief. “That’s good to hear. Thank you.” She bowed her head to Zuko then Iroh. “I should leave now. I appreciate your hospitality.”

Zuko smiled and led her back to the window in his room. When she dashed off this time, a slight scent of lavender lingered.

Next time she came by, he’d have to make sure she stayed longer.

[atla-confessions]

What Zutara fics have you been reading? 😂

I'm not the person who said the stuff about the fics, I've never read zutara fics, but I saw this zutara art where Katara called herself "homely, awkward and odd" and it's lived in my head rent free since then.

You know, Katara, who's famously known to be weird about socializing, and either wants to stay at home or is unattractive (depending on how they meant the word), and definitely known for being fringe. You know, KATARA, who would deff think these things about herself and think she doesn't deserve someone. Ah, gotta love that weird Katara who puts herself down.

X

[theblueeyedfirebender]

20 questions for writers

Tagging myself into this because I’m a giant loser and I think it’ll be fun!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Twelve!

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

34,421

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Of my twelve fics, there are eleven for Fullmetal Alchemist and one for Avatar: The Last Airbender. And I am strongly considering dipping my toes into the world of Spy x Family as well (just as soon as I finish Code White).

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. Uncle Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Zutara)

2. The Counteroffer (Fullmetal Alchemist, Royai)

3. The Art of Living On (Fullmetal Alchemist, Royai)

4. The Flame Alchemist's Daughter (Fullmetal Alchemist, Royai)

5. Checkmate (Fullmetal Alchemist, Royai)

5. Do you respond to comments?

Yes! When people take the time to share their thoughts on my work, it means the world to me.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Hmm, it's a tie between As You Were and The Flame Alchemist's Daughter.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Probably Death and Taxes, in spite of its bleak title!

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Thankfully, no.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Nah. I can’t even write a smooch scene without blushing and looking over my shoulder.

10. Do you write crossovers?

I haven't, but I'm not opposed to the idea if the right concept were to come to me. Closest thing I have to a crossover now is my latest fic, Mrs. Mustang, which is inspired by a scene from Pride and Prejudice.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I'm aware of. There's a special place in fandom hell for people who do that shit.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, but that would be cool!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Also no, also would be cool!

14. What is your all-time favorite ship?

Ah man, I have to say Zutara (Zuko x Katara, Avatar: The Last Airbender). I've shipped them since I was a kid watching Sozin's Comet in my parent's basement in 2008. They're the ship that got me into writing fanfiction. Even though they aren't canon (*sob*) and I don't write them much anymore, they'll always be my OTP.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Ahhhh don't kill me but The Bookshelf has been giving me trouble. I have a lot of Part 2 written but it just doesn't feel right, yaknow?

16. What are your writing strengths?

I'm clear and concise. I think I'm pretty good at tension, particularly romantic tension, and angst. I pay very close attention to characterization, and pride myself in accurate portrayals of the characters in my fanfics.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I'm slow. My word counts tend to be low - side effect of being concise. I gloss over descriptions that I should probably spend more time on. I'm good at writing romantic tension, but when that tension culminates, I feel like it just gets awkward and then I cut things short when I really should draw them out. Humor and true fluff pieces do not come naturally to me, though I'm trying to stretch myself by writing more of those.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I have never done this, so no thoughts except for it sounds difficult!

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Avatar: The Last Airbender

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

This is hard, but has to be The Counteroffer, my first and most-loved Fullmetal Alchemist piece. In a creative sense, writing this story opened the gateway (lol) to so much more for me, and I'm eternally thankful that my little debut to this fandom (and return to writing overall) was so well received.

Death and Taxes and Hourglass are also close to my heart.

Tagging in @starwritingbri, @they-lived, @musing-and-music, @fullmetalscullyy, @writing-royza, and YOU if you want to join in!

[linnoya-writes]

Zutara Childhood-Friends-to-Lovers Alter-Egos Forbidden-Romance AU (part I)

Their first kiss comes at the absolute worst time, with Katara and Zuko exchanging fruit under his late mother’s favorite tree in the palace gardens.  It comes with a disagreement between Fire Lord Iroh and Chieftain Hakoda of the WaterTribes.

A Southern tribesman and two of the palace guards are the ones who walk in on the teenagers’ awkward little kiss. 

The Southern tribesman coughs for attention; Zuko flinches and Katara jerks her head away.  Her cheeks are so flushed, Katara barely recognizes her father’s guard. Whatever he’s there for, it’s not good. 

“Lady Katara, I’ve been ordered to escort you back to the ship. We leave port tonight.”

Immediately, her world caves in. “W—What?”

“What’s going on?” Zuko can’t help but interject in that voice that is both regal and concerned.  As they stand up, Katara feels her frame staying close to his.

“I’m afraid I cannot disclose anything else, your highness,” the kinsman bows his head to Zuko respectfully, and the palace guards approach almost instinctively. “My orders are only to take our princess home.” 

The way he’s suddenly referring to her so possessively, and distantly, it makes her brows furrow.

“Kievel—“ it takes her a century to remember this man’s name, “There has to be some mistake.  Sokka and I still have a few more weeks here!”

“Let me talk to my uncle," Zuko rasps to her, "they should still be at the council meeting.” 

“Your highness, council has already adjourned," Kievel chimes in. "His lordship expects you and her highness Azula to meet him at the royal hall before any more news goes public.” 

Katara can see Zuko’s eyes widening into a confused, unexpected gold. This is bad, she thought, and yet her fingers instinctively searching for Zuko’s knuckles.

Staring at the guards, Katara and Zuko find their fingers entwining in the obscure folds of their robes. She can feel Zuko’s hand still holding some kind of fruit, the little shivers in his finger debating whether to let it drop to the ground, if it meant he could hold her hand just for that little moment. 

“Princess…” Kievel brought them back to the present. “…it’s time to go.”

They glance at each other, looking like they’d lived a glacial sixteen and fourteen years for a moment like this to happen… and yet here it was… so easily being taken away.  It wasn’t fair. 

The glistening of his eyes said exactly that, but the flaming gold said something else: I don't regret it. 

And Katara met him with her glimmering blue eyes.

Me neither.

As she stepped forward and their secret hands parted, Zuko instinctively let her grab hold of the fruit he’d kept curled in his hand. The last thing Katara saw was his serious face, sandwiched between his two guards.  He seemed so stern, regal and untouchable, but his eyes spoke of hope. 

Katara could only imagine that she would see him again, that whatever this premature separation was about would someday eventually fade.  She waited until making it to the dock to finally pull out the fruit from her robes.  It was a plum-- ripe and ready for eating-- the size of tiny goose-otter egg.

She smiled, keeping it in her robe pockets as a parting gift to take for her long journey back home… feeling like a part of her had still remained under the shade of that tree with her best friend.  It wasn’t until she saw Sokka at the dock that she learned the gravity of this separation; their countries were in a feud regarding the discovery of a remote island off the Fire Nation's archipelago, the Water Tribe proclaiming it an ancient burial site of their ancestors and arguing how this island should be deemed theirs. This feud has halted their their trade agreement, and they are willing to readdress it after a ten-year separation.

“TEN YEARS!?”

She as princess of the WaterTribe was forbidden to touch ground in the Fire Nation for ten years, and the idea of not seeing Zuko for that length of time…

“No— that can’t happen.” 

“Katara, it’s done.  It’s the law.” 

“Well, the law stinks!” 

Before she can even think of making her way back to the palace gate, the Watertribe guards hold her back with a Water-bending wall.  And in the distance, she could see a faint figure trying to wrestle his way past his own guards at the beacon point.

The way he'd been so athletic and agile as The Blue Spirit back when they were kids, Katara didn't have to guess who it was. 

His voice bellowed. “I said,' Let me through!'  You can’t do this— I- I HAVE to talk to her!” 

“Zuko!?”

She didn’t care if she referred to him so informally, or that her voice echoed through the entire capital, or that Sokka was grabbing her wrist and edging her back towards their ship. 

She could see his face softening as he saw her.

“Katara— I— I’m so sorry.” 

“No— it’s not your fault. This isn’t over, okay? I love you.” 

There was an abysmal wave gasps at the dock, and Katara didn’t care- she was only speaking to one person, anyway. Zuko was also taken aback, amazed as much as the others surrounding them by the sheer boldness his best friend had chosen to demonstrate.

His heart pounded in his chest, feeling that same boldness take root inside of him more and more.

Zuko breathed, and spoke out, “I love you too.”

And with those words, Katara could almost feel his warmth next to her, hands grazing… lips touching…

No, it wasn’t over. 

“I’ll see you,” he shouted, his hands gripping the rails of the beacon. 

“See you," came her reply. 

It’s what they’d always said to each other as young playmates in the palace, always on the day that Katara would have to to leave Zuko's side at the end of summer… but it felt different this time, because the tides had turned so monumentally. 

They could feel themselves becoming something else. 

When she finally boarded the ship, Katara could hear Sokka muttering that she was an idiot to say something like that out loud. 

Katara wasn’t listening. Instead, she was looking down at her hand, at her little plum. And as the ship set sail, she started to take little bites of the fruit... savoring the sweetness of it… thinking about the seed, and wondering if it was possible to raise a plum tree in the arctic tundras of the south. 

[shamelessliarkickapow]

Arrvatarr! The Last Arrbender! Ch 2, part 3/3

Read it all on AO3!

Rated M Zutara pirates AU: Prince Zuko has been taken hostage by a pack of goofball pirates. The situation is not as funny to him as it seems to be to others involved.

Ch 2, Part 3/3

Zuko stood on the strange, steel-lined deck of the pirate ship, clutching his pitiful armful of possessions and watching from afar as the metalbender ripped his hull apart. It was surreal. He had lived on that ship for more than a third of his life and now it was on its way down to the ocean floor. Never again would he run sets with his soldiers on deck. Never again would he scour the horizon from the control tower. (His spyglass was another casualty lost to Sokka’s incredibly deep pockets.) Never again would he storm through those close steel hallways…

He was not certain whether the massive swell of emotion in his chest was grief or freedom.

Uncle stood beside him, watching the ship heave and founder in solemn silence. Or it would have been silent, if it weren’t for the distant feral cackling.

“Yaaa-hahaharharr! Down to the briny depths with ya! To salty lightless hell and leviathans’ gullets! I’ll scuttle yer mother, ya scurvy scum-suckin’-!”

“Sorry about your ship.”

Zuko looked to his other side to find the swab peering up at him, compassion shining in his large gray eyes.

“It’s hard… losing the things you’re used to,” the kid went on quietly, looking genuinely morose. Then he offered up a reassuring smile. “But at least, when the ransom gets paid, you still have a home to go back to. Right?”

Zuko frowned a little harder at him. He had withheld the fact of his banishment in case it might interfere with Iroh’s plan, and this kid’s weird misplaced sympathy was as suspicious as it was unwanted. Zuko was about to snarl at him, to shout until he flitted off to mind his own business, but he paused a beat too long.

“We have been away from the Fire Nation for many years now,” Iroh said quietly on his other side. “There is no telling how different it will be from what we remember.”

Zuko scowled straight ahead at his sinking ship. It didn’t really matter how much the Fire Nation may or may not have changed. He wasn’t going to see it. Maybe never again.

“The passage of time really can make the world unrecognizable,” the swab said, melancholy and reflective in a way that was not normal for a child.

Zuko shot him an even more suspicious look. But those large eyes only watched the disappearing ship with a vast sorrow.

“But Monk G-uh-my uncle… always said that traces of the past remain like echoes to remind us we aren’t ever truly alone.” He looked back up at Zuko with the faintest smile - which did nothing to clear the grief from his eyes. “And while memory can be comforting, true peace can only be found by accepting the present as it is. Although…” The smile puffed out. “…that can be pretty hard to do sometimes.”

Zuko peered down at the swab for a moment, then glanced at Iroh and found his uncle was watching the kid with the same stunned bewilderment he was feeling.

“What did I tell you about talking to our swab?”

Zuko spun around to find Katara there, her arms crossed and an annoyed eyebrow arched high. He jerked his head roughly at the kid, who was already darting off, chasing some small winged creature.

“He talked to me,” Zuko blurted, immediately painfully aware of how un-princely the defense sounded and how awkward it was to face her with his arms full of his clothes. He raised up his chin and squared his shoulders. “Dawn’s not far off, waterbender. I want that rematch.”

She blinked at him slowly, unimpressed. “You do realize a rematch isn’t gonna do anything to change your situation, right? Even if you got lucky and won-” Her chilly blue eyes scanned briefly over him like a spattering of raindrops. “- not likely - you‘re still getting ransomed.”

“I know that,” he said, quiet and firm to match the building pressure he felt between them, the growing burn of having her eyes on him. “I just want the satisfaction of putting you in your place. And I don’t need luck to do it.”

Katara scoffed and her eyes heated for a second, then she offered him an overly sweet smile. It was almost like how she smiled at the kid, but with a sharpness to her eyes that made Zuko’s pulse throb in his throat.

“Fighting time is over,” she said. “It’s brig time for firebenders now. And if you try to fight me before I agree, I’ll just assume it’s because you’re trying to escape - which… refresh my memory? What would that suggest about you and your honor, huh?”

The way she looked at him, smiling with her teeth out so mean and so pretty, filled Zuko with a driving urge to somehow wipe the ridicule right off her face. He clenched his teeth and struggled to think of some cutting words that could do the job better than a little fire or a hard kiss.

“That’s what I thought.” Her smile turned to a lazy smirk in victory and she spun away for the gunwale. “Sokka and Suki will show you the way to your accommodations.”

“We will?” Sokka asked from where he and the warrior had stood spectating. At a sharp look from his sister, he raised his hands. “That’s right, that’s right - we will. Do that thing you said.”

Suki shrugged and led the way down the hatch and Iroh followed, but Zuko stubbornly stayed put. Completely ignoring him, Katara leapt overboard and, at the head of a roaring wave, surfed out toward the diminishing hump of steel still visible and the somewhat-less-confident earthbender sitting atop it.

“Tell ya what,” Sokka said, suddenly standing beside him. “I’m tired right now because, you know, up all night pirating, but give me a few hours and I could go for a rematch.”

Zuko shot him a disdainful sideways look. “You. You want to fight me.”

The guy shrugged, a mild smile still hovering about his mouth. “Swords only, just to first blood. No limb-chopping or throat-slashing. Call me curious, but a firebender who keeps swords crossed over his bed like a shrine has gotta be pretty confident in his ability to use them.”

Zuko fully turned his head, trying to suss out what was really motivating this challenge. Wounded pride, maybe. An insecure, untrained swordsman surrounded by superior fighters. Who were also girls - the Water Tribe cared a lot about that stuff, didn’t they? He’d had a poor showing today and he probably expected to beat a firebender with swords pretty handily. Because most firebenders would neglect the practice of weapons when they could be bending instead.

But Zuko wasn’t most firebenders.

“When I win,” he said darkly, “I want to keep my swords.”

Sokka’s smile spread like this was actually kind of funny. “Sure, buddy. You win, you can keep your swords. And if I win-” His eyebrows quirked upward suggestively. “-you tell me all about that sensual creature in the picture.”

“Ugh,” Zuko snarled and, too disgusted and irritated to stall any longer, stalked off in the direction Iroh had disappeared.

Shortly thereafter, Zuko found himself locked with Iroh in a cramped iron cell with two bunks and a bucket. He could not stop pacing the short distance from wall to wall.

“I hope your plan involves some way of getting us out of this cell,” he snarled, “because if we have to wait in here the whole time it takes those idiots to figure out they aren’t getting any money, I’m going to lose my mind.”

“Yes,” Iroh said dryly, his hooded eyes following Zuko’s quick back-and-forth progress. “Truly maddening.”

“So what is it, Uncle?” Zuko demanded, stopping and peering down a little beseechingly at the old man. “What’s your plan?”

Iroh blinked back up at him for an instant, then assumed a calculating look. “When the pirates discover that the Fire Lord is not willing to pay for our safe return,” he said, waving a hand before him as if slowly revealing a grand truth, “they will let us go.”

Zuko’s stomach dropped seemingly through the deck at his feet and went sloshing around in the bilge. “That’s your plan?”

Iroh shrugged. “They do not appear to be entirely normal pirates, my nephew. I do not think this is a group generally comfortable with killing hostages.”

“But that doesn’t mean they’ll just let us go! They’re renegades and money-grubbing thieves! They stole everything down to the coal out of our ship, Uncle. These are desperate people. They won’t release us until they can squeeze some kind of profit out of us. They’re going to want something in exchange for our freedom.”

“Yes, my nephew,” Iroh said slowly, thoughtfully, watching Zuko resume his pacing, “I fear you are correct…”

“But what can we possibly offer them? They already have everything we owned.” He cast a disparaging eye over the heap of possessions Iroh had managed to squirrel aboard. The stupid monkey statue sat on top of the pile like a gaudy little king. “Everything worth stealing, anyway.”

Iroh emitted a faint gasp. When Zuko turned to look at him, his eyes were wide and round with shock. “Prince Zuko,” he cried softly, “a most devastating prospect has just occurred to me!”

Zuko was… a little suspicious. His uncle was never this surprised about anything. Whatever he was about to say, it had very likely occurred to him a while ago.

“What is it?” Zuko bit out.

“We have fallen completely under the power of these nefarious miscreants-”

Zuko narrowed his eyes. Miscreants, they most certainly were. Nefarious… maybe a little. What gave him pause was the tone of voice Iroh used, as if deeply disapproving of very bad behavior - like he was describing the villain from one of the stories Zuko remembered from his childhood.

“-with no chance of rescue or escape-”

The old man had insisted they swear those oaths…

“-and now we may be forced into most shameful acts to win our freedom.”

Iroh paused, tugged his beard thoughtfully and fixed Zuko with a severe, bordering alarmed expression.

“Prince Zuko… I fear for your virtue.”

[aether-link]

I had another thought when writing the other fic that’s still in progress. A short one of zutara that features Toph. The setting is on ember island, between the 3 they share a holiday together in their elderly years.

And a confession gets shared that also leads to something else. I’m not good at writing but I hope this is alright.

Fic under cut! ✨

Ember island always bring out the best of you. Or well the best of everyone. There are only three left out of the hero’s that all helped together defeating Ozai. Now they are all old and elderly, Zuko always makes time to drop by to pick up Toph. It takes some persuasion but she caves in to join. Then after that, to the South, the southern water tribe. For Katara.

Zuko also does his best with her, she to takes some time to change her mind. Katara is always busy helping others out or just doesn’t want any drama, she’s to old for that. The old fire lord uses his charms to sway her over; “oh c’mon…don’t make me use the smolder Katara!” As he makes such a face that looks just like Druk begging for hugs. Toph always yells out to hurry up, the cold doesn’t exactly agree with her no more due to her old back. Katara pouts back at Zuko and finally tells him that she agrees to come along. A big winning smile he gives to her as Katara shuffles off too get her stuff ready, then soon they are all off headed too Ember Island.

-

A week they always spend, warm and relaxed hanging out spending time together and reminiscing of the old days. A campfire at night is always the best due to them all admitting to something or confessing between one another. Story’s they share both bring smiles and tears of what the trio remember. Until this time, Toph always brags about Zuko and Katara on why they are so awkward together until tonight, “Man, normally you guys are always loud. Now the both of you are so calm?” With her feet shuffled into the sand smirking “I swear you two-“ before she could even finish.

Silence made itself louder then before hitting a nerve between the other two sitting side by side near the fire. Katara was first to break the ice, “Well Toph, I should of said this years ago on our traditional holiday here but-“ “WE KISSED FIFTEEN YEARS AGO” Zuko blurting it out before throwing back his sake on what he just admitted.

Toph turns at them, the most blankest face she could ever make in her history of living, Katara was quick to respond to her “LISTEN I KNOW TOPH” embarrassment starts to set in.

“HAHAHAHA, you two should see your faces!” Head back laughing to the stars “oh look at that, loudness again like old times!” Toph pats the ground hearing their heartbeats setting off like they where young again. She is such a cheek teasing Zuko and Katara for that, laughing away. Toph always knew, she always did for years and years.

Some times passes after that confession, now they all are starting to get tired from the warmth of the fire and sake. Standing back up, Toph is the first too leave heading back to the apartment of the royal housing along the beach side. “Just so you two know, I already knew about that” Toph saying to the side of Zuko, proceeding her way back with a wink.

Zuko blushes about it. Toph is smart like that already figuring it out. Just how long did she know, a mystery within itself. Now it’s just the two of them quietly alone. The fire now dimmed to glowing coal and cinders, a light breeze form the sea. Katara hums a little getting his attention, his curiosity. “What’s wrong?” With a slight tilt to his head, answering his question Katara leans towards him, resting her head on his shoulder with closed eyes.

“I remember that kiss like it was yesterday, you where such a dork about it. Though that’s one of the few things I like about you” A gentle voice from Katara, admitting to it finally. Hearing that made him flutter, grinning ear to ear on her words. Returning the affection, Zuko also rest his head to hers while he snuck his little finger to her hand that rested between themselves. Noticing he’s little move she intertwines her whole hand with his.

“I guess this is one thing Toph won’t know” mumbled Zuko, relaxed and slowly getting tired from how late the night is getting, “Are you kidding, she will find out herself. You know her” responded Katara, “True…” he agrees sleepily. And hour passes until the fire is completely out and the stars lit up the night sky creating a soft glow, Katara awake still yawns away.

Adjusting herself standing up and still holding his hand, Zuko fully asleep nearly falls to the side she was on. Catching him, he stirs awake. Half asleep fumbling; Katara supports him to walk right, arm around the waist and the other around her neck. Laughing at the steps they take, eventually they make it back to the housing. Tired and a little drunk, Zuko lazily sits on the edge of the large bedding of his room. A soft look he gives and reaches out towards Katara, as if a gesture an invitation to join him tonight.

Accepting his hand, he drops a little kiss as a thank you. Letting go, Katara wonders to the other side of the bedside to rest with him for the remaining night like they did some fifteen years ago.

[goshdangronpa]

ibuki 🤪

Yeethaw it's Best Character

Favorite thing about her: There's so much to love!!! Her spunk, her look, her distinct voice ... Something really underrated about her, though, is her emotional maturity. For all her quirks and silliness, she's among the wisest people on the island. Her FTEs with Hajime are unique in that she's the one helping him deal with personal hang-ups, not the other way around. The advice she gives resonates perfectly with the themes surrounding the characters' dark past and the better future they can create.

Least favorite thing about her: It really is messed up that she tells Mahiru to "snatch some shots" when Mikan accidentally exposes herself in a tumble, but I think she'd relent if she knew about that girl's circumstances. So maybe the real worst thing is her hilariously rude takes on music. No, Ibuki, there is more to drumming than making loud noises!

Favorite line: "Welcome to the world of girls' love! It's slippery when wet!" There's much to criticize about DR's portrayal of LGBTQIA+ chars but I love how overtly queer many of these characters are, especially the enthusiastically girl-loving Ibuki.

brOTP: Whether you like it as a romantic ship or a friendship, Ibuki's bond with Imposter is a genuine delight. She takes their crappy Byakuya attitude so good-naturedly that they can't help but respect it. If they'd lived past Chapter 1 ... well, I'll go into that more as I develop my Ibuki protag swap project, but suffice to say they'd have a strong impact on each other. She'll help bring the individual at the core of the Imposter, and they'll help Ibuki channel her boundless energy into being a genuine force for hope.

OTP: You already know. I've liked some noncanon ships even before I knew the concept of shipping (zutara was just so obvious to me even as a kid), but tsumioda is the first to make me lose my damn mind. "Sweet girl helps sad girl" is irresistible, especially with my spin where the sad girl helps the sweet girl right back. The whole "Mikan once killed Ibuki" is a dealbreaker for some, but it actually seals the deal for me. This extreme interpersonal conflict is the kind of barrier that, once overcome, will make them both better people and better partners for each other than they ever could've been ... Oh my god, I talk about them like Nagito talks about hope, HELP

nOTP: I don't think I have any nOTPs - only ships that are more interesting (or funnier) as failures. Sayabuki is one. Ibuki strives to always be herself, no matter how that might alienate potential friends and fans. Sayaka would call that idealistic and naive, having her own motivations for doing things she otherwise never would. A clash would be inevitable. In fact, have a surprisingly detailed relationship arc for them in my head, taking them from musicians on the same tour to secret lovers (and first love, on Ibuki's end) to bitter exes. I'll write that fanfic someday.

Random headcanon: Ibuki's always so brazen when flirting with people, but when she develops an actually serious crush, she gets really awkward and even more motormouthed.

Unpopular opinion: I don't think Ibuki would immediately be all smiles and forgiveness with Mikan after they all wake up in the pods. A girl who prizes being real with people got taken advantage of in the worst way by someone she called a friend. Even for someone as friendly and emotionally stable as Ibuki, that's gonna require some deep reflection, emotional processing, and tough conversation! I do agree, though, that they'll eventually work it out (and fall in love)

Song I associate with her: HEY BIG MAN PUT THE MONEY IN MY POCKET

Favorite picture of her: The one I drew!

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

Do you think that Zutara would be as popular as it eas in its heyday had ATLA come out today? I think it would still be pretty popular, but I don't think it would come to dominate the fandom like it did when the show first came out. A part of it is definitely because people are a lot more educated about toxic behaviors and relationships and colonialism than kids in the mid 2000's were

But I think the bigger part is that people are a lot less patient nowadays. I don't think people would willing to give Zuko a chance after making a bad first impression in season one and as a result Zutara probably wouldn't have gained the traction it needed to domimate the fandom like it had nearly 20 years ago

You rarely see villains like Zuko who are straight up unrepentant monsters and slowly have to learn not to be douches. Sure you do see a lot of villians in the Zuko mold who are bad for like a second then the show or movie beats the audience over it's head to reassure them that this villian isn't actually all that bad and it's ok to root for them. Hell, netflix's live action avatar did this. They couldn't trust the audience to stick with Zuko through his redemption journey and immediately tried to make him sympathetic. Him and Azula. Zuko's journey from horrible little monster to redeemed hero was slow by today's standards. He's completely unsympathetic in the first season and slides back and forth between his ideals. I just can't see today's audiences to be that patient anymore. People are way too fast to judge now, and first impressions are often the only thing that matter to some. Or maybe I'm just overthinking it, and all it takes is being a hot dude to get people to forget you participated in a genocide

Sorry for that tangent, but anyways I think that if the show come out in 2024. Zutara would still be popular but not the most popular ship in the famdom. Honestly, I think Zukka would be the most popular, and I don't know if that would be worse or better

The ship would slightly less popular because it is "woke" prefer gay ships instead of straight ones - hence Zukka's popularity even though it's fans tend to write to be as generic of a ship as Zutarians do with their own OTP, and even though Sokka is from the same tribe and family as Katara, so if Zutara was inherently racist (and it isn't) so would be Zukka, only the fans of it would cope by arguing that it being gay cancels out the racism side.

There will ALWAYS be people latching onto Good Girl/Guy X Bad Guy ships, regardless of it making any narrative sense. That was already a thing before Avatar, and it's still a thing now. "Thing could be problematic if done wrong" has never stopped anyone from having fun with a concept, nor should it, so let's not kid ourselves here.

What I fear would be different if Avatar came out today (and that you seem to agree with me on) is that it would essentially be the Netflix version: cowardly, generic, boring, and with a pace that is both too fast and too slow because the execs insisted on a far shorter number of episodes, but with a full hour instead of half, that force the writting to combine plots that simply don't go together.

And, of course, without the literal years of praise towards Zuko's redemption arc, it'd result in the character being absolutely fucking maimed and turned from his flawed, but interesting self into the boring "Awkward turtleduck" the fandom loves pretending he is - and obvious Zutarians would eat that shit up because they don't care about the real Zuko anyway, that's why he's PAINFULLY out of character in most of their fics.

[kaligraphy]

As much as I love how easily they fell into a strong friendship after Katara forgives Zuko, I would have loved to see a scene with the Gaang where Zuko tries to be funny again and Katara probably laughs a bit too hard. and the Gaang is like "wtf this is weird" but Zuko just looks so happy that they don't tease either of them... that much lol