#now imagine old man zukos reaction
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firelords-honour · 1 year ago
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Some of us (including myself) have HCs that before the revolution got going Amon was a vigilante, or is a vigilante in AUs, and I just had a thought: what if the whole mask thing was originally inspired by the infamous legend of the Blue Spirit?
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tiny-katara · 2 years ago
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bestie if you're not gonna hate on zutara stans then why the fuck are you posting anti-zutara arguments in our tag? you are more than entitled to your opinion and if you don't like zk that's fine. you're not obligated to, but you are obligated to show common decency and tag your posts appropriately.
since your post is here though, i do have a couple of things to say.
aang 100% lets his emotions get the best of him. it's ridiculous to say he doesn't. this kid activated the avatar in the desert. he's valid tbh and i would probably also go feral if anything happened to my cat, but that's neither here nor there. when aang is angry he expresses that anger, even in little ways, such as telling sokka he can get them to the north pole when sokka critiques appa (which is also valid like wtf sokka be nice to appa).
during these moments of anger, katara offers aang love and support, the correct response in those moments of pain and rage. when katara is in great pain and rage, aang criticizes her for having a strong reactions and does not actually offer her understanding or love. he says he understands, but he does not show that to her. his treatment of her in this episode is so gross and "holier-than-thou." it is very much someone saying "calm down" when you're upset. forgiveness will not make her pain go away.
also katara says she didn't listen to aang on the pier? she still clearly shows a great amount of distate at the least and hate at worst for aang's comments on the matter. girl gives his ass quite the stink eye. she also says what stopped her from killing yon rha and says nothing about herself really.
in the moment katara says "I always wondered what kind of person could do such a thing, but now that I see you, I think I understand. There's just nothing inside you, nothing at all. You're pathetic and sad and empty." On the pier she says "I wanted to do it. I wanted to take out all my anger at him, but I couldn't. I don't know if it's because I'm too weak to do it or because I'm strong enough not to."
neither of these comments or katara's reaction point to her going "oh but i will feel badly about this." she fully admits she wants to do it. our girl wants justice to be served and if she is the vessel, she will do it.
but ultimately, it seems like she finds him too far beneath her to actually do it. she calls him sad and pathetic. she's likely imagined this moment before, but never with an old man groveling for his life. yon rha is pitiful in this moment and katara sees no point in killing him. on some level, it seems justice has been served.
now, zuko tries to listen to katara in this episode. he knows she's still upset about her mother, as she should be. losing your mom is the worst. it's not miracle someone who also lost his mom can relate. it's also not a reach to say that he helped katara process it and receive closure in the exact same way he did. his confrontation with ozai is not exclusively about his mother, but this incident goes down the exact same way as katara's confrontation with yon rha. the person who caused hurt groveling (somewhat in ozai's case bc he's a little bitch) to the person they harmed, who gets a chance to yell at them and tell them off for the hurt. ultimately, despite having the desire and chance to, they walk away, leaving destiny to serve justice.
zuko in this episode is very understanding to katara. when she's upset with him and tells him as much, he doesn't argue. he gets that she was really hurt by his actions. he supports her choice in the matter and how she wants to handle things. if katara wanted advice, she would’ve asked. if katara had doubts about what she wanted to do, she had plenty of time to change her mind. katara is headstrong and stubborn. girl knows what she wants and she'll be damned if she doesn't get it.
when katara tells zuko (yes, ZUKO, the guy she hates) about what happened to her mom, he is very kind and understanding to her. he lets her say her piece and remarks on what a brave woman kya was. what part of this says "zutara makes no sense?" if katara wanted to, she could've told this story to aang, but she doesn't. this is more opinionated, but like if you don't feel comfortable telling your love interest about that time your mom got full on murdered that's not a great sign. and of course maybe she could've been comfortable, but aang's response to her fury makes it very difficult to talk to him about it. like if someone told me to forgive and move on from my mother's cold blooded murder???? bitch we aren't friends anymore goodBYE.
also i am cackling NO EMOTION ZUKO???? that is so ridiculous. zuko is nothing but emotion. zuko goes from complete and utter despair to hope to anger in like 2 seconds flat. he has range. zuko, much like katara, is very passionate. you can see in that in the entirety of book one and how relentlessly dedicated he is to catching aang. never once does he give up hope, despite that he was looking for the avatar for what was nearing 3 years after a fucking century of no sighting. zuko expresses joy through smiling, shown multiple times with the gaang, he expresses sorrow through tears, like when he reunites with iroh, and he even expresses regret which you can see on his face on that cliffside with katara.
the southern raiders is an episode that truly exemplifies why kata/ang doesn't work in my opinion. throughout the series, aang never once is able to adequately calm katara down when she's upset and more often than not shrinks away. he doesn't really know what to do when she's mad because it doesn't fit with the typical view he has of katara. he sees her as very kind and sweet, which she is, but he struggles to see the nuance in her.
additionally, during all of this he does say he understands, but he never shows it. he compares katara to jet, someone who tried to take out an entire fucking town. he brings up his own experiences with grief, but he never says anything like "i know how hard it is to let go." aang expects katara to listen to his wisdom without any consideration to the emotions that are running high and actively stopping her from that. he's also expecting her to abide by the exact same principles as he is when she is literally not obligated to. she's not an air nomad. her beliefs are not the same.
this is a little late, but yes, katara does have a gentle spirit. however, katara also has a fierce spirit. the gentleness in katara is matched by her fierceness. she is always ready to fight for a cause she believes in. katara is almost always the first person who is ready to throw hands for something she believes in. one of katara's most driving forces is her righteous anger. she believes in justice and she always does her best to deliever it. katar rescues the earthbenders from prison, she delivers a town from fire nation tyranny, she fights for her right to waterbend. katara's gentleness and empathy is the very thing that brings forth the passion and anger in her, something i do not see recognized enough. the two coexist within her and reducing her to one or the other is a misinterpretation of her character.
also why did you bring ember island players into this? that's like the worst case for kata/ang. aang fucking kisses katara without asking her. that's just inexcusable so the fact that you use this as a point FOR kata/ang is completely ludicrous. that alone is enough to condemn kata/ang imo. that scene is absolutely appalling and disgusting. you are right about one thing tho. it really does show how immature aang is. he literally takes what her character in an abysmally written play says as truth, going as far as to ask her, ya know, the person, if she meant what she said. what the absolute fuck???? it doesn't get much more immature than being unable to separate fiction and reality.
reducing zutara to the bad boy and girl girl dynamic is pretty funny considering zuko is redeemed. once zuko is redeemed, his core trait almost seems to be how awkward he is. what about him says bad boy besides his scar and color scheme bestie. please, enlighten me. he is such an awkward disaster where is this "bad boy" label coming from. zutara only works because zuko redeems himself and tries to earn the forgiveness of katara. they're not enemies in love, which would be quite toxic. he lays down his life for her, he supports her, he trusts her. she saves him, she supports him, she trusts him. they confide in each other and provide understanding. not in the slightest is this toxic and i strongly suggest you watch them interact after their hug in the southern raiders because they have no issues talking or expressing how much they care for each other.
okay look I'm not gonna hate on Zutara stans, but they always use the Southern Raiders episode as proof of their relationship. yet, I can't help but feel like every time I watch this episode that it just proves how horrible Zutara would be, and how good Aang and Katara are for each other.
Katara is an extremely passionate character. I love it about her. It's one of my favorite qualities. She is passionate about everything she does, but sometimes that intense passion becomes intense anger and fury.
She easily gets overcome with revenge and hatred, and this is not a good balance with Zuko who feeds off anger and high emotions. Zuko is either no emotions or all emotions, and Katara is just always high emotions. This causes a serious imbalance in their relationship. It becomes unhealthy, and they feed and encourage each others flaws.
Aang is the opposite from Katara in this way. He has a balanced, peaceful outlook, and any intense emotions are often avoided and ignored. Aang and Katara balance each other out for the better in this way. Katara always helped Aang let himself feel and let himself imbrace all of the feelings he felt. Whereas Aang, shown in Southern Raiders, helps Katara see reason. He often would combats her intense rage with peace and harmony. Aangs words were what helped Katara see reason before she killed a man. Zuko didn't even understand why she wouldn't kill him. Katara has a gentle spirit and Aang knew she would be eaten up inside if she did kill him. but he also understood what it was like to be taken over by rage. Aang had a temper from the past Avatars and he hated it. He knew what it was like to be wrecked with guilt with what he did in rage. but he still chose forgiveness, and that was someone Katara needed. someone who could forgive and find peace in the chaos.
Katara and Zuko in just a single argument stresses me out. Literally it would just be Katara getting angry and Zuko getting angry and there would be zero forgiveness or balance or meeting each other half way. It would just be explosion. they make no sense.
people often say that Katara and Aang just always gave friend vibes in the show and that's why it's weird, but I think friends before lovers is the best way. besides, the show made a point throughout the show to always show how compatible they were for each other. they understood each other, they always knew when the other was upset. they also even balanced how immature Aang (Ember Island Players) would be emotionally with Katara talking reason and vice versa.
All of that to say, I do understand the appeal of Zutara for the whole toxic relationship, bad boy and good girl vibe. Like I definitely get it. Enemies to lovers is often a fan favorite trope. But Katang just made the most sense for the sake of the show and the characters.
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theowritesfiction · 2 years ago
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'Zuko Alone'
Ah, this iconic episode. Again, this has been analyzed to death and thousands of metas written about it, I'm not going to get into it that deeply. I'm just putting down my gut reactions as I watch and award Jerk Points where necessary.
I suppose this is the episode that really drills in the idea that Zuko is now on his redemption arc. I'm not sure Zuko should deserve applause for not robbing a man and his pregnant wife, but baby steps I guess. (I really have to wonder how Zuko was not freaking out about his 'honor' when he stole Song's chocobo). Also, Zuko reveals having a sudden sense of dry humor? Maybe a chicken flew over? Boy's got hidden talents.
The meat of the chapter is obviously the flashbacks. The turtleduck pond scene between Zuko and Ursa is sweet. Is this where the Azula throws rocks at turtleducks myth comes from? But Zuko actually throws a whole loaf at the ducks and says that Azula FEEDS the ducks like that. He wouldn't say 'feed' if Azula threw rocks at them. Is it unthinkable that Azula would throw rocks at the ducks? No, it's not. But this isn't evidence for it.
aww cute little dangerous ladies :) they are so sweet. obviously, Azula is a rather mean spirited child, but we know and love her anyway. I love her scheming even at this young age. It's just fascinating the way her mind works, being aware of Mai's crush on Zuko, and creating an opportunity for a bit of a mean prank. I don't believe that Mai was in any danger here, Azula's firebending is too precise, and Mai shows absolutely no fear. She only freaks out when Zuko charges at her. Also, I love Ty Lee just finding the whole thing hilarious.
Ah, good old warmonger Iroh, cheerfully laughing about burning down Ba Sing Se. Let's see, 30 hypocrite points to Iroh. Extra 20 points for sending Azula that stupid doll, and another 10 points for enabling the whole stupid doll discourse. Azula wanting her dad to become the next Fire Lord is completely valid, what's wrong with Ursa for not supporting her husband and Zuko for not supporting his father? Don't you guys know how getting to the top in hereditary monarchy works? Read a history book.
I don't really have too much to say about Zuko's time with Lee and his family. Learning that doing the right thing can be difficult and thankless is an important step on Zuko's journey.
Azula and Zuko's reaction to Iroh abandoning the siege of Ba Sing Se was very interesting. Okay, 9 year old Azula is completely insensitive - big whoop she's 9 - but she's also completely right, and Iroh will be seen as a disgrace and a quitter in the eyes of the whole nation. I imagine that Azula's disrespect for Azulon comes from her being subjected to Ozai's fantasies about how he should be the Fire Lord. So when Ursa berates her and then asks 'what is wrong with that child?' my reaction is - SHE IS YOUR CHILD, you goddamn stupid cow, maybe you should find out? 150 Jerk Points to Ursa.
Ozai showcasing Azula's firebending talent to Azulon and being so proud of her and then frowning when Zuko attempts to impress his grandfather, yeah, top tier parenting is in full force. Just for this, 100 Jerk Points to Ozai. Also, Ursa telling Zuko how proud she is with him for trying, but not saying a word about Azula's flawless performance? Yeah, she's playing favorites too. 50 more Jerk Points.
I think I get why the fandom loves Azulon so much, it's because he acts so outraged about Ozai's suggestion to betray Iroh, and the fandom loves Iroh, so... Azulon is clearly a great guy, right? The great guy then decides that as punishment Ozai should also lose his firstborn son. (300 Jerk Points) Also, sure Azula is very mean spirited, but she IS warning Zuko about Azulon's intentions and telling the truth. She is probably even going against Ozai's wishes on this. But yeah, Azula ALWAYS lies, sure.
Ursa leaving is obviously a very traumatic and defining moment in Zuko's life, as he loses his greatest ally and supporter at the court. I like how for Zuko all the events of what happened behind the scenes still remain shrouded in mystery. Obviously, Azula is being a horrible mean gremlin to Zuko, but come on - it's a sibling rivalry, and Zuko has just lost his great defender. Of course Azula is enjoying what she thinks is her victory lap.
Obviously, this is one of the most lauded episodes in the entire show, and I can easily see why. I am somewhat surprised that Ozai earned fewer Jerk Points than I expected - but he is barely a character in this, he's more of a threatening, looming presence.
Also, this episode just made me realize how much I needed a similar look at the fire sibling childhood at the royal court, only from Azula's perspective. I think we would have gotten something like that if Book 4 had happened...
Jerk Points for Book 2:
Azulon - 300 Iroh - 210 Ursa, General Fong  - 200 Zuko - 120 Ozai - 100 Aang, Bumi, Lao Beifong - 50 Sokka - 40 Pakku - 30
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yuueee · 4 years ago
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𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 fire lord! zuko x fire lady! reader
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authors note: Firstly I just want to apologize for the hiatus, I want to be more active from now on! I’m starting finals next week so I’ll thankfully be done with this semester soon and will also have more time to write. Anyways I hope you enjoy!! I also want to apologize if Zuko is ooc here.
requests:
First of all, your tumblr looks sooooo cool! I’m looking forward to reading all of your future work! Imagine this: Zuko is annoyed by people constantly asking him about a future heir, but when one day his friends also start to ask, and even his uncle and his own mother join the baby fever train, it’s too much for him so he complains about it to his wife who only reassures him with her lovely self and her understanding smiles, not telling him yet that she is in fact pregnant. What do you think ?
Can you write an imagine with zuko who is clearly, utterly and soooo obviously in love with the reader (outgoing, courageous, loving) and maybe with the prompt “So you...well...I mean...I could give you a massage?” Thank you a lot! ^^
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As the current Fire Lord and Lady, it wasn’t uncommon for the citizens of the Fire Nation to be deeply invested in your relationship - it was to be expected especially due to the uncommon nature of your union. What you weren’t expecting were Zuko’s close friends and relatives being wrapped up in your business as well. Being outside of team avatar, you were naturally more welcoming to his friend's constant questioning, but Zuko on the other hand was not. He couldn’t understand why they cared so much all of the sudden. They hadn’t been as interested when he was in a relationship with Mai - so why did they care so much now?
It wasn’t as if you weren’t getting along with his friends or family - you got along with them quite well and were very loved by them in fact. Outside of them though, you weren’t always as welcomed, unfortunately, the Fire Nation was still coming to terms with having the daughter of an Earth Kingdom General as their Fire Lady. The arranged marriage was put in place to solve several different ‘problems’. After Zuko broke up with Mai several years ago, he hadn’t begun dating anyone else due to being so busy but he’d eventually be expected to have an heir in the next coming years.
Although they had gotten better, tensions among the Earth Kingdom Colonies were still high and both sides were having difficulty keeping them under control. Eventually, an agreement was made for the daughter of a high-ranking Earth Kingdom General to marry Zuko - that daughter being yourself. Arranged marriages certainly weren’t unheard of in either nation - but a union of this sort was definitely unique.
Though he certainly wasn’t thrilled about it, Zuko understood that it was for the good of the people - and it wasn’t like there was anything he could do about it anyway. Even with his position as the recently crowned Fire Lord there still wasn’t much he could do.
On the other hand, you understandably had some issues coming to terms with your new situation at first. Despite being known by those around you as friendly and just a joy, in general, to be around - the woman Zuko had first met was quite the opposite. He could recall it like it was yesterday. Though it was awkward and stressful at the time, he now considered it to be the best day of his life.
“She’s in there.” A female servant whispered to the young man quietly, as if she didn’t want to speak loud enough for you to hear from your place at the balcony.
“Thanks,” he replied with a soft smile, bidding the elderly woman goodbye as she shuffled down the hallway. Turning towards you he was faced with a warm tropical breeze. His advisors had arranged for the two of you to meet a couple of weeks before that dreaded day, and for some reason, they thought Ember Island was the appropriate place. A combination of anxiety and general distaste for being on the island was causing him to be quite stressed - which led him to be more awkward than usual.
“Um, hello?” he spoke up faintly, as if not to startle you. He was sure you heard him come in, but you hadn’t turned around since he entered the small room. You stood several feet away with your hands placed on the railing, your [hair-texture] locks sifting gently with each gust of wind along with your predominantly red clothing. It was against what you had wanted to wear that day but it didn’t seem as if you had much a say in anything going on in your life recently.
You understood that doing this would be for the greater good of the Earth Kingdom and that your situation could technically be worse. You could have been married off to some old creep - but if you were being honest with yourself being married to the Fire Lord sounded just as bad. As you turned around though, you were surprised at the face you were met with.
He had a much younger face than you had expected, but the slight hollowness of his cheeks and the worry lines on his forehead told you that he had experienced things beyond his years. He also happened to be quite handsome - not that you wanted to admit it though. You had been bent on hating him ever since your father told you who you’d be wedding.
He was the leader of the Fire Nation, of course, you would hate him! The country that has had a century-long reign of terror on the world - and now you found yourself engaged to their leader. What had you done so wrong in your life to deserve this?
As much as you wanted to plan on running away the first chance you got, you knew deep inside that it would only cause tensions to increase and more issues to arise. You wanted the best for the residents of the Earth Kingdom, so you agreed to go through with it, but did so resentfully - which you had every right to feel that way.
But as you glared up at the young male next to you and tried to keep your attention off of the scar over his left eye - you couldn’t help but wonder what if this was the man who joined the avatar in defeating the Fire Lord? He wasn’t what you expected at all. Standing in full armor with his hair holding the fire nation insignia in a top knot - he looked awkward and out of place. You almost felt bad for him - keyword is almost.
“What do you need Fire Lord?” you questioned him, turning your gaze back to the rushing waters of the ocean.
“Um,” he faltered slightly, probably not anticipating your response. “I just wanted to introduce myself-“
“I know who you are.” you brushed him off, turning around and walking towards him - grabbing his collar and pulling him to your height. “We might be getting married but if you think for a second I will ever be nice to you, you are sadly mistaken.” you hissed at him before letting him go and walking out of the door.
Zuko couldn’t recall how long he stood there watching your form leave, all he remembered was standing there like an idiot with a red face. He hadn’t expected you to like him of course but he surely wasn’t expecting that.
As he reminisced on memories long ago while sipping his Uncle’s tea, he couldn’t help the smile that appeared on his features. As stated earlier, It may have been an unpleasant memory back then but now he considered the day he met you to be the best day of his life. Though your relationship had surely faired through many complications for a while in the beginning - surprisingly, you became fond of Zuko over the years.
It was certainly a long time coming but that strange friendship you two shared eventually evolved into love against all odds. That didn’t mean you weren’t constantly giving him an ear full (as you should tbh) your first months together. But as time progressed and you learned that he may not have been the evil prince that you had heard so much about, at least not anymore.
He wasn’t that same angsty teenager he had been years ago looking for the avatar, he was now a young adult growing quite well into the position of the Fire Lord - which was no easy feat. Taking another sip of tea, he watched his Uncle and Mother come to take a seat with him.
“How is it, Nephew?” His Uncle asked with a mischievous grin and a raise of two bushy eyebrows - albeit already knowing the answer.
“It’s great as always Uncle,” Zuko responded with a small smile, his Uncle's expression making him just a bit concerned, causing his Mother to chuckle. Though she had gained a few wrinkles over the past couple of years, she was still as radiant as she had been in her youth. She was also much happier being able to live with the family she had been apart from for many years without fearing Ozai’s intervention. It came with a price though - it seemed as if her relationship with her estranged daughter who was now on the run would never be resolved. She never lost hope though.
“Zuko,” his mother began speaking, catching the young Fire Lord’s attention with a raise of his eyebrows. “When are you going to give me a grandchild?” She asked teasingly, eager to see his reaction. In turn, her son had barely kept himself from spitting out the mouthful of tea.
“Why do you ask that?” He choked out in between a series of coughs with Iroh patting his back gently.
“You haven’t?” She asked in between chuckles, noticing how her son got bewildered at the mention of having children of his own. “You know you’ll eventually have to have an heir at some point right?”
“It’s not that I haven’t thought about it... but Y/N and I are just really busy.” He thought aloud, wishing he could run a hand through his hair - but was unable to since it was pinned in a top knot.
“Zuko, you never know when you’ll get this time of peace again. What better time to raise a child?” Iroh reassured, wiggling his eyebrows. Letting out a groan, the young Fire Lord attempted to mentally prepare himself to go through this same conversation every time he visited his family.
Over the next couple of weeks, the constant badgering he received from his friends and close relatives started to frustrate him further, so who could he turn to? You of course.
Being married for several years now, you were more than used to Zuko’s rants, so you simply just reclined on the bed with an eyebrow raised as he paced back and forth.
“I don’t get it! Why is everyone so concerned about when we’re going to have a child or not?” He questioned seemingly no one as you attempted to keep your face from contorting into a smile. It wasn’t as if you didn’t understand his frustrations, it was just funny to watch, especially since you were already pregnant.
You were surprised that he hadn’t noticed honestly, with you staying in for the past few days due to feeling sick. Who could blame him though? It wasn’t as if he wasn’t attentive and loving as a husband, he was extremely busy as of recent-and also just dense at times. After noticing his silence for a few moments as he looked over the balcony, you decided that maybe this could be the perfect time to tell him.
Getting up and sneaking behind him, you snaked your arms around his waist and turned so you could see his face. He let out an audible sigh of what sounded like relief before returning your smile and your hug.
“You want a head massage?” You questioned pulling away, wiggling your fingers playfully.
“Please.”
For the past couple of years, Zuko had been letting his hair grow out so now it rested around his shoulders.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.” You started tentatively, but as usual, he was too caught up in the sensation of your fingers raking across his scalp to entirely understand what you were saying, so he just nodded in response. “I’m pregnant.” You stated plainly, ceasing your scratching. Not getting a response for a few moments, you turned to face him with a worried expression.
Much to your surprise he was grinning up at you and placed a warm hand on your cheek. “Really?”
“Yes. I’m sorry it took me so long to tell y-“ you were abruptly cut off by him pulling you into another hug and placing a kiss on the crown of your head. “So you’re happy about it?”
“Couldn’t be happier.” He responded sincerely, leaning into your shoulder so you couldn’t see the redness on his cheeks.
Maybe your family and friends would finally leave the two of you alone now?
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taglist: @practicallylivesonline @chewymoustachio
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gladerwolfstarkimagines · 4 years ago
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Imagine being the reserved quiet niece of Ursa and cousin of Zuko and Azula, a powerful fire bender who catches Ty lee’s attention. You struggle to find a way to show her you return her affection until Azula threatens her....
(Note: this is loosely based on the comic the search which takes place after the tv show ended and follows Zuko finding his mother)
You’d grown up in a village terrified of the fire nation. Your family used to be the proud respected descendants of Avatar Roku....and then Fire lord Azulon showed up and demanded one of the line marry his son Ozai. Your aunt was stolen away just for being linked to a fire bender and so when you developed fire bending your family were horrified. They forbade you from ever using your bending but refused to explain why. So of course you ignored them and carried on working to be the best fire bender ever. You absorbed every technique you could read about and were advancing quickly....until your family caught you. They were furious but you were determined never to stop and so they saw there was nothing else to do but tell you the truth. They finally told you what fire bending had done to their family and urged you never to show your power. Who knew what the royal family would do if they knew you existed, if they’d take you too...and so you stopped. You stopped fire bending but you were restless, so much energy bottled up inside you, and so trained in other physical disciplines. Your family disapproved of your boisterous activities but they were better than fire bending so they allowed it. Even when your aunt returned from the fire nation they didn’t lessen their rules on you an inch. You listened to them dutifully but continuously felt the itch your fire in your palms. You vowed you would get to use your fire bending some day...some how.  
8 years later
Your family had socially and physically isolated themselves so much you were unaware the war had ended even months after Zuko had been crowned. It wasn’t until said new fire lord appeared on your doorstep that you realised everything had changed.
You were outside with your little cousin Kiyi when a well dressed man appeared. You immediately identified him as some noble man from the fire nation or maybe even a royal and tensed. The fear instilled in you was strong and you swept your cousin behind you before getting in a defensive stance. "Who are you and what do you want?" you called adrenaline pulsing through you. The man started towards you and you drew the knife you always kept on you "don’t come any closer". The man raised his hands and you realised he wasn’t quiet a man yet, he was about your age and had an odd burn across his eye. "What do you want" you said louder and Kiyi clutched your legs. "I’m looking for a woman, Ursa...does she live here?". "No" you said "go away". "Are you sure?' he asked "please it’s important i find her, here’s a photo of her". He went to step forwards and you raised your hand. "Okay here" he said and put it down before walking away. You picked the photo up and before you could do anything Kiyi frowned "mommy!". "Mommy?" the boy asked confused "so you do know her? She’s here? I have to see her!". He started walking closer and wasn’t slowing down. You didn’t want him to get near you and so used your best attack. Your fire practically leapt from you after being supressed for so many years and hit him square in the chest sending him flying backwards. "Go away" you yelled loudly "now or i will hurt you". "Zuko!" someone yelled and you saw a group come running around the corner. "Kiyi run! Tell Ursa to run!" you yelled and turned to face them. You shot some warning jets of flame “leave now” you yelled trying to feign confidence. A girl dressed in blue threw up protection while a girl in pink worked her way towards you with super human agility. You fired at her but she dodged your flames as easily as if you were a beginner bender. The girl reached you and you switched to close range attacks and the two of you became locked in a close combat. “No stop!” the boy yelled but neither you or the girl stopped. The girl was dodging ever single attack you threw her but you were getting closer. You singed her t-shirt when the girl landed some punches along your muscles. Your body cramped in pain and you flinched clutching your arm. You raised your other arm but nothing happened. You raised both hands but again no flame. Your fire was gone. “My bending....” you gasped and the girl knocked the knife from your hand. “Ty lee stop it!” the boy yelled and the girl in pink simply backflipped back to the group. “I don’t know what you did to me but I still won’t let you take her” you growled. The others matched your defensive stance but the boy pushed past them “no leave her I think she’s my...” when a voice cut him off.  "Zuko?". You turned to see your aunt running forwards her eyes fixed on the man. "Zuko!" she cried and rushed past you to throw her arms around him. They were both sobbing by the time the rest of your family arrived and you were utterly confused. "What’s going on?" you asked loudly and Ursa smiled "y/n dear it’s okay, this is my son Zuko, he’s your cousin, it’s okay!".
You family flocked around Zuko and all had similar reactions to Ursa. You watched still clutching your arm as they all headed to the house. The group with Zuko went to follow and you zoned in on the girl who had done this to you. “Hey you” you called at the pink girl. She glanced at you before bounding over “i’m Ty lee, it’s lovely to meet you, your fire bending is really pretty!”. “What did you do to me?” you cried in reply and the girls smile wavered. “Sorry about that, I’m sort of swore to protect your cousin so I had to attack you, i used Chi blocking on you don’t worry it’s not permanent”. “Chi what? That’s not important...what do I do to reverse it? Undo what you did!”. “ I can’t make it come back instantly” Ty lee frowned “it takes a while for your body to repair but it’ll come back soon I promise”. You stared at your hands “you swear it’ll come back”. “Totally” she smiled crossing her heart and you stared confused why she was so happy. Was she mocking you or something? You were about to ask her when your aunt called “Y/n come meet your cousins Zuko and Azula” and with a glance to Ty lee (who was still smiling) you made your way inside.  
Ursa introduced you but that was all the encouragement Zuko needed, he seemed thrilled to have a cousin his age and launched into a thorough interogation to work out everything about you while his sister just glared. It was hard not to be caught up in his infectious happiness. He called over his friends to meet you and you noticed how proudly he called you his cousin, a large grin on his face.  When the group reached you Zuko smiled “guys this is my cousin y/n! Y/n this is Sokka, Katara, Ty lee, Mai and Aang”. They all shot greetings at you and you blinked in reply. “Aang as in avatar aang....”. “Yeah” the boy smiled awkwardly and you stared “my cousin the firelord is friends with the avatar...the avatar and fire lord are in my house right now...”. “It gets old soon I promise” Zuko’s girlfriend Mai told you and everyone laughed. Zuko was called away by your adoring family but his friends stayed around you. They all began asking you questions excited to get to know you and arrived at your bending pretty soon. "You took Zuko out surprisingly easy" Mai smirked "you must be a skilled fire bender". You glanced at your elders worried but none of them were even listening, they were all staring at Zuko amazed. You’d never seen them look so relaxed before and it dawned on you that Zuko being fire lord would change everything. It would free your family from their fear and you smiled emotional at the thought. “Y/n?” the avatar asked bringing you back and you nodded "sorry yeah i’m a good fire bender" you admitted "well i guess...i’ve never had any training or actually met another fire bender". "Really?" Katara asked and when you nodded she smiled "so you’re a prodigy!" she cried and you blushed when someone started to laugh. You followed the laugh to it’s owner, your cousin Azula who was watching you with a cruel sneer. "A prodigy? How can she be growing up here?". You narrowed your eyes but another girl scolded her "you don’t need resources to be a prodigy that’s the whole point Azula"  Ty lee snapped before turning back to you "I bet you’re awesome!" she smiled winking and you blushed.
Your family celebrated well into the night and you wanted to join them but something was worrying you...your bending still hadn’t returned yet despite what Ty lee had told you. You walked away from the house and practiced the basic moves you’d known since you were 5 but could conjure a single flame. “Maybe wait a bit longer?” a voice called and you saw the said cause of your predicament. “Sorry I don’t know exactly how long but they will come back I swear” Ty lee frowned. You frowned staring down at your hands “I’ve spent so long having to hide my bending and now I can show it, they’re gone”. “Only temporarily!” Ty lee assured you “but I get it and i’m sorry....it must’ve been hard hiding who you were all this time?" she asked and you nodded "i guess". Silence settled and Ty lee stared at you. "You don’t talk much" she observed and you blushed. “I noticed in the party you’re rather quiet, that does not run in common with your family” she smirked as your family could be heard from your position outside. "Sorry i was always told to never speak about what i can do and so to have an audience just waiting to listen....it’s pretty anxiety provoking". The girl frowned and laid a hand on your hand "i’m sorry i didn’t realise, we don’t have to talk about that, we can talk about something else". You didn’t get why the pretty girl was with you at all but suspected she felt bad for disabling your bending. "Thank you" you said politely and a silence settled again. You winced, fearing this would get awkward but Ty lee seemed to be a cunning socialite. "So what’s your favourite colour?". "My favourite colour?" you asked amused. Ty lee nodded "your aura is hard to read....you’re quiet hard to read actually and that intrigues me so humour me". You blushed as the beautiful chi blocker stared at you intensely and answered her questions.
A lot of time had passed and still the two of you were outside and Ty lee’s constant chattering broke past your nervous nature. "So what’s your life like?" you asked now more comfortable "growing up so high born must’ve been cool, so much power and freedom..." you said wistfully. Ty lee frowned and you were immediately worried you’d upset her. "I’m sorry have i...". "No" she smiled at you "you didn’t say anything wrong, you’re right, i had many opportunities women don’t get but they came with expectations and set backs" she said glancing back at the house "i did things i wasn’t proud of just to be different...you see i have 6 sister who look exactly like me and so i struggled to stand out and be different. I tried desperately to not fade into the background and guess i fell to extreme measures in the process". You frowned and Ty Lee sighed before smiling "but that was in the past! Now i’m a kyoshi warrior hired with the protection of the fire lord!” she cried “my life’s pretty good now”. “I’m pleased for you” you smiled and Ty lee smiled back at you. You noticed she had a habit of staring really intensely and with how beautiful and nice she was it was a bit too much for your tired state “we should go back to the party” you blushed looking down and Ty lee nodded “sure!” not seeming to notice the effect she had on you.
2 days later
Your cousins arrival had certainly shaken things up but things were slowly getting back to normal and your chores were still expected of you and so you took your cart into town to get the shopping like every week. You were almost back to the secluded area of you home when you noticed a group of green women on the path ahead. They all had their faces painted white and had fans.  You frowned confused at the entourage your cousin travelled with when one of them popped out infront of you. "Y/n!" Ty lee cried "these are the women i work with the Kyoshi warriors, everyone this is y/n Zuko’s cousin" she said exposing you to the large group of women. "Hi" you smiled awkwardly and they all nodded to you “is Zuko okay?” you asked her. “Ow yeah Suki and the girls are just here to make sure it stays that way...that is a lot of shopping, do you need some help?" Ty lee asked looking at your full cart and you shook your head "i’m fine thanks". "Are you sure? It’s no trouble” she smiled and before you could protest she spun around to her friends. “Suki i’ll be back in a bit" Ty lee called and twirled back around to you. She hopped up beside you on the cart and you blushed as she perched on the armrest of your seat. “Lets go” she smiled.
Ty lee had a habit of finding you and joining you in whatever you were doing. You didn’t mind, she was nice company but that was also the problem. Any time she was around you became a soft slow thinking mess, made worse by Ty lee’s lack of boundaries and intense kindness.
Case in point, Ty lee was quiet for 3 seconds before she began complimenting you. "It’s so cool you can drive one of these things" she smiled and you blushed "it’s not hard really i snap it when i want the horse to go and pull it to stop...". "Well i still think that’s cool" Ty lee cried and you looked away so she wouldn’t see your blush. You’d have to learn to stop blushing around her or she’d realise you liked her. You reached your home and climbed down as Ty lee somersaulted off. You watched impressed before turning to the cart "if we unload it here that’ll be best". Ty lee nodded and watched you pick up three boxes. Ty lee stepped forwards and heaved two but they didn’t lift up. Ty lee frowned and tried again but they wouldn’t budge. "Those are probably a bit heavy" you frowned "try a bag". Ty lee lifted a bag of vegetables and then saw you discreetly lift the two boxes she’d been struggling with. "Wow you're so strong" she cried and you blushed "i’m not...” you stammered but Ty Lee wouldn’t drop it. "No you are i couldn’t move them and you just picked them up like that...i bet your arms are huge". Your blush was painfully obvious and there was no hiding it which made you angry, was she doing this on purpose? Why was she showering you in compliments if not to try embarrassing you? "I...i’m not...you're one to talk" you replied glancing at her toned physique before becoming horrified at what you’d just said and done. Ty lee didn’t seem to mind though she just blushed and carried on helping to unload the cart.
When you’d unloaded the cart Ty lee lingered as you sorted the supplies away and when you’d finished she still hadn’t made a move to leave. You liked being around her but knew you were so obvious with your crush she had to leave or she’d easily work it out. “So that’s all the shopping sorted, thanks for helping” you said and Ty lee smiled “no problem”. You nodded staring at her waiting for her to leave but Ty lee just smiled at you. “So i guess i’ll see you around?” you asked and Ty lee took the hint “ow i’m so sorry I bet you’ve got so much work...i’ll get out of your hair”. Ty lee smiled but you noticed she seemed a bit embarrassed and it killed you that you’d hurt her. So against the sensible part of your mind telling you to avoid the girl if you didn’t want to make a fool of yourself, you called after her. “Ty lee” you called “would you...do you want to stay for dinner?” you asked. “Really?” she asked smiling again and you nodded “we always cook too much so you’d be helping but of course you don’t have to...” you started when Ty lee cut you off.  “I’d love to!” she cried and you nodded cheeks pink as you led her into the house. Zuko and Mai were inside already with your family and everyone looked up when you walked in together. “Y/n’s here great we can start” your grandmother smiled “and she brought a guest”. “You all know Ty lee” you said awkwardly as Ty lee beamed beside you “y/n invited me! I hope you don’t mind”. You blushed as your family all told Ty lee she was welcome and made room for her beside you. “Your family’s so nice” she grinned at you and you blushed very aware of said family watching you and Ty lee very smugly...they knew you had a weakness for nice girls.
Mai was also watching and she smiled to see you blush any time Ty lee grabbed you or came close to you, two thing with Ty lee seemed to do to you a lot. Her friend has definitely brought her A-game.
You saw Ty lee around a lot, especially as your family seemed to find any excuse to bring the talented chi blocker anywhere near you. The excuses varied from sending Ty lee to help you with the horse, to calling you in for dinner, to having her bring you spare change on your daily errands. Ty lee seemed more than willing to help and no matter how crowded the room was she’d somehow notice you and make her way over to you. It didn’t matter who she was with she’d drop what she was doing and appear by your side, usually not moving away from you for the rest of the night. At first you found the constant attention and looks from your family embarrassing but you soon realised embarrassment was worth it just to have Ty lee by you. She made you feel special and important in a town and family that had always wanted you to be quiet. Ty lee seemed to make it her mission to get you to open up and you found you liked it. And her of course....a lot. The situation where you realised you couldn’t deny it anymore was when you ran into Ty lee in town. Ty lee surrounded by adoring suitors from your village what she caught sight of you. She called you over but never a fan of the boys your age you waved her away and expected that to be the end of it. Seconds later you heard heavy breathing and Ty lee appeared. "Phew your village has a lot of friendly people sometimes it’s a bit much...can I walk with you?”. You blushed realising she'd ditched all the boys in your town just for you and nodded "sure" and led her away from the group of simmering boys watching. As much as every encounter with her left you feeling dazed and humiliated at whatever embarrassing thing you’d done, you hoped Zuko would never leave so Ty lee could stay. You were well and truly smitten.
1 week later
Your whole family had been anxious for so long that when something did go wrong their response time was impeccable. You were all gathered out of bed minutes after Zuko called and stood around listening as he explained how his sister Azula had escaped his custody and was raising a revolt against him. You listened worried as your cousin explained what Azula was capable of and watched as everyone hurried to set protection plans in place. You wouldn’t be called on for your opinion or skills so you were just listening in the background when someone mentioned Ty lee. You perked up and noticed she wasn’t here. "I’m sorry but what was that about Ty lee?" you called and Zuko frowned "Azula kidnapped her, she took her as a hostage so we wouldn’t follow her". "What? We have to get her back!". Mai nodded "that’s the plan". "Well i want to help, if you need fighters i volunteer, I can leave tonight". "Y/n" your mother gasped but you shook her away "i’m a good fire bender I can help get Ty lee back". Zuko smiled "thanks y/n but were not actually planning on engaging with Azula". "But how will you get Ty lee back?". "Hopefully with a trade she likes those" Mai said dryly "it’s too difficult to sneak into Azula’s base so that’s our only option. She'll offer one we just have to wait". "Just wait?" you asked and Zuko frowned "I know it sounds backwards but we could do more harm than good attacking Azula". “That’s only if we lose” you pointed out and Zuko nodded “that’s true but my sister is hard to beat one on one and a group is too easy to spot, we’ll just have to wait”. You took in what Zuko said and fell silent. You stayed mute the rest of the meeting and may’ve seemed calm or passive to the others but you weren’t. You took in every single thing they said, every detail about Azula’s camp and snook away before the meeting had ended.
Azula’s camp was not as impressive as you thought it would be, just a small compound that was very easy to break into. Ty lee seemed to be the main prisoner and so you listened to some guards and found her location. You arrived outside the house you were sure Ty lee was being kept in and calmed yourself slowing your breathing and concentrating on what you were here to do. You waited for a guard to approach and took his keys before knocking him unconscious. You hid him in a shaded area before opening the door to Ty lee’s prison. You took out the first guard you saw with fire bending and he went down unconscious. A second tried to rush you but you winded him with fire bending and then kicked him over for good measure. The man fell over and went to get back up but your flared your fire "stay down" you yelled and he did. You straightened and looked around when a voice cried out to you. Relief flooded through your body to see Ty lee stood there and you rushed to her. "Ty lee! You’re....please tell me you’re okay?". She nodded "i’m fine! I can’t believe you’re here”. You smiled at her before spinning around to the conscious guard. "Open her cell!" you commend and the man scrambled to get it open. Ty lee swept out as soon as it was open and you pushed the two guards inside locking it and taking the keys. "You saved me" Ty Lee cried and she flung her arms around you. You hugged her back and smiled, going as pink as her top, "well i....we should go" you tugged Ty lee’s hand and noticed as she winced. "What’s wrong?" you asked and she shook her head "nothing lets go". "No you’re hurt...". You noticed how she stood awkwardly putting more weight on one foot and frowned "your ankle, you can’t walk". Ty lee shook her head worried how you’d escape if she couldn’t run "no i’m fine i promise". "I’m not letting you injure yourself more" you told her. Ty lee went to assure you she could exert it a bit more when you suddenly picked her up. Ty lee yelped as you carefully swept her up in your arms. "Is this okay? Does it hurt if I do this?". Now Ty lee was the blushing embarrassed one, you were holding her up so easily and securely, it was impressive. "It’s fine" she smiled "thank you" and you nodded. "Okay hold on" and took off into a run.
You made it back to your town with only minor incidences. It had been a rough night regardless and your arms ached painfully when you put Ty lee down having reached your home. Zuko and the others were still gathered inside and you hooked Ty lee’s arm around your neck helping her to the door. You pushed the door open and led Ty lee in. Mai glanced at you before doing a double take registering who was beside you. "Ty lee, you’re okay!" she cried rushing to hug her friend. You stepped away from her so Mai could hug her but rushed to grab Ty lee a chair. You seated it behind her and tapped Ty lee’s shoulder lightly. She took the seat shooting you a smile as the others all frowned. "But how?" Zuko asked. "Y/n" ty lee said proudly "she was amazing! She stormed Azula’s camp and carried me the whole way back!". Mai noticed how you brushed away Ty lee’s compliments and were blushing vividly. She also noticed how you stood protectively behind Ty lee and how Ty lee twisted in her seat to look up at you. "No it’s the bravest most valiant thing i’ve ever seen!" Ty lee cried and launched into a full blow by blow retelling. Mai watched as her oblivious friend made your blush worse and Mai smiled. It was clear you liked Ty lee but even clearer you didn’t realise Ty lee liked you too. Ty lee may come across as perpetually friendly but Mai could tell when she was just being nice and when she was genuinely impressed. Ty lee was indeed very impressed with you.
Ty lee’s POV
“I can’t believe you got yourself kidnapped” Mai scolded her and Ty lee rolled her eyes. Katara had worked on her ankle but it was a bad sprain so would take some time to heal. So Ty lee was forced to go to bed when all she wanted to do was help with the Azula problem. Mai however was very strict and seemed just as determined as you to make sure she was okay. “I didn’t mean to get kidnapped, plus it’s fine i’m back now!”. “Thanks to y/n” Mai commented and Ty lee nodded “I know, the way she risked everything just to help me...she’s really something” she sighed wistfully. Mai scoffed glaring at her and Ty lee paused “what?”. “You are not this clueless!”. “What?” Ty lee cried and Mai rolled her eyes. “You seriously don’t see that y/n is smitten with you?”. “What!” Ty lee yelled going pink “why do you think that?”. “Ow I don’t know maybe because she’s an introvert who avoids anyone but the two of you are always together, or because she brings you to her family dinner every week, or how whenever she’s around you she can barely look you in the eye without blushing....or how she tore down Azula’s camp risking her life just because you were there and then literally carried you back in her arms”. Mai sat next to Ty lee with a bounce and Ty lee stared “I....I never noticed”. “Figures, you never notice all the people infatuated with you but please tell me you realise you’re just as smitten for her?”. Ty lee blushed profoundly and looked down “i’m that obvious huh?”. “Yup, you’re not fooling anyone with all those excuses to run y/n’s errands with her”. Ty lee chuckled and then paused “you really think she likes me too?” she asked coyly. Mai rolled her eyes at how clueless her friend was but smiled despite herself ”definitely, so go get your girl”.
Your POV
After Ty lee was safely returned home and her ankle seen to by the healer Katara you promptly collapsed into bed. Your mission had been a resounding success but that didn’t mean you weren’t bruised and tired. You had just extinguished the candle when there was a knock on the door. You dragged yourself out of bed angrily and yanked open your door “what is....Ty lee?”. Ty lee stood there smiling at you and for once she didn’t have her signature confident aura. “Sorry were you sleeping? I can come back....”. “No it’s fine come in”. You led Ty lee into your room and hurried to tidy it and relight the candles “sorry for the mess I....wait what are you doing up! Katara said no walking" you cried realising she was on her feet. "It’s fine I have crutches!" she said happily gesturing to them but you shook your head "you should be in bed resting!". "You should know by now i can never stay still" she grinned and you rolled your eyes "fine but please sit down".
Ty lee would’ve argued she was fine but you seemed so certain she took the chair you offered her. You fussed around her, getting a cushion for her foot and one for her back and Ty lee blushed to see how much care you were taking. Maybe Mai was right....
"There" you said finished, satisfied Ty lee was comfy. "Now how can i help?". "It’s kinda the opposite...i’m here to thank you" Ty lee beamed "you saved my life tonight y/n and literally carried me to safety". "It was nothing" you tried to brush it off but Ty lee shook her head grabbing your hand "it wasn’t! Mai told me how everyone told you not to do it and how you actually disobeyed them by coming to get me". You glanced at her hand over yours and relaxed "well i...i was worried Azula might be being harsh to you, i figured even if i got caught i might distract her from you...". Ty lee blushed "that was very sweet of you but you don’t need to risk yourself just for me". You shrugged "i think you’re worth it" and Ty lee frowned "what do you mean?". You shrugged embarrassed "well you’re the nicest person i’ve ever met! I actually thought it was an act at first you’re that nice but it’s not" you smiled "you were so kind to me and for no reason...you just cared" you chuckled "i think we need more people like you in the world Ty lee, you’re very special". Ty lee let out a mini exclamation of emotion and suddenly threw her arms around you. You let her hug you, used to surprise hugs by now but you weren’t used to her kissing you. Ty lee wrapped her arms around your neck and pecked your lips with her own. You broke away immediately thinking it was a mistake but Ty lee just blushed looking at you "was that...was it not okay i did that?". "I...you mean you actually meant to kiss me?". "Yes silly!". "Because i saved your life?". "No because i like you". When you blushed Ty lee smiled "that’s a good sign right?" and when you nodded she leant back in. You were prepared this time but not for how great it would feel. Everything about her, how she felt, how her arms felt wrapped around you neck, how you felt wrapped together just made it bliss. It was a sweet but long kiss and when Ty lee pulled away you blinked your eyes open and stared at the wall in a daze "wow". Ty lee giggled looking up at you before you gasped. "You’re stood up! Ty lee!" you scolded her and she rolled her eyes "i’m fine, plus you realise you’re practically holding me up?" She asked and you realised without meaning to you were, you had your arms around her waist and she was hovering off the floor. "Ow well...i guess this works". "So if i want to stand up i just have to hold onto you ever time i guess" Ty lee grinned and you blushed. "I mean i don’t object to that". Ty lee smiled and stared up at you "good". Ty lee kept gazing at you and you lasted second before you looked away embarrassed. You blushed and Ty lee laughed so you just pulled her into you so you couldn’t see her face. Ty lee chuckled “you’re adorable” and settled her head against your neck. “You’re one to talk” you replied and Ty lee blushed too.
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So I got Ty lee feels which has honestly never happened to me before but now I am obsessed! So might do a part 2 because I have lots of Ty lee ideas rn 😂
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usedtobe-angstyoikawa · 4 years ago
Text
Mask
Zuko x reader (tea shop au)
Summary: you become friends with the two baristas from your favorite tea shop and slowly start to fall for one of them (keep in mind this takes place in the modern day, covid is still around sorry :p)
A/n: I came up with this love story kind of idea while in quarantine since where I’m from things are still pretty messy (not just because of covid but the whole country is a mess lol) so it’s hard for me to imagine love scenarios that are so different from the reality I’m currently living in. That being said, this seemed to be good enough to make my brain enjoy it while also tricking it into believing maybe it could happen to me one day (even though I’m pretty sure I’m gonna die alone :’) Anyways I was thinking of making these a series? Don’t know maybe I won’t finish it I’m too busy but I’ll give it a try
Warnings: none at lest yet
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Being alive during a pandemic isn’t easy, not to mention how stressing it is to be a college student as well. The combination of trying to take care of yourself while also loosing your mind and dealing with anxiety isn’t the best. The student life is already tiring on its own, but the social interaction and good fun memories that come with it makes it a little less dreadful. Of course, that is gone now too, so we’re left with only the overworking-yourself-till-your-body-gives-out part of the experience. It may sound depressing but after a bit more than a year you learn to live with it, you adapt and find new ways to relax and have fun.
That’s why you’ve been visiting the new tea shop near your house. It opened a few months ago and since you first stepped foot in the warm, inviting place you haven’t been able to go a day without their so contagious good vibes (and tea too, obviously). Well maybe you don’t visit it every single day but at least three times a week, on mondays, wednesdays and fridays to be exact. It’s become part of your routine, not only is it good because it implies spending time outside of your room but the friendly, cozy atmosphere of that place also helps you concentrate on your studies and actually get the work done. And yeah maybe having to wear a mask the whole time isn’t super comfortable but it’s worth it, at least the shops were opened again. One of your favorite things about the tea shop is the staff, from the baristas to the waiters to the owner, this last one being the first one you met. This man is incredibly sweet and is capable of lifting your mood with such simple words and a warm cup of tea. Iroh, that being his name, moved to your hometown a year before the pandemic started with no intentions of working at any shop, let alone open one. It was the arrival of his two nephews in need of a helping hand that made him come up with the best idea of his life, and the best thing that happened to you later on. You don’t really know what his relatives coming to town has to do with him opening a tea shop but he never explained, so you never asked. He is very fond of his nephews, specially the older one, a boy named Zuko. The other is a girl named Azula, which you learned is the youngest sibling even though she seems a lot more mature than her brother. Both of them work with his uncle, Zuko as a barista and Azula as the cashier, but sometimes she likes to take and prepare your orders too, just to prove she’s better at tea-making than her brother. Every time she does so you play along with it, nodding to everything she says only to then confess to Zuko that you find his tea to be better warmed than her sister’s. You’d like to say that comments like that one make him blush, but there’s no way of telling with the damned mask covering his face. This place has very strict covid prevention policies, which you are glad of cause not many shops did, so you’ve never seen their faces (or at least not the entirety of them). It’s kind of weird cause you’re pretty sure they do know what you look like since you have to take yours off every time you take a sip of your drink or a bite of your food. You only once saw Azula with her mask off, hanging from her right ear. She was outside standing next to the entrance while smoking a cigarette, she had the prettiest face you’d ever seen. But you don’t know what the faces of her brother and uncle look like, though you try to imagine it from time to time. You’re pretty sure Iroh has a beard, you can see it poking out of the sides of his mask, but what really intrigues you is his smile. He’s one of those people who are able to smile with just their eyes, so you imagine his smile is the phisical representation of happiness itself. Now Zuko’s face was harder to imagine. He wore his dark hair right in front of his eyes, kind of like grown out bangs that covered the upper part of his face. You know his eyes are of this yellowish but also hazel like color, and you’re 99% sure he has dark bags under them. But apart from that you aren’t sure what to think of his facial features, you don’t know if he has a beard or a sharp jawline, nor if his nose is pointed like his sister’s or a bit round like his uncle’s. He could have no nose at all for all you know! This types of thoughts are the ones that roam your mind while you’re trying to solve the algebra problem sitting on the book page in front of you. Maybe it’s time for your you to take a break and order another tea, you think of trying out the new matcha one Iroh added to the list last week but instead you opt for the good old jasmine tea, the old man’s favorite.
You’re surprised when you see Zuko starting on your order instead of his uncle, even though he works as a barista too he usually takes care of the food orders. It’s not that he’s bad at making tea (like his sister states), he’s only extremely good at making a few variety of them and messes up any other order completely. Bobba, black and green tee are his specialties, with oolong and herbal coming right behind them, but jasmine is one of his worst. And you’re gonna have to be the one drinking a whole cup of it. You look to your left and catch Azula’s eyes fixed on his brothers back, then they move to you and even though words aren’t coming out of her mouth you know exactly what she wants to say. Shit, good luck.
“Here you go, a jasmine tea with three sugar’s” his voice breaks your staring contest with the girl next to him and it takes you a good minute and a half to react and take the cup. You really wish you had taken a seat next to the window instead of opting for the counter, now you’ll have to try the drink while he’s standing in front of you.
You can feel Azula’s eyes burning the side of your face, you know she’s either at the verge of tears or feeling sorry for you. Before chickening out you lift the cup and bring it to your lips, letting the liquid in and swallowing. Everyone behind the counter stops, waiting for your reaction. They don’t really know what they’re expecting you to do or say, but it definitely isn’t what is currently going on in your head (and mouth).
“Oh. My. Fucking god. This is amazing.”
a/n: this wasn’t proof read so thank you for making it this far :)
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mostly-mundane-atla · 4 years ago
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Well I got at least two people interested (@esmeralda-anistasia and @deathsmallcaps) so why not.
Quick disclaimer: I understand that some fans can be very sensitive to this topic and take general criticisms as personal attacks and jump to the defensive. Please don't justify your ships to me if you have that reaction to anything said in this post. It's not my business and if I'm honest I really don't care. Your experiences are not mine and will not change mine and nothing I'm about to say is meant to be read as an insult.
Okay onto the rarepairs in question!
I was ten years old when the episode Zuko Alone first aired and Ursa fascinated me. She was so elegant and sweet, and yet the implication was that she was also capable of assassination. Her disappearence and the fact everyone involved kept pretty hush-hush about her gave her character an air of mystery and Zuko's memories involving her made him a great deal more interesting and sympathetic (i still rolled my eyes every time he showed up and thought he didn't deserve all the cute moments with Mai until The Day of Black Sun, and even then still thought Jet was cooler in every way, but you can't please them all). She had quickly become a favorite character and I've held onto that adoration for about 15 years now.
I also really wanted her to kiss Hakoda.
They had compatible personalities and deserved some luck in love after all the heartbreak and trials, and they both loved their children despite having to leave. Ursa was never treated as dead, just gone. She could have been anywhere and there was nothing to say she couldn't have crossed paths with Hakoda and his men.
There was also something about it I didn't quite have the words or media exposure to explain. Often, in fandom or canon, if a relationship is biracial, the partner who is fairer-skinned and/or of the dominant or invading culture, who the audience sees themselves in, is the man and the one who is darker-skinned and/or marginalized or colonized is the woman (heteronormativity got a head start on this one). There's a lot of ugly "taming the savage" rhetoric in this, usually paired with blatant misogyny that's supposed to be in the woman's favor (like suggesting that a woman could only be complicit in this culture because it was what she was told and didn't know any better). The woman's family and friends who oppose this are depicted as unfairly prejudiced against this strange man as if their distaste for people who can be or have been responsible for things like genocide or subjugation is the same as the other side seeing these people as deserving of genocide or subjugation for the crime of not being like them. Sometimes it's the other way around, where the partner seen as "more civilized" is the woman and the one seen as "less civilized" is the man, in which case the woman is often abducted or otherwise the man's defining feature is his brutishness. This supposed brutishness is both intimidating and attractive to the oh so delicate if a bit repressed captive/wife (as well as the audience) and can manifest as being fiercely protective of her, which is how he shows his affection if there is a language barrier between them. And if you grow up Native, this is easy to pick up on and often in the back of your mind, because at least 90% of your media representation likely has some aspect mentioned above.
(Man that was a lot of academic style analysis)
But the dynamic between Hakoda and Ursa wouldn't leave room for any of that. Hakoda, as an absent parent backstory, is defined by having to leave despite how much he loved and would miss his children. Ursa, as an absent parent backstory, is defined by the crime she was willing to commit for her children (for Zuko specifically, but how long would it actually take for Azula to shoot her mouth off at the wrong place and time and also be targeted by Azulon?). Ursa was the one whose willingness to kill sent her fleeing into the night. The culture of her nation betrayed her and made her choose between her own safety and that of at least one of her children. Hakoda is charismatic and a good leader, but he is also soft spoken and understanding, and above all else, gentle. He isn't here to hurt innocents. He's here to see to it that the next generation of his people will not fear invaders or raids or even know that snow can be black from soot. And he's someone Ursa can finally feel safe around and confide in, and she could be the same for him. Someone he doesn't have to be the leader for, to whom he can admit that he just wants to be home and let the tears fall.
I'm honest enough to admit that one of the reasons I liked The Search was that Ikem wore his hair a lot like Hakoda did and that was close enough to it being canon for me.
Another one is Jin/Smellerbee. Something about their personalities strikes me as being so wonderfully harmonious and I like to imagine Jin, smooth-talking and streetwise but still the most genuine person, being the one to sit Smellerbee, who never really got a chance to think about these things, down and explain that anything she might be is okay. That it's okay to not be in love with a guy friend who gave her a purpose and loyal companionship. That it's okay to like girls. That she can have more than one partner. That it's okay to be different from what's considered normal and proper and not have an easy word to describe it. And eventually she'd realize it's true. And eventually she'd realize that she wasn't teasing when she called her beautiful in a wild sort of way.
I also like to think that Smellerbee clearly has more specialized fighting skills and is very good at what she does but Jin is strong enough to bench press her no problem. And Smellerbee acts all tough (because she is) but blushes whenever Jin calls her cute or pretty because she's not used to it.
Sometimes Longshot is involved too. Not as a third wheel or the exact same kind of partner, more like a ghibli style relationship with Smellerbee. Like is it a gentle romance? Is it an intimate friendship? It's love and they know that and don't have to define it by others' perception. And Jin gives Longshot kisses so he doesn't feel left out, which gets him a bit bashful because she really could have anyone, she already has Smellerbee of all people, and she still finds him deserving of a peck on the cheek. They probably all bunk together.
This actually started from a fic I wrote but don't intend on posting more than snippets of. Basically, i was tired of a lot of fanfic tropes, especially those having to do with friends to lovers and soulmates (this world is not kind to aromantics and the last thing I wanted in my escapism was romance being established as a level up for relationships), so I wrote something to actively subvert all of them. Jet and Smellerbee were each convinced they owed the other a romantic relationship after all they'd been through together, even though neither actually wanted it, because that's how all the stories go. So after he dies, she remembers all those times that would have been romantic if either was actually interested, but were instead just uncomfortable because it was entirely social convention and no feeling. But then she comes across Jin, who she's never met before, but who takes her in her arms and reassures her and sympathizes with her, and in this tiny apartment in this seedy side of town, she feels safe. She seeks permission for every touch and kiss and tells her this encounter doesn't have to be anything she isn't comfortable with. And when Smellerbee has to leave, Jin insists she take a candle to light her way, and winks when she says she can return it the day after. She gives her an excuse to visit again. And Smellerbee blushes and accepts it.
And then there's Teo/Haru and Teo/Ty Lee. No special reason I just think both would make a cute couple and want Teo to be happy. He's a good boy, more people should love him. Let him impress people with wheelchair tricks and get smooched.
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the-turtleduck-pond · 4 years ago
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Sun and Moon
One: I need a better title for this before it goes on Ao3. Two: I’m considering writing more to this. Three: If I do write more, Yue gets to go with the gang and a girlfriend.
Seeing the flames suddenly shoot towards the Spirit Oasis was horrifying. Zhao had been retreating just moments before. He was far enough away from them to relax and assume that Iroh’s threat had been enough. Sokka had already taken a breath of relief because he believed they were safe. Everything was going to be okay now.
Then Zhao sent out a jet of flames with a sudden punch at the Oasis and the spirits circling each other in it.
It was so fast he didn’t even have time to draw a weapon to try and do something.
Then something completely unexpected happened. Sokka watched a body take the blow instead of Tui, the form dropping to the ground next to the water. Tui was safe, but someone else wasn’t.
Zhao’s expression turned from satisfaction at his sudden attack into fury at being interrupted. Then confusion tinged his eyes before it landed on pure horror. His eyes turned to the old man that traveled with Zuko and Sokka looked too. Iroh’s expression had been warning and tense before and threatening for the sake of the spirit, but now he looked like he could tear the other man apart with his bare hands. A sort of unbridled fury that had Sokka taking a step back when he wasn’t even being threatened.
“He did that on his own, it wasn’t my fault-” Zhao’s words were clearly falling on deaf ears.
Apparently, it was too much for Iroh to tolerate.
The man started an assault, so furious that the rest of the soldiers fled and he gave chase after Zhao. Something in Sokka was certain that they’d never have to worry about him again.
His eyes went back to the form crumpled on the ground and rushed over.
It was Zuko.
Sokka should have known, Iroh - Zuko’s uncle if he remembered right - wouldn’t have gotten so infuriated if it was anyone else. No one other than his nephew could have gotten such a reaction from the elderly firebender.
The others were moving over as well now and Sokka watched Katara kneel next to him and turn him onto his back.
Sokka wanted to get sick.
The flames meant for Tui had been large and out of control and that reflected on Zuko’s wounds. His outfit had meant to camouflage him in the snow, not protect him from fire. It had burnt straight through and caused a large burn that crept over his shoulder and up to his neck with the majority on his chest badly burnt as well. A darker mark over his heart was the most worrying part though. It probably explained his short breaths and glassy eyes, trembling on the ground silently. None of those were good signs for the firebender.
If it was just the sight of Zuko’s wounds, Sokka might have been okay, but there was also the smell. He could smell the burning of his skin. He couldn’t even imagine how much pain the other teen was in from a wound like that.
“That looks really bad Katara,” Aang said, his voice wavering as she hovered her hands over his chest, “Can you…?”
She was already shaking with exhaustion and shock, but she was going to try anyway. He saw her summon the water and start to pass it over his chest. The very edges of the burns shrank slightly, barely even changing how much of his chest was covered in the reddened skin. It didn’t even seem to put a dent in the dark red mark over his heart.
His breathing was slowing down, but not in a good way. It was still uneven and it sounded wrong. He didn’t know what sort of damage was on the inside.
“Katara,” Yue seemed confused, but she gently pressed her hand to Katara’s shoulder, “You did your best. We just have to hope that everything goes well.”
Katara looked distraught. Hands shaking as she tried to heal more, but she was too tired. She couldn’t heal him. She was doing her best and it wasn’t working.
Aang turned to the Oasis like he heard his name. Suddenly he walked into the water, eyes glowing as he was enveloped in water.
“This won’t end this way,” His voice sounded echoey, being taken over by La.
They watched him leave, Katara’s hands still on Zuko’s chest.
“He won’t make it,” She said, looking at Sokka with dark eyes, frustration clear in her voice, “I can’t repair this much damage.”
He looked down at him, frowning and then over at Yue, who was squeezing her shoulder still. Yue… who had been saved by the moon spirit when she was as good as dead as a newborn.
“What if…” He looked at her and saw the light come back to her eyes as she understood what he was suggesting, “Maybe Tui could…?”
“Get him in the water,” Yue said, reaching down to try and pull him towards the water. It was clearly impossible for her, so Sokka had to do it himself, hands shaking as he dragged Zuko’s limp form into the water. He shifted so he was on his knees in the shallows, supporting Zuko’s head so he wouldn’t drown.
Tui was still circling without La, but as they managed to get the prince’s body into the water it changed course, moving up and over his chest. The water of the pond started to take on an unearthly glow, like the full moon above them was bleeding in the water.
The sight of the spirit moving to start to help him make Sokka’s breathing easier. Tui didn’t seem to have any qualms trying to rescue him. He glanced at his hair, expecting it to turn white, just like Yue’s. That the moon’s blessing would start to affect him and everything would be okay. He waited for that response or a similar one.
Sokka realized after a minute that while Zuko’s breathing wasn’t getting any worse, it also wasn’t getting any better. It was still shallow and rattling in his chest.
Tui was still moving in ever-tightening circles over his heart. Like the spirit was trying to concentrate its power there to work its magic. It wasn’t changing anything though, the burns were still bright and fresh. Even the moon spirit couldn’t do anything for him.
Like they were heard, the large glowing water beast that Aang had become returned to the Oasis, setting Aang down on the shore. Katara lunged, catching him and helping him get back up when he swayed. The moment Aang sat up, hand to his head, all attention was back on Zuko… right before it was given to the tall man standing waist-deep in the pool.
He was frowning at Tui, with eyes so dark Sokka thought they were black for a moment. Then there was a streak of silver and they were bluer than anyone else in the Water Tribes that he’d ever seen. There was no white to his eyes and no pupil either, just an inhuman blue. He was a huge man, dressed in furs with his pitch-black hair. It was in a wolf tail decorated with beats in blue and silver and his furs were mostly black with only the slightest bit of white on them. His furs were surprisingly loose and flowing around him. Though what really set him off from being a normal man was the delicate pattern of black scales near his eyes and over his arms. He looked somewhere between a warrior from the Southern Water Tribe and a spirit.
“Tui, you can’t save him,” He said, shaking his head as the fish seemed to grow more frantic at the man’s words circling faster over Zuko’s chest, “For fucks sake, you know you can’t. If you could you would have already succeeded. Just stop that, you’re making it worse for everyone.”
As if his words had struck a chord there was no longer a white fish in the pond at all, but a woman who could have been Yue, just older.
Her hair was just as white, but her eyes were pure silver. Like someone had just put moonlight there and forgotten about anything else. Her hair was decorated with the same silver and blue beads as the man and the same pattern of scales were by the edges of her eyes in white. Unlike him, she was dressed in white which only added to the strange feeling that her clothes were much brighter, like the moon itself was glowing from them. Her sleeves were flowing without any wind like they were still caught in the water. She had turned to scowl at the man, fists landing on her hips, but the water retained its glow.
“La,” The way she said the spirits name left no doubt in Sokka’s mind that the man in front of him was the Ocean Spirit that had just taken control of Aang in an attempt to help them, “I’m not giving up on him he-”
“Saved you,” He interrupted, staring at her seriously, “He saved you. Which is why I just fucking got rid of the Fire Navy ships. It doesn’t change the fact that you can’t do a damn thing to save him. He’s not ours.”
“He’s not yours?” Katara’s voice started to raise and immediately the man’s dark eyes shot to her with a scowl, “He’s human! What difference does it make?!”
“Katara-” Yue was still at her shoulder, trying to soothe her.
“All the difference in the world little girl,” The man’s voice was gruff, annoyed as he turned to explain to her, “You? You’re Tui’s. That girl is Tui’s too,” He pointed at Yue, “Him, he’s mine.” Sokka stared in bemusement at the declaration as the spirit pointed at him, “There are rules among spirits and we abide by them. You won’t find earth designated spirits trying to mess with an Air Nomad, or an air-based spirit trying to touch an Earth Kingdom child.”
“Which is why you can’t help him,” Sokka said, realizing the problem.
“Sokka-!” Katara’s voice was betrayed, but he looked at her, hands still keeping Zuko’s head above the water, “You can’t mean that!”
He wasn’t sure if it was the water cooling his skin quickly or if he was just dropping in temperature that quickly. Either way, Zuko’s temperature was dropping.
“Katara, La just said Earth and Air can’t interfere with each other,” He sighed, dreading the realization, “Which means a water-based spirit like Tui can’t touch someone from the Fire Nation properly. Zuko is Fire Nation, ”
Her expression dropped, looking up at the woman who’s hand was pressed to Zuko’s chest and keeping his heart beating. The only thing she could do. She was still glaring at La but seemed to want to try and help Zuko as much as she could.
“Who cares about that law, he just saved my life!” She snapped at him, “I won’t just let him die!”
“We can’t do anything,” La huffed, crossing his arms and it was an odd sight, like watching an old married couple argue, “Even if I helped you Tui, we couldn’t do a damn thing. He’s Agni’s child. If he were a non-bender, hell even if he were just a commoner, maybe we could manage something, but he’s a prince. That line is Agni’s to the point where we can’t do more than what you’re already managing.”
Sokka had never cursed Zuko being the Fire Prince more than at that moment. His connection to Agni - Sokka was too distressed to think deeply on who Agni was, he just remembered hearing his name from facing plenty of people from the Fire Nation - was preventing the Moon and Ocean spirits from helping him.
Tui was still glaring, but now she looked shaken. Like the reminder of who he was, had her nervous or upset.
“If you weren’t you, it would have likely had consequences for even fucking trying,” La said, shaking his head, “But you are, so there’s nothing that will be done, but you still can’t overcome who he is. That’s beyond our abilities.”
Tui looked back down and Sokka followed her gaze as Zuko started coughing. Even with Tui holding his condition stable he was still dying. Coughing up blood now from whatever internal injuries had been caused by the blast of fire.
Sokka glared at Zuko this time.
He was grateful for the fact that the other had saved Tui, but now he had to wonder why. What had gone through Zuko’s head to cause him to save the spirit of an enemy nation?
“Because the Fire Nation needs the moon too,” La’s sudden words caused Sokka to look at him with wide eyes, the spirit looked much calmer now, his expression evened out and placid, “The Fire Nation is a chain of islands. So if the moon were gone there would be nothing to keep the tides from destroying them. It wouldn’t just hurt anyone on the beaches, but it would ruin much of their ability to get food. I would have turned my wrath upon them as well for such a transgression.”
“It would have destroyed his home,” Yue’s voice was soft, but understanding, “That’s why he risked his life for her.”
Tui looked at Yue and her face softened again, reaching out to cup her cheek, “Yes dear, he wanted to do what was right. So he tried to protect me from death for the sake of his home and his people.”
It was frustrating, to know how much harm Zuko could do only for him to turn around and save Tui. To do something so selfless and good without any warning. It was jarring.
Sokka looked back up at the moon spirit only to realize something disturbing. She looked like she was fading. His panic mounted for a moment before he realized that La was fine and she was still there, just not as bright. Like her light was fading out. Sokka stared as he realized that while she wasn’t as bright, the Oasis was still fairly well lit.
He blinked and looked over his shoulder. The sun was rising and with it, Tui’s power was fading. She couldn’t keep this up forever, but he hadn’t realized that it would be over so soon. He tensed his jaw and looked up at the pair.
Tui was frowning now, trying to keep her power up enough to keep Zuko alive. La was looking over them and sighing heavily at whatever he saw.
“Of all the times and all the places that you decided to enter the mortal realm, it’s here and now?” He sounded annoyed, “Just my luck.”
Sokka looked back over his shoulder and was in shock.
The door was on the other side of the Oasis, so there was no way that he’d come in. No way to have missed him. The sun was barely peeking up behind the edges of the ice, but it seemed to wrap around and emanate from the strange man.
Sokka finally remembered who Agni was.
Agni was the sun spirit that was most looked up to in the Fire Nation. He was the spirit that La and Tui had brought up for a moment. He was standing a couple of dozen paces from the water now in the light of the rising sun.
In a way, Agni almost reminded Sokka of La. He was tall and held himself like a warrior that had seen many battles, however, in appearance they couldn’t have been more different.
Agni’s hair was more like ash, long and set into a high ponytail. As the light hit it Sokka caught sight of what might have been a reddish color in it as well. He wasn’t pale like Zuko or many of the soldiers that Sokka had seen, he was tanned like he spent every day under the sun. Though that made sense.
Looking at his eyes should have been less unnerving than Tui or La’s. His eyes actually had a white and pupil, more human in appearance than the others. Except that the color was bright, unnatural gold and his pupils were slit like a cat’s. The gold… looked like Zuko’s eyes, a color that wasn’t quite human in Sokka’s mind. It suited something more like a bird of prey or something that would stalk you from the shadows more than it suited a human being. He had a pattern of scales near his eyes as well, along with over his cheeks. The scales were less delicate though and bright red.
The sun spirit was just as unnerving as either the ocean or moon spirits.
“I didn’t exactly come to see you,” Agni said, addressing La cooly.
As his eyes turned to Tui the change from cold to warm was shocking. It was clear with that alone that Agni didn’t like La all that much, but he seemed to like Tui plenty. He started to walk forward, ignoring the fact that all eyes were on him.
“It’s been a long time,” He said, pausing at the edge of the water.
Agni let out heat like nothing Sokka had ever known. Just being near him was enough for it to feel like he was sitting in the Earth Kingdom on a hot day rather than in the pleasantly warm Spirit Oasis at dawn.
“It has,” Tui agreed, lifting one of her hands, “It’s good to see you brother.”
When the spirit smiled it was shockingly bright, taking Tui’s hand. He stepped into the water after that, but it was clear that it had been Tui’s invitation that allowed him to. Sokka felt another rattling breath under his hand supporting Zuko’s neck and his panic started to set in again.
Agni turned though, apparently willing to put off seeing his sister for the first time in a while to put his attention on Zuko.
“Why must my children be so selfless sometimes?” He said, sighing.
He reached forward, his hand taking the place of Tui’s on Zuko’s chest. Until Agni did that, Sokka hadn’t realized how big either him or La was. Tui was smaller, slight enough that it didn’t really occur to him as she set her hand over Zuko’s heart. Agni’s hand dwarfed hers and covered not only the dark spot over his heart but a good portion of his chest.
The Oasis and their surroundings started to glow again, but this time it was clearly golden. Agni’s light rather than Tui’s.
Sokka looked towards Zuko’s hair again for a moment, wondering if it would be the same as Yue’s blessing and change his hair.
He found his eyes being drawn back to Zuko’s chest after a moment though, the light concentrating there. For a moment Sokka thought the light was escaping from under his hands, but then Sokka saw what was really happening.
Gold was curling from under his hand, overtaking the burns. Taking on unusual patterns as it grew. Sokka couldn’t quite make them out past the glow, but he had a feeling that they had something important in them.
As the light started to fade again Sokka watched Zuko’s face. Slowly his eyes opened, looking up in confusion at the spirits. He stared at Agni specifically, looking confused. His breathing had evened out and he wasn’t struggling, but he was clearly awake and alive.
Agni pulled his hand back, looking at Tui who was smiling brightly. He sighed softly, looking amused.
“Were you planning on holding out until dawn or was that simply luck?” Agni asked, looking at her.
“You almost never come to the mortal realm,” Tui said, shaking her head, “I was trying to forcibly help him, but your hold on your children is tight. Even being your sister wouldn’t let me bypass that fact.”
Agni just shook his head at her, stepping back out of the water, “There’s always a risk if you mix water and fire. They aren’t compatible, water will often smother fire or fire will try and boil away the water. I’d rather not find out what happens when that applies to a human. Especially a firebender.”
Tui was still smiling at him, but she seemed a little embarrassed, “He saved me, I wasn’t leaving him to die.”
Agni laughed, nodding, “I understand, the consequences for your death would have been steep.”
He turned to look back down at Zuko, who was struggling to sit up in the water now. Sokka glanced at the golden marks on his skin again, seeing how they had spread beyond where his injuries had been. Some had curled up to move along both sides of his jaw and around his good eye. They were pretty and only seemed to accentuate the fact that Zuko might be an asshole, but he was a really good looking one.
Sokka still had his arm bracing his shoulders, but Zuko either didn’t notice or didn’t have the strength yet to throw his arm off. Which was concerning, but less so than him dying. So he could be angry about it if he wanted to.
Sokka felt the press of a heavy hand on his shoulder for a moment, looking up at La. He looked at him, mostly just relaxing as he watched him step back into the water. He looked back at Agni, making a face that had him thinking that the two really didn’t get along well.
It only took another moment before La was no longer a man and was a fish again. He moved straight to the center of the water. He began his calm circles again, clearly waiting for Tui to join him.
Tui looked at Agni with a smile again, “It was good to see you.”
“It was good to see you too,” He said, turning to look at the door for a moment, “You guys have company incoming.”
Tui was a fish again quickly, joining La and his slow circling. Looking back at Agni was more confusing. There was no one there, but he soon found his eyes following where Zuko was looking. There was something long and bright in the sky. A dragon, flying off before they were discovered.
Seeing Iroh slip back in with the mixture of sorrow and fury in his eyes was unnerving. At least until he caught sight of Zuko sitting up in the water. His eyes flickered up to the sky and the retreating spirit for only a moment before he was rushing to Zuko’s side.
“Prince Zuko,” He said, reaching down to get him out of the water, “I am glad to see you well.”
“Uncle,” The honorific seemed easy from him, “Did I just see a bunch of spirits?”
Iroh paused, looking up at where the sun spirit had disappeared then down at Zuko’s new golden patterns on his body. Sokka had climbed out of the water as well and took it upon himself to answer.
“Yeah, Tui was trying to heal you for protecting her and… well she couldn’t,” Sokka admitted, watching Zuko frown and look down at his own chest, “But she managed to keep you alive until dawn. Then Agni showed up and well… now you’ve got all those and you’re alive.”
Zuko looked suspicious and Sokka frowned at that, “Hey, Katara already tried to save you, we couldn’t just watch you die when you did something good.”
“Actually, I’m wondering why you’re still holding me up,” The dry tone that Zuko took with him made him hesitate.
He took a minute to realize what he was talking about. He’d helped Iroh drag Zuko out of the water and he’d never taken his hands off the other teen. He hadn’t even thought about it when he’d kept the other upright.
Sokka froze up though, then tried to throw himself backward. He just ended up splashing in the water again. He muttered an apology to the spirits as he got back out quickly.
The small sigh that Zuko gave was nearly imperceptible, but Sokka just glared at him. He glanced at him, staring at the way the golden marks curled around his eye and cheeks.
It made his features stand out even more, showing off just how pretty he was.
Sokka really knew he shouldn’t think that about him, but now it was stuck in his head. Because Zuko was an ass, but he was attractive.
“What happened to Zhao?” Zuko suddenly asked, looking annoyed again.
All eyes fell on Iroh at the question, who had a contemplative look on his face. Zuko turned to him and made a strange expression.
“There will always be a price to pay for actions. Those that choose not to consider them are fools,” He said.
Zuko scowled at him for a moment, but something darker passed over his expression. Sokka had the feeling that he knew exactly what happened to Zhao now. He was just not addressing it. Which was a whole other issue in Sokka’s mind.
“We should leave now Prince Zuko,” Iroh said, watching, but not reaching out to help Zuko get to his feet, “No matter your actions, I doubt that anyone would be happy to see us here.”
Zuko smacked at Sokka’s hand when he reached out to steady him unconsciously and he realized that Iroh already knew how Zuko would react to being helped. So he hadn’t offered. He moved next to him and then looked back at them.
“You know,” Sokka said, “I think this is one time we can all agree. You really shouldn’t be here.”
It wouldn’t be long before someone came in, so he was making sure that him and Zuko got out. Even though they’d helped Tui, he didn’t really want to let him stay in the Northern Tribe. He might have said they should leave him in the tundra, but now he was glad that they hadn’t for a number of reasons.
Watching the pair disappear was strange, they left through the door, but he had no doubts that they’d outright disappear. It was almost eerie how he knew that Zuko could just go and vanish into thin air.
“Are you sure that’s a smart idea,” Yue asked quietly.
“Oh, definitely not,” Sokka admitted after a moment, “But just because it’s not smart, doesn’t mean it’s not right. He saved Tui. I think a bit of a head start before we have to tell everyone that the prince of the Fire Nation just saved Tui’s life and got blessed by Agni in the process.”
“I think telling them La decided to bless you might be harder,” Aang said, causing him to look back at the airbender.
“I have no clue what that means… but I’m not going to stay here because of a blessing and I have a feeling they might try,” Sokka frowned, “Wait what do you mean I got blessed by La?! I didn’t die! Or almost die!”
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that-unhinged-stem-dude · 4 years ago
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So now that it’s confirmed by the Legend of Genji Instagram account that Mai and Zuko got married, this is how I imagine Mai’s reaction after finding out that Zuko fought the Red Lotus again
Mai : Zuko goddamit, you’re an 88 year old man. Learn something from Katara and Toph and let the younger people fight
Zuko : no I have to protect my hard earned honour
Mai : *facepalms*
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theemptyskies · 4 years ago
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So I was sitting, trying to work on a bit of art, when my mind took a left turn and was like "How would you turn Katara evil?". So over the course of three hours I wrote this. It's intended to set the ground work for what the rest of the story would be should I decide to continue it. Any future chapters would be much more detailed as that's where the bulk of the story truly begins. TWs: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Execution Style Murder, References to Early Childhood Trauma. I think that's all of them.
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Blood's Calling
Absolute Power Corupts Absolutely. It was a foolish thought which had once caused Katara to swear never to bloodbend again. It was a memory she could recalled clearly, as if she was reliving the moment. She remembered sensing Hama's veins and arteries, flowing like rivers throughout her body. She remembers desperately grasping those rivers, ripping the will of thier controller away. Forcing the old master to submit to her. It was her first taste of power. True power.
She was no longer the weak child who watched as her mother resigned herself to death. She was no longer the young teen who froze in shock as a Fire Navy vessel slammed through her villages wall. She could use this. She could prevent other young children from being orphaned. She could...
That night the thought stopped there. It wasn't the power that scared her. No aspect of waterbending has ever scared her. What terrified Katara, was that she enjoyed it. She enjoyed forcing Hama to release her friends, saving thier lives. She loved the control, knowing she would never be helpless again. It felt wrong at the time, relishing in such a thing. Subjugation was what the Fire Nation was fighting for. So she swore never to use it again.
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That promise was not long lived. Storming the Southern Raider vessel was an opportunity she never believed could be a possibility. How could she possibly turn away the opportunity to bring her mother justice. To stop whatever future, monsterous actions these beasts were sure to commit.
Under the light of the full moon, her blue eyes, darker than the ocean's deepest abyss, bore into the ship as she flew closer. Calling out with her bending, nearly the entire crew was swept out to sea. Boarding the vessel, she made quick work of the few men left on the deck before storming inside, water trailing behind her. Katara had almost forgotten the former Fire Prince was with her until he stopped a solder attempting to enter through a door they were passing.
As the captains door was blasted open, she gave him no time to retaliate. His blood called to Katara, and she answered. The fire in his hands flickered out immediately as she turned his body against him. Images of her mother's body, charred unrecognizable. A smell of burnt flesh seared into her mind. As the memories assaulted her, Katara was left feeling one desire permeating her being. She would make him suffer.
She cramped his hand immediately before dragging him around, slamming the appendage into the floor. Katara smiled slightly, savoring in the power she now held over her mother's killer. She forced the captains arms behind his back, contorting the joints to near dislocation. His blood was singing to her, and unlike the first time, she was not afraid to grasp it.
Zuko's questioning of the man broke through her rage. Lifting him to look her in the eye, she knew within a moment that it wasn't him. As if being snapped from a trance, she realized what she had done, nearly torturing an man who'd never wronged her. Quickly releasing him, Katara heard the identity of her target as she walked away.
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She believed that was the last time she'd ever bloodbend. She was wrong. Since that day, the urge to bloodbend was stronger than before. Every full moon, she could sense the steady pulses of her sleeping friends, like faint whispers begging her take control. She chose not to of course. Katara couldn't imagine subjecting them to such a power again.
Time passed, the war finally ended, Zuko ascended to the throne. On the surface, the world was at peace, or so it seemed. Her epiphany came a few months after the wars end. It was a couple hours past sundown on the night of a full moon. Once again the desire to bloodbend filled her senses, withholding sleep from her grasp. Katara's recent appointment as ambassador to the Southern Watertribe brought her to Caldera, assisting in negotiating a trade agreement between thier Nations.
With sleep alluding her, she decided to walk through the the main city, hoping the cool night air would help clear her mind. Passing an alley, she heard an odd noise. Stepping into the darkness and turning a corner around the building revealed a sight that made Katara's blood boil. Backed into a corner by a man wielding a knife was a young woman, a small child was hugging the back of her pant leg, large innocent eyes reflecting fear. Looking at the child, her mind flashed to another little girl, standing in an igloo, not knowing that was the last time she'd hear her mother's voice.
Katara wouldn't let that happen again. Grasping the man's blood, she lifted him into the air, sending him crashing against the wall.
"Take the girl and go." Katara's voice lacked the passion that it typically carried. Instead, a cold voice, sharper than any blade of ice came from her.
She didn't give the man a chance to rise as she seized him again. Katara brought him to his knees, arms bent behind his back, forcing him to look up at her. Drawing water from her pouch with her off hand, a large icicle hovered in the air.
"Please..." His voice quivered with fear. The same fear that was in the child's eyes mere moments ago. She directed a dark glare at the man.
"How many have begged you the same way your begging me..." It was a whisper, however the words cut through the air like a knife. She didn't give the creature a chance to respond. With a swift motion, the icicle flew threw the air. A sickening thunk echoed in the alley, as the ice slammed into the monster's heart.
A crack of thunder preceded a downpour during her walk back to the palace. A sense of detatchment settled over Katara. Of course she considered it to be more of an awakening. Despite thier efforts, ending the war, negotiating treaties, writing laws, people were still suffering at the hands of monsters impersonating people. The legal system is slow and flawed. It let's too many slip through, allowing them to continue thier torment.
'I will never, EVER, turn my back on people who need me!'
The memory echoed through her being. An oath she swore, resonating from the core of her being. The legal system failed repeatedly but she would not. Katara had power. The idea of what true power was is something Katara never understood until now. The ability to take dreams, desires, and force them into reality. She could change things. Bring justice to people who've suffered and protect children from the horrors that still plagued the world.
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A year passed and one thing became evident. Katara needed to get stronger. She'd made strides in eliminating the beasts that stalked and preyed upon the innocent. But it wasn't enough. There were too many for her to only take action once a month. Traditional waterbending was too loud to use against them. If she was caught, her friends wouldn't understand. She needed to do this, to protect the people. She needed bloodbending.
The training started much how Hama had described inventing the bending form. She started with small animals, which she mastered rather quickly unsurprisingly. The larger ones, like the tiger seals, proved to be a much bigger challenge, one she eventually completed. The lack of the moon's light was a difficult obstacle to overcome Yet as she stood before the kneeling moose lion, whining in pain as it failed to break from her will, she knew she was ready.
The next year was far more successful. With the growing population in her own tribe, Katara had to make sure the vermin were weeded out as soon as possible. Patrolling every night she was home allowed her to remove sixteen threats to her people. She found another twelve during her trip to the Northern Tribe, where she helped negotiate an alliance with them. The corruption there ran deep. Extra effort would be made during her next trip.
The Earth Kingdom is by far where Katara made the greatest impact. Twenty three criminals were slew in Omashu, another thirty one during her month long stay in Ba Sing Se and fifteen bandits who tried to ambush her during her travel between the major cities. It was an interesting observation, how quickly the eyes on these creatures shifted from arrogance to fear once they no longer held the power. Not unlike the one in the alley that first night. So many of those beasts have been removed by her, and she knows she protected countless people in the process. Katara knew she was doing the right thing, hearing children playing outside only reaffirmed her resolve.
Katara had only been back home for a few days when Aang landed at her village center. Running out of her igloo to greet him, she hesitated at his serious expression.
"Aang, it's good to see you."
"You too, Katara. I wish it was under better circumstances though." Katara tensed at his words as Sokka exited thier igloo behind her.
"Hey Aang. What's up?"
"Zuko needs our help. There's a group of rebels in the Fire Nation. According to his letter, they call themselves the New Ozai Society. They want to dethrone him and restart the war." Aang said. Katara didn't give any outward reaction to his statement. She hadn't been to the Fire Nation since that first night in the alley.
"We'll help. Come on Sokka." Katara immediately cut in as he finished speaking. Turning, she headed back inside the igloo, lost in thought as she began packing. Her neglect of the Nation was clear. How could she allow those scum to coalesce into such a threat. She would make up for it during this trip. She needed a way to learn who all was involved and where they met. Someone who could get inside thier ranks. Who wouldn't report her own involvement to Zuko or her friends. Her thoughts led her to one person who would be accepted by them with no problem. She wasn't happy about it, but it couldn't be helped. At the very least the visit would be interesting. After all, with all of Katara's travels, she had yet to see the inside of an asylum.
"Appa, Yip, Yip!" Aang called, begining thier journey across the sea.
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So, as you can see, the route I would take to make Katara a bad guy would be to take a core aspect of her character (in this case "I will never, EVER, turn my back in people who need me." Still one of my fav moments for her character btw.) And twist it into something dark. I took the helplessness surrounding her mother's death to foster a craving for control within her which connected to bloodbending. I tried to depict a steady dehumanization of criminals in her eyes through the time skips. I felt really awkward writing dialogue but hopefully you all enjoyed my take on a Darker Katara :)
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ichayalovesyou · 4 years ago
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The Undiscovered Country (Live Reaction)
CAPTAIN SULU OF THE EXCELSIOR CAPTAIN SULU OF THE EXCELSIOR CAPTAIN SULU OF THE EXCELSIOR EVERYONE STFU HE DESERVED HIS OWM GODDAMN SHOWWWWW!!!! “Should we report this?” “Are you kidding??” I love him so muchhh
Oh this one is gonna be about racism isn’t it? Yup. I know people judge Kirk for his prejudice against the Klingons in this movie, and I wanna clarify that it’s still not okay, but I just... look back on all of his experiences with Klingons, and he became less and less chill with them as they kept doing stuff to him and his crew, torturing Spock, Sherman’s planet, torturing Chekov, the ugly decisions in A Private Little War then on top of that they killed a son he never got the chance to connect with because his ex never allowed him custody. They almost cost him the chance to bring Spock back on top of that too. I’m not saying it’s not right, and whether it’s justified is subjective, but I also know he learns his lesson in this film. It makes me think of Katara’s arc in S3 of ATLA, how much she hated (understandably) Zuko and the Fire Nation, how she almost killed the man who killed her mother, but then didn’t. If we can love her still with that character growth, I see no reason to suddenly hate Jim.
“Logic is the beginning of wisdom Valeris” god I love Spock, he’s grown so much ☺️ also maaaaan everyone is old now lol, wait?! Where’s Bones?! Oh there he is! Oh wow I can smell the traitor on Valeris she is acting extremely shady! Oh hey it’s General Chang!! I’ve heard of this guy!! Apoliticality hall of fame up in here huh ST? Damn. Klingons love them some Shakespeare lol. Nice Scotty! Ohhhh Chang that was a loaded question, oof thanks for saving your grumpy husband. Ooooh man I love dinner scenes like these, the tension, the delicate conversation, the unspoken words ugh hell yeah. Oof!
Chancellor made a DAMN good point there! Calling Kirk out on his shit before they left! Yessssssss!! Lol everyone is hung FUCK WHAT JUST HAPPENED??? OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK!!! That Zero G effect is cool as fuck! Oh no oh no oh no oh no the war is being staged oh god oh no oh shit oh shit ohhhhhh no!! Ohhhhhhhhhh shittttt this is B A D. Ok so Klingon blood is pink? Huh.
Even with Jim’s prejudice he still values this peace than he does his feelings and that is a Captain Kirk ass thing to do. Bones being fucking AWESOME! Ohhhh nooooo, I liked Gorkon 😔 “Don’t let it end this way Captain.” Wowwww that was cool ass last words. “I sympathize Mr. Scott” growth 🌿 oh hey Sarek is back! Federation has an alien president now? Neat! Also I freaking LOVE Gorkon’s daughter, I am also growing progressively more confused by their kinda over exaggerated behavior in future TV shows? (I imagine they probably had a fanatical ideological takeover, kinda like the Vulcans and Surak but... violent.)
The defense attorney sounds like Michael Dorn??? I know it’s not him but still? OH MY GOD IT IS???? Cool! His name is also Worf? Weird. Awww Bones he’s GOTTA stop making me cry like this I can’t even do this oh man he’s breaking my hearrrrrt. Oh wow they really just listing everything “bad” Jim has ever done huh? Damn. CAPTAIN SULU IS BACK oh and he’s gone again damn. Ooooof penal colony punishment yiiiiikes, seems the Klingons have as outdated a prison system as we do now 😬 oh so Spock is distantly related to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? Neat. Oh Spock don’t trust Valeris, I know you don’t know better yet but still 😬😬😬
Ooof this whole person thing is super interesting?? Who is this WOMAN whose informing them McCoy & Jim, I love her! I love this political intrigue murder mystery stuff!! Those Wargs look AMAZING wow, loving seeing TOS crew with a budget love it! “Not everyone keeps their genitals in the same place Captain.” OH MY GOD 😂😂😂 oh it’s McKirk hours boys, and awww even in a Klingon prison Jim’s prejudice is decaying. McCoy is DUDE WHAT IS WITH YOU?? And I agree, even as an old man Jim is a lil’ bit it a slut. WAIT CHRISTIAN SLATER???? That was a weird cameo. Even after he made out with that lady he was like “damn, what is wrong with me??” Lol
WAIT IS MATIRA A CHANGELING?? That transformation was VERY gooey?? I mean I know there are a bunch of shapeshifter races but still???? Hey watch McCoy is gonna give out from the cold first cuz he’s a southern damsel just you wait. Aaaaaand it took 5 minutes! 😂 he’s immune to dinosaurs but vulnerable to cold. Bullshit Uhura doesn’t know Klingon??? What was that?!?! Oh she’s not a Changeling. TWO KIRKS AGAIN???? How many times is this now, four? 😂😂
Now they’re close enough to kiss lmfao KISS DAMNIT! Aw. Uh oh. I have never, NEVER seen Spock this posed off ohhhh my god. OH MY GOD HE JUST SMACKED THAT SHIT OUT OF HER HAND. Ooof I need to sit down (I say sitting down) way to frickin kick Jim right in his soul with his own words damn Valeris... wow this is so GOOD, fuck. Oh man, the amount of personal strength, feelings of hatred and betrayal, and circumstance it takes for Spock to FORCIBLY meld with someone when we all know how he feels about consent 😨 this is like, the only ONLY situation I can imagine him, in character, EVER doing this to anyone. Wow... wow. Oh my god. OH MY GOD. Ohhhhhh wow, that’s gonna haunt Spock for the rest of his life... fuck.
SULU IS HERE TO SAVE THE DAYYYYYYY WE LOVE HIM!!! Awwww look at these too poor idiots regretting their moral transgressions :( they’re so married. Over here examining prejudices and stuff, I need to study this screenplay oh my goddddd. This is so GOOD oh my god. Kittomer Accord hours!! Here we go! Oh MAN Chang is a cool ass villain!! Here we gooooooooo!!! EXCELSIOR IS HERE TO HELP!! Aw Spones out here flirting before they go save peace in their time, love that! This battle tastes like a beautiful marriage between Balance of Terror and Conscience of A King 😍 YEAH SCOTTY!!! And thus, Kirk completes his character growth. Lol and then everyone claaaaaaped.
Man, Sulu and the Excelsior really deserved their own his Star Trek show, something I hope they will someday remedy! Awwww that little love letter to TNG and all future Treks at the end heck yeh ☺️
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maandags · 4 years ago
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I don’t know if it was ever confirmed, but imagine being the one to find Sokka’s Meteor Sword (that he lost in the final battle) and returning it to him.
two more days.
two more days’ walking, and you’ll get to the Capital. two more days’ walking, and your weeks-long journey will finally come to an end.
you nibble on the piece of carefully wrapped bread that you purchased in the last village you passed through. it’s a sunny day, so you found a tree casting shade to sit and rest in. beside you sits your backpack, your bedroll, and tied to your pack the dark metal sword.
it was an insane idea, at first. after scouring the battlefield -- burned, then flooded -- for survivors, or corpses, or anything salvageable at all, you found the sword sticking up from ash-covered soil like it was a thing from legend. black blade against a blackened background, it gave you chills the first time you laid eyes upon it.
a rare sword, it is. not many weapons are that well-made, and made of this particular material. you took it home, cleaned it, polished it. never really knew what to do with it, to be honest -- you’re no swordsmaster. you’re a traveller. someone who knows people and places.
but you took it with you, wrapped in cloth and bound with twine. foolish, in hindsight; it could so easily have been stolen off of you. it still could be. but you did it anyway, not even knowing what to do with it, and by some sort of miracle you were still in possession of it when you ran into a few members of the White Lotus.
well-worn travellers like yourself know a lot of people in a lot of places. you’re no official member of the White Lotus -- though you’d say the relationship you have with them is one of understanding and respect. some well-known figures rank high amongst its members. you’ve had tea with General Iroh of the Fire Nation, as well as King Bumi of Omashu, and other such figures. 
but that’s none of your business, of course. you’re merely a traveller.
however, you had to admit that the small Fire Nation village of Bluevalley is not where you’d expected a White Lotus headquarters to be. 
“why, hello, Y/N. how nice that our paths cross again.” the General’s eyes twinkled. 
you tipped your hat in respect -- a bow without bowing -- and smile. “an honour, as always.”
“tea?”
“that only seems appropriate, doesn’t it?”
Iroh smiled. “indeed it does.”
it was a cozy yet functional headquarters, with a low table and no windows. you didn’t waste time looking around. that was not what you were there for. you were there to have tea; a traveller enjoying old friends’ hospitality.
none of the men asked you what you were doing here, and you did the same. you talked about small things; your recent discoveries regarding various flora and their applications, spiritual talk; vague enough for there to be no real substance to the conversation, yet enough to keep it going nonetheless.
but your attention was focused on Master Piandao. known master of swordfighting, teacher only to those he deems worthy. you thought he might be interested in the blade you carried. 
“master Piandao.”
he slowly took a sip of tea, then looked at you. “yes, Y/N?” 
“I have something I’d like you to take a look at.”
Piandao raised an eyebrow. “do you, now?”
you nodded, gingerly setting your teacup on the table and turning to retrieve your bag, which sat against the wall, next to the door. sticking out of the flap was the sword, wrapped in fabric to conceal and protect the blade. you heaved it out, walking back to the men and laying it out across the table, working to untie the knots. you watched Piandao’s face carefully as the fabric fell away, trying to gauge his reaction.
but he was not a high-ranking member of the White Lotus for nothing, and his expression revealed nothing – until his lips curled into a faint smile. “yes. I know this blade.”
it surprised you, because in reality you hadn’t expected him to know this particular sword out of every sword he must have encountered in his life. but he apparently did, and you leaned forward, interest increased tenfold. “you – you do?”
Piandao lifted it, inspected corners and balance, before gently setting it back on its fabric encasing. “yes. and I’m sure you have heard of him too.” he smiled at you, eyes twinkling. “he is part of the Avatar’s closest friends, after all.”
you stare at him blankly. “you’re not serious.”
“I can assure you I am very much serious.” he cast another look at the sword. 
on the other side of the table, Iroh nodded. “Sokka is very skilled with it. however, I was under the assumption he lost it during the Battle of Sozin’s Comet.”
you shrugged. “I think he did. I just found it, cleaned it. figured I’d try to find its owner.”
Piandao looked at you, estranged. “that is very noble of you, Y/N. not many people would have done the same thing.”
you winked at him. “I’m not like most people, Master Piandao.”
he laughed softly. “that, you aren’t.”
that had been weeks ago. you’d figured you’d just make for the Fire Nation Capital, since that’s where the Avatar and his posse reside at the moment. what to do when you get there – how to actually meet Sokka, actual war hero and probably bearer of a bunch of other titles by now – was a whole other problem, but you’d cross that bridge when you got to it.
two more days, and you’ll get to the wall.
you knock back the last of your water – you’ll have to find a pond or a spring soon to fill it – and stand, swinging your pack onto your back, heaving a sigh. two more days.
the walls of the Capital are even taller than you imagined them to be. inside, you can tell city life is buzzing, people bustling around, shouts and laughter drifting through the air; they’re celebrating still, despite the defeat of Ozai and the ascension of Fire Lord Zuko being a solid two months past already. you’ve heard that the Capital has never been this alive.
“halt.” four guards at the gates, stopping people, exchanging a few words with them, then sending them on their way. you tilt up your hat, putting on your least mysterious smile. 
“what is your business in the city?”
“I’m merely a traveller, sir. just passing through. my cousin has a tea shop here.” the lie flows from your lips with ease. 
the guard looks you up and down, not looking entirely convinced. “anything to declare?”
“no, sir.” you’d tried to conceal the sword as best you could. now, barely the tip of the blade was sticking out of your pack, and you’d managed to cover that up pretty well with your bedroll. they’d have to go rummaging through your stuff to find it.
the guard looks you over one more time, then shrugs and steps aside. “all right. enjoy your stay.”
you smile at him. “thank you. I will.”
it takes you another day to reach the inner Capital inside the Capital. hm. here was where you’d need to either be creative, or ask to meet Sokka. how successful of an endeavor that would be, you weren’t sure of. you’ll just have to… figure something out. 
okay. attempt one. you leave your pack at the cheap inn you stayed at the previous night – it stings a little, but also, there’s nothing in there you can’t get in the city. life as a traveller taught you to not get too attached to your pack or its contents. except, of course, for the sword, which you strap across your back. it’s wrapped in one more layer of dark green cloth, to better conceal its shape.
a walk around the wall tells you it is… very well guarded. there are two points of entry, both gates watched by four guards. the shift change is well coordinated, so sneaking in during it is not feasible either. and even if you did manage to slip past the guards, the gates themselves are bolted shut from the inside. 
there is simply no way for you to get in.
as you’re racking your brain, wondering if you’re really going to risk getting arrested for this sword and this man you don’t know and you’re being so dumb and such an idiot – the gates open, and there he is. just stepping out of the palace grounds, like it’s no big deal. like there aren’t countless youths stood outside the gates, just waiting for him to appear, maybe smile at them, give them even the tiniest bit of his attention. 
you stare at him, because the coincidence is just too hysterical. he’s giving the people around him awkward waves and even awkwarder grins, clearly having no clue what to do with himself around all this attention. he’s flanked by two guards – not surprising – and slowly makes his way across the square. you follow him with one eye, frantically scribbling a note at the same time.
you can’t just walk up to him. hi, hello, you don’t know me, but I have a sword to give you. the guards would be mad to let you approach at all; they’ve probably been trained to shield him from any human interaction that isn’t with his trusted friends – all of them just as unreachable for someone like you.
but a note… you can slip him a note. he doesn’t look like someone who would shy away from a cryptic message asking him to meet you in the park an hour after sundown. does he?
so you get up and hurry after him, eyes latched onto the blue of his clothes, tracing the lines of his body and observing the spring in his step with a crooked grin on your face. he doesn’t look like a war hero, that’s for sure. 
but you often found that looks can be deceiving, and that those who might not look like much have the most to offer.
you catch up with them in a busy street – even busier, after Sokka’s arrival – and manage to sidle up to them unnoticed. 
one of the guards looks around, disapproval clear in his expression. “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just take the carrier. someone of your status –” 
“no, no, no. the carrier – are you serious? that’s, like, Zuko levels of pretentious. I already feel super awkward with all this – uh – attention –” you roll your eyes – “I mean, not that I don’t enjoy it, but, you know –” 
his voice gets drowned out by the noise of the crowd, and you shake your head, shuffling forward, waiting for an opening that’ll allow you to slip the note in his pocket. you don’t have to wait that long; it’s easy enough to pretend you trip and fall, having to grab onto Sokka’s arm to keep yourself from crashing down. the guards raise their hands, alarm sparking in their expression; but Sokka ignores them, helping you up. 
“you okay?”
you nod, tucking the folded piece of paper between the folds of his clothes. “yes, thank you. I’m sorry.”
“don’t worry about it,” he says airily, with a smile that makes you understand all of a sudden why so many people are fawning over him left and right.
he frowns, opens his mouth, and you duck your head down, grateful your hat conceals most of your face. someone calls Sokka’s name. he looks up, and you use the moment of confusion to slip away into the crowd.
you’re sat on wall surrounding the parks, watching the twinkling lights spreading far into the city, waiting for him. the sword is still strapped to your back. one knee is drawn up to your chest, and you keep an eye out on the park gates.
sure enough, after a while, a figure enters the park that can only be him. you grin, waiting until he’s passed by you before you drop to the ground and clearing your throat.
he whirls around, hands moving to grab the hilt at his side – a sword. you smile. “hello.” 
“do I know you?”
“no, I suppose you wouldn’t.” you tip your hat. “you don’t have to be so nervous. I’m not going to fight you.”
“I don’t know that.” 
“sure. I’ll be gone before you know it, anyway.”
Sokka scowls. “why did you ask me to meet you here?”
you reach behind your back, shooting him an irritated look when his grip on his sword tightens. “relax. I just have a present for you.”
“if you try anything –” 
“what, your friends will jump out from hidden corners and murder me where I stand? come on, man,” you scoff, holding the package out to him. 
Sokka looks at it suspiciously for a moment before he sheaths his sword, accepts the package, starts to unwrap it. when the cloth falls away and the sword is revealed, his eyes go wide as saucers, and his knuckles go white around the hilt of the blade. he looks at you, then at the sword, back at you, back at the sword.
“this is – this is my spa – I mean – my meteor sword,” he stammers. “I – I lost this. months ago.”
“and I found it. and got it back to you.” you shift your weight, cross your arms. “Master Piandao says hello, by the way.” 
Sokka is looking more and more confused. “you know Piandao?”
“something like that.”
he exhales shakily, holds the blade to his chest. “who are you?”
you smile, already planning to make your mysterious exit and never see him again – or something like that. maybe you’ll stay a bit. Sokka intrigues you. 
“a traveller.”
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radishaur · 5 years ago
Note
hey! can I request a zuko imagine with prompts 15 and 33 from the make a reader swoon list please??
I love these prompts! I hope you enjoy! For those who haven’t read the prompt list, #15 is “I’m asking because I’ve seen the way you look at me” and #33 is “I think you need to tell me the truth and how you feel towards me”.
- Zoe
•••
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Confessions (Zuko x Reader)
Warnings: None
Genre: Fluff, Minor Angst
Part: 1/1
Summary: See request
•••
Zuko and I’s relationship had always been...complicated. We met on his ship, one year into his search for the Avatar. He was this lanky 14 year old boy who was barking orders like he owned the place. I was just an old family friend that Uncle Iroh took in after my parents abandoned me.
Zuko insisted my presence on his ship was a burden. That hadn’t started us off on the right foot.
Eventually, we grew to have a very hot and cold dynamic. One moment it would be friendly and pleasant and then the next it was tense and aggressive. We had legendary screaming matches that sent the crew into hiding. Two angry firebenders on the same ship was never a good idea.
But, deep down, I knew he cared. I learned very quickly that Zuko was not a man of words, but of actions. So, it was the little things he did that reminded me not to give up on him. Like when he would bring me dinner to my room after an argument or when he would patch me up after sparring.
Sometimes though, I wished he would just tell me how he felt in words.
Actions can easily be misinterpreted. Is it friendly? Is it romantic? Is it spiteful? What does it mean when I catch him staring? What does it mean when he spends hours talking with me into the night? What does it mean when he threatens anyone who insults my honor?
Two years of asking these questions and I was done. I wanted to know. I wanted him to say it so that I could determine what to do with my own feelings. I had an assumption that he did share my feelings, but it was Zuko. He was incredibly hard to read and I didn’t want to confess until I had proof.
I watched as the man in question continued training on the deck. He had been training practically nonstop since he actually encountered the Avatar. I could barely get a moment alone with him. I huffed before storming off the boat and into town. He barely gave me the time of day anymore, which was just another reason I doubted if I was reading the signs right. I wanted a distraction.
We had docked to gather supplies and I decided to browse the stalls before returning back to the ship. I was browsing through a rack of Fire Nation shirts when I bumped hips with someone.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” I apologized, turning to face the person.
He was a sweet looking teenage boy who seemed to be from the Earth Kingdom. He had brown hair and fair skin with bright green eyes. He smiled kindly at me.
“It’s no problem. It was my bad,” he said, holding his hand out for a handshake before saying, “My name is Ren.”
I smiled and took his hand in a polite but firm handshake.
“Y/N,” I replied.
We continued talking for a few minutes. I found out that he was the shop owners son. I told him I was sailing with family in the area. Technically, it was a lie but I didn’t want to tell the truth. Usually, people found out you were sailing with the banished Prince of the Fire Nation and his Uncle, the Dragon of the West, and they treated you differently.
I was enjoying our pleasant conversation when I suddenly felt an aggressive hold on my arm. I didn’t have time to move or say anything before Zuko was speaking.
“Sorry, she has to go,” Zuko growled before yanking me back towards the ship.
I looked over my shoulder at Ren and mouthed an apology before turning angrily to Zuko. He was almost back to the ship before I forced him to stop.
“What the hell was that?” I asked, yanking my arm from his grip and crossing my arms over my chest.
“That boy was from the Earth Kingdom! You’re risking your safety by talking to him,” he snapped, waving his hands around indignantly.
“He had no idea who I was. Besides, if anything you coming in and yanking me away was definitely more suspicious than anything I was doing!” I argued, standing my ground against his stupid excuse.
“You shouldn’t even be talking to random strangers anyways! It’s dangerous,” he continued.
“Ugh! Stop being a jealous asshole and let me have a conversation,” I huffed, pointing my finger at him accusingly.
Zuko scoffed but avoided making eye contact with me.
“I am not jealous,” he insisted.
“Really?” I asked, stepping closer to him with an evil smirk, “So you wouldn’t care if I told you I thought he was attractive?”
He stayed silent and simply glared at me. I could tell I was getting him all riled up, but I didn’t care. I was tired of him playing this back and forth game. Now it was my turn to push his limits.
“You wouldn’t mind listening to me talk about how his eyes shone in the light. Or how his hair ruffled in the breeze. Or that I spent a good amount of time during our conversation imagining what it would be like to kiss him?” I egged him on, stepping closer until I was right by his chest.
He was fuming at this point and I could tell his patience was running thin. He had small plumes of smoke billowing from his nose and his hands were clenched by his sides.
“Enough! That has nothing to do with it,” he said through gritted teeth.
I finally stopped instigating him, knowing I had won this one. I got the reaction I wanted. The small tint of red that dusted his cheeks and the back of his neck told me everything I needed to know.
“I’m sure it doesn’t,” I scoffed before adding, “But, if it makes you feel any better, none of what I said was true.”
“What?” he asked, clearly confused and hesitant to assume.
“I just wanted to see if my assumption was right. You are jealous. Which means you like me. Am I right?” I asked, a confident smirk plastered across my face.
His knuckles were now white from how hard he was clenching them. I could see the sparks of fire dancing around them as he glared at me.
“No I don’t! Why would you ask me that?” he spat out angrily.
“I’m asking because I’ve seen the way you look at me. I’ve seen the way you act when someone like Ren even looks at me. I’ve seen the way you act like a nervous blushing teenager around me. I’m asking because you send me so many mixed signals and I’m tired of guessing!” I exclaimed, my voice strained.
“I...,” he began, but trailed off.
His anger was gone and was now replaced with a mix between embarrassment and shock. He shut his mouth and I could tell by the look in his eyes he was debating what to say.
“I like you, Zuko. Despite you being a jealous, hot headed idiot at time, I really like you. Sometimes you’re so sweet and caring, but then out of nowhere you push me away and pick fights with me for no reason. So, forgive me for being tired of trying to read between the lines,” I said, my eyes watering as I came clean about my own feelings towards him before I added quietly, “I think you need to tell me the truth and how you feel towards me. At least so I can start getting over you.”
I didn’t give him time to respond before I was walking past him towards the ship. I could feel his eyes on me as I disappeared inside the ship, but I didn’t have the heart to look back at him. I simply locked myself in my room to go over the events that had just happened.
I had been so sure that he had liked me back, but perhaps I really had misread the signs. Maybe he was just an awkward teenager who didn’t realize what signals he was giving off. Maybe he really did just see me as a burden. Maybe I had been wrong to think he would ever like me.
It was an hour later before I heard a knock on my door. I sighed and got up to open it, expecting it to be Iroh. I had a small smile on my face as I swung open the door that immediately dropped when I saw Zuko instead. My mouth was agape and my eyes widened.
“Zuko! I-“ I began to say, but I was cut off by his lips crashing down on mine.
His lips were warm against my own and I instantly kissed him back. It was soft and passionate, but not aggressive. I felt his arms wrap around my waist and I allowed mine to hang over his shoulders. I only pulled away when I was out of breath.
“I like you a lot. More than you’ll ever know,” he whispered as he rested his forehead on mine.
“Took you long enough,” I giggled, relief rushing over me at the confession.
He kissed me again and again and again and I smiled against his lips. I didn’t leave his arms for a long time afterwards. We spent the better part of a few hours together just enjoying each other presence once again.
Life had never felt more perfect.
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active-galactic-nuclei · 5 years ago
Text
Rewrite Your Memories
Zuko x reader 
warnings: none except like Zuko’s tragic backstory
Inspired by the lovely @zukochi​ who gifted me this wonderful prompt!! 
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You were looking for a roommate. You were broke, and you could hardly manage to pay the rent each month. As a college dropout, your career prospects weren’t looking too hot, and as a starving artist that didn’t seem like it would be changing anytime soon. So you put out an ad on craigslist. What’s the worst that could happen? If someone tried to murder you then at least you’d have a good story to tell at parties.
Zuko was looking for a house. Or an apartment. Or anywhere to stay that wasn’t the streets tonight. He had been kicked out of his dorm for “dangerous, unlawful and reckless activities.” Of course, he hadn’t meant to set his curtains on fire. It was just a mistake. They didn’t care much whether it was an accident or not. He was as good as gone as soon as his roommates walked through the door. He figured he’d just have to sleep in a crappy hotel for the night or god forbid he’d have to ask to stay with his uncle. Of course uncle Iroh would say yes, but his pride would never survive a blow like that. He was eighteen years old. He wanted to handle it by himself. He sat in his car and started searching for the places to stay.
Suddenly a message came through on your phone. An unknown number. You figured it would be just another spam text trying to sell you something, so you almost didn’t even bother reading it. Then you remembered the room listing. You’d only posted it two hours ago, surely that couldn’t be it, could it?
“Unknown number: I heard you’re renting out a room. When's the soonest I can move in?” it said. Laughing at the bluntness you quickly typed back.
“And just who are you?” you responded.
“My name’s Zuko. I need somewhere to stay asap,” he shot back quickly.
“Well if it’s really that urgent then you can come by whenever. I’m home for the rest of the day,” you offered, puzzled at his predicament. 
“Perfect. I’ll be over with all my stuff soon,” he responded. Well that wasn’t weird at all, right? Maybe you would be getting murdered after all. The universe just loved to punish you.
An hour and 35 minutes later on the dot, a knock sounded at the door. Well, time to meet your new roommate (or as you supposed, murderer… or…. both?) Dragging yourself away from the couch, you meandered warily to the door. When you opened it you were expecting a terrifying thug, or maybe a creepy old hag, or any other person that your mind coupled with the word murderer. You certainly weren’t expecting a tall, dark, handsome, young man with brooding eyes and a scar taking up half his face. Well, maybe the scar was a little more on brand with what you were envisioning… but regardless, you were more than surprised.
“I’m Zuko, and you must be Y/N right?” he asked meekly. Wonderful, his voice was gorgeous too. You were starting to wonder if the universe was cursing you in a much different way now. 
“Um yeah… That would be me,” you responded hesitantly. Why were you so awkward?
Now the universe really was cursing you.
“Great, I have my stuff with me so if you could, like, show me to my room that would be… wonderful,” he prompted. You had been so lost in his eyes you’d hardly even recognized what he’d said. You quickly snapped out of it, realizing what an idiot you looked like, and started walking toward the spare room.
“Sorry there's still some of my stuff in here. I’ll move it out by tomorrow, it's just that some of the paintings are still drying,” you told him. He started unpacking things from his suitcases and you decided to take the moment to sit down on the floor next to him.
“So uhh… What made you decide to move in with me so fast? I barely had the listing up for two hours,” you asked, trying not to push too hard and make him uncomfortable.
“It’s kind of a weird story,” he trailed off, “Are you sure you want me to tell it?” 
“I’m the master of weird stories, Zuko. Trust me, you can tell me anything,” you answered. 
“I’m um… kind of homeless I guess. I got kicked out of my dorm for uhh… setting my room on fire…” he confessed, looking embarrassed. He looked down, fearing your reaction. Would you be mad? Scared? Instead you surprised him by… laughing?
“I understand, I got kicked out of my last apartment for painting on the wall and ruining it. It was an accident, I just hadn’t realized I needed to put a tarp up. What about you? I mean… Did you mean to set the fire?” you asked. 
“If I'm telling the truth then… yeah. I guess I did. It was just a spur of the moment thing. I was just so angry I started lighting stuff on fire. I didn’t mean for it to spread to the curtains or anything though. That part was really an accident. I just didn’t notice until it was too late,” he explained. You smiled sympathetically.
“I get it. I mean, everyone makes mistakes sometimes,” you told him. “So, what do you do for a living?” you asked, laying back and resting your head on his now empty backpack. 
“I’m uhh… unemployed. I mean I’m a full time computer science student but my uncle pays for everything,” he told you.
“Your uncle pays for everything but you’re homeless? How does that work?” you asked playfully.
“I just didn’t want to bother him by asking to stay with him. I mean I know that he would say yes but… I just couldn’t do that to him after everything he’s done for me,” he sighed. “How about you, what do you do?” 
“I work at a bookstore with some of my friends. I dropped out of college last semester. It just… wasn’t what I really wanted, you know? My passion is art. I just want to make the world brighter in that way,” you explained.
“I get it. I’m studying to work with artificial intelligence. I just want to help people. If I can do that with my life… i think everything will be worth it,” he told you.
“No way, my friend Toph is studying AI too! Have you ever met her?” you asked excitedly.
“Toph Beifong? Yeah of course I know her. She’s one of the smartest people in my engineering class. The way she works with metal to build stuff… I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.
“That’s Toph for you. She’s always talking about the newest thing she’s built when we’re working together. It’s her and I, and three of our other friends at the bookstore. Katara’s studying business, Sokka’s studying communications, and Aang is working on philosophy. Don’t ask me what he’s gonna do with that degree once he graduates, but he seems pretty happy whenever he talks about it to us,” you told Zuko. He was listening intently, hanging on every word. It seemed like he really cared. Suddenly you realized that you were in way over your head with the mysterious man. The universe was just so cruel that way.
The next day Zuko was in class. He sat next to Toph, hoping to get to know her better. In all his time in class with her, he’d never really taken the time to talk to her. To his surprise, once he got past her sarcastic and calloused exterior she was sweeter than he’d imagined. 
“Have you gotten the book we’re studying yet? The annotations are due by Sunday night,” Toph asked him.
“No I… haven’t even thought about it yet,” he confessed. 
“You should get on it or else you won’t finish on time. Why don’t you go to Katara's Books? That's where I work. Just tell them Toph sent you and they’ll give you 25% off. I mean, not like you need it, rich kid… but still, you should get it there. The money goes to my friend Katara. She owns it and she’s doing everything she can to keep it running,” Toph explained. 
‘Yeah, I'll be sure to stop by,” Zuko said, standing up to grab his things. Katara? That name sounded awfully familiar. Maybe he’d know where he’d heard it once he got there. Making his way across campus, he couldn’t get you out of his mind as he walked. 
Walking into the store he looked around, quickly finding his way to the nonfiction shelf.
“Hey, I’m Aang! Do you need help finding anything today?” came a voice from behind making him jump. He wheeled around to see a little bald kid wearing what looked to him like monk robes. Aang… now that name seemed familiar too. He told the kid, Aang, what book he was looking for. 
“Ah, I love that book! I love the part discussing the philosophy that metal is alive. It’s definitely great food for thought. It should be right… here!” he said, pulling the book off the shelf. 
“Thanks for the help… Aang,” he said, trailing off. He walked up the counter, ready to pay when he caught sight of you. Ringing up the customer in front of him. Of course that’s where he’d heard those names from, you had told him about them last night. He studied your face carefully as you smiled and laughed at the woman buying a copy of The fault in Our Stars. You looked… beautiful. He scolded himself for being creepy. He knew better than to start being vulnerable for you. 
“I can help the next guest in li- oh, Zuko! Hey!” you called out. 
“Hey Y/N, how’s it going today?” he shoots back.
“It’s good. We’ve been kind of slow so that’s been nice. Oh, I love this book! Autobiography of a Yogi is really amazing. Aang told me about it after he studied it in class. I read it after that and I loved it! I think you’ll really enjoy it,” you told him. You were so adorable when you were excited. Zuko scolded himself again. He needed to get you out of his mind. As he paid and said goodbye though, it seemed an impossible task. A spark had caught in his heart, and he knew it would soon be a raging forest fire. Uncontrollable and insurmountable, too great to ever find his way out of. As he walked back to your shared apartment, he began to realize the thought didn’t scare him nearly as much as it should have.
Walking in the door and setting your keys down, you saw Zuko on the couch. As peaceful as he looked, you needed to ask him about dinner.
“Hey, are you hungry?” you asked, setting your bag on the counter.
“Yeah, are you making dinner?” he responded. He turned around to face you.
“I was hoping you’d help out but, yeah. All I have is macaroni and cheese, is that fine with you?” you asked. 
“Yeah, I’ll get the stuff out for it,” he said, watching you put a pot of water on the stove to boil. He grabbed the milk and butter from the fridge, trying to put his anxiety to the back of his brain. He was a grown adult, it shouldn’t still scare him. He had zoned out and before he knew it, the pasta was done.
“Hey, move you dork. I need to pour this in the strainer you said. Seeing that he didn’t seem to notice you tried to move around him and pour it out anyway. Evidently, that did not go very well as you accidentally scalded his hand by pouring boiling hot water on it. He let out a yelp, sounding like a kicked puppy. Your heart sank.
“Oh my god Zuko I’m so sorry!” you apologized. You tried to grab his wrist to inspect the burn, but he snatched it away from you with a squeal and sank down against the refrigerator. You knelt down in front of him as he folded in on himself. You reached up to grab an ice pack from the freezer and handed it to him, noticing him start to cry. You sat next to him and tried to calm him down. He sounded like he was hyperventilating, which you didn’t take as a good sign. You knew a panic attack when you saw one, and this was most certainly one of them.
“Hey, calm down. It’s alright. You’re going to be okay, alright? Just breathe,” you reassured him softly. You rubbed his shoulder tenderly as you brought him back down to earth. It took a few minutes, but eventually he calmed down enough to speak.
“Hey, can you tell me what just happened, Zuko?” you asked softly, trying your best to sound reassuring.
“Panic attack… I just panicked… too much like the accident… too scary,” he blubbered almost incoherently. 
“What accident? Can you tell me what happened to you Zuko?” you pushed, trying your hardest to stay gentle. Your heart broke when he spoke up.
“My dad… when I was little… my face… he poured boiling water on my face… that’s why I have my scar… It hurt so bad, Y/N, it just reminded me of it,” he explained. You were horrified, but even more than that you were angry that someone could do that to him. To such a sweet person. To a child.
“Is he in jail? Your dad?” you asked, pushing your voice to stay flat.
“He’s… he’s gone now. Thankfully. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever had to see him again.” Zuko explained, wiping his tears on his sleeve. “I’m sorry I freaked out, I didn’t mean to…”
“No, don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault. Not at all,” you told him, holding back tears of your own. 
“So umm… you think the pasta’s still good?” he asked, a watery smile teasing on his lips. 
“Fuck the pasta,” you told him. “We’ll just order out.”
“I’d like that... “ he trailed off.
“We’ll get whatever you want, my treat,” you said, watching his face.
“Can we go eat at my uncle’s shop? He makes great tea and we’ll probably be the only ones in there,” he asked.
“Of course we can,” you told him. You got up to grab your keys, not noticing how his eyes flickered over to you with longing as you turned around.
Stepping out of your car, you looked up at the sign for the Jasmine Dragon. A quiet little tea shop by the edge of campus, sitting alone next to two closed buildings. It was cute, you thought. You were surprised you’d never been before. You walked in behind Zuko, who instantly got called up to the counter by a man you could only assume to be his uncle. You spat out an order to him and he cheerfully wrote it down and handed it to the cooks. You couldn’t believe someone so sweet could be related to a family as awful as the one Zuko had described. 
As the only ones in the shop, you got your food quickly. You eyed your soup appreciatively, thanking the server as he walked away. 
“This colour is so pretty. I need to paint something with it sometime,” you told Zuko, gesturing to the soup. 
“It reminds me of your eyes… they’re pretty too,” Zuko said, instantly kicking himself for it. You blushed as you looked up to see him looking at his food intensely, too embarrassed to look back at you.
“Thank you… You know, your eyes are pretty nice too,” you responded rather awkwardly. The universe’s vendetta for you knew no end.
As you got up to leave, Zuko stayed put. 
“I’m gonna stay here to help Uncle close up shop. I’ll be home in an hour or so,” he explained. He watched you say goodbye and walk out, making your way to the car. He walked over to the counter, vaulting over it. 
“Zuko! How’s my favourite nephew doing?” Iroh asked him, smiling as he finished drying off a glass. 
“I’m… confused. I need help, Uncle,” Zuko responded.
“It’s about that Y?N, your new roommate, isn’t it?” Zuko nodded, “I knew it. I’m always so good at reading you, Zuko.” Zuko sighed.
“I think I really like her, but I don’t know what to do. What if she thinks I’m weird or something. I don’t want to ruin us as friends,” Zuko confessed. 
“You’ve got to do what makes you happy, Zuko. If she makes you happy, tell her. If she’s really your friend she’ll understand,” Iroh told him, pulling him into a knowing hug. Zuko let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding as he sank into it. Everything always had to be so complicated. 
At home, your mind raced with thoughts of Zuko. Calling your friends, you sighed as everyone picked up.
“What am I supposed to do about Zuko?” you asked dramatically.
“You could always just kill him,” Toph offered, earning a laugh from everyone else.
“I’m serious. He's literally… perfect. I think I’m in love with him or something,” you said to her.
“Let me get this straight: you let him move into your apartment without even knowing him, he tells you he burnt down his dorm room, and now you’re in love with him? Maybe I’m just spoiled by being in love with the nicest person ever but that sounds kind of fucked up,” Katara told you. 
“Ok first of all, yes you are spoiled by being in love with Aang, but second of all yes. I know I’m an idiot but I can’t help it. You’d only understand if you were in my shoes,” you responded.
“I think you should just do it. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? He says no?” Aang said.
“No Aang, the worst he could do is be totally creeped out and move out and I never see him again,” you spat out frustratedly. 
“If that happens, I’ll yell at him in engineering for you,” Toph offered.
‘Thanks Toph, but I doubt it’ll come to that. I’ll probably just suffer dramatically until the end of time,” you lamented flopping down onto the couch to agonize about life.
When Zuko walked in, he was surprised to find you on the couch. He walked up to the sink and dumped the forgotten macaroni in the trash and rinsed out the pot. Drying his hands on his jeans, he walked over to where you were sleeping. He debated for a second before picking you up and carrying you back to your room. He set you down in bed and turned off the lights in the hallway. He took note of the stacked canvases in the corner, and saw the painting still drying on top. A boy with half of his face obscured by a deep red scar stared back at him. It couldn’t be meant to be him, could it? Surely he wasn’t that beautiful in your eyes, was he?
Waking up the next morning you were confused. You had fallen asleep on the couch talking to Katara. Why were you in your bedroom? Had…. had Zuko brought you in here last night when he came home? Your heart sped up at the thought. He must have, right? As you got dressed and walked into the empty living room, you couldn’t get the thought out of your head. Zuko was already long gone, the crazy morning person that he was. It was your day off, and you knew it was Sokka’s too, so you decided to call him. 
“Hey, do you wanna go get coffee or something today?” you asked him when he picked up the phone. 
“Of course, dork. Meet me at the coffee house by the campus library in half an hour,” he responded. You smiled as you hung up the phone and went to go get ready. 
Half an hour later and you were walking into the coffee house to see Sokka sitting at a table in the corner. You sat down across from him to see your favourite drink already sitting in front of you. Taking a sip, Sokka piped up.
“So about this Zuko character, I know you really like him. Tell me more about him,” he told you, punctuating the sentence with a smile that you couldn’t resist.
“He’s so gorgeous, Sokka. Plus, he’s the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. Aside from you and Aang. But seriously, he’s amazing. I painted a picture of him last night while I was on the phone and it was just Katara. He has the most paintable face. I just want to get lost in it,” you rambled on. He was starting to overtake your mind, you couldn’t get him out of your brain.
“Look, I’m just saying. If he’s that great, you should just tell him you feel. If anything else, you know I’ll kill him if he breaks your heart,” offered Sokka. 
“Good luck,” you laughed, “He’s been training in Tae Kwon Do since he was a baby,” you replied. Sokka groaned, smirking as you laughed at him. You took a sip from your coffee mug. Things were always so complicated.
Walking back into the apartment, you saw all the lights were turned off. That was… strange. Zuko should have been home by now. Maybe he was sleeping? You walked with light footsteps down the hall, making your way towards Zuko’s room. Seeing his door cracked open, you decided to go in and check on him. You found him sitting in the dark, holding a lighter. A little silver Zippo he was using to pass over the ends of his fingertips, and holding to his palm. He looked lost in thought as he watched the flames dance across his skin.
“Zuko… are you ok?” he whispered trying not to disturb him too much. He flinched and dropped the lighter onto the carpet, wheeling around to face you.
“You scared me, I didn’t even hear you come in,” he told you.
“Sorry I just… didn’t want to make too much noise in case you were sleeping or something. Anyway, what were you doing?” you asked.
“Oh I was just messing with my lighter. You know, typical pyromaniac behavior,” he smirked.
“I knew you were an amateur arsonist, but I didn't peg you as the masochist type,” you giggled. 
“It’s just in my blood I guess. I’ve always been fascinated by fire as long as I can remember. So was my sister, and my parents, and my cousin. My uncle is too. I guess that’s just how it goes with us,” he revealed.
“I didn’t know you had a sister. I’m assuming she uhh… wasn’t the best?” you said knowingly.
“She was sick in the head. It wasn’t her fault. An upbringing like we had would make anyone crazy. She’s in a mental hospital now. I still visit her sometimes but… not as much as I used to. It’s just hard to see her like that. It just reminds me too much of my mom,” he confessed.
“Is that… bad?” you asked, trying hard not to sound rude.
“I loved my mom, she was the best part of my life when she was in it. After my dad disowned me and kicked her out though… it’s just too hard to think about…” he trailed off, his voice cracking with a sob at the end. 
“I’m so sorry, Zuko. I can’t imagine how you feel,” you responded, pulling him into your chest as his body shook with sobs. You held him as he let out strangled sobs, and you stayed like that until his breathing evened out. 
“We’re gonna get through this. We can rewrite your memories together,” you told him.
The next morning as you clocked into work, you couldn’t stop thinking about the night before. The way he’d been so vulnerable with you. You had grown so fond. It was impossible to stop your heart from racing every time you thought about him. Walking over to where everyone else stood sorting through books, you sighed.
“I need to do something about Zuko. I can’t keep thinking about him like this. It’s all I can think about,” you said, punctuated with a groan.
“Ok well, your only options are to either tell him or die miserable and alone. I don’t know about you, but I would take the first option,” Sokka told you, turning around to face you. 
“Seriously. I know Toph isn’t here but I’m sure she’d agree: we all want you to be happy. The only way that’ll happen is if you just tell him how you feel,” Katara remarked. 
“I guess you’re right. But what if he thinks I’m creepy or something?” you asked self consciously. 
“Y/N, you’re gorgeous. Zuko would be lucky to have someone like you. Trust me, if he says no he’s delusional,” Katara responded. 
“I think I’ll tell him tonight and get it over with,” you stated. 
“Finally! I’m sure it’ll go well,” Aang told you, smiling from behind the book he was occupied with.
Zuko couldn’t believe he’d been so stupid to be so vulnerable with you last night. Once was more than enough, but twice? You had such an effect on him. It was like he could really be himself around you. It was the first time he’d ever felt that way, and he knew he’d have to capitalize on it. He knew he had to tell you how he felt. He sat down next to Toph, as had become his routine in class everyday.
“Toph, I need to ask you something,” he said, setting down his backpack.
“If you’re going to ask me on a date, just know that I’d rather kiss Momo,” she said, motioning to the dopey eyed guide dog that sat at her feet.
“No, it’s about Y/N. It's just… they make me feel so different. I’ve never felt the way I feel about them,” Zuko confessed.
“Happiness. You’re describing happiness,” Toph replied sarcastically.
“Yeah, I guess I am. I guess what i'm asking is… would you be alright with me asking her out?” he asked.
“Of course, idiot. As long as you don’t break her heart. Then I’ll have no choice but to kill you,” Toph said, raising her eyebrow. Zuko shuddered. If there was anyone he was truly scared of, it was Toph Beifong. 
Sitting on the couch, you turned your head at the sound of a key turning in the door. You smiled inwardly when you saw Zuko’s face emerge from the door frame. 
“How was class?” you asked him.
“It was… good,” he responded, walking over to you, “I uhh… really need to tell you something,” he said meekly. 
“What’s up?” you asked as he sat down on the couch next to you.
“I just… you’re the first person that’s made me feel loved in so long. You’re always so happy to see me, and you always know just what to say, and you’re so gorgeous, and you have the most beautiful laugh and… I guess what I’m trying to say is… I really really like you, Y/N,” he confessed. He had no idea what to expect but he certainly hadn’t expected you to… laugh? 
‘I know, Zuko,” you giggled, cutting him off with a kiss. He was taken aback, but he relaxed into it before you pulled away, keeping your hand on his cheek.
“How did you know?” he asked, breathless.
“You think Toph can keep a secret? Of course she told me,” you smiled.
“Of course she did,” he laughed, pulling you in for another kiss, “So, can I call us official?” he asked. 
“Of course, my love,” you told him, sinking into his arms. 
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bellatrixobsessed1 · 4 years ago
Text
Protea (Part 16)
She waited too long. 
Hesitated for too long.
And now, as she is growing used to, the damage has been done. 
She thinks that Mai has known for a while now. Likely she had overheard she and Mohi conversing. She is almost certain that this it had been a test of honesty, that she has been waiting for her to come out with the truth that she had already guessed. And, by all means, she was going to--truly, she was--but, just as likely, Mai had set a time frame. One that Azula failed to act within. 
“How long have you had your memories, Azula?” She hisses. 
“Since around the night of our first date.” Her voice is quiet and even. Level for now. 
“That long? Spirits! You and Zuko are both the same.” 
“Oh wow, she’s really mad at you, Snapdragon.” Zuko remarks as he sneaks on by.
She isn’t sure if she wants to grab him by his pompous fire lord’s robe and give him a good whack or laugh at the his ignorance to the context. Laugh at the sense of unity they might soon have in Mai’s cold resentment. 
“I was going to tell you.”
“When?” Mai asks. “Because it seems like you just like to run, whether you’re Azula or Snapdragon. You always run.” She rolls her eyes. “Just like Zuko.” This is pointedly louder than the statements prior. 
“Are you trying to get kicked out of the palace.”
Mai quirks a brow. “It’s not like I have anything important to stay for.” She rubs her hands over her face. “How am I supposed to manage the flower shop on my own?”
Azula doesn’t understand. The solution is clear. “You aren’t running it alone.”
“Yes. I am.” 
“You don’t have to.”
“I would rather try to handle everything on my own than handle anything with you.”
Azula her stomach and hopes sink in unison. “You liked running the shop with me.”
“I liked running the shop with Snapdragon. Not you.” Her lip curls into a scowl on the last word.
She wonders how it is that Mai always knows just what to say to break her...to shatter her. It is just what Azula had dreaded. Exactly why she couldn’t muster up the willingness to tell her. And yet she is almost certain that Mai would have stuck around if she did. Why else would she have waited so long to start this confrontation? 
“We’re the same person.” She doesn’t think that it is the weakest defense, but it isn’t a strong one and it is the only one that she has. 
Mai shakes her head. “Snapdragon was genuine.”
“I’m trying to be.”
“Trying isn’t good enough.” Mai hisses. “Not for you.”
“What about for me?” 
Mai rolls her eyes. “You’ve had so many chances, Zuko. I’d take Azula back before I took you.”
Azula isn’t if it is she who cringes harder or he. She grows less tense when the depth of her words seems to go over his head. At least she can take comfort in that her odds are better than Zuko’s, though she knows that he has set the bar as low as ever. 
“You are in a dreadful mood.” Zuko comments. 
“Well I guess that you and Snapdragon have something to bond over. Maybe she’ll be honest with you, she already made a mess with Mohi’s sons and I.”
Finally at her patience's end she scoffs, “why don’t you go bond with Kaz then?”
“Perhaps I will.” 
Zuko waits for her to make it down the hall, “what did you do?” He flinches. “I thought that, that reaction was reserved for me.” 
“I guess that we both just have a special talent for making her angry, Zuzu.” 
“Yeah clearl--wait, what did you just call me?”
She doesn’t repeat herself. She doesn’t need to. She has already made everyone she cares about angry with her, what’s one more person? One more person who she had never been close with or gotten close to, to begin with.
“Azula, how?” 
She sidesteps his curious touch. 
“The same way that mother did.” 
“Spirts,” he chuckles, she doesn’t see where he finds humor. “Wait until Ami finds out about this one.”
She almost certainly would have laughed if she weren’t feeling so dismal. “That’s it? That’s what you have to say.”
“I don’t know what else to say. It’s a little late for ‘welcome home’, you’ve been back for a while now. I knew that you’d turn up eventually, you always do.” 
She shrugs, “you’re usually more dramatic than this.” Evidently she is almost disappointed. “Where is the yelling and the lamenting. Bursts of fire, give me something.”
“Azula, Mai told me that you ate a whole marigold, I’m still processing that.” 
.oOo.
She doesn’t even know the man. He is charming enough in appearance, sure. She thinks that he is half Water Tribesman and half Fire National. His complexion is darker though his eyes are a bright gold. His hair a deep black but beaded and braided as they do in the tribes. He has a soft goatee in the making.
He isn’t so bad as far as personality goes. He has a sense of humor, but it isn’t one she shares. He has a passion for firebending, but it is quite generic. He is generic and she wonders if that is due to having spent so much time with Snapdragon. She cruses Azula twice over for setting a surprisingly high and bizarre standard. 
It is no matter. 
There doesn’t need to be any real connection where spite is involved. 
She thinks that he might actually have a real spark for her. One that she is too indifferent to reciprocate. But she supposes that one hurt leads to another. One heartache can make a dozen more. 
Likely it is as simple as resenting Azula more than it is actually loving one another. Anyways, she can’t imagine that one discussion and one practice kiss could ignite anything real. Kaz leans himself against the wall as they wait for the dinner crowd to arrive. 
Mostly the traffic consists of chefs and servers.
She leans closer to Kaz. If she has Azula’s schedule down, she will be making her way down the hall shortly. 
She hears her voice before she sees her. Something in her heart flutters. That voice, it had been such a delight to hear. Something to look forward to and get enthusiastic about. Mai inhales before leaning in for the kiss. 
It feels just as dispassionate as she had expected and laced with a dash of guilt. She doesn’t stop though. Not until she hears Azula’s sentence cut short. Not until she detects a familiar aura of betrayal. 
She wonders what TyLee would say if she weren’t off with they Kyoshi warriors on some thrilling mission. She wonders if TyLee has found someone she loves, someone who makes her happy. She wonders why she is thinking of TyLee at all. 
She supposes it is better than thinking about the feeling of Kaz’s lips and the whir of emotions within.
Dinner is tense. Azula hardly speaks. When she does it is to ask Mohi to pass her a spice shaker. Once or twice she exchanges words with Zuko. The uneasy fluttering in her tummy is made worse when she compares this solemn meal to the lively and chaotic ones she’d shared with Snapdragon before. 
Azula excuses herself before the main course. 
There is a part of her that wants to sigh heavily and tell her to sit back down. Most of her is still so angry. Angry and hurt. And those parts let Azula go.
She had gotten with Snapdragon to feel something and now she is feeling too much.
.oOo.
It is late, she isn’t sure just how much so, when she arrives at her factory. It has been so long since she has seen it. Somehow it looks unfamiliar, daunting and uninviting. 
That is until she touches her hand to the metal, it is still very warm from the day’s excessive heat. She closes her eyes, it is familiar. 
It is still a comfort. 
She ignores the stain that the rust leaves on her palms as she finds her first foothold. It is automatic at this point, and quick and easy ascent. She reaches the first landing, a rickety old fire exit. The last of it’s emergency staircase had crumbled a few weeks prior, it still rests haphazardly on the ground. She leaps from it to the balcony above it, with a blast of fire for good measure. 
She will make it to the top this time. 
She swears it.
She will, because this time she has her fire and no trepidations.
She makes it past the highest balcony. To the point where there are only overly large rivets to hold. She takes a deep breath and pushes forward. This is the highest she has ventured. She propels herself with a steady stream of fire, her hands find stability on one of the spokes. 
She looks down, Caldera city is a glow with lanterns and bonfires. A beacon of wealth and culture and she has the pleasure of taking it all in at once. She thinks that she doesn’t really need anything else. 
She is eager to see it from the very highest point of the factory. It isn’t so far away now. And being so close to it, she isn’t sure how she hadn’t made it to this point sooner. It should only take one more blast of fire and a careful placement of her hands. She observes it for a good while before settling on an optimal angle to propel herself from and the best place to set her hands. 
She takes another deep breath and shifts her weight. 
The spoke buckles. 
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avatarstories · 4 years ago
Text
izumi’s birthday part three:  sources of wisdom
The next morning, breakfast with the family is awkward. Izumi was a few moments late, having had to stop by the royal seamstress to have the last adjustments fitted for party outfit finished. By the time she arrived at breakfast, everyone was seated, and the only empty chair was between her father and Bumi. Bumi’s stony expression made her want to just be swallowed up by the floor. Maybe she could go find Druk and convince him to eat her. She gives Bumi a sad smile, and he rolls his eyes with a noticeable exhale. Izumi takes her seat quietly trying her hardest to give him as much space as possible. 
“Are we going to talk about how Izumi and Bumi are making the air in the room extremely uncomfortable?” Kya says. “Lover’s quarrel?” she jokes. 
“Fuck off, Kya” Bumi mutters, looking down at the table in front of him. Kya is across from him and leans in trying to get his attention. 
“Excuse me?” she says with a joking lilt in her voice. 
Bumi doesn’t say anything. Instead, he throws his tea at Kya and storms out of the dining room. Everyone is silent but all eyes are on Izumi. Having managed to stop the tea from hitting her, Kya bends it back into a cup. 
“Well, Happy Birthday, Izumi! What an exciting way to start the day,” Kya deadpans. Zuko looks at Izumi with a concerned expression. Azula looks ready to go to murder. Toph and Lin have their eyebrows raised and are taking a big sips of their mango juices. Tenzin hangs his head and focuses intently at his rice. Izumi notices Katara giving Aang a look that says go after him and when he doesn’t move she shakes her head. 
“This looks like a job for a wise old man like me,” Iroh says, pushing his chair back so that he can stand up. 
“General Iroh, it’s really ok, Aang can take care of it,” Katara says. 
“Uh, I kinda agree with General Iroh,” Aang replies sheepishly. 
If looks could kill, the ice in Katara’s eyes would have Aang pinned to the wall. “You are unbelievable,” she says quietly, though the anger and disappointment in her tone are unmistakable. She follows Bumi out the door 
“Looks like Twinkletoes is in the polar bear doghouse,” Toph says. Aang groans and then goes after Katara and Bumi.
“Care to enlighten us, Izumi?” Azula asks. 
“Not really,” she mutters. “I’m going to the training yard,” she announces quietly, and she walks out the door. 
Azula looks between Zuko and Iroh “I would go after her, but I was planning to go boss some staff around to make sure her party is perfect, which I think now needs to be even more perfect,” she says. 
“I will see what is bothering our dear Izumi,” Iroh says pushing out his chair once again. He and Azula leave the room. 
“Man,” Lin says “I thought mom and I would be the ones to start drama.” At that, Sokka laughs so hard he snorts, and Suki punches him in the side for it. ————————————————————————————————— 
Izumi is moving through advanced katas when Iroh finds her.
“I have told you before, forms practiced in anger are like tea steeped in unclean water, dear Izumi.” 
She finishes the form sending an arc of a flame towards the stone wall with an audibly annoyed exhale. 
“Now, are you going to tell me what is wrong or should I guess? Kya suggested a -” 
“IM NOT DATING BUMI! CAN EVERYONE STOP THINKING THAT!” 
Iroh chuckles. “Everyone used to think the same of your father and Katara when they were yours and Bumi’s ages. When people share a special bond others cannot help but wonder. But of course I did not come here to talk about your father’s youthful affections. It appears you and Bumi are experiencing a strain. Care to inform your old grandfather so he can help you?” 
“We had a misunderstanding.” 
“I know that I am old, Izumi, but I am not blind.” 
“Bumi was telling me about some issues in their family between him and his dad, and I basically told him that he should be lucky not to have the weight of a legacy on his shoulders.” 
“So your problem stems from your fear of your future,” Iroh affirms. “Rightfully so on an occasion as momentous as your 17th birthday, but Izumi, you are a kind, gentle, and fair minded young woman, and your father is a picture of health, what has brought about this anxiety?” 
Izumi crosses her arms and says nothing. 
“Izumi?” 
“I overheard some of the noblewomen talking about a curse on the Fire Ladies.” 
“And what is this curse?” 
“That Fire Ladies who die in childbirth give rise to evil Fire Lords. The spirits make them pay the ultimate price for what they bring into the world.”
Iroh takes in her words. “And so you have applied this to your own birth?” Izumi nods.
“You’re young yet Izumi, but I think you will find that destiny is what you make of it,” he says. “You and your father are the descendants of Sozin and Azulon, but you’re also the descendants of Avatar Roku on your grandmother’s side. There’s light and dark in you, and you will have to chose what nature you will allow to flourish. But knowing you, I would largely place my bets on the light side. And,” he takes a pause, “you can always seek to redeem yourself for your faults. I tried to break through the walls of Ba Sing Se, and then I took it back from the Fire Nation. Your father chased Aang halfway across the world, and now they are best friends. Azula was one of the most terrifying people in existence -” 
“She still is.” 
He chuckles. “Yes, she still is. But the original fire bending masters deemed her worthy of regaining her power when she lost it and repented, and they even gifted her a dragon egg as they did to your father,” he explains. 
“Your father’s legacy was to end a war. Yours will be the equally important one of maintaining peace,” Iroh says. “Now, maybe you should go practice that and make your amends with Master Bumi. I am off to make some tea.” 
“What if he won’t speak to me,” she asks. 
“Well then your partner dance in front of the court later on at your party will be terribly uncomfortable!” he says walking back inside. ——————————————————————————————————— Bumi does not really know where he is walking to, and he just follows the direction that instinct takes him. He can hear his parents behind him, but he does not stop. 
“Bumi please,” Katara calls. 
He groans and walks faster. In this instance, he was incredibly pleased with himself because he still remembers some of the secret passageways in the palace that Izumi had showed him as children when they would play hide and explode with Izumi’s Aunt Kiyi and Aunt Azula, so he ducked into one that he knew was coming and hears his parents run right passed. It was slightly dark inside, which made perfect sense considering that usually only firebenders used these hallways and had no need for any other light. 
Bumi went off memory and kept his right hand on the wall. If he had to figure this out like a maze in order to get out, that’s what he would do. After about ten minutes in the dark, he feels a variation in the stone that tells him he’s found a door. If he remembers correctly, this one will let him out by the portrait gallery. However, when he opens the door, he’s stopped by a piece of furniture. 
“Huh?” he hears someone ask, and soon the furniture is being shoved out of the way and the door opens and bright light blinds him, and Azula is standing in front of him.
She stares him up and down. “I would offer to help you but I will warn you first that if you ruin Izumi’s birthday, not even the fact that your father is the Avatar will save you from me.” 
Bumi remains frozen, unsure what to do. 
“Well don’t just sit there,” she says, raising a brow. He stumbles into what he realizes to be Azula’s office. 
“If you are avoiding your parents who ran after you when you caused quite the commotion at breakfast, then my office would definitely be the best place to hide. Push that back into place,” she commands gesturing to the small table she had just moved. 
Bumi has not spent much time alone with Azula. Whenever he would visit the Fire Nation, he and Izumi were attached at the hip. Every summer when Kya would go to the Southern Water Tribe and his dad and Tenzin would go to an Air Temple, Bumi would get dropped off in the Fire Nation for a few months of sword training with Master Piandao. After Piandao passed away, Zuko offered to continue training him since Sokka was busy trying to get Republic City up and running. In all that time, he’d never really gotten to know Azula. From what Izumi had told him, Azula was Zuko’s right hand. She lead his small council and sat in on meetings when he was away on diplomatic trips, which made her an extremely powerful person. 
He looks around her office. It’s clean and tidy. There is a small ink portrait of Izumi on the wall to the right of Azula's desk, and vases of Fire Lilies around the room. 
Azula studies him while he looks around the room. “Should I ask what’s bothering you or should we pretend this exchange never happened?”
“Whatever you prefer,” he replies. 
“I prefer to be well informed.” 
“Izumi and I had a fight.” 
“I gleaned that,” she says flatly. There’s a pause. “Izumi hates celebrating her birthday. She tells us every year it makes her feel guilty, but the 17th birthday of the Heir Apparent is a rite of passage in the Fire Nation.” 
“Why’s that?” 
“Traditionally, it’s when the Crown Prince, or in Izumi’s case, Princess, starts sitting on the small council and has to take up a stronger political role than just kissing babies and doing well in school… it’s seen as the last day of childhood.”  
Oh Bumi thinks. “That’s why she’s so stressed.” 
“Most likely a factor.” 
“She never mentioned it.” 
“Well, you know Izumi. Unless it’s Zuko, getting her to tell you what’s wrong is like pulling teeth. She is like you in that regard.” Bumi looks puzzled. “I read people very well,” she says in reply to his reaction. There’s a pause as she regards him. “I do not imagine it is easy to be a non-bender in a family like yours.” 
“Man, you really don’t hold back.” 
She offers him a half smile. “I understand the fear of being a disappointment too. When I was 12 I was so scared of failure and what would happen if I disappointed my father. It was not even two years by the time I self destructed.” 
“I’m not going to self destruct,” he mutters. 
“Then you might need some help carrying that weight on your shoulders around.” 
He is quiet for a minute. “What if there’s no one to help me?” 
 She glances down at a small ink drawing of her mother, Zuko, and herself  that sits on her desk. “From my experience,  you can often find help in very unexpected places, but you have to be open to being helped.” 
AN: you cannot convince me Azula didn’t get a redemption arc and a lot of healing and become a strange source of wisdom. you just can’t. azula redemptions are a peak of feminist literature. 
I imagine redeemed Azula serves Zuko in a position similar to the hand of the king from GoT. 
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