#sokka

[seasideoranges]

good evening everybody

[muffinlance]

tags by @wileycap absolutely passing peer review:

#sokka would be beyond thrilled to find the Men he Trained and Drilled holding the fire prince captive #"come on sokka the five-year-olds aren't actually keeping him here he just had nowhere else to go" #sokka: "oh yeah? check this out: MEN SEIZE THE PRISONER!" #(in the background Zuko is slowly but surely buried by an avalanche of toddlers) #(he doesn't seem that mad about it but to sokka it's the principle that counts) #i love this so much #LOVE THIS #absolutely genius op

Hi ! prompt idea : What if Zuko was armed during the first episode and was stranded with the water tribe while the avatar left with Katara and Sokka, Iroh on his trail for white lotus reasons.

Oh we are going to have us some FUN with "stranded with the water tribe", say no more.

---

Zuko was dripping, and steaming, and staring down two dozen women and their gaggle of small children, plus that old not-the-Avatar crone from earlier. They were all cowering away from him. Which was--

Good. It was good. If they were cowering, then they hadn’t noticed how steam was not flames. He wasn’t sure he could make flames, not after the arctic water he’d landed in, with that last sight of the Avatar glowing; not after surfacing under the ice pack, after swimming, after kicking slamming breaking through and his ship was gone and there was only ocean all around and

and he’d made it back to this pathetic little camp of the Southern Water Tribe, because that was the only place he knew for sure would have shelter, and he wasn’t going to die just because they were all staring at him, even if felt like he would.

Even if the old not-the-Avatar woman could probably take him, right now. But she didn’t know that.

Zuko pulled himself up, taller than her by at least a few inches, and blew steam from his nose.

“I am commandeering one of your huts,” he said. And added, because Uncle said even a prince should be gracious: “You may choose which one.”

---

She choose her own.

...The only one without children that flames might scar, or younger women to catch a soldier’s interests.

Zuko sat by her fire and determinedly started struggling out of his wet clothes and she was still in here with him--

Zuko pulled one of her animal pelts over himself, and finished fighting off his clothes. When he stuck his head back out, cheeks still reddened from what was obviously the cold, she dropped a parka on his head.

“Dry clothes, Your Highness,” she said.

The parka was much bigger than he was. He fell asleep hoping that the camp’s men were on a long, long hunting trip.

---

He woke up again. Kanna tucked her favorite ulu knife away, newly sharpened, and stopped contemplating the alternative.

---

“I am commandeering a ship,” he said.

The crone led him across the village, all twenty paces of it, to a row of canoes.

“Take whichever one you want,” she said. “Will you need help getting it to the water?”

Zuko looked at the canoes. Looked at the ocean. Watched a leopard seal, easily the size of the largest canoe, dozing just past the ice his own ship had broken through the day before. It was frozen again, a great icy arrow pointing from the waves to the village, snow already starting to cover it over.

Beyond was blue sky and gray ocean and white ice, floating in blocks like stepping stones, like boulders, like cliffsides.

There wasn’t even a hint of gray steel, or smoke. Or any land, besides what they were standing on.

He looked down at the canoes again. Somehow, they seemed even smaller.

“I, uh,” Zuko cleared his throat. “I’ll require supplies. Before I go.”

---

They... did not have supplies. Not extra ones. This didn’t stop them from trying to give him supplies, food and blankets and anything else he could think to ask for. But each blanket was a pelt hunted by someone’s grandfather, had been inked with images and stories by someone’s mother, was the favorite of someone’s husband or brother or uncle or cousin--

They couldn’t go to the nearest market to replace things, here.

And when they talked about food, about what they could spare, they kept sneaking glances to their children, who were sneaking glances at Zuko from the huts, sticking their heads just over the snowy ledges like their fur-trimmed hoods would hide them. Their mothers and aunts shooed them away, and they crept back, like barnacle-crabs. Zuko glared, and they disappeared.

“When are your men coming back?” he asked. “They’re hunting, aren’t they?”

Oh. So that was what they looked like, when they weren’t trying to hide their hate.

---

Zuko wrapped himself up in the same blanket that night. It was printed inside with fine lines and images, telling a story he didn’t know. He wondered whose favorite it was.

---

Kanna wondered how quickly he’d wake—if he’d wake—if she built the fire up with wet driftwood and tundra grass, if she had one of the younger girls boost up a child to plug the air hole, if she let the smoke draw its own blanket down over this fire child.

---

It was hard to know when to wake up, because the sun never set. So everyone was up before him, and they all had spears and clubs and—and nets, and trap lines, and snow googles with their single slat to protect the eyes from snow blindness. Zuko had seen those once, at the Ember Island Museum of Ethnography, where they’d gone when it was too rainy for anything more exciting.

Oh. They were going hunting.

“Give me that,” Zuko said, and took a spear.

The women looked at him. One of them adjusted her googles.

“I can hunt,” he scowled.

He did not, in fact, know how to hunt.

---

“Give me that,” the Fire Prince said, and Kanna almost, almost gave him her ulu. Humans, like most animals, had an artery in their legs that would bleed them quick enough.

She kept skinning the rabbit-mink one of the women had snared.

“I can help,” he said, with less grace than most of their toddlers. Likely with the skinning skills of a toddler, too. She wasn’t going to let their unwanted visitor ruin a perfectly good pelt.

“Chop the meat,” she said, and gave him a different knife. “It’s dinner.”

“...This is really sharp,” he said a moment later, looking at the knife with some surprise.

“Is it,” said Kanna.

---

Things the Fire Prince was convinced he could do: hunt (until he realized he couldn’t tell the tracks of a rabbit-mink from a leopard-rabbit apart); spear fish (at least he could dry himself); pack snow for an igloo (frustrated princes ran hot); ice fish (the prince was a problem that kept coming close to solving itself).

Things the Fire Prince could actually do: mince meat, increasingly finely; gather berries and herbs, once he stopped trying to crush them; dig roots, under toddler supervision; mend nets, after the intermediary step of learning to braid hair loopies.

“Can’t I take him ice fishing again?” asked one of the women, as she watched Prince Zuko put as much apparent concentration into braiding her daughter’s hair as his people had into exterminating hers.

“Wait,” said another woman, sitting up straight. “Wait wait wait. I just had an idea.”

---

Three words: Infinite. Hot. Water.

---

Summer was coming to an end. The sun actually set, now, and the night was getting longer, and colder. The salmon-otter nets were mended and ready. The smoking racks were still full of cod-lemmings. The children were all a little older, the women all a little more used to doing both halves of their tribes’ chores; a little more used to not watching the horizon, waiting for help to come.

The Fire Prince was staring at the canoes again.

“Are you actually going to try leaving in one of those?” Kanna asked.

“...No.”

“Come on, then; someone needs to watch the kids while the women are hunting.”

She didn’t leave him alone with them, of course. But she could have.

---

Elsewhere, the war continued.

The moon turned red, for a moment none could sleep through; they did not learn why.

The comet came and went, leaving their castaway prince laying on the beach, his breath fogging up into the night sky above him, as the energy crashed from his system as quickly as it had come. Above, lights began to dance in the sky; Zuko pulled his hood up, so none of those spirits—children, dead too soon—got any ideas about kicking his head off to be their ball.

The war had ended. The world didn’t feel any different; no one in the south would know until spring came again.

---

Suffice it to say, Sokka and Katara were not prepared for this particular homecoming.

[petricorah]

and every time we kiss [id in alt]

[rorschachiris]

sokkla saturdays, "Uranus". leaning into the rebellion aspect of the prompt hehe

[kataradora]

Welcome back Sokka

[purple-astronaut]

I just see this happening

Azula: Zu-Zu

Zuko: What?

Azula: Your friend is hot

Azula walks away

Zuko: WAIT! WHAT FRIEND! 'ZULA!

two years later~

Zuko: Two years ago, azula told me she thought one of my friends was hot. I still don't know who...

Toph: We are at sokka and azula Wedding right now

Zuko: Aang, who do you think it is?

Aang: I have the smallest suspicion it might be sokka

Zuko: What? Why?

Katara: WE ARE AT THIER WEDDING!!!

Ursa: Wow. You raised an idiot

Ozai: Me?!

Ursa: I wasn't here!

Ozai: I didn't do anything!

[zuko-always-lies]

Attention world: I have located clear and unambiguous evidence that Katara abused Sokka (Just kidding, of course)

Just watch this clip: because of her anger issues, Katara repeatedly and violently throws sticks at Sokka, hitting him hard. She's physically abusing him! Clearly Katara is a terrible, abusive sister and one of the worst siblings to ever live. She needs to locked away forever so that her poor little brother can recover!

More seriously, Sokka and Katara had a lot of conflict, particularly in Book 1, and engaged in some pretty nasty behavior toward each other, and that's OK. Siblings tend to fight a lot, and conflict is natural and normal, even among siblings who overall have good relationships. Sokka and Katara being like this is an example of good writing.

Yet the ATLA fandom seems to forget how intense Sokka and Katara's conflict can be. It also tends to demonize certain characters, particularly female ones, for every ounce of meanness they show fan-favorites. Claiming that so and so non-adult character is abusive to so and so other non-adult character because of something pretty minor is extremely common.

In this world of fandom discourse, I think that it's worth remembering that Sokka and Katara are often rather nasty to each other, yet literally no one demonizes them or calls them abusive over it.

[solsays]

This scene was so very vivid to me and I had to get it out of my system for my own sanity

Based on a fic by @sokkalore (haley625) on ao3, link is below the cut because I cannot recommend this fic enough

[fanonical]

katara: if it was rare enough, could i bloodbend a steak? sokka: ...what the fuck, katara

[temperates]

post break up zukka get back together bc sokka and iroh are best friends and they can’t avoid the unresolved tension when sokka at the jasmine dragon more than zuko is.

[waterfire1848]

An au where Azula was saved by Hakoda from shipwreck when she was 2 years old and raised by him and Kya as their daughter (and got a new name since her original one is unknown)

Hello, anon!!!

1. The Royal Family goes on one of their trips to Ember Island one summer except there is a massive storm that they didn’t anticipate. The storm badly messes up their directions, causing them to start to sail south and starts to tear their boat in pieces. Ozai, Ursa and Zuko are able to stay with the biggest parts of the ship but Azula is thrown into the sea, hugging a piece of the boat so that she doesn’t drown. Because of the severity of the storm and the fact that Azula is only two, her family assumes that she passed away. She did not. Instead, Azula is still resting on the piece of the ship that she clung to when Hakoda spots her in the middle of the ocean. (Hakoda: Is that…SPIRITS! *Jumps into the ocean* Bato: Hakoda! What are you doing?! Hakoda, swimming over to Azula: It’s okay, sweetie. It’s okay. I got you. Azula, weakly: Mama? Hakoda: Not mama. I’m sorry, but I can help you. Let’s get you warmed up and get some food in you.) Hakoda brings her back to his ship where they dress her in warm furs, give her drinkable water and fish to eat.

2. When she’s got clinging to life, Azula is a pretty happy and “chatty” toddler. She loves following Hakoda around the ship—she become incredibly attached to him since he saved her life—, giggling at the other men on the ship and is pretty content with sitting on the rug and listening to stories. All in all, Azula is a really easy and happy toddler. Since she’s all alone and was seen with what looked like a piece of wood from a ship, everyone assumes that her family passed away in a shipwreck. (Hakoda: We’re bringing her with us. Bato: Hakoda- Hakoda: Kya will love her and she wouldn’t forgive me for not bringing her back. Bato: Kya will love her but can you guys handle three kids? Hakoda: It’ll be good for this little one to have siblings. Plus Katara and Sokka will get along great with her. I’m sure of it. Bato: Alright. I mean, none of us are going to argue that we put her in the Earth Kingdom orphanage so….I guess you got a new daughter). Hakoda is right. Kya loves the baby girl when she first meets her and she agrees with Hakoda that the best option is for them to take her in. There’s just one problem. Azula is two and can’t say her name and Hakoda and Kya don’t know it. (Hakoda: She needs a new name. Kya: Korra? Hakoda: No. Kya: Ivalu? Hakoda: No. Kya: Eska? Hakoda: No. Kya: You pick one then. Hakoda: How about….Hinata? Kya: Hinata. I love it.)

3. Hinata(Azula), Katara and Sokka grow up close. Despite the fact that they’re from different nations, the kids never let that stop them from being siblings and calling each other brother and sister. Azula grew up just like any other child in the South Pole. When Azula’s firebending comes in is when the family reaches its first problem. Because up until that point everyone had believed Azula was an Earth Kingdom child and finding out she was a firebender makes them realize how wrong they were. Plus, Azula has been raised to see firebenders as monsters and villains so finding out she is one is heartbreaking to her. (Azula, crying into her mom’s jacket: I don’t wanna be a monster! I wanna be a waterbender like Kat! Kya: Hinata, baby, the spirits can’t change what element you bend. Azula: But I’m a monster! Kya: You’re not a monster. Those firebenders we told you about…they were raised to be horrible, but you? You’re the sweetest girl. You could never be like them. Azula: Promise? Kya: I promise. I love you, Hinata. Azula: I love you too. mom.) Azula finally accepts her moms offer to go to the caves and train in secret with Katara. Kya doesn’t want them bending in public but she doesn’t want them to ignore their skills either, so they go to a hidden cave where the girls can practice away from possible eyes.

4. Sadly, that’s not the last challenge the family faces because 2 years after Azula and Katara get their bending, when they’re eight and Sokka is nine, a raid is done on the South Pole, looking for the last waterbender. Azula initially runs to the tent and finds her mom and the soldier. Kya tells Azula to leave, saying that she can handle this but Azula refuses to leave her mom. The solder recognized that Azula is Fire Nation but he doesn’t know who she is. He tries to take her which results in Kya going full mama bear on him and grabbing a nearby sword to stab him with repeatedly. After she’s sure her daughter is okay, she hides Azula under some furs and leaves the tent to see the fight is mostly over. Hakoda returns and tells her that they didn’t take anyone but Kya tells him that they were there for Katara and what she did. The parents agree to go through the village and find whoever betrayed them but also that Katara and Azula are officially banned from bending. The raiders do not return, (funding issues) and the tribe continues on with Hakoda eventually leaving for war with all the men. This time, Kya is there to hold her three kids as they watch their father disappear into the horizon.

5. Years later, Azula, Katara and Sokka are out fishing when they come across a familiar iceberg. They break Aang out and bring him back to the village where Kya is nervous about the introduction of an airbender into their village and, low and behold, a few days later the Fire Nation is back but this time it's not a man but a young boy. (Kya really wants to ask this child where his parents are but holds herself back). This time, Azula tries to fight Zuko by firebending her blue flames at him. (Zuko: You're a firebender? Who are you!? How could you betray your own nation?! Azula: My nation? The Water Tribe is my nation and, to answer your question, my name is Hinata. Zuko: You're a....a firebender in the South Pole. Azula: Wow. I'm glad the Fire Nation is teaching basic deduction skills.) Zuko can only think of one reason why a firebender would be in the South Pole because she's the Avatar. She must have hidden her tattoos which is how no one discovered her. Azula decides to go along with this in exchange for him leaving the village alone. (Of course Kya tries to stop this and begs Zuko not to take her daughter but Azula is still taken away). Aang arrives right after Azula is taken away and promises to help get her back. Katara, Sokka, Kya, Aang and Appa all fly off to go get Azula back which is where Aang is revealed as the Avatar and the group fly away, intending to go to the North Pole so Aang and Katara can learn waterbender.

6. I didn't have space for this but just as an extra add on, Kya does eventually tell Azula that she's not biologically related to them and her real family was from the Fire Nation. Azula does know this, but still wants to call Kya and Hakoda her mother and father which they are completely okay with. No one figures out though that Azula is part of the Royal Family until Ran and Shaw. The dragons are able to sense Azula's ancestry and, with the help of the Sun Warriors, tell Zuko and Azula that they're siblings and tell Azula what her original name was. Since Zuko is the only child of Ursa and Ozai, Azulon never ordered him dead and Ursa never left, meaning that she's there when Azula returns to the palace and knows who she is. Ursa is beyond thrilled to see her daughter again but there is some tension between her and Kya for obvious reasons. (Ursa: The...replacement mother can wait a few moments. I want to spend time with my daughter. Kya: I think Hinata can decide for herself. Ursa: Hinata? An odd name choice, don't you think? Kya: And naming her after a genocidal dictator was the best name in existence? Ursa: Azula is my daughter. She needs to spend time with the woman who gave birth to her. Kya: And the woman who apparently didn't have enough common sense to grab her two year old when a storm was approaching.) They do eventually get along but it's a tough few months.

[petricorah]

0.0 wip [id in alt]

edit: finished drawing here

[wileycap]

Zuko joins the Gaang at Ba Sing Se, but Azula still succeeds with the coup.

With Zuko in the group, Sokka sees an opportunity to Look Good In Front Of Dad, a Sokka priority at all times. To do that, he convinces Zuko to tell his dad stories. Stories where the heroic Water Tribe operative tasked with protecting the Avatar thwarts the Evil Fire Prince who has a bad haircut.

Zuko agrees, because he was bad and now he's good and, uh, it's fine to make fun of him? They probably want to do that, with all the kidnapping and chasing and fire. So he should let them. Do that.

Hakoda listens to painfully fake stories and watches Zuko wax poetic about being defeated time and time again by a cunning and brave Water Tribe warrior (who wasn't bad with the ladies, either) and comes to a Conclusion.

After all, it makes a lot more sense than the Fire Prince just deciding to be good, even though that was how said Fire Prince, in his usual eloquent manner, had put it.

Combined with the upcoming Day of Black Sun... well. The Southern Water Tribe has been declining for a while now. If the war really is about to end, they'll need every advantage they can get to survive the peace that follows.

So, one night he gathers the tribal leaders and the trusted men in secret, and tells them that Prince Zuko is in love with Prince Sokka. Because it would be very prudent to have princes right about now. Princes that the Southern Water Tribe have always had and just forgot about until now.

(Prince Sokka must, of course, be told of his new station.

Prince Sokka takes the news well.)

Prince Zuko, a prince of a much older line of princes (meaning more than three hours old), is... really confused. They want to make him part of the tribe? Is that okay? What do you mean marriage NO I WON'T LOWER MY VOICE UNCLE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN MARRIAGE

Sokka spreads tales of their manly brand of love, borne of hopeless adoration from one warrior to another, much cooler and more badass warrior. Zuko's forehead starts becoming permanently red.

Hakoda is beginning to wonder if he's misunderstood the situation. If he rushed the spear, so to speak. If declaring his son a prince was a tad hasty of him.

Bato is tired.

[thirdlotusprince3]

Sokka : if women...

Zuko :

Sokka : ... are supposed to be in the kitchen...

Zuko : ... go on...

Sokka : ... then why is it called "cooking" and not "cooqueen" ?

Zuko : you are a fool... you are a fool and I'm calling the police immediately to have you arrested. because you cannot- I've told you before- Katara get him.

Katara: *Chases Sokka with waterbending and a sandal*

[justsomegirl66]

Can we talk about the absolute character assassination of team avatar in Legend of Korra

They make Aang a shitty dad? They make Toph a shitty mom as well Sokka is no where to be found Katara is passable Zuko is also passable but then to get his ass kicked during the one time we get to see him in action in lok is disrespectful