#sokka would have been right there next to katara to club zuko in the head w his boomerang if zuko had stepped out of line

[all-inmoderation]

... when will we, as a fandom, recognize that sokka and zuko have far more chemistry with aang than they do with each other... 

[reinerispretty]

like i do (sokka x reader) modern!au

hello :) this is part 2 to this lil thing i did a little bit ago! loosely based off of ode to a conversation stuck in your throat by del water gap! so give that a listen if u want :) 

also...just a smidge 18+ ! all characters are adults

She pouted at him, her heels dangling in her hand. “I couldn’t walk all the way home,” She said.

Sokka chuckled as he brought her inside. “I wouldn’t expect you to.” He sat her at the kitchen table and went to the kitchen to pour her a glass of water and grab some Advil for the hangover he knew she’d have in the morning. “Didja have fun?”

Sokka, for lack of a better word, was fucked. 

It had been a few weeks since (Y/N) had pulled him from his hole and forced him to go outside. Since then, she had spent nearly every day at his apartment. He didn’t mind. He welcomed it, really. Having (Y/N) around was a nice distraction from the heartbreak that had been crippling him from weeks. She brought her schoolwork with her during the weekdays and worked on assignments while he lounged around his apartment. He’d hover over her shoulders as she studied and asked that she explain what she was learning to him. Sokka had never been particularly interested in academics, but when they came from her mouth, he was completely entranced. She had a way of making even the most mundane things sound exciting. 

On weekends, they got breakfast together in the mornings. Sometimes she would stick around for lunch, but usually she went home and spent some time to herself. “I’m just a text away,” She would say before she left, a bright smile resting on her pretty lips. And she stuck by that. More often than not, Sokka found himself calling her just because he missed the sound of her voice. 

He realized what this looked like of course, and that scared him. (Y/N) had been one of his closest friends before he had started dating Yue and he worried that if things changed between them, he’d lose her again. So he kept it to himself, not even sharing his feelings with Zuko or Aang. And he definitely couldn’t tell Katara, because while she was his sister, she was also (Y/N’s) best friend and he had learned a long time ago that the two had absolutely no secrets between them. So Sokka was perfectly fine just hanging out with (Y/N) and enjoying her company. 

That was, until the dreams started. He would shoot up in bed, sweat peppered across his tanned skin as he tried to catch his breath. If he closed his eyes, he would see the images again. Limbs tangled together, her nails pressing into his biceps as his head dipped into the spot between her neck and shoulder. Even though it was a dream, he could feel her breath against the shell of his ear and hear her soft little moans as her eyes squeezed shut. They had started out as being few and far in between, but recently they had become an every-night occurrence. When he saw her in the mornings, he would try his best to suppress the memories into the back of his mind. Some days it was harder than others. 

So yes, Sokka was royally screwed, and this fact was confirmed further when (Y/N) arrived on his doorstep on a warm Saturday night, absolutely wasted. Her hair was tousled and her makeup was smudged, but as Sokka opened the door, he saw the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She pouted at him, her heels dangling in her hand. “I couldn’t walk all the way home,” She said. 

Sokka chuckled as he brought her inside. “I wouldn’t expect you to.” He sat her at the kitchen table and went to the kitchen to pour her a glass of water and grab some Advil for the hangover he knew she’d have in the morning. “Didja have fun?” 

(Y/N) huffed as she adjusted the little black dress she was wearing. “Not even a little bit. Zuko was in a horrible mood.” 

Sokka straightened up a bit. “You went out with Zuko?” He asked, trying to keep his voice level. (Y/N) hummed in acknowledgement. 

“It was supposed to be like, a date, I guess, but who even brings their date to a club? It was too loud and he hates being around people, I don’t even know why he brought me there.” Sokka brought the glass of water and medicine to her, which she gratefully accepted. She popped the pill in her mouth and chugged the water. 

“More?” Sokka asked. She nodded. “Maybe Zuko wanted to try something new?”

“Whatever he did, it was weird. We got into a fight.” She stood. “Can I borrow some clothes? I don’t wanna wear this dress anymore.” 

“Sure,” Sokka said. He imagined that she’d come back wearing an oversized Water Tribe t-shirt and some pajama pants, but when he turned around he almost choked when he saw her. She wore one of his grey hoodies that was much too large for her. Its sleeves went past her fingertips and it came down just a little bit above her knees. “Are you wearing pants?” 

(Y/N) giggled and shook her head. “Nope! I never sleep in pants.” She paused as she made her way to the couch. “I can sleep here, right?” 

“Of course!” Sokka said, perhaps a bit too excitedly. (Y/N) smiled, hugging a throw pillow close to her chest. “What did, uh, you and Zuko fight about?” 

(Y/N) groaned, tossing her head back. “He thought I was flirting with the bouncer and I was like dude, chill out, I’m barely even flirting with you!” She pursed her lips. “I think that made him mad, because he didn’t talk to me for the rest of the night.” 

“You know how Zuko is,” Sokka said with a wave of his hand. “He’ll be fine in the morning.” (Y/N) patted the cushion beside her, and he sat down with a grunt. She cuddled into his side and rested her head on his shoulder. This wasn’t a new position for them, but Sokka felt hyper aware of every movement she made. She wrapped her arms around his. 

“You’re right,” She said as her eyes fluttered shut. Sokka squirmed under her touch and cleared his throat. 

“Do you...do you think you’ll go out with him again?” 

(Y/N) shrugged. “Maybe. I dunno. I wanna sleep.” She whined as Sokka stood up and she flopped over on the couch. 

“C’mon, you can have my bed tonight.” He took her by the hand and led her into his bedroom. It was small, but just big enough to fit a king sized bed. It went wall-to-wall and was covered in furs from back home. It was easily (Y/N’s) favorite part of the apartment, as she had told him this many times. 

She crawled into bed and although he wasn’t trying to look, he caught a peak of her bum. He looked away quickly, trying to suppress the blush that was raising to his cheeks. She burrowed herself underneath the blankets and was asleep within seconds. Sokka smiled at her before grabbing a pillow and blanket and making a bed for himself on the couch. He fell asleep to the sound of the George Lopez theme song. 

When (Y/N) woke up, she was heavily disoriented. It took her a few minutes to register where she was. Sokka’s bed. She looked at the clock on his bedside table. It read, 4:36 AM. And then, the dream came back. A murderer chasing her through a dark forest. She tripped over tree roots and her own feet, causing him to catch up to her. She woke up right before he plunged a knife into her heart. 

Her heart was pounding in her chest and the shadows of the room struck fear into her, even though she knew she was being irrational. Quietly, she slid out of bed and tip-toed to the living room, where Sokka was snoring peacefully on the couch. “Sokka?” She whispered. 

She walked over to where he lay and poked him with her finger. “Sokka!” She whispered again. He sat up, obviously confused. (Y/N) felt bad for waking him up, but she could count on her hands and feet times when Sokka had rudely awoken her, so she thought this was well-deserved. 

“What time is it?” He asked, squinting to look at the TV clock. “Are you okay? Did you throw up? I have a mop in the broom closet.” He stood to go get the mop but (Y/N) grabbed him by the wrist. 

“No, I didn’t get sick,” She said quietly. “I had a nightmare. Really scary.” 

“Oh,” Sokka said, blinking the sleep from his eyes. “Do you want to talk about it?” 

She shook her head. “I was wondering if you could sleep in the bed with me? It’s pretty big and I can stay close to the wall so we have enough space.” 

“Definitely,” Sokka said. He gave her a sleepy smile and followed her back to his room. They both crawled into the bed, staying as close to their respective walls as possible. 

“Goodnight, Sokka,” She said. 

“Goodnight, (Y/N).” 

When Sokka awoke the next morning, he was no longer near the wall. During the night, he and (Y/N) had traveled to the middle of the bed. Her head rested on his chest, her arm slung around her waist, and Sokka had one arm around her shoulders. Their legs were completely tangled. He listened to (Y/N) breathe softly as she slept. He could stay like this forever, he thought. 

(Y/N) woke up a few hours later, rolling over and stretching her limbs. She nearly hit Sokka in the face. “How long have you been up?” She asked.

“A couple hours,” He said. (Y/N) furrowed her brows at him. 

“Sokka! You should’ve woken me up.” 

“But you looked so pretty while you slept.” Both realized what he had said after he said it, and both felt their cheeks get extremely hot. (Y/N) crawled to the edge of the bed and unlocked her phone. She sighed. “What’s wrong?” 

“Zuko wants to get lunch today.” She turned back to Sokka. “I care about Zuko a lot, but I don’t really feel like seeing him today.” 

“Then don’t.” She laughed. “No, I’m serious. Stay here today.” Sokka’s voice was oddly steady. He crawled over to her. (Y/N) hadn’t noticed it when she had brought him into the room last night, but he had changed into blue checkered pajama pants and nothing else. She swallowed. His face was so close to hers. Her eyes flitted down to his lips for a second before she looked away. She stood up. 

“I might just hang out at my apartment. Could I borrow a pair of pants? I’ll wash them, I just don’t wanna do a fake walk of shame back to mine.” Sokka grabbed her hand. 

“(Y/N)...” He started, but she closed her eyes tight and shook her head. She knew what he was about to say, and while it was something she had been wanting to hear for years, she wasn’t sure if she was ready. If he was even ready enough to mean it. “I want you to stay with me, please.” 

“I can’t, Sokka.” 

“Why not?” 

“Because!” Her eyes shot open. “I know what you’re thinking, but I don’t even think you do. Something like this isn’t a joke to me.” 

“Who says it’s a joke to me?” She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. 

“How do I know you’re being for real?” She whispered. “That you’re not just saying this to help you get over Yue?” 

Sokka’s blue eyes searched her face, his brows furrowed in confusion. “(Y/N), the weeks we’ve spent together, I’ve been happier than I’ve been in years. Happier than I’ve been with anyone else. I’ve been in love with you for so long! Ask Katara!” 

(Y/N) laughed. “You’re so dumb! Why didn’t you tell me?” 

“I didn’t think you wanted to be with the guy who dropped out of college.” 

(Y/N) grabbed him by the shoulders and kissed him. Sokka’s eyes fluttered shut as he wrapped his arms around her hips, pulling her down so she could sit on his lap. When they pulled away to breathe, he smiled up at her. 

“So you’ll stay with me?” (Y/N) nodded, a shy smile playing at her lips. “Forever?” She laughed and rolled her eyes. 

“Don’t push it.” 

---

Tag List!

@beifongsss , @mdgrdians , @aroyaldarknessblr , @musicalkeys , @aimee1602 , @awesomelupe , @itsivyberry

[scarilydark]

ATLA Modern Au HCs

Aang

appa in this world is a giant shaggy dog, probably a mastiff

aang seems like the type to ride a skateboard, and also wear beanies, that type, he likes taking appa on walks (or well, runs) while riding, and still somehow never manages to fall

Aang is also the type to play a bunch of sports, not exactly competitive, but he just loves having fun, absolutely seems like the type to just be chilling one moment, and then get the ZoomiesTM the next, you know?

Katara

surfer chick, and very good (and competitive)

she seems like the type to be really interested in zodiac signs, you know? like i have absolutely no idea what any of it means, but i feel like she'd definetly know all her friends signs and whatever,

she's interested in nursing, but also takes karate lessons, and not just any regular defense classes, like, the brutal shit.

sokka

was absolutely a fuckboy, then suki broke his jaw, and it was basically night and day (basically just like the show)

it is absolutely not safe to roast him or his friends, he will fucking destroy you, and like, in seconds too (thank god he has strong friends, his tongue has written him some goddamn checks let me tell you)

he is way smarter than he appears, like, you'd be talking to him in lunch, or see him around, and have those expectations of what he's like in class, but no, he's much smarter than he let's on, and usually does really good in class (do NOT ask him to tutor you, though, he seems like he'd be bad at that, Katara is the safer bet)

toph

still blind, still like, a teenager, still an actual professional wrestler. like, seriously, i'm not joking here, she does moonsaults and german suplexs 30 year old men who weight 200 pounds, and you can't stop her.

goes to a public school even though like, her family has a wikipedia page dedicated to them, like she's Rich rich. but low-key about it cause she doesn't give a damn about any of that type of money, she had her documents forged in advanced so the staff and students didn't know who she was (she refuses to wear shoes, the school tried to make her, she wrote them a 500k check and told them to fuck off, the obliged)

for a blind girl, she likes really, really loud music, head thumping heavy metal music, she still somehow hears people when they call for her while she has her earbuds in, nobody knows how, she's like, a goddamn cryptid.

zuko

another Rich rich kid, also pretty chill about it, he also goes to a public school, not out of him rebelling, though, but cause his dad didn't bother to sign him up into any private school, it was azula who rebelled against daddy dearest and went to school with him (i like the idea of zuko and azula actually being like, close, ok?)

fiercely protective of his friends and sister, he has gotten into the Most fights in the school (and several known creeps, along with the weird science teacher, got attacked by a person in a blue demon mask, all ending up in the hospital, said teacher got fired for being...too close with some female students)

he's also skilled in like, tons of shit, he's taken kickboxing, played soccer, knows how to play a guitar, and still for some reasons tells everyone he meets that azula is the smart one.

Azula

she is, EVERYWHERE, smartest girl in the school, the best grades, in basically any and every club, head cheerleader, all of it.

to be clear, in this Au, azula isn't like, That different, she's still snarky, has a silver tongue that cuts like a knife if she wants, can probably kill you (and would) in most ways, and the smartest person in basically any given room, but she's also like, human, and something was different enough in their childhood which made azula realize that "maybe dad is wrong, and i should stick by zuko" and it's done wonders for her, despite their fathers displeasure (she is planning on killing him once she's 16 though, like, honest to god, has a google doc for it and everything, so i mean, the more things change)

she secretly is obsessed with pokemon, the only other person who knows is zuko.

every single one of them is Bi, or at least, very Very comfortable with their sexuality. like, sokka and azula seem very much like the types to lounge about, and cuddle with literally anyone. they also basically flirt with anyone, sokka and zuko have kissed several times, and like, they aren't romantically interested in each-other, it's very much "this is my husband sokka, this is his husband zuko" type situation. aang is the type of person who was like out of the closet at birth like, he never even considered liking boys and girls at the same time wasn't an option. azula and katara also founded their schools LGBTQ+ club, and anyone who tried to stop it's formation, or get it banned, got lit on fire.

there's other characters i wanna do, but can't think of anything for them yet,

ship wise, i'm feeling pretty feral, sokka is probably gonna be with suki (and get pegged) i'm feeling like katara would get a girlfriend in this particular au, who she'd be with idk yet. i'd also pair up toph and aang, but, zuko and azula, is what's troubling me, cause, i could pair azula with katara, i do like that ship, and i could do something interesting, like maybe pair zuko with someone strange like jet, or ty lee, since mai honestly kinda bores me, but i'm feeling...kinda zucest, here? like, i know, I Know. but, azula is the type who doesn't exactly understand right or wrong, and doesn't really get what society may feel as taboo, that's why her sexuality is so clear to her, and she's not afraid to be open about it, so like, she loves her brother, you know? this does not seem like something that'd be unusual for the character. my problem here is, what does this mean for zuko, especially when he learns of these feelings? well, from a very early age, they've relied on each other, dad basically disowned zuko, and mom was convinced azula was the devil, so when they needed comfort, they went to each other, once they realized they're being played against each other, and that's been the story since basically childhood onto high school, she's the one who tutors him if he falls behind on any subject, he's the one who helps her make more friends, even if he himself can be anti-social, they're both equally protective, if i was gonna go the Safe route, i'd say he should turn her down, and they'd have a stronger relationship cause of it, But... the devil on my shoulder is telling me he wouldn't be as against it as he should be, that it's more in character than i'd like to admit. and, while, obviously, the elephant in the room is still prevalent, i can't just, ignore what seems like the natural progression of these two characters given the situation i've put them in,

(please god don't kill me for this, i don't normally ship taboo ships like this, i literally just can't think of a way where i can pair them with anyone in this particular Au)

[the-badger-mole]

In Which Katara Has Two Unexpected Run Ins

“No, it’s totally fine,” Katara said, running her fingers over the silky black  fabric of the very expensive dress she would not get to wear. It had cost her nearly half a paycheck, too. With a sigh she took it down from the hook on her closet door. “I understand. We can reschedule for when you’re feeling better.”

“Babe, you’re a peach,” Jet sighed pitiably on the other end. His stuffy nose made it sound like he called Katara a beach, but  she understood his meaning. 

“I have an idea. Why don’t I bring you by some soup? I make a really good-” Katara was cut off by a sudden coughing fit on Jet’s side of the phone. 

“That’s not such a great idea,” he said when he caught his breath. “I feel awful, and I’d hate to get you sick, too. I’m just going to make myself a cup of tea and go to bed.”

Katara felt her stomach sink in disappointment. She had only been seeing Jet for a little over a month, but she was starting to really like him, and she had been looking forward to tonight. Jet had made reservations at a restaurant she’d been dying to try, and then they were supposed to go dancing at a club Jet promised she’d love. But now... 

“Well, let me know if you’re feeling up to company tomorrow,” she said. “We can watch movies or something.” 

“I’ll don’t know if I’ll be up to it, but I’ll call you if I am,” Jet promised. Then Katara heard his throat catch. “Sorry, Kitten. I’ve gotta-” The phone clattered, and Katara heard what sounded like retching. She shuddered with distaste and empathy. 

“I’ve gotta go,” Jet said a moment later, sounding weak. 

“Of course!” She made a note to drop off a care package of soup and electrolyte water the next day. “Feel better.”

“Night, Kitten.” 

The call ended, and Katara was left standing alone in the ruins of what she had hoped would be a romantic evening. She didn’t have any back-up plans. All of her friends were busy with plans that didn’t have room for one more, which meant she was looking at an evening home alone. 

“Guess I need to get some snacks,” she said. 

Despite knowing that her friends would be busy, Katara told them all what had happened. Toph was the first one to respond. Her call came in just as Katara stepped out of her car at the supermarket. 

“So, he stood you up, Sugar Queen?” Toph said without a greeting. 

“He didn’t stand me up,” Katara huffed. “Jet’s sick.”

“Wasn’t this supposed to be the make-up date for having to miss your birthday?” Toph asked. Katara rolled her eyes. 

“Yeah, but it’s not his fault he caught the flu.”

“Whatever,” Toph said. “So what are you going to do? It’s still pretty early.” 

“I’m just going to have a night in,” Katara said. The store doors slid open as she approached the threshold. She had to hold her phone between her ear and her shoulder while she tried to wrestle the last two carts apart. “I’m going to get some snacks and watch movies.” 

“Or you could come over and let mix you up something strong,” Toph suggested. Katara raised an eyebrow, a move that would have been useless, even if her friend had been there in person. 

“Don’t you have a bar exam to study for?” she asked pointedly, pausing her battle with the carts. “You told us all not to let you get away with trying to slack off.”

“Sure, throw my words in my face,” Toph groaned. “I’ve been at this for hours!” Katara turned her attention back to the carts. Of course there were no shopping baskets. She couldn’t catch a break that night. 

“Well, when you’re a big time,” Katara grunted as she tried, “hot-shot,” to pry, “lawyer,” the carts apart, “you’ll be grateful we were on your side.”  

“Whatever!” Toph snorted. “What are you doing? It sounds like you’re trying to deadlift a car.” 

“These stupid carts won’t come loose!” Katara complained. “I can’t-”

“Excuse me, Miss? You look like you could use this more than I can.”  Katara spun round to find herself face to smirking face with a man she hadn’t noticed in her battle with the carts. A man whose face she recognized from a too many years and too many miles ago.

“Zuko?” she gasped. 

“Zuko?” Toph repeated incredulously. “Isn’t that the guy you told Suki and me you had that massive crush on in college?” 

“Shut up, Toph!” Katara shoved her phone in her pocket hastily. 

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Zuko said apologetically. “I just couldn’t watch you suffer anymore.” The laugh in his tone and slight quiver in his lips suggested to Katara that he could, in fact, have kept watching. It didn’t matter, though. She went to hug him, but was blocked by the shopping cart he had come over to offer her. Smiling shyly, Zuko pushed it aside and submitted to her lung crushing hug.

“Hey, Katara. Long time no see.” 

“Long time no see?” Katara pulled away and put her hands on her hips. “Is that all you have to say? What are you doing here? The last I heard, you’d gone off to run your father’s company, and marry that...girl who hung out with your sister.”  Zuko blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. 

“It has been a long time,” he murmured. “The job...didn’t work out. Neither did Mai and I. Um...I’m actually here for a job interview. Sokka’s letting me crash with him for a couple of days.” Katara took a step back, trying not to let the sharp pang she felt show on her face. 

“Oh...I didn’t know you and Sokka still talked,” she said. Zuko shrugged. 

“Not that often,” he told her. “And I had just reached out to ask if he knew of any good motels in the city a couple of days ago, and he said I could stay with him. I guess he never got around to mentioning it.”  Katara forced a bright smile on her face. She would bring this up with her brother later. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t stay in touch,” Zuko continued. “We left things kind of weird, and...I wasn’t sure you’d  even want to hear from me.” Katara bit the inside of her lip and shrugged. 

“Well, bygones and all that,” she said. “It’s really good to see you now.” 

“Are you busy tonight?” Zuko asked. “Maybe we could grab some tea or something. My treat. It was your birthday not that long ago, right?”

“Well...my date did cancel on me last minute,” Katara admitted. “But I’m not really dressed to go out.” She motioned to her ratty jeans and well worn sweatshirt. 

“You look great,” Zuko said. Katara scoffed at him as a sudden warmth flooded her cheeks. 

“You just don’t want me to nag you about not calling for six years,” she muttered. 

“Well, no,” Zuko admitted. “But that’s what the shopping cart is for.” He grabbed the handle and offered it to her.

“Don’t you need it?” she asked. Zuko shook, his head. 

“I just came to grab a couple of things. I couldn’t find a shopping basket.” 

“We can share,” Katara offered. She winced inwardly at her eagerness. It was like sophomore year all over again. But Zuko didn’t seem to notice. 

“Sure,” he said. “We can share.” 

They slipped into conversation easily as they walked through the store. Sokka had already caught his friend up on news about family and mutual friends, so Katara asked about Zuko instead. While Katara filled the basket of the cart with snacks and cans of soup, he explained the position he had been invited to interview for. It was a competitor of his father’s company, which amused Katara more than it probably should have. Then the conversation turned to Katara. 

“So, who’s this guy who stood you up?” Zuko asked casually. “Sokka didn’t mention you had a boyfriend.” 

“It’s pretty new,” Katara said. “We’ve only been going out a couple of weeks. He met Sokka once, but it was a while ago. And he didn’t stand me up. He’s sick. I’m going to drop off a care package to him tomorrow.”

“I hope he knows he’s a lucky guy.” Zuko said it casually, but Katara felt her heart speed up. 

“Um..thanks,” she said shyly. 

“Sokka asked me to grab some beers,” Zuko told her. “Do you know where that is?”

“My next stop!” Katara grinned. “I’ll show you which brand Sokka hates the most.” They had just rounded the corner to the drinks section, when Katara stopped short, her attention caught by something at the end of the aisle.

“Jet?” she murmured. “What’s he doing here?” Zuko followed her gaze to where a young man with carefully mussed hair and leather jacket was perusing the selection of beers. 

“Your...date?” he asked. Zuko’s lips twitched down, as if he had bitten into a peppercorn. Katara squinted, trying to convince herself that she was wrong. 

“He’s sick,” Katara said, half to herself. “He’s supposed to be in bed.” A pretty woman with short dark hair came up behind him carrying a box of something. She draped herself over Jet’s shoulders and slid a box of something into his line of view. Jet turned around and grinned at her before pulling her into a kiss. 

“It looks like he’s heading in that direction,” Zuko said. Katara’s eyes snapped up at him, stricken. Her hands clenched tightly around the handle of the cart for a moment.

“I can’t believe this! He lied to me!” 

“I’m sorry Katara,” Zuko placed his hand on her elbow, but Katara turned around, hiding her face from Jet.

“I’ve got to get out of here.”

“You shouldn’t be embarrassed,” Zuko protested. 

“Embarrassed?” Katara looked up at him, her eyes flashing dangerously. “I’m worried I might shove a can of soup where it doesn’t belong.” She stormed off, leaving Zuko to follow her with a cart. 

The fastest way to the exit was down the next aisle , and Katara hurried towards it. She had passed the last row of cleaning supplies when someone ran into her from the side. Of course it was Jet. 

“Oh! Hey, Kitten!” he said, his voice just a bit too high. “I came to the store to get some orange juice, but I’m...coughcough...still pretty sick.”

“Yeah,” Katara said drily. “I saw your nurse.”

“Kitten, I can explain-” Jet started.

“What’s to explain?” Katara snapped. “It’s pretty clear what’s going on here.”

“Well, we never said this was exclusive...” Jet said, shrugging. 

“There you are, babe!” Zuko came up beside Katara and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “We’re in luck. The store has that wine spritzer you like.” 

“Wine spritzer?” Katara stared up at Zuko in confusion. He nodded enthusiastically and held her closer. “Oh! Yeah! The wine spritzer. I thought they were all out.”

“I snuck into the employees only section and grabbed a case,” Zuko said with a wink. 

“You’re so bad!” Katara laughed, slapping his chest lightly. She turned back to Jet. “This is Zuko. He’s always looking out for me.” 

“I’d do anything for you,” Zuko said, pressing his forehead to Katara’s. 

“Well, you sure moved on fast.” Jet shot Zuko a dark look. 

“Truth be known,” Katara said with a shrug, “Zuko and I had a thing a while ago, but he lived too far away. I guess, you were kind of a rebound.”

“I’m back now, though, so she doesn’t need a rebound anymore.” Zuko let his arm drop to Katara’s waist, and he countered Jet’s glare with an intimidating one of his own. Jet opened his mouth to say something else, but the dark haired woman he was with emerged from the aisles with a bright smile and a bottle of sake. 

“There you are!” she said, looping her arm through Jet’s. “You just disappeared.”

“Oh! Yumi,” Jet jumped as if he’d forgotten she was there. “Um..this is Katara.” 

“Yumi,” Katara repeated with a warm smile. “Have you two known each other long?” 

“Just a couple of weeks,” Yumi said, smiling up at Jet fondly. 

“Oh.” Katara still smiled pleasantly. “So, he hasn’t shown you his collection yet.” 

“What collection?” Yumi asked with a confused frown. 

“Toenail clippings,” Katara said. Yumi’s face fell and she took a step away from Jet in horror.

“Well, love, we should get going,” Zuko said before Jet could stammer out a defense. “Nice to meet you, Yumi. Jax.” Then he and Katara hurried to the cash registers.  They managed to pay and make out to the parking lot before bursting out laughing. 

“Oh! I can’t believe it,” Katara groaned when she finally got her laughter under control. “Toph was right.” 

“About what?” Zuko asked. 

“Jet.” Katara sighed and leaned against the side of her car. “I’m never going to hear the end of this.”

“I’m sorry,” Zuko said. He leaned beside her and nudged her with his shoulder. “He was a jerk. You deserve better.” Katara fought the urge to roll her eyes. Everyone said she deserved better, but better never seemed to be interested in her. 

“Thanks for what you did back there,” she said, smiling weakly. “You didn’t have to.” 

“It was my honor,” Zuko smiled back. Then he chuckled. “And the look on his face when you told Yumi about his collection was worth it.” Katara’s smile widened. The sting of the evening was still fresh, but not as sharp as it would have been. Suddenly, she wasn’t ready to go home yet.   

“Hey, Zuko?” she met his eyes hopefully. “You still want to get that tea?” 

[awkwardpenguinproductions]

Nemesis

Part 10 of the Dragon of the Yuyan

Read on AO3 | Series Masterpost

The smarmy jerk’s got style, Zuko will give him that. He still rubs Zuko the wrong way––instincts honed over years spent in the company of soldiers recognize bloodlust regardless of how well it disguises itself under smooth charm. He and Sokka exchange irritated glances, but both Aang and Katara are googly-eyed, and if half the squad is dug in, the rest aren’t going anywhere.

The hideout’s pretty cool. Zuko can appreciate the strategic genius of the location; the trees are so tall and the canopy so thick that there’s very little chance of the Freedom Fighters (oh Agni what a stupid name) being discovered––firebenders like to be rooted, and that preference informs almost all of Fire Nation military tactics, so it’ll be a rare Fire Nation soldier that would think to look up for his enemy. That speech, though... Zuko shivers and prays to Agni, Tui, La, and the Four Winds that his new squad has the sense to keep Zuko’s firebending confidential.

The next morning, Jet takes Zuko and Sokka out on a scouting mission. Sokka's trick with his knife in the tree is really clever, and Zuko would love to learn how it works. Once Sokka's more fluent in Yuyan hand-language–right now, he can barely contort his hands into the letters for finger-spelling. Sokka hisses that someone's approaching, and an elder steps shakily down the path in the trees. Sokka calls the false alarm, but Jet ignores him.

Great Agni and all the stars, the guy’s a nutcase. The elder he’s just assaulted was barely able to stand up without the cane Jet had swiped out from under him, and now he’s on the ground and Zuko has a rappel line ready but for once Sokka beats him to the punch, leaping from the perch like a diving eagle-hawk. The Water Tribe warrior catches Jet’s foot with his club as it swings towards the elder’s face, and Zuko lands behind his squad mate just as Jet snarls “remember why you fight” in Sokka’s face. When they return to the hideout and Sokka tells Katara and Aang what had happened, Jet fucking lies to their faces—if that elder had actually been an assassin, Zuko will snap his bow in half and join the Imperial Firebenders.

What really surprises Zuko is how all Katara needs to hear is "the guy was Fire Nation" and she immediately decides that regardless of whatever Jet had done to the guy, it must have been justified. She knows he's Fire Nation. She knows he's a firebender. There's a reason he's dressed in Earth Kingdom browns, and avoids looking anyone in the eye. Zuko trusted his new squad with his identity, but now, looking at the waterbender's cold blue eyes as she glares at Sokka, he wonders if that had been a mistake. Sokka finally storms out, grumbling about packing his things, and Zuko follows, feeling vaguely uneasy and wondering if he should do the same.

Zuko is awake at dawn (he is a firebender after all) so he clearly hears the whispers outside the hut. Sokka hears them as well, and without a word they both slip out and follow Jet and his cronies to a cliff overlooking a nearby village and the dam that protects it. The plan they overhear makes Zuko's blood run cold. Zuko knew Jet was bloodthirsty, but wiping out an entire village just to get rid of half a garrison’s worth of soldiers? Gaipan, Zuko remembers from reading pilfered reports back at the Stronghold, is barely worth the ink that marks it on the maps. Wiping it out wouldn’t do a single thing to uproot the Fire Nation’s foothold in the Earth Kingdom. And the guy’s bullshit excuse about the demands of war makes Zuko want to either laugh hysterically or breathe fire. This kid has no idea about the demands of war; he’s just lashing out at what he perceives as monsters.

But he’s too dangerous to be pitied, and too steeped in fear and rage to be reasoned with. When Sokka refuses to go along with their plan, and Zuko makes his opinion clear by spitting in the nutcase’s face with all of the precision trained into him by the Yuyan, Jet orders Pipsqueak and Smellerbee to take them on a “long walk”. Their hands are tied behind their backs, and Smellerbee jolts them into motion with the poke of a dagger. As they walk, Zuko is itching to fight; the odds are much better now that it’s two on two, even accounting for Pipsqueak’s size. But a single look from Sokka banks his fire. The Water Tribe warrior is subtly leading them in a specific direction, so subtly that even Zuko hadn’t noticed until just that moment.

Sokka suddenly speaks; it’s a signal, and Zuko watches carefully for signs of what to do. He knows that Sokka is going to break left the second the other boy shifts his weight, and they turn and run in unison, so suddenly that their captors are left behind to shout and give chase. Zuko immediately sees where Sokka is going with this—two of the same kinds of traps they had discovered yesterday are primed and waiting. The two Freedom Fighters bumble into the traps and get snapped up like hog-monkeys, and Zuko smirks as he easily snaps the shoddy vine-rope with a flex of his arms. Even spitting mad, a blush spreads across Smellerbee’s face, and Sokka laughs as he easily undoes his own bindings.

“While you’re up there and daydreaming about how ripped Zuko is, you might want to practice your knotwork,” he quips, and Zuko cuffs him under his stupid wolf-tail.

As they sprint back towards the hideout, Sokka breathlessly outlines his plan. There’s no time to argue, and Sokka isn’t yet advanced enough in Yuyan hand-language to understand him anyway, so Zuko agrees, and they pack up Appa’s saddle and race to the village. Zuko and Appa drop Sokka off to get the villagers evacuated, and then return to the hideout to pick up Aang and Katara.

Who aren’t in the hideout.

Shit.

It’s hard for Appa to punch his way through the forest’s dense canopy, and by the time they find a hole big enough for him to get through without scraping the saddle and half the fur off his back, they’re much farther from the reservoir than Zuko wants to be. They fly back as fast as Appa can manage, but the reservoir’s full, the blasting jelly is in place, and Zuko can hear a birdcall whistling through the air. Another call answers it.

A burning arrow arcs through the sky, too far away for Zuko to shoot it down. All he can do is watch.

The dam explodes.

The village floods.

Agni, please let Sokka have gotten them out in time. Please let Sokka have gotten out in time.

Heartsick, burning with fury, he directs Appa over the flooded remains of the village, following the flow of the water. There are no bodies, but that means nothing. Until they round a bend, and then it means everything.

Sokka is waving his arms and jumping around like a maniac, grinning from ear to ear, jubilant in his plan’s success. Behind him stand the entirety of the village’s residents, Earth Kingdom natives and Fire Nation colonists and soldiers. Zuko returns Sokka’s grin, and holds out an arm for the other boy to hoist himself up on Appa’s head. Sokka waves to the people, and everyone but a few shell-shocked soldiers cheer. Zuko spots the elder from the day before, tears in his eyes as he bows shakily to the two boys.

They find Katara, Aang, and Jet just inside the treeline atop the cliff. Jet is frozen to a tree, and Katara is shouting at him furiously, tears flowing down her cheeks. Aang is sitting on the forest floor with his big, stormy gray eyes staring at Jet like the asshole had broken his heart. Zuko’s fury reignites at Aang’s expression, and he glares at Jet and wishes that he could roast the bastard to ash with the strength of his gaze alone. The flinch Jet can’t suppress at the sight of Zuko is satisfying enough, he supposes.

Aang and Katara climb into Appa’s saddle, Momo flutters down to wrap around Aang’s shoulders, and Sokka flicks the reins. The bison roars and lifts off, drowning out the furious, insane screams of the would-be terrorist of Gaipan. Looking at the faces of his squad, Zuko knows that this was a lesson that needed to be learned, but it was a cruel one, and he’s not looking forward to the debrief. For now, though, he’s content to act as comfort for shell-shocked Aang and miserable Katara, and smirk when Aang points out to Sokka that they’re flying the wrong way.

Previous | Next

[baegarrick]

idk if you've read/seen the book/movie but just... love, simon zukka au ?? sokka as simon and zuko as bram because blue spirit ( though if we r going for it personality-wise maybe switch their roles? idk ! ) — also in this one the friends are exponentially better

ok im so sorry I haven’t actually seen love, simon or read the book but.... I HAVE ACCESS TO WIKIPEDIA SO LETS GO

ok so I was considering Zuko as Simon bc of the musical thing/the loving parent (Iroh), the girl he sees Sokka (Bram) kiss is Suki.... but also bc I just love writing Zuko (maybe I’ll parse that out at the end)

BUT lets go with Sokka as Simon bc I also love writing the Gaang

Sokka is Simon

Katara is both Nora and Abby

Jet is Martin

Aang is Nick (but slightly also Abby)

Zuko is blue/Bram

Suki is Leah (but slightly also Nick)

Toph is Ethan (sorta)

Haru is Lyle

Ok so, obv this follows the plot of the movie/book. Sokka is a gay + closeted junior, not that his dad isn’t loving, but he’s in the military, and occasionally makes homophobic jokes, and Sokka feels like he has to be tough for him, esp. since his mom died. But he really likes making people laugh and so he joins the school musical, which is a comedy this year.

His best friend is Suki, who he’s known since he was a kid, but he’s kinda been withdrawing from her since he got to high school. He loves her, he really does, but everyone always thinks they’re dating, and it kinda makes him uncomfortable. He tried to like her, when they were younger, but he just... isn’t into girls. His friend group is Suki, Katara (his sister, and it was the two of them against the world since their mom died, but he’s pulled away from her too), Aang (a transfer freshman from out of state), and Toph (who spent up till 8th grade at a private school).

Also in the musical is Zuko, a hot senior who’s like.... super lofty. He gets really into theater, but he rarely interacts with people outside his friend group, like he’s better than them or something. (Mai and Ty Lee are also there, they’re Zuko’s friends.) Not in the musical, but in one of the other clubs Sokka is in, is Jet. He got kicked off the football team for being too rough with the other team last year, so he mostly just hangs out behind the bleachers smoking.

Sokka’s on the school’s tumblr one day (shut up, Katara, I don’t have a tumblr!!) when he sees someone posted an anonymous confession saying they’re gay but they really don’t have anyone they can talk to because of their family situation. Sokka gets their email (BlueSpirit) and start emailing (BoomerangDude) them for a couple of months. He learns that Blue’s family has really high expectations of him, and since he’s only a year away from college he can’t mess them up because if he does he’ll be cut off, and he can’t afford college if that happens. He’s got a sadistic little sister (who isn’t actually terrible, she’s just got her own shit going on, and if shoving Zuko in the warpath of their father takes the spotlight off of her, all the better) who would absolutely out him if she knew, a girl he’s pretty sure wants to date him (Mai), and an after-school job (the tea shop) thats cutting into his extra-curricular activities.

This is.... really similar to Sokka, actually, and he likes making Blue laugh (they switch to chatting online sometimes, like discord or some chat app), and Blue has a lot of insights on things Sokka likes (some of the same music,

Meanwhile, Sokka ends up going to this tea shop he heard about from Blue (it had been a slip, Zuko had NOT meant to say too many personal details, but he’d mentioned getting some kind of boba drink) and studying there with his friends. While he’s there, he’s surprised to see Zuko, who he’s never spoken to outside of the musical they’re working on!! (At some point, Zuko checks his phone and laughs, and Sokka’s like, oh no, I’m crushing on.... TWO DUDES???? BAD SOKKA). He starts to wonder if maybe.... Zuko is Blue?? it generally sorta fits, he knows Zuko is also a senior, and the tea shop Blue mentioned.... (to be fair, though, they see like three other kids from school there, so it’s not really a niche place)

Before Sokka can test out this theory, though, there’s a Halloween party which Sokka goes to with his friends. (They go as the Power Rangers.) He sees Zuko there (he’s in some some Kabuki costume), but with him is.... Mai from the play. They’re making out, and Sokka feels his stomach drop-- he’s not gay and Sokka’s crushing on a straight guy. He gets drunk. He throws up in the bushes outside, and Katara finds him, chews him out, and then sneaks him back home.

He emails Blue again, drunk, and says some stupid stuff like he wishes things were easier, and that he thought he knew who Blue was, but he didn’t. (Blue doesn’t reply.)

He’s checking his email on a school computer in the library when the bell rings, and he doesn’t log out properly, and Jet, who is skipping class, finds Sokka’s emails. He confronts Sokka about them, and says he won’t reveal Sokka’s secret... if Sokka helps Jet get with Sokka’s hot sister. Sokka hates the idea, but also, the idea of being outed is really terrifying. So he says yes, and tries to talk up Jet to Katara, who’s a little surprised bc while she thinks Jet is hot, Sokka was super against Jet whenever she mentioned it. Katara is involved in school politics, and convinces Jet to pretend to be interested to spend time with her. (he ends up running against her...)

Around Thanksgiving, with all their extended family there, ribbing him about getting a girlfriend (asking about Suki), Sokka leaves and goes to sit on the roof. Katara finds him there, and demands he spill whats up and why he’s acting so weird, especially about Suki. (she looks freaked out for a moment, and is like.... oh my god, sokka, is suki pregnant?????? sokka blanches at that) He admits he’s gay, and she hugs him, and they stay out there until their dad sticks his head out the window and calls them inside.

Feeling guilty about Jet, Sokka admits to Blue their emails might have been compromised. Blue starts to back away, taking longer and longer to answer emails.

At a football game, Sokka runs into Haru, who starts asking him stuff, and Sokka wonders if he’s Blue, but it turns out Haru is interested in Katara. Upset, again, that he doesn’t know who Blue is, he encourages Jet to “go big or go home”-- and so Jet asks Katara out by bribing the kid who does the scoreboard to switch out his campaign ad for asking Katara out. Katara is shocked, as she thought Jet was really interested in her campaign. She slaps him.

Mad that Katara wasn’t interested after all, and from the slap, Jet outs Sokka anyway, posting the emails on the school’s gossip site. Katara, who was mad at Sokka, instantly forgives him and is on a WARPATH against Jet, but Sokka just wants it left alone. Suki shows up a few hours later, and finds him on the roof. She admits that she had a crush on him, which was why she never said anything when people asked if they were a couple, but she knew Sokka wasn’t interested in her, so she never pushed it. She’s sorry she made it difficult for him to come out to her.

Blue is upset their emails have leaked, and deletes his account.

He comes out to his dad later, in the car, on the way to school on the last couple of days before winter break. His dad takes it well, and apologizes for all of the jokes he used to make-- it doesn’t make it right, but it was the kind of things he and the other soldiers used to say to each other. He ends up taking them to this tea shop he heard about (it’s Zuko’s/Iroh’s shop), and while there, he comes out to the owner of the shop, Iroh, as sort of..... practice. It’s liberating and also terrifying. Iroh is super cool about it, and tells them about his own son, who passed away a few years ago in an accident, was gay. It’s way later than Sokka thought, and when he looks up from the conversation with Iroh, Zuko’s standing in the doorway. not wanting to deal with people from school, Sokka leaves the tea shop without waiting for his dad to follow him.

The next couple of days at school are rough. His friends stick by his side, but Jet’s friends are obnoxious and loud, and Katara punches one of them. She goes to the school, but they’re eternally unhelpful bc.... what can tey do... its not a school website..... Later, Toph tells Sokka she’s a lesbian, and it’s not that she’s hiding it, but... it’s already tough enough when people treat her like she’s glass because she’s blind. They all go home for winter break, and when they come back, Sokka is refreshed and determined not to be put down by a couple of assholes.

He’s wildly surprised when Blue posts on the school’s tumblr that he wants to meet Sokka at the school’s carnival. This draws a crowd, which makes Sokka worried he’s gonna be pranked, but when he sits down on the Ferris wheel, he’s surprised that Zuko from the tea shop/musical sits down next to him.

Zuko says he’s sorry for ignoring Sokka’s emails, and he’s sorry that Sokka got outed to the school, and it wasn’t his fault that Sokka was blackmailed, and he should have reacted better to it. Sokka apologizes too, because Zuko shouldn’t have to be outed either, which... is why they’re here? Zuko blushes, and says he came out to his uncle, who’s letting him stay with him, since he’s tired of going home to his shitty dad, and that he might go live with his mom while he’s in college. He admits the Mai thing at the party was a drunken misunderstanding, and that he likes Sokka. He thinks he’s funny, and they like the same things (theater, music, strange taste in food...), and he’s hoping after this... Sokka might like him too? (they kiss on the Ferris wheel, and Katara takes like, 30 pictures.)

....

alternatively////

Zuko as Simon au-- bc I just wanted to write it out. he lives with his uncle, who’s the loving parent here, not Ozai!! (or his Mom/stepdad but I kinda forgot they existed for like 5 minutes)

Zuko is Simon

Katara is Abby (she’s his lab partner, and they have the same temperment)

Azula is Nora, but she doesn’t really play a big role (she’s an asshole, but also she’s 14 and is Going Through Things. she’s also in the closet and in love with Mai, but she doesn’t know it yet. it takes her a couple of years to figure that out.)

Mai is Leah

Aang is Martin (but less of an asshole. just the embarrassing + frustrated bits.)

Sokka is blue/Bram

Suki is the girl at the party Sokka kisses

Ty Lee is Ethan

---

I HOPE THIS WAS OK, like I said I haven’t actually seen the thing, but now I actually know what the plot is about!! <3333

[rideboldlyride]

Day 2 of Zutara Week - Counterpart

So now this work has an official name! 

Seal My Heart and Break My Pride <-- That’s the AO3 link

Here’s day 2- I’ll link the days together at the bottom.

***

“It’s- It’s Zuko.” A hesitant hand shot out. 

For a moment, he watched her study his hand, and he felt his stomach plummet. There had been a hope that maybe his stupidity from earlier had been forgiven, but her hesitance seemed to prove otherwise. Seemingly making up her mind, she met his hand with her own. 

“Nice to put a name to a face. Now you can easily tell what’s my equipment.”

A hand rubbed at the base of his neck.

“Listen, I’m sorry--”

“Stop apologizing. I was messing with you.”

Despite knowing that it would have no effect on the youngest woman, he still rose a brow after his old friend across the table from him. 

“Well, I see that Toph found the right kind of people to be around, then.”

Sokka snorted. “Now if only we could get her to stop with the nicknames, it’d be great.”

“Just cause you hate yours, Snoozles, doesn't mean the rest do.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I think it’s an adorable nickname, Sokka.” Suki tried to placate.

“You’re just saying that!”

“I don’t know, ‘Sugar Queen’ feels a little more degrading.” Zuko’s fellow gym-goer seemed to lament.

“Don’t forget ‘Sweetness’.” A voice rounded them and a slight young man moved to join them, his characteristic orange hoodie pulled up. “But they’re all better than mine.”

“Aang, buddy!” Sokka cried and rounded the table to envelope him in a brotherly hug. “You made it!”

“Yeah, I managed to get out of my last shift at the office. Boss took pity on me.”

Katara felt a soft smile grace her face. “I’m glad you were able to come.” 

“Katara! It’s been so long!” He moved to wrap her into a friendly hug, his grin growing. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

“Me too.”

Zuko’s curiosity was still peaked, so he asked the blind woman quietly. “What is his nickname?”

A wicked grin split her face. “Twinkletoes.” 

Zuko snorted. Knowing Toph, there was a glorious story behind each of the nicknames. He knew that his did. 

Katara seemed to think similarly, and turned a raised brow towards him. "Wait- you're one of her old friends. Do you have a nickname?"

"Yeah."

"Sparky." Toph smirked. 

Zuko leveled a finger at her threateningly. "Not a word, Toph. Not. A. Word."

Toph’s snicker turned the rest of the group’s curious gazes towards him. Before she could say anything, however, he shook his head. “Don’t you dare, Toph. You torment me enough.”

“There’s a story here, I can feel it.” The brother of Katara leaned forward conspiratorially. “I will find it out eventually.”

Zuko raised a brow. “We’ll see.”

The newcomer turned to the most recent addition to the group, extending a hand. “Name’s Zuko. You?”

An enthusiastic grin lit up the younger man’s face. “Aang. Toph and I went to high school together.”

“Excuse me for saying it, but you don’t look like you're from the Earth Kingdom.”

Aang laughed, something that seemed to come easily to him. “I’m not. Transfer student.” 

“Ah.”

“Nice try at evasion, music boy.” Sokka narrowed his eyes at Zuko. “But you’re not getting out of a story that quickly.”

With a raised hand, Katara dismissed her brother. “You’re impossible, Sokka.”

“I wanna hear it!” 

“Ugh, and I just want a drink.”

Zuko interrupted, an eager look in his eye. “Yes, please. Listen, I owe you still.”

He turned an amber eye to the young woman, as it caught the dim light of the club, and Katara found her heart rate starting to rise. 

“Drink’s on me?” A soft lilt to his voice tugged at her, and she bit the corner of her lip. 

“Sounds like a deal to me.”

“Perfect!” Suki suddenly jumped in. “We have bets to make!”

Rounding, Katara turned exasperated eyes to her friends. “No, c’mon guys!”

Suki raised a finger to stop her. “You know this is the deal.”

“I thought we all grew out of this - when we graduated! You know, became adults.”

Sokka scoffed. “Speak for yourself.”

“Guys…” 

“Do I want to know?” Zuko found himself lost in the storm of familiar old friends.

“No.”

“Yes.”

Katara and Suki spoke spontaneously. The former sighed. 

“Let’s just go get that drink before I strangle my friends.”

“Yes, go!” Toph yelled after them. “Otherwise you might throw the bet!”

Blue eyes rolled hard.

 ***

“So how long do you think it’ll take for her to connect that he’s the singer for the band that was just playing some of her favorite music?”

“Not long enough.”

“End of his next set? I put 5 down.”

“End of her drink. I’ll match you.”

***

Leaving the crew to their own devices, the two fellow gym-goers made their way to the bar. As much as Zuko enjoyed playing, this crowd was not his scene. Maybe during his college years, a tight pack of skin, liquor and innuendo would have been thrilling to him, but the past few years had been filled with a milder crowd, with less press of flesh and more healthful imbibing. However, that drink sounded amazing, and the company… well, it wasn’t something to scoff at either. His mind wandered back to her, as she trailed in the wake he left through the crowd. 

There was a definite difference between the stormy-eyed woman at the gym and the pleasant woman with a gentle laugh at the corner of her lips, that Toph introduced him to. He wondered what would be closer to the truth about her. While he would have been willing to talk with her as they made their way through, the loud bass of the music and the press of people drowned out any conversation on the path towards the bar. It would have to wait till they arrived.

But as soon as Katara stepped up to the bar, the bartender made his way over, a massive smile lighting up his face.

“Katara!” he exclaimed.

“Teo! I didn’t realize you were still here!” Leaning off of his crutches, the young man pulled her into a familiar hug. “Don’t tell me Jin is here still, too?”

“Sure is! If we left, I think the whole place would fall apart.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me. How have you been?”

The two began to chat amicably, and Zuko leaned back, feeling no desire to invade. Instead, he took the moment to consider the young woman before him. Dressed practically, there was a flow about her - she moved like the sea, in and out, never really stopping. Her laugh, as it reached his ears, was clear and bright, like the sun off the water at midday. There was an edge though-- he could see it in the unpredictable moments, like the eddies of currents under the waves. Curiosity whispered in his ear- how was she in a storm? He had a sensation he knew. Slowly, he returned to the conversation as Teo threw an apologetic look her way. 

“... seems to like terrorizing our Thursday nights only, so far.”

“I’m amazed he’s out.”

“He swears he’s changed, but I don’t know, man.”

“Well, if you see him, please let me know so I can leave immediately.”

Teo put two fingers to his forehead in mock salute.

“So what can I get you two?”

Katara turned, her brow raising in question. A smirk pulled at his own lips. 

“Whiskey for me, and whatever she’s having. Put it on my tab.”

“Same as always?” Teo asked after Zuko. He nodded, but Teo was stopped short by a gesture by Katara.

She leaned towards Zuko. “Ya know, you can find out a lot about a person by the whiskey they drink.”

“Oh?” 

“Yeah.” Her brow rose, seemingly curious to see if he would take the bait. He did.

“Mind if I take a guess about you?”

She shrugged, turning away from him to stare out into the crowd. He thought there was a flash of a smile at the corner of her lips. “Why not.”

***

Molten eyes caught in the dim light, and Katara caught herself getting lost in them. Taking a deep breath, she turned away, eyes trying to focus on nothing and everything that wasn’t him. Spirits, she thought, I haven’t even had a drink yet… the words that slipped out were forcibly casual. 

“Why not.”

What was it about this borderline narcissist that attracted her? Musician- Toph had mentioned that he was a musician. Vaguely, she wondered if his set was coming up soon. She was curious to hear what he played. But, no. That wasn’t what it was. Her eyes slowly rebelled so that, when he moved to give their order quietly to Teo, they tracked his motion. Giving herself the rebellion, she sunk into it willingly for the moment. Handsome? Of course. It had almost excused his assumption back at the gym hours prior, but not quite. The scar had added a level of mysteriousness to his features, but again, it didn’t ring true.

 Maybe- maybe it had to do with his reaction. She had jumped, getting angry, tempestuous, but instead of getting roped in like a boat on the sea, he had… taken the hit. Waited for the storm to pass, like the sun behind storm clouds. Apologized, tried to make the wrong right. She couldn’t help but remember the small smile he had offered her when she invited him to continue using her equipment. It was such a small thing, those little moments, but she had a sneaking sensation that was merely an indication of his overall personality. Had it been Jet…

 Katara shook away the meanderings of her mind and eyes, in time to feel him bump gently at her elbow. He had appeared with two caramel colored glasses in his hands. With a determined look, he handed her the darker of the two.

***

“When is the first kiss?”

“Fiver on tonight.”

“Fiver on first real date.”

“You think it’ll get that far?”

“You think it won’t?”

***

“So you think you know me?” she pried playfully, holding the rich caramel liquid up to the light.

“We’ll see, won’t we?”

A glint in her eye, and she offered the side of her glass, and he tapped it with his own. He watched her with his periphery, gauging her response as he raised his own glass to his lips. As the liquid reached her tongue, she drew her lips into a tight line, but her eyes fluttered close. She exhaled as soon as the swallow slid past her tongue. 

He had chosen a rye whiskey- it’s profile more peppery, a bit more biting. It was an older year, so the cloying bitterness was mostly gone, leaving a pleasurable warmth, he knew. His was not; he'd chosen a bourbon for the night - a much smoother, sweeter profile. He had enough fiery things in his life, his whiskey didn’t need to be another one. The thought paused him for a moment. Maybe she was right about whiskey being a good read on personality.

A bated breath sat at his lips, curiosity getting the better of him.

“Well?”

Finally, a bright eye turned to him. “This is the good stuff. You know your whiskey. Rye?”

The dark headed man nodded, his lips pulling gently up. 

“What do you have-- no wait,” she stopped herself, putting her free hand on his elbow, “let me guess.”

Her eyes roamed him freely, and it took all of his willpower not to blush furiously at her methodical and intense observation of him. 

“Something with a sweeter profile. Bourbon?”

“Got it in one.” His eyes sparkled mischievously as he leaned in towards her. “So what does that tell you?” 

“Well, bourbon is sweeter, smoother. A good drink for soothing the soul. I’m sure this seems like a pot-shot, but…” her hand gestured obscurely towards his face, “I think somebody who’s drinking bourbon by choice has had some pretty recent excitement in their lives. Bourbon is good for smoothing the rough edges.”

He couldn’t prevent the twist at his lips. If only she knew just how true that was…

“What do you think of me, to get me a rye?”

A small buzz started behind his lips. While this drink might have been her first of the night, he had been slowly imbibing as he had played. Putting down the bourbon, he swallowed hard, trying to clear the fog trying to settle over his brain- there was still at least one more set to be done. But in that moment, as sea-blue eyes sat too close in the dun of the bar lights. His thoughts were scattered and it took some time to gather them. Her gaze didn’t waiver as she waited for his response.

“Feisty. You are willing to stand up for what you want or what you think is right. You’ve got spirit- you take up a stranger on an offer just to try something different.”

“You got all that from our short interaction at the gym?”

“And how you respond to people- you’re- well, you’re interesting to watch.”

Her laugh bounced in his mind. “Phrasing, Zuko!” 

A blush started to rise at his throat and he forcibly swallowed it down.

“That’s not what I meant!”

The laugh only grew stronger. A hand pinched at the bridge of his nose. 

“I’m not that- I’m- That’s not-” He stammered and for the second time in 24 hours, he found himself at a loss to respond. Ironically enough, he didn’t dislike it when Katara was involved. 

“You need to stop taking things so seriously, Zuko!” Her words were laced with a laugh. Eyes glinting mischievously, she nudged him with her elbow. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you never pulled a ‘that’s what she said’ joke.”

“Erm…”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Well…” 

“Where did you grow up? With Toph’s parents?” She paused for a moment, her head cocked and the overhead lights caught her lines in a pleasing way. It allowed his mind to wander to other, less than wholesome things, and Zuko glared at the glass of bourbon that now sat half-empty. When did that happen? “No, If you were anywhere with Toph, you’d curse like a sailor.”

“Truth.” A smile pulled at his lips, and he opened them to begin, even as he was interrupted.

A goateed young man had stepped up to him, a hand on his shoulder. 

“Set’s about to start.”

“Right.” Zuko nodded to the darker skinned woman. “Listen, I’ve got to go. But, uh…after?”

Her smile was troublesome, and he knew it. But it was the kind of trouble that he found himself being drawn to, like a sailor to a siren. 

“I’d like that.”

**

@zutaraweek

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

[zutaralover94]

Zutara, 10

*lays out probably the most g-rated writing I have written in a while* Please accept this almost 4K writing of a cinderella-esque story. It could have been tons longer but I wanted to at least put this out here :)

Katara scanned another book in the library before stamping the checkout card in the front of the book. She pushed up her glasses and turned to the underclassman, “All are due back next Tuesday.” The girl nodded and took her books. “Have a good week.”

Katara sat back and took out her phone from under the checkout counter. She wasn’t on her phone for long when someone cleared their throat. Katara shot up and tucked the phone under her leg. “Sorry.” She tucked a hair that had fallen from her messy bun behind her ear. “How can I help you?”

“There’s some people in the history section making out again.” The boy placed his books on the counter.

“Thanks,” Katara slightly slumped again. She hated when people used the library as their spit swapping spot. They were always so annoying. Katara checked out the boy before slipping the sign that says she’ll back soon on the counter. 

Katara made her way to the back left corner of the library. She walked slowly and ran her fingers over the books. She heard the couple before she saw them. Katara stepped around the final bookshelf before crossing her arms and looking at the couple. She waited a few seconds before clearing her throat.

The faces looked at her, Mai and her flavor of the week stared back at her briefly. “You can watch if you want,” Flavor of the week said. Katara grimaced but not without a blush rising to her ears.  

Mai glared at Katara for a second before pushing the guy against the shelf when he tried to kiss her again. “Come on, the club house will be empty since the soccer team is away.” Mai’s shoulder knocked Katara’s causing her to stumble slightly. Mai dragged the grumbling guy away.

Katara stepped to the shelf and straightened the books. She sighed and ran her fingers over the spines of the books. They took so much abuse already. When she got back to the checkout counter there were a few underclassmen in line. She looked up to the clock, free period was almost up with only 15 minutes left.

[+.+]

Zuko sat at the computer at the back of the class. Jet chuckling as he changed the background of his computer to porn. The woman had on a uniform that was clearly was from a Halloween store in the 1990’s and the man balls deep in the woman looked like a steroid shot up pedo. Jet smacked the guy next to him, “We got to convince the principal into getting uniforms.”

Zuko shook his head and clicked through the assignment. It wasn’t too hard, just make a blog post about a recent event. He figured he would do that when he got home tonight.

Jet punched Zuko in the shoulder, “I heard Soaring Boars Football team was going out tonight. You in?”

“Maybe,” Zuko rubbed at his arm. “I’ve got training tonight.”

“Ah, man, come on you can have a rest day.” Jet pulled the internet back up on his computer going through more porn to put as his background. 

“I really can’t. We’ve got a competition coming up soon.”

“Man, whatever. If you get done with training, you know where we will be.” Jet clicked through a few more images before settling on a girl in a cheer outfit they must have gotten at the same Halloween store as the uniform and a guy even more jacked up than the last.

[+.+]

Katara hid her burning face in her hands. “Oh my god, no!”

Oc3anB3nd3r: Oh my god! NO!

PrinceSparky11: All I’m saying is that you should have just gone for it.

Katara shook her head and filled out another answer as PrinceSparky continued to type. 

PrinceSparky11: Just punched them both and then petted the books like Goby just got his first sock!

Katara rolled her eyes. 

Oc3anB3nd3r: Oh yes, I’m sure my noodle arms will really punch them out of the way.

PrinceSparky11: Lol you mean you’re not a 280pound pro wrestler?!

Katara laughed and picked up her phone completely.

Oc3anB3nd3r: LOL

Oc3anB3nd3r: Sorry to disappoint.

She sat her phone down and filled out a few more questions on her homework. Katara did her best not to just grab her phone as soon as it vibrated. But her fingers twitched to it.

PrinceSparky11: Oh, come on OB. Here I was sure I was talking to some 50 year old dude in his parents’ basement.

Oc3anB3nd3r: Haha I mean it could still be possible.

PrinceSparky11: True true

PrinceSparky11: But you’re not right??

Katara giggled and watch him type and then undo his typing multiple time

PrinceSparky11: Oh fuck

PrinceSparky11: You are, aren’t you??

Katara fell over on her bed laughing. She heard a few knocks on the wall that she shared with Sokka. She ignored him before she began typing.

Oc3anB3nd3r: No

Oc3anB3nd3r: But I do really have noodle arms.

Katara pulled up her sleeves on her t shirt and flexed as she took a picture. She studied it to be sure there was nothing that could really tag it back to her. The only thing she could maybe see was the peeling blue fingernail polish. But lots of girls painted their nails. PrinceSparky11 would not be able to pick her out.

Oc3anB3nd3r: [sent an image]

Katara tossed her phone, embarrassed that she had just done that. She quickly looked over her homework. Her phone buzzed and Katara looked over at it while biting her lip. She turned to see she had a new message from PrinceSparky11 with an attachment. She tapped her pencil nervously. She shouldn’t have sent the picture.

Katara unlocked her phone and did her best to read the message before looking at the picture PrinceSparky11 sent. But her eyes trained over the pale muscles. Katara bit her lip so hard she was slightly worried she would bleed. She slammed her phone down after practically memorizing the picture.

“Okay, Katara.” Katara ran her hand through her hand. “Be cool.” She lifted her phone back up.

PrinceSparky11: I don’t know OB. Those are some pretty muscles.

PrinceSparky11: [sent an image]

Katara blushed and began typing out.

Oc3anB3nd3r: Show off

PrinceSparky11: Now now OB no need to be jealous

PrinceSparky11: We can pump you up

PrinceSparky11: Get you a workout regime and protein shakes in you

Katara laughs and shakes her head at her phone.

Oc3anB3nd3r: Alright, I think it’s time to call it a night. You’ve gone crazy!

PrinceSparky11: No Wait!

Katara rolled her eyes and placed her phone beside her as it filled up with messages

PrinceSparky11: Come on OB

PrinceSparky11: It won’t take that long

PrinceSparky11: If you give it your all

PrinceSparky11: Okay Okay

PrinceSparky11: I was kidding!

PrinceSparky11: OB! Come on!

PrinceSparky11: Don’t leave me on read!

There was a pause for a few minutes and Katara picked her phone back up

PrinceSparky11: Alright, Goodnight OB

Katara sighed and plugged in her phone. She placed it on her side table and slid under her covers. 

[+.+]

Katara opened her notebook and pulled out her phone until her teacher got there. She bit her lip as she opened the messaging app.

PrinceSparky11: Mornin OB

Katara typed back a ‘Good Morning’ before scrolling through her social media page.

“Nice phone case.”

“Thanks.” Katara said as she looked up and then did a double take as Zuko walked by. Katara flipped over her Voltron phone case and watched as Zuko took his seat in the back. He raised his eyebrow at her and Katara turned back to her phone.

“Alright class!” Mr. Boomi walked into the room. “I’ve got partner assignments today!” The whole class groaned. Mr. Boomi passed around his bowl of numbers to decide who would be with who. 

Katara smiled as she took out her number. “7.” She whispered to herself and passed the bag onto the girl sitting next to her. She gathered up her items and prepared to move seats, when someone asked the girl next to her to move. 

Katara turned and watched as Zuko took the seat next to her. Zuko flashed her a smile and Katara squinted her eyes at him just a bit. Zuko flashed his paper with a number 7 in Mr. Boomi’s handwriting. She sat her stuff back on the countertop and watched as the others moved around.

“Hey.” Zuko tapped his pencil on her notebook.

Katara gave a halfhearted smile. Great, looks like she’ll be the only one doing the work this assignment. At least you’ll get an A. “Hi.”

Mr. Boomi passed out the assignment and smiled at the two of them, “Well this seems like an unfair advantage.”

You’re telling me. Katara smiled at the voice in her head. Katara looked down at the assignment. It looked easy enough.

“So,” Zuko started.

Here we go.

“It’s Katara right?” 

“Yeah, and you’re Zuko. Look, I’ll put your name on the paper. Just try not to burn off either of our eyebrows.” Katara flipped the instruction page. Before her eyes widened as she realized what she just said. She whipped her head towards him, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-!”

Zuko was chuckling and shook his head as he took the assignment from Katara. “I’ll let that slide as long as you let me put my name first on the paper.” He winked at her and Katara felt herself gape at him for a moment.

[+.+]

PrinceSparky11: OB

PrinceSparky11: Do you think we know each other?

Oc3anB3nd3r: Sparky, there’s not many of Voltron fans this far south of Crescent Island.

PrinceSparky11: So, the percentage that we’ve met is…

Oc3anB3nd3r: Definitely in the 90s percentile.

PrinceSparky11: So, if I ask you to the homecoming dance Friday…

Katara blew out a breath. Them meeting. Her fingers hovered over her phone. The bell rang and Katara put her phone away and stuffed it into her backpack. She shuffled with everyone to the exit. She bumped into Mai when they stepped out to the parking lot. 

Mai looked over her shoulder with disgust, “Move, loser.”

Katara rolled her eyes as she watched Mai wrap her arms around Zuko. He smiled as she kissed his cheek but moved out of her arms to lean against his motorcycle. Katara always wondered if he knew about Mai’s library catalog of boys. But the way they continue to hold hands and stay in a lengthy relationship. She looked away from them and made her way to Sokka’s truck. Katara slid in and pulled out her phone and opened the messaging app.

Oc3anB3nd3r: I might say yes.

[+.+]

Katara unlocked her phone and relocked it. She unlocked it to read the message again.

PrinceSparky11: i’ll meet you there

PrinceSparky11: On the dancefloor.

PrinceSparky11: My mask is very… us

Katara locked her phone again, putting her phone in the dress pocket and took a deep shaking breath. Sokka patted her back before making his way down the stairs. He knew about her meeting a fan tonight. He still wasn’t completely okay with Katara having internet friends. But he figured here was as good as place as any. He could keep a watchful eye on her, and she could meet an internet friend.

Katara followed Sokka down the stairs. Her dark red, two piece dress swished around her legs, causing the spilt to open and show a jeweled thigh piece every other step. She blew out a breath as she made it to the bottom of the stairs. She touched her mask as someone walked by and smiled at her.

Katara looked over the sea of heads and noticed where a majority of people danced. She looked around the dancefloor a few times before walking after Sokka to the drink table.

“What are you doing? Go meet your friend!” Sokka knocked shoulders with her.

“I don’t… What if they don’t like me?” Katara said as she reached for a glass of punch. 

Sokka grabbed the punch from her and handed her a small bottle of water. “Someone not like my sister? Ha. Not possible.” 

Katara pouted but unscrewed the lid of the water, “You don’t like me most of the time.”

“But I love you all of the time,” Sokka patted the top of her head. “Besides I’m your brother. We aren’t supposed to like each other all the time. That would be weird.” Katara couldn’t help but pout for a little longer. “Alright, come on. What do they look like so we can get this over with?”

“I, uh don’t know.” Katara bit her lip and pulled out her phone.

“You don’t know?!” Sokka turned to her so fast she thought his drink would come out of his glass. “How do you not know what they look like?!”

Katara shrugged, “We didn’t exchange face pictures.”

“You exchanged other types of pictures?!”

“No! Sokka! Calm down! No!” Katara reached out a hand to her overly concerned brother. “We just never exchanged pictures. I don’t know what they look like. All he said was that he would be wearing a mask that was very us.” Katara opened her phone to show him the message.

“He?!” Sokka practically screeched. “You didn’t tell me this internet friend was a he! Nuh-uh. Nope we are going back home. Come on.” Sokka began to pull her way.

But Katara caught sight of a mask across the room. It was like a phantom half mask, black with “Altean” marks that bled light blue down the mask. Katara stopped as his face turned, and he caught eyes on her. Sokka was pulling on her arm but Katara wasn’t moving. He looked to where she was staring across the room.

Katara stood there as they seemed to have a conversation of, “I am, are you?”

Katara’s grip tightened on her phone as her “friend” made his way across the room. When he was about four steps away from her the lights swept over his face and confirmed maybe her worse nightmare. 

Where the mask didn’t cover the other half of his face sat a pink scar. “OB?”

Katara let out a soft ‘ha’ before shaking her head. “Sparky?” 

His face lit up and he pointed to himself, “Yeah that’s me!”

Katara looked around for someone to jump out and scream, ‘Gotcha!’. Then looked back at Zuko’s face which had fallen somewhat.

“What?” 

“Nothing, it’s just.” Katara looked around again. Somehow Sokka had left her alone or maybe she left him a little. But now she didn’t see him at all. 

“Just?” Zuko looked around as well, trying to track her eyes. 

“You’re,” Katara licked her lips, “Zuko.”

“Oh,” Zuko looked down and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I know the, uh, mask is on the wrong side. It kind of gives it all away.” 

“No, it’s not-”

Zuko scoffed, “No, I get it. I do. I just thought, you’d look past that.”

“Zuko, it’s not the scar.” Katara shook her head.

“Then what?” 

“I just want to know who put you up to it.” Katara bit her lip and then looked away. “Another lost bet? You had to trick me to get me here?”

“What? No!” Zuko reached out to her, but Katara took a step back. “I don’t even know who you are.” Katara’s eyes widened under her mask. “I mean - I know who you are. I just don’t know-”

Katara nodded and began to walk away. 

“No, wait! I didn’t mean that either! Not like that!”

“My name,” Katara pulled away the hand Zuko reached out for. “What’s my name?”

“Uh,” Zuko stood there a little dumbfounded. Katara shook her head and began to walk away again. She could find Sokka and get out of here. “Wait, OB!” Zuko jumped in front of her. “Let’s talk. I mean it will be great to talk to someone who actually gets me.”

“Actually, gets you?” Katara’s eyebrows wrinkled in more annoyance than confusion. “Zuko, I’m not like you at all. So, why don’t you run back to Mai before she finds her another flavor and sneaks to the historical section.” 

“Flavors? Mai?” 

“Yeah, your girlfriend, go find her. I’m sure she understands it all more than I do.”

“I broke it off with her,” Zuko mumbled.

Katara looked up to him, “Yeah, sure.” She shrugged her shoulder and began walking away again. “But you’ll somehow end up together again. I mean you always do.”

“No, it’s for good this time.” Zuko sounded almost lost. Katara turned around to see his hands were shoved back in his pockets. “We weren’t really together anyway. More for the show of it I guess.”

“That’s a long ass show.” Katara blew out a breath before grinning. “Sounds even more tragic than season 8.” 

Zuko cracked a smile, “Fine, if by the end of the night I haven’t guess who you are correctly, you can officially unfriend me on social media and in real life.”

Katara raised an eyebrow at that and gave a moment of suspense, “Okay, deal.”

Zuko’s smiles widened, “Then,” Zuko bows as he holds out his hand. “How about a walk about the… outside of the school.” Katara laughed and put her hand in his.

They made their way through the crowded venue, then walked outside and through the little gardens around the place. “You know, no matter who you are, you’ll always be OB to me.” Zuko was the first to break the silence.

“Ha ha, sure Sparky.” Katara looked over at him. They had dropped hands when they exited the loud ball. “So, you really don’t know who I am?”

Zuko tilted his head towards her before looking up at the sky, “I know you, I just-,” Zuko grinned over to her. “You’ve got a good mask.”

Katara touched the black and red mask. It wasn’t nearly as fancy as a few she had seen inside. “Well it wouldn’t be any fun for me if I just took off my mask.”

Zuko chuckled and nodded his head, “I guess not.” They walked a few more steps. “So, you’re a student here? In my graduating class? And you know who I am?”

“Yes, yes and yes.” Katara ticked off the yeses on her fingers. “If we are playing twenty questions, you’re going to run out of questions asking the obvious questions.”

“Good point,” Zuko nodded to her, they turned the corner of a walkway. 

The gardens were filled with fairy lights in the trees and along a few bushes. The walkway was lined with little lanterns leading around the garden. A large fountain sat in the middle of the gardens. The couple slowly made their way to it.

“Do we have any classes together?” Zuko asked after a minute.

“One,” Katara nodded.

“Yes! Okay,” Zuko tapped his chin. “I won’t ask which one because I feel like you wouldn’t answer it.” He hummed and look around the garden. “Are you going to college? Do you know where you are going to college?”

“That’s two questions,” Katara held up two fingers. “Still, yes and Ba Sing Se University.”

“What for?” 

Katara peaked out of the side of her eye at him. He was studying her. Katara looked back to the pathway in front of her, “I was thinking of becoming a linguist.” Katara shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. “I know, it’s not anything big. But I’d like to travel the world and help people.”

“So, how many languages do you speak now?”

“There’s more than just learning the languages.”

“How many?” Zuko nudged her with his elbow.

“I’m almost fluent in three. And can translate two other languages but I just can’t get the guttural sounds down.” Katara touched her throat with a laugh. “I plan on being able to speak at least seven by the time I graduate. That’s seven languages not seven dialects.”

“Damn,” Zuko shook his head. “That would be pretty cool.”

Katara blushed and shoved her hands in her pockets, “Next question.”

The game went on for a long time. The walked the perimeter of the garden, then made their way to the fountain and walked around it at least three times, before Zuko finally stopped them and they sat on the edge of the fountain. 

“Okay, last question before I get to guess who you are.” Zuko looked at her in a very serious manner. Katara nodded and felt her heart race slightly. “Are you disappointed that I’m PrinceSparky11?”

Katara bit her lip and shook her head, “No.” She waited a minute as he looked over her again. “Shocked. Definitely. But no, I’m not disappointed.”

Zuko laughed and tucked a curl of her hair back behind her mask. “I know you OB. I do. I-”

Katara sat up straight suddenly and reached into her pocket. “Sorry, my brother is calling me. Hold on.” Katara got up and answered her phone. “Yes?”

Zuko looked around the garden and then to the girl who was talking on her phone. She gave a tight smile to him before turning. Zuko caught a glimpse of her phone case. It was cute. Definitely a fan made item. Wait, a minute… 

Katara hung up the phone and looked at him only for a minute with sadness all over her face. “I’m sorry. I have to go. Something happened to my grandmother! I need- I’m sorry.”

Zuko got immediately and shook his head, forgetting all about his game. “No, go. There’s no need to apologize, OB. Just let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Zuko.” Katara gave a wavering smile before pulling off her shoes and took off.

+++

Katara sat in her chair the following Monday and pulled out her phone. Her grandmother was doing better but was still in the hospital doing recovery. She locked and unlocked her phone a few times.

“Good Mornin’, OB.” 

Katara paused a moment before looking up from her phone and to Zuko, “Morning, Sparky.” Zuko chuckled and sat down next to Katara. “How did you guess?”

Zuko reached over and tapped her phone case. “I never would have known without this.”

“My case,” Katara shook her head. “If I wouldn’t have had to take the call, would have said my name?”

“Does it matter now?” Zuko stretched and went on, “To be honest, all I could think while you were answering those questions was that I knew you. But you were just OB. You were just my friend. It really didn’t matter who was behind the mask. I already knew I liked you. So, mask or no mask, behind a messaging app or in real life, I knew I wanted us to always be friends.”

Katara blushed and looked away from him, “That was really sappy for it only being 9 o’clock in the morning.” Katara rests her head in her hands that are propped up on her desk. She turns her head just slightly. “But I wouldn’t have you any other way Sparky.”

[angel-squid-trash-ghost]

Parental Guidance Pt.6

            Hakoda had the children dressed and fed by the time his mother had woken up. She fretted and fussed that he needed to be resting so he can get back to his regular duties. But is seemed his cold had all but disappeared. And for the time, Hakoda was enjoying spending time with his family. It had been too long.

              Hakoda left to go get some burn ointment for Zuko’s burns. He found it strange how adamant they were of not going with him. Not even Sokka wanted to go. Smoke billowed from the small chimney of the healing hut. A noxious smell radiated from the entrance. Kehana always had reminded him of a ghost story Bato used to tell when they were lads. A tale of a winter witch that lived in the middle of nowhere. She never left her home until a blizzard came and would snatch and eat anyone who dared to venture out.

He entered the healing hut. Danak was inside holding a cloth around his thumb. It looked like he had cut it deep. The cloth was turning redder by the second. Danak tapped his foot impatiently. Kehana was hunched over her mortar and pestle grinding some green paste.

“Woman, I came for a bandage. By the time I get one I will have passed out from blood loss or the fumes of whatever poisons is in that brew of yours.” Danak sneered.

“You interrupted me. I will attend to your parchment cut in a moment.” Kehana mumbled.

Danak straightened his broad shoulders, “Parchment cut!? Woman, I am bleeding out here!”

“I do not think it is that bad.” Hakoda chuckled. “And Kehana with your usual Northern charm and impeccable bedside manner.” They both turned to face him.

“Good morning Chief Hakoda. Could you kindly tell this wicked woman that I am in need of aid? Seeing how she is the healer!” Danak finished shouting at Kehana.

Kehana ignored him throwing a dried plant in the pot. Hakoda shook his head. “So what happened to you?”

“I was trying to hold the baby and reached for my paring knife rather than the rattle.” Danak looked away embarrassed.

“How is the baby? No name yet. I bet Yise cannot choose just one.”

 Danak wrapped the cloth again as it was becoming too saturated. “Actually, she has her heart set on an Earth Kingdom name.”

“Well if she is insistent, then just agree you get to name the next one. That is what me and Kya did.” Hakoda tried to smile.

“So, an Earth Kingdom name would be alright?” Danak pondered.

“Of course not! Fire children and Earth kingdom names. Next you will suggest marriages between nations.” Kehana put another plant in the pot making the smell recede.

Hakoda narrowed his eyes. “Marriages between nations already exist in the North.”

“To immoral men who couldn’t resist the sight of opened legs and green eyes. Children born out of wedlock are a pitiful result of war.”

“Pitiful is your outlook of the world. Get this man a bandage before he starts dripping.” Hakoda bit.

Kehana rummaged through a basket of bandages of varying sizes. “Here!” She threw the roll at him, “Now get out and tell your dim wife that she should have proper supplies instead of listening to silly ideas from foreigners.”

“Old bitch.” Danak stomped towards the door, “Feel better, Chief.”

“Thank you, Danak. Well wishes to your daughter and Yise.” Hakoda waved off.

Kehana moved back to her mortar, “What do you need?”

“I need something for my cold.” Hakoda said.

“Then why are you here? Ask your mother to make you soup.”

“I also need burn ointment.”

“For whom?” Kehana paused her grinding.

He smiled in disbelief, “Does it matter? I asked for it.”

“I’m not wasting anymore of my good medicine on that ugly thing.”

Hakoda growled, “Watch your mouth. Stop your assuming and just give me what I ask for. ”

Kehana hissed. “Your affinity for him is concerning. You are Chief. You have an obligation to protect-”

“And your obligation is to provide medical help to my village! You left a man to bleed from a knife wound while you mind your concoctions.”

“Is it for him?” Kehana ticked her head. A wild look came to her pale blue eyes. “It is summer. Many firebenders bloom at this time. Best to stomp a spark out before it becomes a flame.”

Hakoda watched her face warp into something hideous. Monstrous. “The burn ointment please.”

Kehana took a step closer, “I suggest you take him out far and club him like a seal.”

Hakoda couldn’t believe his ears. He curled his lip, “You’re disgusting.”

“Then if you don’t have the… gumption, there are many plants here that will do the trick.”

“Give me the ointment. Now.”

“If he is a firebender, he cannot be here!” Kehana ran to his face.

“Kehana! Give me the ointment!” Hakoda would doubt if the next village over did not hear him.

Kehana glowered a few moments. She spun around rapidly almost hitting Hakoda with her hair. She snatched a corked jar and shoved it in his hands. “What happened to your beard?” She smiled showing her worn teeth.

Hakoda tilted his chin away from her, “There will be a village meeting tomorrow. You are not to attend. Am I understood?”

“Of course, Chief Hakoda.” The crazed smile became wider.

               He left without another word.

…

               It was a relief to be back inside. The village had given him odd looks on his way home. Someone was surely to come by later and ask what happened. In a small village things get dull. Gossip of a confrontation will be good entertainment for a few hours.

               Sokka was siting surprisingly still brow twitching as Katara and Zuko braided his hair. His mother was smiling softly holding a cup of tea. She was the first to see him. She had lost her smile. He called Zuko over. He looked very different from the distraught boy he held last night. He bounced over to Hakoda happy and affectionate.

“What are you two doing to Sokka?” Hakoda didn’t want the children to hear any of his previous tone.

Katara skipped over abandoning Sokka’s hair, “We’re making him pretty.” She sat next to Zuko.

“I’m already pretty.” Sokka rejected.

Zuko and Katara giggled. Zuko cocked his head, “Are you ok, Sir.”

“I am.” Hakoda said softly.

                 Zuko put his hands on Hakoda’s cheeks. Hakoda eyes drifted to his scar. Realizing this, he looked away. Zuko’s arms moved around his neck. The scar grazed his jaw. Zuko hugged him. Hakoda reciprocated. Katara joined with a kiss. And Sokka from behind. Kanna made her way over too. Her arms encircling them all. Hakoda breathed in deep. Their love radiating into him. He felt fulfilled. An image of cobalt blue eyes shining with delight, flashed in his mind.

When they broke apart Zuko was smiling, “Better?”

Hakoda nodded. “Yes. Thank you.” He took the jar from inside his pocket, “Let’s get this on just now. Shall we?”

               Hakoda unwrapped Zuko’s fingers. He could tell the boy was putting on a brave face as he revealed the raw and peeling burns. He uncorked the jar making everyone cover their noses. Did everything that hag made have to smell so terrible? Katara handed him a brush and he got to work on applying the ointment.

“Do they hurt?” Sokka asked over his shoulder.

“Not bad.” Zuko winced, “My face hurt more.”

Katara watched as if she were supervising his work. Zuko saw this and put a finger on her forehead. He said something in Fire’s Tongue, and she responded. Zuko said something else mentioning Kehana’s name.

“Was Kehana ever mean to you?” He watched their faces drop.

“Kehana is not nice.” Zuko said simply.

“She’s more than not nice. She’s horrible. She has witch’s fingers and rats in her hair! She’s ugly and I hate her.” Katara raved.

“She said bad things about Katara’s and Sokka’s mommy.” Hakoda barely heard Zuko say.

He distracted himself with his task, “Do not worry about her children. You do not have to go to her if you do not want to.” He set his jaw so he would not scowl.

“When I’m a master waterbender I can just make a snowstorm and whoosh her away!” Katara declared.

“Yeah. And I can throw my boomerang!” Sokka held up his fist.

“She will get a smack upside the head from me if she keeps messing with my grandbabies!” Kanna added.

The children laughed. Hakoda shook his head chuckling. Kehana should run for the hills.

“Well to be a master waterbender you need a teacher.” He said to his daughter.

“Yeah but there’s no one here to teach me.” Katara shrugged.

“Which is why I am going to send for one. The only waterbenders are in the North. It is our only option.”

“Zuko will need a teacher too.” Katara looked at Zuko.

“No. I don’t want to firebend.” Zuko added quickly.

“Why is that?” Hakoda asked.

Zuko looked at him like he had three heads. “Firebending is bad.”

Hakoda put down the brush. He held Zuko by the wrists as he had done the night before, “Zuko. We have suffered much. All of us.” He looked around sadly. “By men who can control fire. They use their fire to burn towns and hurt people. What do you see there?” Hakoda pointed to the hearth.

Zuko paused, “I see fire.”

“Exactly. It keeps us warm, and cooks are food, and gives us light. We need fire to survive.” He released the small wrists, “You want to do good right?”  

“Yes!” Zuko said desperately.

“Then that is what makes you good. Do not loose apart of yourself to please others.” Hakoda put his hand on his silky hair, “Never forget who you are.”

“Well said my son!” Kanna smacked her knee and held her chin high.

“You should be proud to be a bender.” Katara put her forehead to his, “We can learn together.”

“But you still have to do weapons training!” Sokka tackled Zuko.

“I will announce a village meeting tomorrow. I want the whole village to meet you formally. And I will make the announcement that you will live with us-”

“Yay!” Katara flung herself to her best friend. “I’m so happy!”

“Me too!” Zuko hugged her.

Hakoda shook with laughter, “And then we will make you an honorary citizen of the Southern Water Tribe.”

“What’s that mean?” Zuko sat up.

Sokka gave him a firm pat on the back, “That means you’ll be one of us and no one can say otherwise! You’ll be a warrior!”

“And a bender.” Katara cheered.

Hakoda nodded, “And Water Tribe.”

“And my newest grandson! Oh! Come here!” Kanna scooped him up and gave Zuko the tightest hug he had ever received.

…

               The next evening, the entire village had gathered to the communal hut. Hakoda wore a ceremonial Artic fox shawl and a band of seashells. He carried his Whale bone spear unwrapped showing its sharp point. Kanna wore her favorite Snow Leopard Caribou stole albeit the season. She didn’t get to wear it often and would never miss a chance to dress up. She looked dignified on her favorite stool in her faint blue gown and silver jewelry. Both Katara and Sokka were dressed in darker blue summer outfits with a variety of beads strewn in their hair. And Zuko in an ashen grey. Gran-Gran had given him a braid wrapped in cord. A Water tribe symbol of humility and innocence.

               Family groups made a circle around the hut so everyone could be seen and heard. Hakoda sat at the point with his mother to his right and the children to his left. Once everyone was settled, dried meat was passed around. It was believed a full stomach would make for a better temperament.

“Good evening.” Hakoda began.

“Good evening.” Everyone responded in their own time.

“Some of you may wonder why we are gathered here today and other’s probably have already guessed.” He looked around the room, “Firstly, I would like to address that my daughter, Katara, is a waterbender!”

Many cheered and gave their congratulations. Katara gladly accepted the praise. She slipped her hand into Zuko’s

“Wonderful news!”

“We finally have a bender!”

“How will she be trained?” Vakita, Moak’s wife asked. Moak raised a brow.

“I will have to send for a teacher. I have written a letter to Chief Arnook. I will send this letter in the morning.” Hakoda said absolutely.

“Another Northerner?” This time it was it was Kursru to speak.

“I understand your concern. But we have no choice in this matter.”

“It will be good to have a bender. Send for as many Northerners as you need. We need little Katara to learn as much as possible.” Bato said. No one was more loyal and understanding than Bato.

“Thank you, Mr. Bato.” Katara held a regal pose, “I have accepted my duty as sole waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe. I will train hard and endlessly until I am confident that I will be able to protect my people. I look forward to learning and mastering my element.” Katara recited the speech her grandmother helped her write.

“Does anyone else have any questions for me or Katara about this subject?” Hakoda asked.

“Yeah, can you not freeze us in an ice block again?” Noaluk groaned. Moak swiftly smacked the boy in the back of the head.

“That depends.” Katara said haughtily.

“That is enough. Any more questions? No? Ok. The matter is settled.” Hakoda pounded the spear to the ground. “Our next subject is probably something you all have been very eager to speak to me about.” He looked around the room again. Everyone stayed silent waiting for their turn to say aloud what they have been keeping to themselves. “We have had a guest here for quite some time. Almost seven months now. I understand that opinions about our guest have been divided. Some hateful even. I would like to introduce our guest.” Hakoda held out his hand.

               Zuko looked around at the faces of all the village. Big and small were all staring directly at him. He felt stuck but shifted slightly. He watched their eyes move with him. He felt like a mouse trying to creep around a Mink Snake. No matter which way he moved, he would probably end up bit.

Zuko curled inwards. “Don’t worry. I’m right here.” Katara whispered in his ear.

He moved to Sir and sat in his lap with a finger to his mouth and his eyes down. “Ah-ah. Sit up straight and face everyone.” Sir said pleasantly moving his hand away. “Speak clearly now.”

“Hello. My name is Zuko.” Zuko felt his heart would burst from his chest.

There were oohs and ahs from the circle.

“Why does he talk funny?” Someone asked. Zuko didn’t see who but it sounded like an older boy.

Sir gave him a pat on the shoulder. “I like to sew and play outside.”

“And hit people with sticks.” Zuko could guess who said that.

“I came on a boat from the Fire Nation-”

“We know this. When is he going back?” It was an adult’s voice.

Zuko didn’t think his heart could beat faster, “I look forward to being a productive…” Zuko couldn’t remember what he was supposed to say as the room got louder with murmurs and whispers. Zuko went to stand to run away.

Sir held him in place, “We do not run when things get tough.” He said into his ear, “We stand strong and face our obstacles. If one way does not work, then we choose another.”

Zuko took a deep breath. He looked to Katara. She nodded. “I’m here.” She said in Fire’s Tongue. Zuko barely heard it amongst the growing noise.

He stood from Sir’s lap. “My name is Zuko!” The village went quiet. “I like to sew with Gran-Gran and play outside with Katara and Sokka. Katara teaches me Water Language and Sokka teaches me how to use weapons. They are my friends. Gran-Gran and Sir teach me lessons and how to be good. I want to be good. I want to be Water Tribe!”

“He can’t be Water Tribe!”

“Is he crazy?”

“Did you hear that? He wants to be one of us.”

“I think that’s a good thing!” Yise shouted. Everyone turned to Yise who was cradling her baby. Danak tried to hold her still, but she snatched herself away, “Why would we send the boy back just to grow up and be another Fire Nation soldier? If he wants to be Water Tribe, let him.”

“You foolish woman! You have always not been all there in the head!” The widower Lohara cried.

“Do not speak to her like that!” Danak shouted, “Go ahead sweetie. Finish what you were saying.” He grimaced suddenly having a change of heart.

“All I mean is that he is a little boy! He is not a danger to us!”

“He is Fire Nation!” Kursru complained.

“He is dangerous. He hit my son with a stick.” Vakita pulled her son’s closer to her.

“Because they attacked me and Sokka! Zuko was being a good friend! Noaluk and Yoton were being bullies!” Katara cut in. Zuko looked at her in awe.

“What if he turns out to be a firebender?!”

“Then he will be a danger to us all!”

“I am a firebender!” Zuko yelled.

               Zuko with all his fury unintentionally summoned sparks to his hands. They did not spit like before but crackled like kindling when he clenched his fists. If Katara could be brave, then so could he. Several men stood. Zuko held his ground. Katara rushed to his side. Hakoda pounded his spear and demanded they sit. But when Kanna stood the men froze.

“Shame! All of you! Shame!” Kanna glared at every last man who stood.

“You say shame, but the Fire Nation killed my husband and left my children without a father!”

“And my brother and his son.”

“And my wife!” Hakoda bellowed. “We have all lost to the Fire Nation!”

Kanna took Zuko and Katara to sit back down with her. She kept them both firmly to her chest. “All of us. Even him.”

“More of reason he should stay. Look at what they did to him.” Yise pointed to Zuko’s scar. The baby started to wail.

Sokka rose. He couldn’t hold back anymore, “You think letting Zuko live here is the same as forgiving the Fire Nation! It’s not. I will never forgive the man who killed my mother! We’re sitting here arguing when there is no argument. Zuko doesn’t remember anything before the ship. How can he be loyal to people he doesn’t remember? But Zuko is loyal to us. He made a promise to my sister that they would be friends forever. And he really means forever. And I know he will keep that promise because Zuko is the most honest person I know! Yeah I’m looking at you Jiliruq!” Sokka pointed dramatically.

“I didn’t take your sharpening stone!” The older boy groaned.

Sokka shook his fist. “I know it was you! You were the only one near my stuff-”

“Sokka.” Hakoda warned.

Sokka exhaled, “Alright. When it all comes down to it, Zuko is going to stay with us. He is not gonna run around melting igloos, or eat babies, or steal people’s stuff. Katara froze the porridge this morning. Should we send her away too? Zuko’s a boy like me. Who’s lost just as much as we have and wants to be one of us. If an Earth Kingdom ditch digger washed up, we’d hand him a blue parka and a spear, right?” Some in the circle laughed, “Then we’ll do the same for Zuko. I mean he’s a human heater spit out by the ocean!” There was more laughter, “If La wants him here then I want him here too.”

                The crowd spoke quietly on their take of his point. Zuko eyes traced the faces of the families around the room. He saw Yoton quietly speaking to his parents and Ms. Yise to her husband. The air in the room had gotten lighter. Zuko felt like he could finally take an entire inhale. Katara seemed to relax too. Her grip on his hand had loosened some and her face wasn’t wound as tight.

“But Chief Hakoda.” Bato spoke, “This arrangement is very unusual.”

“Yes. I think it will be a good change of pace.”

Bato nodded at the nonchalant answer. He knew Hakoda had already made up his mind.

“Does anyone have anything else to say?” Hakoda surveyed the circle.

Everyone had digressed to reserved utterings.

Bato let out a dry laugh, “I suppose he is to stay then.”

“Then the matter is settled.” Hakoda pound the spear again.

Kanna kissed both of their heads. “Did you two hear that? No more worries ok.”

               Zuko let that sink in. No more worries. Katara beamed brightly. Sokka was smiling too. He came over to pat him on the back. Sir motioned for him to come over again. Zuko reluctantly untethered his finger’s from Katara’s and crawled to Sir. He directed Zuko in front of him and look out a beautiful porcelain jar. It was inlayed with mother of pearl in the shape of a Snow Eagle. Inside was a thick paint made of ash and squid ink. Sir dipped two fingers in and smeared two lines from Zuko’s hairline to his brow. He dipped one more time wiping his fingers across his forehead.

“This boy is now my ward!” Sir announced strong and proud. He turned Zuko around, “He is now known as Tulujok, child of the ocean!”

               Tulujok. Water language for Crow-Owl. Katara joined him again. She snuggled into his cheeks.

“You are happy.” Zuko giggled.

Katara squeezed around him. “Aren’t you?”

Her smile made him want to leap for the moon. “I am always happy when you are happy.”

                 Life had only improved for Zuko after that. Although he had to split his time between Sokka and Katara. In the morning he would go to weapons training with Sokka and sometimes Sir would join them. After a while, the sight in his left had diminished to nothing. He was constantly swiveling his head further earning his name of Tulujok. He had to work twice as hard with half his sight. Eventually ,with weeks of relentless practice ,his spear had flown straighter and his arrows piercing their practice target. Never dead on. But knife play was always his calling. With the help of Sokka and Sir he was quickly becoming a skilled knife wielder.

                 His afternoons were shared with Katara and Gran-Gran in the igloo. His knife experience was put to the test when he skinned his first Seal. Gran-Gran had guided him through the rite earning him respect from the other home keepers. After chores, Zuko would help Katara and Gran-Gran with dinner. There was nothing like sharing stew with family after a full day of learning.

                 As for Katara’s and Zuko’s bending, neither had made much progress. Their lack of direction made for lack of control over their elements. There were  accidents here and there. Zuko sneezing a flame or Katara hiccupping tea frozen were common mishaps around the igloo. And when Zuko and Katara had their first fight, Hakoda physically had to hold the children down before the igloo had caved in on them all. It had all started over something as trivial as a shared spinning top. Each of their screams either engorging the hearth or making cracks in the ceiling. It didn’t take them more than an hour for the best friends to make up. Each promising they’d never fight again.

                   Winter had come again. The ocean had frozen for miles out creating an icy labyrinth. There wouldn’t be another visitor for at least three more months. Zuko didn’t like the winter. He hadn’t before, but with the sun not giving him it’s light, something in him had weakened. Katara had seemed the opposite. She thrived under the silvery moon beams.

                   Snow steadily fell outside. Zuko was curled up by the fire. He had found a shiny black stone at archery practice. It was so beautiful. He knew Katara would love to see it. He traced over the smooth stone reflecting the fire’s light in its surface. The moment the furs moved Zuko was upright. Katara skipped happily to him.

“Zuko! Guess what? Ms. Vakita is going to have a baby!” Katara said excitedly.

“That is great news!” Zuko threw up his hands. The stone glinted.

“What is that?” Katara tried to grab his hand.

Zuko easily evaded her. He grinned, “It’s a surprise. Close your eyes.”

“Why? What is it?” Katara rolled to her knees.

“Close your eyes.” Zuko insisted in Fire’s Tongue.

Katara closed and covered her eyes, “Ok. I promise I’m not peeking.”

Zuko took her hand and placed the dark stone in the middle of her palm. Katara looked down to see the shining crystal. She gasped.

“Zuko! It’s so pretty! Where did you find it?” She too examined it in the light.

“At the archery range. Do you like it?” he was on his hands and knees quaking to hear her answer.

“It’s for me?!” Katara’s eyes glittered.

“Of course!” Zuko sat on his heels.

               Katara was just about to hug Zuko when a commotion came from outside. Men were yelling in alarm. Zuko pulled Katara up and ran to Gran-Gran. Gran-Gran was on alert listening for any news. Katara’s started to think dark thoughts. Another raid. After all the time of peace. Another raid. More murder. This time they would come for her. And take her away like all the other waterbenders. She looked at Zuko. They would take him too. They would make him a soldier and make him kill. Katara started to cry. Zuko clutched her face. The look in his eye was striking.

“Don’t worry. I will protect us.” Zuko showed Katara his knife.

“A ship! A ship!”

“Zuko get your parka on now! Katara grab a blanket. We’re going to the communal hut.” Gran-Gran gathered what appeared to be an emergency bag. “Hurry both of you!”

               Katara and Zuko did as they were told then helping their Gran-Gran pack water and dried food. She pushed the children out of the igloo with Zuko faithfully in front holding his knife ready to strike. Katara knew she might have to run. Scenario after dreadful scenario played in her mind. Flashes of her mother’s face kept appearing. The begging, the shrieking, the smell.

              There was a terrible cracking sound coming from the ice as it broke. The ship was getting closer. Other families were running to the communal hut. Katara could see Sokka running towards them with a real spear and not his wooden practice one. Sokka took the bag from Gran-Gran and went in front of Zuko. The cold stung her face nearly freezing her tears. Zuko locked his arm in hers. He was walking fast but not too fast in front of Gran- Gran. He turned his head back and forth trying to catch any and all movement. Katara steeled herself and did the same. She saw her father shouting orders. If the Fire nation were going to come back, she would be ready this time. She no longer had a mommy to cling to. But she had Sokka and Gran-Gran and Zuko. She wasn’t going to let anything happen to anyone she loved ever again.

“They’re Water Tribe!”

“They’re Northerners!”

               Katara fell to her knees in relief.

[liw-the-melancholic-apple]

The First One - Bonus scenes in traditional written word

This is a smau and a zukoXreader, although i haven't decided how this ends yet.

Y/n has recently transferred to Ba Sing Se from Omashu university and meets the gaang through a schoolproject they do with sokka and suki.

Bonus 2: Nerves

Ooooookay. It wasn't all this exciting. You'd been to parties before. You'd met new people before. Why did choosing a pair of jeans feel like you were deciding your fate? You usually only noticed people's jeans when they didn't fit, were neon colours or torn to shreds.

Your jeans all fit you, they were all in the neutral colour scheme and those that were distressed were still more fabric than hole.

So, by your own logic you could choose any pair and be fine. Yet still five pairs were laying on your bed. 2 grey, 2 black, one midnight blue. You didn't seem to be able to pick one.

The pile of t-shirts and jumpers on the ground hadn't gotten any of your attention but promised to be a similar drama...

You sighed in annoyance and texted both, Jin and Fai. The latter had a lot of encouragement and suggestions while the former mostly mocked you. He did however offer some really good advise: treat it like a gig with the band. In a pub. Wear those clothes.

"And stop being such a nervous wreck! It doesn't suit you. You're great. You're fun. They'll like you."

He didn't let you thank him, though. "Next time you're here, you're buying at least two rounds. I'm not your fucking therapist."

Classic Jin. But his idea worked. To a gig you'd wear the ripped black jeans, white t-shirt and the vintage leather jacket.

Those where the clothes you wore when you left your appartment. Those were the clothes you wore when Suki texted that she was held up at Aang's place. She would be late. Sokka was gonna join later anyways. Ty Lee wasn't coming at all.

Yeah, meeting new people who were presumably forced to be nice to you!! On your own. Without the safety blanket that were Suki and Sokka. Great...

You stood in front of the Jasmin Dragon, studying the green and gold of the big logo on the window and the small one on the door.

You could just wait here for Suki. No, you weren't a child and Suki wasn't your mum. Besides, she would show up with Aang -why did that name seem so familiar? - and you already told her that you would be about 15 minutes earlier than her. Waiting was no option.

You shifted your weight from your left leg to the right and texted the group chat:" So, I'm here."

Katara answered, telling you to come inside to the counter. The scent of oriental spices and caramel syrup filled the air in the shop. The perfect mix of old-timey, traditional tea house and modern way too sweet coffeshop combined into one smell. The essence of the Jasmin Dragon.

You had discovered it during your first week in Ba Sing Se and instantly fell in love with it. Was it that smell? Maybe. Was it the excellent sencha-ginger-tea? Partially. Was it the supercharging, black as your soul giant mugs of coffee? Partially. Was it the delicious muffins in every flavour imagineable? Yes. Was it the breakfast items that all looked mouthwatering? Absolutely.

But mainly it was the general atmosphere here. The furniture was a collection of armchairs, benches, sofas  and tables that all looked like they came from a 50's or 60's living room. All colours of the Rainbow, nothing actually fit together. It was so cosy and inviting.

And then there was the old man who usually was behind the black marble counter. You'd found that he would start around 11 am, as he was never there when you got your coffee before early lectures and classes. But he would take orders, prepare drinks, clean tables and give his thoughts on students' problems when you popped in for a midmorning pick-me-up.

And also now, close to closing time, the rotonde older man with the long grey hair stood behind the counter checking on a couple of teapots that gently bubbled behind him. While doing so, he talked to a short black-haired girl that giggled a lot.  She held on to an annoyed looking tall guy, that you thought might work here, and stood next to a girl that warmly smiled at you and waved you over.

"Y/n?"

"Yes, that would be me. You're Katara?" She nodded.

"And that's Toph and Zuko", she answered while indicating the girl and the guy. Suki had warned you about both of them. Toph was blind and often subjected to people wanting to help her, which she hated. "Don't offer her help. She'll let you know  when she needs you", Suki had said.

The girl extended a hand into your general direction. "Pleasure meeting you."

"All mine", you answered taking her hand. Zuko also shook your hand, mumbleing "Hi."

He had a rather large scar on the left side of his face. His hair covered it some. According to Suki you shouldn't stare and shouldn't mention it. She had known Zuko for years and still didn't know how he got it. You quickly averted your eyes.

"Okay, so I'm sure Suki already told you but she only just left Aang's. His roommate is a bit mad because he can't go to the party and delayed them."

You were about to answer when the man behind the counter cleared his throat. "Sencha-ginger", he handed you cup. Surprised but greateful you took it and looked for your wallet.

"Oh, no need. You've been a valued customer. And i finally learned your name. You know, you're one of the most quiet People ever to come into the shop." He gave you another smile.

"Not really quiet", you answer laughing. " But i usually come in alone and i don't like talking to myself in public. People stare." The man crinkled his forehead but Toph punched your shoulder and laughed. "Sokka said you were funny!"

"Well, why do you always come in on your own?", counterman inquired, his forehead smoother.

"Uhm...", should you tell the sad truth?

"You don't have to answer that", Zuko intervened. "Since he opened the dragon he's become quite enamored with gossip, haven't you uncle? No need to satisfy his curiosity."

"My nephew thinks me impolite. But I reckon there is a reason for your solitude. If it is your choice to enjoy our tea alone you can tell me that and no harm is done. But if unfortunate circumstances force you to drink your tea by yourself i would like to give you the oppertunity to speak about it. Let go of dark thoughts."

Wow. Some teamaker he was. And Zuko's uncle? Interesting.

"Thank you...Mr..."

"Iroh. Just Iroh will be fine."

"Well then, thank you Iroh. It's not too much of a story, though. I moved to Ba Sing Se six weeks ago and haven't yet found a group of people who'd put up with me for extended periods of time", you chuckled, hoping you didn't seem too desparate.

Katara seemed like she wanted to say something really nice but Iroh spoke quicker:" Oh, i don't think that's true. You don't give me the impression that anybody would have to put up with you. But if you want company while drinking your beverage i can always chat.

We could talk about your love for green tea and ginger. You know we also have black tea varieties that feature ginger and i think you might enjoy the herbal infusions.

The fruitier teas go great with the muffins! And if you're into croissants and pudding pretzels you should try the vanilla chai latte.

But if you don't want to talk about tea we could also gossip and play pai sho. You know how to play pai show, right?"

You absolutely didn't.

"I'm familiar with the most basic of basic rules." Wrong answer. The sweet little man grabbed a pai sho board out of nowhere and started explaining the game. Zuko offered an apologetic gesture, while Katara and Toph intently listened. You sipped your tea, nodded your head and enjoyed just being part of something. It had been a minute. But you would never play pai show of your own volition. The game was complicated and boring at the same time.

"Maybe you would like to learn about the ancient art of teamaking?", Iroh continued his suggestions of things to talk about when at the dragon.

Was there an art to it? Hot water and a teabag, no? You tried a vague expression and he kept talking.

"I always wanted to found a club or class, you know. Likeminded tea enthusiasts who want to deepen their knowledge and appreciation. Would you be interested?"

No, you weren't. But he was so endearing. So caring. So genuinely into this idea.

"I... have yet to find out how much time and effort my classes will demand. I wouldn't wanna make promises i can't keep."

That was fair, right? And not even an actual lie.

"We're here!!!!!"

Suki burst through the door, followed by a gangly guy with a shaved head. Aang!! That's why the name sounded familiar! He was Instagram verified. Half the campus followed him for his inspirational quotes and vegan recipes.

Suki hugged you hello, introduced you to the insta-famous and then Katara ushered you out and to the metrostation.

You waved at Iroh as you left. He had only talked about things that hardly interested you but he'd managed to make you feel like a member of the group that was now discussing pai sho rules, teamaking and being on time.

MASTERLIST

Part 1

@fanficflaneuse @eddiesemoass

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Kissing Dead Pearls (Part 30)

At first glance it is all the same, he almost thinks that he might have been overthinking things. The water still laps at the aged wood of the boardwalk. The ferris wheel upon the boardwalk still circles. The Sea Candle still casts its beam over the waves. 

Azula smiles at the familiar sight of it. He thinks that it must be exhilarating to have a beacon cast by her own home, lovingly guide her back to it. It is jubilant for him even if it isn’t his home. It stands upon the cliffside, proud as ever. 

Ozai steers the ship towards the strip of sand just on the other side of the cliff. The same sand that Azula had shoveled into his face while making sand castles. The same sand he and Katara used to throw at each other during childhood arguments. The same sand that his family always picniced on. 

Sokka’s heart swells. 

His family.

Kya. 

Hakoda. 

The restaurant. 

“Welcome home, Sokka.” Azula murmurs. She rolls her eyes, “you’re really crying?”

“It was only one tear.” He brushes it away. 

“I can’t wait to show you the restaurant!” Katara grins. 

Admittedly his legs are wobbly with nerves as his feet meet the sand. 

“Now listen, boy.” Ozai starts. “You’re going to get one final night of peace. By tomorrow word is going to spread that you’re back and there are going to be news crews up and down the streets. It’s better to just ignore them all together if you want any peace. When most of them leave, pick one station to share your story with.”

Sokka blinks. “Uh...sure.” He rubs the back of his head. 

Ozai gives him a firm pat on the shoulder. “Zuko, Jet, help me unload.”

“I think that I’m just going to head home.” Jet grumbles. Sokka notices the cross stare he gives Azula as he hoists his luggage over his shoulder and stomps up the beach. 

“There’s a mood killer.” Zuko snatches the first suitcase. 

Azula shakes her head. “Not this time. I’ll worry about him later. Let’s just get everything unloaded so we can drive to La-bsters.”

Sokka takes as many suitcases and bags as he can carry, he is more than itching to see his parents again. “I miss them.” He says. 

“Well of course.” Azula replies as she sets her final suitcase down. “I know that they’ve missed you.” 

He takes a moment to breathe and it smells the same. The lighthouse smells exactly as it always has, like spices and smoke. Albeit the scents are duller with the family having been away for some time. But it is still there, the smell is still there. 

“You guys moved the sofa.”

“Yeah, we needed something to block the door with.”  Zuko shrugs. 

At his puzzled look, Azula clarifies, “there was a bad storm and the door wouldn’t stop swinging open. Zuzu and I were pretty sure that we put everything back where it had been…”

Sokka shakes his head. “Nope, that sofa was over there more.” He points. “And you call yourself a perfectionist.”

Azula rolls her eyes. “I call you an ass.”

“Thank you for taking care of the lighthouse while we were gone.” Sokka hears from the other room. “Your ship is docked on the beach.” 

“Aye. Any time, lad.” Khozen emerges from the kitchen. As he leaves, he tips his hat to Sokka. “Good to see a fine sailor home at last. You’re gonna get some repute with the lads.” 

“Uh...thanks.” Sokka smiles. 

.oOo.

“Can we stop for some ice cream?” Sokka asks. 

“Sokka, we need to go home.” Katara says as Azula replies, “I wouldn’t mind making an extra stop.”

“We need to go see mom and dad! And we don’t know if you’re supposed to be eating ice cream so soon.”

“Oh come on, Katra, one cone won’t hurt. I can even split it with Azula.”

“And we’re going to have to watch?” Zuko crinkles his nose. 

“It will be like last summer when we all got a cone and walked along the boardwalk.” Azula tries. “We didn’t get to go for our end of summer ice cream run so why not go for a welcome home treat?”

Sokka slings his arm around her. “I vote yes. It’ll be fun. Plus, Hama probably misses my face.” 

“It will also be a good time to show Sokka the new boardwalk.”

“New boardwalk?” He inquires with mild dismay.

“It’s only partly new.” Azula clarifies. “The storm I told you about earlier did some damage. The town had to have it repaired and I think that they might be extending the boardwalk a little.”

“It was fine the way it was!”

“Things change Sokka. They have to.” 

.oOo.

But it doesn’t mean that he has to like it. Somehow, he always just assumed that they wouldn’t. That their little town was so small and removed from the rest of the world, that it wouldn’t have to. That it could just lounge on the shore like a languid tourist, suspended in time.

Again he finds himself looking Azula over. He wonders if he still knows her. He wonders even as she orders the same flavor of ice cream that she always does; strawberry with strawberry syrup and a helping of nuts. 

“Are you going to split this with me or are you going to get your own?”

“Double fudge with chocolate chips and sprinkles?” Hama chuckles. 

“You remember?”

“Of course I remember. I’ve been serving you double fudge since you were a tot.” The old woman croaks. 

“Thanks Hama, but I was going to share with Azula this time.”

“He’s not supposed to be eating ice cream right now.” Katara rolls her eyes and takes a plain chocolate cone. 

“Ah. Well I hope that you recover quickly.” She turns to Zuko, “and vanilla chocolate swirl with a hidden cherry.”

Zuko nods. 

It feels almost like old times. Zuko and Katara walk with their hands linked, licking at their cones, trying to catch drips before they fall. It is a bid harder to walk hand in while trying to share a cone. Eventually Azula mutters, “how’s this, I’ll take a bite and then I’ll hold it out for you?”

It seemed like a solid plan to him. She always has a plan even for the most mundane things. He wishes that she would have gone sailing with him, maybe if he had her he wouldn’t have gotten himself stranded. He takes his lick.

“Really, Sokka? Save some of the toppings for me.” 

He steals an extra lick and more of the nuts. For his folly Azula doesn’t return the cone to him until she has the toppings all to herself. How can she be so the same, but so different? 

“Here it is!” Katara gestures to the boardwalk. 

“Where’s Mai’s jewelry shop?” 

“It was obliterated during the storm.” Azula shrugs. “They built a new one.” She points towards a more opulent looking rendition. A sparkling sea pearl amid older buildings. Quite literally, he realizes. The roof pebbled with shiny pearls, strands of them hang from the rafters. 

“What’s that?”

Zuko shrugs. “New restaurant, maybe? Could also be a souvenir shop.”

“It’s supposed to be an arcade!” Toph’s skateboard rolls to a stop and she kicks it up. “Sokka!” 

“You’re home!” Aang throws his arms around him. Toph reaches an arm out to hold him steady as his rollerskates nearly send both he and Sokka crashing to the ground. 

“Hey, maybe when it opens, we can make it our new after school hangout!” Toph suggests. 

“But what about dinner at the Cod Shack!?”

“We can go there after we play arcade games.” Aang suggests. 

“But it was always, school clubs and sports, then beach games or jetskiing with Mai and TyLee, and then cod shack!”

“Sokka, Toph and Aang are in high school now. I’m going to be starting my senior year. Zuzu is going to be going to college. You’re going to be going to college, even if you have to put it off until next year...”

“So?!”

“So, we’re all…” Azula pauses. “Moving forward. What’s wrong with swapping a few beach games for arcade games?”

He throws up his hands. “Tradition!”

“We’ve been doing the exact same stuff since we were kids.” Azula sighs.

“Exactly! Now you’re getting it!” He exclaims.

“But you aren’t, Sokka.” 

His stomach pluments. 

Zuko gives a soft smile, “what she means is that, it’s time to mix it up a little. A lot of stuff happened while you were gone...” 

He cups his hands over his ears, he doesn’t want to hear it. While he was floating stagnated on his raft they were all growing up, living life. And he had missed what might have been the last summer as he’d known it. And he isn’t ready. 

He isn’t ready to let go of that. 

He wanted to go sailing, on an adventure. But he’d embarked with a knowingness that he’d return to the same old comforting normalcy. 

“I think I’m gonna head home.” He doesn’t wait for a reply.

“Sokka!” Katara calls after him.

[mystic-kitten-writer]

OMG HOEE YOURE BACK -tears of happiness- I cant wait till chapter 32!!!!!! Cpuld we pretty please have a lil teaser? No pressure. I just need to a taste of your goodness 😇 Luv yaa gurl 😉

I’M BACK BITCCHESS 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

LOOL - of course, you can sweetie! I love dropping teasers, it keeps me motivated 🥰

Here is the teaser! It’s the start, a nice lil’ taste of this crazy chapter because boooooyyy does shit hit the fan in this chapter. Enjoy~!

Rating: SFW

Words: 2000 (a tiny tease, I gotta save some content for when I post 😅)

Notes: WIP; not edited and subject to change, my loves :) Also, I noticed that the start of this chapter is decepitvely sweet for the shit that is about to happen lol - I’m evil.

~ Ying Yue Jiang ~

            “You know…you have beautiful eyes, Princess.”

           “Awe, thanks, Sokka.”

           “Too bad your face is ugly.”

           “I swear-”

           The immature hoots that erupted from Sokka were loud and clear. His belly rumbled in amusement, entertained at my exasperated expression as I rested over his stomach.

           We were lounging in Zuko’s and I bedroom, munching on cookies on our bed, despite it being early in the morning. Zuko already rose and went for a morning jog – and I would be lying if I said I didn’t use the excuse of me being under the weather to avoid that run.

           It was as Zuko was leaving that Sokka busted through the grand doors, still in his polar bear pyjamas, with a plate of cookies in hand – “I wanted to check up on Princess, see how she’s feeling.”

           And that leads us to where we were now.

           I grumbled under my breath, stuffing another fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookie into my mouth as Sokka beamed down at me. Despite the pointless banter and teasing, Sokka and I were venting to each other; I was beyond happy. I never realized how much I missed spending time with him – he was my partner in crime, the person who helped me learn to laugh again.

           And while Sokka has been my side from the beginning – we never got a chance to hang out as much as I would’ve wanted. Appreciate the presence of each other, even though ‘sibling time’ means tons of teasing and humiliation.

           A hand rested behind his head as he leaned against the bedframe, stuffing another cookie in his mouth. His hair has grown so much already.

           Usually, it was up in a messy top knot, but today, he let his hair down. Zuko still had the lengthiest hair out of the guys, but Sokka was starting to prove himself to be a worthy competitor. I was always jealous of how attractive Katara’s and Sokka’s brown hair was. There were natural blond highlights, and it complimented their baby blue eyes.

           “Hey…did Aang bring Momo?” I pondered out loud; brows pinched as I tried to recall the last time I saw that mischievous creature. He was already so infuriatingly elusive, but now that we were in the Kingdom, it was like he vanished.

           “Yeah, but you know how Momo is…” Sokka mumbled under his breath, more focused on chewing the cookie stuffed in his mouth than answering my question.

           “I haven’t seen him once!” I exclaimed, and Sokka snorted, “Join the club. I asked Aang the other day, told me Momo is hiding out in the kitchen.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes hearing that – of course, Momo is there. Appa would’ve joined Momo if he were here and could fit.

           “Explains why the kitchen staff is panicking. They keep complaining that the food keeps disappearing – scared it could be a ghost.”

           “You know what would be really funny…” Sokka mused, and based off the tone alone – I knew he was thinking of something evil. My mouth opened and closed, fighting the temptation to ask because I knew better. There was a reason why Sokka and I got along; we were the definition of dumb and dumber.

           My lips puckered, and the next thing I knew, I turned on my side, facing Sokka eagerly.

           “What’s your plan?”

           Right away, Sokka grinned, sitting upright. I yelped, body rolling onto his lap, and in a bold move – he put down the plate of sweets on the bed. He means business.

           “What if we covered Momo in flour – make him look like a ghost? The kitchen staff would lose their minds.”

           “Sokka~! I can already imagine the mess.”

           “And I can already imagine the looks on their faces when they see a ghost.”

           I huffed, crossing my arms. “No, Zuko will kill me if he finds out it was us.”

           “Keyword, if.”

           “Where is Katara when you need her?!” I groaned to myself. If Katara were here, she would’ve shut down this plan before Sokka could even think of it. She was the mother of the group for a reason – she kept us all in check.

           I grabbed a cookie from the plate that Sokka set aside, shoving it against Sokka’s lips. “Lie back down and eat a cookie.” I pestered, the only way I knew how to distract him. Sokka laughed against the cookie I practically stuffed, trying to chew the whole thing in one go.

           “Aren’t you excited? She’s arriving tonight.” He mumbled between chomps. An enormous smile appeared on my lips, brushing my bedhead hair away from my face. “I can’t wait!” I gushed, body sprawling across the bed as I hugged my teddy bear close to my chest.

           My gaze shifted upwards, staring at the wooden lined ceiling above us, with a silly look. It’s been how long since I’ve last seen Katara? It felt like forever, but I knew it was only a few months. Woah…me and Zuko haven’t been dating for that long, have we?

           It felt like Zuko, and I have been together for years – but not in a bad way. I just felt so comfortable with him. Our routines, how open we are with each other, it was surprising to think that we haven’t been together for that long. But also look at everything that happened, everything we have gone through together…

           It’s no surprise we’re as close as we are. We practically went through everything a couple may experience over their lifetime in a span of a few months. Add in the fact that he’s the ruler of a nation – things get a bit complicated.

           “She’s going to freak out when she hears everything that is going on.”

           I pouted, snapping my head towards Sokka, “She doesn’t know?”

           He frowned, his silliness gone and face stern, “No. We didn’t want to give too much information via messenger bird or attached to Appa. It could get intercepted. It’s not worth the risk.”

           A blue silence fell between us; my gaze returned to the ceiling, lost in my thoughts. Despite all the smiles, the giggles, the sweet moments of bliss – that didn’t change the current chaos around us. Mai is a traitor, Azula is back, and Yakone-

           It was like someone punched me.

           The mere mention of Yakone had a shiver running up my spine, the hairs on my arms rising in terror. Zuko didn’t mention his name once around me, and I wonder if it was because he knew how shaken up I was after the incident.

           And the worst part of it all was I still had the handkerchief Yakone gave me that night when he comforted me, hidden away in my vanity. Gosh, I should’ve thrown it out, burnt it –anything, but keeping it. I didn’t know why I even kept the stupid thing. Maybe it was to remind me that he wasn’t that evil as a man?

           That there was still a little bit of good left in him.

           Yakone knew my family’s crane story. Dumb luck? He’s also a Bloodbender. But Aang told me that-

           “Princess…how is your ‘Fire Nation Politics’ lessons going?” Sokka asked, his voice cutting my thoughts in half. I couldn’t help but jump slightly in surprise, and right away, Sokka’s hand fell over my forehead, a soothing gesture spotting my uneasiness.

           “Hmm? S-sorry, I didn’t hear properly.” I mumbled quickly, looking up at Sokka. He rolled his eyes at my aloofness, flicking my head before speaking again, “You’re lessons involving politics. Zuko told me you’ve been learning a few things.”

           I groaned loudly.

           Gosh, bloody Fire Nation politics.

           The moment I accepted that stupid Imperial Consort seal, I’ve had to brush up on my Fire Nation knowledge. From previous Fire Lords, customs, family trees, and laws – I wanted to cry. It wasn’t that it wasn’t interesting, it was just so much information thrown at me at once.

           My hands fell over my face as I internally sobbed.

           “It’s so difficult. I understand the basics, but the system here seems so backwards at times.” I whined into my hands, venting all the annoyance I had bottled up. There were so many things going on; at this point, I felt like I was memorizing words rather than understanding.

           But knowing the rules did help out and gave me the chance to fire that meanie of a councilmember…Maybe I did understand more than I was giving myself credit for. But with everything else going on at the moment, my head hurt tons.

           “Why don’t you ask Zuko to help you out, Princess? He is kind of like, the Fire Lord.” My hands dropped from my face, opting to throw my arms into the air in defeat. “I don’t want to bother Zuko. He has so much on his plate. I want to do this on my own.”

           “But Princess, this is his job. He’ll help if you ask– he wants to help.”

           I huffed to myself, biting my lips in frustration, “I know, but…I-uhh-I don’t know. I don’t want to. Have you seen the book I had to read for this week?”

           Sokka shook his head, and I grumbled to myself, “On my nightstand. See that ridiculously thick book? Yeah, try reading a page and not fall asleep.” Sokka laughed at the evident disgust in my voice, grinning madly as he reached to his side. Just thinking about the book had me shivering in fear.

           But I was trying.

           Watching the way Zuko worked on a daily, it made me want to work just as hard. I wanted the prove everyone wrong – that I wasn’t some arm candy for Zuko. That I knew what I was doing…

           Sometimes; it felt like Zuko was the only one who believed in me in this kingdom. I won the people’s hearts – now I had to prove to the council that I can do this.

           I closed my eyes, letting my arm rest over my eyes, the migraine that I’ve had still dully throbbing.

           It was strange, for the past five or so days, I kept fluctuating from feeling better to isolating myself in bed. My body was hurting; my head felt like a hot mix of heavy and aching. Was having a cold always this annoying? I usually had Katara heal me; I haven’t experienced a full-blown illness in years.

           “I’m gonna read where you have your bookmark,” Sokka spoke, and I merely nodded.

           Although…I don’t remember having a bookmark in my book…I didn’t make it far enough to bother putting one. I could hear Sokka snort as if he was trying to sniffle in a laugh-

           “Yesterday, Zuko used the lounging area after our bath, and I couldn’t be happier! He looked sooooo cute sitting there, reading. He almost fell asleep-”

           “OH MY GOSH SOKKA STOP!” I screamed. This asshole was reading my bloody journal!

[youcancallmecirce]

Avatar AU, The Lost Firebender; Ch 3: The Avatar Returns

The Fire Nation comes calling, just as expected, and Zuko answers.

Written in collaboration with my daughter, Aya.

Ch 1 * Ch 2 * AO3 full story * AO3 this chapter

     *     *    *     *    *     *    *     *    *     *    *     *    *     *    *     *    *     *

From his vantage point above the village, Zuko watched the enormous Fire Navy ship plow  ever closer.

Below him, Sokka stood alone, holding his ground on the low ice palisade as he too watched the ship’s approach, his face painted and bone club in hand. Why was he alone? Zuko wondered.  Where were the men who should have stood at his side in defense of their people?  The rest of his people were running, screaming for him to “get back!” but Sokka didn’t move. Zuko wasn’t sure whether to applaud his bravery, or deride his stupidity.  (He ignored the niggling thought that Sokka reminded him a lot of himself in that moment.) 

The ship finally stopped just as it breached the packed ice wall, which crumbled beneath Sokka’s feet.   The boy wavered, but kept his footing on the tumbling, shifting snow and again stood his ground.

Everything was still for a moment.  The people who had sought refuge in their pitiful tents re-emerged and began to gather in a frightened cluster near the center of their village, whispering and clutching at one another.  Zuko scanned the group and realized with a shock that all of them were women and children.  Sokka, who couldn’t have been more than 16, was easily the oldest male member of the village.

The viciously pointed prow of the ship suddenly separated from the upper deck with a clank that made the whole Water Tribe jump, and it began to lower like the opening maw of a great beast.  

Zuko didn’t jump; he had been expecting it.

Sokka, still standing apart from his people, scrambled backward out of the way and fell backward into the snow.  Zuko winced.  He knew from experience how that sort of thing could sting the pride.  He decided that he sympathized with him, even if he was just a pathetic Water Tribe peasant.  There was worse to come.

Zuko shifted his attention from Sokka’s sprawling form to the three figures gathered at the top of the long metal gangway. All three wore familiar uniforms of ember red and ash grey, with tri-pointed helmets and skull-like face plates.  But not entirely familiar, he noted absently. The uniforms had changed a bit since he’d last seen them.  The ridiculous points on the pauldrons had been eliminated, but they still wore curling points on the boots.  

The men began to make their unhurried way down towards the gathered villagers, their manner insultingly dismissive, and Sokka ran up to meet them with a yell.  He never even got to swing his club.  The man in front kicked it from his hand, then kicked him off of the gangway entirely without even breaking his stride.  Sokka landed head first in the snow, his legs stuck awkwardly in the air.

Zuko actually cringed this time.  Sokka’s pride had just been obliterated, right in front of his entire village.  If he was smart, he would stay down.

The villagers shrank back as the Fire Nation men approached, then fanned out around them. Five of them.  Zuko could handle five.

The man in front, clearly the leader, tuned his head slowly as he looked over the gathered people.  “Where are you hiding him?” the man demanded.  

No one answered, and the man removed his helmet.  Zuko was too far away to see the man’s features clearly, but he looked to be the same as every other Fire Nation officer that he’d ever met: arrogant and cruel.

“Where is the airbender?” he shouted, scanning the people in front of him.  

Zuko frowned.  Airbender?   Oh.  His people must think that he’d died, and that it had passed to the next element in the cycle.  But why wouldn’t they?  It had been a hundred years.

When he still received no answer, the man grabbed one of the old women by her hood, and Zuko heard Katara cry out in alarm.  The officer dragged the woman roughly away from the rest of the group.  “He’d be about her age, by now, and master of all the elements,” he shouted, shaking the woman and sounding angry now.  “I know you’re hiding him, where is he?”

Silence answered him once more, and a blade of flame appeared in the man’s hand as he lifted it to the woman’s throat.  Gasps rose from the others, and Katara screamed.

Zuko cursed.  It was now or never.

“Stop!” he shouted, leaping down from his perch above the village and running towards the ice wall.  He scaled it and dropped easily to the other side, in full view of all of the shocked villagers, and the surprised Fire Nation men.  “Stop!” he said again.  “Let her go.  I’m the one you want.”

“You?” the man said dubiously.  He shoved the old woman back towards her people, and Katara caught the woman with a choked sob.  “You’re from the Fire Nation.  You can’t be the Avatar, you’re far too young.  An old Air Nomad, perhaps, or young water tribe, but you?  How did you even come to be here?”

Shocked gasps and murmurs had gone through the crowd at the mention of the Avatar, and Zuko gritted his teeth.  There would be no hiding it, now.  “That doesn’t matter,” he said.  “I am the Avatar, and I will not let you hurt these people.”

He sank into a defensive pose and bent fire to his hands, staring the man evenly in the face.  A yell from behind the man drew everyone attention.  Sokka had recovered and was once again charging the Fire Nation soldiers.  Their leader ducked fluidly, using Sokka’s own momentum to flip him to his back.  The bone club had gone flying, and Zuko thought that he would finally give up, but Sokka pulled another weapon from his back.  One look at the officer’s gleeful expression, and Zuko knew that he wanted Sokka to keep trying.  

“Enough,” he said, shoving Sokka back to the ground.  The boy snarled and tried to lunge, but Zuko shoved him again.  “Stay down!” he snapped.  “If you keep this up, that man is going to kill you and then who will protect your tribe?”

Sokka bared his teeth, but nodded his grudging agreement.  Zuko stepped back and Katara helped him to his feet. 

“Thank you,” she said, looking at Zuko.  Then her eyes went wide with alarm.  “Zuko!  Look out!”

Her expression had been warning enough, and he was turning to block even before she said his name.  He caught the man’s forearms with his own, and found the man staring at him, dumbfounded.

“Zuko?” he whispered.  He disengaged and took a step back.  “Prince Zuko?  How?”

Zuko only narrowed his eyes at the man, watching him warily.

“The scar,” the man muttered.  “I should have known.  I don’t know how it’s possible, but--you really are the Avatar, aren’t you?”

Zuko nodded once, curtly, and heard another murmur go through the people behind him.

The man’s face morphed into a cruel, avaricious smile.  “Remember this day, men,” he said, once more taking a combative position.  “This is the day that Captain Zhao captured the renegade Avatar prince and returned him to his people for justice.”

Zuko growled and launched himself at the man, attacking both with fire and martial skill.  The other men did not engage, as he’d expected, but maintained their perimeter around the fight.  All the better, Zuko thought.  Zhao’s arrogance will be his downfall.

He dodged Zhao’s admittedly skilled attack and went in low, hooking his foot behind the man’s ankle as he bent a crescent of fire towards the man’s head.  He succeeded in unbalancing the man, but a horrified, pained cry had him withdrawing and looking around him.

One of the children had fallen to the snow, an angry burn marring the girl’s face below her left eye, and Zuko felt time slow.  No. He felt the terror of the Agni Kai, the agonizing pain of the burn, the despair that had engulfed his younger self, and his vision went red with fury.

Not again.  He would not be a party to the maiming of children--and yet, he already had been.  He stared at the child, focusing on his breath, remembering Roku’s guidance.

“From the breath, Zuko,” hius mentor had said.  “A firebender’s power comes from the breath, and his skill comes from control.” 

And so Zuko breathed.  He sensed Zhao’s coming attack, and let it happen.  Let the man think he’d been too stunned by the child’s injury to defend himself; the more they underestimated him, the better.  He would surrender now, take the fight away from these simple people, and then he would free himself when no one else could get hurt.

Gran-gran knelt by the injured girl and her mother, trying to soothe parent and child alike.  Katara knew she should try to help, but she could only stare in frozen horror at the blistering red weal on the girl’s face.  It was just like the last time the Fire Nation had raided. Who else would be hurt before they were done?  Who would be killed?

Another crackling flare of flame had her leaping away from the combatants and then Zuko was falling, caught off guard by the attack from behind.  Zhao fell on him immediately, pinning his arms and yanking his head back with a fist around Zuko’s top knot.  

“You’re pathetic,” Zhao spat.  “Avatar or not, the histories were right in naming you a weak, honorless coward.” Zuko’s eyes flashed as he struggled in Zhao’s grip, and the man jerked back on his hair.  “Bring chains,” he called to his men, as he continued to sneer down at Zuko.  “It’s time that Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation went home.”

“No!”

Katara took a step forward, but Sokka caught her arm.  “Don’t,” he whispered hotly.  “There’s nothing you can do.”

“But--”

Sokka’s expression softened.  “Getting yourself killed now isn’t going to help him.”

Zhao’s men had bound Zuko’s hands behind his back with heavy chains and hauled him cruelly to his feet.  Zuko grunted, but gave no other outward indication that the wrenching of his shoulders had hurt.   

“It’s alright,” Zuko said, meeting her eyes.  “I’ll be fine.”

Zhao laughed.  “Sure you will,” he said.  Then he turned away and gestured towards the ship.  “Bring him,” he called over his shoulder.  “We’ll get the prince settled in his new ‘quarters’.”

The other soldiers laughed, and the one closest to him jerked Zuko around by his shoulder and shoved him forward.  “Come on, prince,” the man said, his tone derisive.

Zuko looked back at Katara one more time, then disappeared into the ship.  “They’re leaving,” she said, dazedly.  “They’re just--leaving.”

“Are you complaining?” her brother asked, bemused.

“Of course not,” she said, shaking herself.  “I’m just--”

“I know,” he said, putting a hand on her shoulder.  “Me too.”  

Behind them, Gran-gran was ushering the child and her mother back into her tent, where she could tend to the girl’s burn.  Everyone else stood with the siblings, watching the ship slowly pull itself out of the ice and back into open water.  

“This isn’t right,” Katara said.  

Sokka pursed his lips.  “I know.”

“He saved Gran-gran.  If he hadn’t--”  Katara swallowed, thickly.  She couldn’t finish that sentence.  

“I know,” Sokka repeated.

“And if he’s the Avatar?”  Katara turned at last to face her brother.  “If he’s the Avatar, Sokka, we can’t let them--”

“I know,” Sokka said again, beginning to look irritated.  “Do you want to figure out a way to go save your boyfriend, or would you rather stand around here wringing your hands all day?”

Katara’s eyes widened.  “Really, Sokka?”  He nodded and she threw her arms around his neck.  “You’re the best brother ever!  I--wait,” she stopped and pushed away from him.  “He’s not my boyfriend!”

“Whatever,” Sokka shrugged.  “I’ll start packing, you work on Gran-gran.”

Katara nodded, sobered by the thought of her grandmother.  She felt certain that the old woman wouldn’t want to let them go.  Maybe it would be better if they tried to slip away unnoticed?

She slipped into the tent where Gran-gran was tending to the child, and saw her smoothing the hair back from the girl’s face.  She was asleep, probably thanks to some of the healer’s herbs, but her pinched expression indicated that she was still in pain.  

“Will she be ok?” Katara asked quietly.

Her grandmother nodded.  “Come, Katara.  Let’s leave them in peace.”

They ducked out of the tent and moved a distance away, so as not to disturb the patient and her mother.  “Gran-gran--” Katara began, but her grandmother started speaking at the same time.

“What will you do?” she asked, her eyes bright and expression shrewd.

“Do?” Katara echoed blankly.

“You and your brother will have to go after him, of course.”  

Katara gaped at her grandmother, stunned by the woman’s insight and agreement.

“Don’t look so surprised, child” Gran-gran said wryly.  “I don’t know how you came to know that young man, but it was obvious that his appearance wasn’t a surprise to you or your brother.  Whatever happens next, your destinies have become entwined with his.”

Katara threw her arms around her grandmother.  “Thank you, Gran-gran!” she said.  “Thank you for understanding!”

“Enough of that, my dear.  How can I help?”

The next hour passed in a blur for Katara.  They gathered as many of their things as they thought they would need: bedrolls, food, Sokka’s club and boomerang, a spare change of clothes.  Katara touched her necklace, wondering if she should leave it behind.  She hadn’t taken it off since her mother’s death, but maybe it would be better to leave it where it would be safe.

“Take it,” Gran-gran said.  “It’s yours; it belongs with you.”

Katara nodded and hugged her grandmother again.  “I’m going to miss you,” she whispered as Sokka joined them.

“The canoe is ready,” Sokka said, “But I don’t know how we’re going to save anyone from the Fire Nation with a dinky little canoe.”

“Oh my,” Gran-gran said, paling.  “Is he a friend of Zuko’s?”  

Katara looked at her grandmother, then followed her gaze to the rise above the village.  There, looking down on them, was Fang.  He was a brighter red than Katara had yet seen him, and twin coils of smoke drifted from his flared nostrils.  

“Fang?” Katara said, feeling hope rise.  “Are you here to help us?”  The dragon’s head dipped in answer, and Katara grinned.

“Oh, no,” Sokka groaned.  “You just love taking me out of my comfort zone, don’t you?”

They realized quickly that they wouldn’t be able to ride Fang without some sort of harness for their gear.  Fang seemed to understand their quandary, and though Katara could sense the dragon’s growing impatience to be gone, he consented to let them strap an old polar bear dog saddle to his body.  It sat awkwardly behind his head, but it held their things securely in place.  Katara knew it wouldn’t be comfortable for him, but she also knew that they would need it.  

“Will that be alright?” she asked him anyway, stroking his side.

In answer, he lowered his head and rolled his large eyes toward her, as if inviting her to climb into the saddle.  

She smiled at him, hugged Gran-gran one last time, and then they were airborne almost before Sokka had settled himself in the saddle behind her.

“Spirits,” she gasped, and then coughed.  Fang had set out to follow the smoke trail from the ship’s engines, and she’d gotten a lungful of it.  “He really can fly!”

“I thought it was too cold,” Sokka yelled, his arms almost painfully tight around her middle.

She tugged at his hand and he loosened his grip enough to be bearable.  “I did too,” she said in answer to his question.  “But right now I’m too grateful to ask questions.”

Sokka grumbled behind her, but didn’t really argue with her.

“How long do you think it will take us to catch them?” she asked over her shoulder.  She’d been fretting over the amount of time they’d spent preparing to leave, worrying over every minute that Zuko had been a prisoner, but there had been no help for it.  Even now that they were on their way, she had no idea what they would do when they did catch the ship.  How in the world could two teenagers and a dragon do anything against a ship’s worth of fully trained Fire Nation soldiers?

Sokka, for his part, had been thinking along the same lines.  “Never mind that,” he said.  “What are we going to do when we catch them?”

Katara drooped.  “I don’t know,” she admitted.

“Well, figure it out fast.  There’s the ship!”

She looked up.  Sure enough, there it was, small in the distance but rapidly growing larger as they got closer.  The smoke trail had thickened dramatically, and Fang dropped lower to take them out of it.

“Look, Katara,” Sokka said, pointing.  “I think there’s something wrong down there.”

There were now three separate plumes of smoke where before there had been only one, and people roamed over the deck of the ship like a colony of disturbed turtle seals.  “He must have already freed himself,” she said, her spirits rising again.

As they watched, an explosion on one of the upper decks rocked the ship, and it began to list to one side.  

“Do you see him?” Sokka asked.

“No, not--wait, yes!  There!”  She pointed, but Fang’s eyes were apparently sharper than theirs.  He was already angling down towards the ship, losing altitude in an increasingly steep dive.  

A fireball soared past them, followed by another.  “They’ve seen us!” she said, unnecessarily.  Fang spun in the air, dodging the blasts.  Katara felt her stomach turn, and felt even more grateful for the saddle which kept them anchored to the dragon’s back.  The ship was coming closer at an alarming rate and the fireballs continued to fly past them, but Fang didn’t slow.

“Kataraaaa!” Sokka yelled, while Katara shouted at Fang.

The dragon pulled up at the last possible moment, sweeping soldiers from the deck of the ship with the undulation of his long, sinuous body.  Both Katara and Sokka panted, trying to recover their breath and their wits, when someone suddenly landed on the dragon’s head out of nowhere.  They screamed again, but it was only Zuko.

“Go!” he shouted, clinging to Fang’s scales.  “Get us out of here!”

Fang shot up into the sky, and they left the crippled Fire Navy ship behind.

[advocaado]

Day 9: Fake Dating

@thirtydaysofzutara

Today’s story directly ties into another that I’ve already posted. See if you can guess which one.

Find the whole collection on Fanfiction.net User: Advocaat

“Zuko! Stop slumping and stand up straight. We’re never going to get inside if we can’t make this convincing.”

Zuko glared at Sokka under heavily mascaraed lashes. His face itched from the layers of powder and paint that had been applied to disguise his masculine features and his waist ached from being tightly cinched to give the illusion of feminine curves. Not to mention how the heavy wig of black hair just wouldn’t sit quite right on his head. All in all, he didn’t think he’d ever felt so uncomfortable and he made sure to relay that to the younger man walking beside him in the fierceness of his glare.

“And stop glaring,” Sokka tacked on, elbowing him in the side. “Ladies don’t glare.”

On the contrary, Zuko didn’t think he’d ever met a girl who hadn’t perfected the art of glaring. Leaving that aside, he addressed Sokka in a rough whisper. “If you have so many opinions, why don’t youwear the dress? We both know you’d be better at acting the part.”

“Because,” Sokka shot back, “you’re the pretty boy. I’m too ruggedly handsome to dress in drag.” He made a show of scratching the meager beginnings of a beard that patched his chin proudly. He’d begun growing it just two weeks back and it still had a long way to go in Zuko’s opinion.

Zuko sighed. “Let’s just get this over with. The sooner we get inside, the sooner I can take this stupid disguise off. I’ll never live it down if someone recognizes me while dressed like this. Imagine what the papers will say.”

Sokka raised a hand in front of himself and spread his fingers. “Fire Lord Embraces His Feminine Side. What Does This Mean for the Royal Lineage?”

Zuko scowled and elbowed Sokka harshly.

“Ouch!” Sokka yelped and rubbed his side. “Jeez, you don’t have to get that upset about it. Besides, I’m a pretty good catch.”

Zuko said nothing to that. They were coming up on their target now—a premier and very posh social club called Huinong in the heart of Ba Sing Se’s Upper Ring. Inside, a Fire Nation governor wanted for international crimes was about to make a deal with the head of a notorious Earth Kingdom crime syndicate that had cropped up just after the end of the war. After weeks of chasing the man, Zuko, with Katara’s help, had traced the man to this location. Unfortunately, the club had a very strict rule that barred entry to single men. Any man without a VIP pass had to be accompanied by a woman. Huinong was, after all, thatkind of place.

And that was precisely the reason Sokka’s help had been enlisted. Aang had been uncomfortable about Katara entering such an establishment and Zuko agreed with him. Aang was too recognizable to go himself, so Sokka had been brought in to be Zuko’s backup. They hadn’t known about the single man rule until they tried to enter earlier that night and had been turned away. So it was that their current plan had been hastily concocted. One trip to the market and a shoddy makeup job by Sokka later, they once again found themselves standing before the entrance to the club.  

The bouncer at the door, a large, burly man dressed in emerald silk eyed them impassively as they approached. “Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe,” he said in a business tone, clearly remembering him from an hour earlier. His brown eyes shifted over to Zuko next and despite his trained stoicism one of his eyebrows rose. “And this is…?”

Zuko tried not to grunt as one of Sokka’s arms came around him and pulled him against his side. “This is my girlfriend. Zu—” Zuko elbowed him again sharply and Sokka quickly improvised. “—la.”

“Zula?” the bouncer repeated. He leaned in close and inspected Zuko’s face with interest. Zuko turned his cheek in an effort to hide his makeup-disguised scar and batted his lashes. “Hi,” he greeted the man in a pitched-up voice.

The bouncer reached out and touched Zuko’s chin, delicately turning his face toward him. Zuko gulped nervously and tried not to jump away from the man. Spirits, there was no way this guy wasn’t going to recognize him this close. The man turned his chin this way and that, getting a good, solid look at him, then, to Zuko’s great surprised he released him and turning back to Sokka said, “To think a shrimpy guy like you could bag such a babe. There’s just no justice in this world.” He shook his head in disbelief and waved for the two of them to pass.

Zuko felt Sokka’s arm around him stiffen in consternation. He opened his mouth to protest but Zuko stopped him by placing a hand on his cheek and turning his face toward him. He gave Sokka a warning glare and in the same high-pitched voice from before said, “Let’s go, honey. The good man is letting us in.”

Sokka looked like he desperately wanted to defend himself but at Zuko’s glare he managed to rein in the urge. He still shot the bouncer an insulted look as they passed but to Zuko’s relief he said nothing.

The moment they were inside, Zuko removed Sokka’s arm from around him. “I can’t believe that worked,” he said, genuinely amazed.

“Ican’t believe that guy thought you were too good for me!” Sokka exclaimed, throwing up his arms indignantly.

Zuko ignored him. Now that they were inside, he needed to find a restroom to remove his disguise. There was no way he was apprehending their target dressed like a woman. The man was a member of his own nation’s aristocracy, after all.

Locating the sign for the toilets across the room, Zuko began pushing through the crowd as politely as he could. He’d nearly made it when the weight of a hand appeared on his shoulder, halting him.

“So,” a familiar, amused voice said behind him. “Zula, huh?”

Good eye widening, Zuko turned around. Blue eyes looked mirthfully at him from a sun-kissed face.

“Katara?” he uttered her name, surprised and confused in equal measures. She wasn’t supposed to be here. This wasn’t the plan. His eyes narrowed and in a low voice he hissed, “What are you doing here? This place is way too dangerous for you to be here alone!”

Katara rolled her eyes. “I’m not alone. You and Sokka are here,” she pointed out. “Besides, you should’ve known that I wasn’t going to just sit around and wait. I’m not a delicate flower.” Her mouth split into a grin then and she added, “Anyway, it was totally worth the danger to see this.” She gestured at his outfit and makeup.

Zuko’s cheeks turned scarlet in embarrassment. To think that Katara of all people would see him wearing fake boobs. It was almost more humiliating than being recognized by the governor.

Katara took pity on him by looping her arm through his and leading him to the toilet again. “Come on. I’ll help you get all that makeup washed off.”

Zuko allowed her to guide him along. As embarrassed as he was, he was grateful for her offer of assistance. “…Thanks.”

Katara nodded. Looking up at him again, she appeared to study him for a moment and then asked, “Who did your makeup anyway?”

Zuko hesitated briefly before saying, “Sokka.”

Katara’s eyebrows rose in surprise and then fell back down over her eyes. “Huh,” she said without inflection. Then, after a beat, she added, “Looks good.”

[disneygirl2202]

The Banished Commander (Zuko x Zara) Chapter 3

Prologue 1 2 

Zara’s P.O.V. 

“Thank you for understanding.” I say as they cut the ropes

“Thank you for forgiving us.” One of the warriors says 

“Of course. I know how it would’ve been difficult to figure if we were all good, just because of my clothing.” I say 

They all nod and I hear Sokka grumbling something behind me about the warriors being girls. 

“Please forgive my brother here, he’s not used to seeing girls stand up for their home.” I say, glaring back at Sokka as he shuts up 

“We understand. we would have assumed he was used to it as he is traveling with two girls.” The girl named Suki says 

“Maybe just us two. But he has a hard time processing it at times.” I say 

-~- 

I’m walking around the town, listening to all the excited chatter about the avatar being back. I purse my lips and look around, trying to find Aang or Katara. 

I spot Aang, only to see him surrounded by his most recent fan club. I sigh and shake my head then head to the training hut that Suki told me about. 

I reach the training hut and see Suki and the other girls training. I lean against the wall, watching them. 

“Mind if I join you?” I ask 

“I don’t think that would be a problem.” Suki says 

“One thing though, I rather not have to follow the tradition.” I say 

“You’re fine. Just try to keep up.” She says 

She hands me some fans then starts training up, I start to try to mimic their movements, not having the most easiest time at first, but soon catching on. 

“Thanks guys, I think some non firebending moves might help me be able to fight.” I say 

“Of course. You can always play them into your bending.” Suki says as we are walking back to the town 

“You’re right. I never really thought about that.” I say 

“Well, not everybody is already as experienced fighting without their bending as you are.” She says 

“Well hiding in the water tribe for as long as I did, it had it’s perks.” I say 

“Zara, we need to talk.” Katara says 

“Alright. I’ll see you later Suki.” I say 

I follow Katara as we walk to the place we have been staying in. 

“What’s up sweetie?” I ask 

“Aang.” She says “I think he’s letting everything go to his head.” 

“At least I am not the only one who thinks that.” I say “But he wants to stay for a little bit.” 

“What do you have against that?” She asks 

“Huh? What do you mean?” I ask 

“You were biting your lip when you said that, obviously something is bugging you about that.” She says 

I sigh and look out the window towards the sea, biting my lip again. 

“I’m just afraid that word might have gotten to Zuko.” I say 

Zuko’s P.O.V.

“Set course for Kyoshi island.” I tell one of the crew men 

“Yes sir.” He says

“Are you sure that you are only going to island for the avatar? Or does this have to do with Zara too.” My uncle says

“It has nothing to do with Zara. She made her choice, I am not going to interfere with it, exactly.” I say

I look over at the edge, staring out towards the water in front of us.

“She was my best student, she knows what to expect from us Fire Nation.” He says

“That I know. That’s why she was able to figure out that I was going to shoot at the water tribe boy. She just wasn’t fast enough to divert it without getting burnt.” I say

“Because she must have kept her powers hidden when she was hiding in that tribe.” He says

“Obviously uncle. She wouldn’t be as slow and rusty as she was.” I say

-~-

I walk through gates, looking around, seeing somebody standing in front of the village.

“Go find the avatar.” I say to the men

“You won’t find him.” Zara’s voice rings out

I see the figure blast up onto a roof, looking down at me.

“Nice to see you Zara.” I say

“Wish I could say the same think Zuko.” She says

“Why are you even trying to stop me?” I ask

“Cause this isn’t right.” She says, bouncing flames between her fingers

She looks back the village, biting her lip, then looking back at me.

“This isn’t you.” She says

“How would you know that? You did leave me after all.” I say

“Not by choice.” She says

“Yeah, whatever. If you really cared, you would’ve told me the truth.” I say

“Leave it to you Firehead, to stay hung up on the past.” She says

“That’s me for you.” I say

I look at the men, when I see some of warriors come after me. A girl throws something at Zara, as she makes a motion.

“I’m sorry that it has to be this way.” She says

Zara’s P.O.V.

I watch as the girls start to attack the men and I summon some fire and fling them with the fans. I watch as Suki goes after Zuko, that when I see the rhino.

“Suki, watch out!” I yell, going to run over

As she gets knocked to the side, I see Zuko go to shoot a wave at her.

“Suki!” I yell

I see Sokka come running over, taking the hit, looking back at Suki. I smile and watch as Zuko falls off of the rhino.

“I guess training’s over.” Sokka says

I recover from everything and put the fans away, surrounding Zuko, watching him. He looks at all of us when he throws one of the girls into the hut behind us, Suki into the pole behind her, then knocks Sokka onto his back, purposely missing me.

I back up a bit, staying in my stance, prepared to shoot any moment.

“Nice try to keep the avatar safe. But a bunch of girls can’t save him.” He says

I see Aang land looking at us.

“Hey, over here.” He yells

He motions at me to go, I nod and run off, towards where Katara should be getting everybody to safety.

I’m standing on the porch, shutting the door behind the last two as Aang comes over on his staff and shakes his head.

“I can’t do it. Look what I brought to the village.” He says

“Aang, it’s okay to run.” Katara says

“This is definately a battle we can’t win. Zuko is way to strong. Even for me to beat.” I say

He nods, looking back at the damage.

“I’ll call Appa.” He says

-~-

I look at Sokka as his cheeks are still bright red as we leave the village behind me.

“Aang, what are you doing?!” Katara yells

I turn around and see Aang falling through the air, into the water. I go to the edge, looking over to see Aang come out of the water with only creature in there to put the fires out. I smile and watch as he bounces off and Appa catches him and he comes back up to the saddle.

“I know, you’re going to say that was stupid.” He says

“Yeah it was.” Katara says

She laughs then hugs him. I lean against the back of the saddle next to Sokka.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Mutilated Mannequin (Part 2)

So I ultimately decided to drop Swift As Karma for a few reasons. Mostly I just wasn’t having fun with it anymore and it was beginning to feel more like a chore than something I do for fun. But On the plus side, I’m really excited for this one, I really liked how chapter one went. 

Summary: Azula is pressured into getting plastic surgery. She goes in for the procedure only to have it botched.

Since it has been exactly a month; here’s the first part; https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13401922/1/Mutilated-Mannequin

Azula taps her pencil on the edge of the table. Her eyes move to the clock more than the  move to the notes written on the board. She finds it increasingly hard to concentrate as the day wears on. She is already beginning to regret her impulse decision to tell Ozai that she was ready for surgery. 

She is, in fact very much not ready. 

Not ready at all. 

She actually rather dreads it, but her father has already booked the appointment and she knows that once a decision is made, he allows no room to back out of it. She grips her pencil and chews on her lip. 

The very action in itself instills dread. Soon she wouldn’t be able to chew on her lip; for one thing it won’t truly be her lip. For another, she’d risk  damaging the plastic. Is that how it works? She isn’t sure. She doesn’t know anything at all about the procedure and the aftercare. 

She rubs her hands over her face and berates herself for getting herself into this without having done her research first. 

“Azula!” 

She snaps into attention. 

“I’ve never known you to not pay attention in class.” Long Feng says. 

“I am paying attention.” She lies.

“Then perhaps you would like to explain to us, the significance of Sozin’s Comet.” 

She almost tells him that there isn’t any at all. That astronomy lessons are rather insignificant in comparison to the matters more pressing in her life. “It only comes by once every one hundred years and scientists think that it is the key to discovering life on other planets.”  She rolls her eyes, the man could have at least asked a harder question to catch her in the act of slacking. But she doesn’t intend on reminding him that her great grandfather was the esteemed astronomer who had proposed most of the theories and research projects surrounding it. 

“Right, yes.” Long Feng mumbles, “that’s correct.” 

The bell rings and Azula  makes a hasty retreat to the door. As much as she wants to leave Long Feng’s classroom, she wants to prolong the school day. Track tryouts didn’t start until late winter, maybe she will tag along with TyLee to her fashion design club or loiter around with Mai and her cluster of goth and scene kids. 

She writes both options off, her father would kick her ass if he had to come pick her up and kick it twice over if they were late for her first appointment. 

Azula finds her usual lunch table and sets her tray down. It would seem that Yue and Jet would be joining them today. Azula resists the urge to find a nice and isolated spot in the corner of the cafeteria; Yue never particularly bothered her--mostly she bothered Katara, something something about a swim team rivalry that has been going on since they were on the toddlers’ team. But her company always meant gossip and drama. And Jet. He gossips almost more. 

“I hear that Sokka’s upping his campaign game.” Jet starts them off.

“Wonderful.” Azula mumbles.

“You gonna be making any posters? Sokka is making posters.” 

“Let him.” Azula waves her hand dismissively. She isn’t in the mood to think about the class elections at the moment. Perhaps after her appointment. But right now, her mind is too far off to come up with any campaign strategies of her own. 

“Maybe you can have TyLee offer panty pics…” 

Yue thumps him on the back of the head. “Maybe we can pass out pics of you in your thong.”

“You two would be awful class presidents. If the two of you were running, I’d vote for the podium.” 

Chan spits out his drink and laughs. 

“Scoot over?” TyLee asks and Azula slides some to the left and pats the spot next to her. The girl plops down and invites Mai to do the same. 

“You’ll never guess who invited me to homecoming!” TyLee declares.  

“The entire school?” Mai askes

She has said it in jest but Azula is fairly certain that it is almost nearly true. 

“No, it was Sokka.”

Azula wrinkled her nose. “Really?”

TyLee nods. 

“Tell him that you’ll go with him if he resigns from the election campaign.”

“You have a date yet Mai?” Jet asks. “I was thinking of asking Katara?” 

“I’m taking Kei Lo.” She replies. 

“The new boy?” Azula asks. She should have known that Mai and Zuko were in the off stage of their relationship again. He has been particularly moody as of late. 

“Yeah, the new boy.” She shrugs. “He’s into some of the same books I like and he can play the violin. He says that he can play the organ too, but I think that he’s just trying to impress me...or something.” 

“What about you, Azula? Who asked you to homecoming?” 

“No one, yet.” And there it is, her reminder that she is making the right choice. Still, that doesn’t alleviate the nervousness that saps away her appetite and leaves her picking at her food. 

“Maybe Chan can take you.” Yue elbows him. 

“Ew no way!” Chan says quickly, leaving Azula with a mental sense of whiplash. “She’s practically my sister. How long have we known each other now?”

Azula, still recovering sputters, “I don’t know since we started walking.” They have been neighbors for as long as she can remember, she supposes that she understands his aversion to taking her to the dance. They’d seen each other wandering around in only diapers, she has a vivid memory of watching him make a mud pie and shoving it in his mouth, and she is fairly certain that she has witnessed him eating a roly poly or two.

She can imagine that he has some equally blush inducing memories to share about her. They have made an unspoken agreement not to speak of those. 

“Anyways, I was actually hoping that you would go with me, TyLee.”

Azula rolls her eyes because, of course he was. 

TyLee thinks for a moment. “Sure, I’ll give you a shot!” 

“Sokka’s going to be devastated.” Mai commented dryly.

Yue gives a devious smirk. “You can take him, Azula.”

“I’d take Chan before I take Sokka.” She hopes that, that is the end of the conversation. She knows that it is going to go just like last year and every middle grade dance; her in her room studying for whatever exam was coming up. She supposes that she can spend the night with Zuzu this time around. Perhaps go to the park and sit on the swings talking about mundane things as they used to. 

“I’m so excited, I already picked out my dress!” TyLee declares. 

Azula groans to herself and looks at the clock. Only forty-five minutes left of this. 

The bell rings and Azula waits for her table to clear before speaking up, “hey TyLee, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure.” TyLee beams, as gleeful and chipper as ever. “I’ll see you in math, Mai.”

Mai nods and takes her tray to the designated turn in point. Azula stands and TyLee follows with her. “Are you doing anything after school?”

TyLee ponders the question. “I have gymnastics tryouts.” She pauses, “are you going to come?”

“I can’t this time.” Azula replies. “I have somewhere to be and I was hoping that you could come along.”

“Oh.” TyLee’s mood seems to drop. 

“I would go with you but father expects me to attend matters with him.” Azula replies. “Good luck with tryouts. I’ll talk to you…” she looks at her schedule, just to make sure that she has it right. “I’ll talk to you in Literature tomorrow.” 

TyLee nods. “Good luck with your dad, I know that he’s kind of a jerk sometimes.”

“No kidding.” 

.oOo. 

Azula’s belly flutters like crazy as she waits for them to call her in. She reminds herself that it is only a consultation appointment. Ozai sits stiffly next to her and offers her just about as little support as she had expected. He flips uncaringly through a political magazine. For herself, Azula simply stares at her palms and taps her foot upon the bleached white tiles. 

The place smells of ammonia and other chemicals. It smells like a hospital and that does nothing to calm her nerves. She wishes that they would just call her in and get it over with. 

She wishes that TyLee or Mai had come along. At least that would make the waiting easier. Instead she pretends to look at her phone until they finally call out, “Dr. Park Guhira will see…” the sound of a page flipping, “Azula.”  

She had been expecting to be seated like a patient in a doctor's office. Instead, she sits upon a rather plush chair across from a doctor who sits behind a computer. He rolls his chair out. “So have you put some thought into your new look?”

Azula shakes her head. “Not really, I just know how I don’t want to look.” She will leave that to him. To a professional. 

The man nods. 

“I have.” Ozai cuts in.

“Alright, we’ll have a look at your father’s plans, pull them up on the screen, and you can tells us if everything looks good.” 

Azula nods in agreement and the man pulls up a picture of her. 

“I have a few procedures in mind for her...”

Doctor Ghuira coughs, “excuse me, and I apologize if this is out of line.” He pauses. “But does your daughter want to go through with this?”

“She approached me with the request.” Ozai answers flatly. 

“Have you talked about the procedures you have in mind because it sounds like…”

“We’ve discussed it plenty. She’s just nervous to see it set in motion.” He fixes her with a stare that most would mark as firm and reassuring. She knows that it is a warning. 

“He has tried to tell me about his plans. I said that I’d decide when I see it on the computer screen.”

“Very well then.” The doctor says.

“The first thing I’d like done with her is a buccal fat removal followed by a cheek augmentation. She’s fifteen, she shouldn’t have so much baby fat still…”

Azula shrinks back into her chair and lets him carry on about how much he hates that she inherited grandmother Rina’s baby face. She watches the doctor click around and adjust the picture to display how she’d look after the procedure. She can’t disagree that it looks better. 

“I also think that she would benefit from a rhinoplasty and a mentoplasty. Everyone in the family has more prominent, sharp features.”

Dr. Guhira stands before her, “may I?” 

It is such a vague question but her discomfort prevents her from asking for clarification so she simply gives what she hopes is a stoic, “go ahead.”

By the chin, he gently tilts her head up with the back of his hand and then observes it from a few angles. “Yes, yes, I can see the benefit in those procedures…” He trails off in a mumble as he seats himself again. He clicks around and turns the screen. “How does this look?”

Azula thinks that it looks uncanny. She doesn’t recognize the image anymore, she supposes that that is the point. The person in the digital rendering has a much more angular face. Narrower cheeks with more accentation. A pointed chin and, though subtler, a pointed nose. 

“It’s perfect. Though I think that her lips could use some fullness.” 

And another series of clicks, the sound of a mouse dragging on a mousepad. “And now?” He asks. 

“Perfect.” 

Dr. Guhira looks to Azula. 

“Yes, that should do just fine.” She agrees but the icy, sickly feeling is growing in intensity. 

“Well then Mr. Kasai, and daughter, it will be a pleasure working with you.” He holds out his hand. “I’ll have all of this logged into the computer, you’ll fill out a few forms, sign them, and select an appointment date.” 

Ozai shakes his hand. Azula follows in suit. The doctor sets a stack of papers before them. 

Her hand shakes as she signs the consent forms.