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my-bated-breath · 4 years ago

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Rage, Compassion, and the Bridge in Between

An essay on Katara’s emotions

On the spectrum of human emotion, rage and compassion exist on opposite ends. After all, rage is harsh and violent while compassion is soothing and nurturing; rage is unforgiving while compassion is all-forgiving. As such, they run a parallel course to each other, one canceling out the other whenever they do meet.

At least, that’s what we expect. We expect anger and kindness to be separate entities, and our media reflects this - a character is either severe or gentle, and in the rare case that they’re both, the contrast between their ability to hurt and their ability to heal is treated as a dichotomy. Except the human condition is not that simple, and sometimes, there is a not-so-simple story that remembers that.

In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Katara embodies the human condition - or more specifically, she embodies the duality within it. Throughout the show, her tenderness and her wrath are balanced in a way that renders her one of the most well-written female characters in children’s animation, perhaps even in all of television. Because Katara’s anger and compassion do not simply split themselves into two identities. Instead, they coexist and coalesce into one. They drive each other; they feed into each other; they are two sides of the same coin.

But how can that be true when opposite traits are supposed to clash and counter each other’s effects?

There’s no denying that at times, Katara’s anger and compassion serve to show two different sides of her. We even see this within the very first episode:

(on left) Katara: No that's it! I'm done helping you! From now on, you're on your own!

(on right) Katara: He's alive! We have to help!

At first, Katara’s irritation towards Sokka is what causes her to accidentally waterbend the iceberg open, in which the transcript describes her movements as “agitated.” However, as soon as she sees Aang, this irritation is replaced by concern for “the boy in the iceberg.” Hence, within a few minutes, we see how Katara can be motivated by compassion and rage separately.

Still, just because her kindness and anger are shown to be separate in many scenes that this separation applies to every scenario. Although Katara’s two opposite traits are opposite, that does not mean they are always opposing. Instead, they can fuel each other - her rage can fuel her compassion, and her compassion can fuel her rage.

Let’s see how.

Part 1 - Katara’s Rage Fuels Her Compassion

Throughout the series, Katara shares her grief over her mother’s death as a way to sympathize with others. In “The Southern Air Temple,” “Imprisoned,” and “Jet,” Katara tells Aang, Haru, and Jet about the effect the Fire Nation raids had on her, which establishes some of the most emotionally-charged scenes in these episodes. She is at her most vulnerable during these moments, laying bare a deep-rooted trauma in order to reach out and connect with someone else.

Dialogue from The Southern Air Temple

Katara: Aang, before we get to the temple, I want to talk to you about the airbenders.

Aang: What about 'em?

Katara: Well, I just want you to be prepared for what you might see. The Fire Nation is ruthless. They killed my mother, and they could have done the same to your people.

Dialogue from Imprisoned

Haru: Yeah. Problem is... the only way I can feel close to my father now is when I practice my bending. He taught me everything I know.

Katara: See this necklace? My mother gave it to me.

Haru: It's beautiful.

Katara: I lost my mother in a Fire Nation raid. This necklace is all I have left of her.

Haru: It's not enough, is it?

Katara: No.

Dialogue from Jet

Jet: The Fire Nation killed my parents. I was only eight years old. That day changed me forever.

Katara: Sokka and I lost our mother to the Fire Nation.

Jet: I'm so sorry, Katara.

However, these moments seem to distinctly lack any hint of anger from Katara’s end, so it may seem irrelevant to mention them here - that is, until we remember Katara had mentioned her mother one more time. Trapped in the Crystal Catacombs with a former enemy, she once again says that the Fire Nation took her mother away from her - but this time not with sympathy. No, this time she is filled with rage.

Dialogue from The Crossroads of Destiny

Zuko: You don't know what you're talking about!

Katara: I don't? How dare you! You have no idea what this war has put me through! Me personally! The Fire Nation took my mother away from me.

As Katara sits down, tears forming in her eyes, it becomes clear that her grief has festered into bitterness and anger towards the Fire Nation. By now, her grief is her anger, and so it’s not just shared pain Katara is empathizing within all four of these scenarios - it’s also shared rage.

She is gentle with Aang because she knows the effects of loss (inducing the Avatar State); she is sympathetic with Haru because she knows what she would be driven to do to have her mother back (inciting a prison break by stirring the prisoners’ righteous anger); and she is moved by Jet’s dedication to the Freedom Fighters because she would fight for the Southern Water Tribe too (against the Fire Nation, although Jet’s rage blinds him in a way that Katara’s doesn’t).

Then, in the Crystal Catacombs, it’s Katara’s anger towards the Fire Nation that uncovers her hidden pain. Her vulnerability is what causes Zuko’s words (“That’s what we have in common”) to resonate with her so much, enough for her to offer to heal his scar.

Therefore, Katara’s relationship with anger and grief (whether it’s emotionally-driven similar to how Aang enters the Avatar state or self-righteous similar to her calling the earthbender prisoners to action) is the foundation for some of her most compassionate moments in the series.

Part 2 - Katara’s Compassion Fuels Her Rage

Just as some of her most sympathetic moments are rooted in understanding someone else’s rage, many of Katara’s harshest moments see her acting on the behalf of others’ pain and needs.

As the designated “mother” of the Gaang, the Gaang’s more silly and immature antics often aggravate her and cause her to reprimand them severely, a clash that features prominently in Katara and Toph’s relationship.

In “The Chase” and “The Runaway,” Katara shouts at Toph for lacking a sense of responsibility. However, her indignation does not simply stem from taking personal defense, but from wanting to safeguard the family she has found in the Gaang. Then, both these times, Toph learns the true motives behind Katara’s overbearing actions through a conversation with Iroh and Sokka, respectively.

Dialogue from The Chase

Toph: People see me and think I'm weak. They want to take care of me, but I can take care of myself, by myself.

Iroh: You sound like my nephew, always thinking you need to do things on your own, without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting the people who love you help you.

When Toph talks with Iroh in “The Chase,” Iroh imparts some wisdom on finding mutual support in friendship, implying that Katara pushing responsibilities onto Toph is her way of solidifying and upholding the loving and supportive dynamic within the Gaang.

Dialogue from The Runaway

Sokka: I'm gonna tell you something crazy. I never told anyone this before, but honestly? I'm not sure I can remember what my mother looked like. It really seems like my whole life, Katara's been the one looking out for me. She's always been the one that's there. And now, when I try to remember my mom, Katara's is the only face I can picture.

Toph: The truth is sometimes Katara does act motherly, but that's not always a bad thing. She's compassionate and kind, and she actually cares about me. You know, the real me. That's more than my own mom.

As the dialogue states, “Katara’s been the one looking out for [them].” Hence, her mothering tendencies towards Toph in “The Runaway” are evoked by her wanting to avoid the danger that Toph’s high-profile scamming is beginning to place them in. In other words, she simply wants to protect her makeshift family because “she actually cares about [Toph and the rest of the Gaang]. You know, the real [them].”

Katara’s ability to empathize with others, to see past facades and prejudices, is one of her defining traits. Earlier, in the episode “The Painted Lady,” Katara manages to see beyond the people of Jang Hui’s Fire Nation background and recognize that above all else, they are suffering from war and poverty. Consequently, they are people who need her.

As such, even the notion of abandoning the people of Jang Hui (as suggested by Sokka) enrages her because Katara is someone who “will never, ever turn my back on people who need [her]!”

Still, Katara’s desire to fight for a village of strangers cannot compare to the lengths she would take to protect Aang.

Dialogue from The Western Air Temple

Katara: You might have everyone else here buying your… transformation, but you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past. So let me tell you something, right now. You make one step backward, one slip-up, give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang, and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I'll make sure your destiny ends ... right then and there. Permanently.

While Zuko was a bystander as Azula shot lightning at Aang, he was an active participant in his fight against Katara, whom, just moments ago, he shared an incredibly intimate moment with. But despite how Zuko betrayed Katara personally, it is the impact his betrayal had on Aang’s life (and death) that she focuses on. So even at her most threatening, Katara acts to protect someone else, Aang, the boy who is her friend and her family.

Together, all these instances reveal that Katara’s compassion is what grants her a protective instinct, and her protective instinct is what moves her to anger and violence.

Conclusion

Katara’s character provides invaluable insight into the relationship between compassion and rage, revealing how it is not simply black contrasting white, but a spread of grays and contradictions. After all, that is who Katara is. She is two sides of the same coin and the bridge in between.

Even more, that is the human condition - full of grays and contradictions, simultaneously negating and reciprocating, balancing and tipping the scales all at once. And perhaps human emotion, in all its breadth, cannot be contained to a two-dimensional spectrum where emotions can either be placed close together or on opposite ends - because humanity is of infinite dimensions, constructed from science, dictated by art. And yet, somehow it is a two-dimensional animated character who captures human complexity with such ease.

#atla #atla meta #katara #katara meta #my bated breath analyzes #my bated breath's posts #that's not to say that katara's anger cannot exist without compassion #nor her compassion without anger #but it's not mutually exclusive either #on a separate note i have more metas on katara written #so you can watch out for that #likes and reblogs are always appreciated #thank you all for reading!

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magicponies · 4 years ago

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So, as I’m sure some of you are aware, I’m absolute trash for Zukka/Jetko and I cannot stop making AUs. So, I’d like to introduce you guys to an AU that I’m actually quite fond of- The Sun Spirit Zuko AU. This is partially inspired by a fanfiction I read a while ago, but I can’t find it again, so I’m sorry! Everything in this AU is my idea other than Zuko being the Sun Spirit.

This is Sun Spirit Zuko’s reference sheet! (Please do not repost my artwork. Reblogs are appreciated!)

The basics of the au are as following-

Ursa never got the chance to poison Azulon. This means that Ozai followed the orders from his father to kill Zuko.

Ursa, completely devastated by her husband killing her son, prayed to Agni (the Sun Spirit) for help, begging him to save Zuko.

Much like with Yue and Tui, Agni gave a piece of its/his (whichever you hc the pronouns to be) life force to Zuko, reviving him. This caused Zuko’s hair to turn a pale yellow color which faded to white the longer it got.

Zuko is covered head to toe in scars, though they almost entirely fall on the left side of his body. He does his best to cover them up, but doesn’t always get a chance to.

As soon as Iroh returned from the failure of Ba Sing Se, Zuko instantly tried to leave with him again, and it was accepted. While Zuko was never formally banished, he did see himself as a failure (why else would his father have actually killed him?) and that he needs to restore his honor.

The majority of the actual storyline is the same, with maybe a few changes here and there. The main change is that Zuko joins the GAang a bit earlier, though is only an offical member of the GAang in Book 3 (aka, he never really went with Azula in those catacombs- he just got taken by Azula, but quickly left again and found the GAang)

He had a fling with Jet. Actually, he was full-on dating Jet for a while there, but then the whole ‘firebender’ thing happened, and... well, I think you get the gist.

Zukka does happen! They got really close really quick, but Sokka was kinda scared to get attached (”My first girlfriend turned into the moon, and now there’s a chance my first boyfriend is going to turn into the SUN?!”), but once Zuko becomes Fire Lord, they become official (about a year into Zuko’s rule)

Zuko and Yue can talk to one another in their sleep! They can also contact Agni and Tui when they are little in their sleep by being transported to the Spirit World. Yue and Zuko did meet in person (Zuko didn’t end up capturing Aang that day- he ended up not being able to leave the Spirit Oasis because of the energy of the area) and were good friends ever since Zuko got blessed.

If anyone is interested in this AU, I will be writing some short stories that have to do with plot points! I can post them if anyone wants.

I’ll also be drawing more about them! Thank you all for reading <3

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raayllum · 4 years ago

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Are there things that, in your opinion, TDP does better than ATLA?

Despite the fact that there are a lot of apt comparisons that can be made between TDP and ATLA, I also think it’s hard to really compare them on broader levels just because they’re so different.

ATLA will always be my number one favourite show and there are some things I think it does better than TDP because I think it does it better than almost any show -- the minute worldbuilding details, its realism with characters’ eating and financial situation (i.e. how many times in book one the kids are running out of food or we see them foraging/doing camp chores), its use of spirituality. TDP can definitely be philosophical (particularly in regards to arcanum) but it hasn’t delved too much, imo, into spirituality.

That being said, there are a couple of things I think TDP does better than ATLA (perhaps because it’s a more condensed series, but mostly just out of personal preference):

More memorable side characters. As much as I love many of ATLA’s side characters very much, for every one that is memorable -- the Freedom Fighters, Yue, Haru, Teo, the Boulder -- I’m not emotionally attached to most of them. I love Yue and Jet, I think Hama and Long Feng are great villains, etc. Meanwhile in TDP: Ellis, Corvus, Opeli, Gren, Ethari, Lujanne, Captain Villads, and Kazi are some of my favourite characters in the whole show. I’m pretty much as attached to them as I am to anyone in the main cast (other than the trio, who holds the top spot). And more than that, I feel like I know all of them and their worldviews really well. I can’t say that about most of the characters we meet in most of the villages Team Avatar wanders into in Books One and Two. So I think TDP tends to have more developed side characters, even for minor roles (like Crowmaster).

More prominent female characters earlier on. In ATLA, we have to wait until 3x16 to get the name of Katara’s mother, and Ursa is never named in canon at all. So getting information about Sarai five episodes into TDP, and first and foremost from her sister’s perspective, was really lovely. While ATLA later introduces a bunch of our favourite ladies -- Mai, Ty Lee, Azula, and Toph in Book Two -- it was nice to see TDP start off on that direction earlier. We’re immediately introduced to Rayla and Claudia, then Amaya, and Ellis and Lujanne are the kids’ biggest helpers in late Book One early Book Two. It’s really nice. The only old sort of ladies we meet in ATLA are Aunt Wu, Hama, and the herbalist. AKA I love Lujanne, thank you.

More “complicated” moral issues. The characters in ATLA have some really hard decisions to make, and “complicated” does not mean better. What I mean is that for the most part in ATLA, we the audience usually know what a character should do in a situation. Zuko should let Appa go, Aang should give the letter to Katara and Sokka, Jet shouldn’t blow up the dam, bloodbending is bad. Some of this is because, particularly in Book One, ATLA is a more episodic lesson of the week show. It also doesn’t mean that these choices are easy for the characters or that they’re not provocative, because they are. And there’s nothing wrong with there being an easy “right thing to do” because that is how a lot of life works.

However, TDP poses moral dilemmas where it feels less clear cut. Rayla lets Marcos go and it threatens her team; it was compassionate, and understandable, but she signed up to be an assassin and it put everyone else at risk. You can kill one “monster” and save hundreds of lives. You can either refuse to wage war and fight your own people or be pushed into fighting the enemy. I’m a grown ass adult and I don’t know what call I would make in these decisions. And TDP tends to bring up those sorts of things more often (for ATLA, the big one that comes to mind is Katara’s confrontation with Yon Rha). In a lot of ways the points of moral greyness ATLA really starts reaching in Book Two with its explorations of Zuko and the Earth Kingdom is where TDP starts out, and I love both of their journeys very much (nor would I change anything about ATLA, lol).

So I guess what I’m saying is that TDP isn’t better at bringing up complicated moral issues/situations, because ATLA does too, but TDP tends to bring them up more often with less of a clear cut answer, and I just really appreciate the variety. The whole “two cakes” sort of thing.

#thanks for asking #dragons rambles #darkwolfgoddess #mini meta #tdp

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sokkastyles · 4 years ago

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One of the things that is so compelling about Zuko and Katara in the catacombs beneath Ba Sing Se is the focus on exploring nuances in character that we haven’t seen before but which still feel organic.

We expect these two characters to start screaming at each other. They’re both strong personalities and on opposite sides of the war, so when they’re imprisoned together, each at their lowest point, we expect Zuko to be defensive and angry and Katara to be self-righteous and angry, which is how they initially react to one another.

And a lot has been said about how they connect over the shared trauma of the loss of their mothers, but I think what’s even more important than that is how both of them have grown as characters in order to get to this point. The best character writing is found in scenes like this, where characters act in ways that are surprising, yet still make sense for the characters themselves. This is hard to pull off but works if you’ve established your characters as containing layers, developed those layers, then slowly peel back those layers for the audience.

It’s not surprising that Katara tells Zuko that she lost her mother to the fire nation, she tells this to pretty much everybody, and she’s flinging it at him as an accusation, in a moment of grief and rage. What is surprising is Zuko’s apology, followed by him telling her that they have that in common, because for all that Zuko spends so much time talking about his father, his loss of his mother is something much more private that he doesn’t usually talk about, and we certainly don’t expect him to apologize to the girl he’s been chasing after for two seasons. But he does, and there’s a reason.

It’s also rather surprising that Katara believes in his sincerity. She could have immediately dismissed Zuko’s attempts to connect their experiences - and she would not have necessarily been wrong to do so - but she is instead startled by his openness and honesty and that leads her to look at him differently and apologize for yelling.

And the thing is that both of these characters have grown since the last time they’ve seen each other. Both of them have experienced the world in ways that prove that it is far more complicated than what they originally thought.

For Katara, she thought she knew who the good guys were, and who the bad guys were. Zuko was “the face of the enemy,” while Ba Sing Se was the last bastion of the forces of good. But now, not only has she been exposed to Ba Sing Se’s seedy underbelly, which resulted in the death of Jet, a boy who himself was flawed but who, nonetheless, she might have seen herself loving if things had been different; but she’s also seen the enemy hiding in a tea shop and done what she believed was the right thing by ratting out Zuko and Iroh, only to find out that the far more dangerous and immediate enemy could be found in Azula, disguised as a friend. That’s where she is when Zuko suddenly appears in front of her, also a prisoner of the same enemy.

And for Zuko, by the time he’s captured by Azula, he’s no longer actively hunting the avatar and has seemingly made his peace with the idea of living a quiet life with Iroh. We can see him deliberately making an effort to be happy and supportive of his uncle, despite the fact that it’s not what he wants. He’s learned to push aside his own feelings for the people he cares about, and it almost works, until of course Azula finds them. Then he’s imprisoned and he’s sulky as Katara rants, because everything she’s saying is true and that brief moment of a calm and peaceful life with his uncle turned out to be just a fantasy, but in that moment where he apologizes Zuko does the same thing he did to make Iroh happy. He pushes aside his own feelings, he makes an effort. And he makes this effort for a girl he barely knows, who is his enemy. Zuko doesn’t have anything to gain from this. In fact, his behavior here highlights exactly what he’s lost, because now that life with Iroh, the tea shop, that’s gone. His apology to Katara doesn’t sound like someone who is trying to gain sympathy or force a connection, it sounds like someone who is mourning the loss of a life that was never actually realized, as her attempt to apologize for yelling at him is met with “it doesn’t matter.” His body language and tone are despondent, his earlier defensiveness gone as well.

Katara realizes that Zuko is no longer just the face of the enemy, and Zuko realizes the same thing in relation to himself, that his scar doesn’t have to determine his destiny. Their discussion is also quite rife with symbolism because Katara has learned now that the enemy has many faces, and that the most dangerous enemy isn’t the one who comes announcing that they’re your enemy, not the boy with the burned face, but the face hiding behind the mask (or in this case makeup) of a friend.

If Zuko and Katara hadn’t reached this point in their character development before meeting each other, then yes, they might have just yelled at each other or fought, but they don’t do that, because they’re dynamic characters, and they actually help each other to continue to change and grow.

Of course, their development doesn’t end there. Katara is idealistic to the point of naivete in her willingness to jump in to healing Zuko so quickly, even knowing it might not work, and part of the reason she does this is because she’s a caretaker at heart. People say she doesn’t do this with Zuko but like, this boy just told her that he lost his mother and she immediately goes into healer mode. And Zuko is almost as naive in his willingness to trust her when she tells him that she can heal - might be able to heal - something that is a very deep wound for him, and of course makes the wrong choice in the end and betrays that newfound trust. We can feel the connection between these two characters but that also increases the tension when they are pulled apart again. Katara is looking back at him practically wistfully, while Zuko looks like he’s trying hard not to look at both her and Iroh, his mind torn between conflicting thoughts and emotions.

One thing, actually, that I don’t see brought up often is that Zuko had to put himself out there quite a lot to be able to trust Katara in the catacombs, letting her see him at his most vulnerable, letting her touch his scar, and I think he feels betrayed by Katara post “The Western Air Temple” perhaps almost as much as Katara feels betrayed by him, not only because he trusted her but because she was willing to trust him and he lost that trust. He deserved it, and he knows it, but it still hurts, and it hurts way more than just her seeing him as an impersonal enemy.

#zuko #katara #atla meta #avatar the last airbender #atla

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army-of-mai-lovers · 4 years ago

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Tell us about your current project(s) – what’s it about, how’s progress, what do you love most about it?

oh my gosh I have so many I’m literally incapable of sticking to one or two projects at once this list is going to be so long ahhh ok

keep the world at bay- Avatar Sokka au/nonbender Zuko au/Yue lives au/Jet lives au/Azula redemption au....she has layers (unsurprisingly, she’s projected to be 200k). basically, Aang didn’t go into the iceberg and grew up during the beginning of the Hundred Year War and spent most of his life trying to end it, but then he disappeared and there was a 40 year gap between his disappearance and the surfacing of the Water Tribe Avatar, Sokka. this fic frustrates me to no end sometimes but I really really love it. I am a bit of a nerd about writing, but there are some things that I’m really nerdy about within writing and alternate history stories is one of those things. I have a google doc with pages and pages and pages of text about what happened in between the first Sozin’s Comet and the start of the fic, and how this all ties in thematically, and this is all like, exactly the kind of stuff I live for. it’s self-indulgent as hell but I love it. I just posted earlier this week that the hiatus on the new chapter for this fic was going to be even longer and now I’m working on chapter 14 so...yeah I change my mind on a whim what about it?

not ready to make nice- Jet lives au, one of my only fics in which Jet is not affiliated with a coffee/teashop in some way. basically, he wakes up in an apartment of Ba Sing Se after the events of Crossroads of Destiny, severely injured but alive, and finds out that Smellerbee and Longshot have been taken. even though there are three jail/prison break scenes in 9 chapters, it’s a very slow, very intense character study kind of fic exploring Jet’s many many traumas and how he learns to love himself enough to survive and thrive. fun fact: this fic was part of my six month plan to slowly convert people into jetru shippers, and right after I started it everybody started shippng jetru and the whole plan became moot (this is also why Haru doesn’t get introduced until ch 7)

like ripples, like love- wuko enemies to lovers coffeeshop au, featuring background korrasami, bopal, jetru, and zukka. also probably the weirdest experience I’ve ever had being inspired for a fic--I made a couple jokes about how the perfect wuko fic would be a 200k enemies to lovers coffeeshop au in which Mako is the employee and Wu is a Karen, and then some of my mutuals were like “yo I’d read that fic” and I was like “lmao ok I’m not doing it” and three months later I have a 75k wuko enemies to lovers coffeeshop au, so...joke’s on me I guess. I really love the opportunity to be funny in a fic, honestly. my canonverse stuff is kinda depressing, and considering both the world and the atla fandom are dumpster fires, it’s really nice to just make something fun and lighthearted. this fic is also set in Hong Kong, which initially was me trying to be more responsible as a member of a fandom for a show based on Asian and Indigenous cultures, but it has grown into me just being interested in Hong Kong culture. I’ve done a lot of research for this fic and I’ve enjoyed all of it. I never would have listened to Chet Lam or Leslie Cheung or AGA if it weren’t for this fic, and I never would have read about Jessica Park and the Transgender Equality and Acceptance Movement. All of this has really enriched my understanding of queer culture and queer organizing outside of the US and it makes me really happy that I’ve gotten the opportunity to learn about all of this stuff. just posted ch 2, will probably post ch 3 soon!

it’s only a paper moon- yueki fic in which Suki talks to Yue (the moon) while she’s at Boiling Rock, and falls in love with her through these conversations. this is one of the first straight up angst things I’m writing (read: angst w/o a happy ending) and as someone who adores yueki being able to write about them in a variety of situations is really fun. also, it’s Suki pov and ngl Suki pov is my favorite pov to write. I love her so much and I love deconstructing her and making her vulnerable (instead of the invincible queen that everybody stans but nobody takes the time to treat like a human being)

on my honor- probably the only straight up zukka fic I will ever write. It’s a donnaverse fic, set a few months after the events of bad girls and love will always find you, and Sokka and Zuko compete to be the biggest fans/supporters of their friends and sisters by having a Kyoshi merch arms race. I love donnaverse everything so I’m really excited about this, plus this fic has a lot of Sokka & Aang and Sokka & Haru and Sokka & Jet (and it features Jet and Haru’s first meeting). also, Zuko the Douchebag! so few zukka fics feature Zuko the Douchebag and I miss him I want him back. the whole point of Zuko is the character development so if I’m writing a zukka fic it’s got to have Zuko developing and becoming a better human.

and finally....

Super Secret Zone Collaboration fic- [REDACTED]

fanfic meta ask game!

#for blacklist:#zukka #wuko #ask games #anons #replies

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stardust948 · 4 years ago

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Crashing Waves

Zutara Drabble December 2020 Day 19

@zkdrabbledecember

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28160901

Summary: Zuko can’t go onto the beach during the day anymore because of his burn. Katara notices. They go for a midnight swim instead.

Inspired by @sokkastyles post

Katara has always been an observant person. She could easily pick up on other's emotions and whether they were comfortable or not. It was simply a part of her empathic nature.

After the Last Agni Kai, she paid close attention to Zuko. Mainly because she was his healer and she owed him her life. Also, because he was more stubborn than a goat-donkey. It was infuriating to get a straight answer from him about his pain, so Katara had to play most of it by ear.

A couple of months after the war ended, the Gaang finally convinced Zuko to take a break and go to Ember Island with them. And by convince, they canceled all his Firelord meetings and practically kidnapped him. Nonetheless, Zuko loosen up and started enjoying himself. Or at least he seemed to be.

Katara noticed Zuko mostly stayed in the beach house watching them from the porch. When he did come down to the beach, it was at night or hunkered down under an umbrella. It was strange behavior for a firebender, especially one who's only good memories of his family were at the beach. Katara worried if being on Ember Island unsettled Zuko, now that he didn't have to spend all his time training Aang. Did they make a mistake to bring Zuko here in the first place? Early on the last day, Katara finally decided to confront him about the matter.

"Zuko, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."

Zuko paused from stirring tea and turned to face her, giving her his full attention. "What is it, Katara?"

"You've talked about how many good memories Ember Island holds for you but you've barely been to the beach all throughout this trip. I was wondering, well since this is the first time you're back after everything that's happened..." Katara paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to word it.

"What are you asking?"

Katara leaned over and grabbed his hand. "Are you alright?"

Zuko looked surprised, eyes shining with heavy emotion. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a weary smile.

"I'm getting there. It was being here at first, but you and the others fill the place with so much light and life, it feels like home again."

Katara breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad it's getting better."

"Yeah. I just wish I could join you on the beach. I miss being out there."

"Don't push yourself. Wait until things are better."

"That's just it. This is the one thing that won't get better." Zuko said somberly as he touched his scar. Katara's heart dropped as she remembered her fleeting attempt to heal it in Ba Sing Se a lifetime ago. "The burn makes my skin sensitive to the sun. I can push through it during training, but its kind of makes it hard to relax." It was ironic on more than one level.

Katara threw her arms around Zuko and pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, Zuko."

"It's okay." he whispered as he hugged her back.

"No, it's not! This is your vacation! You deserve to enjoy it. What do you miss most?"

Zuko was silent for a moment as his mind drifted back. One of his favorite memories was of Lu Ten teaching him how to him then him trying to teach Azula. They both accidently went out too far and Lu Ten had to drag them back on a piece of driftwood.

"Swimming."

"Then that settles it." Katara broke away from the hug and looked Zuko square in the face. "Tonight, we're going on a midnight swim."

~*~

Zuko did not know what he expected. He had snuck out in the dead of night more than he would care to admit, but this time felt different.

This time he was not searching for food to survive, or breaking into a fortress, or even trying to avoid anyone who would maim on sight.

This time was for the pure joy of it.

Zuko and Katara waited until the others were asleep then silently crept out. It was a starry night and the strong ocean breeze made the atmosphere feel electric. Katara suddenly broke out into a sprint, urging Zuko to follow her. He raced her to the water’s edge, neither slowing down as they crashed into the icy waters. Zuko and Katara swam until the beach house was just a distance speck. The stars reflected off the ocean, making it hard to tell where the sky ended and ocean began.

“This is incredible!” Katara beamed as she floated on her back.

Zuko watched her flourish in her element. Sometimes he finds it hard to believe it was the same girl who accidently froze her brother instead of the soldiers on his warship so long ago.

“Yeah, it is.”

Zuko inhaled deeply then exhaled a small jet of fire, warming his insides.

“What was that?”

“Breath of Fire, a trick Uncle taught me to keep my temperature up in the cold. It’s how I survived the Cooler on the Boiling Rock.”

“Huh. I thought Sokka made that up.” Katara said mostly to herself.

Zuko laughed and Katara splashed him.

“I’m serious! You know how he exaggerates when he tells stories!”

Zuko splashed her back playfully. He soon learned the hard way not to challenge waterbenders to a splash war at night.

“You just love fighting people in their natural elements, don’t you?”

“How was I suppose to know snow is made of water?!”

Katara bended a handful of water into snow then threw it at his face.

“I know that now ‘Tara!” Zuko laughed as he brushed the snow off.

“You seriously didn’t earlier?” she asked smiling.

Zuko simply shrugged as he swam in circles around her. He paused and looked at the horizon.

“It’ll be morning soon. We better start swimming back if we want to make it to the house before the others wake up.”

“Leave it to me!”

Katara bended a flat piece of ice and hopped on. Zuko got on in front of her and held on to the edges as Katara summoned a large wave to carry them back to shore.

“Hurry we’re gonna be late!” The sky was already starting to lighten up.

Zuko grabbed a still laughing Katara’s hand as they raced back to the beach house.

#zutara drabble december #day 19 #zuko #katara #zutara #zutara fanfic #ao3 fanfic

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goldrushzukka · 4 years ago

Note

1, 2, 7, 8, 9. (Sorry, i know that's like...all of them)

1. what themes would you like to write about that you feel don’t get explored very often?

i love writing coming out storylines. it’s not really that they’re uncommon, i just find a lot of catharsis in them.

2. what are some common elements of stories you are tired of seeing? what would you avoid writing about?

i tend to avoid writing sibling dynamics bc i’m an only child and therefore not really. qualified. i love reading it though!!

7. favourite description in your WIP?

it was really hard to pick one so i have a few answers for this bc i love to talk about myself so. (under the cut bc JESUS this got long but spoilers for and i’ll do anything you say (read it here!) ahead!!!)

- from chapter 2:

Sokka looks at him, a fantasy come to life, and takes off his stupid sweatpants.

He throws them at Zuko’s head, and earns himself a short burst of that real laugh, shocked and unguarded.

“You asshole,” Zuko says. He sits up and grabs Sokka’s hand, pulling him down on top of him. Something comes alive under Sokka’s skin where Zuko’s fingers graze his wrist. He calls it lust and ignores the fact that it feels nothing like it.

Zuko kisses him, his mouth still in the shape of laughter, and the alive thing screams for his attention. Sokka buries it and hopes it won’t deafen him before they’re done.

im very fond of this whole chapter (i think it’s probably my favourite? it was definitely the easiest to write) but i really love looking back on this part particularly now that we’re in the angsty part of the story bc this is where it all started. yes technically it started in chapter 1 but this is when sokka starts to fall for zuko. this is the beginning of all those pesky non-casual feelings that he’s going to pretend don’t exist until someone else calls him out on them.

- also from chapter 2:

He’s forty-five minutes late already, and when he knocks, a woman made of pursed lips and sharp angles answers the door. She looks elegant and expensive the same way a skyscraper does. Or a cache of medieval weaponry.

“Oh,” Sokka says, digging into his pocket to find the map on his phone. “I must have the wrong place, sorry -”

She looks him up and down, her eyes narrowed in a way that feels violent and practiced, and her smirk turns distasteful. Sokka risks a glance down at himself, at his torn up jeans - not distressed, just torn - and the Madonna t-shirt he’s pretty sure actually belongs to Katara, and thinks she might have a point. The bag in his hand feels heavier when her eyes land on it.

“Zuzu,” the woman calls into the apartment, “your dinner’s here.”

“I didn’t order -” Zuko appears in the doorway, bitter frustration in his expression as he looks at the woman.

His eyes fall on Sokka, though, and his face clears into a light-pollution smile.

this is technically two so i will start with: i love azula. i haven’t found any room to bring her back yet but believe me i am LOOKING. she’s hot and mean and gay and i LOVE HER. oh also insider scoop but suki’s date from earlier in this chapter.......WAS azula. they probably won’t see each other again because once azula met sokka and connected his face to the Best Friends Forever picture frame on suki’s desk she stopped answering the phone.

pt 2: i’ve had a couple of comments mention the “light-pollution smile” line specifically and i am always so happy to read them bc yeah. YEAH. i’ll admit it. that line HITS.

- from chapter 4:

He sets his phone down - only, he doesn’t. He misses the table by a mile, and in his scramble to catch his phone before it breaks on the hardwood floor and wakes Momo on the cushion beside him, his hand finds the lip of his cereal bowl, and then that’s falling, too. He manages to catch the phone, but something in his head gets lost in translation on its way down his arms, and he ends up with a boxers-only lap full of soggy Cheerios.

Momo gets a splash of milk on his back and hisses at Zuko for his crimes, and somehow that’s the worst part of it.

haley @fruitysokka said that this passage reads like an action movie and i think about it all the time. (thank u haley i love u)

- lastly this extended metaphor from chapter 6:

The soup is good, once the heat of it clears him up enough to taste it. It’s thick and warm and there’s enough pepper that Sokka gets a kick from it even in his condition. He feels it all the way down his throat and into his stomach, where it mixes with the prickly nervousness he’s feeling from Zuko’s attention.

He sets the bowl down on the table and asks, eyes stuck on his hands in Momo’s fur where he’s climbed into his lap, “How was the date?”

“It was good, actually,” Zuko says. “Jet seems like a nice guy. He’s very - uh - passionate, I guess you could call it? He’s a climate and human rights activist.”

The spines of Sokka’s nervousness turn to daggers.

...

“I said yes. We’re getting lunch on Sunday.”

The daggers are swords now, and Sokka’s heart sinks down, down, down, right to the hilt.

...

“I’ll text you when I’m home,” Zuko promises, and Sokka��s heart skewers itself on a second sword.

Zuko’s smile when Sokka says, “Thank you for the soup,” is a third.

The door closing behind him is a fourth.

The silence as Sokka shuffles back to bed is every single one that remains.

something something canon swordsmen something pride comes before the fall something chivalry fell on his sword from eden by hozier. you guys get it i dont have to explain myself

8. favourite dialogue in your WIP?

ok so i cant share my actual favourite dialogue bc it's a spoiler for chapter 8 and i technically haven't written it yet (it's in my brain just.....plaguing me) but it's GOOD i SWEAR so. once again i have more than one answer bc actually? i love this fic and im proud of it. deal with it.

- from chapter 1:

“Hey, stranger,” Sokka says, still watching him in the mirror. The corner of Zuko’s mouth ticks up.

“You’re not following me, are you?” Zuko’s tone is seductive, endlessly so, and Sokka wonders while he dries his hands if he has to put it on or if he just sounds like that.

“You give a guy one compliment and he thinks you’re stalking him,” Sokka mutters, and Zuko laughs, low and enticing. Not the genuine, endearing laugh of this morning, but one with an agenda.

Well. Sokka always likes a plan.

“Are you following me? ” Sokka asks. He spies a miraculous dry patch on the sink bank and tries to be casual about the way he hops up to sit on it.

“I might be,” Zuko says, and at Sokka’s raised eyebrow, he continues, “I saw you at the bar and I wanted to talk to you. Sue me.”

“You wanted to talk.”

“Amongst other things.”

as a chronically awkward person i am INSANELY proud of the flirting in this fic. no idea if it would work in a real life situation. excited to never find out bc im not about to use lines from my fanfiction on real women.

- from chapter 2

“You must be Suki,” Zuko says. He meets her gaze, and his fingers go still under Momo’s chin.

“And you’re Zuko,” Suki replies, her smile all different shades of intimidating. “I’d shake your hand, but I know where it’s just been.”

i wrote this entire scene just so i could have suki say this. im not even joking. suki is my favourite part of this entire fic and its not even ABOUT her.

- from chapter 3:

When Sokka crosses the room and slips under the covers beside him, Zuko says, “I can leave, if you want. I can go home.”

...

He asks, still barely hovering over Zuko, “What if I don’t want that?”

Zuko swallows. “I can stay.”

“So stay,” Sokka says, and lays his head down on Zuko’s chest.

i just think it’s sweet. i like it a lot. makes my heart hurt a little when i think about it.

- from chapter 4:

[Suki // 15:13] there is a LOT of chmpagrjn

[Suki // 15:13] cahpmhagne

[Suki // 15:13] chsanpghn

[Suki // 15:14] alcohol :)

once again: suki is the best part of this whole fic. i love her so much. she is the reason the word bestie exists. im really proud of the texting in this fic bc it’s my first time actually including it in fic and it’s turned out really well!!

- ok last one bc i just realised this is turning into a novel. from chapter 4:

“How’s my baby?”

Zuko glances down at Momo, batting at the untied laces of his shoes with one determined paw. “He’s doing just fine.”

“And how’s Momo?”

“He’s - what?”

are there better written, more narratively important and emotive lines in this fic? yes. is this the best part of the entire thing? also yes. i invented the jin/yue wedding because i needed a reason for zuko to have a key in what became chapter 6, but sometimes i think the entire fic exists just for this exchange. best dialogue i have ever written.

9. what scene was the hardest for you to write and why?

the start of chapter 6 of aidays was difficult. i kept wanting to skip ahead to the meaty parts - i.e, zuko and his soup - but i didn’t want to do sokka a disservice like that. it was also really hard to maintain the balance of accurately describing the delirium of illness while still being coherent for the reader? so that took me a couple of days to get right.

#dreamrena #ask game #this got AWAY from me #anyway.#theres.....that #asks #mine #and ill do anything you say #might as well go in the tag since its all i talk about in this #uhhh. enjoy?#i have more thoughts on literally all of aidays so. at the risk of sounding even more in love w myself than i do in this already.#if theres anything else anyone would like to know more about (excluding spoilers obv) i am MORE than happy to talk about it #sam winchester voice The Lore

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gloves94 · 4 years ago

Text

Kingdom of the Sun [Fire Lord Zuko] 4

Chapter Warnings: None Story Rating: M Pairings: Zuko/OC

Kingdom of the Sun MASTERLIST Last Airbender MASTERLIST My MASTERLIST

Two Years Ago…

"Have you ever heard the story of 'The Man that Fell in Love with the Sun?' It's a story about a man made out of wax, that- as the title says- falls in love with the Sun and everybody warned him not to get too close, but he didn't listen, and he did. Because of it he got too close and melted which resulted in his death."

Tsai eyed her brother oddly with a disturbed expression in her features. This was very… uncharacteristic of her brother. Mecha didn’t read anything unless he had to. Much less novels and less for pleasure.

"That's pretty morbid…"

He lowered the book and tossed his head back in frustration on the chair in which he was reading. "Do you think Mai will like it?" He asked raising his head looking at her with a dreamy expression on his face.

She couldn't help but roll her eyes and turn her eyes back to the reflection on her vanity. Starring down a blemish on her face. "I'm sure she'll love it," she retorted mindlessly while brushing her wavy auburn hair back. "It's right up her alley… Although, It's not like you. To actually read to impress a girl."

"Ha!" He let out a chuckle and stood up. "But she's not just any girl." Her brother said before approaching her and messing up her combed hair. She glowered at him. “Also – I do read. I just don’t care for entretaintment literature.” "Get out of my room Mecha!" She barked pointing at the door.

"Very, very unlike you to take time off work to go visit your boyfriend in the Mainland." He teased leaning on the doorway with his arms crossed over his wide chest.

"I'm not taking off time. I'm going to go negotiate," she let out an exhausted huff while glaring at a single hair that remained standing up in defiance of her hairbrush. "And you know he can't just take the day off, I mean he is the Fire Lord."

She was excited to visit Zuko in the Fire Nation's capital. It had been a year since the end of the One Hundred Year War, and both had last seen each other since sometime after the war. Long distance was hard, the fact that he was an absolute monarch at the age of eighteen and she was back home in the colonies attempting to hold a revolutionary uprising or a civil war from happening made things even harder. Regardless, the two were trying their best sending each other letters and gifts on the daily to stay in contact. Life without him was hard; specially after a year of being around each other both day and night.

Visiting wasn't only hard because of the distance and both of their terrible schedules. There was also another problem…

"Whatever, I've warned you plenty of times and mom has warned you. It is not safe. You're going to get yourself killed or assassinated in some brutal way." One of their main enemies was her own father. Azah had been the Vice-Royal Governor of Yu Dao, after the end of the war his post was overtaken by his son Mecha, and he fled that same day. The man hadn't been seen since then. He was considered a fugitive and enemy of the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom and was currently leading the Colonial Liberation Movement. A movement dedicated to the liberation of the colonies as one independent governmental identity which was neither affiliated with the Earth Kingdom or the Fire Nation. His ideology wasn’t wrong, it was shared with his children and some of the other citizens of the colony. However, his means to achieve his goal, terroristic attacks, bombings and kidnappings… That’s were morality drew the line and things went awry.

Xxx

Mecha had been right.

Tsai had taken a warship to the Mainland. On her way there was a pirate attack. Nothing her and her troops couldn't handle, but it was something that she definitely wasn't going to tell Zuko. What would be the use in worrying him? He already had enough on his plate as things were.

A couple of days later the warship had docked in the Fire Nation. They arrived earlier than expected.

Her stomach flipped in excitement and nervousness. She was so excited to see him, to hug him. Just to be around him. She missed him so much her heart would leap every time she got news or even a letter from him. She took in a deep breath in hopes of soothing her jumping nerves.

She walked on the docks, adjusting her clothes, running hands through her hair, pacing. She couldn’t contain the smile on her face as she rushed down the ramp ready to see Zuko. But he wasn’t there. Instead, she was surprised to see Mai out of all people waiting for her at the docks. She stood surrounded by a handful of Fire Nation guards. She thought the maximum security was a little odd but decided not to comment on it. The scene was almost reminiscent of the time she had welcomed her and Ty Lee from prison about a year ago.

Mai looked just about the same as Tsai remembered. Midnight jet black hair that was straight and reached past her midback, it was styled in the same fashion. Her skin remained a flawless porcelain composure and she stood tall looking as graceful and elegant as always. "Mai!" She said surprised and gave the girl a friendly hug.

"Welcome to the Mainland." Mai said dully in the same tone she always spoke in. She didn't hug back. It was hard to tell if she was happy to see her or not. "It's good seeing you Tsai." Then again, Mai did not seem like the touchy feel type.

"I'm afraid the Fire Lord is in a meeting, but he'll come and see you as soon as he's out." She explained, hands hidden inside her sleeves. "I'll show you to your room."

From what Tsai knew Mai was one of Zuko's advisors. Considering they lived in times where they didn't who to or who not to trust it had been a good decision to appoint her. After all, Mai was educated and one of his oldest friends. Her brows turned up in disappointment when Mai turned away from her. He still had meetings scheduled during her visit. They had been planning this for weeks! Why couldn't he just take a day off?

Mai lead her to the room where she would be staying in inside the Royal Palace. She could never quite get used to the intimidating feeling she got from looking up at the golden dragon carved walls of the entrance.

"This is your room," Mai said dully standing outside. The guards behind carried some of the luggage that she had brought back with her from the colonies. "If he takes too long, I'll be in the study room. You can join me if you want." Tsai nodded at the invitation.

"He shouldn't be long." She added. "Oh and be ready, you're in for one hell of a weekend." The slightest of uncharacteristic sly smiles made way to her face. Why did it sound like she was… hiding something? However, her tone did not seem to hide any ill intentions.

‘What was that all about?’

She stepped into the royal guest room. One that had a queen bed and looked as if maroon had thrown up in here. Maroon bed covers, matching curtains, a rug of the same color and even canopy arches with more curtains. The room was austere. The guards left after a moment and said they'd be waiting outside ready to escort her anywhere she wished to go. It was a very different feeling being here as a guest and not as a prisoner…

She leaned against one of the window's arches and looked out to see the vast kingdom that magnificently spread out until it blended in the horizon with the ocean. To her this was a foreign land… “What to do now…” She pondered to herself. Maybe she just would take up Mai in that offer and go hang out in the study with her.

Suddenly the door was slammed wide open.

"- It's not my fault her ship got here early! Now, go, go, go! Before she gets to her-" A voice that was foreign to her dropped. A handful of servants stepped in each one of them carrying heavy porcelain vases that seemed to be hundreds of years old and intricately carved. Each one of them had been filled with sun flowers the size of her hands all in colorful shades of yellow, orange, vermillion and bright red. "Room…" the voice finished.

Boxes and boxes of gifts large, small, medium all professionally wrapped and decorated were also ushered in.

Her eyebrows went up to her hairline as she looked at everything they had brought into the once austere room which was now crowded in presents and flowers. She suddenly felt a little guilty considering she hadn’t brought him anything.

"Ah, sorry about that. You must be Lady Tsai from Yu Dao." A mousy man a little older than her stepped in. His hair was light brown and worn in a bowl cut style tied back in a low ponytail behind. "I'm Nezu," he lightly bowed. "I'm Fire Lord Zuko's assistant." He said clumsily tripping over an edge in the carpet.

"Nice to meet you?" She said eyeing the man oddly. Zuko had never mentioned that he had an assistant to himself.

She was so distraught interacting with the assistant and glancing at the overwhelming number of flowers and gifts in her room. That she didn't even notice the Fire Lord walk into her room.

"Tsai!"

She knew that voice. She snapped her attention away from the assistant rudely and turned to see Zuko standing beneath the doorway. She felt warm, her heart jumped to her throat, stomach prickling with butterflies which made her feel like a schoolgirl.

“Zuko!” She beamed and ran into his arms.

She relished his touch, the warmth of his body. Both were so engrossed in each other they didn’t even realize when everybody scattered out of the room just as quickly as they had arrived. She buried her nose on his shoulder and in took that familiar scent she had missed so much. Firewood and that odd hint of eucalyptus they washed his clothes with.

He was taller, he also felt stronger. “Your hair, it’s so long!” She said holding on to the sides of his face. Brushing a hand through the bangs that not fell past his eyes and were split in the middle.

He didn’t waste another second and kissed her. Chastely, innocently, very much like the type of love they had. “I missed you too,” she responded and kissed him back.

But maybe not as innocently…

Her arms tangled around his neck and she pulled him to her pressing their bodies together. Her feet almost moving on their own stepped back into the bed pulling him forward. Maybe their love had been innocent when they were teenagers, but now that they were adults. She wanted more, she needed more of him. “Woah,” He broke the kiss and held on to one of the bed’s posts for support remaining standing. He let out a nervous chuckle. “We have to get going,” he said his eyes darting back to the door behind them and she didn’t know if he was oblivious to the hint she had just dropped or if they really had to be somewhere else. “There’s someone I want you to meet.” She leaned back on her elbows sitting up and tried to meet his avoidant gaze. With a frustrated sigh she blew a lost hair out of her frustrated face.

"Come on," He said reaching for her hand pulling her up.

“Who are we meeting?” She asked as he led her through the Fire Nation’s palace corridors. “Are we meeting the Minister of International Affairs? Do you think he’d sign for the liberation of the colonies?” She asked. “No…” He said avoidantly not wanting to touch on the subjects. “Well, do you think he’d sign? I mean if you’re signing on it on, he can’t tell you no, right?”

Again, he remained silent, not wanting to discuss the topic. She looked at his face profile oddly. Zuko was signing on it, right? The liberation and secession of half of his territory. Territory that had been unfairly taken away from the Earth Kingdom and sowed and exploited under the cruel fist of colonization. However, his silence said otherwise.

Xxx

The two arrived at a nice restaurant that was close to the palace. They walked in and were ushered to a private room in the back where there was a table with four chairs. Sitting in one of the chairs was a dark-haired girl that didn't look older than seven and a woman with matching straight, dark hair that reached her mid back.

The woman stood up and turned around smiling warmly at the two of them. Her eyes were a matching shade of gold and her hair was parted down the middle. She was beautiful. Both of them greeted Zuko excitedly and hugged him. Tsai looked at them with a perplexed expression confused at who these people were. All this time she thought they would be attending some type of political cabinet meeting.

"Tsai, I want you to meet my mother. This is my younger sister Kiyi." Externally she looked at both of them and smiled pleasantly just like she had been taught to do her whole life. She even straightened out her back standing a little straighter. Internally she could've murdered him in the spot.

‘WHY DIDN'T HE MENTION HE HAD MEET HIS MOTHER?! HE COULD'VE GIVEN ME A HEADS UP OR SOMETHING. ANYTHING.’

She let out a surprised "Oh!" taken back by the introduction.

"Uh- It's very nice meeting you!" She said bowing her head in respect before his mother. "I really wish Zuko would've told me I was meeting you two." She rambled nervously shooting him a deathly glare before smiling back at his family.

She wasn't expecting his mother to actually hug her. She looked at her surprised at the sudden contact. She held her as if she had known her whole life. "It is so nice to finally meet you. My son has told me a lot about you." She held her at an arm's length. "I'm Ursa." “And I’m Kiyi!” The younger girl said hugging her waist. They were both to welcoming. It was hard to believe that Ursa was actually related to Azula and well had actually been married to that monster Ozai.

Tsai took a seat before Ursa and next to Zuko. Kiyi sitting in front of her brother.

"Yeah, Zuzu always talks about you." Kiyi laughed lightly. “Your hair really is the color of tomatoes. Can I touch it? Can I be one of your bridesmaids when you marry my brother?"

"Kiyi!" Both her mother and brother turned to give her what looked like a warning gaze. Zuko panicked and defensibly stomped on Kiyi's foot. "Ouch!"

"...I look like a tomato?" She asked weakly, this time actually resembling a prime red tomato. "Only sometimes?" He said sheepishly placing a panicky kiss on her cheek.

She shot him an angry glare. Today was really not what she had been expecting.

"A cute tomato!”

"So," She began awkwardly. "I'm very happy that you two- you three found each other." She said looking between the family with a small smile. Her tone was friendly but Zuko understood that she demanded an explanation. Why the hell had never mentioned it? He seemed to hear past her friendly tone and understand her true question.

"I wish I could've told you. I wanted to tell you, but you can never be too careful. What if the message was intercepted? It was too risky."

Right. So why the hell couldn't he have said anything in the past hour that she had been here?!

"I'm afraid it's a long story," Ursa apologized with a small smile.

They ordered their food and tea and Ursa explained how she had been exiled for what she hinted at as the assassination of Fire Lord Azulon. She explained how she ran away, went to the Mother of Faces, traded in her memory and face for a new one and rekindled with her young love, married him and had Kiyi. It really was more complicated than she had let out. Lunch was pleasant. Tsai really liked both his mother and sister. Both were warm people with good hearts. She definitely felt welcomed into the family and right at home with the two.

"Fire Lord, I don't mean to interrupt." Zuko's assistant interrupted poking his head in. "But we have a situation." He said poking his head into the small room. Zuko sighed, his expression shifting into a stressed one he apologized and stood up. Kiyi chased after him saying his name.

It was only Ursa and Tsai together alone in the room.

There was a brief shared moment of solemn silence between the two. Tsai took an awkward sip of her hot tea.

"I know what you must be thinking," Ursa began. "About what I did to be banished and hide away from my children for as long as I did… But I did what I had to do to save my son and the rest. I'm just happy to have my memories and my son back."

She looked at her a little struck. "Actually… I really wish I could've known I was meeting you and Kiyi. I would've brought some candies from Yu Dao, souvenirs or something." “Oh no, no, don’t worry. Like I said we were both just really excited to meet you and for you to move here” Tsai blinked twice confused and lowered her beverage, “Move here?” What did she mean by that? Ursa looked a little struck by the younger woman’s perplexed reaction. Both heard Kiyi walking back with her older brother. She laughed at something and Zuko looked flustered at something she had said to him. “Zuko tells me you partake in herbalism and botanics too!” Ursa steered the conversation topic with ease. “It’s more of a hobby,” the girl followed. “I originally became interested in plants because of their tea properties. I make a great cup, probably as good as Uncle Iroh's. I'd love to make one for you one day!” Despite the smile on her face her thoughts were still distraught with Ursa’s comment. What exactly had she meant by that comment? Other than that lunch was great.

“It was so nice meeting you,” she said sincerely to Zuko’s mother. “But we have to go get ready. We’ve got tickets to see Love Amongst the Dragons.” “Really?”

Zuko nodded with a smile and wrapped an arm around her side pulling her close to him. He was obviously excited to show it to her, after all it was his favorite play. “You’ll have a great time!” Ursa said clapping her hands together wishing them well.

They bid Ursa and Kiyi farewell and returned to the palace.

“I’ll meet you in the parlor room soon,” Zuko bid a momentary goodbye to his girlfriend before retreating to his room to change into his own evening robes. Already on edge from the long day’s travel, the surprise introduction to his mother and sister, and his disposition to not speak about the liberation of the colonies, she was more than happy to catch a moment to herself alone.

She walked in and slowly closed the door behind her resting her palms and leaning against it letting out a draining breath she had been holding all day long.

Suddenly her breath caught. A surprised scream trapped in her throat as she looked at the mess in the middle of the room. The maroon covers had been tossed to the ground and the white sheets were stained and smeared with black tar mud spelling one word: blood. The muddled message was clear. Mud-blood. A most derogative name given to Fire Nationers that mixed with Earth Kingdom people. She wasn’t welcomed here. Her eyes darted around the room dangerously looking for any sign of the intruder but there was none. She was ready and on the offensive, ready to strike with one or the two hidden blades underneath her long sleeves. There didn’t seem to be anybody else in the room. She looked down at the message on the bed sheets. It was obvious, somebody clearly didn’t want her to be here…

She swallowed the nervous lump that had formed in her throat and angrily wrapped up all the sheets together in a bundle before throwing them under the bed. There was no way she was letting this ruin their evening. There was also no way she was sleeping in this room tonight. It was best she kept this to herself for now. It was then that there was a knock on the door. She flinched towards it with a raised arm ready to strike whatever was behind the door.

She opened it only to reveal three terrified stylists standing outside with their briefcases and tools. The three looked horrified and clearly shaken up. It was a hair stylist, make-up artist and a fashion stylist holding several outfits. Oh. Some moments later Tsai was escorted to the parlor room where Zuko was waiting for her. He was wearing an elegant set of maroon robes with a gold trim. He wore his hair piece crown and his hair up, bangs covering most of his forehead. He looked absolutely regal. She looked like his proper match, a lady from the Mainland wearing a long evening ochre Fire Nation styled dress. Half of her hair pulled up in a top knot fashion and bangs split down the middle. He looked at her struck and grinned broadly as she took her arm and they both made way to the Royal Theatre.

Maybe this was just what the two needed an evening at the theater to clear their heads and forget about everything that had happened earlier. The clothes she was wearing were nice, but it wasn’t what she was normally used to wearing. This fashion was foreign to her, it just reminded her how much more she did not belong here. All eyes were inconspicuously fixed on the two of them as they walked into the theatre. She didn’t want to stop and think if the prying eyes were fixed on them in admiration or in judgement of their relationship. She wanted to push it to the back of her head and forget about it, but the words still lingered there: mudblood. It wasn’t only that, she felt violated. Somebody had intruded on her space with threatening means. Her eyes scanned the unfamiliar faces in the crowd. Who would it have been? She wondered if the person responsible was also in the same room as them. The two were escorted to the Fire Nation’s Royal viewing box were the two sat alone in private with a perfect view of the stage. Fire Nation guards keeping guard right outside for their safety.

Thankfully there was also wine. That should put both of their nerves at ease. “I have a surprise for you,” he whispered against her ear. “Really? What is it?” She asked in an excited tone before her expression rapidly shifted to a sardonic one. “Do you want me to meet your grandmother now too?” She teased still a little upset at the fact he hadn’t warned her about introducing her to his mother and sister.

“Believe me, I really wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t. You can never be too careful when sending mail during these times. You never know who’s reading our letters or what an enemy would do with that information.”

Yeah, you also never know who’s opening our mail or lurking the Royal Palace swearing mud on people’s sheets. An unpleasant chill went down her spine at the thought. She chugged her glass of red wine and agreed with him.

He noted the uneasy look on her face and reached for her hand. She smiled at the comforting gesture and kissed his face. “I’m really excited for this.”

They watched the play and Zuko was literally mouthing the words. He was such a dork. The production really wasn’t as terrible as the time they watched “The Boy in the Iceberg” with the Ember Island Players.

“So, what’s the surprise?” She whispered during one of the intermissions already on her third glass of wine. All of the day’s problems in a faraway place. She placed her hand on his upper thigh and he tensed under her touch. It took him a moment and he grabbed her hand carefully removing it from the area. “Are you going to tell me?” She leaned even closer to him, placing a hand on his chest. Fingers lightly stroking the soft fabrics. Zuko sat like a wall, completely hard, not caving into the dangerous look in her eyes. “It-It’s about to start,” he stammered, before nervously clearing his throat. She sat back in her chair displeased and glared at the stage.

Xxx “Zuko where are you taking me?” She asked him as he led her inside and down the stairs of an ancient Fire Nation temple, one that was almost as old as the nation itself. The guards that had been escorting them throughout the capital waited outside. “You’ll see,” he said looking back at her as they walked down the ancient stone stairs. The humidity in the air was dense, moisture greeting them as they reached several levels underground. Several Fire Sages bowed to their Fire Lord. She held on to his hand as they advanced and she noted that his palm was sweaty, he also had a tense look on his face.

They walked inside of the Dragon Crypts. A graveyard. A hollow stone room filled with the majestic skeletons of hunted dragons. She could smell the moisture in the air blended with the scent of incense and myrrh. What the hell were they doing here? It was actually kind of spooky. “Hmm,” She hummed now hugging onto his arm. They walked into the Dragon Crypts which are filled with dragon skeletons, it smells like myrrh, its dark, there are candles lit everywhere. It's low key creepy. There are actually people buried here. “So mysterious…”

“I told you I could be mysterious,” He said slyly. That he had. He led her through the labyrinth of rows, bones, craniums caskets carved out of polished marble and stone were his ancestors remains lay. Actually, it wasn’t spooky, it was a little unsettling. She was about to ask just where the hell he was taking her when they stumbled upon a glowing chamber. The small chamber at the end was illuminated by what she swore were almost a hundred candles. They lit the room with a warm glow. They were all placed around the front of an empty carved stone slab where a casket would one day go. She gave him a confused look, and both took a seat on the empty slab. She looked around the room oddly and noted that one of the caskets in the chamber was engraved with his grandfather’s name the one opposite of the room had the name of Sozin, his great-grandfather.

She couldn’t help but smile a little at him. Only he could find an evening spent in the family’s crypts to be romantic. She still had her arms wrapped around his, chin propped on his shoulder.

“I’m so happy to be here with you,” she confessed closing her eyes for a moment. She wasn’t sure if it was her or the wine talking. “Even if it’s a creepy graveyard filled with dead people and skeletons.” He looked at her and smiled a little before catching her lips in his. His kiss was soft, innocent. They broke for a moment and she smiled provocatively at him. She pressed her lips against his kissing him harder, wanting more, needing more from him. Her hands were exploring his chest, wrapping around his neck as she clung to him. However, he was wary of her touch. Almost shy. He put his hands on hers shoulders and lightly pushed her off his body. Unaware of this, she groaned slightly and sat up, bringing her knees on the slab, leaning forward planting a kiss on his jaw, on his neck, behind his ear. Every kiss becoming hotter and more lustful.

“I brought you here to ask you something,” he interrupted brashly removing her body from his and holding her at an arm’s length again. She looked at him skeptical, almost upset. “Why don’t you want to touch me?” She demanded transparently, almost cross.

“I need to ask you something,” he emphasized again. His hands shaking slightly as his fingers sank into the flesh of her shoulders.

She arched an eyebrow frustrated and remained silent expecting his question. “These are the Dragon Catacombs,” He explained. “It's where Fire Lords are buried. My grandfather was buried and so was his grandfather as well as the rest of my ancestors and one day too, I will be buried here." He explained the morbid concept. Her face shifted to a perplexed expression; eyebrows furrowed with concern. She had no clue just what he was getting at. He took her hands in his and held them in a slightly tight grip, his thumbs stroking her knuckles. Hands clammy and uncomfortably warm. “Lie in the same grave with me?”

She moved her head to the side still looking at him with an odd expression. There was a hopeful glint to his eyes. She hummed a little, as she sought her words carefully. This seemed important to him for some peculiar reason. “Would we… fit?” She drawled out slowly testing her confused tone.

He pulled her hands closer to him and lowered his head for a moment.

“Tsai... What I’m asking you-” he let out a deep breath that he had been holding. “I’m asking you to marry me.”

She looked as if she had been split by a bolt of lightning.

Now everything made sense.

All of the little looks that Mai had been giving her. His mother and his sister’s comments towards her. She was expecting everything but this. She didn’t smile, her face didn’t flush with a colorful joy, he wasn’t sure if she was even breathing.

She hadn’t even realized he had been pleading her to say something anything. She looked like she was in shock. He looked at her concerned, his expression dropping. This was supposed to be one of the happiest memories of their lives. He felt a tightness in his chest. His heart dropping at the look on her face. “Why don’t you want to have sex?” She dead panned, her eyes glazing as they stared blankly at him. “What are you talking about?”

Oh, he knew what she was talking about. The fact that he was playing dumb made her even more peeved. “Every time I try to get intimate with you, or touch you, you freeze up. Why?” “We don’t have to talk about this right now,” he clammed up in denial wanting to avoid the subject all together. It was just like he had done earlier when she had asked him about the liberation of the Fire Nation’s colonies. “Actually-“ Her eyes widened as she looked at him in disbelief. “Since you just asked me to marry you, we do.” She dropped her arms to the sides. “Do you not find me attractive?” “What? No-No,” He shook his head. “I do. Trust me. I do.” She looked at him with a baffled expression her eyes fixed on his still demanding an explanation. Probing if he was being truthful or not. It took him some time to choose his words carefully. “It just seems disrespectful.” He divulged after a moment. The puzzled look in her eyes never left her face. ‘What the fuck did that mean?’

“We’re not married. It would be wrong.”

She fought the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. She had the gut feeling that this might be the issue, but really hoped- she prayed that it wouldn’t. There was a reason why Mainlanders of the Fire Nation had spread that nasty rumor that people from the colonies were stereotypically promiscuous. It was because of the conservative nature of the relationships Mainlanders had. Mainlanders believed that one had to remain pure and save themselves for their partners by remaining pure until marriage. It would be a respectful stain not too. However, since life in the colonies had been off to a rough start when the colonization of the lands began, death tolls were high, because of that morals became looser as colonizers were encouraged to copulate in order to populate the land faster. “No it wouldn’t,” she shot back. “We’re both consenting adults and we love each other. How can that be wrong?”

A hopeful smile grew on her features as she wrapped her arms around his neck again. Yet eyes didn’t meet hers. She looked at him intently, hopefully. “I’m not ready.” Looking at him with disbelief she removed her arms from him. They rested on his shoulders for a moment and she sucked in a deep breath. “Okay,” she said weakly. She wrapped her arms around herself and hung her head feeling rejected. In all honesty today had been a terrible day. Everything about it had been awful. This was going to be hard, but she could work with it. She could be patient. She had to be mature and respect his decision despite the terrible urge she felt.

He looked at her concerned and stood up rounding around her and dropping in one knee in front of her. Again, he reached for her hands taking them in his. “Let’s get married,” it didn’t sound like a question, it sounded more like a statement.

“I’m not ready.” She stood up, walking away from him. Both looked away from each other uncomfortably. She really wasn’t ready. It wasn’t the right time. Not right now. Not like this. She knew he was the man that she was going to marry, she had no doubts about that. It just really wasn’t the right time. There were still mountain loads of work that she had to do back at home. She wouldn’t feel comfortable committing to such kind of engagement without prioritizing her own dream of accomplishing the liberation of the colonies. His colonies. Much less moving all the way across the ocean to the Fire Nation to be… Fire Lady. Tsai kept her gaze away from his. She didn’t want to look at the hurt expression on his face. At the way his body slouched, and his fists trembled at his sides from what one could only interpret as anger or frustration. Maybe both. She couldn’t bear looking at the dejected expression on his face. Zuko’s mind was pounding as a pulsating migraine quickly set in making it feel as if he had just splattered against a cinder brick wall. His heart ached. He had only been planning this his whole life. If they loved each other and wanted to be together why did anything else have to matter? “You know what you’re acting like?” He snapped hurt. The flames surrounding them growing with his ire almost touching the ceiling which made the room feel smaller, hotter, more unpleasant. His tone fueled with anger as he turned towards her. It was that infamous temper he was known for. “You’re acting like a-“ He tried to swallow his angry words. “Like a-!” The word vomit was threatening to spill. She looked at him expectantly. Waiting for the ball to drop for him to strike her with his sharp words. He almost let out a growl. A look on his eyes. He scowled let out a rumble and turned away from her once again.

“Like a what?” She challenged stepping forward her eyes blazing with resentment. How could he react in such a graceless matter? He wasn’t being fair. He was being selfish. She had gracefully and patiently accepted his choice, but he couldn’t accept hers? “Say it!” She barked her words echoing the small chamber. She knew what he was thinking. She wanted to hear him say it. She wanted to make him angry.

Instead he remained silent averting her furious gaze. Looking away from her. Growing dead silent. “Like a damn colonial?” She spat out the ugly stereotype as it was venom.

“That is not what I was going to say.” He defended.

“Oh yeah? Then what were you going to say?” She challenged.

“You’re putting words in my mouth Tsai!” He shot back.

“Well I have to put them there since you won’t communicate! You’ve been egg shelling around me all day long. You talk about taking this next big step together, but you can’t even bring yourself to do it physically, much less emotionally.” “What about you? I am trying to talk but you won’t listen. All that you’re thinking about is sex.” She gritted her teeth together. “That’s not all I’m thinking about. What about the colonies? Where would I live? I can’t come and live here, not until the colonies are independent, which may I remind you – they are not! What would I even do here? Also- your people, they hate me!”

“What would you do? Plenty! You can do whatever you want- have anything you want. My people don’t hate you and even if they did why would that matter? The Fire Nation’s been closed off from the rest of the world for a hundred years, naturally they are mistrustful of strangers. Give them time and they’ll love you just like I love you.”

But it wasn’t just that. It wasn’t the fact that she wasn’t from here. It was the fact that half of her person, half of her culture, half of her family was from the Earth Kingdom. An ethnic group and nationality that had been an enemy of the nation he led for the past one hundred years. Sure, maybe half of her was Fire Nation, maybe her whole heart was Fire Nation, but as long as that part of her still ‘tainted’ her blood with mud… She thought of the sneering looks that the Fire Sages gave her when they walked into the temple. They’d never accept her, and he’d never understand. Her eyes welled with tears at the thought. The dark words smeared on her mattress mudblood. The thought they couldn’t be together, the thought that there would always be an obstacle between them. It pained her. She felt her heart twisting in pain, stomach churning at the horrible realization. “You want the colonies to be free?” He looked down at her pausing for a moment. “Fine! Consider it done.” He shouted. She flinched at his aggressive tone and looked at him shocked, her eyes glassy and loaded with tears threatening to spill. “It’s not the right time…” She whispered tears spilling down her eyes. “For either of us. There’s still a lot I have to do before leaving my life, and it’s obvious that we both still have a lot of growing up to do.”

He looked at her crying face and he suddenly felt guilt wash over him. He shouldn’t have done that. He shouldn’t have said half of the things he said. His expression softened. “Tsai…” He whispered her name shaking his head lightly. He looked at her red nose and at her swollen face. Sure, it had been a bad fight, but it wasn’t worth the rivers of tears that were streaming down her face. “I want to marry you,” she admitted meekly. “I do, but we can’t do that.” She lowered her gaze shifting on her feet uncomfortable. “Not right now anyways…”

The anger melted off both of them and she embraced him burying her head on his shoulder. He could feel her tears seeping through his clothes. He held her tightly, mellowing in their sadness.

Then they suddenly heard a brief flickering. It sounded like a rapid clicking. Both of their eyes turned to look at a particular candle that was flickering peculiarly. It suddenly stopped; the flame dying giving both the most awful feeling. They made eye contact and their eyes drifted back to the candle. Uh-Oh…

It was a bomb. The candle exploded. Both fell back with the recoil from the explosion. He barely managed to bend a sphere of fire that barely shielded them. Both sat up in the floor, heaving, coughing the black smoke that filled the small chamber. Rocks, and other parts of the catacomb crumbled everywhere. “Are you okay?” She reached for him concerned. Her eyes scanned the ceiling hoping it wouldn’t collapse on them. “Fine. You?" He mumbled dusting his clothes off. She sighed.

There was that too…

The constant assassination attempts.

“I'm sorry, this is all my fault. This was a mistake. My brother was right. I shouldn't have come."

“What?” He sat up and looked at the debris around him. “The bomb. Someone's been trying to kill me.” “You’re not the only one.” She looked at him in shock, neither had said that to each other. She thought about the hordes of Fire Nation guards and escorts that seemed to follow them around everywhere. Well, that made a lot more sense now. She stood up first and helped him rise. He stumbled weakly. Still with his hand in hers she led him away and out of the catacombs, but his steps were low, stumbling. She looked back at him, he looked pale. She stopped and he seemed to wave for a moment. He reached for his temple seeming pale. She had only seen that look on his face once before. “No, no. Please! not right now,” she cried out and managed to catch his dead weight before he collapsed unconscious.

xxx

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#prince zuko #zukoxreader #Zuko x oc #Zuko x you #zuko #avatar #avatar the last airbender #avatar fanfic #avatar x oc #avatar fanfiction #atla fanfic #atla fanart #atla x oc #atla #fanfiction #fanfic #fanfic writing #fire lord zuko #Zutsai

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tuiyla · 4 years ago

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Let's talk about Jet.

More specifically, let's talk about how he's 3 out of 5 for "literary foil to the main cast". Hell, you could make the case for him as a foil to Aang, too, though for now, let’s focus on Sokka, Zuko, and Katara.

In literature, a foil is a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character. The objective is to highlight the traits of the other character. The term foil, though generally being applied to a contrasting character, may also be used for any comparison that is drawn to portray a difference between two things.

So with that in mind: Jet.

You're jealous that he's a better warrior and a better leader!

Jet is set up as a foil for Sokka in his debut and eponymous episode. Sokka wants to be a leader to Katara and Aang but isn't taken seriously. His instincts drive them right to Fire Nation soldiers, he barely takes any down, he seemingly lacks the charisma and leaderships skills that Jet exhibits. Like Sokka fancied himself the lead warrior among children in the South Pole, Jet leads a group orphans. Jet, therefore, is introduced as a more suave and successful version of Sokka.

Jet tries to appeal to Sokka both emotionally and rationally, first bringing up Kya and then saying that only someone like Sokka could understand his plan. He sees how similar they are, or could be, and tries to get Sokka on his side. But because of his intuition and moral standing, Sokka cannot be swayed. Those are ultimately the two qualities that set them aside: intuition and morality. Sokka might not be as charming as Jet as far as Aang and Katara are concerned, but his instincts do make him a reliable leader. As for morality, Sokka might not like the Fire Nation but he’s more rational than Jet and hasn’t been radicalized.

Sokka chooses to save the innocent because of his morality and can do so because his intuition is something Jet didn’t take into account, even though he witnessed it earlier on. At first, Jet is a foil in a way that he highlights what Sokka lacks as a leader and a warrior, but he ultimately ends up proving that Sokka is on the right track. He has the good heart and the smarts it takes to win the war. “Jet” is very much a Sokka episode in this way, and so Jet’s initial purpose as a character is to be his foil.

You’re an outcast, like me. And us outcasts have to stick together. We have to watch each other’s backs. Because no one else will.

When the series brings Jet back, it’s not to rehash the same thing yet again with Sokka. Instead, Jet and the Freedom Fighters meet Zuko and Iroh on their journey to Ba Sing Se and so he becomes a foil to another main character. Jet himself points out their similarities with Zuko and his wish for a second chance directly parallels Zuko’s opportunity for a new life. The Blue Spirit persona would make for a great addition to the Freedom Fighters but Zuko declines, not feeling like the hero.

But this is where Jet’s journey truly becomes an interesting foil to Zuko’s. When Jet sees a dubious clue that the two might be firebenders, his hatred is reignited and he can’t let go. He tells himself it’s different than when he met the Gaang, the he’s still gonna take the second chance he has, but he wastes that opportunity with his obsession. Jet’s fate is sealed the moment he barges into that tea shop, long before he’s reunited with his friends and the Gaang. Though Zuko himself might not know it at that point (not until “The Ember Island Players”), Jet is a warning sign: this is where clinging to hatred and the past leads.

Jet tried to change but couldn’t help falling into old habits. In the very episode he dies, Zuko has a choice to let Appa and his previous obsession go. Of course, Zuko does eventually go down a similarly destructive path, but he’s lucky enough to be able to come back from that; Jet isn’t. The way Jet adds depth to Zuko’s story is different than with Sokka and shows what different things you can do with minor characters.

Katara, you sound like Jet. It’s not the same! Jet attacked the innocent. This man, he’s a monster.

But wait, there’s more. Although the episode “Jet” established the character as Sokka’s foil, it also set in motion multiple recurring themes for Katara. Jet is the first person to truly betray Katara’s trust after she trusted him, something that hurt her so deep she holds on to that grudge until the very end. After Jet dies, she’s willing to give second chances, only for that to come back and bite her with Zuko. As well as breaking her trust, Jet introduces Katara to moral ambiguity and revenge, just like another foil, Hama later on, and these ideas all come together in “The Southern Raiders”.

There’s an interesting insistence on Katara’s part about the guilty and the innocent, which she believes sets her apart from the likes of Jet and Hama. They took their rage and unleashed it on the innocent, whereas Katara is concerned with the “monsters”, or as she called Jet, the “sick”. The callback to Jet and the bloodbending featured in the episode makes it clear to us that this is a fine line that Jet and Hama must have previously crossed at one point. Katara could either learn from the past, from the darker fates of foils, or fall prey to anger and hatred. Though Hama is Katara’s true foil in this sense (and Azula in every other), her journey down this path began with Jet.

Jet as a foil to Katara is not as straightforward as with Sokka or even Zuko. And yet, it plays a part in her journey. “Jet” set in motion Katara’s journey into her own moral ambiguity, despite how firmly she stood against Jet. In the end, she triumphed where he couldn’t. She didn’t let grief destroy her morality and she even forgave Zuko when she couldn’t forgive Jet - making this another parallel between Jet and Zuko as well.

“Jet” as an episode sets up Jet the character as a foil for Sokka and that’s where the two’s dynamic stays. When the series brings Jet back, they expand upon his character and make him a foil to Zuko instead, mirroring the choice he’s faced with. This already made Jet much more interesting than a one-off foil, but then his story is contrasted with yet another main character’s posthumously. The way in which his actions and his betrayal haunt Katara really showcases how Avatar can take a seemingly simple minor character and make him part of so many intertwining stories.

#avatar #atla #avatar the last airbender #jet #zuko #sokka #katara #my thoughts #i was gonna make gifs but then I didn't sooo #maybe later #avatar meta #damn i really don't like the pictures #oh well

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earth-architect · 4 years ago

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Senior year adventures (Zuko x Oc)pt.17

“Zuko to the rescue”

Zuko rushed in the kitchen grabbing a bottle of vodka, cranberry juice and the bottle of rosè that was hidden. He grabbed a few snacks he knew Kianna likes. With his hands full he rushed as fast as he could to Ki’s old room. Trying to navigate through the sea of drunk teenagers mad him go slower than he wanted to. He wanted to get to Kianna as fast as he could. He knew she was ok and safe, but she also doesn’t want to be alone, so the faster he got to her the better. ‘god how fast everything turned to shit’

He finally got passed the living room, making his way towards the bedroom. He could walk faster now that there was barely anyone on this side of the house. As he got closer and closer the more nervous, he got. He realized he still didn’t know Kianna that well, at least not as well as her friends do. ever since he met her, he felt like he's known her for forever but that feeling came crashing down tonight. He walked up to the door and knocked. He sworn he stopped breathing when Kianna opened the door and he saw her face. She had been crying, that much was obvious. Her hair was slightly messed up and her cheeks were flushed. He pushed himself in the room, guiding her out of the way, and closed the door behind him. She watched him as he set the drinks and snacks, he had in his hand on her old desk.

“do you want to change clothes” he asked her. She nods her head and moves slowly to the dresser pulling out clothes for both of them to change into. She hands Zuko clothes and silently asks for help unzipping her dress. She seemed not to care if Zuko sees her without a bra on but Zuko still wants to respect her privacy and made himself busy with changing his own clothes.

Ki was done changing her clothes first, only wearing one of Zuko's shirts that she somehow stole. Zuko watches her as she grabs the bottle of rosè and a bag of chips. She walks over to the bed and climbs under the covers leaving room for Zuko to sit next to her. He gets under the covers as he watches her drown half the bottle or wine.

“do you want to talk about it” he's afraid to ask but he needs to put his issues aside for her. He needs to do everything he can for her.

“it's just jet, I know he was just trying to set me off and I fell for it” she doesn’t look him in the eye, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Zuko.

“what did he even say to you?”

“he apologized to me for being a shit boyfriend and then had the audacity to say I needed to be careful around you!!! Something about your ex saying your bad news,” Zuko straighten his back at that comment,” and when I defended you, he said I was letting you walk all over me like I let him. And I get it, I let him ruin my life, but I've learned and grown and I'm not letting anyone control me. Ever"

Zuko didn’t know what to say. Jet may right about one thing, he did have skeletons in the closet, but was he also trying to control her. He couldn’t help but think back to earlier tonight when she was posing for her picture. ‘god maybe I am controlling’

“maybe he was right” Kianna looks at him surprised

“no Zuko your nothing like him, your completely-”

“no, I mean I am bad news, at least I was,” he took a deep breath “I said I wanted you to know everything about me so I'm keeping my word.” he shifted so he was completely facing her”

“before my uncle helped me get away from my Father and my father getting caught with the illegal stuff he was doing, I was working for him. He had hired me to help around here and there, which I was so happy because for so long he acted like I didn’t exist for so long and he finally paid attention to me.” Zuko took a swig of the rosè, alcohol is going to be his best friend right now.

“for a while I was meeting clients doing a little work in marketing and accounting, but then father asked me to start doing small visits to our clients, which turned into me threatening, I had to pay a visit to a client who didn’t pay or sign an agreement and threaten them until they do. Every time I had to do it, I struggled, I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I had finally gotten the love I craved for from my father. For a while I was stuck.”

“at the time I was dating a girl Azula and I grew up with, Mai, she would be my escape from everything that was going on even though I couldn’t tell her what was happening. Her uncle was in business with my father, and one day he refused to sign a contract that would legally bind him to my father forever, I had to do my ‘convincing’, but he still refused. So, father told me to go after Mai. I refused immediately, and he scared my face as punishment, and sent someone after Mai anyway. Mai found out everything I was doing with my father, she even told the police, I went to jail for a couple of days until I was released because my father had the evidence buried. After I got out, I tried to contact Mai, tell her I was done with my father and I wanted him to pay for what he has done, but she got a restraining order on me. So, I called my uncle, and a month later Azula and I moved to a safe house while my uncle used the evidence I collected and what I witnessed to bring my father down”

Zuko had his head down during his whole confession, but when he finished, he dared himself to look up. Kianna had tears in her eyes, slowly spilling over. For a while they looked at each other until Kianna reached for his face and wiped the tears he didn’t realize had on his cheek.

“you are not bad news Zuko, yes you did something bad, but you worked to fix your wrongs and you did the right thing”

“I just wish I could apologize to Mai she didn’t deserve any of that. Maybe I'm more like jet then you think”

“Zuko no!” Zuko moves away from Kianna but she keeps her hand on his arm so he wouldn’t move.” jet was manipulative, and he made me feel like I could trust only him, if you were like that, I would be with you”

Zuko still had his hand turned away, he knew deep down that she was right, he hoped she was right. Kianna softly puts her hand on his cheek, guiding him to look at her.

“I know you think that you were being controlling earlier today” he thumbs stoking his cheek relaxes him, “but I understand what you meant. Our relationship is new, we have to learn each other's boundaries, learn what I mean to be together”

“your right,” he smiles softly “I came here to comfort you but now your comforting me”

Kianna laughs lightly, the clock on her desk catches her eye, “its midnight.” she says. Zuko brings her face towards his, giving her a soft kiss.

“happy new year's.” the two stayed up, talking, drinking, and eating until the early morning.

a/n: ok so my life has literally gone stupid crazy since my last update. i had to come home to vote cause i never got my ballot which is crazy and my classes are online and my teachers decided to give us so much work for no reason and i had to get a new phone and a new laptop in the same week. so I’m a little frazzled but I’m working now to update today, tomorrow and hopefully Thursday.

tag list: @fanficflaneuse @snickerdoodleeee @welovediaaxx @firedancer016 @pyromanicschizophrenic @rememberitlater

#atla zuko #atla x reader #avatar the last airbender #zuko x oc #Zuko #zuko smau #highschool au #atla x oc #atla smau

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fireember345 · 4 years ago

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The Chosen prompt

An Avatar Prompt

Do not own Avatar

Anyone can use the Prompt

Zuko x Jet formerly

Zuko x Mai formerly

Zuko x Sensu

Izumi x Bumi II

Iroh II x Mako

Mpreg

Chosen are men that spirits bless the ability to give birth

Chosen’s children develop more quickly in the womb, causing them to be born earlier

Chosens are treated as the greatest treasures in their nation since they could birth powerful benders

Air Nomads are all Chosen due to their connection with the spirits

Sozin despised Chosens for being the most loved of the nation and decided to hunt and exterminate them, placing the death penalty on them and were called vermin

Ursa and Iroh hid that Zuko was a chosen from the Fire nation and Zuko

Ursa gave Zuko her pendent the day she disappeared so he would never feel alone

Zuko would wear the pendent and rub it when he felt uneased

On the boat, Zuko fell in love with Jet when he told him he was beautiful, scars and all

Zuko waited for his uncle to sleep after stealing food for the passengers to sneak off with Jet

He woke the next morning, he found himself below deck in a janitor’s closet, naked with a torn blanket with Jet and realized what he done

Jet promised Zuko or Li that he would take care of him, making him feel love, and make all Fire Benders pay for what they did to them

Zuko knew he had to reject Jet’s offer since he knew his relationship would never work

Jet then realized they were fire benders when Iroh heated his tea and it broke his heart to learn the man he loved was a Fire Bender all this time

Zuko began to feel different and developed an appetite and grew more grouchy than usual

When Jet confronted Iroh and Zuko in the tea shop and began his duel with Zuko, Jet told him that he hated him and stole the pendent from Zuko before the Dai Li took him away

The next day, Zuko went into labor, unsure why he was in so much pain

Iroh brought a midwife to help his nephew as they spent the entire night bringing a new life into the world

The baby boy was premature and very small, the midwife believed the baby would not last the night

But the baby did survived the night and the day after that and the day after that

Iroh knew the baby would have his nephew’s strength as he helped care for the baby while Zuko heals

Zuko at first didn’t know how to feel until Iroh placed his son in his arms and then instantly fell in love, vowing to always love his son and let him know that

Zuko knew that he was vermin to the Fire Nation and needed to keep it hidden but Iroh told him that in the Earth Kingdom, he would be treated as a treasure

The midwife alerted the Dai Li that Zuko or Li is a Chosen and Long Feng knew that they were General Iroh and Prince Zuko

But Long Feng thought it would be best that they didn’t know that he knew and arrange Quon to arrive at the Tea shop after slipping that they had the best tea in the world

The entire Earth Kingdom soon learned about the chosen and send Zuko treasures and delights to earn his favor

Zuko vowed a better life for his son, more eager to capture the Avatar so his son could have a good life

He names his son Sekiryū, The dragon born from the Stone

When Jet was dying, he begged Katara to give the necklace to his lover named Li and apologized to him

Iroh told Zuko as he was about to kidnap Appa that this was their chance for a new life, for not just them but for Zuko’s son and that Zuko can be a father to his son and finally be happy

When Zuko freed Appa and fallen ill, Sekiryū stayed by his mother’s side as he stayed quiet for Zuko to sleep, knowing that Zuko needed sleep

When Zuko finally recovered, he made sure his son would have everything he needed as Iroh adored the change in him

Zuko brough his son with him when he and Iroh came to visit the Earth King for tea

Azula mocked Zuko for being vermin and for birthing an impure spawn, causing Zuko to give Sekiryū to Iroh to fight Azula

Azula offers Zuko and his son a return home where they would be greeted with love and honor

Zuko joins forces with Azula to defeat the Avatar and their uncle

After Ba Sing Se was captured, Sekiryū used the breath of fire in a sneeze, revealing to be a powerful fire bender

When Ozai heard that Zuko’s son was able to bend before he is one where Azula got her bending at five, he smelled an opportunity

Ozai told his son that he is proud of slaying the Avatar and learned about Zuko’s condition as a Chosen

He told his son not to worry and was in fact proud of that fact, believing that this was a sign that Zuko was meant to rule, bringing forth powerful Fire Benders to defend their home

Ozai told Zuko that perhaps Sozin’s jealousy of the Chosen blinded him to the possibility that Chosens can bring greatness and decided to declare Chosens as the most sacred and protected citizens in the Fire Nation

Zuko elated that his father accepted him and his son as Ozai arranged a nursery for Sekiryū

Ozai came to Iroh’s prison to mock his brother and to thank him for revealing Zuko as a chosen

He told Iroh his plan for Zuko, to make him a broodmare to powerful Fire Bending Generals and bringing forth an future army of powerful fire benders

Iroh was angered by his twisted plans for Zuko and his son to be used as pawns

Zuko took his son to Ember Island with him as people thought he was being a sweet older brother but Azula refused to let Zuko correct them, playing the act as normal teenagers

Mai agreed to help raise Sekiryū

During Black Sun, While Zuko confronted Ozai and the Gaang were fleeing Azula, Sokka took Sekiryū to be used as leverage without thinking before flying off

Ozai confessed that he planned to make Zuko and all chosen Broodmares for the Fire Nation

After Zuko redirect lighting and fled, he looked for his uncle but could not find him, then search for his son to find him gone, thinking his father killed his son

Zuko vowed to be a better person for the memory of his son as he fled the Fire Nation and followed the Gaang

When Zuko tried to join the Gaang and the Gaang were about to fight him, he heard his son crying

Fueled by instinct, Zuko rushes to see Sekiryū alive as the Gaang except Toph think he was going to kill the baby

But Zuko explained that he was a chosen and that this baby was his, Toph confirming it to be true

The Gaang tell him to leave but Aang fought to have Zuko keep his son since it was wrong kidnapping a baby in the first place

When Zuko finally joins the Gaang as Aang’s teacher, Zuko arrange his tent to suit the needs of his son

Zuko eats separately from the others, Katara fearing he was planning something and Aang thinking Zuko was isolating himself

When Aang and Toph offered Zuko a place at the campfire to eat, it became apparent that Zuko separated himself from the others to nurse his son, having the need to privacy and shocking Sokka that Zuko can produce milk

When Zuko is on a life changing adventure with a member of the Gaang, he makes sure someone looks after his son while he’s gone, leaving bottles of milk for Sekiryū

Zuko told Aang while finding the source of Original Fire Bending that Chosen were considered vermin and Sozin ordered their deaths, Zuko being lucky because his uncle hid it from everyone, including him

On the Boiling Rock, when Mai confronts Zuko, he told her that he was doing this for his nation and for a future for his son

Mai helped Zuko and Sokka escape, knowing he was right

After Katara and Zuko’s life changing journey, she noticed that Sekiryū was afraid of her, like how she was with her mother’s killer, making her feel like a monster

Katara tries her best to show Sekiryū that she was not going to hurt his mom

She finally gain his trust when she saved Zuko from a fire bender’s attack and giving Zuko the Pendant that Jet took, telling him that he was sorry

After Zuko is made Fire Lord and his son his heir, Zuko arranges the prisoners of war to be taken home, meeting Sensu and Gansu again

On the journey to Sensu’s home, the two began to connect and began to like each other

Sensu’s family were happy to see them again, thanking and apologizing Zuko

The two continued to date after Mai left Zuko and after Zuko brings his mother and her family back to the Royal Palace, Sensu purposes to Zuko

Sensu and Zuko get married and later Zuko becomes pregnant with triplets

Azula kidnaped the children and Zuko, planning to use Zuko like her father was going to

Kiyi helped everyone escaped with young Sekiryū

After Azula escaped and everyone was safe, Zuko became heavily protected

Zuko gave birth to three girls, Izumi, Rōzu, and Rirī

Zuko trained Sekiryū in blades and gave him Jet’s blades as an inheritance

Sekiryū decided to take over the Jasmine Dragon after his uncle died and giving the title of the crown to Izumi, who was made for this job

Sekiryū got married, had kids and grandkids at the teashop

Iroh II is a chosen like his grandfather

After the previous president of Republic City lost the race, Mako and Iroh II began dating

#Avatar The Last Airbender #aang #gaang #Zuko #sokka #katara #toph #jet #legend of korra #korra #mako #iroh II #iroh #fanfic prompt #prompt

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butididnottried · 4 years ago

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The Firebending Masters

I just couldn't bring myself to start watching this episode. Before i was like "yesss, bring me all the awkwardness" but then i was like "oh fuck oh shit no i'm a dumb dumbass that can't handle awkwardness and embarrassment well". Luckily Zuko trying to interacting with the rest wasn't that bad. But, he really don't know how to interact, huh? Zuko, baby, just... chill a little. Ya know, work on your upbeat attitude. xD

Let's be honest, those eastern dragons look just weird with wings. How their long bodies even keep up? Ok, i guess that since only sky bisons are the only animal airbenders the dragons can't also fly just like that because of reasons. But still.

So, they looked a bit on a pretty, rainbow fire and we're like "ah yes we understand". Good for you boys. I do not get it at all. How do people uderstand things just by looking at them?

They have a one big fire that's burning for thousands of years. So, even at the beginning firebenders we're extra.

I didn't metion it earlier but why badger moles are so frikin big? Moles are really tiny, seriously, they're tinier that you would expect. And badgers are... average, i guess? There's nothing about these animnals that says "put togehter = elephant size".

Zuko is there for a day and a half, trying no more to murder everyone, and Sokka is immediately ready to mess up with him. Bless this boy.

The Boiling Rock, Part 1

Ok, honestly, Boiling Rock is kind of a stupid name. But now i learned that it's a literal boiling rock. A big rock in the middle of a boiling lake. In a volcano of course, because that's just how the fire nation is rolling. That's just funny.

They stole a whole fridge for people and no one noticed. Yeah, let's say it, these guard are not, hmmm... to not to be too rude... not very good at their job. But i also don't get how this whole chunk of a metal don't get incredibly hot in this lake. Did i miss something? ??? And later no one was able to tell that this very suspiciously behaving teenager that just showed up a few days ago is a mole. Maybe that's just how fire guards works? With tennage interns, or something. Because why not. Or maybe Sokka is just that genius master of disguise.

They separated Hakoda and Bato. ):

I don't know why but Mais uncle design is... Idk what it is, but there's something about him that dosen't seem right. I look at him and... I Just Don't Know. Something Wrong. So... meaty?

Sokka is fully aware that even when he is planning everything out, the results are not necessarily good. Zuko at leat accepted that he's a dumbass that is doing things without thinking, but it looks like he's still not aware that everything end for him more or less good. And they're such dumb champs together. Amazing.

Appa is such a baby they need to throw food into his mouth. Aaaaw.

Hotsquats. HOTSQUATS.

The Boiling Rock, Part 2

AzUla iS PeOplE PerSon And she just shoot up herself like a rocket. Dynamite gal.

Meat of friendship and fatherhood. Yeak, ok, sounds about right. In order to be a dilf you need to be also beefy. I guess.

Maybe show me this heart to be broken and love stronger than fear before you try to made me care about it? Because cuddly teenagers are not particularly emotional and moving. No? Oh, ok. I read analysis about power dynamics between Mai, Ty Lee and Azula, how their friendship works and how it not works, but this betrayal still looks much like it get out of nowhere.

Riot. RIOT. RiOT riOt RioT rioT rrriooot rRriOoOt riooot rIOt lol

Damn, Suki know how to get shit done. And i love how is she an equal match to Ty Lee, so far the most dangerous hand to hand fighter.

They stole a whole Big Adult War Baloon and just like that they flew back to the temple, huh.

The Southern Raiders

OOOoooh! So, yeah, Aang, if violence is never the answer what you're going to do when you finally meet firelord Ozai, eh? Ok, i know what's he gonna do, but it's weird that untill now he didn't thought about it at all. I guess that before the sun eclipse he didn't worried about how to defeat Ozai because he was supposed to be powerless, but now? Yeah Aang, yeah, whatcha gonna do when you come for him?

Why Sokka and Suki are so secretive about their relationship? Like, probably everyone knows about them. I bet it was Sokka idea and Suki just rolled with it just to humour him. And because it's cute and funny.

So Appa is so traumatized by tunnels that he would faced an air ships shooting bombs and fire at him in such intensity it looks like they shoot lasers.

Ok, Katara putting together her anger at Zuko and hatred towards all fire nation because of her mother being murdered makes sense. She was suppressing all her negative emotions for so long, no wonder that she even burst out at Sokka like that. As awful as it was, it’s understandable. Althought it would be nice to see her apologizing to him instead of talking with Aang about how she still do not forgave that man for what he done. I guess that people are having issues with Katara being angry at Zuko and overall angry is because we do not saw too much interactions between them. He just joins in, goes on two adventures and boom, i want my mother back! Not enough episodes with Zuko just dickin around with gaang and having bigger and lesser arguments.

But i also like how they showed that despite being full of hatred and anger Katara still wasn't able to kill. To commit murder herself. It's not that easy to kill someone, just like forgiveness is not easy. You can’t just say that you forgive or try to convince yourself into feeling like that. But you can somehow start to move on without it. But tbh Katara all this time was thinking about this man as a monster and that what she was exptecting to meet. And she found... well, we all know how he turned out to be. How do you gonna kill someone so pathetic?

I took your mothers life so you can take my mother, that's the only fair way, and i'm just like lololol xD

So, Sokka want to borrow Momo for a few days, who know for what, he most obviously do not. He just plans to get Momo and then maybe some adventure finds them on it's own.

Sooo, they we're just sleeping there like nothing happened and apparently we're surprised when attack happened. lmao seriously? No one got even half of a thaught that this big ass ship was followed? Hm it would be nice if someone else heard Azula celebrating becoming the only child. Sokka would made a good joke about how fucked up of a siblings they are.

The Ember Island Players

Actress playing Aang was so adorable and cute and precious.

Toph get a big, muscle guy that is defeating 10 people at once while making sarcastic ripostes. That's accurate in, like, 99,9%.

Sokka, a fan of comedy, was so happy and proud when actor playing him used Sokkas jokes and audience loved it. I think that our boy can start writing plays. He could be this world Shakespeare with his sense of humor.

Yes, Jet just died and they couldn't care less. Also he got a flower instead of that wheat. Nice.

Using ribbons to show firebending is a pretty good idea.

The fire nation is not immune to fire nation propaganda plays.

But how they find out about all these events? Like, what happened under Ba Sing Se in crystal caves? Who was their informant? ...Azula herself?

What's going on about Katara and having hope?

The cringe, oh the cringe that gaang was experiencing, it's just beautiful. xD

But seriously, how long is that play?

They should turn it into musical lol.

Aang, you're just 12. Stop thinking about being romantically with someone. Seriously. And do not kiss anyone on a lips without consent. Boy, you need a proper education about boundaries. And take example from Katara - it's a war, there's no time for things like that. Tbh i have nothing against kataang, but it's not handled very well through whole show. There was more scenes with some romantic tension that we're amiss than good. :/

Also, it feels like there's at least one episode missing when at the beginning they're suddenly in Zukos family old house on the ember island. I do noy necessarily need to see every step of their journey, like talking about where to go, and then to go there and getting cozy and all that. But the difference between ending of previosu episode and beginning of this is kind of too much. Especially when it ended on such strong emotional moment for Aang.

#atla #avatar #the last airbender #atla first watch #zuko #katara #sokka #gaang #atla dragons #boiling rock #the ember island players #aang #atla season 4

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cruelangelstheses · 5 years ago

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safe and sound

fandom: avatar: the last airbender rating: T characters: sokka/zuko, jet words: 5.8k additional tags: alternate universe (no bending), first meeting, swordfighting, sharing a bed, light angst with a happy ending, jetko that turns into zukka description: zuko has been searching for a home for a long time. a/n: sup i posted this a While back as an ao3 link for @zukka-week 2018, day 1: swords, but i’m reposting my fics as tumblr posts. this setting is technically an au but basically it’s just like the avatar universe without the four nations/elements, bending, or spirits, and thus the characters’ backstories are somewhat different, and i imagine the city as being pretty much ba sing se

read it on ao3

—

Zuko is not above stealing. He’ll steal an apple or two from a distracted merchant. He’ll steal money from people that he knows have more than enough. He once stole some bandages and medicine after being injured in a fight—the shopkeeper had seen how little money he had and turned him away, and he thought it ridiculous to have to pay to stay alive. No, Zuko does not necessarily object to stealing on principle, not if it’s for survival, not if it won’t hurt the person being stolen from. But something about Jet’s suggestion—to go out on a “spree of liberation,” as he so eloquently (and suspiciously) called it—makes Zuko’s skin crawl.

Jet has “liberated” a lot of things in his life, but Zuko has never actually seen him do it. He’s never really allowed himself to think about it too deeply, nor has he ever asked; it’s one of those things that he’s been content to leave as a mystery. Now, though, he’s about to find out what exactly happens on one of Jet’s “expeditions,” how he gets those expensive-looking weapons and perfectly cured meats.

The night has just begun, the sun having set less than an hour ago, the sky fading from purple to dark blue to black as Zuko quietly closes the door to Jet’s apartment and steps out onto the dimly-lit street. Jet is standing a few paces to the left with his arms folded pensively, and though they both have their faces covered up to the eyes, Zuko can still see the wheels turning as Jet seems to run through an invisible list of potential victims. Finally, he turns to Zuko and beckons with one hand to follow him.

Zuko and Jet have been dating for almost a month now, but the only people who know about it are Jet’s friends. They met at a shitty tavern near the edge of the city, Zuko alone and Jet with those same friends. As it turned out, they were all in similar situations: they were all kids without families, just trying to get by. They understood each other, and that was something precious, something Zuko couldn’t pass up, even against his better judgment.

Zuko has been alone for a few years now, ever since his family died in a devastating explosion. Zuko was the only one to survive, but not without a permanent reminder on his face. He’s been living on the streets ever since then, working odd jobs and sleeping outside or in cheap little inns. Now, of course, he sleeps in Jet’s apartment, which isn’t fancy by any means but serves as the nicest place Zuko has lived in since his family’s demise.

Jet leads him down various side streets into one of the poorer, darker, more run-down areas of the city, the sort of area where one of the biggest concerns is being caught in the wrong place after dark. It’s an area Zuko has spent quite a bit of time in these past few years. In fact, it was while he was living in one of these areas that he decided to buy his dual swords (any weapons that his family had had were lost in the explosion). As Jet slows down and starts to more closely observe the area, slinking against buildings and hiding in dark spots, Zuko’s stomach drops.

“What do you expect to find here?” he whispers, trying to mask his dread. “There won’t be very many valuables.”

“You’d be surprised,” Jet replies smoothly. “And this place isn’t very heavily guarded. You can get a lot more with a lot less risk. I usually start here and work my way up.”

Zuko opens his mouth to say something else, maybe even to try talking him out of it, but before he can actually form words, Jet’s eyes lock on a target: a young woman carrying two bags of food. Zuko thinks he sees bread in one and fruit in the other—basic necessities. Her clothes are plain, and she looks tired from a long day. She is exactly the type of person Zuko would make sure not to steal from.

Reluctantly, Zuko follows Jet’s lead as the woman turns down a lonely alley with few lights and no other people around. Jet darts around the corner after her and uses the end of one of his hook swords to catch her foot and trip her, a trick Zuko has seen him use a few times. The woman falls to the ground, the bags’ contents spilling everywhere. Accompanying the food are a few articles of clothing; it looks as though she just finished buying these things from a nearby market.

The woman gasps and glances up at them, terrified. She seems like she wants to say something, anything, but she’s frozen in fear. Jet swipes one of the pieces of clothing and briefly examines it, as if to determine whether or not it would fit him or any of his friends. Then he turns to Zuko, his eyes narrowed with expectation, silently saying, You gonna help me or what?

At that, Zuko breaks out of his horrified trance—he’s been watching Jet in shock, trying to process everything; he hasn’t even unsheathed his swords. Pulling down his mouth covering, he blurts, “Jet, what the hell?”

Jet stops what he’s doing and tosses the clothing to the ground. Without looking at the woman, he points one of his hook swords at her threateningly, a wordless demand for her to stay put. “Thought you said you didn’t have a problem with stealing,” he hisses to Zuko.

“I do if it’s from people who are just as poor as we are,” Zuko snaps, “if not poorer!”

“Zuko, you of all people should know that it’s every man for himself,” Jet snaps back. He doesn’t waste any time; he’s going straight for the jugular. “You and I, we’re outcasts, remember? We don’t have any allies. We don’t have any family. We had to do everything we could to stay alive. And we still do. You know that.”

Zuko scowls at him and clenches his fists, making his anger clear. Jet’s right, and he’s persuasive, and they both know that Zuko is far from a saint, but none of that stops the feeling in his gut that this is wrong, that he’ll beat himself up for it years down the road if he doesn’t say something now.

“No,” he says firmly, narrowing his eyes at Jet, feeling something akin to disgust rise in his chest, in his throat. “Look at this woman. She can’t be much better off than we are. This isn’t harmless petty theft. You’re practically mugging her. You’re not just doing what you need to do to stay alive; you’re hurting people. People who don’t deserve it—people who didn’t do anything wrong.”

Jet stares back at Zuko, long and hard, his expression unreadable. Then he sighs and lowers his hook sword. To the woman, who is still trembling on the ground, he says, “Grab your things and get out of here. Before I change my mind.”

The woman scrambles to her feet, hastily grabbing the bags and stuffing her goods back into them haphazardly. Within ten seconds, she’s already rounded the corner, running home as fast as her legs can carry her. Zuko silently hopes that nobody else decides to prey on her tonight.

Once the woman is out of sight, Zuko turns to Jet and says, his voice a bit softer now, “Jet, you know I don’t care if you steal from merchants, from the wealthy, from people who have more than enough food and all the money in the world. But I want you to promise me you won’t do something like that again.” Deep down, he knows he won’t be able to stop Jet from continuing to do it behind his back, but he wants something.

After a long pause, Jet says, “Okay. I promise.” It’s quiet but firm.

Zuko, half-expecting Jet to refuse, doesn’t really know what to say, nor does he know what their new plan for “liberation” is.

As if sensing Zuko’s confusion, Jet answers the unspoken question. “You know what?” he says, actually sounding somewhat nonchalant. “Let’s call it a night, okay? We can go all-out some other time. The full moon’s out anyway—too much light.” He raises an eyebrow. “That cool with you?”

Pleasantly surprised, Zuko just nods and says, “Uh, yeah, okay. Lead the way.”

The quick walk back to Jet’s apartment is carefree and comfortable, almost as if nothing happened between them. On the one hand, Zuko enjoys it, feeling like everything has returned to normal. But he can’t shake the tiny, nagging voice in his head that tells him to be on his guard.

They fall right back into their regular evening routine as soon as they return to the apartment: share the same bed (both shirtless), kiss a little (or a lot), fall asleep—Jet with one arm draped around Zuko’s body. In the comfort and safety of the bedroom, the world of crime and violence and immorality feels so far away, like a distant nightmare, like a memory from long ago.

The voice in the back of his mind tells him not to believe it. So when he wakes up in the middle of the night and finds himself alone in the bed, Zuko knows exactly where Jet has gone.

He doesn’t know how late it is or how long Jet’s been out. All he knows is that it’s still dark out (despite the moonlight) and that Jet and his hook swords have mysteriously disappeared. A part of him hopes that it’s not what it looks like, that he’s wrong, that Jet’s not doing anything behind his back. It’s just that, though: a feeble hope, based only on what he wishes were the case, not on what he knows is the truth.

Zuko wastes no time—who knows how many people Jet’s already harassed and mugged? He pulls a shirt over his head and slings his swords’ sheath across his shoulder. Then he heads out into the night, running down the same side streets Jet showed him earlier, searching for any sign of life. He investigates every shadow cast, every movement glimpsed out of the corner of his eye. Just when he starts to think that maybe he was wrong, that maybe Jet isn’t out stealing from the poor, he hears a voice in the distance, yelping, “H-hey!” It’s followed by the clatter of metal hitting the ground.

Zuko bolts toward the direction of the sound. Turning a corner at the end of the street into a dark alley, the first thing he notices is the oddly dark sword lying on the ground near him, a few feet away from the struggle. The next thing he notices is that, just as he suspected, the instigator is none other than Jet, his face inches from the boy he’s antagonizing. “Gimme your money,” he says, his voice low and hostile.

The boy—darker skinned, hair pulled up into a short ponytail, pretty damn attractive—holds his hands up. “Hey, hold on a minute, I don’t have any money,” he protests.

Jet shoves his knee into the guy’s stomach, and the guy gasps in pain. “You’ve got enough for that fancy sword, don’t ya?” Jet says with a slow grin. “Gotta be more somewhere.”

The boy gulps. “And what if there isn’t?”

“Well then,” Jet replies smoothly, “I’m sure that sword’ll fetch a fine price on the market by itself anyway.”

Zuko, who has yet to be noticed by either of them, unsheathes his swords, the sound making his presence known. Jet glances over at him and promptly freezes, like an animal seconds before it’s killed, only much less innocent. “Zuko—”

“Let him go,” Zuko interrupts gravely, taking a few deliberate steps forward. “I’ll fight you if I have to.”

Jet’s eyes narrow, wild with something between disappointment and anger swimming in their dark depths. “I thought you’d understand,” he says slowly, turning away from the boy and tightening his grip on his hook swords. “But I see now that I was wrong about you.”

“I could say the same to you,” Zuko retorts. “Fucking liar.”

Without much warning, Jet lunges at him, hook swords raised, and Zuko blocks them with his own dual swords, steel against steel, the clang echoing through the alley. Zuko shoves Jet back, and as he’s reaching forward to strike with one hand, Jet uses both his hook swords to grab onto the end of Zuko’s, deflecting it to the side. Zuko manages not to lose the sword and swings at him again. Jet leaps backward, but he doesn’t completely avoid the blades; Zuko can distinctly hear and feel the cutting of fabric and flesh, though not very deep.

Jet glances down at the cut on his arm and falters slightly, taking a step backward. Zuko takes advantage of the opportunity and springs on him, making a quick slash at the wrist of his right hand. Jet hisses in pain, instinctively loosening the grip on his sword, and Zuko swings at it with all his might, successfully knocking it out of Jet’s hand. The sword lands on the ground only a foot or two away from the boy Jet was harassing, who snatches it with a clever grin and points it threateningly at Jet.

Jet seems to realize now that he’s outnumbered and lowers his lone hook sword, staring daggers at Zuko. “Traitor,” he spits.

Zuko shakes his head. “I should’ve known. I should’ve known the moment I met you. In a way, I kind of feel sorry for you—the world has been so cruel to you that you think the only way you can survive is by hurting others.” He shrugs. “You’re confused like I used to be. And maybe one day you’ll learn like I had to. But until then…” He puts his swords back into their sheath—he’ll clean the bits of blood off later. “Until then, I don’t want to see you around.” He pauses to let that sink in, and then he adds, “I’ll come back to your place tomorrow to pick up my things.”

Jet scowls wordlessly; he knows he’s been beaten. He holds his hand out toward the boy, who still has Jet’s other hook sword. “Gimme that,” Jet says.

The boy turns to Zuko, as if for permission. Zuko nods at him, and he holds the sword outward. Jet swipes it out of the boy’s hands. He gives Zuko a look of betrayal, of anger, but Zuko can see the hurt that lies beneath it.

“Goodbye, Jet,” Zuko says softly, and something in his heart hurts, too. There’s a significant part of him that wishes it didn’t have to be this way. But it does. If Zuko is going to fully move on from the mistakes of his past, it does.

“Goodbye, Zuko,” Jet replies grimly. Then he turns around and runs swiftly out of the alley, seemingly unfazed as the blood from his cuts starts to run down his arm. He doesn’t look back.

The boy breathes a sigh of relief. “Wow,” he says as he processes everything that just happened. “Thanks, dude. Zuko’s your name, right?”

“Uh, yeah,” Zuko says, suddenly feeling his boldness leave him as he looks this guy over more carefully. He’s probably around the same age as Zuko, but a little shorter and lankier, with deep blue eyes and a pretty face.

The boy seems to notice the way Zuko is looking at him (Zuko’s never been good at hiding his feelings), and he smirks knowingly, but not maliciously. “I’m Sokka,” he says smoothly, his eyes twinkling playfully.

“Sokka,” Zuko repeats as Sokka heads over to where his own sword has been lying on the ground. He picks it up and casually wipes the dirt off of it. As Zuko watches him, an opportunity for conversation strikes him. “Why’s your blade so dark?” he asks.

Sokka smiles proudly. “It’s made out of the rock from a meteorite that landed out in the woods recently.”

“I...wow,” Zuko says in genuine fascination, staring at the dark gray sword as Sokka returns it to its sheath.

Sokka stares at Zuko for a second or two, looking like he’s considering something. “Do you, um,” he says slowly, clearing his throat, “have a place to stay for the rest of the night?”

Zuko shrugs without saying anything. He could probably find a cheap hotel or a nice spot on the street to sleep on like he used to, but the truth is that, once again, he doesn’t have any reliable place to stay.

“I’ll take that as a no,” Sokka says firmly. “You could stay with us for the night, if you want.”

Zuko raises his eyebrow. “Who’s ‘us?’”

“My sister and our two friends and I,” Sokka replies casually. “We all share an apartment not too far from here.”

“Oh, uh,” Zuko stutters, somewhat flustered at the offer. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to impose…”

Sokka waves his hand nonchalantly. “Nah, you’ll be fine,” he says, already starting to walk away. He glances back over his shoulder, as if expecting Zuko to follow him. “Well? I’m sure you’d rather sleep in a warm bed than on the damn ground, and I doubt your boyfriend’ll let you back into his place.”

That catches Zuko completely off guard, and he rushes to catch up with Sokka. “H-hey, how did you—?”

Sokka shrugs, that teasing, knowing grin back on his face with no sign of disappearing anytime soon. “Call it a hunch,” he says. “That fight definitely felt like a lovers’ spat to me.” He doesn’t mention Zuko checking him out, but it hangs in the air between them, unspoken. Sokka knows that Zuko thinks he’s attractive, and Zuko knows that Sokka knows.

After a few moments of near-silence, with the only sound being the sound of their footprints as Sokka leads Zuko to his apartment, Zuko asks, “So, what made you decide to take a walk in the middle of the night, anyway?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” Sokka replies. “I had a weird dream where food started eating people.”

Zuko snorts; he can’t help it. “Talk about revenge.”

“I know!” Sokka says, his voice going up an octave, throwing his hands up in the air. “But anyway, usually eating helps me when I wake up in the middle of the night, but obviously I wasn’t gonna do that this time. So I thought I’d take a little night walk instead.”

“If you were just taking a walk, then why’d you bring your sword with you?”

Sokka just laughs at that, short and sharp. “In case I got attacked.”

Zuko laughs a little, too, something he doesn’t do very often—he didn’t even laugh all that much when he was with Jet, and yet Sokka’s gotten him to laugh within half an hour of knowing him. That’s impressive, to say the least. “Well,” he says, “it looks like it didn’t help you out that much anyway.”

“He caught me off guard, okay?” Sokka insists, but he’s still smiling. “The guy’s stealthy. I admit it. But if I’d had my boomerang, too, he would’ve been in for it, I’m tellin’ ya.”

When they reach the apartment, Sokka lowers his voice and warns Zuko to be quiet, since everyone else is likely still asleep. Zuko can’t make out much in the darkness, but the apartment has a similar layout to Jet’s, though it doesn’t have as many rare or expensive items obtained under suspicious circumstances. Most of the things that Zuko sees are things he’d expect to see in most people’s homes—rags to clean with, some pots and pans, a few articles of clothing strewn across the floor. So far, the most remarkable possession he’s seen of theirs has been Sokka’s “space sword,” as he calls it.

“So, uh, we’ve got two beds,” Sokka whispers, “for four people, but Toph always sleeps on the floor.” He gestures to a dark shape on the floor of the main room that must be Toph. “Aang and Katara usually share the one bed because both refuse to share one with me.” He points toward the open door that leads into a small bedroom area. The other bed, decently-sized, rests near the corner of the main room, which also consists of a small living area and a kitchen.

Zuko raises his eyebrow. “Why don’t they want to share with you?”

Sokka smiles sheepishly, looking embarrassed but trying to hide it. “I just toss and turn a lot. And sometimes I accidentally steal the blankets.” He clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck. “So, um...I can, uh, sleep on the floor,” he says slowly, “if...you’d be uncomfortable...you know.” Even in the darkness, Zuko can see a blush on Sokka’s cheeks.

Zuko shrugs. He genuinely doesn’t care if he sleeps in the same bed as Sokka; at least it’s a bed, and he’s slept in much stranger places with much stranger people. (And there’s also the fact that Sokka is very attractive, and Zuko would be completely fine with sharing his warmth. But that doesn’t influence his decision at all, of course not; that would be ridiculous.) “I don’t mind,” he says out loud. “Really. It’ll be fine.”

Sokka sort of smiles at that, seeming almost relieved. “Okay,” he says, making his way over to the bed. He takes his shoes off and leans them up against the wall, then pulls the sheath of his sword off his shoulder and rests it on the floor next to the bed. He lets his hair out of its ponytail and rests the tie on the nightstand, then climbs into the bed. The covers are already somewhat messy, but only on Sokka’s side.

Zuko takes his own shoes off and rests the sheath of his swords on the floor next to the bed like Sokka did. Then he awkwardly crawls under the blanket, trying to be calm and fucking normal instead of thinking about how pretty Sokka is and how close they are. He can’t blow this.

“What’ll your friends think when they wake up and see a stranger sleeping in your bed?” he asks as the thought hits him.

“My sister might freak out a little, but other than that, it should be fine once I explain what happened. Don’t worry,” Sokka replies calmly.

Zuko rolls onto his side so that his back is facing Sokka. As he’s lying there, it finally hits him, just how much everything has changed in so little time. He broke up with Jet, and he’ll be on his own again, and he’s sleeping in the bed of some guy he just met, and everything is weird, and yet it doesn’t feel bad. He thinks he might even be okay with it.

After only a few minutes, Sokka whispers, his voice barely audible, “Zuko.”

Zuko rolls over to see Sokka sitting up, looking contemplative. “Yeah?”

“I have a question,” Sokka says quietly, “and you don’t have to answer it, but I was just wondering.”

Zuko takes a deep breath. Here it comes, the inevitable question, the question everyone asks soon enough after meeting him: the scar question.

But what comes out of Sokka’s mouth isn’t what Zuko expects. Instead, Sokka asks, “What did you mean when you said to Jet—that was his name, right?—when you said he was confused like you used to be? When you said maybe he’d learn like you had to?”

Zuko sighs in relief. Strangely enough, it feels easier to him to answer this question than it does to answer the scar question. Maybe it’s because he’s made peace with his past, with his mistakes. But he still hasn’t made peace with his family’s brutal deaths, especially his mother’s; he was closest to her. He doesn’t think he’ll ever make peace with it.

Zuko sits up on his elbows. “After I...became homeless, I did a lot of things that I regret. Things like what Jet was doing. I was angry at the world, and sometimes I think I still am. I don’t rely on it anymore, but I did then. I stole food from people who were starving because I didn’t care. I thought that I was better than them, that I deserved food more than they did. I got into fights with anyone who so much as looked at me the wrong way. A lot of them were kids or teenagers. One was probably around ten or eleven, and I think I was fourteen.” He sighs, remembering all the bloody noses, bruises, deep cuts, and broken bones he’s given people over the last few years.

“It got worse before it got better, especially after I got my swords. I mugged poor, innocent people. You would’ve wondered why I never got an apartment or anything, what with all the money I stole, not to mention the odd jobs I worked sometimes. I think it was because I didn’t want to stay in the same place. I liked running around with nowhere to be and everywhere to go, and besides, it would’ve been easier for other people to trace me if I stayed in one place, instead of committing a crime and then disappearing. I think I must’ve slept in every hotel in the city, except the really high-end ones.”

Sokka watches and listens, not judging, at least not openly. His gaze is intent and sincere. “What changed?” he says softly. “What made you stop?”

Zuko sits up more, leaning the pillow up against the wall and then resting his back against it. “It happened not too long after I turned fifteen. One evening there was this awful fire in another section of the city that destroyed several houses, and that night, across the street from where the fire had been, I saw this little kid sitting on the curb, all curled up into a ball and crying. He was maybe eight or nine. I remember not wanting to care. I remember just wanting to walk away and forget about it, because it wasn’t my problem. But I had a bad feeling about why he was crying, so I went over to him.” He closes his eyes briefly, imagining it, remembering every detail.

“He didn’t notice me at first, and I didn’t know what to say, so I just kind of sat down next to him, and that’s when he looked up at me. He asked me what I was doing, and I honestly didn’t really know, so I told him that I saw him crying and felt like I couldn’t just leave him there, which was the truth. When I looked at him closer, I realized he was partially covered in soot with a couple of small burns. He told me that his parents hadn’t made it out of the fire, that his home and his family were all gone and he didn’t know what to do. That was the first time in a long time that I’d felt sympathy for anyone. I saw myself in this kid, and I realized then that I didn’t want him to grow up hating the world and everyone in it. So I turned to him, looked him right in the eye, and told him to promise me he would never hurt someone for no reason. I remember how confused he was, because to him, it didn’t seem to have anything to do with the fire. I explained to him that when you go through something hard, sometimes it makes you bitter and angry, and I told him that I didn’t want that to happen to him. So he nodded and said that he promised, and then I gave him a bunch of money that I’d stolen the night before, and I told him to find someone that would help him, like a neighbor or an uncle or a family friend or something. He said he’d try and ran away, and then I sat down on the curb where he’d been sitting and thought about everything I’d done.

“It was hard to go through all those victims and put myself in their situations, but I did it. It was like seeing that kid had opened the floodgates and made me able to care about people again. Up until then, I think I’d locked my heart up. I never allowed myself to feel anything other than hatred and anger, because anything else made me weak.”

There’s a stretch of silence after Zuko finishes as Sokka seems to process everything. Then he says, gently, his eyes soft, “Is that what happened to you? With the fire?”

Zuko bites his lip as he remembers hearing something burning, as he remembers looking through the little window in one of the doors with his left eye just seconds before the explosion. He doesn’t look at Sokka when he says it. “Something very similar. Yeah.”

“I...I’m sorry,” Sokka says, sounding genuine. “Katara and I lost our mother six years ago.” He reaches his hand out tentatively, his gaze filled not with pity but with understanding. Normally, Zuko would shy away. Normally, the scar is off-limits. But this is far from normal.

Sokka pauses right before his hand reaches Zuko’s face, as if silently asking permission. Zuko nods. “You can touch it.”

Sokka moves closer to Zuko and rests his hand on Zuko’s cheek, his fingers feeling the burned flesh. They’re so close now, only inches away, and all Zuko has to do is lean forward and bridge the gap.

“Zuko,” Sokka says, his hand never moving, “I don’t know what exactly it is about you, but I feel...close to you for some reason. Even when I first saw you fight with Jet, I was drawn to you.”

Zuko’s heart starts to beat faster. “I, uh, I could say the same to you.”

And then they’re kissing.

It’s soft and slow, gentle and tender, Sokka’s fingers lightly brushing against Zuko’s skin. Zuko drapes his arms over Sokka’s shoulders, sighing when Sokka runs his tongue across Zuko’s bottom lip. It’s bliss, but not an energized, ecstatic bliss, like the way kissing Jet felt like. It’s more of a glowing sort of bliss, a tranquil and safe sort of bliss, warm but not scorching. Whereas kissing Jet felt like fireworks, hot and wild but short-lived, kissing Sokka feels like a hearth—like coming home.

When they break away, both of them mildly out of breath, Sokka kind of laughs and says, “Well, now I know I wasn’t misreading the signals or anything.”

He’s referring to Zuko checking him out, and Zuko’s face heats up a little. “Well, yeah, I guess I’ve never really been the best at subtlety.”

Sokka just smiles and says, “Would it be okay if I...saw you again sometime?”

Now Zuko’s definitely blushing. “I, uh, yeah,” he stutters. “Of course.”

Across the room, an annoyed voice groans, “Great performance, lovebirds; now will you please go to sleep?”

Sokka and Zuko both jump. Zuko doesn’t think he’s ever been more embarrassed in his life. One of Sokka’s friends—the one who sleeps on the floor, Toph, if he remembers correctly—is awake. He doesn’t know how much she’s heard, but apparently, she’s heard enough.

“Toph!” Sokka hisses. “Way to ruin the moment!”

“Way to ruin my sleep,” Toph retorts. “Your gross kissing noises interrupted my dream. This guy better be cute.”

“I—he is!” Sokka says, his voice cracking, also clearly embarrassed. Zuko tries not to smile (and fails miserably).

“I don’t trust your opinion,” Toph replies bluntly. “I’ll ask Katara in the morning.”

Zuko looks over at Sokka quizzically. “Can’t she just decide for herself?” he whispers.

“She’s blind,” Sokka explains. “She has no idea if you’re cute or not.”

“Guys, what’s going on?” another unfamiliar voice asks. Someone steps out from the other bedroom into the main room and turns a nearby lamp on: a girl who looks a lot like Sokka, but a little bit younger—his sister, most likely. “Sokka, who’s—?”

“Sokka’s new boyfriend,” Toph interrupts from her place on the floor.

“He’s not my—we just met!” Sokka sputters, blushing.

“Yeah, but that didn’t stop either of you from pouring your hearts out to each other. And then making out.”

“We were not making out!” Sokka insists, his voice going up an octave again; Zuko thinks it’s cute. “My tongue and Zuko’s tongue didn’t meet once!”

Another person steps out of the bedroom and into the main room, a younger boy with black hair. He rubs his eyes. “Okay, guys, you know I’d prefer it if we didn’t argue at all, but if we have to, can’t we do it after sunrise?” Then he glances over at the bed and, noticing Zuko, raises an eyebrow. “Um, Sokka, I’m not judging or anything, but why is there a random guy with a scar in your bed?”

“Can we please just discuss this in the morning?” Sokka groans. “This guy saved me from his ex-boyfriend who was trying to mug me and he needed a place to stay so I told him he could sleep here for the night. And I’m probably gonna keep hanging out with him, so be nice.”

“Katara, I want your honest opinion,” Toph says to the other girl. “Is this guy cute?”

Katara seems to think for a moment, and Zuko tries to hide his self-consciousness. Finally, she says, “Um, yeah, actually, he’s not bad-looking.”

“Great. That’s all I needed to know,” Toph says. “Now can we all please go back to sleep?”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” the boy—Aang—says, turning around and heading back into the bedroom. After giving Sokka a skeptical look, Katara turns the light back off and follows Aang.

“I’m sorry for them,” Sokka says immediately. “They’re nice, I swear, but they don’t know you and it’s the middle of the night and they’re cranky.”

“I can still hear you, you know,” Toph grumbles.

Sokka ignores her. “Anyway, um, we should...probably get some rest,” he says slowly. “It’s been a long night. I can give you a proper introduction in the morning.”

Zuko just smiles a little and lies back down; this time, though, he’s turned toward Sokka, not away from him. “You know,” he says, “you and your friends...almost feel like a family of sorts.”

Sokka shrugs, but he’s smiling, too. “We are.”

Zuko hasn’t had a family in so long.

“Maybe one day,” Sokka says, his voice soft, “you can be a part of it, too.”

That night, Zuko sleeps better than he has in a long time, probably since before his family died. He revels in the feeling of Sokka’s warm body next to his. When he was with Jet, it felt good. But when he’s with Sokka, it feels right, like finding something that he thought he’d lost forever.

Like coming home.

#avatar: the last airbender #atla #zuko #sokka #zukka #my fics #i wanna write more zukka aaaaa i miss them

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