#zk week 2017

[bennettforster]

Digifinex Research: The Celestia Airdrop Claiming Phase Concludes with Over 190,000 Claims

On October 18th, Celestia, the modular blockchain network, announced on Twitter that their Genesis airdrop received a total of 191,391 claims. The final Genesis balance will soon be available on Genesis.celestia.org. Participants can expect to receive TIA directly in their mainnet wallets over the next few weeks.

Celestia’s unique approach involves separating the execution and consensus processes from data storage. In traditional blockchains, these processes occur on a single layer, but Celestia isolates and manages them on different layers. How does Celestia address scalability challenges?

Roll-ups: Off-chain transaction processing. With the aforementioned data storage structure, Celestia presents an ideal environment for developing Roll-ups. OP rollups require data to prove the invalidity of failed transactions, while zk-rollups need complete data for re-aggregating the state of the chain.

Celestia’s future model bears similarities to the model between Ethereum and Layer 2 platforms utilizing Rollup technology. As Ethereum’s 2.0 roadmap is realized, it will also become a fully modular blockchain. Modular blockchains are evidently an evolving trend in the cryptocurrency market’s future.

The Celestia development team boasts several noteworthy aspects. The project’s co-founders are also senior developers from Cosmos, and other team members have extensive backgrounds in the field.

#btc #sec #etf #digifinex #eth #btcetf

About DigiFinex

DigiFinex, originating from Singapore and established in 2017, is a leading global cryptocurrency exchange. Upholding the values of diversity, integrity, and trustworthiness, DigiFinex provides users with secure 24/7 services for buying, selling, trading, storing, and staking cryptocurrencies.

[kdinthecity]

Confessions of a Teenage Sugar Queen: Sweet Little Lies

This piece can be found on Ao3 and ff.net or by following the links below.

Chpt. 1 | Chpt. 2 | Chpt. 3 | Chpt. 4 | Chpt. 5

Chpt. 6 | Chpt. 7 | Chpt. 8 | Chpt. 9 | Chpt. 10

Zuko pushes himself to a standing position too abruptly, and I scramble to get my feet underneath me. He'll bolt again, I bet, but instead a silence just hangs in the salty sea air between us long enough to sting. I see the realization in his eyes, the drop of his shoulders, the tightness of his jaw, and I want to take it back—take it all back, if I could.

"So Ikem, he's—"

I nod.

"And Kiyi—"

I shrug. She could be Ikem's daughter and not Ursa's, but there is an undeniable resemblance between the feisty five-year-old and her would-be half-brother. "Zuko, I—"

A full range of emotions passes across his face in a matter of seconds, and whatever I intended to say next simply dies in my throat. His rage flares, but is quickly replaced by piercing hurt and confusion that penetrates to my core. Then he settles on that distant expression—decidedly the worst one of all. He's shut me out again.

We didn't revisit the whole boyfriend-girlfriend conversation, but Zuko is probably right. I am crazy for hoping we could make it could work. There is too much uncertainty, too many—

"Too many lies," Zuko says and resolutely shakes his head. "I'm done with all the lies."

I had been thinking secrets, not lies. The truth is there, just hidden. We are supposedly on this journey to find answers together, but there hasn't been enough time to talk about everything while we're running for our lives. Yet, I've apparently betrayed his trust by keeping secrets from him—that is, if he ever really trusted me at all. I was the one making confessions back at the airport but had only assumed our feelings were mutual.

I should tell him what I know before we head back to Noren—err, Ikem's house, but now he is intently focused on his phone, punching at the screen with unnecessary force. I pull my phone out to check the bus schedule and notice that I've missed two messages from Dad. He says he's at Ikem's, which I already knew, and is worried, so no surprises there, except…

What the—? Dad knows about Ikem?

I feign ignorance and text back, "I'm sorry, but who is Ikem? I don't recall visiting anyone by that name."

He responds, "I meant Noren," which strikes me as odd, so I half expect him to call my bluff and add, "But you knew what I meant." I stare at the words on the screen, and suddenly I want to scream. Zuko is right. IT'S ALL LIES!

"Come on. The White Lotus has service here," Zuko says briskly. "I've called us a car."

His fingers interlace with mine, and he leads me up the rocky beach pathway at a rather quickened pace. I've heard of The White Lotus before, an app-based rideshare service, but I've never used it. Headquartered in the Bay Area, it's widely popular there, although I had no idea its footprint expanded as far as Alaska.

Of course, the driver would happen to be Aleut, too, and recognizes our shared heritage. His chattiness has robbed me of any chance to talk to Zuko, to at least warn him that we're likely walking into a situation where his uncle, my dad, and Ikem are all on the same side. I mean, I think we're on their side, too, just purposely left in the dark on a lot of things. Whether it is lies or light, there is much to be revealed.

The scene upon our arrival should not have shocked me, honestly, but whatever had been keeping me together through all of this, completely shatters. Zuko barges in the door, heads straight for Ikem, and shoves the man against the wall. I crash into Dad's arms despite my earlier misgivings. Kiyi screams.

"Where is my mother?" Zuko demands.

"Nephew, now let's just—

With one hand fisted in Ikem's shirt, Zuko rounds on his uncle and points a shaky finger at him. "Or how about you tell me where she is?"

Iroh's hands shoot up in a placating gesture. "Ursa is safe, and that's what matters! But not everyone is safe, and that's why we're here. Please, we need to tell you something important."

At this, the façade breaks. Iroh catches Zuko with a fierce embrace while Ikem skirts several paces away. A sigh, a shudder, a faint I'm sorry. It's a moment that shouldn't have an audience, yet here we all are. Even though I'm enveloped in strong, safe arms, I wish I could disappear—escape. I bury my face into Dad's chest where my tears have already dampened the fabric of his shirt. The lingering scent of moonpeaches only makes me cry harder.

Sokka emerges from a corner of the room and gently addresses a trembling Kiyi. "Hey firecracker, weren't you gonna show me some cool masks in your room or something?" The young girl sniffles, then accepts the hand he's offering, and they disappear down the hallway together.

Can I go with them? I silently plead. This day started so innocently for me with Kiyi—and the smell of moonpeaches… talking about masks on the wall—and The Blue Spirit Crashing.

Nothing could have prepared me for the series of events that would happen today. And nothing could have prepared me for what Iroh is about to say. A simultaneous, collective movement is made toward the couches and chairs, because news like this is better taken while sitting down.

"There's been an incident." The old man clears his throat or chokes on his words, it's hard to tell which. "At the Marine Science Center. It caught fire last night, and—"

My dad takes the cue and continues, "Most of the animals are safe. Yue was able to set them free into the bay before the place was engulfed in flames. But because she went back to rescue them, she didn't make it out in time herself. It's uhh, all over the news. Some guy named Hahn has been interviewed, and they're looking for you two. There will be a full-scale investigation because they suspect arson as the cause."

I can barely form thoughts much less words. I somehow manage to hear Zuko speaking past the pounding in my ears.

"Are we suspects?" he asks.

Iroh shakes his head.

"But my father is behind this."

"Zuko, don't—"

"Come on, Uncle, you and I both know what he's capable of." Zuko catches my eye for the briefest of moments. "I think we all know, so please. There's no use sugar-coating anything."

I fight the urge to become a self-declared Sugar Queen—just a normal, blissfully unaware almost-sixteen-year-old. In my steadfast quest for answers, I hadn't fully weighed the impact of the truth, past or present. I sure as hell didn't think about who else might suffer the consequences.

Zuko voices my very next thought, "This is all my fault."

"It's not," my dad counters. "You can spend years consumed by self blame, but it won't bring any more or less honor to the deceased's name. Seek justice, yes, but not at the expense of safety."

These words hit home for me, but Zuko doesn't skip a beat. "But it should have been me. Ozai probably went to the Marine Center looking for me. I turned him into the police! My own father. I gave them Mom's files and The Painted Lady's, too. It won't matter, though, because all of that Death Valley stuff will be covered up by now. He goes around terrorizing everyone—killing people even, but because he neatly covers his tracks, it will never end. He's too powerful, too connected. As the primary benefactor for the Marine Science Center foundation, he'll probably give some bullshit speech about how he is so sad for the loss. Meanwhile, there is no proof of his madness. No one knows what Future Fire Industries does behind closed doors!"

"Mai does!" I blurt out suddenly. How could I fucking forget something so important? Zuko raises a brow in confusion, and with all eyes trained on my every movement, I rummage through my purse to procure the USB drive she had given me the other night at Mushi's. "Mai put some files on here about the weapons Future Fire is making," I explain breathlessly. "She gave it to me before we left, and everything has happened so fast since then. I'm sorry I didn't—"

Iroh reaches out to take the device from me. "I will personally make sure this gets to the authorities. You kids have dealt with so much already."

"Make a copy of it first, Uncle," Zuko suggests. "You never know with my father."

"Oh believe me, I know," Iroh says solemnly. "I know far too well."

I shudder at the thought of what Iroh must know and wonder how he's managed to evade his brother's wrath or influence. Then I remember that Zuko said his uncle worked for Future Fire at one point. A flicker of mistrust stirs inside me. What if—

"We've been tracked."

I'm beginning to hate when Zuko finishes my inner thoughts aloud. Because most of what I'm thinking is pretty dark these days.

Zuko, looking very pale, points to his phone and clarifies, "I don't know why Mai is offering to help again, but she warns that Ozai somehow knows we're here." He runs a hand through his hair and mumbles to himself, "He'll kill her next for tipping us off."

My dad asks the hard question. "Iroh, can you think of any way he could have known that you sent the kids here? Or that you were coming here yourself?"

The older man furrows his brow. "I was quite intentional with the travel itineraries, and the paper trail should have been minimal. But like my nephew said, Ozai is very well-connected, so the possibility exists—"

"It was me." Zuko now appears paler than pale. Impossibly pale. Is he going to pass out? "Fuck, I wasn't thinking. I was so careful to use cash everywhere just like you said, Uncle. But the White Lotus… I used the app to get us a car. I haven't used it since… and it's still—"

Iroh nods in understanding, his expression grim. "I see."

My dad looks back and forth between them, bewildered, and I sense the same seedling of mistrust taking root in him that I had felt earlier. It would help if he actually had a clue what we're talking about. The explanation quickly follows, not that it sets anyone at ease.

"My brother's credit card is still tied to a taxi service, of sorts, that Zuko can access from his phone," Iroh says with a sigh. "He used it often last summer when he was interning at Future Fire and did not have a car of his own, yet. When Zuko came to live with me just recently, I checked for any tracking devices Ozai might have placed on the phone, and we deleted a few suspicious apps. But we must have overlooked The White Lotus."

"So where are we going?"

No one had noticed that Sokka had rejoined the group. No one has an answer for him, either.

"So… the megalomaniac is chasing us… we gotta go somewhere he can't find us," Sokka continues. "The Bahamas would be nice and warm. Hmm, maybe… Spain? Or how about… Japan?"

"Don't get too excited there, Sokka," Dad intones. "We can't really afford—"

"Pick anywhere, and I'll send you there," Iroh says, then persists when my dad starts to shake his head. "Hakoda, it's the least I can do… after all the grief my family has caused yours."

Iroh then turns to Ikem, another person who's been forgotten in the mix. "I trust you have a safe place for you and Kiyi?"

"My parents live in a remote village in the Yukon Territory. We'll go visit them until this whole thing blows over."

Ikem's response surprises me. Why wouldn't they go see Ursa? Is it too risky?

Well, I'll take that risk. No more lies. No more sugar-coating.

"Thanks for the offer, Uncle Iroh," I say. "We'd like to go to Ba Sing Se. And we want Zuko to come with us."

[doodleladi]

Day 1: Fire Lady

@zutaraweek

I have this headcanon where Katara has always been curious about Zuko’s dual swords and eventually asks him to teach her  (~˘▾˘)~ also you never know when dem chi-blocking assasination attemps could strike

[zutaraturtleduck]

He has finally spoken! ALL HAIL ZUTARA WEEK!

[sithzutara]

@zutaraweek Day 2: Underwater

i just did this like an hr ago lol but i wanted to do at least two days so here is mermaid!au zutara

[justinnehope]

ZK Week Day 1: Fire Lady (Where Katara is a literal fire lady, or err, Flame Princess)

@zutaraweek

[zutaraverse]

Soulmates. Zutara Week 2017

@zutaraweek

—-> Also on AO3 and Ff so check it out there and all the other things I write :)

—-> Book 3 on Ember Island. Toph works out that Zuko and Katara are soulmates and pushes Katara to figure it out. It should be a happy occasion but tensions run deep between them.

“You and Zuko feel super powerful when you spar…” said Toph offhandedly.

“We’re powerful benders, Toph,” replied Katara as she finished up in the kitchen.

“Just saying…”

Toph walked out whistling.

Katara tried to keep the thought from her mind. It was extremely uncommon for people to find their soulmates nowadays. Gran-gran used to tell them about a time when it was common to find your soulmate - when there was trade bringing people together and infants made it to adulthood and people didn’t die for their country. In war these things were difficult. Most people’s soulmates had died or been killed or never set their eyes on each other.

When a bender finds their soulmate, they say, and they bend together, they both become more powerful.

But that couldn’t possibly be…

She remembered how she had managed to bend more accurately when he first threatened them - she, an untrained, clueless little girl. How somehow she held her own against him…

How in the North Pole her bending was more violent, more determined than it had ever been before - how his made a mockery of her…

How ferocious her water bending was against him and Azula under Ba Sing Se…

But… but of the countless times they fought when he was chasing them, she was under pressure, body throbbing with adrenaline. Surely that would have heightened her skill and her power?

Then how to explain that they were clearly stronger when they sparred even here on Ember Island. They were meant to be on the same side now. She wasn’t fighting for her life or anybody else’s.

Katara chewed her lip pensively all through dinner, absently making the right noises at the right times during the conversation. Involuntarily her eyes kept flicking to Zuko and away.

Please anybody but him, said a voice in her head.

-But what if it is him? Came a smaller voice.

No.

-He has a great body

Shut up about his beautiful chiselled body that I definitely do NOT stare at when its glistening with sweat…

-And is taking Aang’s training really seriously

We all do that. He takes everything seriously anyway

-Not really. Aang would never have mastered fire without him

We don’t know that

-We do. And he helps with the dishes

Because he’s a decent person

-Exactly.

Argh!

-Not to mention the fact he freed dad and Suki

So did Sokka

-It wasn’t Zuko’s dad

No, he’s just plotting to kill his own dad

-For the sake of the world

Same blood

-More impressive he’s on our side then

Still fire nation

-I made friends in the Fire Nation

They didn’t like me when they knew I was a water bender

-But he respects my power

If by respect you mean wanted to destroy it

-He would never have killed me

Yeah. He is honourable

-And determined

Very determined

-At night its his determination to see Aang succeed that calms my worries

Maybe

-And he tries to be kind to me

He is very awkward about it

-Most people would have given up

Hey!

-And he took me to avenge my mother

Yeah…

-So maybe its not so bad if he is my soulmate after all?

Maybe not.

She got up to clear the dishes, and as usual Zuko helped her carry them to the kitchen. He washed beside her in silence, sensing something of an internal struggle raging.

An idea started forming though.

“Zuko? Do you think you and I would win if we fought Aang and Toph?” she asked tentatively.

“I think the Avatar might have something on us,” he replied, a little confused and not a little chuffed she had hypothetically put herself on his team.

“What if he was only air bending?”

“Maybe. It would be close. He’s still stronger because he is the Avatar.”

She nodded.

“We should try tomorrow.”

Toph knew immediately what was going on at Katara’s suggestion.

“Don’t worry Sugar Queen, I won’t be rigging the results. The only reason you would be able to beat us is if… you know,” laughed Toph. Katara scowled at the back of the Earthbender’s head as she turned to take her position.

“Remember Aang, only air bending,” reminded Katara.

“Sure thing! This will be fun!” came Aang’s chirpy reply.

The match started much as expected - all elements creating a powerful blast between them. But then came more control. Aang took to the air, defending fire from above, while Toph was countering Katara’s bending. They were all pretty evenly matched - master on master.

Katara almost allowed herself to relax and squash the little part of her mind that was disappointed. But then that part spoke up.

We’re not bending together, it said. To really see if they were more powerful they needed to bend together as a team. Right now it was Zuko vs Aang next to Katara vs Toph.

Katara stole herself and aimed an attack at Aang just as Zuko did. Steam hissed in the air, clouding Aang’s visibility. Toph took the opening to launch a barrage of rocks at them but Zuko stepped in front of Katara and incinerated them just as Katara summoned water to her to blast Toph off of her feet. Aang was back on the offensive though, blowing Katara’s water back at her. Zuko shifted his position and cut up Aang’s stream of air with a long fire breath so that Katara could knock Aang off of his air scooter too.

The battle continued, but the longer they fought, the more her and Zuko were becoming a team, in sync with one another - and the stronger they got.

Finally an incredibly powerful jet of fire forced their opponents back as an ice wall blocked them in, essentially freezing them in place, catching Toph as her feet were lifted from the ground she she couldn’t connect with it.

“Argh! I’m freezing!” she cried.

“Do you surrender?” called Zuko in jest, laughing despite his breathlessness. Zuko making any sort of pleased or happy noise was still very new to the group - he could see them looking at him sideways whenever he chuckled or laughed or contributed anything amusing. But he couldn’t help it here - the fight had been exhilarating! Katara made as good a partner as she did an opponent.

“Yes! I’m so done with this!” grumbled Toph.

“Yeah, you guys were super cool,” gushed Aang from his icy prison. “But I need a rest now!”

Katara nodded and released them, a frown creasing her brow. Toph was smirking at her as she ran off after Aang.

“You don’t look happy Katara?” tried Zuko. He was being a little forward maybe but she would usually be gloating about something like this. “I thought it was a really good match.”

“It was… its just…oh its nothing…” she said, moving away.

Zuko sighed.

“Look Katara if I’ve done something wrong again then please just tell me!” he said, jogging to keep up and not a little exasperated. He thought they had gotten through this difficult part of their friendship!

“Just leave it Zuko!” she snapped back, continuing her march towards the house.

Zuko caught her shoulder and turned her around to face him.

“No! I don’t know what I’ve done this time and I thought we had finally started working well together! I’m trying really hard to do right by all of you and you’re the only one who can’t accept it. I’m tired of failing all of the time so just tell me what is wrong and I can fix it! I can’t go back to this whole cold shoulder thing that —“

“We’re soulmates!” cried Katara, throwing her fists down and interrupting him. “Alright? That’s what’s been bothering me!” She looked angry and a little frightened, but held her head up and met him eye to eye.

“We’re what? How do you know?” replied Zuko, taken completely by surprise and involuntarily taking a step backwards.

“That fight. We should have been evenly matched - two masters against two masters… but we were far stronger. I’m not even tired. Are you? And every time we’ve fought each other we’ve both been much more powerful than we usually are…” she was looking away now, staring into the sea.

Zuko was silent for a moment, replaying every fight they’d had and every sparring match they had done recently. It was true that when he came up against Katara he enjoyed it far more than any of the others. There was something exhilarating about matching her that he just didn’t have fighting the others. Instances of their fight in the North Pole would replay themselves to him as he travelled the Earth Kingdom, marvelling at how he was still alive, how he’d actually won that confrontation.

“Well?”

“I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry? I know I’m not… the ideal soulmate to have…” he tried, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

“Not ideal?” she repeated, her voice turning to a squeak. “You could say that. You’re the Fire Bender who chased us around the world, and worse, your grandfather personally ordered me to be murdered. You realise that? He’s the reason my mother is dead and my tribe is in pieces?” She was getting worked up and tears pricked behind her eyes.

“I’m related to the man who made my mother disappear too! But I’m also related to the woman who killed my grandfather!” he shouted back. Then sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t want to be me. I’ve not wanted to be me for… a long time. I’d be happier as Lee, working at the tea shop in the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se, dating a cute girl called Jin. But I’m not. I’m the Fire Prince, carrying both Sozin and Roku’s blood… and you’re not dead. So here we are, with some weird connection.”

Katara thought of the other interactions they’d had. How badly she wanted to help him when his uncle was hurt. How she had instinctively offered to heal his scar. How hurt she was that it hadn’t been enough to make him stay… every time she seemed drawn to him, like a string tugging at her heart. Her face pinked. It was a strange connection indeed.

“I was being unfair Zuko, I’m sorry,” she said quietly, bowing her head in shame. “I know you’re not your father or your grandfather. That’s why you’re here and that’s why we… we all… believe in you.”

Zuko angrily wiped a tear from his good eye.

“We don’t… we don’t need to end up together you know, if you don’t want to,” he said, equally quietly. “We can just forget we are soulmates and you can still marry Aang…”

“Who says I want to marry Aang? I do not want to end up with Aang,” she said forcefully, frowning.

“That’s not what he thinks,” responded Zuko, confused at her assertion.

“Well I think what I have to say about the matter is pretty important here, don’t you?” She had her hands on her hips and was looking thunderous.

“Y-yeah, of course. Its just… he acts like you’re his and you do nothing to dissuade him…so I think everybody thinks… and even in the play they thought…I mean I’m happy that you don’t want to be with him…not because he’s not great… and not because of this soulmate thing…but I don’t think he understands you all the time…”

“Oh and do you?” she was half teasing by this point, trying to break him out of his awkward babble he had somehow slipped into.

“I… uh… no I don’t either.” He stopped, frowning.

“I’m joking Zuko. Its fine. Aang is a little brother to me,” she said. And you’re not, she didn’t say. And you do actually understand me, she also didn’t say.

“I guess,” he continued, more subdued and serious, “we work well together, are stronger together. So we should stick close to one another during the battle. We can use this connection to our advantage. I might be dead by the end of it and you won’t need to worry about being my soulmate anymore.” He was looking away, a distant sadness in his eyes.

“Don’t talk like that Zuko! If we stick together neither of us will die… did you see how strong we just were?” she was stroking his upper arm, trying to get the thought of death away from him. A lump rose in her throat. She didn’t want him to feel like he was a burden to everybody around him. She did not want him to think she wanted him dead - that simply wasn’t true anymore. These weren’t just her motherly instincts. This was more. “I don’t… I don’t want you to die, alright? And… and I guess we can sort out what we do about being soulmates when we all make it through…”

Katara realised how close she had become to him, drawn in by worry but lingering anyway. She pulled back as his golden eyes searched her blue for something. “We… we should get back to the house,” she said, uncertainly.

Something was pulling her back towards him. He was still staring.

“What?” she asked, softly, almost wanting to have an excuse to be near him.

“I guess… I guess this time I got lucky,” he murmured, brushing some hair from her face. He gave her a half smile and walked past her, leaving her behind on the beach with her cheeks burning.

[feckyeslife]

It’s the greatest week of the year where everything is right in the world and Zutara happened goddammit 

[te-al-latte]

Day 3 - Steamy Zuko drying himself after sparring with Katara for the first time and Katara realizing that Zuko is a very, very healthy young man. 

Forgive me father for i have sinned yet again. I couldn’t think of any better ideas for this theme so i just did what i wanted ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ deleted my first post of this cause i fixed some stuff 

@zutaraweek

[mothjeans]

“Burned because I beauty loved, I shall not know the highest bliss, And give my name to the abyss Which waits to claim me as its own.”    - Lament of an Icarus

Here my contribution for  @zutaraweek day 4: Icarus. I saw the prompt and knew I just had to draw something for this one because the story of Icarus is just, such a good myth. You can see the full image (without tumblr just eating the quality) here.

[doodleladi]

Day 2: Underwater

@zutaraweek

I wasn’t gonna do anything for today but then I took the underwater part very literally sooooo... taa daa.

[zutaraturtleduck]

Zutara Week, Day 1: Fire Lady - Tired

‘Cuz I can’t help write this naughty scenario~ Another Zutara entry Day 1

@zutaraweek

Katara let herself slump and just let the bed catch her. It was another tiring day as the Fire Lady. Held a medical lecture in a nearby town in the morning, spent lunch with the townspeople, had teatime with some very irritating nobles this early afternoon, and then traveled back. 

As she was about to drift to her sleep she felt someone collapse next to her. She slowly opened her eyes to see her husband’s expressive golden eyes twinkle at her with love.

“How’s my turtleduck? Exhausted?” smiling as she reached out to play with his silky shaggy hair.

“Yeah... Did nothing but debate the whole day... with... with economic... advisers... still not half-way done... national budget...” Zuko was so sleepy that he hardly made coherent sentences. Katara found him so adorable that she felt some of her energy recharged. She made a mental note to free up some time soon to help him.

She got up stealthily to take a quick bath then put on her short sleeping gown. She got back to the bed with some clothes for his husband and gently nudged him.

“Zuko... Love...” she removed his boots. “Come on, let’s get you changed to more comfortable clothing for a more satisfying nap.” Her hands started unbuttoning and untying his robes when he suddenly grabbed her wrists, pinning her down on their bed.

“Hey! I thought you were exhausted!” Katara said defensively, but deep inside she liked the game Zuko was playing.

“How can I feel tired when my lovely wife is undressing me?” Zuko said in a teasing sexy tone. His lips fell on hers. At first it was slow, enough to convey and savor unspoken words of love between the two of them. Then little by little it became more urging, more passionate.  

Katara’s kisses moved down from Zuko’s alluring mouth to his strong jaws. She knew very well how he would drown with pleasure once she started sucking and giving love bites to his slender neck. It made him vulnerable to her, thus giving her the chance to turn the tables around. Now, she straddled on him.

“Don’t you dare sleep on me before you finish what you’ve started, Fire Lord...” Katara challenged her husband. 

“You better keep up, Master Waterbender... Or should I say, Fire Lady?” She saw a competitive glint on his eyes, making her smirk, igniting her own competitiveness. 

Katara’s kisses were trailed down to Zuko’s exposed muscled chest while his hands were caressing her toned thighs, hiking up her already short dress. As much as they looked forward listening to each others moans, groans, pants, the sounds of their love-making, filing their senses with love and pleasure, familiar sounds interrupted their supposed to be night of carnal gratification.

The sounds of two crying toddlers, and two arguing kids brought the two adults back to reality. Katara looked at the direction where the main door of their bedroom was and then, back to Zuko. As if reading her mind, Zuko nodded, and the two of them immediately made themselves presentable. Zuko changed his clothes, while Katara grabbed a random robe to wrap herself with. 

A moment later, the door opened and hell broke lose.

“MOOOMMMMYYYY!!!!!” A three year old boy cried for Katara.

“DAAAADDDDDYYYY!!!” A three year old girl cried for Zuko.

“Not moon peaches... HOT!!! Older brother... Older sister...” the twins explained to their parents, showing their burning tongues, as they point towards the door.

Katara handed the boy to Zuko, happy to be with his father and twin sister. “Play with them, I’ll deal with the older two.” She said, looking scarier than usual.

“Hey! Mom is coming!” Katara heard their six year old daughter behind the door that separated their bedroom from the receiving area.

“You talk!” Their eight year old son replied.

“You’re the eldest one! You’re the one who ate the real moon peaches!”

“Why me? It was your scheme!” 

“What trouble did the two of you do again?” Katara asked with the ‘you’re-so-dead’ aura around her.

 “MOM!” the two older kids shouted by surprise. They looked at their mother before answering.

“Mom, you’re wearing dad’s robe again!” the eldest daughter pointed out.

“Did we just interrupt something?” the eldest son innocently asked.

Who would have thought that after years of marriage, and four children, here they are blushing like caught teenagers.

[sithzutara]

@zutaraweek 2017: Day One~ Fire Lady

[irisplumeria]

“You mean you want to… Here? ON APPA’S SADDLE?”

After Aang puts Toph in the dog house, Zuko and Katara try to help the young couple kiss and makeup - only to reveal a steamy secret.

(Note: This fic is not actually M-Rated as nothing explicit happens, but I didn't want to risk it.) 

@zutaraweek - #3 Steamy. 

[zutaraverse]

Icarus.  Zutara Week 2017

@zutaraweek

So. I know this is late. And fluffy. But here it is… 

Should also say I’m posting these on AO3 and Ff so do check them (and other things I’m writing) there if you fancy it :)

Katara wiped the tears from her eyes. She had been stupid. She should have learned that if you fly too close to the sun you will fall… but she had allowed herself to believe that it would actually all turn out fine. She just felt so idiotic - her, the daughter of the sea and moon, playing with the sun.

She was wracked with nervousness. What was she going to tell Zuko?

It was the councilmen. They were the last straw. The noblemen she could take, the noblewomen got to her a little more but she could brush them off. The staff had been replaced so they didn’t snigger behind her back anymore, the guards she tried not to think about. But the council?

She had worked so hard to gain their respect as ambassador but now that she and Zuko were together officially, all her own work suddenly meant nothing. Nothing!

Everything she said now was followed by snide comments about her and Zuko. Whenever they agreed on something there were knowing glances, when they disagreed it was treated like they were going to break up. The disagreements were encouraged. It seemed everybody wanted them to end it, wanted some pale skinned, silent doll to take her place as future Fire Lady.

For a moment, everything seemed fantastic. She had managed to find a calling being ambassador for her Tribe. After the rebuilding she was at a loss, now accustomed to the fast paced travelling life. Coming to the Fire Nation gave her the chance to enter the political scene on behalf of her tribe, to make sure they could regain a permanent place in the world once more.

It was difficult to build those wings.

She was young, and one of the few women on the council. Her sister tribe in the north would not negotiate with her but would continually refer to her father, even if every question required weeks to get a reply. But she made her own way, found her strength and proved to them she was more than capable. She made herself indispensable to the North, made the South an important trade partner to the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom.

And she was happy. All her friends visited her and when they weren’t around she got to enjoy Zuko’s companionship. They became close friends, political allies, sparring partners. There were only a few hours in the day they were apart. Tentatively, their friendship turned into brushing hands, heads resting on shoulders, cuddles in the evenings - stolen kisses in the gardens… passionate ones in the bedrooms.

So she thought… she was already happy… why couldn’t she be happier? Perhaps she could make it all the way to the sun.

Gran-gran’s words came back to her then; “If you get too close to the fire, Katara, you will burn.”

And so, the wings she had created for herself, the place she had dug out for herself, had gone up in flames in front of her eyes. What else could she do but retreat to the water to treat her burns?

The door to the study flew open and Zuko strode in, his face thunderous. He took in Katara, tears streaming from her eyes as she sat at her desk, hands trying to stop her nose running. He shut the door quietly.

“Katara?” he asked tentatively, coming closer. His voice was soft, hurt but not confused.

“I can’t do this Zuko,” she replied between sobs. “They all hate me.”

Zuko moved to her side of the desk and pulled her to her feet and into an embrace.

“You don’t have to Katara. I… I don’t want to make you do anything,” he told her quietly, stroking her hair, his voice wavering.

“I just… I just need to go home,” she replied, pulling away.

“And where is home, Katara,” he asked, finding her eyes.

Katara wanted to break down all over again. She closed her eyes. Where was home?

It was here! Here is this stupidly humid land, with silly people and spicy food - her bed was the one covered in silks where the sun shone through the glass every morning. The arena was where she sparred, the gardens where she relaxed. This. This was her home! The South - it no longer was the land of her childhood. It had changed - with her help - to something completely different. She didn’t know the people - there were now too many, bringing traditions from the north foreign to her. And the thought of sleeping in firs on ice held nothing but a faint nostalgia for her.

“Katara,” whispered Zuko, seeing the torment going on behind her lids.

“My home… my home is here Zuko. But my wings have melted and I’m falling and I don’t know what else to do but leave…”

“Katara…you’re not doing this alone. And… and I know it’s hard…it will take a long time for them to come around to the idea… but I want you to know you’re not falling because… well… I’m here to catch you. So if you trust me, I’ll make sure you never hit the ground.” Golden eyes stared intensely into blue. They were also welling with tears, Zuko’s voice almost breaking. “I love you Katara.”

Somehow Katara felt stronger, as if an unexpected gust of wind had taken her airborne again. She swallowed painfully. He had almost died for her already. Could she trust him to catch her? Perhaps she could still fly.

“I trust you Zuko. I love you too.”

[kdinthecity]

Fantasy Part II

This is for Zutara Smut Week, “Virginity.” Not so much because it kinda mentions it in the story, but more so because I just lost mine, in the literary sense. This is probably the most explicit thing I’ve ever written. It’s a little suggestive after the cutline, but the real deal is toward the end. If it’s no good, then just remember, it’s my first time! And that’s reality, folks!

There were no boys close to her age in her tribe growing up except for her brother, so Katara didn’t think about dating or marriage that much. It was hard to imagine the future with the war going on, but Katara knew that if she were to find a husband someday, he’d have to come from somewhere else. The Northern Water Tribe, most likely, since she’d probably have to go there anyway to learn waterbending. Gran Gran hinted that their sister tribe may not see fit to train her, though, while stating outright that they would most certainly find her a husband.

That wasn’t a bad thing… or was it?

Gran Gran seemed to think so. With limited knowledge and zero experience, Katara had no idea what to think. Sokka was annoying and stinky and sexist. She could never marry anyone like that. Shouldn’t she find another waterbender—to increase the likelihood of passing on the genes to their children? But Katara didn’t even know all the specifics on how babies were made, not really.

It was her friend, Nutha, who let her in on some fascinating, yet somewhat disturbing details. Katara wouldn’t realize until much later just exactly how Nutha knew so much.

“Does it hurt?”

“At first. It burns. But we’re surrounded by ice, Katara. So relief is readily available.”

“But it’ll feel good eventually?”

“Yeah. There are places, spots to rub that feel really good. You can find them yourself, actually.”

“R-r-really?”

“Yeah, for me it helps to think about something… sexy. Like a really hot guy is rubbing me there instead. You should try it sometime.”

So, Katara developed her fantasy. She’s in an igloo, so there’s plenty of snow and ice for “relief.” And the “really hot guy” is some waterbender from the North, but all she can see is his blue parka as she imagines intense blue eyes adoring her and his fingers furiously working her. Privacy was hard to come by in her small village, though, so she only managed to find the right time and place to experiment with this vision once before her whole world was turned upside down.

 True, an orgasm could do that, too—upend someone to where nothing makes sense, yet the end goal feels so clear, so certain—like destiny. Everything crashes while building at the same time. It burns and it freezes.

 Meeting Aang felt like destiny to Katara. But she wasn’t always so certain with him. And one day, everything they’d built together came crashing down.

 With Zuko, though, she burned.

 But he’s not a waterbender. Not even Water Tribe. It doesn’t make sense.

 That thought remained frozen in her mind, along with a fantasy, long since forgotten.

Several years later, she brought Zuko back to her homeland for his second visit there. Neither of them wanted to acknowledge his first. Katara often wondered if she went back to her innocent, virgin, Fire Nation-hating self that day, would she even believe the words she might say? That she and Zuko had been dating for over a year, and that they’d fucked on Ember Island beaches, near the turtle duck pond in the palace gardens, on red silk sheets in royal chambers, and countless times on the Fire Lord’s desk.

 But never in the South Pole.

 And as circumstances would have it on this particular trip, they wouldn’t get to, either.

 Zuko knew about the igloo fantasy by now, and Katara saw the hungry way he looked at them during their stay. She also shared the depth of his disappointment when they were forced to sleep apart, and his accommodations were none other than the iconic ice hut, of course.

 So when the opportunity presented itself sometime later on Kyoshi Island, Katara created their own igloo in a secluded cove with the sea at her command. Its sole purpose was immediately known when smoldering golden eyes caught hers and then slowly raked across her body.

 His are not blue, though. Like in my fantasy.

 Zuko’s clothes weren’t blue, either, and there was sand instead of snow. And he wasn’t even her husband! Everything was terribly wrong about this picture, and he could sense it, too… and so, because he’s Zuko, he did the craziest thing.

 He proposed.

 Then the igloo melted with a wave of her hand, and her doubts washed away with it. She was ready to give herself fully to this man—her fiancé—and this new fantasy they were creating together.

 The color of the clothes and even the nations they represented didn’t matter once they were stripped from sweating bodies and cast to the ground. Zuko’s half-lidded gaze continued to scale the length of her before his fingers danced across bronze bare skin. She reached toward him to return the gesture, but in a sudden and swift motion, he cupped her breast with one hand and grabbed her ass with the other while claiming her lips with a searing kiss. She pressed herself into him, trapping his erection between them and eliciting a needy moan from his mouth into hers.

 That was all it took for him to lower them to the ground and push her back into the sand. She opened herself to him, so ready and wanting, but he paused to look at her position and frowned. She knew he was thinking of a certain Ember Island encounter and much frustration involving the sand.

 She laughed out loud. All this time she couldn’t imagine anything worse than fucking in the freezing cold snow.

 He quirked a brow at her, and then almost without warning, he encircled her waist with a fiery grip and flipped her over so that she was on her hands and knees. One of his hands slipped down between her legs and found that spot she’d learned about so many years ago, but only he knew how to manipulate until she melted.

 While he teased her clit with practiced fingers, his other arm snaked around her midsection to pinch a pert nipple. She hadn’t exactly been thrilled about the new position since she liked to look at him and well, touch him, too, but the attention he lavished in all the right places had earned him forgiveness for the time being.

 Besides, his throbbing cock pressed into the cleft of her ass served as the ultimate arousal. She knew what was coming, but she didn’t know when. Patience was never the young Fire Lord’s virtue, though, so after a soft nibble or two on her shoulder, he pushed himself inside her.

 He started slowly as if testing different angles. When he hit just the right spot, Katara found herself fisting the sand for some sort of anchor. She clinched around him and let out a half-moan, half-whimper. It was signal enough for him to quicken his thrusts, gripping her hips to guide him as he pulled out and slammed back in, hard and fast.

 So. Fucking. Good. Although at this pace, he probably won’t last long.

 Except that he did. Katara’s knees started to tremble as she felt her climax rising. She leaned over to press her forehead into her folded arms, and just that subtle movement provided a new sensation that sent her over the edge. There was sand in her hair and sand in her mouth, but Tui and La be damned, she didn’t care. She’d find a way to build igloos out of sand if it meant she could ride this wave forever.

 And with Zuko, it felt like forever. Like destiny.

“FUCK. Yes, Zuko! YES!” she cursed.

 His release followed soon after along with his own proclamation.

 “Katara… I love you.”

 And he said it more like a prayer.

This is a continuation of this post, called Fantasy.

It also directly correlates with Chapter 27, “Blue Hunt,” in a multi-chapter fic of mine, The Dragon and the Wolf.

Which also happens to be part of an extensive universe, so there is much backstory to the Zutara relationship and Zuko’s marriage proposal that is not exactly fleshed out here. Just in case you thought that was random...