#zuko: *nodding solemnly*

[guest-1-2-3]

Random atla trope I love—Katara and Zuko bonding over their shared ex, Jet. Bitching about him as a bonding activity

[martyrbat]

my favorite characters are where i just know they got a raging yeast infection. their pussy is like a bakery and brother i am prepared to di(n)e

[k-dokja]

Rewatching Avatar to write Zuko because I saw some Zuko and once again I need to write Zuko.

”E12, The Western Air Temple.

"How are you fitting in?"

Zuko glances up at you with a hesitant smile, relaxing slightly when he sees you entering his room. "It's... going." He seems tired, despondent even. You're not surprised to see him in such a state after the way your friends had received him earlier.

"Sound optimistic," you sit down next to him with a genuine smile on your lips, settling comfortably on his bed. "I can imagine why they didn't take well to you."

He forces an awkward laugh, "I know, I know," he sighs, "I'm surprised you didn't chase me away, too, seeing how..."

You shrug with genuine nonchalance, "I can afford the brevity because I have seen you in your better days more often than your worst ones," you lower your voice to a whisper. "Besides, Aang needs a firebending teacher and you're our best choice."

"Oh," he breathes out, turning away, "that's very... pragmatic of you."

You'd be obtuse to not notice the disappointment in his voice when he says that. "Either way, it's nice to see you again," you say, attempting to lighten up the mood, "you know, as you, not as Lee or the Crown Prince, just... Zuko."

"Just Zuko," he echoes your words with a tentative nod, "that sounds... nice."

"It's better than nice," you nudge at his side, "now that, my friend Zuko is here with us, we'll be unstoppable."

At your words, Zuko can't help but smirk slightly, "I'm lucky to have a friend who holds me in such high esteem," he says solemnly, "I can only hope I'll live up to your expectations."

"Hey," you shrug, "there's no expectation, as long as you're able to help Aang train, I'll be happy."

Zuko opens his mouth as if wanted to say something, but he swallows and nods at the last second. "I'll try my best," he lets out a shaky breath, "if nothing else, I at least have that going for me."

"I've seen you bend," you think back to your brief encounters with him, "not extensively but... I think you'll manage, and if nothing else, at least, there'll be a start."

"Pragmatism and optimism," Zuko says, slightly amused, "you really have the best of both worlds."

You beam, "Wait until you see what else I have to offer."

It is meant as a jest, but by the time you become conscious of how it comes across, your eyes have been entranced by his. The gold of his eyes warmed into a honey shade, and briefly, you glance downwards.

"Yeah, can't wait," he replies and the breathy quality of his words makes you realise the error of your misstep.

"Uh, anyway," you stand up abruptly, "it was nice catching up with you, I guess we'll see you around more often, huh?"

You try to not look at him as you recover from your fluster, but the slight crack of awkwardness in his voice is clear to your ears. "Yeah, of course," he says, clearing his throat, "I'll see you around."

"Night, Zuko," you turn back to offer him a comforting smile, but it is as forced as anything you see on his face.

He nods at you, but his gaze remains transfixed on the floor. As you dash out of his room, You try to not dwell on that or the hint of blush on his ears.

Better to not think about the line you almost crossed when he had barely managed to get into the good graces of your friends.

[mysticwolfshadows]

Taken - Zutara - Part 48

First / Previous / Next / Masterpost

Aang and Sokka are away for just over a month. They brought Bato back with them, to be the coordinator with the invasion force. Their letters had gone out rather successfully, with everyone they met, from the Mechanist to one of Jeong Jeong's men, arriving just before Aang and Sokka.

Sokka was, of course, shocked to see Suki. He was also excited to see the Mechanist, and the trio were quickly embroiled in conversation, as Sokka excitedly told the Mechanist about an idea he had. Then, the two men were off to run some tests, Suki trailing behind to make sure they didn't go overboard and blow something up.

Bato was, of course, delighted to see Zuko. It had been revealed to the Earth King and the Generals that Zuko was, well, that Zuko. The one that, according to Jeong Jeong's emissary who was funnily enough named Seong, the Fire Nation was currently raging with propaganda that after his death in the North, the Water Tribe had taken Zuko's body and eaten it.

"That's barbaric," Katara had gagged. "The Water Tribe would never."

"Yeah," Bato snickered, an arm around Zuko. "There's not enough meat on this kid to bother."

Seong had not found it amusing, despite how Zuko nodded solemnly in agreement.

The planning continued. A woman from the Foggy Swamp came to get planning details. Pakku showed up, with a couple dozen male warriors and female healers. Some soldiers that had managed to escape from Omashu arrived around the time that Taka and Rinzo of all people arrived.

"Princess Katara!" The two men had said, bowing to her. Then, as if realizing that Zuko was there, bowed to him as well. "Prince Zuko!"

Turns out, Luitenant Jee was now Captain Jee, and was pretending to keep up appearances in the Fire Nation, when he was really smuggling Fire Nation civilians trying to avoid the new draft out of the country. They'd run into the Southern Warriors just after Sokka had left, and the two guards had immediately volunteered to go to Ba Sing Se to help with planning.

Sokka had nearly cried when he saw the two guards trailing after Katara again.

With just over two months left until the invasion, they had everything finalized. Sokka and the Mechanist had created machines, underwater machines, that would get them past the Gates of Azulon. The Earth King's forces, a good half the army and a portion of the remaining Dai Li, would march to General Feng's fortress, where the rest of their allies would be waiting, ready to march with them.

The Gaang, however, would fly ahead. They would infiltrate the Fire Nation, and prepare the meeting spot at the Black Cliffs. And, it would be easier to train Aang's firebending in the Fire Nation.

"But I won't need it during the invasion," Aang whinged as they were packing up Appa. "Why do I have to start now?"

"Because the eclipse won't last the entire invasion," Zuko said, for what felt like the hundredth time. "And there's some things you really need to learn in case the eclipse ends before we're finished." His tone was grave, as he looked around at everyone. "We won't have another chance like this before the comet arrives, so we have to succeed. There won't be an opportunity to retreat."

Katara nodded in agreement, joining Aang and Zuko up on Appa's saddle. Sokka and Suki helped Toph up with them, and the six of them were off flying over the Earth Kingdom, towards the Fire Nation, and the prelude to their one chance at ending the war before another genocide.

First / Previous / Next / Masterpost

[stardust948]

~*~

Katara gave him a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Zuko didn’t blame her. A small gleam caught his attention.

“Your necklace.”

Katara placed a hand against it as her expression fell. “I guess it’s too Water Tribe, huh.” She solemnly took it off. “I don’t have any pockets.”

“I’ll hold onto it.”

Katara nodded and gave it to him. Zuko slipped it into his pocket where something brushed against his hand. His eyes widened some. He completely forgot about this.

“I uh, brought this in Ba Sing Se.” Zuko pulled blue necklace. “I know it can never replace you Mother’s necklace, but…”

Katara gasped. The necklace was a plain saved for the sapphire stone in the center.

“It’s perfect.” Katara pulled her hair back. “May you?”

Zuko’s cheeks warmed as he clasped the necklace around her neck. Katara gave him a smile. A real one.

“Thank you, Zuko.”

A smile grew on his own face. “Y-You’re welcome.”

~*~

[raewritez]

for the want of the sun | chapter sixteen: another climb

a/n: hey guys…long time no see…

Zuko and I are by Iroh’s side the moment we hear him wake. It’s morning, and songbirds have found their perch in the forest outside. The sun streams through the rotting panels of wood, painting Iroh’s weary face in soft light.

“Uncle,” Zuko urges. Iroh breathes in, prying open his eyes. Zuko releases a sigh of relief, and so do I. “You were unconscious,” he says. “It was a surprise attack. Azula did this to you.”

Iroh pushes himself up. “Somehow, that’s not surprising.”

I stare at him in worry. “How are you feeling? I mean, obviously not great. I tried making the salve you taught me but I don’t know if I did it right-”

“I’m fine, my dear. Thank you.”

Zuko stands up and rushes to the kettle that we put on the fire. Neither of us really know how to make tea, we just used some of Iroh’s herbs that he had stashed away. I’d seen him do it enough times, but he makes it look easy.

He carries a cup of steaming tea over to us. “Here, Uncle. I hope we made it the way you like it.”

Iroh takes it from his hands gratefully and takes a sip. I see his eyes widen, his jaw clench.

Zuko looks at him hopefully. “How is it?”

“Good!” Iroh exclaims, a little forcefully. “Very, uh, bracing!”

Zuko gives me a satisfied smile. I give him a thumbs up, but when he turns away, I give Iroh an apologetic grin. He shakes his head with a smile.

Then, Zuko says: “Uncle, I’ve been thinking,” and I know that whatever he’s about to say is cause for concern.

“It’s only a matter of time until I run into Azula again,” he continues. “I’m going to need to know more advanced skills to face her.” He pauses. He sends the both of us a look. “I know what you two are going to say; she’s my sister and I should try to get along with her.”

I shake my head. “Um, no? She’s insane. And I’m not a firebender, so…”

Iroh nods. “Yes. She’s crazy and she needs to go down.” He pushes himself to stand, groaning as he does so. I reach out to help him but he waves me away. “It’s time to resume your training.”

Zuko nods solemnly. “Thank you, Uncle. I’m ready for this.”

—

He and Iroh hike up to the mountain peak in the evening, and hours pass before I hear the thunder. 

I’d busied myself with cooking, mixing together vegetables that I’d found in the overgrown garden outside the cabin. There’s carrots, tomatoes…not quite enough for a meal, but we’re working with what we can get. I spend most of the day alone. My mind wanders, and my chest hurts when I think about things for too long, but the sun is out and the grass is lit golden in the evening and I convince myself that it’s enough. When the rain comes in, I watch it through the window, and listen to the quiet melody of the droplets on the roof. 

When Iroh breaks through the door, obviously troubled, I stand, heart already racing. “What did he do?”

Iroh shakes his head, clearly distressed. “He wants to bend lightning. I told him he is not ready, but he won’t listen.”

“He’s out there?” The sky is dark, and the wind has picked up drastically. As usual, the mention of Zuko stirs anxiety in my body.

Iroh nods. “I’m still weak. I can’t…”

I nod. “It’s okay. I’m going.” I have no coat or protection from the rain, so I make my way to the door.

“Be careful, please,” Iroh says. 

The grass is slippery under my feet, and the wind whips at my face, and I scan my surroundings for Zuko. I hope I won’t find him fried somewhere.

It hasn’t been ten minutes when I see him, figure moving slowly down the mountain with shoulders hunched. “Zuko!” I yell, walking as fast as I can without slipping. I call a few more times before he notices me.

I’m shaking my head when I approach him. “What were you thinking?” I yell. “Bending lightning? You know how dangerous that is! You’ve been out here for hours…” I pause my lecture when I realize that the drops falling down his face are not just rain, and that his good eye is tinged in red, and that his face is raw with emotion that makes him look like a young boy.

I fall silent, staring. The rain is loud around us. He won’t meet my eyes, his gaze cast down to the ground, and his shoulders begin to shake.

“Zuko,” I whisper. I take a step forward. I’m surprised when he falls into me, arms reaching, pulling me to him. “I-”

“Please,” he chokes out, and his breaths are short and fast. “I can’t-” He’s shaking, and I grab his wrists that are placed on my shoulders.

“Zuko, breathe. It’s okay. You’re okay.” I’m trying, but he’s not with me. Not really. If he were more conscious, I’m sure he’d recoil at the touch we’re sharing, at his vulnerability. He’d be pulling away, but right now he’s not, so I’m trying. I place my hand on his chest. “Zuko. Look at me.”

He does. His eyes meet mine, glossed with tears and rainwater, a dull brown. I recognize then what the look is on his face: defeat. He shakes his head. “Why does this always happen? Why is it always so hard?”

I don’t know what to say. I don’t have an answer for him.

I pull him close to me. His arms wind around my waist, clutching, and I’ll let him have this moment of respite. He’s quiet, and I almost don't catch his whispered “I’m sorry,” but I do. I just hold him. I hold him until the rain stops.

—

We leave the next morning. Iroh’s well enough to get back on the road, the road to wherever we’re going. Our ostrich horses managed to follow us, so we saddle them up, Zuko with his Uncle, and me alone. Zuko avoids my eyes the whole morning. 

It’s later, when the afternoon sun is high and sweltering, and Zuko’s nonstop navigation has Iroh and I catching eyes that the day turns for the worse.

Iroh groans loudly, looking to see if Zuko noticed. When he receives no response, he does it again, until Zuko pulls back on the reins, closing his eyes in frustration that has me smirking. “Maybe we should take a break,” he says.

“No, please, don’t stop for me,” Iroh says, clutching his chest in faux pain. 

Zuko glares back at him. “Get off.”

Iroh slides off the saddle, triumphant. I hop to the ground, my knees almost buckling as I hit the earth, and my body screaming in the pain that comes from sitting still for hours on end. But almost as soon as I’m standing straight, I leap back, an arrow narrowly missing my foot.

“Woah!” I exclaim, tripping. 

“What was that?” Zuko calls, but the answer comes in the rumbling coming up the trail. A group of men dressed in red costumes surrounds us, an array of weapons raised. I step back quickly, coming to Zuko’s side, and he raises his hands in defense.

“Colonel Mongke!” Iroh exclaims. “What a pleasant surprise!”

A tall man with intricate facial hair lifts his head in disdain. “If you’re surprised we’re here, then the Dragon of the West has lost a few steps.”

Zuko glances at his uncle. “You know these guys?”

“Sure,” Iroh grins. Colonel Mongke and the Rough Rhinos are legendary. Each one is a different kind of weapon specialist. They are also a very capable singing group.”

I snicker. “Singing? Like acapella?”

The man glares down at me. “We’re not here to give a concert. We’re here to apprehend some fugitives!”

Iroh sighs. “Would you like some tea first? Jasmine, maybe? I’d love some.”

“Enough stalling,” the man scoffs. “Round them up!”

One of the other men begins swinging a ball and chain around, aiming at Iroh. Zuko shoots flames towards the group, while I leap over and quickly push at his pressure points. The chain falls to the ground with a clatter. When I look back, the men are slumped on the ground, and Iroh is pulling my arm to drag me to the ostrich horses. I grab the horn of the saddle, putting my foot in the stirrup before pushing myself to sit on top. 

“Go, go!” I yell, kicking at the horse’s sides. 

The three of us gallop down the trail, leaving the men in the dust. My chest is heaving as I try to catch my breath. I catch Zuko’s eyes, the shock prominent in both our faces. 

Iroh breathes in. “It’s always nice to see old friends.”

I can’t help the look I give him. It’s been a long day.

“Too bad you don’t have any friends that don’t want to kill you,” Zuko snarks, steering the reins. 

Iroh assumes a pensive look. “Hmm. Old friends that don’t want to kill me…”

—-

taglist: @aquaamethyst96 @kaygilles

[jadebeesworld]

Unfolding Bonds: The Evolution of Zuko and Katara's Relationship

Chapter 5: The time Zuko realized just how much Katara really meant to him and how much of an asshole Jet really was.

One Two Three Four Six Seven Eight Nine Ten

{Warning there is mention of implied rape}

Later that school year, as Zuko was wrapping up a project before spring break, his phone rang unexpectedly. It was nearing midnight, and the sudden call startled him from his concentration. Glancing at the caller ID, he saw Katara's name flashing on the screen.

Katara Calling

With a mix of curiosity and concern, Zuko answered swiftly. "Hey Katara, what's up?"

Silence greeted him on the other end, broken only by the sound of Katara's rapid, uneven breathing.

"Katara?" Zuko's voice rose, tinged with worry. "Kat, are you there? Can you hear me?"

"Zuko…" Her voice, barely a whisper, trembled with fear. "Zu… Help."

Panic surged through Zuko as he imagined the worst. Without a second thought, he grabbed his keys and dashed out the door.

"Where are you, Kat?" Zuko's voice shook with urgency. "I'm coming, I promise."

Still, Katara remained silent, her faint sobs echoing through the line. Zuko drove frantically, his mind racing as he tried to recall Katara's whereabouts. The memory of Jet's recent party flickered in his mind, a possible clue to her location.

Although he couldn't remember Jet's exact address, Zuko reassured Katara that he was on his way, determined to reach her as quickly as possible.

Minutes stretched into eternity until the line suddenly went dead. Zuko's heart clenched with dread as he redialed, but the call went straight to voicemail.

"Kat, it's Zuko." His voice quivered with fear. "Please, call me back. I'm doing everything I can to find you. I'm terrified, Kat. I need to know you're safe."

With each unanswered call and text, Zuko's anxiety mounted. Twenty agonizing minutes later, he found Katara unconscious on a sidewalk several blocks from Jet's house.

Gently, Zuko approached her, his heart breaking at her flinch when he touched her. "Kat, it's me, Zuko," he murmured softly. "I'm here to help. You're safe now."

Carefully, he lifted her into his car, his anger simmering as he noticed the signs of assault on her battered form. Determinedly, he drove her to the emergency room, never letting go of her hand.

"Kat, I'll make him pay for this," Zuko vowed fiercely. "I'll always protect you."

As Katara drifted in and out of consciousness, she pleaded with the nurses not to inform Sokka. Zuko nodded solemnly, promising to respect her wishes. Throughout the ordeal, he remained steadfast by her side, offering silent support and unwavering reassurance.

[the-badger-mole]

The Djinn Dilemma - Chapter 22

Azula stopped pacing and turned to Katara abruptly. Annoyance welled up in her when she saw the djinn lounging on her bed as if it were hers. She didn’t quite dare hit Katara again, but she snatched the almost full glass of sparkling wine from the night stand and dumped it on the magazine- and consequently Katara. Instead of getting angry, which Azula was expecting, Katara raised an eyebrow and frowned at her.

"That was unnecessary,” she said. She waved her hand, and to Azula’s surprise, the wine was drawn from the magazine, Katara’s robe and the bed. With another wave, Katara put the wine back into the glass. Azula watched her with wide eyes.

“You’re a water bender,” she whispered.

“I’m a djinn,” Katara countered. Azula shook her head.

“I recognize that form,” she insisted. She and Zuko had taken martial arts since they were young children, as had their father and uncle, and their father and grandfather before them. Though they studied mostly the fire bending form, she had seen demonstrations of all four forms. Katara had used the water form.

“The legends about the Four Forms…are real?” Azula asked in awe. Katara thought about denying it for a moment, but she shrugged.

“Well, not anymore,” she replied. She sighed and stood up. The magazine, wine and fruit tarts disappeared as she moved. It happened too fast for Azula to see the moment of change, although she was watching Katara the entire time. It was jarring.

“What happened?” Azula asked. “Why did bending leave the world?”

“Some guy made a wish,” Katara responded nonchalantly. “I think his name was Noatak or something. He didn’t like bending, so he had his djinn get rid of it.”

“Can you bring it back?” Azula leaned forward with an eager gleam in her eye. Katara took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.

“I have the power to bring bending back, yes,” she said. “But it would be massively disruptive.” Azula smirked.

“Sometimes a little disruption can be a good thing.”

“Ma-ssive-ly,” Katara repeated, punctuating each syllable with hand gestures. “I said massively disruptive. I know you only care about your wants and needs, but suddenly bringing super powers back to the untrained multitudes might ruin your day, too.”  Azula nodded in agreement.

“You’re right,” she said. “Of course, power like that should only go to the elite.”

“Let me guess, you are the elite?” Katara regarded Azula with a bored look.

“You’re learning.” 

Read the rest of the chapter here

With this chapter, I have officially caught up to where I left off on FFN. Starting next week, I'm going to be posting the last few chapters on both sites.

[shadowsong26x]

image description: a set of tumblr tags

#i imagine they use this during those world leader meetings with the straightest faces imaginable #sokka says a joke that flies over the adults heads #and aang nods solemnly 'pprrng bum bum prngg bum' #and sokka turns to him with an equally solemn nod 'thank you for your support avatar aang' #they keep codeswitching all throughout the meeting trying to break each other's pokerface #firelord zuko: *seriously trying his best to decipher what they're saying* maybe katara was right and i need more sleep #it's all fun and games until hakoda and bato pull out their own secret language #aang #sokka #atla

Aang and Sokka make up an entire secret language but it’s actually just different inflections of lol

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Azula hatches a plan to set you up with the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors

Part one here (but this post is kind of seperate and you can read this imagine without really knowing what happened in part one)

Azula’s POV

Azula caught Katara by her locker just before school had started. She was apparently too quiet and Katara jumped when she turned to find Azula right beside her. “Jesus Azula!” she gasped grabbing her locker “don’t sneak up on people!”. “I wasn’t, I made my approach obvious to anyone with a smidge of self-awareness...”. Katara glared and Azula remembered why she was here and sighed “but that’s not important....what is, is that I know someone who likes a very close friend of yours and I think we should set them up”. Katara frowned “why on earth would I do that?”. “Because I know they’d make an amazing couple and my friend could make yours very happy, so what do you say?”. Katara paused “who is it?”. Azula smirked “not so fast, you have to agree to help me before i divulge that information”. Katara raised an eyebrow and then thought “hmmm well you only have 3 friends, one is dating your brother, the second is dating you so that leaves y/n, it’s her isn’t it?”. Azula cursed her school for only having 3 people she didn’t dislike and sighed “fine yes but you don’t know which of your friends y/n likes!”. “Well it’s not me Zuko, Aang or Toph. So that leaves Sokka and Suki but as Sokka’s my brother you wouldn’t have described him as a close friend so I bet it’s Suki”. “Ow so when we’re in class you can work out basic math without asking a hundred dumb questions but now you’re a genius?” Azula asked. “I worked it out?” Katara smiled happily “wow y/n likes Suki....now you mention it y/n does always clean up your messes with her....I see it”. “Great, so how will you help me set them up?” Azula asked. 

Your POV

You showed up at school the next day and confidently walked up the path. Mai was stood outside with Zuko and spotted you falling in step with you. “Ready for the worst day of your life?” Mai asked. “Why has Zuko got his ponytail haircut again?” you shot back and Zuko touched his hair “hey!”. “That was a bad day for us all” you nodded solemnly and Mai hit your arm “no, because today is the day we set you up with Suki”. “Ow yeah the kyoshi warrior right?” you asked and Mai rolled her eyes “you can pretend all you want but we know you like her”. You smirked “if you say so” and ran straight into Suki herself. You’d been smirking at Mai and hadn’t noticed Suki was walking right towards you. You were horrified how harshly you knocked into her and worried you might’ve hurt her. “Are you okay?” you cried “I’m so sorry I wasn’t looking where I was going” you explained but Suki just smiled shaking it off “it’s fine, I probably should’ve moved out of the way in your defence”. Suki smiled at you and you were momentarily sidetracked by how green her eyes were. She was wearing a dark green t-shirt too which made them pop even more and you struggled to not stare at them as they seemed to glow. “No it’s all my fault” you replied and noticed Azula stood behind Suki watching you with a smirk. Mai and Zuko joined her both smiling too and you realised this was a set-up. Well they’d started early but it’d take a lot more than a well-timed collision to make you confess anything. “Well i best be going....” you said turning your attention back to Suki see you around”. You stepped away from Suki, smirking that Azula’s first hurdle had been so easy when Suki caught your arm making you jump. “Actually, I was hoping to speak to you?”. “Me?” you asked confused and you saw Katara stood beside Azula and grew worried. If Azula had recruited Suki’s own friends....this could be challenging. “Yeah but I can catch you later if you’re busy?”. “No it’s fine, let’s just go somewhere quieter” you said still determined to take charge of the situation. “Sure” Suki nodded “come on I know a place” and she tugged your arm. You glanced down at her hand around your wrist and looked away quickly. Suki pulled you past Azula and her smirk told you she’d picked up on all the subtle tells you’d been hoping she’d missed. You glared back at Azula and followed Suki down the hall. She stopped at an empty classroom and took you inside before closing the door. She perched on a desk and turned to face you. You tried not to react or look at her and stared around the room “so...you wanted to speak to me?” you asked and Suki nodded “Azula and Katara told me all about your...situation and obviously i was interested”. You paused confused, was it that simple? Azula just told Suki you liked her and she’d ask you out? You didn’t trust luck or Azula’s morality that much so paused “what exactly did they tell you?”. “Well, all about how you’re failing your volunteer requirement and obviously as student president that worries me greatly! You’re one of the school’s top students, to have you not graduate just because you didn’t get your volunteering hours...”. You nodded your head and kept your expression serious but really you wanted to laugh. This had been Azula’s big show? To get Suki to compliment you a bit? She was going to have to try harder.

“Yeah I know I really should get it sorted before it’s too late, I promise I’ll sign up for the next volunteering placement” you smiled “you have my word”. Suki smiled “that’s great to hear because I actually have an idea for one!”. Your smile fell away “you do?” you had a bad feeling about this...

“Yeah, why don’t you temporarily join the Kyoshi Warriors? It counts as volunteering and I can have you start this afternoon after school”. 

There it was, that was Azula’s plan. 

You managed not to wince and just nodded “wow really that soon? Is there no meeting you guys have to hold to decide if I can join...?”. “Well we do if it’s a permanent member but if I explain to the girls that you need your hours i’m sure they’ll understand”. Azula may be smart but she very much underestimated what you’d do to get out of an awkward situation. To avoid being embarrassed and teased by your friends for how you acted around Suki, you could just refuse her offer. Simple.

You sighed and looked up Suki with a frown “Suki this is really nice of you and I appreciate the offer but I can’t take the role”. Suki’s smile faded and she paused “ow why not?”. You winced in apprehension of what you were about to say but said it anyway. “It’s the whole warrior thing, for one thing no Fire Nation employer will touch me with that as my volunteering. Not to mention my parents wouldn’t like me associating with an earth kingdom group and....it’s just not my kind of thing” you shrugged “I hope you understand”. Throughout your speech Suki’s expression drooped more and more and now she stared at the floor her friendly composure gone “yeah I...didn’t even think of that...but I get it, you want to stick to the fire nation... sorry I didn’t mean to imply anything or insult you. I’ll look for anything more appropriate”. Suki’s sad tone was like a knife in your chest and you didn’t trust yourself to do anything other than nod. You didn’t mind risking Azula’s wrath or putting yourself in precarious situations for a prank but making someone feel sad....that bothered you. “i’ll just go now” Suki said trying to offer you a smile but it was clear she was actually a bit upset “sorry again for bothering you...”. Suki walked away and you sighed openly, you drummed your fingertips on the table before groaning loudly. “Suki!” you called and rushed after her. You caught Suki halfway down the hallway and she looked surprised “yeah?”. “Forget everything I said, I want to role”. “You do?” she asked and you nodded your head “I didn’t mean all that I said about the warriors I lied, of course they’re an amazing group to be a part of”. Suki frowned “so why did you say all that stuff?”. You frowned, you hadn’t thought that far ahead....” I was embarrassed” you said suddenly. “My credits totally slipped my mind and you’re student body present, I guess I just didn’t want you seeing me so caught off guard and so I felt awkward accepting your help”. “Why would it be embarrassing for me to see you that way”? Suki asked curiously and you sighed. Why couldn’t she just believe your lie? “Because you’re...I don’t know impressive, I know we have very different friends but I’ve always admired you and didn’t want you thinking bad of me”. Suki smiled slightly “wow I didn’t think you care what anyone thought of you”. “I don’t...usually” you clarified and Suki looked down a blush on her cheeks. You winced inwardly and tried to direct this away from showering Suki with compliments which seemed to be the only thing you were capable of doing around her. “So if you’re still willing to help me, I’d be very grateful”. “Of course!” Suki cried “I’ll meet you after school and take you through your first shift?”. You nodded your head “sounds great” and Suki smiled “cool” and walked away with a small wave. You sighed leaning your head back against the wall the second she was gone. You’d underestimated how much you liked Suki. 

All-day Azula, Mai, Ty lee and even Zuko constantly talked about Suki. Azula recounted your encounter with her so much and added so many additional false details (you did not grab Suki’s waist to steady her or her hand when you walked away) that you actually forgot what did happen. You acted like it didn’t bother you, actually joining in some of the jokes sarcastically but it did make you very anxious for your meeting with Suki after school. When the bell rang you rushed to your assigned meeting place hoping to get there before Azula and the others so they couldn’t follow you. Suki was one of the first people out and she spotted you straight away “wow you’re punctual, a very fine quality in a new recruit” she smiled and you nodded “yeah good first impression and all that, let’s go!”. Suki nodded and started leading you away from the school. You constantly watched for any sign of Azula and the others and only relaxed when you were far enough from their usual route to be safe. “You expecting someone to join us?” Suki asked and you paused. You forgot she was a highly trained warrior, of course she’d notice you scoping out the place. “No, just thought I saw someone I knew...” you lied “so where are we heading”. “The park” Suki said “the girls and I always train there”. You paused, you were aware the Kyoshi Warriors trained in the park but you thought Suki would take you somewhere quieter to learn the specifics first. If you knew where the warriors trained then Azula and the others...you rounded the corner for the park and already waiting was Azula, Mai, Ty lee and Zuko. 

The training to be a Kyoshi Warrior was intense. You weren’t sure what you’d been expecting but it wasn’t to get your ass kicked by Suki while she held a fan. As if sensing this Suki held a hand out to you helping you up off the floor “is this too much for the first session? I have a habit of being pretty intense”. You shook your head massaging your bruised arms “nope this is fine, I’m just not used to fighting in this way that’s all”. “Well you’re a natural firebender so you should pick this up quickly do, don’t worry take a water break and we’ll try again”. You nodded and walked over to your bags. You spotted Azula making her way over and sighed. “So how are you enjoying your date?” Azula asked sinking down beside you and you glared “it’d be less awkward if we didn’t have an audience....”. Throughout the whole thing your friends had been watching you and it threw off your concentration terribly. “Aw well too bad” Azula smiled sweetly “this is payback after all”. You sighed as she laughed and Suki called to you “you ready for another round y/n?”. “Coming” you called before glaring at Azula “if you don’t get out of here right now you’re all dead!”. Azula just smiled “make me” and sauntered away. 

You and Suki trained for 2 hours and you actually got better as time went on. Although part of you thought that was because Azula and the others eventually got bored. Azula, Ty lee and Mai left about an hour in and while the park was full with other people (Zuko and his friends for one) they didn’t bother you. You could focus on Suki better and actually listen to what she was saying rather than trying not to blush. So when Suki called an end to training you were pleased you could actually somewhat hold your own against the warrior and Suki agreed. “You did really well towards the end” she smiled as you tugged your bag over your shoulder. You smiled “thanks...only took me 2 hours”. Suki laughed but shook her head “honestly that’s totally normal so don’t beat yourself up about it. I still think you’re an impressive firebender”. Your heart skipped and you went to enquire what Suki meant when someone called her name. “Hey Suki are you done with training now?” Sokka called. “Yeah why?”. “Well we’re all heading to Zuko’s and thought you could come” Katara smiled sweetly. “Ow are you sure...” Suki asked “I wouldn’t want to impose”. Zuko immediately assured her it wouldn’t be a problem and smiled “you should come, both of you” he said turning his gaze to you with a wide smirk. You went to say no when Suki grinned “fine we’d love to! we’ll follow you”. “Suki I have work I should be getting on with...” you frowned and Suki shot you a smile “after Azula you are the smartest person in the whole school, I think you can take one night off. Plus your friends will be there too! Why wouldn’t you want to go?”. “Funny you should mention them” you replied and Suki frowned “what?”. “Nothing” you sighed “okay let’s go”. 

The minute you walked in you just knew Azula and Katara had told everyone in the room what the mission was. Everyone’s eyes shot to you and Suko. Their looks range from faint amusement to outright devious joy. You sighed rolling your eyes but Suki seemed oblivious waving to everyone. “Hey everyone” she called and their smiles grew. “Hey Suki and...Y/n?” Sokka said pointedly “you two are becoming inseparable”. You glared at Sokka but Suki just smiled “Y/n’s joining the Kyoshi warriors for a while so I was putting her through basic training”. “Is that what you were doing?” Azula asked “it looked like y/n was just getting her ass kicked in a public park”. The others laughed but Suki frowned “y/n performed very well actually, she’s never fought in this style before and I think she did excellently”. You stared at Suki willing your face not to break into a blush and looked away awkwardly. Azula grinned and you felt everyones’ eyes on you. “Thanks, you’re a good teacher...” you said awkwardly “want a drink?”. Suki nodded and you led her away from the group  

You grabbed a drink from Zuko’s fridge and led Suki out onto the balcony. You worked your way around the room effortlessly and Suki smiled as you used a statue to open your drink before doing the same for hers. “I take it you’ve been here a lot then?”. You nodded “I’ve know Azula and Zuko since we were kids so I practically grew up here. I can’t tell you the amount of official business I’ve walked into or the all stuff I’ve broken in this place...speaking of” and you wiped away the marks from the statue you just used to open your bottle. Suki laughed “no wonder I don’t see you around much, you’re here wrecking important meetings and destroying statues”. You nodded but something Suki said stuck with you “why have you been looking for me around?”. Suki looked down a small blush on her cheeks and you smiled at her reaction. “Possibly” Suki shrugged “I’m sure you’re aware you’re sort of an enigma, the rich Fire Nation prodigy, top of every class and charismatic enough to talk the earth king out of his kingdom”. “That’s why you say about me?” you asked moving closer and Suki blushed “well...yeah everyone...me...”. You knew your friends were all keeping tabs on you but you had no idea you could have this effect on Suki and you liked it. “Well it’s very flattering to hear coming from the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors herself, I thought I was impressed with you before today but now I’ve seen you train...I’ll be starting some rumours about you first thing tomorrow” you grinned and Suki smiled “good or bad?”. “A bit of both but the good kind of bad” you teased and Suki looked up at you “I’ll be very intrigued to hear them”. You and Suki were stood rather close to one another and she looked so beautiful. In any other situation you would’ve just moved closer and kissed her, but your damn pride reminded you if you did Azula won. You were contemplating what you wanted more, to kiss Suki or to win and Suki noticed the internal struggle “what’s wrong?” she asked. You sighed “it’s nothing, just a complicated problem I have. I won’t bore you with it”. “Who says I’ll get bored? Try me” Suki smiled and you felt like you were melting. Luckily before you could spill everything Sokka appeared. “Suki!” he called “there you are! What are you going hiding in the corner with y/n?”. You stepped away from Suki and saw the blush on her cheeks. “Nothing...” Suki replied and Sokka smirked “well if it’s nothing can I steal you away for a second?”. Sokka’s tone made it obvious what he thought was going on and you went to correct him when he turned to you.  “Don’t worry you’ll be back together again in note time” he winked and pulled Suki away lightly “you won’t even have time to miss her...much”. 

You rolled your eyes and fanned your cheeks which you were sure were very red. “It’s no use y/n, you’ve been blushing constantly since you walked in” a voice teased and you turned to find the four people you used to call your friends. “You are all insufferable! I’m blushing because you’re forcing me and Suki together like cattle!”. “We finally got to her” Mai said smugly, pleased with your outburst. The others laughed and Azula raised an eyebrow “also if you’re hating it so much why was there a smile on your face every second you were together?”. Ty lee nodded “not to mention how close you were standing”. You rolled your eyes “okay so Suki is hot, you know I like hot girls but that doesn’t mean anything, how many hot girls have I flirted with?”. “How long do you have?” Mai asked and the others all laughed. “And how many have lasted more than a month?” you asked. Silence. “Exactly” you said nodding your head “this is nothing new, you have nothing over me”. Azula smiled “you can try and convince us all you want y/n but we know this one is different and I can prove it”. “How?” you asked and Azula smiled “Sokka’s telling her right now that Haru asked her out”. You blinked “so? Suki probably doesn’t even like him”. Azula shrugged “maybe...but they’re both strong earth kingdom kids with a lot in common, are you willing to take that chance when she clearly likes you back? Just admit you were wrong and go get your girl”. You shook your head “nice try but you failed” and you walked away. 

You helped yourself to some of the amazing food that Azula and Zuko’s house always had and Ty lee came to stand beside you “I think you should tell Suki”. “Ty, I know what you’re trying to do and you can tell your girlfriend it’s not working”. “Azula didn’t send me, I have my own mind you know?”. You nodded “yeah of course...sorry to imply anything different”. “It’s fine but y/n you’re being childish, you like Suki and she likes you! Why not just tell her before she starts something with Haru”. You smirked “because they’re calling my bluff. Even if Suki says yes to the date then they’ve got to convince Haru to go on it and pretend he asked her out! It’s all a big gamble meant to force me to act but I see straight through their lies”. “Y/n it’s not a lie, Haru really asked Suki out”. You paused “what?”. Ty lee nodded “when they told her friends about you Sokka told Haru who asked him to ask Suki out before you could. Azula managed to stall Sokka this long but she can’t do it forever and it’s 100% real”. You swallowed “you’re being serious?”. Ty lee nodded “yes! Once Azula gives Sokka the signal...” she trailed off as Azula made a gesture to Sokka who nodded. “How about we go outside?” he asked Suki “I have something to tell you”. “Y/n!” Ty lee said and your breath increased. You couldn’t decide what to do but if you didn’t act soon the choice would no longer be yours. You watched Sokka lead Suki away from the group and sighed “screw it”. You placed your drink down on the table and followed them. 

You got to them a few seconds later and quickly snuck up on them. You heard Sokka mention Haru and jumped in “hey Suki I really need to talk to you”. She and Sokka jumped and Suki paused assessing how panicked you looked. “Sure just one sec Sokka said he needs to tell me something important”. You panicked and grabbed her arm “Suki it can’t wait please can we talk now?”. Suki paused clearly confused but nodded “sure” and let you lead her away from the house. Sokka went to protest but Suki frowned “sorry Sokka just give me five minutes” and walked away with you. “So what’s so urgent?” Suki asked. You paused thinking of how to say it and Suki laughed “it was so important you forgot?”. “No I didn’t forget I’m just wondering how to phrase it”. Suki paused “why? Is it something serious?”. You nodded and Suki frowned “in my experience it’s best just to blurt it out”. You shrugged, never one to be cautious and turned to her “In that case, would you like to go out with me?”. Suki blinked “go out with you...as in a date?”. You nodded “I like you Suki, as more than a friend and i’d really like to date you”. Suki blinked “seriously?”. You nodded “that’s why I’ve been odd around you recently, my friends found and were working with yours to embarrass me, that’s what all that volunteering and stuff in the park was...they were messing with me”. “Those sneaks!” Suki cried “Katara too?”. “All of them” you nodded. “I will totally kill them later! Wow I had no idea” Suki said thoughtfully “you’re good at keeping it cool”. You smiled “thanks, so...am I totally kicked after the Kyoshi Warrios after one day for asking out the leader?”. Suki laughed “I wouldn’t say so no...but we’ll have to wait for your volunteering to finish before we can go on that date”. You looked up at her “so you’d like to go out with me?”. Suki nodded “I may or may not have had a thing for you for a while...ever since Azula knocked my food out of my hands that one time and you brought me over a new one. You were always so confident and witty...while also being super kind and smooth, the perfect combination”. You grinned “that is definitely an apt definition of me”. “I think so” Suki agreed stepping closer to you “although you seem more nervous than I’ve ever seen you”. Your blush worsened and Suki smiled “is that because of me?”. “Take a guess” you replied and Suki laughed. “So I guess I’ll just make things worse if I kiss you now huh?”. You looked back up at Suki, your confidence returning and shrugged “there’s only one way to know for sure”. Suki rolled her eyes and leant in to kiss you.

You and Suki walked back inside hand in hand and dealt with the rush of questions and congratulations. Suki got crowded by her friends and Azula siddled up next to you. Of course she was very smug “you’re welcome” she smiled and you rolled your eyes “you did nothing, it was all Sokka”. “Ow really?” Azula asked “you don’t think I told Katara, knowing she’d tell Sokka who was friends with Haru, who I knew liked Suki? I know everything y/n, I planned this all”. You smirked “you’re scary sometimes”. “Thank you” Azula bowed and you laughed. “Well regardless our little fight worked out pretty well”. Azula nodded “we both got the girl”. You looked over to where Suki was speaking with Ty lee and nodded before a thought hit you “you don’t think they’ll get the horrible idea to do a...”. “...Double date?” Azula finished “God I hope not”. As the two talked excitedly about something you got a sinking feeling Azula wasn’t going to be happy but seeing Suki smile made you forget all that. The happiness you felt having Suki return your feelings gave you a suspicion you’d do anything to see her smile at you like that again. As if sensing your thoughts Suki looked over and caught your eye. She smiled brightly at you and you smiled back, heart pounding. You were well and truly smitten, the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors was just that good. 

 ___

I really wanna write more Suki but I have the same problem with her as I do, there’s just not enough content of them without it revolving around their boyfriends!!!!

However I am getting the Suki comic for christmas so hopefully that’ll give me more ideas

[alfredolover119]

5 or 17 for zukka?

17 - Do you want me to carry you?

"Remind me why we couldn't bring Appa with us for this leg of the trip?" Sokka groans.

Suki and Toph snicker, Katara rolls her eyes, and Aang starts his long-winded explanation for why they needed to walk this leg of the journey and leave Appa hidden and blah-blah-blah. Sokka knows why they couldn't bring Appa, but his aching legs and feet don't really care if there's a good reason or not; the distance to the village still seems so… distant. 

Zuko remains quiet, almost uncharacteristically so. Sokka side-eyes him warily, wondering what Zuko is thinking about and whether he needs to be on-guard in case Zuko is going to react violently. Of course, this "new" Zuko didn't seem nearly as inclined to violence towards Sokka and his friends as the old Zuko did. It never hurts to be careful, though, he reminds himself. 

The group is mostly silent, apart from their footsteps against the ground and Sokka's huffing. He can't really help it; they have been walking for two days, and he hadn't slept well last night on the hard grass with no Appa to comfort him, and his stomach is rumbling uncomfortably. The least he can do is moan and groan to let the others know that he is not content. 

After a few more minutes of his woe, Katara turns around suddenly and steps on his foot. Hard. 

"Ow!" he yelps, pulling his foot off the ground to cradle it. "What was that for?"

She glares at him. "Can't you shut up for a few minutes?"

"No," he frowns. "Can't you understand that walking this much is awful for a few minutes?"

"We all hate it, Sokka," Aang interjects. "But you know if we don't get to the town before sunset, we'll have to-"

Sokka sighs loudly. "I know, I know. Sleep on the ground again, eat worms again, walk more tomorrow, and all the other things I hate."

Suki stops next to him, patting his shoulder in consolation, before continuing forward with Toph. 

Katara eyes him. "If you know all that, why are you still complaining?"

"Knowing it doesn't make it any nicer," he frowns. "You should know that already."

"Does complaining make it nicer for you? Or any of us?" she asks. 

"No, but-" He starts to respond, but Zuko pipes up suddenly.

"Do you want me to, uh, carry you?" Zuko stutters out. "Would that make this nicer for you?"

Sokka freezes and looks at Katara. She looks bored as she shrugs at him. "It would make it better for me if it would stop Sokka from groaning so much." 

"You don't have to do that," Sokka grits out. Unintended consequences of my actions, how unpleasant it is to see you, he thinks.

Suki smirks back at him, and he wonders what she's thinking. Maybe she's glad that she didn't offer any suggestions like that. 

"Okay, then," Zuko says. "I just wanted you two to stop arguing." Aang nods from beside him.

Up the road, Toph has progressed further than any of them. "Hurry up, slowpokes," she calls. "I want a hot dinner tonight!"

They all start moving again, a little faster. However, pain shoots up Sokka's leg when he puts weight on the foot Katara stepped on. He yowls sharply, and they all turn around to stare at him.

"What now?" Katara growls. 

"You broke my foot!" He screams indignantly. 

She rolls her eyes, "I did not break your foot." A pause. "Probably. I probably did not break your foot."

He starts to fuss again, but Zuko has stopped in front of him. "Let me carry you if you're hurt." 

Aang nods solemnly as he follows Katara's stomping figure up the trail. Sokka doesn't know what to do.

"It's really fine," Zuko says. "The village is only a little further away, so it won't be long."

Sokka looks into his eyes, searching for malice or any sign he is just doing this to make fun of Sokka. All he sees, though, is his own reflection in Zuko's gaze. "Fine," he replies, looking away.

Zuko turns around and gestures for Sokka to get on his back. It's not the most comfortable, but it definitely feels better than putting any weight on his foot. Zuko's hands cradle Sokka's knees, and he is more careful than Sokka would have expected. 

"Is this okay?" Zuko turns his head slightly, looking at Sokka as much as he can. "Are you comfortable?"

"Uh," Sokka splutters at the thoughtfulness, cheeks heating. He's glad Zuko can't really see him. "It's good."

They follow the others up the trail, a little further behind with Zuko carrying the weight of both of them. The silence leaves Sokka to his thoughts, which mainly consist of has Zuko always been this strong? and would it be awkward if I tried to pull out my wedgie right now? and does Zuko realize my hands are around his neck, making him vulnerable to me?

He stops thinking after the last one, instead focusing on not resting his head on Zuko's shoulder. He will not do that. Letting Zuko carry him is already too much. 

They arrive at the village soon enough, and Zuko gently lets him down. He tries not to mourn the loss of touch as he settles between Katara and Suki for dinner. 

[headaching]

because they're always sad, i give you domestic witty banter zukka fighting about the dishes after their first* kiss

Suddenly, Zuko pulls away from the kiss and whispers, ��Wait.”

Fear courses Sokka’s veins as he asks, “What’s wrong?”

Zuko glances at the sink in concern. He murmurs, “Are you really not gonna wash the cup?” Sokka rolls his eyes and tilts Zuko’s head to one side, pointing his worried stare toward the dining room.

Between sporadic kisses along Zuko’s jaw, Sokka observes, “You’re insane.”

When Zuko peels away and proclaims, “I’ll do it,” Sokka grabs his hand, effectively halting him.

“Hold on,” Sokka says, pulling Zuko toward him. Zuko sighs and plays with the collar of Sokka’s shirt. “If I wash the mug right now, will you go with me to the top secret surprise location?”

Zuko says, “You won’t give me any hints?” and pouts his lower lip. Sokka doesn’t hesitate to kiss it and shake his head solemnly. Zuko rolls his eyes, but concedes, “Fine.”

Victoriously, Sokka grins and lifts Zuko without warning. Zuko gasps and hisses, “Sokka!” but his legs hook around Sokka’s waist all the same. Sokka ignores him and walks Zuko farther into the kitchen. He sets him down on the countertop beside the sink and accepts the unamused glare waiting for him.

“What?” Sokka asks. “You never heard of sweeping someone off their feet?” He nudges Zuko’s cheek with his knuckle and Zuko swats at him.

“You’re not funny,” Zuko dismisses, but when Sokka leans in and places his hands on either side of the counter by Zuko’s hips, his legs easily accept Sokka’s torso.

“Good thing you’re not paying me to be funny,” Sokka says, and Zuko gives him a funny look.

“I’m not paying you at all.”

“You’re not?” Sokka asks, then kisses Zuko demonstratively, slow and delicate. By the time they pull away, his fingers have gravitated to Zuko’s hips, and Zuko’s to Sokka’s neck.

Zuko’s smile says, You’re stupid, one Sokka’s quite familiar with. “Smooth,” Zuko breathes and Sokka shrugs, feigning nonchalance. “Go on,” Zuko says, pointing at the sink. “I’m not paying you to stand around.”

Sokka shakes his head, but he walked right into that one. “You’re the boss,” he replies, pulling his hands away from Zuko in defeat. Sokka separates himself from Zuko entirely to stand in front of the sink.

As Sokka wets the sponge and lathers it with dish soap, he notices Zuko’s fingers drumming steadily against the counter. “So…” he says, and Sokka waits for him to continue, but the only sound in the room is running water.

“So?” Sokka repeats and nudges Zuko’s leg with his hip.

After a shallow breath, Zuko asks, “What does this mean? For us?” Sokka can hear the apprehension in his voice, hesitant and quiet.

“What do you want it to mean?”

Zuko’s eyes fall to the ground and he repeats, “What do you want it to mean?”

Sokka sets the cup in the sink to point a soapy finger at Zuko, “I could do this all day, handsome.” Though Zuko’s scowling, Sokka celebrates the blush in his neck. Sokka inches his finger toward Zuko’s face, prompting him to push his arm away.

“Don’t,” Zuko whines and wipes his cheek, even though Sokka didn’t touch him. “I don’t want soap on my face,” he grumbles, and Sokka scoffs.

As he goes back to the task at hand, Sokka replies, “I thought you’d be into that since you have a hard on for bleach or whatever.” Zuko’s leg swings forward and jabs Sokka’s arm, only momentarily throwing him off balance. Sokka grins if only to himself as he rinses the dish for a final time. “Hand me a towel?” he asks when the water’s turned off.

Zuko doesn’t move, his indignant expression still fresh from the bleach comment. Sokka sighs and sets the cup on the counter, then occupies the space between Zuko’s legs once again. With a smirk, Sokka reaches into the drawer between Zuko’s knees and procures the towel himself. “I forgot,” Sokka murmurs, his voice low, “I’m on the job.”

Finally, Zuko’s stubbornness subsides as his fingers caress Sokka’s shoulders. “You didn’t answer my question,” Zuko points out, and Sokka sets the towel on the counter next to him to rest his palms on Zuko’s thighs.

“You didn’t, either,” Sokka counters.

Zuko huffs, “Sokka,” and throws him a serious look.

Sokka smiles just a little and presses into Zuko’s legs. “Zuko,” he says slowly, reveling in the quieting effect it seems to have on him. Sokka’s smile drifts away as a memory sparks his mind. “Do you remember what you said that night?” Sokka asks.

Zuko’s eyebrows furrow. “That night?”

“The night,” Sokka reiterates with a pointed look. “You know.” Zuko waves a hand in the air, indicating he remembers. He nods slowly.

“Yeah. I said a lot of things that night.” Zuko’s eyes fall past Sokka’s shoulder sheepishly. “You’re gonna have to be more specific.”

“You said you weren’t ready,” Sokka explains, and his throat begins to close at the memory. “When you talked about dating someone, you said you weren’t ready.”

Zuko makes a funny noise resembling a laugh. He tugs Sokka closer, their lips a moment apart. “I was always ready for you,” he replies like it’s obvious, and to him it is, Sokka realizes. Tears sting his eyes as they did that night, but for completely different reasons.

“What do you mean?” Sokka hears himself ask, but mentally, he’s far away. I was always ready for you.

“Come on,” Zuko scoffs, accented by an eye roll. “Isn’t it obvious? Hasn’t it always been obvious?”

Oh. Everything stops. Then, it all falls into alignment, a straight line in Sokka’s brain.

Wildly, Sokka begins laughing, to Zuko’s confusion. “Yes,” he manages eventually, “it has always been obvious, hasn’t it?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Zuko, it’s been you since the day I met you.”

Across Zuko’s face, Sokka studies the array of emotions starting with joy and ending with shock. “What?” It sounds numb, unsure.

Sokka has to remind himself it’s okay to be honest now. “I thought you wouldn’t feel the same way. I didn’t want to risk what we have, or make things difficult if—”

“But that’s what I thought,” Zuko interjects, and Sokka wishes he could know what he’s thinking. Sokka thinks he might be having an oh moment of his own. “Shit,” he whispers, and Sokka can’t help but smile.

“Yeah. Shit,” he repeats. Zuko’s hands leave Sokka’s back to hide his face in his arms as he groans, embarrassed.

“It’s been, like, two years,” Zuko says to the floor. Sokka’s hands are still on Zuko’s thighs, so when he turns his palms upward, he’s cradling Zuko’s hands. When Sokka’s thumbs caress Zuko’s skin, Zuko looks up from his hideaway with soft, affectionate eyes. “That’s so much wasted time,” he adds, his tone regretful.

Sokka’s fingers leave their resting glace to glide over Zuko’s shoulders and press into the muscles gently. “We have now,” Sokka replies hopefully, and tilts Zuko’s chin down with one hand. “Let’s not waste any more time,” he whispers, and Zuko’s lips are against his.

The kiss is delicate and encapsulates Sokka in safety, along with Zuko’s hands cupping his face. Zuko kisses him in quick succession a few times, then pulls away to touch their foreheads together. His eyes remain closed as he asks, “Is this really happening?”

Sokka exhales a fond breath and replies, “I hope so.”

Zuko’s eyes open and Sokka pulls away enough to look into them. He finds happiness, and maybe a little uncertainty, but he’s not worried. Sokka is confident he can fix that. Suddenly, Zuko takes a sharp breath and rolls his eyes. “So, that surprise location…” Sokka knows the suspense is killing him, but that’s part of the fun.

“Right. Ready to go?”

“I guess,” Zuko huffs, and uses Sokka’s shoulders to jump from the counter onto the floor.

When Zuko turns for the doorway, Sokka stops him with, “Wait.” When Zuko turns around, Sokka makes a show of picking up the cup and drying it with the towel. “My work here isn’t done.”

“Oh, right,” Zuko says, throwing his hands up. With the wrung out sponge, Sokka wipes the counter where Zuko was sitting.

“Gotta clean this since someone had his ass all over it,” Sokka says provokingly, then shakes his head in faux dismay.

“Shut up,” Zuko mumbles. Sokka puts the sponge, towel, and mug in their proper spots, then reports back to Zuko with his hands behind his back. Zuko claps sarcastically, if a clap can be sarcastic, and says, “Good job. That only took about—” He checks a pretend watch, “five times longer than it would’ve taken anyone else.”

Sokka’s pout is immediate. “Does that mean I don’t get a tip?” Zuko’s lips shrug to one side in consideration.

“I guess I’ll give you one,” he decides, then pecks Sokka on the lips. It’s far too fast for a tip in Sokka’s opinion, but before he can voice it, Zuko’s already running for the door.

His laugh is giddy and taunting, but Sokka isn’t far behind him. “Get back here!” he yells.

“Come get me!” is Zuko’s reply, and it’s on.

The sounds of thudding feet and unabashed laughter ring through their apartment like a song.

[atlabeth]

everything happens for a reason part 7 - zuko x fem!reader

I think my ways are wearing me down

part 6 | masterlist | part 8

a/n: as said very astutely in my outline, "y/n just keeps taking L's"

i actually had to take breaks while writing the final scene and watching the episode LMAo i forgot how fucking sad this scene was!!

warning(s): you know what happens in this chapter. its siege of the north part 2. its so much more angst like SO MUCH ANGST. im so sorry i got so sad while writing this

wc: 4.0k

chapter title comes from brand new city by mitski!

Y/N adjusted her hold on the basket of clothes as she knocked on the door with her free hand, pushing it open after waiting a few moments.

“Prince Zuko?” she called in a whisper. They had gotten past the point of formalities, but it was a precaution she opted to take when they met like this. She spotted him sitting on his bed and he gave her a thumbs up, a sign she took to mean they were in the clear. Y/N closed the door behind her and bounded over, then set the basket on his bed.

“Alright. I brought you the book that you wanted to borrow.” She unearthed the novel from the pile of clothes with caution, taking care to not ruin the hard work that went into folding all of them. “I had to hide it so I could get in here — no one thinks anything of a servant bringing clothes around, but books are a little more suspicious. But here you go! My very own edition of ‘Keiko and the Koalaotter’.”

“Thank you!” The prince grinned as he took the book and examined the cover. “I’ve always been curious about Water Tribe culture, even more after you started teaching me about it. They don’t really tell us about it in our classes.”

“It’s not really accurate to actual Water Tribe stuff, but it is cute,” she laughed. “I remember begging my parents for a koalaotter for weeks after I finished it. They told me that there was no way to get one all the way in the Earth Kingdom, but I never listened to them.”

“Oh, that reminds me!” His eyes lit up as he ran over to the windowsill. “I got you a gift too!”

“Zuko, really? You shouldn’t have.”

“Well, I did. So don’t even think about not accepting it,” he joked. He picked something up from a vase and bounded back over, doing as good a job of hiding the flowers behind his back as his excited grin.

“What is it?” she questioned.

“They’re silver wisterias!” he exclaimed as he presented the bouquet. “They grow in the palace gardens. They’re really pretty, and so are you, and I know how much you love the gardens, so I thought you’d like it.”

She felt her cheeks heat up when she accepted the gift, twirling the stem in her fingers as she inhaled its sweet scent with a smile. “That’s really thoughtful of you, Zuko. Thank you.”

“Of course! You could wear one in your hair, pin one onto your uniform, put them in your room, whatever you want.”

As she carefully ran her fingers over the petals, she couldn’t stop the nagging question at the back of her mind from escaping.

“Why are you so nice to me?” she blurted out, causing Zuko’s brows to furrow in confusion.

“Because you’re my friend. Friends are nice to each other.”

“I know, but why are we friends?” she pushed. “You know that you could get in trouble for talking to me like this, but you still do it. Why?”

He pondered the question for a moment before he answered. “Well.. you don’t treat me like everyone else. I’m the prince, so everyone here has to do what I want and be nice to me. But you’re not like that. When it’s just the two of us, you treat me like anyone else, and I like that — I know that you always mean what you say, so when you’re nice to me I know it’s because you like me, not because you have to be. Why do you do that?” the prince asked as he turned the tables. “You know that you could get in trouble for talking to me like this, but you still do it. Why?”

She punched him playfully on the shoulder and giggled. “Someone’s gotta keep you humble.”

His cheeks flushed a bright red as he rubbed his arm shyly. “I’m really glad we’re friends. Sometimes it feels like you’re my only one in this whole nation.”

“So am I,” she beamed. “Always and forever, right?”

“Right.”

-

Y/N’s eyes snapped open and she gasped, immediately whipping her head around frantically to see if the Avatar was still there, but Katara shook her head.

“He’s gone,” Katara said miserably, confirming her suspicions. “I woke up a few minutes before you and I checked everywhere.”

“Great,” she muttered. She rubbed the back of her head and winced — she had a feeling she would be plagued by headaches for at least the next couple of days.

“So…” Katara began. “You and Zuko both recognized each other. He— he said he thought that you were dead.”

Y/N pursed her lips, wondering how to start that story, when Sokka and Yue burst into the oasis on Appa.

“What happened?” he questioned. “Where’s Zuko?”

“He took Aang,” Katara mourned. “He took him right out from under me.”

“It’s not your fault, Katara,” Y/N insisted. “It really looks like he’s improved since… since last time.”

“‘Last time’?” Sokka asked, prompting a sigh from Y/N. She looked to Yue for help, and the princess nodded supportively.

“We have… history.” She looked at her hands for a moment before continuing. “I’m not from the Northern Water Tribe. My mother is, but I was born in a small village in the Earth Kingdom. I told you that my village was invaded, Katara, but after it, my mother and I were captured for being waterbenders, and they took us to the Fire Nation to work as healers and servants in the palace.”

“I became friends with Zuko there. He was nothing like you saw today, or like anything you know from the past. He was kind, and caring, and passionate, and he made my dismal life a little bit brighter. And… we ended up falling for each other.”

“We went too far, the Fire Lord found out, and— well, he was going to kill me. My mother managed to get me out, but she stayed behind, and I haven’t seen her since that night. I haven’t seen Zuko since that night. I always held hope that I would find my way back and see them both again, but now that Zuko is like… like that?” She bit down on her lip and shook her head.

“Now I don’t know what to think. He’s completely different than anything I knew, than the boy that I fell in love with. And I can’t help but think about what happened to my mother if that is what happened to Zuko.” And I can’t help but think that it’s my fault for not being there for him.

A collective silence hung in the air for just a moment before Sokka broke it. “You had a thing with Zuko?”

Y/N let out a surprised laugh as Katara hit him on the shoulder. “Sokka, now is not the time!”

“No,” she chuckled. “No, it’s alright. It’s a lot, I know. It’s just… impossible. That the Zuko I knew turned into someone like this. I mean, you saw, Katara— he didn’t even hesitate to try and hurt me.”

Katara pulled her into a warm embrace before separating and looking her in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Y/N, for all that you’ve been through. And I know that fighting against Zuko hurts, so if you can’t come after Aang with us then I completely understand—”

“No,” she said once more, something hardening in her eyes. “I’ll help you find Aang, it’s the least I can do. Besides, I… I have to see him again. I have to see him again to know that this is actually real, that— that this is actually who he is now.”

Katara nodded solemnly; Sokka had already started walking back to Appa with Yue. “Well, Zuko couldn’t have gotten far. We’ll find him — Aang’s gonna be fine.”

Katara looked back hopefully at Y/N and she met her eyes with a smile, though slightly strained, as she jogged to catch up with them. But as she climbed onto Appa with her fellow waterbender, the anger in his eyes was all she could see.

The boy she fought might’ve been the Fire Prince, but it was not her Zuko.

-

Cold.

That was all Zuko seemed to know as he trekked through the frozen tundra, the blizzard around him threatening to end him at any moment. No more had he despised the Water Tribes than he did in this moment, but the weight of the Avatar on his back and the promise of his honor was enough to push him onwards.

The only thing on his mind that he couldn’t shake was her.

Zuko thought she was dead, honestly and truly. Few were lucky enough to escape his father’s wrath once it was incurred upon them — Zuko himself wasn’t even an exception — and though he wanted nothing more than for her to be one of the few, he knew that she was dead. There was no other explanation.

For years, the waterbender had been a staple in his mind — a memory of a childhood love, of a better time. He thought about her when he fought against his soldiers on slow evenings on the ship, her words of encouragement and joking retorts echoing through his ears as he went through every form. He thought about her when he talked to his uncle, his attitude often mirroring hers. The morning of the Agni Kai, he almost turned to her for reassurance before remembering.

Spirits, Zuko thought about her every time he looked at the water. And even all these years after her disappearance, he was still plagued by nightmares of her fate.

He had resigned himself to mourning her. Zuko truly thought she was dead.

But there she was, in the flesh, with the Avatar and his friends. Breathing. Alive. His enemy.

How the fuck was he supposed to deal with that?

She was even more beautiful than he remembered, but it was obvious the years since her escape had weathered her. He noticed a certain emptiness in her eyes, the brightness from their childhood a distant memory. It was obvious she had grown — she carried a certain elegance that he didn’t remember, and her skill in waterbending had improved so much since the days of their sparring sessions.

It felt like he had betrayed her. The expression she wore after his first blast was like a physical weight, the guilt of broken promises heavy over his head when he struck the final blow. So familiar to their friendly fights, yet such a far cry.

But they weren’t kids anymore. She had changed, and so had he.

It had been years. Any feelings he still harbored for her didn’t matter anymore.

Zuko had a mission, and he was going to complete it no matter what.

-

The tundra was treacherous, the blizzard making it difficult to see anything at all. Y/N had taken to holding Yue’s hand, something the princess had offered when she had seen how restless her friend was, as well as gnawing on the bottom of her lip. She feared for both Zuko and Aang, and she could only hope that they would be able to find them before something happened to either of them.

“Don’t worry,” the princess reassured. “Prince Zuko can’t be getting too far in this weather.”

“I’m not worried they’ll get away in the blizzard,” Katara murmured. “I’m worried that they won’t.”

“They’re not gonna die in this blizzard,” Sokka said as he gripped the reins tighter. “If we know anything, it’s that Zuko never gives up.”

Y/N chuckled softly and nodded. “You’ve got that right.”

Yue gave her hand a squeeze and a small smile, a sentiment that Y/N returned as Sokka continued. “They’ll survive, and we’ll find them.”

It took a few more minutes of riding and searching, but eventually a bright blue light streaked through the air. Katara gasped and pointed up. “Look!” she exclaimed. “That’s gotta be Aang! Yip yip!”

Appa groaned once more and Sokka turned to follow the light — it had stopped in a small cove before glowing brilliantly then disappearing — and sure enough, Zuko and Aang were down in the snow.

“Appa!” he cheered as they landed, causing Zuko’s eyes to flick up too. Y/N met his gaze for just a moment before he broke it, throwing Aang to the side and easing into a bending stance as Katara slid off of Appa’s back.

“Here for a rematch?” Zuko challenged, the undeserved confidence he spoke with a glimpse of the past.

“Trust me, Zuko,” Katara countered as she raised her hands, “It’s not going to be much of a match.”

She blocked his fire blast then sent a current of snow at him, launching him up into the air on a frozen column before letting him fall to the ground and knocking him out. Y/N couldn’t help but wince, and as Sokka jumped down to free Aang, she slid down as well.

She ran over the pile of snow and bent it off of Zuko, then knelt down next to him and pulled off her glove. She put two fingers on his neck and confirmed what she already thought, but it was still a relief. He was alive, but he wouldn’t be for much longer if he stayed out here.

“What are you doing?” she heard Sokka yell. Y/N turned to find everyone back on Appa already, staring expectantly at her.

“We can’t leave him!” Y/N protested.

“Sure we can!” he countered. “Now come on, let’s go!”

“No,” she insisted, pressing the back of her hand against his forehead. It was ice cold. “If we leave him, he’ll die!”

“She’s right.” Aang airbended himself off of Appa and helped her pick up Zuko; Aang bringing himself and the prince back onto the bison with his element and Y/N climbing back up with a hand from Katara.

Sokka rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Yeah, this makes a lot of sense. Let’s bring the guy who’s constantly trying to kill us.”

Y/N ignored the remark and met Aang’s eyes, mouthing a silent ‘thank you’. He smiled and nodded, then grabbed the reins and took off.

As they flew through the sky, Y/N glanced down at Zuko. He looked so much more peaceful now than a few moments ago, his features relaxed rather than tense. It was strange seeing him like this after all these years; angry, scarred, changed. Nothing like the reunion she had imagined.

She bent some of the snow falling down into water and molded it over the cuts on his face, the element taking on a slight glow as she started to heal him.

“Oh, Zuko,” she murmured. “What happened in those four years?”

As if her concentration had broken, the water previously under her control lost both its shape and glow as it pooled on his face. She frowned and attempted to bend it off, but none of the usual power she felt at night was flowing through her veins.

It was at that moment that Y/N looked up and noticed her surroundings.

Everything was cloaked in a veil of red, a crimson moon their backdrop as they continued through the air. “My bending isn’t working,” Y/N muttered, earning a curious look from Katara.

And to make matters worse, Yue winced and held her head, Aang doing the same.

“Are you okay?” Sokka questioned as he reached out to comfort her.

“I feel faint,” she muttered, the effort it took not lost on Y/N.

“I feel it too.” Aang pressed his palm against the side of his head and grimaced as his gaze shifted upwards. “The Moon Spirit is in trouble.”

Y/N’s eyes widened immediately as they flicked towards Yue, the princess choosing not to meet them as she began to tell them all the story of her birth and how she owed the Moon Spirit her life. By the time she was done the Water Tribe siblings were staring at her with disbelief, but there was no time for questions as they flew into the Spirit Oasis.

The sight that awaited them shocked Y/N to her core. A Fire Nation admiral — one she recognized from all the years ago, yet unable to place a name — held a bag with one clenched fist, the other posing the unsaid threat.

“Don’t bother,” he spat in response to their fighting stances, the two words overflowing with unearned confidence. But as cocky as he may have been, it worked — he knew that they were rendered helpless when he held the possibility of a dying spirit against them.

“Zhao, don’t.” Aang dropped his staff and held his hands up in surrender, an action Y/N and the others mirrored.

Everything after that happened unbelievably quickly. After General Iroh — a man she knew as both the ruthless general that laid siege to Ba Sing Se for six hundred long days and Zuko’s surprisingly kind uncle — threatened the admiral with his own firebending, Y/N foolishly believed it to be the end once he let the fish back into the pond.

But any hopes of peace were dashed with the slice of firebending the admiral sent at Tui, plunging the world back into shades of grey just as quickly as it had returned.

“NO!”

A bloodcurdling scream rang in the air; Y/N thought whoever produced it must’ve been insane. It took her a moment to realize the strangled sound had come from her, and that Sokka’s grip on her arms was the only thing stopping her from foolishly throwing herself into the raging battle that had started.

Did the admiral not understand what he had just done? To attack any spirit was to inflict the rage of many others, to kill a spirit was to sign not only one's own death warrant, but those around him as well.

To kill the Moon Spirit meant to destroy waterbending as the world knew it. To kill the Moon Spirit meant to disrupt the balance of the world. To kill the Moon Spirit meant to kill Yue.

The admiral should’ve considered himself very lucky that her waterbending was gone. With it, Y/N knew she would’ve done something she would regret.

As soon as the flames of Iroh’s onslaught disappeared, Sokka’s grip loosened on her arms and she all but sprinted over to the pond. A choked sob fell from her lips when she saw the dead fish in the water, palpable horror in the air as the rest of the group joined her.

Not even Aang’s feat of merging with the Ocean Spirit could help — it might’ve saved the tribe from the attack on the Fire Nation, but it could do nothing for the dead spirit. Y/N watched on mournfully as Iroh placed Tui back into the pond, the mortal body of the fish laying there unmoving.

“It’s too late,” Katara lamented. “It’s dead.”

Iroh looked up and met Y/N’s eyes, recognition flashing through them for just a moment before they moved to Yue’s. The blue hues of her irises were even more striking than usual — they were the only sign of color in the world around them.

His own widened with surprise as he gestured at her. “You have been touched by the Moon Spirit. Some of its life is in you.”

Yue seemed to understand what he was saying as she raised her head, her features taking on a mask of stoicism. “Yes, you’re right. It gave me life… maybe I can give it back.”

It was as if lightning had struck Y/N, the way that fear was jolted into her heart. “No!” she cried at the same time as Sokka, a reprise of her earlier plea. “Yue, you can’t!”

“You don’t have to do that!” Sokka reached out for her hand but she wrenched it out of his grasp — nothing they could say was going to change her mind.

“It’s my duty.” The princess stated it so plainly, carving the letters on her headstone herself.

“I won’t let you!” Sokka insisted. “Your father told me to protect you.”

“Yue, your duty isn’t to die for your tribe!” Y/N cried. She couldn’t think, spirits she could barely breathe. She couldn’t go through this again. She couldn’t go through this again. “Please, there has to be another way!”

She smiled sadly at Y/N and shook her head. “This was what I was born to do.” The princess glanced at the pond then took a step forward, wrapping Y/N in the tightest hug she could muster. She pressed her lips against Y/N’s cheek in a feather light kiss before she pulled away and continued forward and placed her hands against the koi fish.

The fish began to glow, Yue closed her eyes, she collapsed into Sokka’s arms.

And that was it.

The color returned to the world, but Y/N was frozen in place. She couldn’t do anything to save her friend, the girl that she was pretty sure she loved, as she died in front of her. Her cheek was still burning from where Yue’s lips had touched, and she wanted to bottle that warmth because she knew that was the last time she would ever feel it.

The first tear to fall snapped her out of her paralysis as she fell to her knees next to Sokka, her body cradled in his arms as he mourned for a lost love. Y/N wanted to scream, she wanted to sob, she wanted to do anything to get this anger and sadness out but she could do nothing but stare, eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears.

Her body slowly faded away, and Y/N could’ve laughed at the irony. Yue gave her life for the spirits and all they could leave them with was the fleeting memory.

The fish in Iroh’s hands began to glow and he placed it back in the water, and almost immediately it returned to its natural rhythm. The oasis took on the glow of the fish and it formed the cruelest joke of them all.

Princess Yue. She was ethereal, both her hair and white dress flowing down her back and a peaceful expression on her face. She was more beautiful than ever, and her voice echoed through the oasis as she spoke.

“I will always be with you, Y/N. Thank you for making me feel alive.” A small smile, much like the one she gave her just moments ago, played on her lips. “I love you.”

Y/N could do nothing but stare, awestruck and heartbroken, as she whispered something to Sokka and kissed him.

And then she was gone.

Her gaze was trained forward, tears spouting and falling down her cheeks, some dim part of her still hoping that it was just a cruel joke by the spirits. She couldn’t go through this again.

How could they do this to her again? How could they introduce a light into her life and make her fall in love, then wrench it away from her grasp? She felt selfish for only caring about herself. She couldn’t go through this again.

Yue was gone.

She couldn’t go through this again.

Another strangled sob fell from her lips and Katara pulled her into a hug. That simple motion seemed to open to the floodgates, and suddenly she was choking on her own tears. Katara’s arms around her were the only tether she had to the world right now, she had to focus on it or else she would lose herself to the grief.

It felt like the minutes were hours with how long it took until Y/N was finally able to walk out of the oasis, but Katara and Sokka stayed by her side the entire time. When they finally stumbled out into the real world, Y/N felt weaker than ever. The constant go go go of the siege had finally caught up to her, and she was so damn tired.

“Always and forever.”

“You’re stuck with me.”

She was losing hope in promises.

-

perm tag list: @dv0412 @siriuslyslyslytherin @maruchan77

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[melzula]

Obstacles

~ part of the fire lilies series ~

requests: Could you write a Fire Lilies blurb where Zuko struggles with how to approach being around Princess Reader when she avoids him and/or gives him the silent treatment? // Hi- I was wondering if you could write a fire lillies blurb where, when the gaang first starts interacts with zuko, they are more protective of the reader. Simply because they know the history between the two.

a/n: the format of this is a little different than how I normally write but I think it works :)

Though Zuko had finally become a part of Team Avatar, he still found himself to be the odd one out of the group. From Katara’s cold glare to Sokka’s reluctance of being left alone with the prince, Zuko struggled to find his place amongst the group. It was odd and new and strange, but at least it was a start in the right direction, and his first step included mending things with the Princess. He had gotten her to fall in love with him once, so it couldn’t be that hard to do it again, right?

In truth, it was very hard. Zuko faced many obstacles and many set backs, and it would probably be some time before she even so much as looked at him, let alone forgave him...

~~~

Katara

Zuko watched from afar as the Princess handled her chores for the day, sitting peacefully by the fountain as she washed the clothes. Her movements were delicate but precise, the water flowing smoothly through the dirt and the grime collected on Toph’s green robes, and a faint smile graced her features as she hummed softly through the work. She was at peace and completely relaxed, more relaxed than Zuko had ever seen y/n in years. Even in Ba Sing Se there had always been a nervous edge to her, an edge she did her best to hide from Zuko, and she had almost been completely rid of it until the caves. He cringed at the thought, guilt overcoming him at the fact that she seemed so much better off without him.

“What are you doing?” Katara scowls accusingly, startling the Prince from his silent watch over y/n.

“I-“

“Y/N’s been really happy ever since she left you, and you’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you ruin that for her,” the water bender scolds harshly.

“I just want to apologize to her,” Zuko replies calmly, but Katara isn’t having it.

“A simple apology is never going to fix all the ways you’ve hurt her. Y/n deserves better, and if I ever see you make her upset or uncomfortable I won’t hesitate to step in.”

Zuko says nothing as Katara stalks away, he knows better than to get in her way when she’s angry, and when her retreating form finally disappears he looks back at the fountain.

The clothes have been washed, and the Princess is gone.

~~~

Sokka

The smell of stew was heavenly to Zuko’s rumbling tummy, and he was eager to join everyone by the fireside. Bowls had been served, seats had been chosen, and an empty spot beside the Princess was his for the taking.

“Excuse me, buddy,” Sokka chirps, patting Zuko heartily on the back before quickly sitting himself beside y/n. She smiles softly at the water tribe boy and offers him her leftovers to which he happily accepts.

Zuko deflates, choosing to sit next to Aang and enjoy his stew of failure. This isn’t the first time this has happened, and it probably won’t be the last. He knew Sokka was just protecting her, and he couldn’t be mad at him for that. Sokka had probably done more for y/n in her time with him than Zuko had ever done, who was he to blame his protectiveness?

Y/n offers to take the empty dishes to wash, and as Zuko attempts to follow after her his path is quickly blocked by Sokka.

“Listen, I know you’re trying to make things right, and while I respect that, y/n’s asked me to keep you away from her,” he explains as gently as he can. “It’s nothing personal, but I care about her and I want to make sure she feels comfortable.”

“Oh... I understand,” Zuko utters quietly. “Will you at least tell her that I love her?”

“...I’ll do my best,” Sokka replies solemnly, watching with a pang of guilt as Zuko retreats to his room for the night.

~~~

Aang

“What am I supposed to do?” Zuko groans whilst tugging at his hair.

“You know I’m a firm believer in peace, and I do think that neither of you will be happy until your issues are resolved,” Aang comments wisely. “But I also think you should never force anything. Y/n will come around in her own time when she’s ready.”

“But that could take forever!” He protests. “I’ve already been away from her long enough, and being near her but not being able to speak to her is torture.”

Both boys turn their gazes towards y/n in the distance where she carefully brush Appa’s hair and talk to him about his day. The sight is very Princess like, which is fitting since she is a Princess after all, but the sweetness of it all makes Zuko’s heart ache with longing.

“What you did wasn’t right,” Aang sighs. “And she’s still healing. But, if she truly couldn’t stand you then she wouldn’t have given her blessing to let you stay.”

“She only let me stay so I could train you,” Zuko argues.

“Okay, that’s true. But she also washes your clothes, serves you dinner, and just the other day I saw her mending a hole in your boot. She won’t talk to you, but she does still care.”

“She’s always had such a big heart,” he murmurs dejectedly. “Back when I was still hunting you y/n always went out of her way to take care of me even if I didn’t want it. I was a fool to take her for granted.”

“I really do think you guys will work it out. Just don’t force anything, and you’ll be fine,” Aang comforts, and the two continue to watch the Princess as she tends to Appa.

~~~

Toph

With a bouquet of wild flowers in hand and his hair combed in that same horrid style his Uncle had given him back in Ba Sing Se, Zuko headed to her room in hopes of finally talking to the Princess. He knew how much y/n loved flowers, and he also knew how much she loved that ridiculously dorky hairstyle, so he hoped that the two combined together would at least earn him a smile in return.

But when he arrived to her part of the temple he found that her door was barricaded with a smooth slab of rock, and sitting a few feet away from said rock was Toph. The little girl sat leaning against the wall, legs crossed over each other and hands folded behind her head.

“Sorry, sparky, boss’s orders,” she explains with a small shrug, and Zuko deflates. “Personally I think she just needs to man up and face you, but until then I’ve been put under strict orders not to let you in.”

“She really hates me, doesn’t she?” Zuko sighs, joining Toph against the wall. The flowers in his hand are beginning to droop from the lack of water, much like his demeanor from his lack of y/n.

“No, but she’s very angry,” Toph corrects. “Really sad, too. Sokka’s already been in there three times tonight.”

“Are they...?”

“Together? He wishes,” the girl scoffs. “His heartbeat picks up a beat or two sometimes when he’s with her, but he’d never make a move on her. Not when she’s so upset and he’s the only one she can talk to.”

“Yeah, well maybe they should be together,” Zuko grumbles, the flower stems charring in his hands from the sudden heat that emits from his palms. “They’re both water tribe and he obviously takes care of her better than I ever could.”

“That’s true,” Toph nods much to Zuko’s dismay. “But she doesn’t love Sokka. She loves you.”

“Loved,” Zuko corrects only for Toph to roll her eyes.

“You dunderhead,” she mutters before punching him in the shoulder. “I should just knock your heads together and make you kiss and make up right now.”

“Can you do that?” Zuko asks hopefully only to receive another punch from Toph.

“You sure do have a lot to learn, sparky.”

~~~

The Princess

The morning is quiet and calm as you rise with the sun, heading out to collect the dew on the plants of the temple so that you may use it as water for your group. Other than Momo, who sits comfortably on your shoulders, everyone is asleep, giving you some time to decompress and enjoy the solitude of the rising sun.

“Anything I can help with?”

Or so you thought. Of course Zuko would approach you now when there was no one to keep him away from you. You say nothing in response, refusing to even look at him as you set down your bucket and begin to remove the dew from the leaves.

“Y/n, please talk to me,” he begs. “Let me make it better.”

Zuko is met with silence and an eye roll. Momo chitters curiously at the Princess, receiving a head scratch in return which is more than Zuko can say.

“I never stopped thinking of you,” he says. “And I wish I could take back everything I’ve done to hurt you.”

“I don’t want your apologies,” you utter quietly. “I want you to go away.”

Hearing your voice after being met with silence for so long brings the boy to tears, and with a hesitant demeanor Zuko reaches out for you. However, at the sight of the water glowing your palms the Prince takes a step back. You’re not afraid to turn your bending on him, not anymore, and it isn’t until now that he realizes he really has hurt you, more than he could ever have imagined.

“Y/n...”

“Go. Don’t make me ask again.”

With a defeated sigh Zuko turns away and leaves the Princess to her own devices. She goes back to tending to the dew, and the Prince goes back to his room to wallow in his shame.

Both have tears streaming down their faces.

| tags: @rainteslerrrr @oddment-niwit-blubber-tweak @thebluelcdy @royahllty @the-firebender-girl @coldlilheart @ilovespideyyy @yiyibetch @eridanuswave @lammello @a-monsters-love @titaniafire @dekahg @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @eridanuswave @lozzybowe @izzieserra @melacholy @music-geek19 @thia-aep @thyunnamed @haylaansmi @nataliahaslosthershit @idkdude776 @aangsupremacy @thirstyforsometea @ihaveaproblem98 @brown-eyed-thang |

[thelastspeecher]

Spirit Touched - Chapter 1: Little Prince

Chapter 1   Chapter 2   Chapter 3   Chapter 4   Chapter 5   Chapter 6   AO3

Uhhhh so this is the first time I’ve written and posted something for ATLA, and of course it wound up being because of a fanart of a fanfic that I adore.  Basically, yesterday I saw this art drawn by my pal @agent-jaselin.  And that art appeared to apply one of my all-time favorite tropes (de-aging) to one of my all-time favorite fics (Salvage, by @muffinlance).  And dagnabit, I...got inspired.

So, without further ado, here is my interpretation of a theoretical Zuko being de-aged after Chapter 8 of Salvage.  Enjoy.

——————————————————————————————

              Praying to the spirits for guidance was a mistake.  Hakoda could see that now.  He pinched the bridge of his nose in a vain attempt to dispel the headache already forming.

              This is what I get for thinking the spirits might make things easier. Their actions are rarely convenient for us mortals.

              “Bring him to Kustaa,” Hakoda said after a moment.  Toklo nodded and hurried for the healer’s room, his friend in his arms, buried in a pile of furs.  Bato looked at Hakoda.  He raised an eyebrow silently.

              “That’s new,” he said.  The casual tone made Hakoda’s headache pound in full force.  Bato was treating this as just another matter of fact.  Like seeing the former Prince of the Fire Nation reduced to a toddler overnight was just as common as…

              Hakoda’s head hurt too much to even think of something that was common.

              “Yes,” Hakoda finally said.  “It is new.” He was struggling to align the grumpy teenager of yesterday with the toddler he’d just seen drooling in his sleep.

              “How could this have happened?” Bato asked quietly.

              “I asked the spirits for help last night.”  Hakoda scowled.  It was help he’d desperately needed, after Zuko had broken down in front of him and renounced his crown, maybe even renounced his own nation.  And it was help he was obviously not getting. “Apparently, they didn’t want to make things easier.”

              “The spirits work in mysterious ways,” Bato said.  “It’s best to trust in their judgement.  Eventually, you’ll understand why they’ve done…this.” Hakoda eyed his second-in-command.

              “Since when are you so spiritual?”

              “Since meeting the bridge between the spirit world and ours,” Bato said flatly.

              “Fair enough.”  Hakoda sighed.  “I should go speak with Kustaa.”

              “I might be best if you were there when the little prince woke up,” Bato agreed.  He thumped Hakoda on the back.  “At least you’re good with children!”

----- 

              Unlike every other day since he’d recovered from his illness, Zuko didn’t wake up with the sun.  If he didn’t remember how much his own children slept at this age, Hakoda would have been concerned.  He sat in the infirmary, having a hushed conversation with Kustaa while Zuko continued to snore.  The sight of a toddler swimming in furs was painfully cute and reminded Hakoda of when Sokka was young.

              “I’ll be able to get a better examination done once he’s awake,” Kustaa said in a low voice.  “But from what I can tell, he’s perfectly healthy.”

              “He’s a toddler,” Hakoda said.

              “A healthy one.”  Kustaa glanced at Zuko.  “By my estimation, about four years old.  So, almost out of the toddler years.”  Zuko rolled over in his sleep, mumbling something.  Kustaa and Hakoda held their breaths.  Zuko didn’t wake up.  “From what he’s told me, he didn’t get that scar until a few years ago, so I’m not completely sure why he still has it.”

              “The spirits are testing me,” Hakoda moaned.  Kustaa chuckled.

              “No, Chief.  The spirits are testing all of us with this stunt.”  He sighed and leaned back.  “Now would be a good time to have a waterbending healer, to examine his spirit and chi.  But the odds of finding one of those…”

              “Aren’t good unless we stumble across a Northern Tribe ship,” Hakoda said, finishing the healer’s sentence.  Kustaa nodded.  There was movement from Zuko’s pile of furs.  Hakoda and Kustaa looked over.  A small hand fought its way out, followed by a head.  Zuko’s regular scowl was replaced by confusion as he stared at Hakoda and Kustaa, who most likely seemed larger to him than they had yesterday.

              “You’re up,” Kustaa said calmly.  Zuko shoved away the furs he was buried in.  His eyes widened at the sight of his body.  Hakoda grimaced.

              There was a split second of dumbfounded silence before the screaming started.

----- 

              Kustaa wasn’t sure whether he preferred Zuko like this or not.  On the one hand, it would be difficult to run the ship with a literal toddler on board.  But on the other hand, it was much easier to handle Zuko.  He could literally be picked up and carried somewhere else if needed.

              “This doesn’t fit right!” Zuko whined.  Kustaa glanced over at his young charge.  Zuko had insisted on dressing himself in the smallest shirt they could find on the ship.  That smallest shirt came down to past his feet.

              Then again, so will everything else.  Kustaa beckoned Zuko to come.  Zuko scowled but walked over.  Kustaa fought back an amused grin at the firebender’s toddling gait.  While not as severe as it would be for someone younger, it was still evident.

              “Nothing is going to fit right until either we adjust clothes to fit you or purchase ones already in your size,” Kustaa said.  He adjusted the shirt as best he could by pinning it up and wrapping rope around Zuko’s waist to act as a belt.  “Now that you’re dressed, we need to go see the chief.” Zuko’s eyes went wide in horror.

              “No!  I’m not going outside like this.”

              “Everyone knows what’s happened to you,” Kustaa said, getting to his feet. He took Zuko’s hand.  It was small and warm.  “Most of them saw you already, and the rest were informed by either the chief or Bato.”

              “…Fine,” Zuko grumbled.  Kustaa led him out onto the deck.  The moment eyes landed on him, Zuko dropped Kustaa’s hand to hide behind his legs.

              “Wow, you’re barely older than the babes we left at the South Pole,” Panuk remarked.  Zuko didn’t move or speak.

              “I think he’s adorable,” Toklo said firmly, marching over.  He crouched down to Zuko’s eye-height.  “I always wanted a baby brother.”

              “I’m not a baby,” Zuko snapped.  At his high-pitched, youthful voice, Toklo beamed.  “I’m sixteen.”

              “Four,” Kustaa corrected.  Zuko scowled.

              “Either way, that’s not a baby.”

              “Aw, no need to pout,” Toklo cooed.  Zuko’s scowl deepened.  “It’ll be fun having a little kid on board.”

              “Will it?” rumbled Aake.  “We only let men join the crew for a reason.”  Zuko let out a small squeak as Toklo lifted him up and held him out for Aake to see.

              “Try saying ‘no’ to this face,” Toklo said.  Aake’s deadpan expression didn’t change.

              “No.”

              “Were you saying ‘no’ to Zuko or ‘no’ to saying ‘no’ to him?” Toklo asked. Aake shrugged and continued to sharpen his spear.  Zuko squirmed in Toklo’s hold.

              “Let me go!” he snarled.  He broke loose, falling to the deck with a soft thump.  Kustaa waited for the tears that would come from a toddler being dropped. But Zuko didn’t cry.  His eyes were glistening in a way that suggested he was holding back tears, but he remained otherwise stoic.  Kustaa filed this observation away for now.  He walked over to Zuko and pulled him up.

              “The chief needs to talk to you, remember?” he said.  Zuko nodded silently, allowing Kustaa to lead him to Hakoda’s cabin.

----- 

              The moment they set foot inside the cabin, Kustaa could tell Hakoda was going to struggle with not seeing Sokka every time he looked at Zuko.  At least Bato was there to help mediate things.

              “Take a seat,” Hakoda said.  Zuko toddled over to the chair he normally sat in.  After a moment, he climbed onto the seat with obvious difficulty.  Bato stifled a laugh.  “Zuko, we’re not sure why the spirits have done this to you.”

              “Probably because they hate me,” Zuko muttered, crossing his arms.

              “Well, no matter why you’ve been turned into a toddler, the fact of the matter is that it has happened to you.  Generally, we don’t allow children your age to be on our ships.”  Zuko paled and opened his mouth to make his case. Hakoda held up a hand.  “Given your…extenuating circumstances, we won’t be dropping you off at the next port or something like that.  Who knows, maybe you’ll wake up tomorrow sixteen again. Until we have a better understanding of your condition, including how long it might last, you’ll be staying on the Akhlut.  Do you understand?”

              “Yes,” Zuko said with a nod, visibly relieved.

              “Good.  Now, just because you’ll still be on board, don’t expect things to stay the same for you. You won’t be required to do any chores on the ship.  If you want to help, you can, but the crew has been instructed to stop you from overexerting yourself or doing something that might hurt you at your current age.” Zuko’s eyes boggled.  “Additionally, you’ll be sleeping in the infirmary with Kustaa for the foreseeable future.  It will be more comfortable for you.”

              “Understood,” Zuko mumbled.

              “Another change is that you will be expected to do what a child your age must in order to remain healthy,” Hakoda said.  Zuko tilted his head curiously.  “In particular, you will have to take naps.”

              “What?!” Zuko shrieked.

              “We can’t have a cranky, overtired firebender on our wooden ship,” Bato said.  Zuko crossed his arms, scowling.

              “Those are the major changes.  We will adjust things as we see fit,” Hakoda said.

              “Okay.”  Zuko fidgeted in his seat, an abrupt reminder to the men in the room of how hyperactive toddlers were.  “Um, about my clothes…”

              “Go see Panuk and Toklo.  They offered to try to cobble together something for you until we can make port,” Hakoda said.  Zuko ducked his head.

              “Thank you.”  He slipped off his chair and left the cabin, his head held high in an attempt to maintain any dignity.  Once the door closed, Kustaa looked at Hakoda and Bato.

              “He’s not going to act like a toddler if he can avoid it,” Kustaa said. “He’s almost certainly going to resist the reduced workload and naps.”  Hakoda nodded.

              “I agree,” he said solemnly.

              “This won’t end well,” Bato said, shaking his head.  “There’s a reason we wouldn’t normally have someone his age on board.”  There was a loud ruckus from the deck; clattering, heavy footsteps, and Toklo’s voice.

              “Come on, Zuko, it’ll look so cute!”

              “That,” Bato said, “is the reason.”

-----

              Hakoda begrudgingly agreed with Toklo’s assessment.  Zuko was cuter than he had any right looking, walking around the ship with a blanket draped over his shoulders like a cape.  According to Toklo, Zuko had begun shivering while he and Panuk were working on finding something for the new toddler to wear. Toddlers tended to get cold easier, and Hakoda supposed that being a firebender might make Zuko more vulnerable to cold as is.

              “Are you hungry yet, little prince?” Panuk asked.  Zuko looked up from his fumbling attempts at making a net.

              “Don’t call me that,” he snarled.  Panuk patted Zuko’s bald head.

              “All right.  You hungry yet, Zuko?” he asked.  Zuko’s stomach rumbled loudly.  “I’ll take that as a yes.”  Panuk got up. “Come on.  Let’s fill you up with sea prunes.”  Zuko got to his feet and eagerly followed Panuk.  Hakoda watched Zuko toddle across the deck and to the kitchen.

              “You’re getting soft, Chief, I can tell,” Aake, standing nearby, said quietly. Hakoda looked at him.  Aake sighed.  “But I’m getting soft, too.  We left when Sitka was about that age.”  A weary and wistful expression settled on Aake’s face.  “I miss my son.”

              “I miss mine as well,” Hakoda said quietly.  Suddenly, Zuko burst onto the deck, his arms full of sea prunes, running from Panuk.

              “Hey!  You don’t get all of them!” Panuk protested, coming onto the deck as well.  Zuko merely sped up.  Hakoda and Aake’s eyes widened as they realized the former Fire Nation Prince was giggling as Panuk chased him.  Zuko’s lighthearted, childish peals of laughter filled the air. He rushed belowdeck, his blanket still wrapped around his shoulders.  Panuk followed.  A silence fell.  After a moment, Tuluk, who was swabbing the deck, spoke.

              “Well, that was adorable.”

----- 

              Hakoda expected Zuko to hide belowdeck, embarrassed by behaving like a toddler.  But Zuko returned to the deck after a while, seemingly unaware of how childish he had acted. He walked up to various crewmen in an attempt to do some of his old chores.  Each time, he was turned away.  His regular scowl settled on his face, chubby with baby fat.

              “Can’t do anything,” Zuko muttered as he stalked around the deck, his blanket trailing behind him.  He finally sat down next to the mast, pouting.

              “It’s good that you can’t do anything,” Hakoda said, walking over. Zuko looked up.  “Leaving a task in the middle of doing it doesn’t usually produce good results.”

              “Why would I not complete a task?” Zuko asked.  He crossed his arms.  “I’m not really a child, I can focus.”

              “You’d need to take a break for your nap,” Hakoda informed him.  Zuko’s eyes widened.  “I saw you yawning just now.  You’re tired.”

              “No, I’m not!” Zuko said, jumping to his feet.  He shed his blanket cape.  “I won’t nap.”

              “You agreed to take naps.”

              “Only if I needed them.  I don’t. I’m not tired.”  Zuko’s argument sounded eerily like those Sokka made as a child.

              “There’s nothing for you to do anyways,” Hakoda pointed out.  He reached for Zuko’s hand.  Zuko darted away before he could be grabbed.  Unfortunately for his millionth escape attempt, Aake was nearby. Aake picked Zuko up as he ran past.

              “Let me go!” Zuko said, twisting in Aake’s grip.  “Let me go!”  A breath of flame escaped from his mouth.  He suddenly stilled.  Aake handed him over to Hakoda.  Zuko didn’t make a peep as Hakoda carried him across the deck and into the infirmary. Kustaa looked up from the book he was reading.

              “Is it time for my nephew’s nap?” he asked.  Hakoda nodded and set Zuko down.

              “Sleep,” he said firmly to Zuko.  “That’s an order.”  Zuko nodded, visibly cowed.

              “Yes, chief,” he mumbled.  Hakoda turned to leave.  “Sir, I apologize for firebending earlier,” Zuko said suddenly.  Hakoda looked over his shoulder at the toddler.

              “You firebending on accident wouldn’t have anything to do with agreeing to nap, would it?” he asked.

              “Uncle says that sleep works in concert with meditation to control your inner fire.  Children who are too young to know how to meditate only avoid burning down their house by taking…naps.”  Zuko scowled slightly.  “That’s the excuse he gives for being so lazy.”  Kustaa chuckled softly.

              “Judging by what happened on deck, your uncle might be right,” Hakoda said, feigning a casual tone.  Zuko nodded. “Sleep well, Zuko.”

              Hakoda poked his head into the infirmary after he had checked on the rest of the crewmen.  Some of the crew felt Zuko’s current size was an improvement.  Hakoda could see where they were coming from.  Zuko was yet again buried in a pile of furs, his minute arms wrapped around Scuttles.

              “He went down almost right after you left, chief,” Kustaa said quietly.  “I didn’t even need to make him any tea.”

              “Hopefully he won’t argue against naps in the future.”  Hakoda continued to watch Zuko sleep.  The toddler let out a soft snore.  “It’s foolish to expect that he’ll ask for a nap, though.”  Kustaa nodded.

              “I would agree with that.”  Zuko rolled over in his sleep with another snore.

              “Let me know if anything happens,” Hakoda said.

              “Of course,” Kustaa said.  He picked up another book, opened it, and began to read.  Hakoda left the infirmary, closing the door behind him as softly as he could.

[stardust948]

~*~

“Yes. We wear it with honor and pride.” Suki smiled at him. “We’re not so different after all. Both warriors in our own rights.”

Sokka smiled back. Just then, Katara re-entered the room with Mingxia and Yuna. Since her war paint had to last longer, they prepared a special blend that didn’t wash off as easily. The base was white, like the rest of theirs, but that was where the similarities ended. Blood red swirls covered Katara’s face and coated her lips. In the center of her forehead was a golden crescent moon eerily similar to the mark of the brave.

His chest tightened. Sokka remember where that design was from. The first and only time Zuko worked up enough nerve to share a story during a Spring Equinox Festival. One about a Fire Nation Healer River Spirit. Katara met his eyes; confirming his thoughts.

“For him.”

Sokka nodded solemnly. “For him.”

The warriors shared a look. “Are you ready, Katara?” Suki asked.

She balled up her shaking hands.

“Let's do it.”

~*~