#zuko: i can only be romantic on accident

[nanabanonana]

Zuko: but, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? it is the east, and Sokka is the sun.

Sokka: wow, Zuko, i didn't know you knew poetry.

Zuko: what the fuck is poetry

[djemsostylist]

Zuko/Toph Headcanon: Reflections in a Mirror (are not closer than they appear)

With thanks to @bonesingerofyme-loc for the discord headcanon breakdown over this particular issue

Zuko goes back and forth on his hair for a long time. It's late one evening and he's back from meetings and he's tired and tense and scowling. He catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror, on his unscarred side and all he can see is his father staring back at him. He chops all his hair off with a knife, and his ministers are trying to figure out how to explain it (since it's kind of a big deal culturally of course) and they explain it away as a "training accident" but Zuko can't quite shake the image from his head because he looks more and more like Ozai every day.

When he and Toph meet up it's grown out enough to hang in his eyes a bit, like when he was a teenager, and as time goes on it gets longer and longer.

Toph doesn't mention it, but one evening at camp on the The Field Trip™ she's playing with his hair and mentions that she likes it like this because it's fun to play with and Zuko just like, quietly decides to never cut it again.

(Sokka, of course, remains angry that SOMEONE that wasn't him finally managed to convince Zuko about the proper aesthetics of long hair. Toph is unbearably smug about the whole thing).

At some point on their Field Trip™, sometime after the hair incident, Toph tells him, completely and utterly sincerely, he looks nothing like his father and it's the first time he actually believes it. Toph phrases it about how she sees everyone, but she doesn't really see people in a way that everyone else understands so they kind of just assume she sees the way they see, because just like she can't imagine what they mean when they talk about what someone looks like, she knows they'll never totally understand what she means either. She sees the body, sure, because her sense is strong enough to pick up weight and center of gravity and etc etc, but just as important to all that is everything else like stance, how they hold their weight, how they walk, how they sit, how they move. It's a whole constellation of details about each person, not just the basic physical, and that's why she can say even though she'd only seen Ozai once in her entire life, she knows that Zuko doesn't look anything like him, not at all.

For his part, Zuko is left completely speechless and the only thing he can think to say is "I love you."

It's not the first time he says it (the Gaang say it to each other the way you do, all the time, reflexively the way you do with family) but it's the first time he means it like that.

Toph just responds with a "of course you do" and the requisite punch, but internally she's freaking out because did he mean it the way she thinks he meant it or is it just like it always is, because Toph has massive issues with people caring about her, and also how she views romantic love. She has Aang/Katara and Sokka/Suki as good examples, but they are special and fated and just because it works for them doesn't mean it will work for her, she wasn't lucky enough to meet her soulmate at 12 (which of course she was but...). She can accept exceptions for her friends but not for herself. Childhood trauma doesn't go away, so even with their friends as examples, she still has the reflexive judgement of it from her upbringing, both again, from her parents, and also what they hammered into her about expectations. For her, marriage was always going to be this like, messed up arranged situtationship that came with giving up yourself and expecting nothing and she doesn't know what it means if she loves him. And Zuko is the first person she's ever loved like this, and it's terrifying and exhilarating all at once for her.

(It takes her a while to say it back, not because she doesn't love him (she probably loved him for far longer than a single Field Trip™) but because of the implications of what it all means in the end. Zuko doesn't say it again for a while for her sake and also because he is a little bit afraid of his own daring, but he also says it everyday.)

[hello-nichya-here]

Wondering what your take on this half baked idea I had would be. A freak accident/tragedy strikes and either Zuko or Azula are presumed lost at sea (or some other version of dead) shortly after they've wed but before a child was conceived. While they frantically search for their lost sibling/lover, they ultimately have to give up after no sign of them is found. But now a new complication arises: the Fire Nation needs an heir to the throne. So who do Azula and Zuko take to their bed to conceive said heir? And (plot twist!) when whichever one of them that was thought dead eventually returns shortly after said heir is born, how does everyone react? Who would Zuko/Azula be ok with their sibling replacing them with? Who would they hate to see as their replacement? Honestly would love to find a fic (or series of fics) that delve into this storyline as the dramatic angst and fluff of it all would be so fun if done well and proper.

If Zuko was the one who "died"

Azula would not find a new husband. Ever. She'd only ever settle for a "marriage out of duty, not love" BEFORE she and Zuko got together and she understood she wasn't impossible to love. All of her seemingly resolved issues would come back full force with Zuko gone.

At most, if it was foursome/fivesome situation with Zuko having other wives that she was also romantically involved with herself, she'd remain in a relationship would them - provided they did not push for finding a new husband, even if Azula herself was given permission not be involved with him.

She'd see finding a new husband as a betrayal, not just because of her codependency with Zuko, but also because she's Little Miss Patriarchy. She belongs to one man and one man only. "Till death do us part" don't mean shit to her.

She settle for being Fire Lord until the day of her death, and be all melancholic and bitter that she won't have long lasting dynasty like she wanted. She'd be overjoyed once Zuko came back - and he'd be very relieved that she remained "faithful" to him, because, lets face it guys, Zuko is NOT that understanding and he has a complex about not being the favorite, he'd NOT handle it well if Azula "replaced" him, even if it took YEARS. Again, at most he'd be okay with her being involved with the women in his harem, if he had one, and he's still supposed to be "the one" for her.

If Azula was the one who "died"

Again, unless it was a harem situation that had started when Azula was still around, Zuko would just not be with anyone else... except Mai. And even then their relationship would not be the same as it was BEFORE he got with Azula because no romance with her can work unless she's THE favorite.

That factor also ties into Azula's reaction when she comes back - unless they already were a harem and thus Mai was already Zuko's other wife, Azula would NOT be cool with them getting together, and would see it as Zuko being unfaithful to her (again, "Til death do us part" don't mean shit to her). She has love for Mai as a friend, so she'd eventually "forgive" her and Zuko, like she "forgave" them for dating before. But that is it.

"But what if he/she was somehow FORCED to get married after the spouse's presumed death?"

For Azula, she'd try to "get rid" of the husband before Zuko even had the time to come back. And if he managed to stick around long enough for Zuko's return, he'd have to deal with the consequence of Azula actively encouraging Zuko to take his wrath out on him.

For Zuko, he'd constantly try to get a divorce, but without reacting violently. Once Azula is around though? The new wife better run FAST, because there'll be no mercy.

[stardust948]

🌈💧🌀🌤️

ask game for teasing wips/upcoming projects

🌈 Share something soft/fluffy from your WIP.

“Honey! It’s okay. It’s okay.” Warm hands cupped his face. “Breathe. I got you.”

The world slowly dialed back in, centering on slitted golden eyes staring intensely at him.

“Ursa…” Ozai pulled her into a tight hug. “You’re alright…”

“Me?” Ursa let out a nervous laugh. “You’re the one who…” She leaned her forehead against his. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

“Forgive me.”

“No.”

Ozai laughed slightly. They leaned in for a kiss when the door flew open and two very worried dragon children pounced him.

“Daddy! You’re okay!”

‘We were so scared!’

“Careful! He’s still recovering!” Ursa scolded.

Ozai paid no mind to the sharp pain as he hugged his precious children, alive and well. Ursa hugged his back. Ozai shifted some and the two shared a kiss. He was so relieved the nightmare was just that. A nightmare.

By Agni, he was going to make sure it stayed that way.

💧Share something romantic/hot from your WIP, or just something sweet if it's gen.

“Once you’re released from prison, do you want to…live together again?” she mumbled the last part.

“Want to what?” Zuko asked.

Katara flushed. “Nothing.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s our last night together. I don’t want to ruin it.”

“Nothing you can do will ruin it.”

He gently kissed her forehead. Katara closed her eyes as his lips lingered.

“Katara…” Zuko rasped.

“Yes?”

“Will you wait for me?”

She kissed his scar then pulled him close. “Yes.”

Zuko buried his face against her chest and wrapped around his arms around her. Warmth spread all across his body, igniting his inner flame.

“Will you stay with me?” Katara ran her cool fingers across his chest. “If only for a night?”

“Yes.”  

He kissed her neck, growing more excited as she shivered. The feeling from the strange dream was back but so much more intense. Raw. Alive.

“Zuko…”

“Katara…” Another kiss. “I love you.”

Hands wandered lower, inviting him closer. “Say it again…”

Zuko surrendered. To the feeling. To his body.

To her.

“I love you… I love you… I love you…”

🌀Post the fic summary for a fic you haven't written/published yet. It can be hypothetical or something you really plan on releasing...

Summary: Through experiment with firebending moves, Katara learns how to summon thunderstorms. Where there’s thunder, there’s lightning. And lightning with no control is a danger to it all. After a terrible accident, Katara swears to never summon storms again unless they find someone who can control the lightning.

Someone who wasn’t Zuko that is.

🌤️Share your favorite piece of dialogue from your WIP.

“My name is Lee and these are my children.”

He turned and only Zuko, Katara, and Sokka. Ozai’s stomach dropped. Where was Aang?! Of all the times to run off!

“Which are?” The soldier pressed.

Ozai’s mind went blank. “Lee Jr… Ty Lee and… Lee the third.”

Sokka’s face twisted in confusion but before he could say something sarcastic, Ozai spoke up.

“My youngest. Mute from birth, poor thing.”

Sokka’s jaw dropped.

“A bit slow too.” Zuko smirked.

“But we still love him!” Katara pinched his cheek. “Who could say no to that face?

Sokka gave them both the dirtiest look possible.

“Children, huh?” The soldier glared at Zuko’s scar and the Water Tribe siblings’ dark skin. “Aren’t you all a <em>colorful</em> bunch.”

“If we’re done here-“ Ozai started.

“Not quite. Lift your head.”

Ozai tensed. Before he could make a move, Aang jumped in front of him, large straw hat obscuring Ozai’s face.

“Lee where are your manners?! How could you forget to introduce your dear old dad?!” he spoke in a ridiculous old man voice.

“My apologies… <em>Dad.</em>” Ozai cringed on the inside. “This is-“

“Bonzu Pippinpaddleopsicopolis the Third!” He jabbed the soldier in the chest. “But that’s Mr. Bonzu Pippinpaddleopsicopolis the Third to you!”

“Uh…” The soldier balked.

“I apologize for my father. He can get a little high strung sometimes.”

“Oi, watch yer mouth!”

Aang smacked Ozai’s head with his staff.

“Ack!” he rubbed his head then shot daggers at a smug Aang while the others snickered.

Oh he was so going to get it later.

“Now what’s the hold up here?!” Aang twitched his bushy mustache. “Back in my day they respected elders with the highest regard! Ya bow ya head, say yes sir, please and thank you, and offered to carry their bags. Did I hear any offers yet? Youth these days! Back in my day-”

“Okay okay!” The soldier sighed and waved them off. “Just stay out of trouble.”

“Don’t tell me what to do, young spark.” Aang jabbed his chest again. Ozai ducked as Aang swung his staff again then hobbled off. “Come along now sonny. I need to treat my sweet grandbabies to mountains of candy apples and shaved ice!”

“Coming Grandfather!” Katara and Zuko ran after him followed by a pouting Sokka with his arms crossed.

“Let yer old grandpappy show you how it’s done!”

“Careful Dad.” Ozai forced a smile. “You know you can’t eat that stuff anymore.”

“Watch me!”

The soldier massaged his growing headache.

Mixed families were so weird.

Thanks for the asks!

[the-genius-az]

I like the idea of an alpha's instincts going completely haywire because of their omega (definitely used this idea in stories before, I don't write much fanfic, but I do write a lot of original work). So just Azula going batshit insane until Mai comes back to her, it works like magic. Suddenly she's her normal calm, rational self and focused on being that alpha that Mai fell in love with.

A lot of people kinda hate cheating, I think it's almost funny because I love to find a way to make it happen. Like, the novel I'm writing is currently titles "a cheating omegaverse porn romance novel".

In this one Zuko tonight he could get with Mai because between nobles, she's kinda the only that didn't treat him terribly for being a beta. At least in the beginning. Later on he noticed how close Maizula were and then he got obsessed with having Mai as a mate. (I change Zuko a little, but I keep the canon that Azula is a better sibling. Especially because like dragon!Azula claims people, alpha!Azula claims platonic mates and Zuko was one of them until he betrayed her.)

Mai's way too strong to be afraid. And even when Azula threatens to burn her (because in this AU, The Boiling Rock happens almost the same way), Mai doesn't feel scared. Azula has accidently burned her before, and Mai knows it'll hurt but she'll be fine.

Azula's very clingy and very protective. She's very soft when she's allowed to be soft.

- Ash 🔥🍌

Thanks for this, Ash!

I like the idea of an alpha's instincts going completely haywire because of their omega.

I like it too! It's as romantic as the Alpha goes crazy because he's not around his Omega.

So just Azula going batshit insane until Mai comes back to her, it works like magic.

Azula: MY OMEGA! WHERE THE FUCK IS MY WIFE? ...Oh, Here it is.

Suddenly she's her normal calm, rational self and focused on being that alpha that Mai fell in love with.

This is so cute! How Azula does everything she can for Mai, and is so obsessed that she is willing to make her Omega fall in love with her again and again!

Later on he noticed how close Maizula were and then he got obsessed with having Mai as a mate.

Please tell me Azula killed her traitor brother! How dare you mess with his younger sister's mate?

I just hope Mai punched him in his ugly face when he tried to hit on her.

Is Maizula a secret couple? Or does everyone know their relationship but it is something discreet?

Alpha!Azula claims platonic mates and Zuko was one of them until he betrayed her.

Shit, I wonder if Azula will trust anyone again when she saw how her own brother tried to make a pass at her Omega.

Because in this AU, The Boiling Rock happens almost the same way.

Almost? details, details! Tell me what things change, I find that interesting.

Small changes can change the whole story.

Mai doesn't feel scared. Azula has accidently burned her before, and Mai knows it'll hurt but she'll be fine.

I rather like the idea that Azula finds it impossible to harm her lover, as if her fire didn't burn and hurt her Omega, it would be so impossible even if she wanted to!

Azula's very clingy and very protective. She's very soft when she's allowed to be soft.

I love the idea of Mai saying "Tick" to Azula because that's her alpha! She is always above her.

Azula is soft when they are in their nest without any interruption, while she is in an awkward position because she doesn't want to hurt her Omega's belly, because she doesn't want to hurt her baby or her Omega.

[callmesinpai]

Bookbinding Updates:

@erisenyo

I have it decided, but I'm still making some tweaks.

Wisteria for These Things Written

Wisteria Symbolism

Despite its potentially aggressive nature, the wisteria flower symbolizes something quite different in cultures that have incorporated it into their rituals or philosophies.

Wisteria in Buddhism

Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, also called “Shin Buddhism” in the West, uses a double wisteria in its official crest to form a circle ‌representing humility and an open and welcoming mind and heart.‌ The humility is inherent in the way the wisteria flowers appear to hang upside down, as if their heads were hanging down. The wisteria blossoms symbolize new beginnings and the fleeting nature of all things.

Perhaps more in keeping with its growing behavior is that ‌it also symbolizes strength and hardiness,‌ as it blooms earlier than many other spring flowers, sometimes even when snow is still present.

Japanese Kabuki Drama

A famous Japanese kabuki dance ‌Fuji Musume‌, or the “Wisteria Maiden,” illustrates the story of a young maiden who embodies the spirit of the wisteria plant: romantic and shy.

Victorian England

The Victorians are famous for flower symbolism and adopted the wisteria ‌to represent passionate love and longing,‌ represented by the clinging nature of the vine. Wisteria is not a plant that grows easily in the British climate, but the elite imported it for its rareness and beauty and came to associate the wisteria flowers with the phrase “I cling to you.”

[source]

I chose wisteria for this one because they represent new beginnings. When we meet Zuko he’s hurt, he’s angry, he’s still trying to accept things about himself that he’s been told are wrong. He’s strong and ready to take on anything thrown at him from a boom-a-rang to the head to finding the avatar that’s been missing for 100 years (an impossible quest). Then we have Sokka who is learning how the world actually works outside the Southern Water Tribe. He takes on the role as leader making sure the other two stay safe (as much as he can) because he can handle the pressure. He greets each thing thrown at him with a (mostly) open mind and heart.

Japanese Maple For These Things Unsaid

The Symbolism and Spiritual Meaning of Japanese Maple Trees

There are many symbols of Japanese red maple trees, such as abundant blessings, peace, beauty, patience, survival, the arrival of autumn, and so on. It is common to see Japanese people plant maple trees in their houses to bring luck and add good value to their houses by believing in red maple trees’ spiritual meaning.

Abundant Blessing

Japanese maple trees produce “samara” fruit in large amounts during September and October. This is because samara is a winged seed that scatters via a northwesterly wind at that time of year.

Samara seeds are also edible during the springtime. However, also consult a physician before ingesting anything in the wild.

Peace

The Japanese maple tree is a significant tree in nature, or “kito,” which means calm, rest, or peace. The symbol of peace keeps people calm and avoids stress and accidents to create a safe and happy life.

Beauty

The Japanese maple tree is known for its elegance and tastefulness, which many people find appealing. Even its shrubs have beautiful colors. Like most trees in the autumn, momiji leaves turn red, brown, purple, and gold.  

Because of their beauty, maple leaves are a common motif in traditional Japanese clothes. Kimonos, in particular, sport this lovely look, and it’s a perfect design for both autumn and winter.

Patience

Because maple trees take so long to grow to their most mature height, they are a common symbol of patience. For instance, maple trees must take about twenty to thirty years to reach their required length or height. 

To humans, momiji further represents that we must take time to reach our goals. Rushing to our goals will only make things worse. This is why we appreciate the timeless beauty of the Japanese maple tree.

Endurance

Red maple trees in Japan are famous for their association of partial shade areas so that they can still grow mature and beautiful even though there is just a little exposure to sunlight. These trees reflect to humans the ability to survive without giving up no matter how difficult the challenge they have encountered or how bad the environment existed.

[source]

I chose the Japanese Maple not only because of it’s beauty but also because in book two both Sokka and Zuko start to learn patience and endurance. They both struggle with these in different ways but this is where they really start to grow. Book two also brings us brief moments of peace where the two of them can actually be together even if we already know that they’re going to separate again.

Sakura for These Things Known

The sakura bloom marks the end of chilly winters and the beginning of the spring season. However, this is not the only sign of the sakura flowers. They bring in a lot more, including a rich history and cultural significance in Japan. 

A long time ago, sakura was used to predict the year’s planting and harvest seasons by indicating the right time to plant crops for farmers. Because of that, the beginning of the sakura season is seen as a sign of renewal in Japan. 

Sakura also symbolizes human mortality for many Japanese people. The short blooming period of sakura is often compared to the fleeting nature of life. The flowers are beautiful and brilliant during their strongest bloom, but then it withers and becomes fragile when their time comes, similar to the human life cycle. It reminds people that life is both short and precious. 

Japan also starts its fiscal and school year in April, during the cherry blossom season. Sakura, in this case, is a symbol of good luck and hope in Japanese culture. 

[source]

Sakura is the most obvious. Not only was Sakura the first tree I picked and I couldn’t get over the way it looked, but also it represents their love for one another. This is the book where they can finally be together. This is the book where they try and make everything as right as they can. They’re still learning and fucking up but they love each other and you can really see it here.

[flameslegacy]

@ FLAMESLEGACY ;; the dragon dancer -- a private selective and independent ZUKO from AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER follows back from rowanberryhub

blogroll . dossier . meme . open . link . link

rules below the cut --

to do or not to do

Please DO

crossovers, aus

most anything goes ( within reason )

ask to ship! ( see 4. )

send asks! ( non-claimed/non-directed anons will be answered OOC )

One-liners, Para, Multi-para and Novella

Please DONT

Godmod - ie. control my characters

Powerplay - ie. make a character all-knowing/powerful who isnt already

Metagaming - ie. put your ooc knowledge in your character ic if they genuinely dont know

Please be aware that I am dyslexic and a slow reader…

You should not be trying to control my characters, insta-kill them, or otherwise direct how I write my character. Constructive criticism is very much appreciated, but PLEASE, if you only have negative things to say to me, don’t say them at all. Any anonymous hate to me will be ignored and deleted.

2. PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO ROLEPLAY ANY SORT OF ROLEPLAY, WITHIN REASON.

I am willing to roleplay violent and other similar themes because of the genre of the original content. However, I’d like to officially say that I will NOT roleplay any NSFW themes such as smut or overly sexual roleplays with anyone under 18 years of age. Both my muse and I are 21+. I am also selective as to whom I rp sexual themes with – though chances are, if we have a ship, you’re automatically on my OK-list.

communication

Please, if you have anything you want to talk to me about, I am here to listen. Criticism and plotting or whatever have you, I am fine with talking! I’m only semi-selective because my muses can be really finicky, so I’m sorry in advance! ADDENDUM - Please do not vague me if I have upset you. If I have blocked you or moved away from you in some way, and you would like to reach out, you can! I won't deny you an explanation if you ask. But please be mindful that I can and will block/soft block if I feel like I need to.

4. to do or not to do (ship edition)

Please DO

het, slash, polyship, crackship, rarepair, BrOTP, Queerplatonic, etc

OC x Canon, Self Insert x OC

communicate first about a potential ship

bring your headcanons to the table and communicate them

communicate ( /silly )

jokingly ask to ship ( i will take it seriously /silly )

ship with chemistry

Please DONT

no weird age gaps ( adult mortal x immortal is fine )

ABSOLUTELY no romantic ships kid/teen muses with adult zuko or visa versa with teen zuko

no age-ups JUST to hard-ship

and no cradle robber ships ( older muse watched younger grow up, etc )

if you want to use darker material in a roleplay, please communicate with me - though if I say no, please respect that!

5. FEEL FREE TO TALK TO ME!

I really don’t bite, and if I do, its on accident. Do you need me to reply to a thread? Ask me to! Do you want to start a ship with me? Go ahead and ask! Do you want to do some crazy plot with all sorts of ins and outs and too many sub-plots to count? Fire away! I am a very amicable person, so please don’t be afraid to call me a friend! I am however, more often than not too afraid to talk to you first, so don’t be afraid to approach me! Seriously!

[thetreefairy]

I didn’t know you like atla too!! Can I request yandere zuko after he became fire lord with the last prompt? (I should keep you in a glass cage prompt)

ATLA was my comfort show when I was younger, my parents used to show to make me content before a surgery. I am assuming romantic lol.

song mentioned: exothermic (pianno version) faouzia

they.them singer reader

The spirit of Death

When Zuko became the firelord, the Fire Nation was rather annoyed, well the ones behind his father anyways. His reformed vision of the Fire Nation will take long to achieve, he knew that.

Zuko had his day off, the avatar gang were all together and they went to a theater in the Fire Nation. Today a play was playing about the fall of the spirits. Aang was, of course, excited. Katara, Sokka, Suki and Toph were rather curious how this was made.

Zuko just wanted to come to this play to see the song bird. The nickname he gave his darling.

When the play began, the Song bird barely had any lines, yet they still were the main character. Spirits were having a war in the play. "How curious." Aang muttered. Soon enough Reader was left alone on the stage, after being betrayed by their friends. "Such a pitiful spirit." Suki muttered

Dancing around in the rain again. 'Cause you said that I was my only friend Playing with the flowers that I picked myself Because I know they won't come from anybody else Wrap myself up to warm my hands From the biting ice that you made them stand

The silence as the Reader sang, their voice filling the theater, flowers falling down on the stage, an icy feel came over the crowd. The stage floor flooding with water.

Trace my footsteps in the water 'Cause you said when you left I'd be lost forever And ever, whatever

Reader took out a fawn and started to dance gracefully, Zuko looking intensely, the Gaang noticing how a blush spread on his face. Sokka wiggeling his eyebrows to Suki, Suki punching his arms amused.

I'm still moving cities and I'm still causing storms I don't know if you know this But when I shoot I score Took this pain inside of me, turned it into gold I made this exothermic Now watch my heart explode

As the song continued the more Zuko began to blush, the more he began to plot to kidnap you.

Zuko invited Reader for dinner with a messager, Reader accepted, because who would decline an invite from the fire lord? And ngl, he's kinda husband material.

The dinner went surprisingly well, to Reader's surprise, they have a lot in common. When Reader accidently cut themselves on a chipped bowl, Zuko saw red. "Are you alright, my dear?" Zuko questioned as he sat down next to them and looked at the cut, ordering a maid to get bandages. "I am fine, my lord." Reader said flustered. "Your so fragile."

Reader chuckled. "I disagree, everyone would get a small cut from a chipped bowl."

"I should lock you up."

"Excuse me?" Reader really hoped they heard the fire lord wrong.

"I should lock you up and keep you in a glass cage, little songbird. Where only I can see you and protect you."

[absolutelyfizzing]

cruel and spiteful

anon - If you take requests, can I have Zuko X reader, where Zuko tells them about his scar?

description - zuko tells y/n how he got his scar. he also has a very important question to ask her. (established!zuko x reader)

warnings - fluff, some tears, description of violence and abuse (no more vivid than is in the show), no connection to the content after the original series, some kissing, zuko is aged up (probably 20-24 years old)

word count - 1700

a/n - I tried on this one but I make no promises that its good

MASTERLIST

You stayed in peaceful silence next to your boyfriend as you read and he worked. Your leg was draped over one of his so you could have some contact but not enough that either of you would get distracted. You often thought about how thankful you were that you could have moments like this. That you had been together long enough and were comfortable enough with each other that you could spend evenings like this.

Zuko fidgeted a bit in his place and you glanced over at him. He had bags under his eyes and they looked red. You knew that he had been overworking himself lately and not getting enough sleep. Many nights he would come to bed after you had fallen asleep and then leave before you woke up simply because there was so much for him to do. You also knew that you wanted to take care of him and to let him know that his mental well-being was just as important as getting his list of tasks done. At that thought, you closed your book and sat up a bit.

"Zuko?" you asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the peace in the room.

"Hm?" he hummed out but he did not look up from his work.

"Zuko, honey, you have to stop working for a minute." You tried to reason but he just huffed. You didn't say anything else but you slowly moved to take his things off of his lap, giving him time to finish reading the paragraph he was on. He let you slip the papers into your hands and you placed them on his nearby desk. You stood silently and grabbed his hand to pull him up.

He didn't complain or make any indication that he didn't want to get up as you led him to your shared bathroom. You had him brush his teeth and you pulled his hair into a bun for him before you both headed back to bed, this time in your pajamas and with the intent of going to sleep.

"Actually, can you mess with my hair?" he almost whispered. He requested you touch his hair every so often because he loved the feeling of your fingers carding through it.

"Of course, my love," you assured and he smiled at you.

You sat on the bed, your back against the headboard. He laid next to you so his head was on your lap and you were looking down at him. You began to brush through his hair with your fingers, running your nails along his scalp. His eyes closed at the feeling as he sighed. You could tell that the anxiety of the day was leaving him.

After you had been brushing through his hair for some time and his breathing had evened out, you moved to run your fingers over the lines of his face. You just assumed that he was asleep from how calm and still he seemed. Your fingers traced along his brow lines and his eyes. You moved them down towards the shape of his nose and then his jaw. When you moved back up his face, you traced along the edges of his scar. You never asked him about it and you didn't actually know how he got it. You were from the earth kingdom and had never heard any conversation around the palace about it so you assumed that he was in some sort of accident. You knew that he would eventually tell you how it happened if he wanted to. As you were lost in thought you hadn't even noticed that his eyes were open, gazing at you from your lap. When you accidentally met his gaze, you flinched, like you had been caught doing something wrong.

"You can touch it, it's okay." He whispered out to reassure you and you hesitated before tracing it again. "Have you already heard the story?" he questioned. He knew that you hadn't known much about him when you met and that stories around the palace had ceased, mostly because it was old news and he no longer seemed self-conscious about it.

You shook your head shyly.

"Do you want to?"

You made eye contact with him. "If you don't mind telling it." You tried to make sure that he knew he didn't have to. He smiled up at you and sat up from your lap. He moved so that he was sitting in front of you, legs crossed under him to match yours. His knees were touching yours and he pulled your hands onto his lap. He looked up into your eyes and felt anxiety despite your non-judgemental gaze. He paused for a moment.

"My father did it." He started, looking at your face as you gasped a bit but you tried not to react, wanting him to continue uninterrupted. "When I was younger, I think I was thirteen, I sat in on a war meeting with my father and his advisors." His gaze had drifted down towards where your fingers were tangled with his.

"I disagreed with something, I spoke up. One of the generals had recommended sacrificing men as bait for a trap and I felt like I had to say something. It was seen as an act of disrespect so my father told me I would be fighting in an agni kai to settle the matter."

You kept your gaze on his face. You had only seen one agni kai in your time in the fire nation and it was not something you wished to see again. You struggled to believe anyone would expect a thirteen-year-old to fight in such a match.

"When I showed up, I had assumed I would fight the general, that was who I disagreed with. Instead, my father stepped forward to fight me. I knew I couldn't have won but I also didn't want to fight him because he was my father and I didn't want to show him violence. I got on my knees and asked him to forgive me but he saw it as a sign of weakness."

Zuko took a deep breath. He hadn't had to tell this story in a while and remembering the traumatic fight made him feel emotional.

"He burned me for my vulnerability. I was then exiled by my father, my scar a brand to let the kingdom know of my shame, and he sent me on my impossible mission to find the avatar. To find Aang." He finished, looking up to your gaze again. He was a bit surprised to see tears streaming down your face and he immediately cooed at you, shushing you and wiping your tears away.

You let out a broken sob and he brought his hand to the back of your neck to pull you into him so your face rested against his shoulder. Your fingers moved so that they were latched onto his shirt. You cried quietly for a few minutes, Zuko's hand soothing you by rubbing along your back.

"I'm so sorry." You whispered out. Zuko didn't respond immediately, thinking about his answer. For a while he would have said 'it's okay or 'i had it coming' but he now knew that it wasn't true. That it was cruel and he shouldn't have had to go through that.

"I'm okay now." He decided on and you nodded against him. You sat up a bit and moved your hand to cup his jaw on the side of his scar, your thumb just barely grazing over the edge of it.

"You are beautiful." You breathed out and Zuko was surprised by your words but they almost brought tears to his eyes. "Your father was a cruel and spiteful man and for him to have taken his anger out on his own child when you were just a kid is heartbreaking. I'm so sorry you had to go through that and I am so proud of you for having become such an amazing man in spite of your cruel upbringing."

You wiped away the single tear that trailed down his face.

"Will you marry me?" He whispered out, surprising himself a bit. He had of course been planning on proposing to you but he had a plan set up months from now. It was elaborate and romantic but as he sat in front of you, he wanted to be able to say he was your husband as soon as possible. Your face cracked into a smile and you giggled a bit. Zuko wanted to hear that sound for the rest of his life.

"Of course I will, Firelord Zuko." Your words reminded you of your future and your face paled a bit. Zuko was ecstatic that you said yes but worried as your face showed anxiety. "I'm going to be royalty." You choked out, your fear showing. You had, of course, hoped that you would be spending the rest of your life with Zuko, but you had never given your future rank much thought. Zuko let out a laugh at your realization.

"You already are." He added and you quirked your eyebrow in question. "You are the person I care for the most in the world, you are my closest advisor and you help me in all of my decisions, you are under my protection at all times. You are already queen in practice, just not in title. You will rule by my side as an equal as you already do. As you have done for the last 2 years."  

You smiled at his reassurance and leaned forward to pull him into a searing kiss. You hoped that he could feel all of the emotions you were trying to express through it. He hummed against your lips and brought his hand up to rest in your hair. When you both pulled away, out of breath, he leaned his forehead against yours.

"I love you." He mumbled out and you smiled.

"Nowhere near as much as I love you." you replied easily.

[pocket-ozwynn]

Has Genesis Day Chapter 3 in the oven like a fine roast, slaps a folder on the metaphorical table.

Y’all wanna hear about two new idiots I’ve been thinking about?

As a note, I PROBABLY (cough) won’t be doing anything long-verse with these two for at least a year or more but I definitely do want to do one-shots with them because I just am starting to really love their dynamic.

The setting is tentatively the “Space Odyssey”!AU, and it draws a lot of inspiration from James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, League of Legend’s Odyssey skin line and sub-universe, and Elaine Lee & Mike Kaluta’s Starstruck comic book series. Loud, colorful, absurd, despite a galaxy ruled by corporations and empires. This setting would allow for vignettes to show what the Space Odyssey versions of Alice (an Empathkinetic), Freyja (an orbital Meteor drop trooper), Rowan (a cyborg smuggler), and Zelly (a vulgar priestess of the Song of Creation) might look like--but like with Offline Valor, I wanted to give this story the opportunity to explore a new G/t (eventual) couple dynamic. I hope you like my scattered notes and thoughts about them! 

The Little:

Character inspirations: Clone Troopers from Star Wars, Barry Syx from Starstruck Odyssey, Mabel from Gravity Falls, Sprig from Amphibia, Raze from Valorant, Tracer from Overwatch, Wally West from DC comics (though specifically Young Justice), Bumblebee from Transformers: Animated

WIP colors: Hot pink, yellow, black, and maybe cyan (the colors for Mountain Dew Spark)

Ever since I watched the Genndy Tartakovsky Star Wars: Clone Wars I was fascinated with the idea of cloned individuals. At first it was just my little brain was so obsessed with how cool and epic and mysterious they were--they’d always wear their helmets and look the same, but then when they’d take off their helmets they’d all have the same face. Fast-forward 5 years later when the ideas of clones and individualism was explored more fully in the The Clone Wars of George Lucas and Dave Filoni, my brain started to ask QUESTIONS about the concept--questions that were metaphysical and philosophical, over the state of a “cloned soul.”

Going into “Space Odyssey” I also knew that I want a different kind of Little to play off the Giant I’d be including as well. With Alice you had sparkling, sweet, and feminine, and Rowan who is broken, brooding, and masculine--with acting as fun romantic foils to Freyja and Zelly respectively.

For this Clone (for the purposes of this document being referred to as “64″) I want him to be optimistically aimless, chaotic but sunny, and hopelessly accident prone. Created for a war long over but only brought “to life” by pure accident in an old cloning facility, 64 now strives to find his purpose in the galaxy--with all the color, laughter, explosions, and shenanigans he can muster along the way.

The Big:

Character inspiration: Hebrion Hythenos from my own personal D&D campaign, Chell from Portal, Cassandra from Dragon Age, Viper from Valorant, Rey from Star Wars, Prince Zuko from Avatar

WIP colors: None at this time  

Responsibility is a crippling thing sometimes. Sometimes it is given to us as a part of a job or calling, but sometimes responsibility comes as part of the consequences of our actions. And most of the time we either try and address it the best we can, or we put it off until the last possible moment.

Not the Runaway.

Inspired by my current D&D character, the Runaway fled her homeworld to avoid some grand responsibility that is tied to her family and potentially even the fate of her people. But why is she running?

Simply put, she’s terrified of facing it.

But she doesn’t show it, though it’s abundantly clear that she is NOT in the right--she needs to face her responsibility and face the consequences...but not when our story starts.

Calm and serious, and cool to the point of maybe even a little icy, the Runaway holds a veneer up, because if even the teeniest cracks start to show...

I wonder what might happen if we throw a plucky, colorful Clone trying to find his purpose in the galaxy at her.

---

And yeah! VERY loose ideas for these two. They represent themes of my struggles over the last few years: finding courage to face incredibly difficult responsibilities and finding purpose and color in life when it seems the world has left you behind.

So let me know what y’all think! I do want to try and get Chapter 3 of “Genesis Day” out by Sunday or Monday, but maybe I’ll take a crack at some HeroForge designs to get a loose idea of what to expect for the Runaway and her Clone! 

[jaceyneedsabetterusername]

Can’t Lose You

Pairing: Zuko x Reader

Summary: Y/N, a servant in the palace, and Zuko, the prince of the Fire Nation, never should have been allowed to be friends growing up but after three years, things have changed for the both of them. 

Warnings: Descriptions of burns/ injuries (the scene where Ozai burns Zuko)

Word Count: 7300 (it’s a long one y’all)

A/N: I know that they never once mention cards in A:TLA but I had a hard time figuring out how to do the scene with Azula with something like Pai Sho pieces. 

Part 2 out now! Can’t Get Rid Of Me

________________________________

It was a beautiful day on Ember Island, with the sun shining brightly, the waves crashing in beautiful roars, and the lizard-birds cawing overhead. The sun warmed your skin as you carried your basket full of blown glass beaded jewelry into the marketplace, small glass orbs of every color swishing around like liquid almost in the woven basket. The normal crowd bustled around you in three categories: 1) The Rich Kids: These were the teenagers whose parents were generals or socialites in the Fire Nation military. They were either here on vacation or enjoyed living in an exotic place. Their lives revolved around partying, shopping, and drinking. 2) The Merchants and Artisans: Another set of locals, just much less affluent than the former group. These were the people who lived on Ember Island full time and were the only reason things ran. They provided services from cooking to clothing to furniture. 3) The Tourists: These were the citizens from the mainland that came to Ember Island to take in the sights and relax. You were a part of the second of these categories. 

Creating glass beads was never something you saw yourself doing. Especially not several years ago. Artisanal work was something that seemed so far out of anything you could do. See, you’d grown up in the palace… sort of. Your parents had been servants in the palace prior to your birth which led you to a life of servitude yourself. 

It was a miserable life no matter how much your parents insisted it was better than living in one of the poorer villages outside of the palace, where people were treated like they were from other nations. Every day from the age of eleven, you’d been bossed around by anyone who had a title. “Get me water!” “Get me food!” “Wash my clothes!” “Make my bed!” You were nothing. Most of the time, they didn’t even use your name. Most of them didn’t even know your name. But that wasn’t even the worst of it because there was always Azula. 

**

The sun shone brightly in the little courtyard full of flowers and the little pond with turtle ducks that you and Zuko loved to play with. Zuko had been your best friend since his mother had allowed you to play with the royal children. Both of your parents were servants in the palace and, in the early years of your life, you were too young to work around the castle when you weren't in school. When Ursa found out, she insisted that you play with Zuko, Azusa, Mai, and Ty Lee, despite Ozai's insistence that his children should not associate with people below them. It was the one debate that Ursa ever seemed to win.  

Despite her victory though, it didn't mean that your 'play dates' were much fun. At first, you gravitated towards Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai, as they were the girls and who Ursa first introduced you to with the assumption you guys would be friends. While Mai and Ty Lee both loved you and treated you well, Azula took after her father and treated you like scum. She'd feign niceties and then turn on you and do horrible things. She treated Zuko very similarly so the two of you bonded over your mutual dislike of his sister. 

The two of you became best friends and did everything together. You ran around the halls of the palace but always made sure to hide away from Ozai, fearing he'd do something to you or your parents if he found you with his son. Although nothing was outright romantic between the two of you, Ursa saw the little sparks between you two when she was with you. She noticed the way your guys' little cheeks would burn red if your hands accidentally touched or saw the way your gazes would linger a little longer on each other when the other looked away. Unlike her husband, she had no problem with your little unspoken crushes. Thankfully, Ozai was never involved in his children's personal lives much anyways so he didn't notice but it wasn't long until Azula caught on. 

She would corner you and pretend to want to have "girl talk" about boys and crushes. It was never long until she brought up her brother. "I know you like Zuko. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I think it's cute that you think you have a chance. But you know he's a prince right? And even though you get to play royals with us, he could never marry someone of such low class." Even at ten years old, her words stung. You'd always had little fantasies that maybe he'd sweep you away from your predestined life of servitude one day. He didn't even have to sweep you away to a life of royalty, you just wanted him to sweep you away to anywhere. But maybe Azula was right. Zuko was royalty and you were far from it. 

So your friendship continued for the next several years until his banishment. In secret, he taught you firebending from a young age. As a servant, it didn't matter much if you were a firebender, you didn't get training because your parents neither had the money or the time nor were either benders. He taught you the basic moves and, though he wasn't as skilled as his sister, you were greatly appreciative of his teaching and actually knew almost as much as he did.

One day, just days after your eleventh birthday, you and Zuko sat at the edge of the pond, trying to oure turtle ducklings to you with pieces of bread. "I've almost got him!" Zuko whispered excitedly, the baby duck only two or three feet away. 

You couldn't wait to pet him! They were so soft when they were ducklings! 

"Hey, Y/N! Come here!" Azula called from across the grass field. You stood up and looked cautiously at her, already distrusting all of her motives. 

"Why?" You asked skeptically. 

Her eyebrows furrowed, "My mother may let you play with us but I am still a princess and you obey me! Besides, it's just a card trick." Azula's personality switched quickly, which scared you as a young child, but after a quick look of fear to Zuko, you walked over. 

Mai and Ty Lee stood back, both watching as you came over to their group and leaned down to look at the cards Azula lied on the rock. "What's the trick?" You asked, hoping she really did just have a magic trick. 

She sprawled them out, "Pick one and look at it but don't show me. You can show them though." She waved her hand to her other friends as if they didn't actually matter. Without much thought, you picked one that was buried slightly and looked at it. 8 of diamonds. 

"Now put it anywhere in the deck." You did as she instructed and handed her back the deck. She closed her eyes tightly and threw all the cards up in the air before swinging her arms in controlled movements, ropes of fire coming from her hands. One rope singed a single card from midair while the other wrapped around your calves, sending a searing hot white flash of pain through your body. 

"Y/N!" Zuko yelled when he saw the flames wrap their way up your legs and he ran towards you. You crumpled to the ground, tears falling freely as you cried in pain. Mai and Ty Lee gasped at what their friend had just done but didn't say anything out of pure terror of what she'd do if they did. 

Azula reached down and picked up the single singed card, a hole burnt straight through it. She inspected the card, "Eight of diamonds. Was this your card?" She asked as if you weren't on the ground, sobbing in pain with blisters forming up your legs from something she'd done. 

"Mom!" Zuko called out as he sat there beside your crying form, unsure of what to do or say, anger flaming up within him.

"Oh calm down, Zuzu," Azula rolled her eyes, "Your girlfriend is fine. It's a second-degree burn at most." 

"She's not my girlfriend!" Zuko hissed, throwing a fireball at his sister that she easily dodged, "You're a monster!" 

Ursa came running out quickly at her son's plea for help, "What on earth is going on here?!" She crouched next to you and could see the skin on your legs already boiling up from between the seared tears in your pants, "Azula, what have you done!?" Ursa was furious as she picked you up. 

Azula scoffed, "We were only playing, mother. It was an accident." 

"No it wasn't! Azula hurt her on purpose!" Zuko defended you, jumping up to stand beside his mother. 

Ursa looked at Ty Lee and Mai who looked terrified and didn't even make a move but the look in their eyes confirmed what Zuko said. Ursa held you close to her body before gripping her daughter's wrist roughly, "You have no idea how much trouble you're in." 

And she did. Azula had never gotten in so much trouble in her life, though, of course it did nothing but fuel her hatred for her mother and you and make her side further with her father She blamed you entirely and had harbored resentment against you for having the nerve to return the next day (something you did only because Zuko had begged you to since he wasn't allowed at your house.) Since that day, you never feared her again. You hated her. You didn't think it was possible to hold so much resentment for some as you did for her but you swore one day you'd get your shot to firebend her ass into a pile of ashes without receiving capital punishment, the only thing that kept you even remotely professional over the years. 

**

You shuttered at the thought. The scars that crawled up your calves like vines tingled whenever you thought about that day. It was far from the last time that Azula was ever mean to you but it was the worst thing she’d ever done to you physically. Mentally, well that was another story. 

That was why you’d run away to Ember Island. Even though you too were a fire bender, you could never retaliate against Azula, who took a sick pleasure in torturing you. At one point, you thought it would be worth the inevitable death or imprisonment that was sure to come with retaliation but when you got close, so close that Azula could sense that you were about to fire at her, she brought up your parents, and what she could do to them. It was enough to make you stop that day but it was that night that you left the castle, leaving only a note for your parents to briefly explain before disappearing. With the impending war and attacks, Ember Island seemed like a good enough place to set up. It was far enough away from Azula to be safe but vacationing didn’t seem high on anyone’s priorities list. 

So this was your new life and you loved it. 

The trip to the market was a quick one. You only had to drop off the beads to the artisans who made jewelry from them- you were only the bead maker. The rest of the day was open for you. As you walked back, you came to a split in the road. One, you knew led directly back to the house you were staying at. The other, you couldn’t recall having ever taken in all your time here.

“Let’s see what’s down here.” You hummed to yourself, looking for a little something to change up your routine. This was what you loved about no longer being a maid in the palace. Freedom. Freedom to go where you want, when you want, with who you want, to do whatever you want. The road itself was dirt with the occasional rocks around. It was lined with the large tropical plants found all around the island. At first, there were scattered stores which began to mix with houses before becoming entirely residential. These houses were quite a bit nicer than the houses in the residential area you lived in. Fire Nation flags hung from many of them. “Generals?” You questioned aloud to nobody but yourself. 

Down the road just a bit further, maybe a quarter mile down, the dirt road became much less maintained but there was still a path. After a while of walking, you saw that it led up a small hill to a large house that seemed hidden away from almost the entire island. It was large and beautiful, with traditional architecture built up in red tiles. The walls were practically windows, which you figured would be fantastic considering the wonderful view of the ocean from here. 

The road dead ended into this one home so you knew you should turn around now but the curiosity was killing you. This house looked luxurious but abandoned. The windows, though not broken, were dusty and looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in years. You couldn’t imagine anyone who owned such a magnificent vacation home allowing it to get so dirty unless it hadn't been used in a long time. 

Figuring you probably wouldn't get caught, you decided to check out the house and walked around the building. Heck, if it were abandoned, maybe you could even move in and fix it up. That wouldn’t count as stealing right? 

You wandered around the house until suddenly-

“Guys, someone’s coming!” A girl’s voice exclaimed from the side of the house that faced the beach. Your heart stopped and before you could even jump to hide in a bush, there were running footsteps coming towards you. Within seconds, a group of people about your age were staring at you. 

Your hands flew up in defense, “I am so sorry. I thought the house was abandoned and-” As you spoke, your eyes scanned across the faces until you noticed one in particular that made everything stop, “Z-zuko?” You couldn’t believe your eyes. Your best friend in the world, even after all this time, stood ahead of you, looking so different than you remembered but also exactly the same. His hair that you’d always known to be tied up to perfection and his royal clothing always neatly pressed, a desperate attempt to be as perfect as he could for his father, was now ragged and relaxed. His hair was down, grown long and dangling over his eyes in some spots. His clothing was that of commoners instead of royalty but you couldn’t help but notice the taut muscles and small scars that he’d acquired over the time of his exile. 

“Y/N? Is that really you?” Zuko’s eyes were wide with total shock and his skin paled as if he’d seen a ghost. He honestly never thought he’d see you again but there you stood, looking more beautiful than ever. He almost didn’t even recognize you. All throughout your childhoods, you’d always looked the same, day in and day out. Your hair was always down with the exception of the signature Fire Nation bun and you wore off-red servant’s garbs. But now, now you looked exquisite. Your hair was similar to how it was, still flowing down with the bun on top, save for the two small braids that framed your face. Instead of robes, you now wore a crimson crop top that crossed around your neck with an asymmetrical skirt of the same color over black capris. But the thing he noticed most of all was the gold arm band around your bicep that he’d given you for your birthday the year before he was banished. 

You nodded fervently and almost ran towards him but your knees nearly buckled when you collided. Thankfully, Zuko had his arms wrapped tightly around you, hugging you so tightly he lifted you to your toes anyways. You couldn’t help the overwhelming surge of emotions. Somewhere between relief and love and fear and confusion. When Zuko was banished, you were terrified you’d never see him again.

“How is this possible? Azula told me you were dead.” Zuko finally set you down and looked into your eyes. 

Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “What? No… I’m-” You struggled to figure out where to start, “After you were banished, I stayed for another two years but without yours or your mother’s defense, she just got worse and worse. One day, I just- I almost snapped. I could feel the warmth in my hands. I almost attacked her but she began to threaten my parents. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t beat her. I haven’t had a teacher since you left. I didn’t hurt her but I ran away that night. After a while of wandering, I ended up here. I don’t know why she told you I was dead but it sounds like something she would do.” 

Zuko looked away angrily, “She’s always been a monster to you. To both of us. When I went back to the palace, I asked about you and she told me that you’d gotten sick and died shortly after I left. She only said it because she knew I’d be devastated and I fell right into the trap.” 

A part of your heart twinged from the feeling of being loved. Even after all this time apart, in which you were scared he’d forget about you, he just admitted to being devastated when he’d thought you’d died. 

You were unsure of how to respond to the look on Zuko’s face, a strange mixture of anger and relief. Pure bitterness for Azula. After a brief moment, you reached out for him and pulled him in for another hug, again holding onto him like you’d never let him go again. The very thought of losing Zuko another time made your heart jump to your throat in the worst of ways. “I’m here now though. No matter her threats or lies, here we are.” 

“You know her?” A young bald boy with arrows on his head asked from back with the rest of the group. You’d forgotten there were more people there but when you looked back, you noticed the rest of the group. 

Zuko turned to face the group but kept his hand placed on the small of your back, keeping you close to him, “This is Y/N. She was my best friend back at the palace. Y/N, this is Suki, Sokka, Katara, Toph, and Aang. Aang is the avatar.” 

The boy named Sokka looked suddenly distressed, “You’re just going to tell a friend from the Fire Nation palace that Aang’s the avatar?! What if she tries to kill him?” 

You shook your head at the accusation, your eyebrows raised in a desperate attempt to convince them that you were being truthful, “Oh no! I’ve never agreed with the Fire Nation’s goals! If you’re the avatar, you need to stop Ozai.” 

“I can vouch for her. Even when we were kids, she told me in secret that she didn’t believe that there was any superior element and that the Fire Nation shouldn’t be invading the other nations. Even when I did….” Zuko’s face fell with guilt for what his past self believed, “But I promise, if anyone from the Fire Nation would be on our side, it’s her.” 

Suki stepped forward, her face kind and curious, “You said you ran away from the palace? Are you royalty too?” 

You snorted and Zuko actually cracked a small humorous smile as well, “Oh no. A servant actually.” 

“A servant?” Katara questioned, “I don’t mean to be rude but if you’re a servant and Zuko was a prince, how were you friends?” 

Zuko stiffened up a little bit while you tried to hide the sadness you felt revolving around the circumstances, “My parents were the only royal servants to have a child. Zuko’s mother saw that I didn’t have any friends in the palace and allowed me to play with Zuko, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee.” The memories of Ursa were all fond. Aside from Zuko, she was the only member of the royal family who treated you with any kindness. When she disappeared, you and Zuko mourned your loss of her together, even though you never did find out the truth about what happened to her that night. 

“You were forced to play with Azula? That must have been traumatizing.” Toph chimed, genuine apology in her sarcastic tone. 

You shifted awkwardly from side to side, one hand shooting up to rub your opposite bicep as those scars that snaked up your calves seemed to burn with awareness, “Yeah, it kind of was.” Your voice was lower than it had been, as the incident had been somewhat of a sore spot for you. 

Katara followed Zuko’s inconspicuously downcast gaze to where your legs were visible beneath your tight black pants that you wore beneath your asymmetrical red skirt. She was automatically hit with a pang of guilt when she saw the ever so slightly raised red vine-like scars that trailed up your legs and disappeared beneath the pants and immediately had an idea of how you’d acquired them. “I’m so sorry. We didn’t mean to-” 

“It’s okay, you didn’t know,” You insisted sincerely, “Besides, they don’t bother me much anymore.” 

Eager to shift the topic, Aang jumped into the conversation, “Well I don’t know if you’ve got a home here or anything but you're welcome to stay with us.” He offered cheerily. Everyone else seemed in agreement, or at least didn't outright object, and how could you possibly say no to getting to spend time with Zuko again? 

"I'd love to. Thank you." 

Later that night, you and Zuko left the group by the campfire to disappear into the house. "So, this is the infamous summer house you'd always leave me for." You chuckled in remembrance, memories of having to watch your best friend disappear for weeks at a time while having to pretend you didn't care for the sake of keeping your friendship 'appropriate', especially after Ursa disappeared. 

"I always wanted to take you here. It's so much different now. Everything's different…" he trailed off, coming to a stop in the middle of a large, mostly empty room. The moonlight streaming from the windows cast a nostalgic shadow on the room and you couldn't help but remember the last time you saw each other. 

**

It was sickening. The entire arena was filled to the brim with people, mostly Fire Nation elite, all surrounding the main floor. Servants weren't supposed to be permitted but Iroh had snuck you in. Iron had taken you in as much as he could, seeing how important to Zuko you were. In a way, you too felt like he was your uncle. When you'd gone to him, begging him to stop the Agni Kai, he insisted that he'd tried to talk sense into his brother but was unsuccessful and that the most he could do to help was sneak you into the audience. 

So there you stood, surrounded by hundreds of animals who cheered for the murder of their thirteen year old prince by a well experienced war general, all because Zuko thought it wasn’t right to sacrifice hundreds of soldiers. “I’m not afraid to face the general,” Zuko had told you as he practiced his firebending with you all day before the Agni Kai, “I meant no disrespect, but I refuse to take back what I said. If this is what it takes, then this is what I’ll do.” 

When Zuko walked out into the open arena, the room went silent. Nobody would dare boo their prince but you were sure that if he were anyone else, they would have. He knelt down, facing away from where his opponent would take his place, staring at the ground. Your heart was in your throat with fear for your best friend. Although Zuko was your secret firebending teacher and much better than you, he had a tendency to crack under the gaze of people he was desperate to impress. The general he was supposed to fight was definitely not someone you’d imagine was one to take it easy on a kid, even if he was the prince. 

Zuko’s opponent came out in the shadows and shadowed his kneel, facing away from Zuko. When it was time, they both stood up and stepped towards each other. When they did, everyone gasped. Where the general was expected to be stood Ozai himself. An audible gasp and murmur ran through the crowd. 

“Oh no-” You stopped breathing entirely, “What’s happening?” Even from your obscured seat, you could see Zuko’s eyes widen in shock and panic. Confliction was written all over his face. 

The man beside you chuckled sadistically, “By speaking out in the Fire Lord’s war room, he has not only disrespected the general but the Fire Lord himself. This should be good.” You turned away from the man in utter disbelief that someone could say something like that about a literal child about to be harmed by his father. 

Ozai stepped forward, hands up and ready to deflect any attacks from his son but the way he moved showed that he didn’t expect his son to make any move. He was testing him and Zuko had failed to impress. Zuko fell onto his knees, shaking in fear. He hung his head low, “Please, father! I only had the Fire Nation’s best interest at heart. I’m sorry I spoke out of turn.” 

“You will fight for your honor.” Ozai continued to step towards him, an unyielding expression on his face. 

“I meant you no disrespect. I am your loyal son.” Zuko begged, laying all of his dignity on the line in front of the nation’s most influential people. 

Ozai wanted no part of it, “Rise and fight, Prince Zuko.” 

Zuko’s forehead laid on the ground as Ozai came to stand above him, “I won’t fight you.” 

His father stood tall and loomed over his small child, “You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher.” 

When Zuko looked up, tears streamed down his cheeks, knowing that his father had no consideration of mercy. All you could hear were Zuko’s screams and the roar of flames leaving Ozai’s fist as you watched your friend be brutally burned. Your tears were unstoppable and unconsolable as you genuinely thought he killed Zuko. When the flames stopped, he was on the ground, holding his face and sobbing in pain. Ozai turned his back, something between pride for winning and embarrassment for the way his son reacted to the duel on his face. 

“The way you have behaved during this Agni Kai was more disgraceful than speaking out of turn. You have brought shame on yourself and the royal family. The punishment is banishment. Unless you can capture the Avatar, you are no longer welcome in the Fire Nation.” You gasped at what Ozai had said before he turned away and left, head straight and lips tight.

You began to run and push your way through the crowd, thanking goodness for your smaller stature compared to the adults all around. You had to find Zuko and make sure he was okay. You didn’t care if you’d get caught or in trouble, you just needed to find him. Being a servant had its perks in knowing the palace inside and out. It became obvious that nobody was going to help the prince until, while on your way through the halls, you ran into Iroh who too was looking to help the boy. 

Finally, you’d made your way to him and Iroh carried him to a washroom. You quickly ran over and retrieved a bowl of cool water while Iroh leaned him back. “Pour the water on the burn.” He instructed. 

“Close your eyes.” You told Zuko, although his eyes were already shut tight in pain. The cool water flowed from the bowl and onto his face, which looked red and blistered already. This was by far the worst burn you’d ever seen. Zuko struggled slightly against the liquid but stopped crying and calmed down when the water became soothing. 

Iroh had located bandages and began to bandage his nephew’s face. 

“I-I can’t believe what happened.” Zuko stuttered out, “He banished me.” You weren’t sure you’d ever seen him so pale. “Where do I go, Uncle? What do I do?” He began to work himself up again as the weight of the last hour really settled. 

Iroh turned to put down the gauze, “You must leave the Fire Nation, Prince Zuko,” He began and Zuko looked panicked again, “But I will go with you.” 

You both turned to Iroh, “Uncle, no! You’re whole life is here.” 

“The world is no place for a boy to wander alone. And there is not much here for me in the Fire Nation palace anyways.” You all knew he was referring to the rumors of him being the weaker brother, the disgraced general. “I will accompany you.” 

Zuko placed his hands on his knees and braced himself as he thought through the situation, “I must find the Avatar. It’s the only way to regain my honor.” 

Both you and Iroh looked apprehensive but you were much more vocal, “Zuko, what your father did you today was not what fathers are supposed to do. Someone behaved shamefully today but it was not you.” You insisted, heart aching for him. 

“I need his respect. My honor is the most important thing. I’m going to find the Avatar and when I do, my honor will be restored and I will regain my rightful spot as prince.” Zuko looked pained and troubled. It was clear he knew what he wanted to do but had no idea how he would do it, not that he’d let that stop him though. 

You got quiet, looking down at where his knuckles were turning white from the tight grip on his own knees. Gently, you placed your hand on his and waited for him to look up just enough for you to make eye contact, “I’m going with you then.” You said finally. 

Zuko’s uncovered amber eye met yours before he shook his head, “I can’t let you do that. Your parents are here.” 

“I hate it here.” You insisted desperately, “I’ll come back for them some day but I can’t leave you. You’re the only person that cares about me here.” 

Iroh placed his hand caringly on your shoulder, “Zuko is right, Y/N. This is his journey but I do not think it’s yours. It’s best if you stay.” 

“But… but…” The tears were threatening to spill over as you managed to choke out, “I can’t lose you.” 

There was barely a moment between when the words left your mouth and when Zuko’s lips met yours. At first, you were taken off guard and almost pulled back but when your brain registered what happened, you leaned into the innocent kiss. Your brain ran wild. Was this heat of the moment or had he really felt the same way you did? When he pulled away, you felt cold, “I’ll come back for you one day. I promise.” 

** 

“So, speaking of different, you sure look like a different Zuko than the one I knew. Last I heard around the palace, you were super intense and obsessive about finding the avatar.” You asked, teasing towards the end. 

Zuko inhaled awkwardly, his hand coming to rub behind his neck, “Yeah… I was. Until I realized that my father was a monster and that the Fire Nation had caused nothing but harm and destruction. It took a lot of convincing but they actually let me join them and become Aang’s firebending teacher.” He gestured back to the group who was all laughing, most likely at something Sokka said. 

“Well, he’s got the best teacher around.” You giggled, hitting his arm gently. 

Zuko turned to look at you, “What about you? Things look pretty different for you too.” 

A boulder sat just ahead of you, perfect for the two of you to use as a seat. You leaned back against the stone and Zuko did the same beside you. “Well, when I left the palace, I didn’t know where to go. But then I remembered you telling me about Ember Island and figured that it was far enough away to get me away from Azula but still in the Fire Nation so I wouldn’t have to create a whole new identity. When I got here, I saw an old lady struggling to make it to the market and asked if she needed help. Turns out she’d been making glass beads for years and needed an apprentice. After spending the day together, we ended up striking up a deal. She’d teach me how to make the beads in exchange for room and board. So this is where I’ve been for the last year.” 

Zuko sighed, “I really did mean to come back for you.” 

You exhaled heavily. It had been a sore point for you for a while. You waited for him for two years, over which Azula told you lies about him being killed or disappearing. It was just another fuel for her mental abuse. “I honestly was really angry about it for a long time. But-” 

“No, you had every right to be. But believe me when I tell you it was probably best that you didn’t come. Searching for the Avatar made me someone I didn’t recognize. I became a monster.” He looked away from you, most of the last three years worth of misdoings coming back to haunt him. 

You squeezed his hand, “I doubt you were as bad as you think you were and I’m sure Iroh would tell you the same. Where is Iroh anyways?” 

He sank even deeper, “Another one of my many mistakes.”

Your heart immediately dropped, “Is he…?

Zuko shook his head, “No, no. He’s alive. I’m just sure he hates me.” 

“Zuko, I don’t think you could do anything that would actually make your uncle genuinely hate you. That man holds so much love and respect for you.” Iroh’s love and devotion to Zuko was undeniable and you weren’t lying when you said that there was probably nothing that would make Iroh’s feelings change. 

“I hope you’re right.” Zuko looked off into the distance before looking back at you, “But for what it’s all worth, I’m really glad to see you again.” 

A smile blossomed on your face, “I’m really glad to see you too. I missed you so much.” Even after all the years, it felt as if no time had passed. He was still your Zuko. 

You hadn’t realized that the gap between your bodies had closed to just a mere inch or two until you found yourself leaning your head onto his shoulder without thinking about it. Zuko stiffened up a little bit at the contact, looking around paranoid. He knew logically that there was nothing saying you two couldn’t be friends - or more - anymore. But his gut reaction was to be on his guard, just like when you were children, trying to hide your frowned upon friendship. 

Zuko had always looked back fondly on those memories while he was banished and not one day went by when he didn’t think about you.

**

Iroh walked onto the deck of the large ship to see his nephew standing against the railing and staring into the distance over the ocean. It was like he had the sixth sense for his nephew, always able to see what was going on in his head better than Zuko did. Iroh approached the prince and stood just behind his shoulder, “You’re thinking about Y/N again?” He asked, though it really was more of a statement. 

Zuko looked back over his shoulder towards his uncle, “I just wish I knew she was okay. She’s stuck there with Azula and you already know what she’s done to her! But now I can’t protect her. I should have let her come so I’d know she’s safe.” He looked away angrily, hanging his head, upset with how he’d handled everything. 

“You care for her, Prince Zuko.” Iroh began before getting interrupted by the eager and emotional prince. 

“Of course, I care for her! She’s my best friend.” Zuko had never really had any other real friends. Sure, Mai and Ty Lee were cool when they weren’t around his sister but none of them were you. 

Iroh could see the conflict in the boy’s eyes, “But you care for her as more than that, don’t you?” 

Zuko’s eyes widened. It shouldn’t have come as a shock to him but hearing his secret feelings spoken aloud finally felt like it was actually real. With anyone else in the world, he would have denied it but Iroh was different. “We can never be together.” Zuko confessed, heartbroken all over again. This was why he didn’t admit it to himself. 

“Why’s that?” Iroh asked, as if the answer weren’t obvious like it was to you and Zuko. 

His face scrunched with distress, “Because I’m a prince and… well she’s not even the daughter of a general. I don’t care about her wealth or status but it’s not allowed.” 

“Well, lucky for you, for once, you’re banished. I don’t think anyone would care much if you were to be with her now.” Iroh pointed out. 

Zuko groaned, “I’m not even allowed into Fire Nation territory let alone the palace. I’d never be able to take her away like this. I need to find the Avatar, have my honor restored, and then I’ll find her again and I’ll never let her go.” 

“True love will find a way, Prince Zuko. Remember that happiness and love is more important in this world than titles.” 

** 

Now, you were beside him, your head unashamedly laying on his shoulder and was it his imagination or was your leg touching his now? Zuko cleared his throat, “Y’know, I can’t help but think about how we left things off three years ago,” You shifted to look up at him when he spoke. 

You knew he was talking about the kiss - that one forbidden kiss that had haunted your lips since he left. It had consumed many of your nights as well. “I think about it too. A lot.” You confessed, much less embarrassed than you ever would have imagined. 

Zuko tried to hide the little jump in his chest when he heard the way you agreed, like it wasn’t a bad memory but far from it. “You do?” 

You nodded with a warm smile on your face (or maybe it was just your cheeks burning from the confessions), “I liked you for so long, of course it was something to remember.” 

“Liked?” Zuko questioned nervously, “As in past tense?” 

“Yeah, as in past tense.” You began and Zuko’s heart dropped. 

“Oh…” 

“‘Cause now… I think- I think I fell in love with you a long time ago.” You looked up directly into his eyes, heart in your throat as you waited for a response. 

Zuko’s jaw dropped in disbelief and he stuttered over his words, “There wasn’t a single day I didn’t want to come back and take you away so we could be together.” 

You and Zuko stared into each other’s eyes as the weight of what was being said sunk in. Everything felt heightened right now, like else in the world mattered but Zuko. All you could see and hear and feel was him from his scent of woody spices and smoke to the way the moonlight reflected off his perfect skin - scar included. You could literally feel the warmth radiating from his body, a warmth you had a feeling hadn’t been there in a long time. 

“What’s there to stop us from being together now?” In all the futures you’d imagined with Zuko, this wasn’t really a scenario you’d thought of. The two of you sitting on a rock at Zuko’s family summer house after years of not seeing each other- Zuko, a banished and disgraced prince and you, a former servant runaway- but now seeing each other without the shroud of all the barriers of titles and statuses. 

Your lips had already been dangerously close when you were talking, making the ever so slight move inwards to close the gap feel effortless. The question you’d posed was responded to with a long, deep kiss. Zuko’s lips had changed so much since the last time you’d kissed them. The smooth soft lips that had lingered in your memory were now rougher and slightly chapped, weathered from years of hard work like the rest of him, though still soft enough to be familiar. 

Zuko’s hand came up to rest on the point where your jaw met your neck to guide your lips to his just ever so slightly deeper. He was lost in you, in your lips, in your scent, in your tase, in your touch. This moment was everything he’d dreamed about almost every night on his quest for the Avatar. Like everything else, this felt so different yet so familiar. 

Finally, you pulled away and this time you didn’t feel guilty or immediately look over your shoulder. You got to just be with Zuko. It was as if you were entranced by him, unable to take your eyes away. If you could’ve picked one moment to last forever, this would be it. 

That was until Zuko sighed and turned his face away, “There’s a war.” 

“So we’ll fight together.” Your hand that was still on his squeezed tightly. 

Zuko turned back to you and gripped your other hand, holding them close to his body, “Losing you the first time was hard enough. I can’t lose you again, Y/N.” 

You swallowed hard, “I know I’m not the most skilled Fire Bender in the world but that doesn’t mean I can’t hold my own. I don’t plan on dying in this war and you better not be planning on it either.” 

“That’s not what I mean. I just… I love you Y/N,” He confessed, his typical Zuko-esque flusteredness creeping into his tone, “But now after knowing you feel the same way and knowing what we could be, I just don’t know if I could handle risking losing my best friend and the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.” 

Your breath abandoned you when those three words left his lips, I love you. They were the three words you’d dreamed of hearing him tell you for years. But now he was using them as an excuse to not be with you. “I love you too, Zuko. I’ve loved you for so long. But what difference does it make if we fight this war as a couple or as friends? If we love each other, the pain of losing the other would be the same.” 

Zuko’s gaze fell to where your fingers were interlaced and he brought them up to his chest, looking at the contrast of his larger calloused hands to your smaller, slightly softer ones. “I can’t lose you.” He repeated, closing his eyes, but this time it sounded like a final decision. 

You pulled your body closer to his, your intertwined hands pressed between your chests, as you looked up at him, “Then don’t push me away.” Your plea was low, barely above a whisper, but by the way Zuko looked, you could tell it had some affect. “Please, let us do this together.” 

Zuko found it difficult to argue with you because it was like arguing with himself. You were the vocalization of everything he wanted deep down. “Okay,” He answered finally, “But only if you help me rebuild the Fire Nation when it's all over. Together.” 

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

Have you noticed the thing in fanfics of children's lit where the writer gives the protagonist new parent figures? The parent figures say things like "no child should have had to do x!". PF's don't prevent protagonist from doing heroism but might ground them for it after. Under their care, the protagonist is likely to get a job, often at the business of the PF. Seems less common for the Animorph (more in ATLA and Harry Potter), but if you have seen this, what's going on? Why do writers do this?

Why do writers do this?

Welcome to the fandom renaissance, Nonny!  My best stab as to what’s going on here is that we’re seeing fewer and fewer shipping wars due to a whole range of forces from “the average age of fandom is increasing” to “there’s an ongoing post-monogamy societal shift.”   BUT that there’s still a desire to see relationship-building fic go in the gaps where (for instance) Pro-Jacob Anti-Edward fic used to go.  So instead of writing about Edward and Bella’s romance, people are writing about Edward and Carlisle’s mentorship, or Leah and Rosalie’s friendship.

What’s going on?

Again, a stab in the dark: it’s a really fun story premise, one that can get away from the way ships are sometimes fraught with baggage.  Found Family is intensely cathartic, in the sense that it takes characters who are miserable and/or lonely in canon and allows them to build loving relationships with each other.  It also (IMHO) reflects that trend among Millennial Whippersnappers to move away from nuclear definitions of “family” and toward embracing everything from polyamory to sexless romance to adult adoption.

Not only that, but it’s awesome in that it lets writers play so much with foils.  Stranger Things obviously does this Up to Eleven (pun intended): Steve’s an arrogant jerk when he’s interacting with Nancy but a dorky sweetheart around Dustin, Hopper’s at his worst around Joyce but at his best around El, Billy’s evil to Max but might be redeemable around his mom, etcetera.  This premise gives fan writers the chance to get wildly different characters into a room together — what if the Tonks family adopted Neville Longbottom? — and start playing out the fun potential.

Why Avatar and Harry Potter (but not Animorphs)?

In a word: FOILS.  Both AtLA and Harry Potter are series filled with good, bad, and ugly mentors, and both series have contrasts between the good and the bad.  For AtLA, it’s no accident that Zuko finally reuniting with his father in S3E1 is intercut with the scene of Katara finally reuniting with her father.  Katara’s fam airs their grievances, talks things out, yells, cries, apologizes, forgives, hugs, and affirms their ongoing love.  Zuko’s fam deals with having 500 times as much baggage by... Zuko kowtowing silently on the floor while Ozai talks about everything but their problems with each other.  After that sequence, the desire to get Zuko into a room with Hakoda for some proper fathering is practically overwhelming, and many brilliant fan writers have obliged us by doing exactly that.

For Harry Potter, there’s no scene that’s as in-your-face with the contrast between healthy vs. unhealthy disagreement with one’s father, but there are still plenty of mentor foils.  Sirius and Petunia are probably the clearest examples.  Sirius is a raging mess who (on the surface) has nothing to offer Harry: he’s an ex-con with a drinking problem and untreated mental health issues who spends much of the series homeless.  Petunia has her shit together and (on the surface) is the perfect guardian for Harry: she’s a wealthy full-time parent who lives in a large suburban house, and is both his closest surviving relative and his legal guardian.  But of course all Harry needs from a parent is love and support, and Sirius offers that in spades while Petunia has none to spare.  Again, the desire to rip Harry away from the Dursleys and ship him off to go be a Black is overwhelming, and many beautiful works of fan fiction have done exactly that.

Animorphs... doesn’t have mentor characters.  Like, none.  Elfangor dies, Toby does her own thing, Erek can’t be trusted, neither Ax nor Jake wants to mentor, and all adults are possible controllers.  Eva’s the closest we get, but by the time she’s free, everyone (especially Eva) recognizes that the Animorphs are already more experienced than her.  We don’t even see a dynamic like the Teen Titans show where the villains mentor the heroes — Jake and Marco might occasionally parallel Visser Three and Visser One, but they don’t learn from the vissers the way that Robin does from Slade or Raven does from Trigon.  The kids just... find their own way.  So while people have written fic where Elfangor or Eva or Mertil or Tom mentors the team, there’s not this in-your-face missed opportunity for the kids to get the parenting they deserve in Animorphs the way there is with Harry Potter and Avatar.

Have you noticed the thing?

Personally, I love this trend.  I’m not much of a shipper — I’m not fond of “will they or won’t they” romantic premises, and actively dislike “they will because they’re soulmates” premises.  My favorite Ship Dynamics are all platonic.  Like, my faves include (but are not limited to):

Grubby Semi-Feral Mentee and Aloof Socially-Incompetent Mentor Bond with Alarming Speed Over Niche Magical Interest (see: Briar and Rosethorn in Circle of Magic, Boy 412 and Marcia in Septimus Heap, Jason and Bruce in Batman, Wart and Merlin in The Once and Future King)

Well-Intentioned Loving Parent Irretrievably Fucks Up Child, Copes with Fallout (see: John and Dean in Supernatural, Adam and Cal in East of Eden, Soichiro and Light in Death Note, Elaine and T.J. in Political Animals)

I’ve Only Known This Person With Extremely Specific Shared Trauma for 10 Minutes But If Anything Happened to Them I Would Kill Everyone (see: Toph and Zuko in AtLA, Luke and Annabeth in Demigod Diaries, Ax and Tobias in Animorphs, Spike and Angel in Angel, Parker and Eliot in Leverage, Johanna and Finnick in Catching Fire)

Saving the World Sucks But At Least My Ultra-Competent Siblings Are Suffering With Me (see: Edmund and Lucy in Chronicles of Narnia, Sam and Dean in Supernatural, the Hargreeveses in Umbrella Academy, the Crains in Haunting of Hill House)

Just Because I Tried to Kill You That One Time Doesn’t Mean I Won’t Help You Hide a Body, JFC We’re Still Family and I Don’t Know What You Take Me For (see: the Robins in Batman, Septimus and Simon in Septimus Heap, Kyle and Ian in The Host)

We Were the Weird Cousins At All the Family Reunions and We’ve Only Gotten Weirder Since (see: Kate and George in Story Time, Jake and Rachel in Animorphs, Po and Bitterblue in Graceling Realm)

[firelxdykatara]

Fans seem to forget that up until like as far as I 'member the very last battle against Ozai, Katara & Zuko weren’t even friends! Katara literally hated him and even when all of her friends forgave him she still didn’t. & not in a cutesy love/hate tsundere way either. & the best friends to lovers trope just doesn’t have the same angst, even tho is healthier and sweeter to watch. They talk about Kataang being stereotypical because “hero gets the girl” but Zutara is an overdone trope in all media.

No, we don’t?

Literally, where are you getting this. No one ‘forgets’ that Zuko and Katara were not friends until the end of The Southern Raiders, but fans like you seem to forget that episode didn’t happen in a vacuum! The Southern Raiders was the culmination of a relationship arc which spanned the entire series. It didn’t just come out of nowhere, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the episodes that had come before it, especially the Cave of Destiny where Katara showed Zuko compassion and trust and he, in her eyes, threw that back in her face and betrayed her and his own uncle.

Which, likewise, hadn’t happened in a vacuum! It was no accident that Zuko and Katara were paired up in every season finale, that their narrative journey parallels the story of the Cave of Two Lovers, that Katara first tried to show compassion to Zuko and his uncle by offering to heal the latter only to be driven away by Zuko’s own pain and anger. Then, when they were trapped together in the crystal caverns beneath Ba Sing Se, they had a moment of understanding and true empathy, which wouldn’t have been possible without the narrative beats their relationship arc had already hit to that point.

Katara didn’t forgive Zuko until The Southern Raiders, but after that, they were friends with a deep bond--which, sure, you can interpret however you like, but the fact remains that Zuko sacrificing his life for Katara was written, storyboarded, and animated in the most romantic possible light. (Just like Katara touching Zuko’s scars in the caverns was animated with greater intimacy than any canon romantic kiss on the show, with the way the screen held there for a solid minute, slowly panning in as romantic music played, Zuko closing his eyes and standing still, letting Katara touch his scar (something he’d actively prevented a girl from doing earlier in the season), and expressing true trust and vulnerability to someone other than his uncle for the first time in the entire series.) The fact also remains that it is Katara who Zuko chose to go with him--and Katara who accepted without reservation, despite the boy we’re supposed to believe she was already in love with, and even her own brother, were headed off to very different locations, with no guarantee that any of them would see each other again.

It’s Zuko with whom she chose to spend what may well have been her last day on Earth. It’s Zuko who saved her life, making the easiest decision he made in the entire series, and whose life she saved in turn. It’s Zuko with whom she spent the climax of the entire series. And you want to pretend that the alleged ‘best friends to lovers’ ship was somehow ‘healthier and sweeter to watch’, even though that’s the ship which involved more than one kiss without consent, an assumption of Katara’s feelings, and absolutely no agency for her in her own romantic narrative (because there was nothing to bridge the gap between ‘you kissed me and I explicitly did not like it and got angry’ and ‘we’re gonna make out now’)??? Really???

Ok, anon, you do you, but I’d much rather have the ‘overdone trope’ of Fire and Water and enemies-to-friends-lovers with the full and mutual relationship arc which spanned all three seasons of the show, rather than my favorite character sacrificing her agency on the altar of the ‘hero gets the girl’ trope without so much as being allowed the dignity of voicing her own feelings.

[rllymilerlly]

How about taang for the ask meme? (or if someone already asked for taang, what about sukka?)

I haven’t been asked for Taang yet

GENERAL

Rate the Ship -  

Awful | Ew | No pics pls | I’m not comfortable | Alright | I like it! | Got Pics? | Let’s do it! | Why is this not getting more attention?! | The OTP to rule all other OTPs

How long will they last? - lifetimes if they get their shit together

How quickly did/will they fall in love? - very slowly. It took them a super long time to kind of fall into place.

How was their first kiss? - Short and spontaneous. And very awkward right after.

WEDDING

Who proposed? - I’m not one to think that Taang would really get married but if they were it probably be Aang who proposed hes a sap like that.

Who is the best man/men? - if they got married it wouldn’t be western at all so these questions aren’t really fitting to it but if it were westernized Aang would ask Zuko to be the best man and Sokka as a groomsman.

Who is the braid’s maid(s)? - Again with the point above but obviously if i had to choose it’d be Katara as maid of honor and Suki as a bridesmaid

Who did the most planning? - Sokka is in charge of most of the planning honestly

Who stressed the most? - Aang would be, while Toph is just wanting to get it done

How fancy was the ceremony? -

The actual ceremony would be very private and hidden in the air temples. But also this would be a union between the Avatar and a Beifong there would be huge celebrations for weeks.

CHILDREN

How many children will they have naturally? - 3

How many children will they adopt? - They help out a lot of orphaned kids all the time. And they practically adopt every animal they encounter

Who gets stuck with the most diapers? - Aang

Who is the stricter parent? - Aang is but barely. But Toph is more of the tough love parent.

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? - Neither they like to live on the edge

Who remembers to pack the lunch(es)? - Aang loves prepping food

Who is the more loved parent? - It’s equal.

Who is more likely to attend the PTA meetings?- Lmao in the atla verse I don’t think their kids would go to a lot of actual school or at least not the same one.

Who cried the most at graduation? - Aang would cry a little bit more

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? - Aang would have to bail both his kids and his wife out.

COOKING

Who does the most cooking? - Aang

Who is the most picky in their food choice? - Aang but only because he doesn’t eat meat.

Who does the grocery shopping? - They go to the markets together and make a day out of it.

How often do they bake desserts? - Aang bakes desserts all the time and talks about Gyatso as he does.

Are they more of a meat lover or a salad eater? - Toph is a meat lover while Aang is obviously a vegetarian. Toph eats a lot of non meats for Aang but she does have the craving for it every now and again.

Who is more likely to surprise the other(s) with an anniversary dinner? - Aang does because he’s a big hopeless romantic.

Who is more likely to suggest going out? - Toph so she can get some meat every now and again.

Who is more likely to burn the house down accidently while cooking? - Toph because her and Zuko don’t know how to cook but boy did they try one time.

CHORES

Who cleans the room? - They both do their share of cleaning.

Who is really against chores? - Neither really, after spending years together and traveling the world they know they just gotta do their share and it can be fun with the right people.

Who cleans up after the pets? - Aang cleans up after Appa and Momo but Toph helps.

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? - Toph

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? - Aang is when they are fancy diplomats and Toph has to try to teach him the art of fine dining (and breathing)

Who found a dollar between the couch cushions while cleaning? - Toph would find any money lying around if she can sense it.

MISC

Who takes the longer showers/baths? - Aang does

Who takes the dog out for a walk? - Aang takes Appa out flying daily

How often do they decorate the room/house for the holidays? - they put up decorations around the temples for old air nomad traditions every year.

What are their goals for the relationship? - To love each other forever obviously smh

Who is most likely to sleep till noon? - Toph for sure

Who plays the most pranks? - They are in a constant prank war

[thegeminisage]

you are right to say everything you said about Cullen of DA. I haven't played in a few years but I think Cullen has potential! Very curious abt your Fix Him arc 👀👀👀

anyway, just wanted to express support and agreement beyond a like <3

lol thank you <3 sorry i know this is going to get away from me but basically i would do it like zuko in atla, which is truly the ultimate earned redemption arc 1. the narrative would have to acknowledge the very real harm cullen caused during da2 and it would have to show him experiencing true remorse, which it only kind of did and 2. there would need to be genuine reparations, which there were NONE of 3. his ongoing suspicion of mages, this whole "we cant recruit them and just let them do WHATEVER" business would need to be addressed too at some point.

i think they almost did that by accident - when you're romancing him as a mage (and this is a particularly fraught interaction if you're a circle mage) there's a couple of places where you can basically go "wait but you but you want to be with ME? i thought you'd only ever see me as a mage" or "not afraid of being alone with a mage then?" and cullen is like "have i given you reason to doubt? well fuck me of course i have." it's a nice little moment of self-awareness and i wish he had had more of it and i also wish that it had been tied to his general distrust in your decisions if you chose to recruit/side with the mages earlier on. like yes if you keep being openly suspicious of mages your romantic interest who is also a mage is going to be extremely uncomfortable*! i think any player character who is a mage, especially a circle mage, has good reason to be afraid of any former templar, but most especially of a templar whose hatred of mages was at one point personal...

...which leads me to point 4. post da1, when cullen is kept in captivity and tortured** and watched all his friends die in absolutely horrific ways one a time, it actually is a normal and expected trauma response to hate and fear magic wielders. fenris in da2 says absolutely HORRIBLE things about mages, and in da2 when you talk to cullen fenris generally even agrees with every word out of his mouth - but we tend not to get up in arms about it because mages enslaved him, and his viewpoint is more than understandable. the only real difference is that fenris was never in a position to enforce the systemic discrimination against mages, and cullen was. so while in da2 it's interesting to watch fenris unlearn that trauma response, particularly if he falls in love with a mage, he doesn't necessarily need to redeem himself, which cullen would. because some of what cullen said and did as a response to that trauma was understandable or even acceptable, but much of it was not.

(* he could even have a belated reaction where he realizes his crush in da1 was extremely inappropriate because he was this woman's jailer and potential executioner. it's a deeply fucked up situation because under one hand the fact that he had this crush meant that on some level he failed to dehumanize mages as much as his job required but he WAS dehumanizing them enough that he literally could not understand how horrific their situation was, that mages in the circle were literally incapable of turning down any templar for any reason, and that while they were in that position they could have never had anything remotely resembling a real romance.

** since cullen was not being given lyrium during that time, it's even normal for the withdrawal itself, which can be agonizing to the point of debilitation and even lethal, to be a trigger for his ptsd! like the withdrawal was PART of the torture! which is important when you also bring in the fact that he's in da3 he is willingly suffering through it again in order to break out of that addiction. in a way what he's doing is both noble AND selfish. it also makes him act like more of an asshole because it's triggering that trauma response, which is also at the root of his harmful behavior in da2. it's a fucking mess! he's a mess of a person!)

which is a long way of saying that in da3, i would have liked to see cullen understand that hating mages is a trauma response and not Objective Fact, instead of this "oh maybe i was too extreme...i was right tho" nonsense. no circle mage in the WORLD would touch that, because circle mages WOULD ALSO have a trauma response to templars in general, but again, especially a templar who took it as seriously and as personally as cullen did.

and even though the game only gave us maybe 4 lines of this potential conflict, i think would be very compelling for two people who have very, very good reasons to hate and fear each other to fall in love. this “opposites” thing is a very common romance trope in fantasy - vampire and a slayer, werewolf and a hunter, angel and an atheist, etc. you have a lot of this in da2 with fenris, but it's only fenris that has a reason to hate and fear hawke instead of the other way around being added as well. and it's essential that hawke gains fenris's trust and respect, but hawke also doesn't require a redemption arc.

so like: that sort of tropeset, but also with a redemption arc, which is another good trope if. IF. IF!!! it's done well. when it's not. well. looking at you kylo ren. and anyway that's how i would fix it. BUT there's absolutely no way they'd devote that kind of time and writing to ONE romance out of half a dozen when the game already cut corners because of crunch time. (did you know cullen was originally supposed to be romanceable by ANY race/gender of player character? wild.)

[legobatjoker]

zzzzuko! n sokka?

anon: for the character thing.. sokka my beloved <3 - 🌼

ZUKO

Sexuality headcanon: aro.. idc if hes bi or gay or het but hes aro!!

Favorite ship(s): zukki where he’s platonic with suki!!!, maiko, zukka, jetko. (jinko can also be cool but i like them most as they are in canon!!)

Brotp: platonic zutara is ultimate... ALSO MAIKO<3... also him and toph....... yuh!!!

Notp: we know how i feel abt zutar/a -_-

A random headcanon: genuinely doesnt think abt the fact the gaang doesnt know his scar’s story. until someone asks and someone else is like “his scar? training accident or smthing right zuko?” and its a bruh moment for him

General opinion: I HATE MEN !!! -_____- /pos

SOKKA

Sexuality headcanon: bi ace babeyy

Favorite ship(s): zukki, yukka, zukka, sukki...also i mean yue/suki/sokka/zuko (where zuko is only romantic w sokka)

Brotp: them and toph yuhh..... ALSO THEM AND AANG..these two r so smart on their own and then lose brain cells left alone

Notp: uh. idk i guess tokka again, idk enough sokka ships..

A random headcanon: this is an nb sokka zone !!! -____-

General opinion: OURBSHSJS TT______TT (sobbing) /pos