#zuko: thanks sokka

[discordiansamba]

four generations after the death of avatar roku, the avatar cycle returns to the fire nation.

when it happens, no one is even aware. prince zuko is born without a spark in his eyes, and for awhile it is feared that he will be a nonbender until he makes his first, shaky flame. he will grow up in the shadow of his much more talented younger sister, the unfavorite of his father. eventually, he will speak out against a general's cruel plan and as a result, is forced into an agni kai against his father.

the fire nation prince is the avatar spirit's last ditch effort.

three generations without a fully realized avatar has weakened it severely. it might have fared better, were it not for the wicked spirit that sealed avatar nauja's bending away. as a result, when avatar kazuki needed it the most, the avatar state failed to awaken. backed into a corner and forced to make an impossible choice, he chose instead to take his own life.

in front of the nobility of the fire nation, prince zuko burned-

-but he did not die.

he was burned and banished, left to die in the earth kingdom. he was only thirteen. his burn had been given only minimal treatment. his life before had been that of a relatively spoiled prince. no one expected him to last long.

but zuko did not die.

he would airbend. he would realize what that meant- and seek what masters he could find. ordinarily the avatar spent years mastering one element alone, but zuko did not have the luxury of time. sozin's comet was set to return, and somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew what that meant without being told.

avatar tashi had died with a strong understanding of airbending, but they were not yet a master. zuko's airbending is good, but will always need some work. avatar nauja was never even aware she was a waterbender, much less the avatar. zuko's waterbending will always be weak. avatar kazuki taught himself to earthbend, but his talent was immense. zuko's earthbending would be strong.

(his firebending is all his own.)

guru pathik tells him he must find a way to heal the past avatar's wounds. until he does, the avatar state will remain forever locked- and the avatar cycle will likely end with him. he does not know that he's already taken the first step towards doing so by defending the northern air temple from fire nation invaders.

in the catacombs of ba sing se, the city threatens to take the life of another sixteen year old avatar. avatar kazuki's ghost already lives on every street corner of the lower ring, for those who know how to look for it. zuko's own sister aims her lightning at aang, zuko's earliest companion on his journey. it never reaches the airbender.

but it doesn't kill zuko either.

it is a good thing. katara has already used the water from the spirit oasis. she only has her own ability to heal him. his uncle defends their retreat from ba sing se, and zuko spends a month in recovery. it should be longer, but he's never let that stop him before.

(the world seems determined to kill the avatar. the avatar, thankfully, is far too stubborn to let it.)

thinking about. the earth avatar before zuko. the avatar that never was the avatar. his name is kazuki. he was born in ba sing se. he doesn't really remember his parents. he grew up in an shitty orphanage in the lower ring. no one ever realized that he was the avatar, because people had long since stopped looking for the avatar.

he was a scrappy kid who was a thorn in the side of the local guardsmen who grew up into a scrappy teen who was a thorn in the side of the local guardsmen. he learned he was an earthbender early on, and used it to his advantage. there was never enough food on the table, so he stole what he needed- for both him and his little sister.

(she's not his real little sister, not by blood. he found her in a trash bin somewhere. it happens sometimes in ba sing se. the walls should give them safety, but they just end up making everyone feel trapped.

he names her sora, for the open sky.)

he gets kicked out of the orphanage at fourteen. he takes sora with him. he makes a place for them to stay in the attic of an abandoned house, and steals what they need. he continues to be a thorn in the sides of the local guards. the dai li really don't care about one scrappy little earthbending orphan.

here's where kazuki fucks up.

he's sixteen. he actually fuck up before this, because he gets cornered and handcuffed by the guards. they know him well at this point. they're just going to toss him in a cell overnight and let him go the next morning. kazuki knows this too. he doesn't want to leave sora alone overnight. she's only seven.

kazuki does not know he's the avatar.

kazuki breathes fire anyways.

the guards know kazuki. they know he's an earthbender. there's literally only one reason the kid would be able to firebend. someone makes the terrible mistake of telling the dai li. kazuki is taken by one of their agents in the night, and dragged to lake laogai. the war is raging outside the walls, and long feng's predecessor has just been handed the avatar.

kazuki's heard the rumors about the dai li. he knows what they're going to do to him. he tries to escape, but here's where he fucks up again. long feng's predecessor has done his research. he mentions sora's name. promises him with a smile that if he's a good boy, they'll take good care of his dear sister.

the writing is on the wall.

sora's the only thing he has going for him. he won't let them hurt her. he won't let them use her. but they're only interested in sora because of him. and they'll be interested in him for the rest of his life, because he's the fucking avatar apparently. lot of good if does him. the avatar state doesn't seem to be interested in coming to rescue him.

kazuki escapes. one more time. he doesn't get far. he just wanted to get his hands free. long feng's predecessor realizes what he's about to do, and tells him to reconsider. the next avatar will be fire nation. don't you know what that means?

kazuki looks the man in the eyes, tells him tough shit, and goes out in a way of his own choosing.

(sora will be taken in by a guardsman, but she'll never forget her brother. she'll always remember him. she knows the dai li took him. she knows the dai li have taken so many others. she gets older. she rebels.

the dai li takes care of her in the same way they take care of all rebellious young women.)

[chiptrillino-art]

something stranger and more wonderful

(ID in ALT text)

my art for @faux-fires (ao3 Link) fic "something stranger and more wonderful"

beta red by @ranilla-bean (ao3 Link) for this years @zukkabigbang2024 event. its truly a beautiful fic. Keeping you on your toes while reading. making you worry about sokka exposed to the whims of nature and zuko, all alone.

big thank you to reikah and rana for all the handholding during this project! And stoping me form overthinking details.

[qwiqwiaqwi]

zukka comm 🌊🔥🤍

[chremes007]

You when your friend told you his ex turned into the moon.

ref pic:

[ash-and-starlight]

(late) kinktober week 6: dilf zukka + strip pai sho

just in case you’re wondering how the spacedilves from mercy of magpies will be spending their honeymoon

[petricorah]

thankfully, he didn't get it [id in alt]

[demaparbat-hp]

Oh, Aang, you're really in it now...

This is Zu—I mean, Jian Li and Katara's second meeting in the Kyoshi Warriors AU. The first proper one, anyway.

Once they get through a minor difference of opinion or two (“I can carry my own basket!” “Never said you—” “I'm not weak!” “I didn't—” “Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean—” “Would you listen for once, woman?!” ) they'll become nearly inseparable.

For now Jian Li will carry Katara's basket all the way to the Kyoshi Warriors' dojo and, once there, they'll mercilessly tease Sokka when they see him in uniform.

[sulkybender]

Commission for my series broken lines from the incredible @green-moonie <3

Zuko reading his poems to Sokka in the garden <3

[everye]

happy pride

(full pictures under the cut)

+ uncle iroh is proud of you

[umyesithink]

zukka nation i am once again here with another offering

[chiptrillino]

Your art is so so pretty even the wips have so much life and beauty in them so this has been a really fun game to see! I don't think this one has been asked for yet so 72? If it has then maybe a July one?

thank so much! its a random doodle.

ID in ALT Text

zuko is angry and judging, sokka is bored and judging. yaii!

[chaichai-draws]

Sometimes a family is a put out Earth Kingdom Captain and his three teenaged bullies

Go Team Steam! I’m running out of chapters in @lovelyelbowleech ‘s fic War Crimes…

[seasideoranges]

i love your zukka art!! have you ever drawn them in a modern setting? i would love to see you interpret their clothing styles!!

sincerest apologies that their outfits are kinda boring especially sokkas, designing modern clothing for the atla gaang is very difficult for me haha

[fanfic-gremlin-ft-trauma]

I’m like 99% sure that this has been done before but oh well :)

[intergalactic-garbage]

same software, different case

klance from voltron: legendary defender // zukka from avatar: the last airbender // valdangelo from the heroes of olympus (art by viria)

[ash-and-starlight]

hades atla bisexual simulator