#zuko's are on his feet and sokka's are in the middle of his chest

[escyn]

offering: suki with a kyoshi back tattoo + alt hair (primarly as a ref for me)

[petricorah]

How's about "love shown through weapon's maintenance" for a zukka prompt?

Ahh this was such a good prompt! I do wish i wasn't half asleep in a car to do it proper justice, but i hope you enjoy!

-------

Zuko woke in a cold sweat.

He panted, frantically attempting to catch his breath as the dregs of his nightmare melted off his body. His chest was tight, and he felt like his throat was closed off. He looked wildly around his room but was met with abrupt darkness. He flicked his hand to produce the flame, and only sparks erupted from his hand.

He grit his teeth. Of course. Of course this was still a problem.

He'd been stressed for months, between his new duties as firelord and assassination attempts, and more and more, and for some reason, his ability to bend had dwindled, which had done nothing but increase the stress.

No one knew, of course. He'd kept it close to him. He was vulnerable at this time, and he didn't know who to trust. And the idea of telling his friends...he was supposed to be stronger than this. After all he's been through, this is what was bested him? The stress of running a nation? He'd even gone to the dragons themselves and found a new way of bending, and now it was gone again? Did he have to go back?

Zuko felt the panic rise in his chest once more, that awful feeling that he hadn't been able to shake, and he groaned loudly, the sound echoing off the room. He shook his head and threw the covers off of him. They crumpled to a pile on the ground. In the dark, he reached for the spot on his wall where his swords were mounted and closed his hand around the joint hilts.

A smidgen of the panic clogging his throat dissipated, but not by much.

He took them off the wall and carefully crept out of the room.

Since the third assassination attempt, he hadn't slept in the firelord's chambers. That let him sleep a little better--mostly because he didn't like staying in what he still considered to be his father's room. In order to call attention to his new resting place, there were no guards stationed outside of his door. That was fine enough--the guards hadn't been able to stop the assassins the first few times, so it was better to not have any blood shed on his behalf, anyway.

And it made for an easier escape when he wanted to pace the grounds in the middle of the night.

He made his way through the palace. He had no idea where he was going. He had no idea what he was doing. Why he was going there. With his swords. He just--

The air on his sweat soaked skin made him shiver. He stood in front of the door, swords drawn, and didn't move.

This is stupid.

He grit his teeth and stepped away from the door, causing the wood under his feet to creak. He winced, and the door opened before he could decide on running or jumping behind it.

"...Zuko?" Sokka said sleepily, rubbing the back of his head. His hair was down, framing his face, and sticking up in every direction. He looked groggy and sleep logged. "What are you doing here?"

"That's how you open the door?" He snapped. "What if I was an assassin?"

Sokka squinted at him. "I could tell it was you," he said. "You always shift like that in front of my door."

What? "I do not!"

Sokka's eyes trailed down to his swords. "Were you coming to kill me?"

"No!" He snarled in a hushed voice. "How could you say that?"

Sokka laughed sleepily, a good sound that Zuko couldn't appreciate because he couldn't shove down the panic in his chest.

"Relax," he said. "Why are you here, then?"

Zuko grit his teeth and his eyes drifted away from Sokka's gaze.

"Ah."

"I thought we could spar."

Sokka chewed on the inside of his cheek. "Nah."

"What? You're awake now."

"You look pissed," he said jabbing a finger at him accusatorily. "And I'm still half asleep. That's a recipe for getting my head lopped out."

"I wouldn't do that to you," he said through his teeth. "How could you think that I would do something like that? Do you really think I've lost that much control--"

"Woah," Sokka said and put both of his hands on Zuko's shoulders, stopping him in his tracks. "Chill out."

Zuko could feel the warmth through the tips of his fingers, grounding him. His eyes had adjusted in the dark, and he could see Sokka's features. Soft and concerned.

"Stay here," Sokka said. He withdrew his hands and a rush of coldness fell over Zuko at their absence.

Sokka came back out a few minutes lter, holding something in his hand. He motioned for him to follow, and they made their way out to the moonlit courtyard.

"Give me your swords," Sokka said. He sat himself down on the grass, and Zuko followed suit, handing him the swords. The night breeze was cold, and sittinf in the damp grass was colder, but he did.

He watched as Sokka took the object in his hand and began to sharpen his sword.

"I can do that myself," he said.

"I know."

Zuko glared at him, but settled into his seat and watched as Sokka ran the stone across the blade.

"What were you told to do when you sharpen your blade?" Sokka said.

"It's a task," he said. "What do you mean?" It was simply something you did to take care of your weapons.

"My dad said that you should use the opportunity of sharpening your blade to sharpen your mind," Sokka said. His long hair fell forward as he leaned to see what he was doing. "When I was younger, I thought it meant to focus on the battle ahead. But now...I use it to clear my mind."

"Should your head be any emptier?"

Sokka rolled his eyes and jabbed him in the ribs. "The best sword works as an extension of your body," he said.

Zuko narrowed his eyes. Of course.

"So you have to take care of yourself like you would a prized weapon." He pressed the stone on the tip of the sword, and the metal bent downwards. "Just like stress can destroy a blade, it can destroy you, too." Sokka relaxed his shoulders and let out a long breath. "I think it's important to remember that."

Zuko was silent for a moment. Then--

"I can't avoid being stressed," he said, and he reached forward to take the swords back, pulling them from Sokka's grasp and putting them back together. "I wanted to spar and get rid of that stress. That's why I came to you. If you don't want to do that, then I'll leave--"

"Zuko," Sokka said. "Just sit down."

Zuko glared down.

"Please. To humor me. And then you can fight me and knock me out so I can go back to sleep."

Zuko's eyes narrowed to slits, but he slumped down.

Sokka sat with his legs crossed, looking like Aang when he meditated.

"You're kidding me, right? Are you an air nomad?"

"Remember when we went to the boiling rock?" he said. "And you used your breath to stay warm?"

"I've tried that," he said. "But every time I sit still, I just think about everything that I have to do, and everything that's happening and--"

Sokka reached over and took his hand, and Zuko immediately closed his mouth. "Just breathe with me for a bit."

Zuko kept his mouth in a firm line, but did. He expected Sokka to remove his hand, but he didn't.

Sokka took a big breath next to him, and Zuko hesitated, but did. He closed his eyes inhaled, filling his lungs, taking in so much that his chest ached and his back cracked.

And he breathed out.

And again.

And again.

"You know we have your back, right?" Sokka said softly from beside him. Zuko could feel the warmth from his palm over his, radiating throughout his body. "All of us. We're here for you."

Zuko could feel the tightness swirl inside his chest, panic flaring up, and a burning behind his glassy eyes. "I don't want you to have to be."

Sokka laughed. "Well, too bad. You have friends. I hated it when you made me do exercises for my leg and when you wouldn't let me train until it healed. I especially hated when it gave out and you had to carry me all the way back to the palace. But that's what friends do. And that's what I'm doing for you."

Zuko's opened one eye, looking at him. "By comparing me to a weapon?"

He laughed again, and this time, Zuko appreciated it. He appreciated how soft and carefree it was. How deep and grounded it sounded. How he could hear it at the middle of the night. How he was there to hear if.

"Yeah. By comparing you to a weapon."

Sokka took another deep breath, and Zuko did as well.

And, in one final exhale, he felt the flames curl out of his mouth, and warmth spread across his body once more.

[goldenavenger02]

cause we survived the great war

For @badthingshappenbingo . Prompt: Fainting.

"Did you stop him?" Zuko interrupted, his vision growing more and more blurred from the salty water that was building up in his eyes as he squeezed Aang's hand tightly, "d-did you stop him?"

"I took away his bending. He's powerless."

Despite popular belief by those outside of the Fire Nation, Capitol City did get cooler at night.

Zuko had always assumed it was from the wind that came down from the high peaks of the volcanoes blowing down into the capitol city, or maybe the pushback from the waves that surrounded the smaller islands.

Either way, the chilly breeze was passing through once again which only made the fiery pain in the center of his torso more apparent as it engulfed him whole and pulsed through his blood with every thump of his heart.

He refused to make mention of it to Katara despite his arm being wrapped around her shoulders to keep him on his feet as they walked towards where they had agreed to meet up with the others on the shoreline; just like her, he needed to know that the others were alive, that Aang had done the impossible and had ended the hundred year war.

Even if that meant that he was now an orphan.

"Sokka!" Katara shouted, pulling away from Zuko to run forward and pull her limping older brother into her arms, resulting in a particularly strong thump of pain to hit him right in the chest.

He couldn't hear the exchange between the siblings and Suki from where he stood, but despite the throbbing in his torso, he couldn't help but let his lips curl into a smile as he watched the trio hug.

Only for him to be knocked back into reality by a harsh punch in the arm that he knew belonged to Toph.

"Glad to see you're alive."

"Same to you, Sparky," her grin was wide even in the dim light of the setting sun before her nose wrinkled, "ooh, but you stink."

"I'm sorry, you're saying that to me?"

"Ha ha," she said with sarcasm laced in her words before they turned serious, "what happened, did you fall in a fireplace?"

"Azula plays dirty, Zuko gritted his teeth as he spoke, letting an arm wrap around the wound to support himself, "Is Aang-"

"He's on his way, but he's in the middle of- Zuko!" Sokka cut himself off with an arm around Suki as he limped towards him, "that almost killed Aang! How are you sti…"

The ringing sound replaced any voices that impacted him as he tried to blink away the sudden dizziness and his mouth filled with a coppery taste, only to look back up at the four blurring faces surrounding him.

"-hat's wrong?"

"I can't…" he swallowed, trying to pull in a breath that remained just out of his reach while the edges of his vision started to dim, "I can't breathe…"

"-eartbeat's too slow, catch hi-"

Zuko's world went black as he crashed to his knees.

…

"Please, Katara."

"You need to rest, we all do. I don't even know when he'll wake up."

"I haven't seen him for two days and…he deserves to know about what I did."

Katara's sigh echoed through the room, only returning his attention to the searing pain in his torso that was once again returning with a vengeance.

"Okay, you're right. I'll be back in a few hours."

"Katara? You should get some rest too."

Zuko didn't hear her response, he was too focused on the feeling of a small, gentle hand looped around his own; he knew it wasn't Toph, not with how gentle the voice had been, which could only mean one thing.

He opened his eyes slowly and carefully turned his head to focus his vision on the figure next to his bedside before managing to speak, "Aang."

"You're awake," Aang took a breath that sounded a bit too shaky to just be exhaustion and the look in his eyes told Zuko that if it wasn't for his injuries, he would have been pulled into a tight hug, "Katara told me, about the Agni Kai."

"Aang, my…my f-father-" Zuko hissed through his teeth from the pressure that the inhale had put on the burn that adorned his chest, tears involuntarily springing into his eyes.

"Don't strain yourself. We can talk later, once you're feeling better-"

"Did you stop him?" Zuko interrupted, his vision growing more and more blurred from the salty water that was building up in his eyes as he squeezed Aang's hand tightly, "d-did you stop him?"

"I took away his bending. He's powerless."

Zuko loosened his grip. 'He can't hurt anyone any more.'

"Thank you."

Aang squeezed his hand tightly with a smile on his face, the closest thing to a hug that he would give right now, before speaking again, "go back to sleep. You're safe with me."

It was Zuko's cue to let his vision darken and let the pain dissipate once again.

…

It didn't elevate the pain when she focused her attention on the pink edges of the wound and it trailed away from his torso onto into his arm from where he had tried to push it out through his fingertips.

In fact, when Katara bent the water over his right arm to try and sooth the angry nerves that laid underneath, it was cooling and actually helped ease away a fraction of the built-up tension in his shoulders.

It made sense why she started there and worked her way inward towards the center of the attack during every healing session.

"Do you need to take a break?" Her voice was sincere as she looked up at him, the glassiness of tears apparent in her blue eyes.

"Do you?"

"I'm…" she stopped, raising an arm up to wipe away the tears in her eyes, "I'm fine."

"Katara-"

"Why did you do it?" She cut him off quickly, "you know what this did to Aang, so why would you do it?"

"I didn't t-think she'd aim for you."

"Just answer me, Zuko," she begged, the tears falling from her eyes to the point where she discarded the water she had been using into the nearby bucket due to contamination, "why did you risk so much for me?"

He pondered on her question for a moment.

He hadn't been thinking about anything but pushing the lightning away from himself and into the ground, trying to emerge victorious against his unstable sister; but the crazed glance and the blue twisting around her fingertips had him running forward before the impact and-pain pain pain-

He looked back up at Katara's eyes, teary and demanding as they searched for an answer that only he could give.

"Because we're a team, r-remember?"

She wiped her tears away again and pulled in a long sniffle before looking over at him with a smile before she spoke, her voice shaking from her crying, "I…I know I already said it, but thank you."

Zuko nodded, wrapping his fingers around his sheets as he watched her bend fresh water out of the basin and braced himself for the pain.

"I'll be as fast as I can, okay?" Her voice was comforting and quiet now that the tears had finally stopped running down her cheeks and she had received a satisfactory answer, but Zuko knew that as soon as he agreed, he would be launched into unbearable agony.

"Okay."

The cry of pain that escaped his lips didn't shine a light to the intensity of the fiery, searing pain that engulfed him and fought back against the healing water; he gripped the sheets tightly in his palms and squeezed his eyes shut.

"I know it hurts," he made out as she hit a particularly sore spot that had his back arching in protest, "I'm almost done."

When she finally pulled the water away, he was struggling to get full breaths into his lungs as he opened his golden eyes that were now filled to the brim with pain-induced tears.

"It's going to get easier," Katara's assurance was sincere as she gently cupped the right side of his face in her hand to wipe away the tears that had leaked from his eyes and onto his cheeks, "for both of us."

…

When he awoke again, there was no sign of Aang or Katara.

Instead, he was greeted by a soft humming of a familiar song that he had heard his whole life. A song that had filled the halls of the palace whenever his uncle, as well as his cousin, were safely within the walls rather than on the front lines.

"Well," The humming stopped, replaced by the familiar voice of his uncle, "look who's awake."

"I thought you w-were in Ba Sing Se." Zuko managed to speak, his tongue heavy in his mouth.

"I was, but when the news of you defeating Azula in an Agni Kai reached us, as well as the defeat of Ozai, I knew that my efforts would be better here. After all, someone has to weed out his loyalists and you, my nephew, are in no state to do that yourself."

"I did try, to r-redirect the lightning."

"And master Katara thinks that was what saved you. While she has expressed gratitude that you saved her life, it would be wise to follow her advice until you are healed."

It wasn't like Zuko planned on rebelling against her, not while his chest burned with every inhale.

Despite the pain, he still managed to push himself up on his wrists and sit up with the support of the pillows behind his head.

"Y-You were humming the song," he changed the subject, watching as his uncle raised an eyebrow while sipping from the teacup that was a part of the tea set sitting on the dresser, " the one you u-used to sing it to Lu Ten and I."

"Yes, I was. Here," Iroh nodded as he grabbed the second teacup, like he knew that Zuko was going to wake up, and pressed it into his shaking palms, "you should drink and go back to sleep."

Zuko slowly brought the edge of the cup to his lips and tipped the warm tea into his mouth, letting the familiar flavors of jasmine and chamomile coat his tongue, washing away the coppery taste from his mouth.

He let his uncle gently take the glass cup out of his palms before laying back down, his vision spinning by the time he was laying flat on the mattress once again; he closed his eyes, reducing everything to black.

Zuko allowed himself to drift back off to the sounds of his uncle singing softly, just loud enough that he could make out the words "Brave soldier boy, comes marching home".

…

"Absolutely not."

"Katara, the coronation is in a few days-"

"My judgment wouldn't change if it was in a few hours," she shook her head as she wrapped the new bandages around his torso and up around his right shoulder, "you are on bedrest until further notice, and your uncle said you listen to me."

"He said it would be wise to follow your advice." Zuko hadn't planned on fighting against her judgment at all, let alone so soon after he was advised not to go against her, but he needed to know what was happening outside of the walls of his childhood bedroom.

"I wouldn't poke the bear if I was you, Sparky." Toph remarked from where she was lounging on the ottoman, her head hanging just above the floor.

"What did you just call me?" Katara turned away from his tight bandages to presumably glare at Toph, like it would make much of a difference.

"Relax, sweetness. I'm telling him to listen to you and not to piss you off, especially while you're gone."

'Wait, what?'

"You're leaving?"

Katara's sigh acted as confirmation even before she started speaking, "not for long, just for the rest of the day. There are a lot of injured people in both Ba Sing Se and the Fire Nation, they need all of the healers they can get," she explained as she finished wrapping the bandages around his chest, "these aren't too tight?"

"No, they aren't."

"Good. You're doing a lot better and Sokka's leg has been healing up well enough, which is why I'm going with Aang and Suki," she explained as she stood up and pulled her bag over her shoulder, "but you are staying in bed."

Zuko raised his hands in surrender, resigning himself to staring at the ceiling for the rest of the day, allowing Katara to leave the room without another word.

However, just as he was starting to let his eyes flutter shut in relaxation, it was shattered by the young earthbender who had taken residence in his room that afternoon after his uncle had left.

"Do you want to get up?"

"What?"

"She just left the palace and I'm not gonna snitch. I used to run away all the time!"

"Toph-"

"You can't get better just laying down all day," Toph cut him off as she walked over and held her hand out, "besides, I still wanna know what's in this place."

"I don't-" Zuko started, but it quickly clicked in his mind just what Toph wanted and why she was encouraging a rebellion against Katara, "you still want your life changing field trip."

"Fine, you caught me," her voice was much sadder as she sat on the end of his bed and flopped backwards onto the mattress, "I know it won't be life changing, since the war is over and you're still hurt but…even if it isn't a new thing to you, this is the first time I've ever been anywhere outside of the earth kingdom."

"Are you gonna go back?"

"I'm not sure yet," she shrugged before standing up and offering her hand out again, "but right now, I'm gonna go to the garden and you should come with me."

"Okay, okay." He relented and pushed himself onto his feet, wincing at how the pain ricocheted up into his shoulder which forced him to grab the bed frame for support while his knees threatened to collapse from under him.

"On second thought, maybe you should stay here."

"Just give me a second."

"I don't want you getting hurt again."

Zuko's knees stopped shaking and the pain ebbed into a dull ache instead of the strong stabbing-like pain and it didn't return when he let go of the bed frame or when he walked forward to slide on his sandals.

"I'm fine," he insisted as he pulled one of the many robes around his shoulders in order to conceal the bandages around his torso and tied it closed, "but, just to be safe, can I-"

Toph didn't let him finish before taking his right hand and guiding it to her shoulder as support, "just tell me where to go."

And with that, the two of them began their walk through the palace.

No matter how much Zuko attempted to focus on the task at hand, he was still using his left hand to shield his vision away from the glaring pictures of the former Fire Lord all while thinking that this place was in serious need of redecoration.

Because while he understood the importance of the portraits of the Fire Lords before him, as to not to forget his lineage, he would be unable to rule under the glaring gaze of his father for the rest of his life.

Luckily for himself as well as Toph, the garden was not far from his room and soon enough, she was taking his hand off of his shoulder and helping him lower himself to sitting on the ground next to the small pond as the exhaustion began to seep into his bones.

"Are you still doing okay?"

"Oh yeah," Zuko breathed, resting his hand over his bandaged wound to try and sooth the renewed throbbing while resting his head against one of the tree trunks, "never better."

"I don't know if that was just sarcasm or just a load of monkey feathers, but your heartbeat is going crazy, Sparky."

"Why did you want to come out here?" He asked, trying to change the subject in order to give himself a chance to relax and let his agony dissipate once more.

"It's too hot in the palace, it makes my feet hurt," Toph explained as she pulled her knees in, "and I feel more in control out here, that if something were to happen, I'm surrounded by the earth so I can stop it faster. Also, Aang said he was able to hold one of the turtle ducks yesterday."

"We should have grabbed some bread from the kitchen first." Zuko chuckled but still pushed himself forward and rested one of his palms into the pond just like he had been taught by his mother when he was a kid.

Sure enough, one of the small turtle ducklings swam right up to his palm and gently pecked at it in search of some sort of treat, allowing him to gently scoop it up in his hands before turning to Toph, "hold your hands out."

She was obedient, cupping her hands as she held them out which helped him set the small bird into her palms before guiding her left hand to cup over it to keep it secure, "you have to be careful though, the mothers are notoriously ruthless when it comes to protecting their young."

"It's so soft," Toph murmured, running one of her fingers over the top of its soft head which resulted in a few content chirps, "and so small."

"This one is probably a few months old, it'll get bigger as it gets older."

Toph continued to hold the turtle duck securely in her palms, but Zuko couldn't help but swallow when the image of the young earthbender was replaced by a memory of his little sister.

They were just five and seven when she allowed him to place the turtle duckling in her open palms only to carelessly sear a hole right through its delicate shell.

There had been a lot of tears shed on both his as well as the baby turtle duck's part, but his mother arrived quickly to send Azula to her room before bringing the turtle duck and Zuko to the palace infirmary in order to do her best to soothe the burn.

It had resulted in a loud argument between his parents that night, one that echoed all the way into his bedroom; he hadn't been able to decipher the words back then while covering his ears, but he could only guess that his father had been displeased by the heir to the throne sobbing in response to an attack on an innocent animal.

He hadn't even noticed that Toph had let the turtle duckling swim back to its mother until she rested her hand on his left leg in complete silence.

"After we went to the play on Ember Island, I asked Aang about your scar," Her words were sudden but not unexpected as he turned his face towards her only to see her staring straight ahead at nothing, "he said it starts over your eye and spreads all the way over to your ear. Is that how you know how to describe stuff to me, because you know how it is?"

"Yeah," Zuko managed to say as he looked down at his fingernails, even if there was no point in avoiding Toph's non-existent gaze, "I got it right before I was banished from the fire nation."

"It was Ozai, wasn't it?" Zuko's tongue went dry at her words, he couldn't lift it to respond as tears welled up in his eyes from the statement.

He had never confirmed the rumors when asked, despite the tale being a popular propaganda piece during his father's rule, about what he would do to those who disrespected him. Given her next statement though, it seemed as though his silence was confirmation enough.

"Unless you ask me not to in the next five seconds, I'm going to hug you."

He didn't respond, allowing Toph to throw herself into his lap and wrap her arms around his neck while pressing her head against his shoulder.

Zuko ignored the renewed fire in his abdomen and wrapped his arms just as tightly around Toph.

…

"That one looks too stuffy," Sokka commented as he bit into the apple he was holding while leaning against the wall to seemingly avoid putting weight on his splinted leg, "and the sleeves are huge. You'll firebend once and woosh! Erupt into flames!"

"It's a flame resistant fabric, like all of the clothes produced in the fire nation," The tailor explained while wrapping the line of measuring tape around Zuko's bandaged abdomen, "it would be preposterous for the new Fire Lord to be unable to firebend in their regalia."

"I'm just saying, maybe it's time to update the regalia! Make it more Zuko and less Ozai. Right, Zuko?"

Zuko just wanted to get down from the platform he was standing on, away from the gaze from the tailor who had been part of the palace staff since his grandfather had been on the throne; even though he had been questioned extensively about where his loyalties lied, his chest still felt tight every time he looked over at the elderly man.

"Zuko, you with us?"

Zuko blinked a few times, his arms still extended outwards while he met Sokka's concerned glance but when he tried to respond, his mouth was dry as he lowered his arms while a shiver of fear went down his spine.

"Zheng, can you give a second?"

The tailor left the room with a bow in his direction, but all Zuko could focus on was Sokka's hand gripping onto his wrist as he helped him step down from the platform and sit on the lone, padded bench that sat in the corner.

"Are you in pain? Because I can get Katara-"

"It's stupid." Zuko swallowed, resting his face in his hands to try and get his heart to stop beating so fast. 'You're safe. No one is going to put you in a room with people that haven't been thoroughly questioned. You're fine.'

No matter how much he knew those statements to be true, his chest was burning with panic and paranoia.

"I once tried to keep us from going to get supplies because I had a dream where food ate people," Sokka's hand was gentle on his shoulder, just enough pressure for him to know that he was there, "I'm pretty sure it can't get more stupid then that."

"Just…worried, about all of this."

"About being the Fire Lord? Because that's not stupid, I'd argue that it'd be more stupid if you weren't."

'I shouldn't be scared. They shouldn't put a coward on the throne. The last thing that the Fire Nation needs is a coward ruling over them.'

"Look," Sokka spoke again, despite Zuko unable to respond as he rested his face in his hands, "this is a lot of responsibility, I get that. I was too young to go with my father but too old to be protected which meant that before Katara and I met Aang, I was the head of the Southern Water Tribe. I know it's not the same scale, but if I can do it, you've got it in the bag."

"You shouldn't doubt yourself, Sokka." Zuko finally managed to lift his head out of his hands and rest it against the wall instead as he responded, his heartbeat starting to fall back into its normal rhythm.

"Neither should you," Sokka argued, "even if the crown wasn't your birthright, which it is, you beat Azula in an Agni Kai."

"Aiming at someone else results in a forfeit."

"You saved my little sister's life, Zuko, and I…" he looked over as Sokka wiped his face on his sleeve before looking back to him, "I don't know how I'm ever going to repay you."

"You don't need to."

Sokka shrugged, which gave him permission to rest his heavy head, the head that would be crowned as the new Fire Lord in the morning, on the shoulder of one of the bravest warriors in the world.

"So, are you gonna kick me out of here then?"

"I didn't say that."

"Good, because someone needs to be here to tell you that these sleeves are so," Sokka smiled as he lifted up the edge of one of the sleeves and wrapped his hand around it to prove that Zuko still had plenty of room for his wrists in the robe, "so impractical."

…

"I should count myself lucky. The new Fire Lord has graced me with his presence in my lowly prison cell."

His vision was spinning when he finally returned from the Boiling Rock; it was real, he was the Fire Lord and he had proven his father wrong.

And yet, as he held onto the doorframe, his heart pounding in his chest and his ears filled with high-pitched ringing, he couldn't help but wonder if somewhere in his jail cell, his father had been hoping for this outcome.

That his son would be put on the throne and maybe he would be able to worm his way into his mind again. It made Zuko's stomach fill with nausea at the thought of being the puppet on his father's string again, like he had been just a year ago.

"There you are! Katara wants to check how everything is healing before we head to the Earth Kingdom…Zuko?"

Zuko had just been able to hear the voice over the ringing in his ears and looked up to see the blurry shape of Aang staring right at him.

"Zuko, are you-"

Zuko let go of the doorframe as his vision went dark, feeling hands grab his shoulders on the way down that were accompanied by a scream.

…

The first thing he heard when he opened his eyes was "don't move" followed by the familiar sting of water being passed over the lightning mark.

Zuko wasn't planning on it, not with how much everything was aching just from breathing; that was, until he heard a second voice that had him lifting his head from the pillows and propping himself up onto his elbows.

"He's awake?" Before he could even speak, Aang was rushing over to his side with relief tinged in his words, "you're awake."

"And he needs to lay," Katara cut herself off to use her free hand to press on his chest and guide him back onto the pillows, "back down."

"Is it bad?" He asked, wincing at how dry his mouth was and how hoarse his voice was.

"I'll get you some water." Aang insisted as he disappeared from view once again, leaving him to look up at Katara's squint of concentration.

"Everything is irritated. The nerves, the skin…it's all irritated. We put off the trip to the Earth Kingdom till tomorrow and King Kuei sends his regards," she stopped for a moment before looking over at him, "where were you?"

Zuko swallowed; he didn't want Katara to know that he had gone much further than anyone was comfortable with permitting, especially without security, not to mention that he had gone to see the former Fire Lord.

Even with his reasoning, he wasn't sure that any of his new found friends would be comfortable with the fact that he had gone in the first place.

"Here," Aang's return with the glass of water returned Katara's eyes to his burnt abdomen and gave Zuko, at the very least, a temporary scapegoat and took the lack of questioning eyes on him to lift his head and let the water coat his aching throat, "we told General Iroh too, since we'll be staying with him when we get there."

"Thanks." Zuko nodded even though he knew that it was going to be more difficult to keep his visit from his uncle then it was to keep it from Aang and Katara.

"No problem, Fire Lord Hotman" Aang smiled as he took the glass despite the quick glare he shot at the airbender, glancing at the burn for a moment before looking back at Zuko, a half-hearted giggle in his voice while gesturing to his back, "what do you know? We match now."

Zuko couldn't help but laugh despite the pain it caused him.

After all, Aang had saved the world and he had stopped Azula; the next few weeks, months, maybe even years would be hard as the nations settled down now that the war was over and started to rebuild.

But that could wait; for the next few hours as he rested, he didn't have to be the Fire Lord; he had the permission to just be Zuko.

[soulc-hilde]

Operation: Rescue

Pairing: Sokka x OFC

Synopsis: Sent off from her homeland to fulfill her duty, a young waterbender sails for the Southern Air Temple to mentor the Avatar. Forced to abandon her people as Aang was to abandon his childhood, the two runaway into the night. 100 years later, the two awaken in an iceberg, ignorant to the time that has passed.

Divider by @wrathofrats

Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 |

"This waterskin will make an excellent gift for my father, a remnant of the last Avatar," Prince Zuko examines the leather pouch. The traditional markings glisten under the sun.

Lowering his arm, the boy looks at the girl with a glare, "I suppose you wouldn't know a thing or two about fathers; with the men of your tribe losing the war."

"You like to hear yourself talk, don't you?" Ikkara rolls her eyes. The Prince grits his teeth, pale face burning with anger. "Take the Avatar to the prison hold," he orders.

The soldiers push her forward, marching like zombies. As they leave, the teen tosses the waterskin to his uncle. "Take this to my quarters," he simply states before walking over to the telescope.

The former general splices a glance from the pouch to the remaining soldiers. "Hey, uh," Iroh trails, "you mind taking this to his quarters for me?" Rather than waiting for a reply, he shoves it into the other man's chest and walks off to his own chambers.

While guided to the prison hold, Ikkara put her mind to work. If she was an airbender, she could've easily been out of here by now. Desperately trying to feel for the smallest drop of water, her eyes widen at the familiar tug. Gloved fingers wiggling, she could feel the water that rushed through the body of her captives.

Blood, she gasps. It may be wrong of me, but I have to survive. I need to get back to Aang.

"You know," she speaks, voice taunting, "I may not be an airbender, but waterbending can be just as useful in moments like this. I bet I can take you both with my hands tied behind my back."

The guard in front of her hisses, "silence." The metal helmet adds a dramatic echo to his words. Arriving to the cell door, the guard grabs the key. Just as he inserts the head into the lock, Ikkara swallows nervously. For Aang, she thinks.

Taking a deep breath, her eyes glare at the man's back. She watches as his body turns stiff, joints cracking as they twist and shift irregularly. Focusing the majority of her weight onto her legs, she jerks her clenched fists downwards. The soldier behind her becomes tense, his body contorting disgustingly.

"What, uh," one of them grunts in pain. "What's, eh, happening? How... How are you doing, this? Ugh!"

A smirk stetches across the young girl's face. She shrugs, "secrets are to be kept. Not told." Tilting her head, the two slam against the wall, falling into a pile.

Happily, she runs for the deck. Charging for the door, she lowers her head and uses her shoulders to burst through the steel. Running through the hall, a guard emerges from behind. "The Avatar escaped," he shouts to other guard.

Rather than giving them her time, Ikkara focuses on trying not to lose track of where she is. Making a sharp right, a few soldiers stand ready. Scrunching her face, she presses her right foot against the wall and leaps across to other, bouncing off of her left foot.

Backflipping over the men's heads, she slices the rope bindings around her wrists before jumping into the next corridor where a soldier stands, hands lit. In the same second he punches a blast of fire, she slides between his legs. Standing to her feet, she thrusts a flat palm against the middle of his spine, forcing him forward.

Leaving undefeated, she continues her run, nearly ignoring the opened chambers. Propped on a small table, her waterskin sits in all of its glory. Ikkara could feel the water sloshing inside as she steps toward it.

"Finally," she breaths, snatching it off the mantle.

Behind her, Zuko slams the door, amber eyes furious. He locks the door, cornering the teen. "Looks like I underestimated you," he seethes.

"You're not the first," Ikkara shrugs. With a grunt, the prince sents a blast to separate the girl from the water. Quickly, she rolls under the flames and between his legs.

Appearing behind him, she jabs the tips of her fingers in between his shoulder blades. Gifted control over his movements, she shifted whenever he did, using his body as her personal shield. With her left hand, she winds it backwards as an arch of water draws around the fist, hardening into ice.

Zuko's eyes widen as the harsh punch replaces her pointed fingers, sending his body into the steel walls of his bedroom chest first. His face twitching with pain, he goes to unleash a whip of flames. As he turns to face her, his body comes to an abrupt halt. Frantic eyes widen, noting that the girl retrieved her waterskin.

However, what frightened him was the absence of water decorating his skin. Backing towards the door, Ikkara's arms swirl majestically above her head, forcing the boy's body to kneel before her. Using that as her moment to escape, she dashes out of the chamber.

Reaching the bridge, she leaps over the stunned soldiers, surrounding herself with globs of water until she matched the appearance of a baby octopus. Using the tentacles to launch herself into the air, aiming for freezing water, an enraged Zuko leaps off the deck and crashes into her abdomen.

The two teenagers grunt, landing on top of one another. Flipping onto her feet, Ikkara stands ready with a small smirk. Across from her, Zuko pushes himself to his feet with a ferocious growl. Prepared to clash, a sudden growl echoes amongst the ice caps.

They look up, eyes widening at the sight of Appa with Sokka, Katara, and Aang riding on his back. "What is that?" Zuko looks on with terror. "Appa!" Ikkara cheers.

Taking that as his moment, Zuko sends an arsenal of blasts. Gasping, she swiftly swings her arms clockwise, manipulating two thick streams to act as her shield. With each hit, the streams run thin, pushing her back until they break.

Pressed against the rails, another two blasts nail her in the chest, rendering the girl unconscious as she falls into the ocean. Aang's eyes water, widening with fear. Katara gasps with distraught while Sokka leans over the saddle, screaming.

"Ikkara!" He shouts down at the water, a desperate plea for her to hear him.

As her body begins to sink, Aang's grey eyes harden as a blueish white light overcomes them. His arrows begins to glow as well, the boy stands to his feet before diving into the water. Katara and Sokka watch with tears.

Locked in the Avatar State, Aang rises from the sea in a vortex of water with Ikkara laying limp in his arms. He lowers them to the deck, setting her at his feet before bending the water into a wave that forced Prince Zuko and his men overboard.

"Did you see what he just did?!" Katara watches in awe. Sokka grunts, shifting in hopes to get eyes on Ikkara. "Do you see her? Is Ikkara okay?"

With the coast cleared, Aang uses the last of his power to bend the water from Ikkara's lungs. As she awakens, coughing erratically, Aang becomes dazed as his return to normal. He collapse to his knees beside her. "Ikkara," he croaks, "you're okay."

Shuffling to her knees, she chuckles, pulling him into her chest. "For you, always." Appa lands on the ship, slightly lowering to help the siblings slide down.

"Aang, Ikkara!" Katara shouts, racing for the duo with Sokka behind her. She places a hand on Aang's shoulder, "are you guys okay?"

Ikkara nods, "hey guys, thanks for coming." Sokka comes up behind her, helping her stand to her feet. "Couldn't let you have all the glory," he smirks, the two gaze at one another for a bit.

"Speaking of which," Aang trails, swatting the girl across the back. "What were you thinking?! You're not the Avatar, why would you put yourself in danger?"

Ikkara twitches at the hit, grasping his wrist in an attempt to prevent anymore attacks as well as restrain her anger. "Because, they were looking for you, Aang. They were planning to take you to the Fire Nation and do Spirits knows what to you. I had a plan."

"A plan for what? To get killed!" His eyes blanch with anger. The teen rolls her eyes, "you dropped your staff, kid." Sokka runs to retrieve it, "I got it!"

As he picks it up, Zuko's hand clutches onto it as a way to reach the deck. Sokka's eyes widen as he tries to pull the staff from the prince's grasp before jabbing the prince in the forehead with the end of the staff, sending him overboard once more.

"That's from the Water Tribe!" He shouts, victoriously.

Meanwhile, Katara tries her best to guide both Aang and Ikkara onto Appa, however, it wasn't an easy feat as Ikkara swatted the young airbender's worries away and instead focused all of her attention on him. At this point, Katara was ready to leave, no matter what it takes.

As the duo settle in the bison's saddle, a few other soldiers begin to approach the trio. Katara goes to waterbend, the liquid trembling under the guide of her hands. The lack of strength and confidence in her movements was obvious, portraying a disconnection with her element.

She tries to send a stream towards the soldiers, but it flies in the opposite direction. Wrapping aroung Sokka's ankles, the water turns into ice. He pouts, "Katara!" He hacks at the ice with his boomerang.

The teen takes a deep breath, turning her back towards the advancing soldiers. Repeating the stance, she bends once again, however, this time she successfully freezes her opponents just seconds before they could grab at her hood.

Making her way onto Appa, she shouts over her shoulder, "hurry up, Sokka!"

"I'm just a guy with a boomerang," Sokka mutters, chipping at the ice. "I didn't ask for all this flying and magic."

Once the ice shatters, he picks up Aang's staff and runs for Appa's tail. "Yip-yip!" He shrieks, jumping into the saddle, "yip-yip!"

The kids take off on the bison just as General Iroh steps onto the deck. At the sight of the supposedly extinct creature, the older man rubs at his eyes in disbelief. Quickly, he runs to help his nephew on board.

Rather than thanking the man, the teen shouts, "shoot them down!" As the only firebenders not frozen, they launch a combined blast that flies after the flying bison.

The group watches the fireball with wide eyes when an irritated Ikkara stands up. Quickly, she take a deep breath in and pulls her arms back before pushing them forward. She raises them above her head, manipulating a wall of water to extinguish the fire. Shifting into a crouch, her left leg barring all of her weight as the right points out , she pushes the waves onto the ship.

Zuko and the rest of his men watch in horror as the wave floods the deck, the force of its crash pushes the ship off course and into the wall of a glacier. A small avalanche of ice falls onto the tip of the ship. Escaping off into the distance, the group cheers victoriously.

"Good news for the Fire Lord," Iroh speaks from behind his nephew, "the Fire Nation's greatest enemy is just a little boy and a girl."

The Prince grits his teeth, "that little boy, uncle, is the real Avatar and that girl just did this. I won't underestimate either of them again." He turns to the soldiers, "dig the ship out and follow them!"

However, watching the majority of them stand frozen, he turns back around with a quiet mumble, "as soon as you're done with that." He glares off into the sky, his vow echoing in the back of his mind.

---

On Appa, as the group basks in their victory, Katara looks over at Aang and Ikkara. "How did you guys do that with water?! It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

"I don't know, I just sort of... did it?" Aang shrugs, scratching his bald head. Ikkara, on the other hand, simply laughs, "a lot of practice. Aang was able to do it because of the Avatar State, but for me, it just took time. And a lot of muscles, water is heavy."

Sokka scoffs, "yeah, muscles, sure. Girls don't have muscles, Ikkara, okay? These are muscles," he pulls back his sleeve, showcasing his slim bicep.

The waterbender giggles into her gloved palm, "I mean, there's not much muscle to see, but I will say that your arm looks good." The girls guffaw together as the boy quickly pulls his sleeve down with a pout.

"Ugh, anyways," he rolls his eyes, "why did you lie about being the Avatar?"

"I did it to protect Aang," she sighs, "we've been gone for 100 years. Outside of the North Pole, there's only two waterbenders and it's my fault. Aang's the only family I have left, now."

Katara glances at the boy, his eyes stare ahead, avoiding the others. "Aang?" He sighs, "I didn't want to be the Avatar. The only good thing that came out of it was meeting Ikki."

The older waterbender simply nods despite the boy telling the partial truth. It wasn't her place to tell the siblings that Aang ran away from the Temple to escape the responsibility of the world. Besides, what would they think of them if they were to find out.

The protector of the world and his teacher abandoned their destiny out of selfishness. Not a great impression.

"Aang, the world's been waiting for the Avatar's return to finally put an end to this war," Katara states, trying to instill hope inside the boy.

He glances her way, "and how am I going to do that?" Ikkara sighs, "according to legend, you need to master water, earth, and then fire. I can teach you what I know as we travel to the North Pole."

Aang's face brightens, looking over at Katara, "we can learn it together!" Two share grin, turning their hopeful eyes to their future master.

"Okay, okay," Ikkara sighs, fondly, "I can teach Katara, too. However, I will say that everyone is destined to find a teacher just like I was destined to teach Aang. There's a teacher for you, Katara, that'll mold you into the person you're meant to be."

The girl nods, understandingly before turning to her brother. "And Sokka, I'm sure you'll get to knock some firebender heads on the way."

"I'd like that," he sighs, eyes trained on Ikkara's side profile. She turns to him, their gazes meeting. He quickly looks away as a soft look dawns his features, "I'd really like that."

"Alright," Aang grins, pulling a map out and laying it flat in the center of the saddle. "Before I learn waterbending, we have some serious business to attend to."

Ikkara sighs, "Spirits." She takes Appa's reins as the boy points out several locations. Katara's eyes catch a plot of land in the Earth Kingdom, pointing it out, "what's there?"

The older girl deflates at the question, tuning the boy out. Behind her, Sokka's cerulean eyes land on her form once again. His mind pointing out how well her mane of curls looked when let down, the thick tresses carefully blowing in the wind. He leans back with a content sigh.

[marriedzukka]

tagged by @backhurtyy and @bisexuallsokka 🥰 to share a few lines that sums up the main relationship(s) in your wip!

So, enjoy a small bit from retgmt 16:

---------

Zuko's back hits something soft. 

His heart skips in and out of time, his clammy hands twisting in the sheets, searching for something, anything to ground him. After a few disorienting moments, the world comes sharply back into focus:

It was just a dream. Uncle’s not here and none of it was real and it was just a dream.

He's still not used to waking up in this house just yet, and so far every morning has been a crash course in remembering why. Every day here has tested him in new and increasingly confusing ways, but there's been a constant through it all, an anchor keeping him steady when the winds pick up and he loses his footing.

It’s like the clouds parting when he notices Sokka next to him— the real Sokka, his Sokka— sleeping soundly with his back turned to Zuko and one arm curled under his pillow. The rest of him is hidden beneath their blanket that he stole at some point during the night, and the sight alone is a wave of relief that twists Zuko’s heart in a different, better way. 

He carefully tucks himself into Sokka’s blanket cocoon, reveling in the toasty warmth underneath as he wraps an arm snugly around Sokka’s middle and sinks in. There’s a precious pattern of freckles hugging the curve of his shoulder, and Zuko’s stress starts to melt away with every press of his lips to soft skin. This is all he really needs to come back to himself anyway, this closeness. The feeling of Sokka's chest gently rising and falling beneath his palm, and Sokka's body tucked against his, warm and solid and perfect. A dream Zuko can actually touch. 

He kisses more of the constellations he finds, up into the soft edges of Sokka's undercut. It doesn't take long for him to stir.

“Your feet are freezing.” 

Zuko lets out a quiet laugh, feeling fond. It's impossible to start the day without the sound of Sokka's grumbly-grump morning voice, but it's better, so much better, than the first sip of coffee on Zuko's tongue or the first kiss of sun on his face. None of it holds a candle to this.

-----------

tagging uhhhh @ofherlionheart and @chitsangenthusiast and @goldrushzukka 💕 no obligations of course!!

[thebeautyoffanfics]

sokka x zuko

a/n : i haven't written a character x character fic in forever LMAO like since middle school i think ..... but here we are !! i know atla isn't what anyone following me is here for , but i'm hyperfixating and zukka is one of those "haha wouldn't that be funny [oh god it's not a joke anymore]" things for me . so here's a semi-short + sweet + already probably done concept fic <3 warnings : none  word count : 840

Zuko sighed, his head aching with lack of sleep. This wasn't the first sleepless night he'd had-- far from it-- but it somehow felt so much more different. What did he have to do? Was Aang ready? How could the Avatar sleep when there was so much to be done? Sozin's Comet was like a poison hanging in the air, making him feel ill with anxiety.

The waves crashing on the shore were the only sound Zuko could hear past his heavy thoughts. Looking into the night sky, his eyes were first drawn to the sparkling speckle, barely bigger than other stars visible, yet clearly redder. If he thought too hard about it, he could almost feel the blazing heat from it, the power of 100 suns coursing through the firebending blood in his veins. It used to be such a powerful thought. Now he would have given up that power if it guaranteed the safety of this world. Of his friends.

Zuko sighed, an unwilling task, as if his body was trying to force him into relaxing. Wanting to find anything but that damned glow in the sky, his eyes moved to the moon, her light the opposite of the hot red. She offered a cool, relaxing tone; controlling the water, instead of fire. The waves only a few feet in front of him reached for her, following the pull she offered, only to fall back and try again. It reminded him of the two Water Tribe siblings he knew. Katara's practice, and the moves his uncle had shown him, the pushing and pulling of the waves. The shared determination of the siblings. Like the waves, constantly moving, trying again and again to reach the moon, they truly never stopped. Never gave up. Sokka even apparently had personal experience with the moon.

Despite finding himself lost in his thoughts, alongside his body fighting against his mind for rest, Zuko heard the quiet closing of the door behind him, and the footsteps that followed suit. Forcing his eyes from the waves, he turned, looking up at whoever had decided to interrupt his hazy spiraling.

The sight of the somewhat lanky, obviously sleepy, Water Tribe boy rung as ironic in Zuko's head-- his thoughts still having been lingering on Sokka. His hair was loose, falling around his face. The way it framed it, pairing with the moonlight, made Zuko's heart feel odd.

"What are you doing up?" Zuko questioned, turning back around.

"Woke up to pee, looked out the window and saw you sulking."

Zuko felt himself smile involuntarily, ignoring the confusion as to why something so small made his chest feel warmer, and instead firing his response. "I wasn't sulking."

"Okay? Then what were you doing staring into nothingness, outside, in the middle of the night, alone?"

"... Thinking, I guess. I couldn't really sleep."

Sokka took a moment, and Zuko began to wonder what he was thinking. Was he annoyed? "You can go back in," Zuko began, shutting his mouth when Sokka plopped down next to him, so close that their shoulders touched. This wasn't unusual-- Sokka was a close person, sitting close, talking close, and overall being more touchy than Zuko was used to-- but Zuko's tired heart skipped a beat, his face threatening to heat up.

"Welp, do you wanna talk about it?"

Though audibly exhausted, the annoyance Zuko was searching for in Sokka's tone was nowhere to be found. Instead, all he found was a genuine question, an offer with no obligation.

"Uh," Zuko hummed, wondering how to even begin his concerns, "maybe... I'm just nervous, I guess. It might be stupid, I mean, I'm not the one facing my dad. I just know how strong he is already, without even considering the comet. I'm worried if I've had Aang practice enough, or..."

Zuko couldn't help but trail off when a head landed on top of his shoulder. Dark brown strands of hair fell over Sokka's face, his eyes closed and expression relaxed.

"Keep talkin', I'm... I'm listening," Sokka mumbled, and Zuko knew he would have meant it if he wasn't actively falling asleep. On his shoulder.

Warmth settling comfortably in his chest, Zuko felt himself smiling again. "It's, uh... it's okay, buddy," He said. For a moment, things felt truly quiet. Peaceful. Sokka's weight on his shoulder seemed to simultaneously ground Zuko, and allow him to drift away, eyelids growing heavy. Finally, Zuko allowed his head to rest on top of Sokka's, butterflies dancing almost pleasantly in his stomach. With a comforting presence sleeping soundly on his shoulder, Zuko forgot for a moment about his concerns, drifting into a quiet sleep at last. In the morning they would wake up. Blushes and groggy condolences would be exchanged, and Zuko would put up with his anxieties once again. But, at the very least, he truly knew, and accepted, that he wasn't alone anymore. Maybe he never had been. It wouldn't fix everything, it wouldn't undo his actions, it wouldn't take permanent reminder of his father's rage off of his face or the ruins of the world, but it would offer hope. Undying, unbridled, and ready to prove itself.

[alfredolover119]

i’m covered in you (a zukka fake dating fic by alfredolover119)

-rated g -fake dating, ambasssador!sokka, friends to lovers -3012 words

“They want me to court someone,” Zuko leans back, crossing his swords over his chest to parry Sokka’s heavy strike. He can’t help but notice the line of sweat that drips down the side of his face, illuminated by the mid-morning sun.

“And?” Sokka replies, panting. His attacks are relentless, but Zuko thinks he can catch him off-guard… He hopes so, at least. This is their third (and, hopefully, final) sparring match of the morning, and they are currently sitting in a draw. Zuko regrets his earlier… distractions. He feels like Sokka randomly throwing his shirt off in the middle of their second match was some sort of foul play, but he can’t really say that without it being weird.

“To marry- ” He sees an opening and takes it, aiming for Sokka’s shoulder. Sokka bars it with the end of his beloved space sword, falling directly into Zuko’s trap. Zuko uses his other sword to flip Sokka’s weapon out of his hands, sending it flying several feet across the courtyard. “They want me to find someone to court and marry.”

read more on ao3

[purrincesskittens]

Some pure indulgent fluff in my dragons atla universe slightly inspired by @muffinlance Scaled Over writing out how Bato comes into the possession of a little scaly Zuko still but I just had to get this fluff out first. Sorry for tagging you so often muffin you have inspired me to write again and actually finish something for once.

Zuko's scar isn't as bad over his eye it's larger though it covers more of the left side of his face and down his neck and across his shoulder. It's not as bad though it's second to third degree and will scar but not nearly as bad as it looks in canon like this but on a small child

......................................................................

Bato was drifting between wakefulness and sleep wanting to go back to sleep unsure as to what woke him. His hammock rocked with the ship he was comfortable under his furs and blankets. They were almost home and just in time to beat the late season storm coming their way. He was almost asleep again when the baby in his arms sat up on his chest. After a moment of squirming little hands patted his face gently and cautiously to wake him. Giving a yawn and stretch Bato opened his eyes to look at the little one he held.

"Sorry." The 3 year old little boy whispers so softly Bato wouldn't have heard if he hadn't been holding the little one so close. "What's wrong buddy?" Bato asks as the kid squirmed again. "Umm." The little one grabbed at his front as he squirms in a matter Bato recognizes from Sokka who had just started potty training. "Need to go?" Bato sat up holding the boy to his chest as he did before unburrying them so he could swing his legs out of the hammock and set the boy down.

He knew what woke him now. The boy had been squirming for a while before waking Bato. The child was still very cautious about everything he did which angered Bato. The boy was barely 3 and was surprisingly very good about potty breaks although he did have accidents that caused him to break down in tears. Bato would love to murder the child's father. Not only was the man responsible for the large burn that covered the left side of the child's face and down his neck and shoulder but the man didn't seem to understand children. Didn't want the child to make loud noises and apparently yelled at every little thing the boy did.

Bato wasn't even a father but he was a damn proud uncle to Hakoda's kids and understood children were noisy and messy. He didn't have a high opinion of any servants hired to care for the boy either. None seemed to have had the patience for a young child struggling to be more mature then their age while still being a toddler. Standing up he guided the kid to use the bathroom yawning as he did. The boy finished with only a slight mishap at first not a big deal, he watched Sokka for Hakoda and Kya before he knew this could happen.

The boy looked at him like he expected to be hit or yelled at. "I missed." The boy whispered looking down at his bare feet. "Sorry." Bato had to close his eyes and count to ten silently so as not to show he was upset. Not at the little one but at the man the boy calls father. Kneeling he hugs the tiny thing to him before murmuring reassuringly. "It's okay accidents happen. You'll get better with time." He stood cleaning up the mess and then cleaned the child and himself up, using a clean wet cloth to whipe the boys face after to remove snot and tears.

Scooping him up he nuzzled the child's soft black hair with his nose. "Let's get a snack and then back to bed okay?" He got a nod in response as the little one tucked his head against his neck. Hakoda intercepted them after they had grabbed a few sea prunes yawning as he ruffled the child's hair causing the boy to squeak and hide his face against Bato's skin. "Midnight snack?" He questions his friend nodding to the half eaten prune in the toddlers hand. "Bathrrom visit first then snack as a reward for doing so good now back to bed." Bato explains bouncing the child in his arms gently to reassure him.

"I missed." Came the response from the half asleep bundle in the tribesman's arms. "That's okay Sokka, my son, misses alot too. It happens." The chief reassures the tiny thing who peaks at him with sleepy gold eyes. They eventually got back to bed with Bato settling the toddler in his arms under the furs and blankets.

The next day brought them into colder waters and icebergs appeared. The child stared with wide eyes from his place at the railing of the ship under the watchful eyes of the crew. As they traveled further south the more the ice grew bigger. It was early spring so the waters were barely safe enough to traverse meaning they had to slow down and take it easy. This also meant the icebergs appeared to be closer to the ship. Almost within touching distance it would seem. Or at least it seemed so to a tiny tot who had never seen icebergs before. One second he was standing by the railing, the next he's climbed up on the railing, and the second after that a little black dragon is launching himself across the distance little wings incapable of true flight, beating the air in an attempt at keeping him alight.

The ship lurched and a large blue dragon is grabbing the baby dragon in his teeth scuffing them and hauling them back on board the ship ignoring their whines of protest despite being a limp noodle hanging from Bato's jaws as he settles back in the middle of the deck depositing the little creature in front of them caging him with his claws so the little one can't scamper off.

The rest of the day is spent with a shaky noodle hiding in Bato's parka half because he got scolded for trying to jump off the ship to touch an iceberg half because he was cold. Aake's mutter suggestion about wing breaking had been overheard and the little one was terrified of him now. Bato hadn't liked that suggestion even if Aake wasn't completely serious.

"You need a name boy." Kustaa informs the child as he changes the bandages that cover half the boys face, neck and shoulder. "He has a name." Bato comments as he holds the boy still. "But he hasn't said what it is yet now has he? If he is staying he needs a name. We can't keep calling him boy now can we?" Cool salve is applied to the burn with gentle steady hands. Bato hums in response but thinks on what the healer said.

"If you don't want to tell me your name that's fine but since your starting a new life with us how about a proper water tribe name?" Bato asks the child as he carefully runs a brush through the boys hair. The little one practically purred in his lap as he pulled the brush through his thick black hair. "What do you think of Kanut? It means white polar bear goose." The boy scrunched up his nose and shook his head. "Yeah polar bear goose doesn’t suit you does it? Hmm how about Nanook?"

A little sneeze greeted this suggestion drawing a chuckle from the man. "No? Let's see then something that would suit you." Bato ran the brush once more through the toddlers hair before tying it up in a warriors wolf tail. "I know how about Tulugaq? For your raven hair." This last name earned a bright eye look. "Tulugaq it is then." Bato chuckles wrapping his arms around the newly dubbed Tulugaq giving him a hug.

Kustaa held Tulugaq in his arms as the crew ran around getting the ship ready as they drew closer to the South Pole and their village. Once they docked the ships would be unloaded and sleds packed up with supplies to be distributed among the various tribes and villages that made up the Southern Water Tribe enough to last the tribes to the summer when the traders came. Tulugaq only liked Kustaa and Bato primarily although he was growing used to the chief. Hakoda had been spending time with Bato while the little one hide under Bato's clothes or clung to him.

Bato had been named the boys guardian and new dad in everything but name. It had been agreed upon that if his mother came looking for him and proved to be trust worthy she would be welcomed by the tribe or allowed to take her son, the boys father would never get him back and would never lay another hand on the boy. Finally Bato came over scooping his new son up into his arms. "Welcome to the Southern Water Tribe, Tulugaq."

[beifongsss]

life-changing field trip [zuko]

Pairing: Zuko x waterbender!reader (I’m a sl*t for the opposites attract trope I’m so sorry)

Requested?: Yes! I am once again combining two requests that I thought fit together, I’m sorry if that upsets the anons who requested :( The first anon request: “ooh maybe flirty/yn with zuko while in the ember island house or while sparring (or combine the two LMAO)” The second anon request: “Hi! Can we have more simp Zuko plz 🥺 How about that scene where the gAang looks for Aang, and Toph is like “I want to go with Zuko because I have not had a life changing field trip with him yet,” but instead of Toph it’s y/n and Zuko is all blushy and flustered because he has a crush on her 🥺”

Summary: You just want to test the waters and see if Zuko likes you back, after all, Sokka has been telling you that he does indeed like you. However, every time you try to get close to the prince, he either runs away or ignores you.

not as flirty as it could’ve been but i like how it turned out :) short & sweet

.masterlist.

~

Ember Island was beautiful.

You had all arrived there a few days ago, joining Katara after she had gone off to hunt down the man who had killed her mother. When you heard that she hadn’t ended his life, you had hugged her tightly and quietly told her that you were proud of how strong she was.

Aang had come up behind you soon after and you retreated from the two to give them a bit of privacy, crossing your arms as you stood next to Zuko. The two of you observing the scene that was unfolding in front of you, a smile twitching at the edge of your lips as they embraced.

“I’m glad the two of you came back safely,” you said quietly to the prince, never looking away from Aang and Katara. Zuko didn’t reply and shifted uncomfortably. “Especially you. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t look at your pretty face every day.”

You didn’t have to look at the prince to know that he now wore a scowl on his face, displeased at your words. In reality, Zuko was trying to hold back a blush at your words and instead of replying, he simply rolled his eyes and stormed off.

He burst into his family’s beach house, cheeks still ablaze. Toph and Sokka sat there, looking up at Zuko blankly before going back to their conversation. Slightly disappointed in their lack of response, he threw himself onto the nearby couch, releasing a loud groan. 

Toph paused her words for a second before continuing to speak. Sokka glanced at Zuko before focusing on Toph, knowing what he was trying to do. At the sound of his friends’ conversation, Zuko threw his arms over his head and groaned loudly once again. This time, their conversation stopped completely before Sokka turned to face him.

“Yes, Zuko? Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing,” he replied gruffly. Toph couldn’t help but snort.

“Why is your heart beating so fast then, Sparky Pants?” Toph asked. “It can’t be ‘nothing’ if it’s got you all worked up.”

Zuko shot her a glare, forgetting that she couldn’t see it, before burying his face in his arms and mumbling something.

“What was that?” Sokka asked, a smirk on his face.

“(Y/N) was out there,” Zuko repeated, lifting his head up slightly. “Why was she the only one to greet us out there?”

“She wasn’t alone. Aang was with her,” Toph said. “Besides, she said something about making sure that you weren’t injured or anything.”

Zuko’s face went bright red once more. “Why couldn’t one of you be there with her?”

“Because your reaction every time she gets too close to you is hilarious,” Sokka replied. “Just tell her how you feel. The worst she can do is say no.”

The conversation died down as you entered the room with Aang and Katara trailing behind you. You aimed a smile at Zuko, heading over to the couch he was laying on. At the sight of you, Zuko scrambled up and all but sprinted away, a frown on his face as he muttered that if anyone needed him he would be in his room.

The smile melted off your face at Zuko’s actions. Katara noticed and came up behind you. “C’mon, help me with dinner?”

You nodded.

~ “Hey (Y/N/N)!”

You looked up when you felt Sokka sit next to you, drawing your attention from the two boys who were training in the courtyard. He followed your line of sight, smirking when his eyes landed on Zuko. “Enjoying the view?”

You hummed in response, still not facing the Water Tribe boy before replying. “I’m just studying them. It’s not every day you get to see firebenders just casually practicing their moves.”

“Whatever you say,” Sokka replied, leaning back on his elbows. “You don’t have to hide your feelings. He feels the same way y’know.”

The snort that left you was unintentional, but still drew Aang’s attention to you. He perked up immediately, his tiredness leaving his body in a second. “(Y/N/N)! How long have you been there?”

A blush covered your cheeks as Sokka nudged your side and snickered. “O-Oh, a few minutes. I was bored so I came out here to watch your lesson.”

“Great, can you do me a favor?” Aang asked, his eyes sparkling. You groaned internally knowing that you couldn’t deny the young Air Nomad anything. Silently, you nodded. “I promised Toph that I’d learn how to sandbend today but Zuko’s not done training. Can you please spar with him?”

“I’m not a firebender Aang,” you replied, crossing your arms. “Shouldn’t he be training with a firebender?”

“It’s fine, you don’t mind, do you Zuko?” Aang didn’t wait for Zuko’s response before continuing. “Besides, how often does he get to fight waterbenders? This is good practice!”

Before either of you could reply, Aang was already bouncing away. “Thanks (Y/N/N)!”

You stood up slowly and made your way to the middle of the makeshift arena, stretching as quickly as you could. Once you were done, you faced Zuko. “Ready?”

He nodded silently, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion as he realized you didn’t have a water skin near you. Just as he opened his mouth to ask, you lunged at him. He barely had time to duck, dodging your fist but not your leg. His knee buckled under your kick and he ended up on his knees. He glanced up at you to see you smirking.

“Cute. I always thought that I’d end up on my knees for you, not the other way around,” you commented, stepping further away from him. You dropped to a defensive position as he got to his feet, his cheeks burning as he stared you down.

The two of you moved at the same time, Zuko throwing a blast of fire at you as he ran. You slid underneath it, quickly standing and aiming a kick at him. He dodged it gracefully before sending another blast at you. Just when he was about to ask why you weren’t using your bending, you reached out, focusing on the water in the air around you and forming a thin stream of water.

Zuko’s jaw dropped slightly, he had never seen a waterbender pull water out of thin air. He managed to dodge the water whip you had created and sent up a wall of fire, turning it into a wall of steam as he evaporated the whip. You didn’t stop there however and managed to turn the vapor into ice shards which you quickly dropped onto Zuko.

He rolled out of the way, sticking his leg out at the same time. He succeeded in toppling you, and you squeaked as you fell onto your back. He moved to attack and you reacted quickly, drawing water out from nearby plants and sending it at him full force. The fire he had ready was extinguished and he ended up soaked from your attack.

“Nice one (Y/N)!” you heard Sokka yell, reminding you that he was still present. You shot him a look as you stood up before turning to face a now shirtless Zuko. 

“Spirits,” you whispered, trying not to stare at him. “How is this fair? Put your shirt back on! Or don’t.”

“You’re the one who got me all wet,” Zuko replied, tossing his shirt to Sokka and walking back to the middle of the arena.

“If only it were the other way around,” you whispered jokingly, causing Sokka to cackle. You joined Zuko once more, having no time to prepare before he attacked. The fight continued on for a few more minutes, the two of you all sweaty and tired. You decided to try and attack with ice again, dodging a punch from Zuko as you accumulated water from around you.

You couldn’t hold yourself back from making another comment as Zuko pushed his hair back from his face. “You know, I can think of a few other activities that can make us equally sweaty, if you’re interested.”

Zuko stumbled at the same time you attacked, allowing some of the ice shards to nip at his skin. He hissed lightly as the cuts began to bleed, silently chastising himself for letting you distract him.

“Oh no. Zuko!” you yelped, running over to the boy. Your face showed nothing but worry as you knelt next to him, taking in his injuries. “Let me get you healed.”

Your face scrunched in concentration as you waved your hand, a globule of water forming around it. Both of you were silent as you healed his cuts, biting your lip as the guilt crawled up on you.

“Stop doing that,” Zuko said suddenly, drawing your attention to him. You looked at him confused before you noticed his gaze was on your lip. Blushing, you looked back down to his wounds. You tried to ignore his gaze as you moved your hands up to his chest, healing the wounds there. Zuko wondered if you could feel his heart racing.

“I’m really sorry Zuko,” you whispered, finally done healing his chest. You glanced up at his face, wincing when you noticed a shallow cut on his cheek. He closed his eyes as you reached up and cupped his cheek, unintentionally nuzzling his cheek into your palm. After a minute, you pulled away. “I’m done.”

Zuko opened his eyes, meeting yours and causing you to stop completely.

“It’s okay,” he whispered back, his voice raspy from speaking so lowly. “It didn’t hurt that much.”

For once you were at a loss for words, no witty or flirty comment on the tip of your tongue as you stared into Zuko’s eyes. Remembering Sokka’s earlier words, you stepped closer to Zuko. He swallowed harshly but didn’t move.

“Zuko,” you whispered, dropping your gaze down to his lips. “Can I-”

“Hey! Aang needs you, Zuko,” Sokka suddenly called out, making the two of you jump apart. You whirled around, eyes narrowed as they landed on the Water Tribe boy. Despite the smug smirk on his face, he couldn’t help but flinch at your reaction, knowing that you were going to bite his head off once the two of you were alone.

Zuko’s eyes widened and he all but sprinted into the house, only pausing when Sokka grabbed his arm. “Forgetting something?”

“Oh, r-right,” Zuko said, taking his shirt from Sokka. He glanced at you briefly one last time before running into the house.

“Sokka,” you growled, stomping over to him. “What was that for?”

“What was what?” Sokka asked innocently, walking backwards to get away from you. A wide grin spread across his face. “The real question is: what was happening between the two of you back there?”

You pushed Sokka up against the porch railing and quickly froze his hand to it. “It might’ve been a kiss if you hadn’t interrupted.”

You stormed away after that, an annoyed expression on your face as you made your way into the house. Behind you, Sokka was trying to get free. He was unsuccessful.

“(Y/N)! Don’t leave me here! I’m sorry! (Y/N)?”

~

Zuko had managed to avoid talking to you the rest of the day, even when the two of you had been paired up to fight the Melon Lord. Toph had enjoyed that a little too much.

He sat furthest away from you during dinner and went to bed immediately after, giving a mumbled goodnight to the group. Everyone turned to face you after he left, a questioning look in their eyes (well, except for Toph). You had simply glared at Sokka, who had then proceeded to explain what had happened earlier between the two of you. The group couldn’t help but laugh, only annoying you further as they teased you about it.

You had gone to bed early too.

Katara had woken you up early the next morning, panic on her face as she dragged you out into the courtyard. “Aang’s gone!”

That statement woke you up immediately, and you found yourself looking at her with a confused expression. “What do you mean gone?”

“Look,” Sokka said, pointing to the spot next to you. “He left his staff. That’s so strange.”

“Aang’s not in the house,” you heard Zuko say as he joined you all outside.

“Let’s check the beach,” you said, walking away before you finished your sentence. The six of you trekked down to the beach, perking up slightly when you noticed Aang’s footprints. You followed them all the way to the edge of the water where they suddenly disappeared. “The trail ends here.”

“So he went for a midnight swim and never came back?” Suki asked skeptically.

"Maybe he was captured,” Katara said worriedly.

“I don’t think so,” Sokka muttered, looking at the footprints. “There’s no sign of a struggle.”

“I bet he ran away,” Toph said, her voice a little dull.

“No way, he wouldn’t leave behind Appa or his glider,” you countered.

“Then what do you think happened to him, oh sleuthy one?” Toph snarked back.

“It's pretty obvious,” Sokka suddenly said. “Aang mysteriously disappears before an important battle? He's definitely on a Spirit World journey”

“But if he was, wouldn't his body still be here?” Zuko asked.

Sokka bowed his head down in slight embarrassment. “Oh yeah. Forgot about that.”

“Then he's got to be somewhere on Ember Island,” Katara said. “Let's split up and look for him.”

Your eyes widened and you immediately grabbed onto Zuko’s arm, hugging it tightly. “I’m going with Zuko!”

“W-What?” Zuko stuttered, a bright blush coating his cheeks as he tried to ignore the fact that you were hugging his arm. Everyone else stared at you knowingly.

“What?!” you asked. “Everyone else went on a life-changing field trip with Zuko. Now it's my turn.”

“Try not to make it too life-changing,” Sokka muttered as he walked past you, earning a snicker from Suki and Toph. Sokka and Suki left on Appa and Katara and Toph headed into town to see if they could find him there. You kept holding on to Zuko’s arm as the two of you walked further along the beach. It was silent for a few minutes before you finally spoke up.

“Hey pretty boy, why have you been avoiding me?”

Zuko’s eyes widened and he turned to you. “W-What did you just call me?”

“Pretty boy,” you chirped, a smile on your face as you looked up at him. “Because y’know, you’re probably the prettiest boy I’ve ever seen.”

Zuko cleared his throat and dragged his gaze away from you. His eyes didn’t leave the water as you kept walking side-by-side.

“So,” you nudged him softly, sliding one hand down his arm to intertwine your fingers with his. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

“I haven’t been avoiding you,” Zuko replied quickly, shaking you off his arm as he proceeded to walk a bit in front of you. You kept quiet as you caught up to him, biting your lip as you thought about the boy next to you.

“I thought I told you to stop doing that,” Zuko snapped, stealing a glance at you.

“Why?” you asked, releasing your lip. “Does it turn you on?”

“What?! N-No!” Zuko exclaimed. A faint trail of steam escaped his nose, letting you know that he was flustered.

“Relax, Zuko,” you chuckled. “I’m joking. Now, why have you been avoiding me?”

“We should be looking for Aang.”

“You and I both know that Aang isn’t here,” you replied, looking out at the vast ocean. “He’s probably doing some Avatar-related thing right now so why don’t you just tell me why you’ve been avoiding me.”

“I haven’t been avoiding you!”

“Yes you have! Ever since yesterday. Ever since I-” you cut yourself off, a blush appearing on your face as you thought about the almost-kiss between the two of you. Zuko swallowed nervously, also thinking about what had happened between the two of you.

“Ever since you almost kissed me,” Zuko filled in for you, his head hanging low. “That’s why I’ve been avoiding you.”

“Because you didn’t want to kiss me?” you asked, slightly upset. “You could’ve just said so, it doesn’t have to be weird.”

“Because I did want to kiss you,” Zuko replied almost immediately. The two of you came to a stop. “I’ve been avoiding you because I want to kiss you and be with you but I can’t.”

“Why?” you asked, thoroughly puzzled.

“I’ve done so many things,” Zuko whispered. “So many bad things. To Aang, to Katara, to you. I’m from the Fire Nation; I don’t deserve to be with someone like you.”

“That’s absurd,” you whispered back. “Your past doesn’t define you Zuko. You chose to make the right decision and sure, it took you a while but you realized that you were doing more harm than good. You changed, that’s what matters. You made the right choice even though you knew it could mean trouble for you and that’s why I like you.”

Zuko finally looked up at your words, his eyes full of wonder as he looked at you. A small smile appeared on his lips at your words and he found himself approaching you slowly. “Do you?”

You nodded softly.

“Zuko?” you asked quietly. “Hypothetically, if I had gotten the chance to ask if I could kiss you yesterday, what would you have said?”

“I- Hypothetically, I would’ve said yes,” Zuko whispered back. Feeling bold, you walked up to the prince and wrapped your arm around his neck.

“Do you trust me, Zuko?” you breathed, your lips inches away from his. You felt your heart speed up as his golden eyes met yours. Silently, he nodded. You wasted no time as you leaned up and pressed your lips against his. He stumbled back slightly, his back hitting the cliff that surrounded the beach as he grabbed onto your waist.

Almost immediately, he turned around, kissing you roughly and pressing you up against the wall as his body covered yours. Your hands tangled in his soft hair, your heart racing impossibly fast as you realized that you were actually kissing Zuko. You pulled away first, giving him a soft smile as you stared at him. “I take it you like me too?”

Zuko chuckled before nodding. “I do.”

He pressed another kiss to your lips, this one gentle as you enjoyed each other’s presence. The two of you were so distracted that you didn’t hear Appa land on the beach a few yards from you.

“Hey! I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure Aang isn’t in either of your mouths.”

The two of you pulled away from each other to see Sokka looking at you with a wide smirk. Suki sat behind him, giving both of you a suggestive look. Zuko helped you climb onto Appa before joining you and sitting next to you.

“Yip yip,” Sokka said before he turned to you. “So (Y/N), how was that field trip of yours?”

You turned looked at Zuko beore intertwining your hands, making him blush and earning a smile from Suki and Sokka.

“Best field trip ever.”

~

taglist!

@musicalkeys, @mywigglybaby​, @bubblebars​, @iguessthefloorislava​, @dekahg​, @boxofteenageideas​, @purifiedbottledwater, @butterflycore​

[raewritez]

Still

based on this request: I’m thirsty for a love triangle. Maybe Sokka and Zuko fighting for the reader’s affection. And she chooses ____!

warnings: one swear word right there ⬇️, aangst, simping

It fucking hurt.

Sure, Sokka knew Zuko was good now, and he knew that the two of you had history. But he couldn't have prepared himself for the ache that took place in his chest whenever you would choose to sit by Zuko around the campfire, when you would tease him in that playful tone of yours, when you would smile at him and it seemed like the sun beamed a bit brighter. It hurt because Sokka didn't get that anymore. Or maybe he did, but he was too blinded by jealousy to process the fact that you cared about both of them. In Sokka's mind, your gaze was always on Zuko, on his stupid fluffy hair and his oh-so-perfect stupid face. Your hand was always somewhere on him; on his arm, around his shoulder, on his face when you healed the cuts that resulted from your latest skirmish. He could only clench his jaw, standing and storming off to where he could be alone with his misery. He'd feel your eyes on him as he walked away, probably widened in confusion and your head probably tilted in that stupid, adorable way that made Sokka's heart melt every time. But he'd continue, not sparing you a glance. It's not like you cared, anyway.

You did care.

What was his problem? Things hadn't been this tense between you and Sokka since you first met, since he labeled you as the enemy and scoured you with his glares. But that was months ago. You weren't used to this standoffishness, not used to the way he'd turn on you and leave you in the dust. No, you were used to Sokka, your Sokka. The one that held you when you cried when the Earth Kingdom fell and Zuko sided with his sister, the one that teased you mercilessly with that lopsided grin of his, the one that raced you to the top of mulberry trees to see who could get the best fruit. The one that came to you when his mind was racing, face nuzzled into your neck as your fingers pulled his hair loose from his wolf-tail. That was your Sokka, not the stranger that walked away from you now.

Your concerned gaze was broken by a soft tap on your shoulder.

"Hey, you ok?"

You forced a smile, turning to Zuko. "I'm fine. Just tired. Your story put me to sleep."

He scoffed, bumping you and turning away to hide his grin. "Well, it's actually my Uncle's story. You can blame him."

"I'm sure I'd be more interested if Iroh was telling it," you grinned. "Maybe you're just a bad storyteller."

"I'm a great storyteller. You're just a bad listener."

"Mhm. Sure."

He let out a breathy chuckle, eyes darting to your face. Spirits, he'd missed you. This is what he'd longed for those three years; this closeness. Memories of his childhood ran through his mind - memories of playtime and friendship, of two best friends who had nothing to fear but curfews and monsters under the bed. Zuko had fought and struggled, had chosen right and chosen wrong, but all those choices had led him here. Back to you. And now, his body lit aflame by your touch and his heart skipping by the song of your laughter, he'd never been more certain of anything in his life.

He was thrilled to have you back, but it was different. Before, in the painted halls of the Firenation palace and under the maroon quilts of his mother's bed, he'd had you all to himself. Now, he had to share. It was strange, seeing you laugh so boisterously with Toph or hug Aang so closely, seeing you walk arm in arm with Katara as you went into town for groceries. He was in much better standing with the group now - he knew he was forgiven for his mistakes and was welcome to share in the friendship they so generously provided. He was overwhelmingly grateful, but he cherished the moments he spent with you. And they'd have been better, if not for the other boy in the group.

Zuko had no problem with Sokka. Quite the contrary, he admired him for his leadership and laughed at his jokes, and the time he spent with him was something he enjoyed. But he envied him. Zuko saw the way the Water Tribe boy looked at you; like you were the sun itself and had put all the stars in the sky just for him. He saw the fondness in the other boy's eyes when you spoke, saw the comfortability in his movements as he wrapped an arm around your shoulder. He had to remind himself that the two of you were close - that you'd spent months traveling together while he chased you all over the world. He'd guessed you would be close, but it seemed he'd underestimated the power of your love for your friends and this boy. Because you were brighter when he was around, eyes flickering to him as if on instinct whenever he arrived at the campsite. Your eyes grew tender and your voice soft, and Sokka's affection mirrored your own.

Your eyes locked on his, and he felt like he could drown in them forever. Your lips curved into a grin, and his worries and insecurities were washed away as quickly as they came. You stood up, offering him your hand. "Come on, let's get ready for bed."

He took it eagerly, smiling up at you in a way that made your heart warm. You reached up to ruffle his hair, skipping away and laughing at his indignant "Hey!" before he caught up to you and flicked your forehead. You swatted his hand away, glaring up at him. He only smirked before walking ahead of you.

You grabbed your bedroll, laying it out on the dusty ground. Zuko laid his close by. After putting out the fire and bidding goodnight to your friends, casting a sad look to Sokka's figure which sat idly upon the cliffside, you made your way inside and shut your eyes, Zuko not far behind.

///

Yep. Sokka was annoyed. He thought going for a walk would clear his mind, maybe preoccupy his thoughts with something other than you, but he guesses he was wrong. It was impossible when he could hear your laughter all the way from camp, no doubt directed towards the Firebender. He swallowed roughly, picking up his pace. He couldn't stand it; you and him. Sokka had no problem with Zuko. They were friends! Well, pretty much. Zuko had proved himself to be loyal, and there was no reason for him not to be trusted. He was cool - a little awkward albeit, but hey, Sokka can understand where that would come from after spending three years as an isolated, ponytail-wearing, Avatar-obsessed banished prince. He had no problem with Zuko, really. He guessed that he just...missed you.

Katara said he was jealous, something he promptly waved away, dismissing her with a wave. She'd rolled her eyes and called after him, "You can't ignore it forever, Sokka!" Ok, whatever Katara.

He was not jealous. He didn't care about the time you spent with the fire bender, or the way you seemed happier now that he was around. He didn't care that he hadn't talked to you in two days, and he definitely didn't care that your sleeping bag was sidled up cozily next to Zuko's.

"I'm so stupid," he muttered, lowering himself to the ground. He swung his legs over the cliff, feet dangling in the air. He turned his head, catching glimpse of the dying embers in the campfire, Toph's rock tent and Katara and Aang's sleeping figures, and you, asleep with your arms stretched in Zuko's direction. He held his head in his hands, sighing frustratedly. Yeah, maybe he was a little jealous. But really, why wouldn't he be? He used to sleep next to you, he was the one who made you laugh and woke you up in the middle of the night to sneak a ride on Appa. Now what? It'd been days since the two of you had a real conversation, so different from the constant chattering and jokes that had made his time saving the world so much more bearable. He missed you. So, so much. Spirits, what he would give for a day with you, the ones like you used to have. Where you would do whatever you wanted and usually end up scolded by Katara, but those were the days that made him forget the war and the reality of his unfortunate circumstances, when his heart was light and his worries quenched.

Those days meant everything to him, but he was afraid they were expendable. Because now you spent them with Zuko without so much as a glance his way. Sure, it wasn't like he was making much an effort, but still. You'd told him about Zuko; about the friend you'd lost to banishment who'd come out like his father. He'd thought you were crazy when you said with such conviction that he still had some good in him, but had comforted you nonetheless. He sat with you in his arms and told you the story of the time he got beat up by a penguin back home. He felt proud when he made you laugh.

You meant everything to him, but maybe it was different for you. He knew you loved him, although maybe not in the way he was beginning to question his own love as being, but he knew you loved him. You made sure he knew; in your smiles, in your words, in your touch. But he also knew you loved everyone else - the way you talked with his sister and softened her edges, allowing her to rest from the motherly role she put herself in and taking her under your arm instead. The way Toph latched onto you, teasing you with utter fondness and accepting your help without resistance. The absolute adoration that Aang held for you - resting his head on your shoulder and coming to you with his troubles, always searching for your guidance in his trials and relying on your strength and unwavering faith in him.

But it seemed different with Zuko. With him you were unbearably gentle, reassuring him of his value and rekindling the lost friendship of children ripped apart. It was obvious to everyone; the pure affection you held for this boy. It was obvious to Sokka, and, spirits, it stung. Because had you ever looked at him like that? Had he ever made you laugh as loudly as you did for Zuko, who was seemingly not even trying? He didn't know and it ate away at him, clawing at his chest and leaving it burning. Maybe he was in too deep now, too lost in love and bitterness to see the olive branches you offered him and the way your eyes darkened when he turned them away. It was fine. He was perfectly fine and would continue to be fine, even as Zuko's hand reached out for yours. Even as he felt you slipping away, even as he was alone. So terribly, painfully alone.

———-

part two?👀

[jasmine-iroh]

Sparring Partners

Pairing: Zuko x f!reader

WC: 2.5K

A/N: howdyyyy I’ll be honest idk what this is besides self satisfactory fluff oops. send in some requests pls, I’m bored as heck!

Never let (Y/N) and Zuko spar.

That was an unspoken rule on Team Avatar after Zuko joined the group. The group had witnessed the aftermath of their practicing one too many times; angry gatherings of flames licking at the bark of uprooted trees scattered around piles of rubble and burnt grass.

Simply put, the pair were a force of nature. That wasn’t the reason they weren’t allowed to fight, though. No, nobody really paid much mind to their destructive tendencies, as long as they weren’t too close to camp.

It was their moods after the fight was done that brought about the rule.

Zuko would slink away to his tent and brood, grumbling at anyone who ventured too close to him. (Y/N) would stay with the group, a grin stuck to her face the whole time. It wasn’t a smile that put anyone at ease, though. It was feral, the snapping teeth and predatory curl of her lips more suited to a big cat than a young girl. Even Katara, who was usually found near (Y/N)’s side, avoided sitting too close.

(Y/N) was never mean to the others, but she had a razor sharp edge to her for hours after the duel that made Aang shift nervously in his seat and Sokka focus more on being the meat guy than the sarcasm guy. Suki would stay on edge until it was finally time to split up into their individual tents. Her fighting instincts would be on alert at the scent of scorched earth coming from (Y/N), a completely different smell from the smoke from the campfire.

Zuko, of course, would be the one to start said campfire. There was a tense, almost shy set to his shoulders as the weight of wild eyes bore down on him from near Toph. Toph, incidentally, never seemed to mind the rumbling of thunder in (Y/N)’s voice after a fight with Zuko, or the way Zuko’s heart beat staggered whenever (Y/N) so much as walked past him.

Toph didn’t care if the pair sparred, as long as it would get them over their timid dance around camp. She thought it was an entertaining break in the monotony of training and hiding, and the feeling of (Y/N) earthbending with such raw emotion was as sappy as any romance story there was. It was truly hilarious to her that nobody else could connect the dots between the unbridled chaos of their fighting and their quiet moments together around a campfire.

**

It had been a few days since the last incident when Toph finally decided to ask (Y/N) what their deal was during a training session.

“So, what’s up with you and Sifu Hotman?” She asked, a slightly maniacal laugh falling past her lips when she managed to catch (Y/N) off guard and nail her in the side with a boulder. Toph had taken to using Aang’s ridiculous nickname after she realized how quickly she could get under Zuko’s skin with it. Payback for Zuko burning her feet, she had justified.

Coughing and sputtering from the blow, (Y/N) tried to deflect the question with a volley of rocks she’d been keeping suspended in the air long enough for Toph to half lose track of.

“Hey, that’s cheating!” Toph huffed indignantly, dodging the attack before shifting her feet and sending the slab of earth below (Y/N) tilting sideways.

“No, I just saw a weakness and used it,” (Y/N) laughed and leapt from her crumbling perch to position herself in the middle of the sparring area, knowing that Aang, Zuko, Suki, and Sokka were somewhere behind her. Toph wasn’t stupid, she knew (Y/N) was trying to get into a position that would make Toph go easier on her with their friends in the line of fire.

Oh (Y/N), you really think you’re clever, don’t you? Toph thought with a smirk as a plan formed in her mind, pressing her knuckles into the dirt and twisting them sharply. She felt (Y/N)’s growl before she heard it, knowing that the other girl hated when Toph locked her feet into the earth. This time, though, she kept her hold on the rock, sitting down and waiting for (Y/N) to answer her original question.

“Toph, c’mon!” (Y/N) whined, trying to free herself as Toph sat a few meters away laughing.

“Just tell me and I’ll let you go!” Toph called back, bending herself a chair from the earth with one hand while the other kept it’s grip on the rocks around (Y/N)’s ankles.

“You’re such a little jerk,” (Y/N) answered instead, looking around for something to help her. She was weak without being able to use her feet as her center, something Toph had been hounding her about forever.

“I thought best friends told each other everything,” Toph mocked as she felt the others stop fighting to watch the scene in front of them.

“Yeah, but you also told me you’d throw me off Appa because I took Momo’s seat last week,” (Y/N) replied, crossing her arms stubbornly. Toph was a stronger bender, but (Y/N) had more patience, knowing Toph could get bored or frustrated pretty quickly. That’s how they’d always been, ever since (Y/N) had been sent to live with her helpless, blind little cousin all those years ago.

“What’s going on?” Aang asked the pair, scootering over on a ball of air with a peeved looking Zuko trailing behind him.

“(Y/N)’s keeping secrets from me and acting like I won’t find out,” Toph accused, watching as Suki and Sokka joined the group. Katara, who had been assigned camp duties for the day, drew closer at the lack of fighting sounds.

“Toph,” (Y/N) warned, a sharp threat in her voice as the sound of a tree being pulled up at the roots echoed around the clearing as (Y/N) clenched her fists.

“Yes?” A challenge in her voice, her fist twisting further into the earth and sinking (Y/N) up to her waist in tightly compressed rocks.

“Enough.” Zuko stepped in between the pair, and Toph couldn’t help but notice the spike in his heart rate when (Y/N) dropped up to her shoulders in rock.

“Zuko, stay out of this. Toph’s just being a pain,” (Y/N) huffed, having a hard time breathing with the merciless press of dirt and rock around her chest.

He didn’t stay out of it of course, his heart beating faster than a bird's wings as he watched (Y/N) struggle in the ground. Toph thought the duo were nauseatingly oblivious.

She let out a frustrated growl and slammed her foot on the ground, sending Zuko sprawling flat out next to (Y/N) and encasing his hands and feet in earth.

“Fine. You can both stay here until one of you tells me, then.” Toph declared before standing and walking away from the pair. The rest of the group looked from Toph back down to their friends buried in the ground, and decided that maybe they didn’t want to end up stuck next to the pair. They walked off, promising to talk to Toph and have her fix this.

“Spirits, she’s such a little bastard,” (Y/N) mumbled, turning her head to look at Zuko. She blinked in shock, not expecting his face to be quite so close to hers. A tricky little bastard, the girl amended in her head.

“What were you two fighting about?” Zuko asked quietly, not having to speak much above a whisper with their proximity. Had his eyes always been so golden?

“She asked about what was going on between us,” (Y/N) answered, closing her eyes and turning her head away from him towards the sky. The sun pressed red kisses against her closed eyelids while the breeze played with her hair, making her feel for a moment that she was laid out next to Zuko in a spring meadow by choice instead of locked into the dirt by Toph.

“What did you tell her?” He kept his voice low, tone conspiratorial. He stared at (Y/N), the sun loving her throat and pressing kisses to her cheekbones. He thought, just for a moment, that Toph had done him a favor by locking him into this view.

A laugh, and then, “I didn’t tell her anything.”

“Why not?” He prodded, wishing (Y/N) would turn her head so he could… could what? He thought to himself, images of him wiggling closer and closing the distance between them flickering in his mind without warning. A warm blush crept up his neck at the thoughts, wishing he wasn’t so affected by their proximity.

“Because sometimes you need to let Toph think she holds all the cards so she’s a little less of a pain in the ass. And so she wouldn’t question what we really do when we spar,” (Y/N) whispered, opening her eyes and turning to face Zuko. She met his amber gaze immediately, a grin pulling at her mouth as she leaned closer to him, feeling the heat radiating off his body.

“Oh, you mean that thing where you torment me with your comments all day around camp and then try to play innocent when we’re alone?” Zuko huffed with a smile as he wormed his way closer.

“Hey, don’t get mad. I just saw a weakness and used it,” (Y/N) giggled as she leaned in towards him. Her gaze flickered briefly from Zuko’s eyes, to his lips, and then back to his eyes in a way that made him feel like the ground was falling out from under him. He leaned up to meet her halfway, falling just short of being able to seal their lips together. A soft groan from (Y/N) pulled a chuckle from Zuko’s throat, before his head flopped back down onto the packed earth.

“Such a little bastard,” he heard (Y/N) mutter a moment before her face contorted and rumbling from around them was heard.

Zuko’s hands and legs were freed from their earthen prison, letting him roll away only a second before (Y/N) rose up from her hole on a pillar of earth. She hopped down gracefully and brushed her clothes off before helping Zuko to his feet, that wild look back in her eyes.

“You couldn’t have done that earlier?” Zuko asked, brushing the dirt out of his hair.

“I can put you back, if you’d like,” (Y/N) hummed, stepping closer to him and giving him that sharp grin that sent his stomach fluttering.

“I’m fine right here, thank you,” he replied, a deep blush staining his cheeks as (Y/N) pulled him close and finally, finally, pressed her lips to his own in a slow kiss. He returned the kiss eagerly, loving the warmth of her hand cupping his jaw with gritty fingers as the other tangled in Zuko’s mop of hair.

The pillar she’d used to free herself moments before was now scraping against his back as (Y/N) traced a lazy trail of kisses along Zuko’s jaw. He let out a sound that was suspiciously close to a whimper and felt a thrill go up his spine at the glint of absolute trouble reflected in (Y/N)’s eyes when she pulled away.

“How long do you think we have until they realize we’re not stuck anymore?” She pondered, pressing delicate kisses up the side of Zuko’s throat and along the edges of his scar.

“Enough time to get a head start and cover our tracks.” His eyes moved deliberately to the forest away from camp, before flicking back to hers with a bashful quirk of his eyebrow. His breaths trembling, he tried to ignore how his nerve endings were alight with the feeling of (Y/N)’s lips on his skin.

“Very tempting, but I don’t feel like listening to Mother Katara yell at us for ‘running off and worrying the group,’” (Y/N) whispered back, pressing a kiss to Zuko’s chin before moving to pull away. His arms snaked around her waist quickly, locking her against him.

(Y/N)’s brows shot up in pleasant surprise at his actions. She had been the one to make moves from the start, more accustomed to touch that wasn’t soured by pain or anger. Zuko figured she’d like to have more physical affection from him, but the long nights spent untangling his emotions in return for a kiss were enough to keep her happy and moving at his pace. Zuko had been without a loving hand to hold for so long that he forgot how simple and sweet an embrace could be, how the pad of a thumb rubbing across bruised knuckles could soothe his aches better than any balm.

Feeling bold between the column of earth and (Y/N), Zuko leaned down to her height and pressed a gentle kiss against her lips, retreating before she could respond. The girl only grinned widely, wrapping her arms around his muscular torso. A puff of air left Zuko’s lungs as he was pulled into her strong arms, before tightening his own arms around her waist and pressing his face into the crook of her neck.

“We have to at least make Toph think nothing’s changed, or we’ll never hear the end of how she’s so right and it's everyone else who is really blind,” (Y/N) told him, pitching her voice in Toph’s bratty little sister voice she used when she won arguments.

“Let her. I’m tired of not being able to be like this whenever we want,” Zuko replied, his warm breath against the side of her neck sending a wave of goosebumps over (Y/N)’s skin. It shocked her in the most pleasant way possible to hear him say that to her, since they’d agreed to keep things quiet until he could figure out his emotions.

“Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you when she makes you wish you were hard of hearing,” (Y/N) laughed, nudging his head back up to face her. Her senses were filled with Zuko, the smell of smoke filling her nose as the heat from his body scorched a pattern into her heart. Their noses brushed once, twice; their lips a breath apart.

Before either could close the distance, Toph marched around their column of rock, almost slamming straight into them. In a breath, she was gone again, back the way she’d come.

“I knew it, I was so right! You losers are so blind!” She shouted to the others.

Her sudden appearance had shocked the pair apart, making (Y/N) quirk an eyebrow and pulling a rare grin from Zuko at the astounding accuracy of (Y/N)’s impression of Toph.

“Just remember, you brought this upon yourself,” (Y/N) laughed, turning to walk back to camp. Zuko’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, reeling her back in towards him so he could seal a lingering kiss against her mouth.

“I know, but that was worth it,” he hummed, walking alongside her back to camp, their fingers tangling together without a second thought.

[passable-talent]

i love your works! could i request a zuko x reader scenario where the reader and zuko first meet at the northern water village (reader saves zuko from drowning during that full/blood moon) and sees zuko again when he joins the gaang? they’re training and the reader heals a cut on his face and they kiss👀? thank you!

oooooo I haven’t gotten a water bending reader request yet 👀 this’ll be fun

also thank you! I’m definitely enjoying myself

When you saved Prince Zuko’s life, you’d had no idea who he was.

Okay, to clarify, you did know he was a firebender. That much was obvious, from the fact that he was under the ice of the northern water tribe, melting his way through it.

You’d been wandering down toward one of your favorite hideaways, a little platform closer to the water’s surface that doubled as a pipe’s drainage point. You’d been sitting there, legs dangling so that you feet almost touched the water, when you heard a thump behind you. You turned, and saw nothing, and so ignored it. But a moment later you heard sizzling, and turned to see red-hot hands pressed up against the thick ice.

At that moment, it didn’t matter that he was a firebender. It mattered that he was trapped under the ice.

You shot to your feet and skidded to your knees over top of him, just as you watched his hands detach from the surface of the ice. He’d lost his air- and was sinking downward.

Immediately you split the ice open and used water bending to create a current upwards, spitting out enough of his torso that you could drag him from the water. He was lucky, and hadn’t yet taken a lungful of water, and so when you dropped him on his back he took a big, gasping breath.

“Are you okay?” You asked him, concern in your eyes for a moment before you asked something else. “What in Tui’s name were you doing under the ice?” You demanded, honest concern for the safety of this clearly insanely brave individual in your tone. But he looked up at you with a cold expression, and you sat back with a sigh as realization clutched your heart.

He was a firebender. The city was under siege. There were likely soldiers like him everywhere, crawling in like elephant rats through any holes they could find.

“Oh. Right.” You looked over his shoulder and with a hand motion, resealed the hole you’d pulled him from. He made no attempt to move, and made a few puffs of flame to try to warm up.

“You don’t look like a soldier,” you told him, and his fire began to turn from the cooler red flame to the hotter orange.

“I’m not,” he answered, which soothed your fears a slight bit. The night was eerily silent, but the movement of the water at the mouth of the pipe echoed through its length and past the two of you. There was an odd sense of peace- a firebender and a water bender, at a truce, within a pipe. His nation was laying siege to your capital city, but you wouldn’t hold that against him. Forgiveness, and unconditional love. That’s what you loved about your people, and you would let it guide you. You wouldn’t let someone drown- not even a fire bender.

You only hoped that you wouldn’t discover that he killed Princess Yue or something, you decided, as you watched him sneak off into the streets of the city. But you had faith in him. After all, he could’ve killed you.

When three months later you were a part of Team Avatar, you still hadn’t known that the boy you saved was indeed Prince Zuko. You’d joined Team Avatar late, only for the eclipse invasion, and so had only heard tales of the angry banished prince who caused so much harm. The two were definitely not the same person, it hadn’t ever even occurred to you that they could be.

So when Zuko turned up at the Western Air Temple, your first response was unbridled joy.

“It’s you!” You’d shouted before he could say a word, and rushed forward to hug him even as he stood stalk still in surprise. You turned back to Aang with a huge smile, relieved with this turn of events.

“Guys, this is perfect! He’s a firebender, but he’s good. I met him back at the Northern Water tribe, on the day of the lunar eclipse. He’s good, he’s-“ you turned to Zuko, a sheepish look of embarrassment on your face.

“I’m sorry, I never knew your name,” you said, before Katara spoke from behind you.

“That’s Zuko,” she spat, and your shoulders dropped. “Y/N, step away from him. I don’t know what you know, but he’s not what you think.”

You found it easier to accept him then a lot of the gang did. You had only ever seen the good side of him, and even though you’d heard of the bad, you just remembered that shivering teenager you’d rescued and the honest thankfulness in his eyes when he saw you.

You saw the relief on his face every time you sent him a smile, because you wanted him to know that you were supportive of his change of heart. He began to gravitate toward you, knowing that conversation with you wouldn’t feel awkward or forced.

You’d seen the good in him, and now you were sure of it.

When he wasn’t training Aang, he’d gotten into the habit of sparring with you. Hand to hand combat, without bending, had been a focus of yours ever since the lunar eclipse back at the North Pole, and even moreso after the Day of Black Sun. Both eclipses made you realize that it was easier than you expected for a bender to lose their ability, and illustrated just how much your fighting relied on your bending.

So the two of you started sparring together. You’d learned how to convert some of your waterbending into close quarter combat, and he began to do the same with his firebending. It made you better fighters, benders, and made you a better team.

Sometimes, though, it got a little rough.

On the beach in front of the Fire Lord’s vacation home on Ember Island, you both stood with bare feet in the sand. He’d taken off his shirt, and you any layer you could spare, as the physical activity warmed you both up. The sun was setting, turning the sea all sorts of blood red, and Katara was in the process of making up dinner, which was why the two of you were free to do this. You were both standing with your fists up, tense and ready for the other to make the first move.

As soon as you did, he ducked his torso out of the way and attempted to jut his fist into your sternum, which you caught with your wrist and shoved it downward. Your opposite hand made use of the opening left by his fist and you tried to get a jab into his chest, but he blocked it out to the side, opening up your torso for a kick that thrusted you backward. You stumbled but got your balanace, giving him a soft, playful snarl before rushing back toward him with a flurry of hand movements that he skillfully blocked. You grew frustrated and, without thinking, slashed with your left hand, palm up and open, away from your chest. It sent water up and to his face, centralized into a small enough stream that it gave him a shallow cut along his left cheek.

The sparring match stopped dead as you covered your mouth with your hands.

“Oh spirits I’m so sorry,” you said, one hand gently reaching out to cup his face. “I’m going to heal it, it’ll be fine, you won’t even notice. I’m so sorry.” With a light laugh he wrapped his hands around your wrist, his eyes locked on to you.

“It’s fine, I’m okay,” he said, and yet still you felt horrible.

“I didn’t mean to, I swear,” you said, your right hand drawing water from the ocean and quickly you purified it by letting the salt fall out. Your left hand pulled from his cheek for just long enough to cover it in water, and slowly you pressed your hand back onto the cut. You didn’t quite touch his skin, but let the water soak onto his face, and though you focused on making the water glow with healing, you vaguely noticed that he’d closed his eyes, and let out a small puff of air.

The water’s glow faded, and you lifted your hand to check that the cut was gone. Once you’d confirmed it was, you took your right hand to discard the water, leaving your left hand still cupping his cheek.

“I’m sorry,” you said again, this time whispering. The waves crashed on the shoreline, but he’d heard you. His eyes opened slowly and your breath caught, for a moment astounded by the gold that shimmered behind his eyelids.

You told your whimpering heart that he hadn’t been this pretty when you first met him.

His left hand slowly detached from your wrist and reached out toward you, first tucking back a strand of your hair that had fallen into your face, then letting it fall to the back of your neck. From there, he slowly brought you in, as though giving you time to pull away.

You wouldn’t.

As much as you wanted to keep your eyes open, to watch him, for as long as you could, instantly you’d closed your eyes and let him guide you into his lips. He was warm, beyond the warmth of exercise, and you realized you’d heard somewhere that firebenders were naturally warmer just as waterbenders were naturally cooler. Zuko was exceptionally warm- you felt almost as though you could fall asleep with his arms around you the way they were, the comfort of his heat and his contact soaking into your bones.

And his lips. Though they were chapped, they still managed to feel so soft, and he tilted his head in just the right way so that the two of you fit together, perfectly.

“Hey, Y/N, Zuko, Katara’s got-“ Sokka, who had appeared over the hills, stopped dead in the middle of his scentence to turn around and walk back to the house. “Dinner,” he called over his shoulder, giggling a bit, and as you pulled from Zuko’s lips with a smile you could already imagine the kind of comments the two of you would get during the meal.

With a single look to Zuko’s face, his expression soft and caring, you decided you didn’t mind.

-🦌 Roe

[that-was-anticlimactic]

time stops, though you don’t take a breath (renga)

aka boiling rock but renga written for @capt-snoozles alta / sk8 au

word count: 1,940

~

There was nothing quite like the feeling of Reki’s hair tickling his chin. His hair was so soft and had enough poof for Langa to bury his face in it.

“Langa,” Reki giggled, turning his head so he could look at his boyfriend. “You’re gonna mess it up!”

A soft whine escaped his throat as Reki turned, causing Langa’s chin to slip. “Mmm,” he grumbled, squeezing his arms tighter around Reki’s middle.

Reki sighed and shifted back to where he was before, allowing Langa access to replant his face in the ginger’s hair. “There you go, you big baby.”

Normally, Langa’s cheeks would’ve turned a bright shade of red at the comment, but he just couldn’t bring himself to care right now. It hadn’t even been a day since the group escaped Boiling Rock, and Langa was determined not to let Reki out of his sight for awhile.

The impromptu trip to the prison was to free Hakoda, Cherry, Joe, and Shadow. To be honest, Langa had not been prepared to find Reki or Suki there too. He thought that Boiling Rock was for high security prisoners like supposed war criminals and people who committed treason. He didn’t think the Fire Nation would send two kids there.

Langa could still feel the pang in his chest and the breath of air rushing in his lungs when Sokka had cried Suki’s name. He could still remember the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins when he looked over the balcony and saw not only Suki sitting on a bench, but also Reki.

Reki did something to him that nothing else could. Reki made him feel strong and whole and like anything was possible.

That was probably why, in the heat of the moment, Langa had attempted to jump off the building and into the courtyard.

Yeah, he could also still feel the pressure of Zuko’s arms wrapping around his chest and forcing him back onto the balcony and Sokka’s calloused palm when he slapped a hand over Langa’s mouth to prevent him from screaming Reki’s name and blowing their cover.

Suddenly, their plans had changed. There were two more people they needed to rescue because Langa was not going to leave Reki behind. Not again.

“What’re you thinking about?”

The glorious, heavenly sound of Reki’s voice drew him back to the present and Langa blinked. “You,” he answered truthfully.

Reki blushed, his cheeks turning nearly the same shade of his hair, and Langa hid a soft smile behind one of his curls. “Langa!” Reki pouted.

Spirits, Langa missed him.

“I was, though,” Langa said. “I missed you.”

At that, Reki smiled, the blush (unfortunately) fading. “I missed you too,” he replied softly.

There was nothing like the warmth that filled Langa’s body when he reunited with Reki to escape. They hadn’t been able to tell the redhead their plan in advance due to his echolalia, so Langa still hadn’t been able to hear his voice or hold him or tell him how much he loved him. They had to rely on Suki to relay the message shortly before the escape.

Langa had wanted to abandon the cooler—let Sokka and Zuko roll it down—the instant he saw Reki. And he almost did. It was only Zuko’s quiet “Don’t you dare” through gritted teeth that prevented him from doing so.

Then they were on the ground and Reki was there. He was just a few feet away.

So, Langa opened his arms and Reki came running—

Nothing compared to holding Reki—nothing except perhaps being held by Reki.

The second that Reki had made it to him, the second their arms were around each other, Langa had lifted him up, twirling him around. Reki’s mouth was pressed against the nape of Langa’s neck, so only he could hear his boyfriend’s laughter. Despite how muffled it was, it still filled the night in Langa’s ears.

Reki instinctively wrapped his legs around Langa’s waist the second his feet were off the ground, and Langa didn’t put him down for awhile, even after he stopped spinning. He didn’t want to let go.

Normally, he wouldn’t be able to hold Reki in the air this long—he didn’t have the strongest upper body—but this was Reki and it had been months since they last saw each other. It helped that he firmly planted his feet into the ground once he stopped spinning, and he thanked the Spirits for giving him incredible leg strength.

It also helped that Reki felt a lot lighter than usual, but that wasn’t good.

Langa shuddered at the memory of realizing that Reki was much easier to lift, and when his gaze flickered to Suki (who was having a whispered conversation with Zuko and Sokka), he noticed that she looked thinner than normal too.

And oh, how his blood boiled.

No, he hadn’t put Reki down until after they decided to stay and see if Hakoda, Cherry, Joe, and Shadow were arriving with the next batch of prisoners., despite Reki’s protests and Chit Sang’s complaints that they were disgusting (and they were used to it—they’d heard it all from Miya).

That was when he’d seen the dark bruise coloring Reki’s stomach. He saw it for the briefest of moments when Reki had lifted his arms to stretch after being put down, but they didn’t have time for that now.

“You okay?”

Again, it was Reki who grounded him, it always was. His voice was the gravity that pulled him back to the present and held him there.

“I was…” Langa trailed off, licking his lips. “I was so worried about you.” And then it all came rushing back—finding out that Reki was gone, that the Kyoshi Warriors that came to help were Azula and her friends, the pure rage that filled his body and consumed his mind when Azula said Reki’s name during the battle of Black Sun. Langa suddenly felt like crying all over again. “You were… you were there one day and then you were gone. Reki, I couldn’t—I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re amazing, Reki, you’re the most important thing in my life.”

Reki’s face softened and he squirmed until one of his arms escaped Langa’s hold, lifting it up and placing it gently on Langa’s cheek. “Hey, I’m okay,” he assured. Although it was a moment of comfort, something to help him calm down, all Langa could see was his bare wrist.

“Wait. Where are your friendship bracelets?”

Reki shifted uncomfortably. “They took them. We weren’t allowed to have anything with us when we got there so…”

Langa scrunched his nose. “But… your wrists. You need them or you scratch and hurt yourself.”

At that, Reki scoffed lightly. “I know you care about my tics, but the Fire Nation doesn’t. It’s not a big deal.”

But it was a big deal. When Langa squinted, he could see red marks on Reki’s wrist. He could seen faint lines where his nails had dug into his skin. It wasn’t fair; Reki didn’t deserve that.

“Hey, Shadow?” Langa called, raising his voice so the man in question would hear it from across the room (everyone could see that the two boys needed some personal time together so they gave them some space, but Joe, Cherry, and Shadow were still a bit on edge and didn’t want to let them out of their sight).

Shadow looked up from his own hushed conversation with Cherry and Joe. “What’s up? Are you okay?”

“We’re fi—“ Reki began, but Langa wouldn’t allow that.

“They took Reki’s friendship bracelets,” he explained, frowning. “Can you make him more?”

The older waterbender’s face shifted from confusion to understanding, and he sent the two boys a small smile. “Of course. Joe, you feel up to making some more charms?”

Joe cracked his knuckles, wiggling his fingers. “You bet I am!”

“And you’ll actually make them good this time?” Cherry said casually, twisting a strand of hair.

The comment made Joe’s eye twitch, and suddenly Shadow was stuck trying to break the two up again. Langa couldn’t tell whether they were trying to strangle each other or if they were making out, but either way, he did not envy Shadow.

Reki chuckled at the scene. “I missed them.” He tilted his head enough to look into Langa’s eyes, and blinked thrice. “You didn’t need to do that, you know.”

“Maybe. But I wanted to,” Langa said seriously (and Reki’s face flushed again—Spirits, it was the cutest thing). “You’re hurt. They hurt you.”

“They just took some string. It—“

“But they’re important to you and they help you so you don’t scratch yourself! And when you lifted your arms the other day I saw…” Langa swallowed, taking deep breaths because he couldn’t cry right now. “I saw a bruise. I don’t know how many more there are—there’ve been. You’re too thin, you and Suki both. They hurt you, Reki.”

Reki faltered for the briefest of seconds, his lips trembling. “I… a lot has happened the last couple months,” he said eventually. “But I’m fine, okay? I’m fine.”

And since Langa knows Reki, he knows what I’m fine actually means and he doesn’t believe it for one second. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not. I’m fine now that I’m here with you,” Reki said, and oh, how Langa’s heart melted.

“But what about—“

“I’ll be okay,” Reki interrupted, his eyes wide and swimming with something that Langa couldn’t quite discern. “You’re here, right?”

Langa nodded perhaps a little too aggressively. “Mhm. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I know.” Reki clicked his tongue and his neck twitched. “We’re gonna get through this together, okay? All of this.”

“Okay,” Langa agreed, pressing a kiss to the top of Reki’s head. He paused and then said: “Are you hungry?”

There was a moment’s silence as Reki’s face twisted and he muttered the words under his breath a couple times. “Not really,” he eventually said, giving Langa an apologetic look.

That wouldn’t do. Reki needed to eat… but Langa wouldn’t force it. Not right now, at least. Everything’s happened so fast eating might be too much for him. Langa could still feel the adrenaline pumping in his chest (it hadn’t gone away. it had been there from the second they were running onto the gondola and a firebender had directed a burst of flames Reki’s way, from the moment Langa had shoved Reki behind him and drew water from the boiling lake below and doused the bender in it…) and he was sure Reki still felt it too (he could still see the way Reki’s chest had heaved when Ty Lee was about to hit Langa with her chi blocking—Reki hadn’t hesitated, he pushed himself between the two and blocked her fist).

“Okay. Are you thirsty?”

For a second, Langa was sure Reki was going to say “no”, to which he would’ve had to protest because who knows how much water the Fire Nation had given them while they were imprisoned. Luckily, though, after a moment’s thought, Reki nodded.

“Okay.”

Langa couldn’t help the wide grin that overcome him, and he (reluctantly) unwrapped a hand from around Reki’s waist and wiggled his fingers, popping the flask at his side open and bending the water inside so it floated to Reki’s face.

Reki rolled his eyes, playfully nudging Langa, but opened his mouth anyways, allowing Langa to direct the water inside.

“Thank you,” Reki murmured once Langa had bent the rest of the water back in the flask and made sure it was shut, snuggling closer to his boyfriend. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

[milf-harrington]

parents!au, meet-cute, bakoda? <3!!

Idk if this is what you had in mind but this is what came out of my brain <3

“Sokka, can you take Katara and go pick out a cereal? I’ll meet you guys somewhere down there.” Hakoda gestured down to the other end of the store as he tucked a packet of rice in next to the bread, smiling gratefully when Sokka grabbed his little sister's hand and headed down towards the fresh produce section.

Pulling the colour-coded list his son had carefully written and then folded out of his pocket, Hakoda couldn’t stop the fond smile that slipped onto his face at the terribly drawn fruit in the corners.

According to the grocery-list-turned-art-project, he had to pick up dish detergent and fabric softener next.

He was still squinting at the different brands of cleaning supplies when Sokka suddenly appeared at the end of the aisle, looking frazzled and breathless and like he might cry when he finally spotted his dad.

“Dad! Dad I swear I didn’t mean to- she was right next to me but then we ran into Zuko and you know what I’m like when he’s around- but I swear I was holding her hand and she was bugging me about wanting fruit loops and then she just wasn’t holding my hand and me and Zuko didn’t see- I’m so sorry I swear it was an accident-” Sokka rambled, waving his hands around and tugging at his fingers the way he always did when he was scared, eyes wide and glassy.

“Wait, wait. Say that again, please.” Hakoda asked hurriedly, alarmed and confused, abandoning his search for dish soap. Sokka took a deep breath and steeled his features, something Hakoda wished he’d never had to learn how to do, before reattempting.

“I can’t find Katara.”

Hakoda felt a mounting panic in his chest, a parent's worst nightmare coming true right there in the middle of a grocery store, when there was an excited shout of “There they are!” and a sudden relief flooded through him, knee-weakening in it’s intensity.

Katara was bouncing down the cleaning aisle from the other end, in one piece and smiling brightly, a colourful box of Fruit Loops hugged to her chest. With a relieved gasp of her name, Sokka shoved past his dad and ran to her, scooping her up in her arms and holding her tightly despite her confused and loud protests at being manhandled.

The man who’d been holding her hand until that point looked relieved, a small smile on his face as he watched the scene, before he seemed to remember something and looked up, punching the air out of Hakoda's lungs.

His eyes were lined in eyeliner that sharpened into a wing, cheekbones high and the lightest hints of stubble across his jaw.

Hakoda's knees were weak for a different reason now, as the man stepped towards him.

"Hey, I found her wandering through the produce section and she told me she was looking for her dad and her brother- I'm guessing that's you?"

Oh fuck off, even his voice was nice.

"Yeah, I'm Hakoda." He introduced, holding out a hand and valiantly pretending to ignore Sokka's sudden teasing grin over Katara's head. "Thank you for finding her so fast, I didn't even learn that she was missing until just then."

"Bato," the man - Bato - returned the handshake. "And it's no problem really, she was very polite and very stern about not falling for any puppy-in-the-van tricks."

Oh Katara, reminding him more and more of her mother every day.

"I really appreciate it, I think my son just about had a panic attack." He looked over to his kids at that, once again relieved to see that Sokka had stopped pulling at his fingers and instead seemed to be alternating between pulling faces at his dad and telling Katara off for wandering away.

After a moment, he realised he was still holding Bato's hand and released it quickly, embarrassment heating his face as he scratched the back of his neck. Bato smiled down at his feet.

"You should come to dinner with us." Sokka spoke up suddenly. "As a thank you for finding Katara."

Hakoda choked on his inhale and Bato looked at Sokka in surprise. "I wouldn't want to intrude- and it was the right thing to do anyway-"

"You wouldn't be intruding." Hakoda interrupted, feeling like a hopeful idiot as Bato turned back to him. "I mean, we really do want to thank you, and food is what we're best at."

It was quiet for a moment, while Sokka and Katara giggled at each other and shot pointed looks between their dad and Bato, until something in Bato seemed to relax and he smiled again.

"I'd love to join you for dinner."

[babypandawrites]

Allies, Pt. 2

Jet

Pairing: Sokka x F Reader  Warnings: Injury  Word Count: 5,386 Summary: In your travels with Team Avatar you meet Jet. You do not like Jet. 

-Navigation- | -Allies Masterlist- | -Atla Masterlist- 

After a while of travelling, Y/n, Aang, Katara and Sokka found themselves resting in a clearing, alongside Appa. Y/n sat on the ground, leaning against one of Appa’s legs. While the others gave a short explanation as to why they wanted her to join their group, she still didn’t completely understand. It felt like there was something else that none of them wanted to bring up. But what other reason could there be exactly? It made perfect sense they’d want her survival knowledge if they were travelling the world and having to be outside a lot, there shouldn’t be a different reason.  It wasn’t often her instincts were wrong, but it didn’t make sense for them to be right on this.  Aang stood up from where he sat, looking around. “Where’s Momo?”  A yowl from the lemur echoed through the forest.  They all started to look around, trying to tell where it came from.  “That way.” She pointed to the trees in front of her. “I think.”  Nodding, Aang ran off in the direction, Katara, Sokka and Y/n close behind. It didn’t take long for them to get to another clearing, Momo had been caught in a snare.  “Hang on Momo!”  Aang used his airbending to leap between the trees, and reach up to where Momo was trapped. After a few short moments, Aang, Katara and Sokka had gotten Momo down and out of the snare. The animal was quick to go at a handful of nuts on the ground, seeming to forget that he’d just gotten trapped, from what she could guess was something similar. Groaning, Sokka hit a hand to his forehead.  Breathing out a quiet laugh, Y/n reached down and snagged the nuts from the ground. Momo jumped up onto her shoulder and took them from her palm to eat. She patted the lemurs head, watching as the other three freed some Hog Monkey’s from another snare. “Let’s be a little more careful, alright Momo?” He chittered quickly, before going back to his nuts.  Sokka approached one of the traps, and kneeled down to examine it. “These are Fire Nation traps- you can tell from the metalwork. We’d better pack up camp, and get moving.”  They went back to their little camp, and started to pack their things up on Appa.  “Ah-ah… no flying this time.”  “What?” The three paused, looking at Sokka with question.  “Why wouldn’t we fly?”  “Think about it. Somehow Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation keep finding us. It’s because they spot Appa- he’s just too noticeable.”  Katara was about to say something, but Y/n stopped her before she could. “Woah woah woah. Wait. You guys are being chased by Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation?”  Aang, Katara and Sokka looked between each other. Katara glared at her brother. “Did you not tell her?” “I thought Aang was going to tell her!” “Wait, Katara I thought you were going to tell her.”  Sighing, she rested her forehead in her hands. “That would have been nice to know before I agreed to help… Okay it’s fine. I’ve had run-ins with the Fire Nation before, this is fine. I think Sokka is right, if you’re running from the Fire Nation, it’ll be pretty easy to be found when you’re riding Appa. He is pretty noticeable.”  “He’s not that noticeable!”  “Thank you Y/n- Yes he is! He’s a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head- it’s kinda hard to miss him!”  Appa turned his head to look at Sokka, and groaned at him. From where he sat, Aang patted his head. “Sokka’s just jealous ‘cause he doesn’t have an arrow.”  “Listen, I know you two want to fly, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe this time and walk.”  Katara crossed her arms over her chest. “Who made you the boss?” Sokka raised an eyebrow at her. “I’m not the boss- I’m the leader.” “You’re the leader? But your voice still cracks!” “I’m the oldest and I’m a warrior.” Pausing, he tried to speak in a deeper tone. “So… I’m the leader.”  Y/n scoffed. “What kind of warrior gets scared by an arrow?”  “A warrior that doesn’t want to die?!” “I thought warriors weren’t supposed to fear death?”  “You know what-”  Getting between the two, Katara shot glances to both of them. “If anyone’s the leader, it’s Aang. I mean, he is the Avatar.” “Are you kidding- He’s just a goofy kid!”  The three looked over to Aang, who was dangling upside down from Appa’s horn. The bison looked unimpressed. “He’s right.”  Groaning, Katara rolled her eyes. “Why do boys always think someone has to be the leader? I bet you wouldn’t be so bossy if you kissed a girl.”  The girl's comment caused Y/n to break into laughter, receiving a glare from Sokka.  “I-I’ve kissed a girl- you...you just haven’t met her.”  “That sounds like something a person who’s never kissed a girl would say.”  “You stay out of this! I bet you’ve never even kissed a boy before!” She looked at him with a blank expression. “I’ve lived in the forest by myself since I was ten, I have an excuse.”  “Sounds like a poor excuse to me-” Once again Katara had to reinsert herself into the conversation. “Who Sokka? Gran-gran? I’ve met Gran-gran?”  “No- Besides Gran-gran! Look, my instincts tell me we have a better chance of slipping through on foot and a leader has to trust his instincts.”  “Okay, we’ll try it your way Oh Wise Leader.”  Aang stepped over to the group, wearing a backpack. Momo sat on top of it. “Who knows- walking might be fun.” 

The group trudged through the forest. Sokka was in the lead, Y/n not too far behind him. Aang and Momo, then Katara and Appa followed behind them.  “Walking stinks! How do people go anywhere without a flying bison?”  “Usually by walking…” Her comment was ignored.  “I don't know Aang. Why don’t you ask Sokka’s instincts- They seem to know everything.”  “Haha. Very funny.”  “It was kind of funny-” “I thought you were on my side?!”  “Hey! I just agreed that Appa was noticeable, I never agreed to force everyone to walk when they didn’t want to. Anyways, my instincts say that your instincts are wrong. This was a terrible idea.”  “Oh yeah because I’m sure your instincts know what they’re talking about.” “You know, they’ve never been wrong actually so-”  Aang groaned. “I’m tired of carrying this pack.” “You know who you should ask to carry it for a while? Sokka’s Instincts!”  “That’s a great idea Katara! Hey, Sokka’s Instincts, would you mind-” “Okay okay! I get it. Look guys, I’m tired too. But the important thing it that-” He pushed a branch to the side, looking back at Aang and Katara. “-we’re safe from the-” “Fire Nation..” “Yes! Thank you, Y/n.” “No, Sokka. Look.”  Sokka turned to look back in front of him, expression dropping at the Fire Nation camp that sat in the clearing in front of them. Most of the soldiers were seated on logs at the opposite side of the camp, bowls in hand.  “RUN!” The soldiers leaped up from the logs from Sokka’s exclamation, swords in hand. One of the soldiers launches a fire at them, it misses them, but sets the bushes behind them on fire.  “We’re cut off!”  “Sokka, your shirt!” Looking at his shirt, Sokka yells in panic at seeing that it got caught on fire. While Katara used her bending to put out the fire, Y/n got her bow ready. The four stood with their backs together once they had been surrounded by fire and soldiers. “If you let us pass, we promise not to hurt you.” Katara whispered to her brother quietly. “What are you doing?” “Bluffing?” The one eyed caption smirked. “You? Promise not to hurt us?” Y/n aimed an arrow at his good eye. “Yeah. I suggest if you want to keep that eye you call off your men.”  This time it was Sokka who whispered. “What are you doing?!” “Not bluffing.”  A quiet zip then a thud sounded. A surprised expression took over the captains face for a moment, before he groaned and doubled over. His men lowered their swords some.  Aang glanced at Sokka. “Nice work, Sokka! How’d you do that?” “Uh… instinct?” “Look!” Katara pointed up above them. A figure stood on the massive branch of a nearby tree. The person dropped something, and drew two blades from the middle of their back. They stepped back off the branch, but instead of falling, they used the blades to catch onto the branch, allowing the person to sling themself in the direction of the camp. Thet kicking over two of the soldiers furthest from the group, landing with a foot on each of their backs.  Now that the person was closer, Y/n could tell they were a young man, who looked to be around her and Sokka’s age.  The boy rushed forward, sword in each hand, hooking the ends of the curved blade on two soldiers' legs making them fall backwards. “Down you go.”  Y/n was about to run into the fight, but was stopped by Katara grabbing onto her arm. Lowering her bow, she shot a glare at the girl, but stayed. Katara looked pleased at the help, Aang was in awe, while both Sokka and Y/n weren’t very happy about it.  The boy had fought off two more of the soldiers, one of the soldiers who’d managed to land on his feet looked up. “They’re in the trees!”  A small boy dropped down from above, and landing on the soldiers shoulder he spun his helmet around blinding him. He staggered, while the boy on his shoulder laughed. Before the last three soldiers could react, several arrows shot down at them, disarming each of the soldiers without hurting them.  After a few minutes, the group joined the battle.  “Finally..” Y/n mumbled, running at one of the soldiers. He swung his sword at her, but she was quick to duck out of the way, and swipe her leg under his feet knocking him down. She kicked the sword out of his hand, and used it to block an attack from a soldier who approached her from the side. Before she could get an attack on him, the boy from before ran by, knocking him down with his curved sword.  She glared at the boy. “I had him.”  “My bad.” He shrugged with a smirk before rushing back off into the battle.  A grump Sokka walked over, leaning an arm on Y/n’s shoulder. “He did it to you too?”  “Yeah.” 

After a bit more fighting, and a bit more aggravation on Sokka and Y/n’s end, they gathered back together. Aang looked at the boy in awe. “You just took out a whole army almost single-handed!”  Sokka scoffed. “Army? Pfft. There were only, like, twenty guys.”  Next to him, Y/n crossed her arms over her chest. “I could have done that…”  The boy seemed to ignore them. “My name is Jet, and these are my Freedom Fighters. Sneers, Longshot, Smellerbee, The Duke, and Pipsqueak.”  Aang approached The Duke and Pipsqueak. “Pipsqueak- that’s a funny name.”  The larger of the two bent down to Aang’s level. “You think my name is funny?”  Despite being nervous, Aang plastered a smile on his face. “It’s hilarious.”  After a short moment, the three of them ended up in laughter. 

The Freedom Fighters had started to raid the camp. Jet leaned up against a trunk, Katara approached him. Y/n was sitting on the ground, close enough to hear their conversation.  “Um… thanks for saving us Jet. We were lucky you were there.”  Y/n rolled her eyes. Again, she could have taken care of those guys. Wouldn’t be the first time after all.  “I should be thanking you. We were waiting to ambush those soldiers all morning- we just needed the right distraction. And then you guys stumbled in.” “We were relying on instincts.” “You’ll get yourself killed doing that.”  Y/n scoffed, causing the two of them to turn to her. She pushed herself off the ground.  “Following wrong instincts will get you killed. Not the right ones.”  Katara gave her a look, but didn’t say anything as she walked away. Sulking, she moved to sit next to Sokka. He leaned close to her ear.  “Please tell me you don’t like these guys either.” “Not one bit.”  “Glad to know I’m not the only one…” 

They’d ended up following Jet to the Freedom Fighters hideout. After a little while he stopped. “We’re here.” “Where… there’s nothing here!”  Jet held out a rope with a loop at the end to Sokka. “Hold this.”  “Why… What's this do?” The loop was put around his wrist, without warning he got pulled up by his arm. “Woah!” It didn’t take long for him to disappear among the branches above.  Jet offered a similar rope to Aang and Momo. “Aang?” “I’ll get up on my own.”  Momo launched himself from Aang’s shoulder, the boy following with an airbending move. Jet then offered the rope to Y/n with a smile.  “Here, Y/n.”  She snatched the rope from him with a glare, using one hand to hold onto the loop she used the other to keep a good grip on her bow. Not too long after she got up to the tree house, Jet and Katara appeared. It did not take an expert to realize Katara was having a teen girl crush on this kid. Yikes.  Taking a look around she had to admit, it was a nice treehouse. The craftsmen ship on it was amazing.  Aang and Momo fly over to the landing area. “Nice place you got!”  Looking around, Katara nodded in agreement. “It’s beautiful up here!” “It’s beautiful… and more importantly the Fire Nation can’t find us.”  Smellerbee landed near them. “They would love to find you. Wouldn’t they Jet?” “It’s not gonna happen, Smellerbee.”  The group walked along a bridge, sans Aang and Momo, who were zip lining around the tree house. Katara looked at Jet with raised eyebrows. “Why does the fire nation want to find you?” “I guess you could say I’ve been causing them a little trouble. See, they took over a nearby Earth Kingdom town a few years back.”  Jet and Katara had been leading the group, Pipsqueak behind them. “We’ve been ambushin’ their troops, cutting off their supply lines, and doing anything we can to mess with ‘em.”  Behind Pipsqueak, Sokka tried to see over the large boy, hopping to get a peek over his shoulders. He wasn’t doing very well. Y/n didn’t have as much interest in trying to see past him as Sokka did. Jet started to talk again.  “One day, we’ll drive the Fire Nation out of here for good and free that town.”  “That’s so brave.”  Grabbing onto Y/n’s wrist to pull her with him, Sokka managed to push past Pipsqueak and get behind Jet and his sister. “Yeah, nothing braver than a guy in a treehouse.” Y/n laughed at Sokka’s sarcasm.  “Don’t pay any attention to my brother or Y/n.” “No problem. They probably had a rough day.”  “So, you all live up here?” Sokka sulked and slinked back at being ignored, Y/n resting a comforting hand on his shoulder.  “That’s right. Longshot over there? His town got burned down by the Fire Nation. And we found The Duke trying to steal our food. I don’t think he ever really had a home.” “What about you?”  Jet stopped, and aside from Katara the rest of the group moved on. 

Later that day, they all gathered at a banquet table. While everyone ate, Jet stood up and climbed up onto the table.  “Today, we struck another blow against Fire Nation swine.”  The fellow Freedom Fighters cheered, Aang and Katara watched with smiles, Sokka and Y/n watched grumpily.  “I got a special joy from the look on one soldier’s face, when The Duke dropped down on his helmet and rode him like a wild hog monkey.”  A helmet-less Duke stood up and joined Jet on the table. Amid the cheers, he took a victory walk around a fish platter.  “Now, the Fire Nation thinks they don’t have to worry about a couple kids hiding in the trees.” He paused, taking a drink from his wooden cup. “Maybe they’re right.”  The Freedom Fighters booed.  “Or maybe… they are dead wrong.”  This time they cheered.  Jet hopped off the table, and took a seat on the platform between Katara and Sokka. Katara turned to look at him.  “Hey Jet, nice speech.”  “Thanks. By the way, I was really impressed with you and Aang. That was some great bending I saw out there today.” He paused, turning to look past Sokka, and at Y/n who sat on the other side of him. “And your fighting was really good too, Y/n. You definitely have a good mark of intimidation on you.”  She didn’t say anything in response.  “Well, they’re great. Y/n is a great survivalist and Aang’s the Avatar. I could use some more training.” Katara blushed softly, when Jet turned his attention back to her and Aang. “Avatar huh? Very nice.” “Thanks Jet.”  “So I might know a way that you and Aang could help in our struggle.” Sokka stood up from his spot. “Unfortunately we have to leave tonight.”  “I have to agree.” Y/n said, standing up herself.  “Sokka, Y/n, you’re kidding me! I need you two on an important mission tomorrow.”  Stopping, Sokka turned around to look at Jet. “What mission?”  “Seriously Sokka…?” Y/n face palmed. 

Somehow, Y/n had been convinced to come along with Sokka and Jet. She really didn’t like it, but would rather not leave Sokka alone with that guy. Something about him rubs her the wrong way. The three of them were perched up high in the trees. Jet cupped his hands together and made a bird call whistle. Several trees down Pipsqueak and Smellerbee step into view from their branches. There is a reply call back.  Sokka rammed his jawbone knife into the trunk of the tree, gaining a skeptical look from Jet.  “What are you doing?” “Shh… it amplifies vibrations.”  He looked impressed. “Good trick.”  Cupping his hand around the pommel bone, Sokka put his ear to it. “Nothing yet.” He lowered his voice. “Wait! Yes, someone’s approaching.”  At his words, Y/n prepared her bow.  “How many?” “I think there’s just one.”  Jet whistled. “Good work, Sokka. Ready your weapon.” He looked at Y/n with a smile. “You get prepared fast, huh?”  She simply offered a nod to him.  “Wait! False alarm… he’s just an old man.”  Despite Sokka’s words, Jet still stood. Extending his hook swords, he leaped down to the ground. As she lowered her bow, the two watched in horror.  “What are you doing in our woods, you leech.” “Please sir, I’m just a traveler.”  Jet stepped closer to the old man, swiping his sword at his cane. It flew to the side, as the old man backed away. He tried to flee, but ran face first into Pipsqueak’s chest, the force of the impact knocking him to the ground. “Do you like destroying towns? Do you like destroying families? Do you?!” The poor man looked horrified. “Oh… please.. Let me go… Have mercy..”  “Does the Fire Nation let people go?! Does the Fire Nation have mercy?!” Jet got ready to kick the man, but Sokka snagged his foot with his club to stop him. Y/n jumped down from the tree, landing in between Jet and the old man.  “Jet, he’s just an old man!” “He’s Fire Nation! Search him!”  Pipsqueak grabs onto the man and holds him up, Smellerbee steps up.  “But he’s not hurting anyone!” “Have you forgotten that the Fire Nation killed your mother? Remember why you fight?” “The Fire Nation killed my parents too, Jet! That doesn’t mean you get to go around harassing everyone who’s from there! This man has travelled through my forest before, he’s not a danger to anyone! You aren’t supposed to fight to hurt others, but to protect those you care about! This is pointless. ”  “This is protecting the people we care about!”  “We’ve got his stuff Jet.” Smellerbee holds up the satchel the old man had.  “This doesn’t feel right.”  “It’s not right.” “It’s what has to be done, now let’s get outta here.”  Jet pushed past Sokka, as Smellerbee and Pipsqueak pushed past Y/n. The two looked at each other, before looking at the old man.  “Come on you two!” Y/n ignored Jet, as she helped the man up, giving him his cane. Sokka waited for her to be finished, before they ran back to the others. 

Aang leaped off the zip lines and onto the platform. “Sokka! Y/n! Look what The Duke gave me!”  He wore a satchel, and pulling a small pellet from it he tossed it at the platform next to Momo. It exploded with a pop, Momo puffed up like a startled cat. He growled, before lunging for the satchel. Momo crawled up onto Aang’s shoulder, and tossed pellets at his feet.  “Ow! Quit it!”  Sokka sat oblivious to his friend, sitting with his back to one of the tree trunks, he looked up at the platform above him. Y/n sat next to him, her head resting on her knees. Katara approached the two.  “Hey Sokka. Is Jet back?” “Yeah- he’s back. But we’re leaving.”  Aang looked at him with confusion. “What?”  “But I made him this hat.” Katara pulled a cap made of stitched leaves and flowers from behind her back.  Y/n lifted her head to look at them. “Jet’s a thug.”  “What? No, he’s not.”  “Your boyfriend is messed up Katara.”   “He’s not messed up, he’s just got a different way of life- A really fun way of life.” “He beat and robbed a harmless old man!” “I wanna hear Jet’s side of the story.” 

“Sokka, Y/n- You told them what happened but you didn’t mention that the guy was Fire Nation?”  The four of them and Jet were in a lantern-lit hut. Jet was sitting on a hammock bed, the others standing. Sokka and Y/n stood as far away as they could. Aang had donned the hat Katara wore.  “No, they conveniently left that part out.”  “Fine! But even if he was Fire Nation, he was a harmless civilian.” “He was an assassin, Sokka.”  Jet pulled out a knife and thrust it into a nearby block of wood. The blade was curved, and four spikes evenly spaced along the grip with enough space for singers to go between them. There was a ring on the butt of the knife.  “See? There’s a compartment for poison in the knife.” He pulled on the ring, and removed a small glass tube filled with red liquid. “He was sent to eliminate me- you two helped save my life.” “I knew there was an explanation.” “I didn’t see any knife!” “That’s because he was concealing it.” “See, Sokka? I’m sure you just didn’t notice the knife.”  Arms crossed over her chest, Y/n glared at Jet.  “Sokka didn’t notice it, because it wasn’t there. He’s lying!”  “Yeah, there was no knife! I’m going back to the hut and packing my things.”  Turning around, Sokka left the hut. Y/n was close behind him. 

When Aang and Katara entered the hut they had been staying in, Sokka and Y/n were both getting their things together.  “We can’t leave now with the Fire Nation about to burn down a forest!”  “I’m sorry Katara. Jet’s very smooth, but we can’t trust him.”  “Sokka’s right, there’s something seriously wrong with that guy.” “You know what I think? You two are just jealous that he’s a better warrior-” Katara paused, looking at Sokka. “And you’re jealous he’s a better leader!”  “Katara, I’m not jealous of Jet. It’s just that my instinct-” “Well my instincts tell me we need to stay here a little longer and help Jet.” “That’s great Katara! But my instincts agree with Sokka’s, and they’ve never been wrong before.”  “Come on, Aang.” Katara left the hut.  Aang looked between the two. “Sorry Sokka, Y/n.” He followed her out. 

That night inside the group's hut, Katara and Aang slept on their bedrolls, while Sokka slept propped up against his still packed stuff. Y/n found herself awake. “Let’s go.”  She reached over, and shook Sokka awake. He stirred awake, looking at her confused. “Wh-”  She brought a finger to her lips to shush him, and nodded outside. On the ground below them, the Freedom Fighters were quietly pushing a loaded wagon as Jet led them out of the camp. Sokka and Y/n stealthily followed them.  They emerged from the forest, onto a bare cliff that stood above a dam. Jet goes to the edge of the cliff and looks down at the dam, before turning back to the wagon.  “Now listen, you are not to blow the dam until I give the signal. If the reservoir isn’t full, the Fire Nation troops could survive.” The Duke jumps off the wagon. “But what about the people in the town, won’t they get wiped out too?” Jet placed a hand on his shoulder. “Look Duke, that’s the price of ridding this area of the Fire Nation.” He turned to Longshot. “Now, don’t blow the dam until I give the signal- got it?” Longshot nodded.  Sokka and Y/n watched them incredulously from the bushes. Rustling could be heard. Before they could react, Pipsqueak grabbed them by their hair, dragging them out from the bush. Smellerbee had a knife to each of their throat’s in seconds. “Where do you think you’re going?”  Jet watched as the two were dragged out. Pipsqueak kept his grip on their hair.  “Sokka, Y/n. I’m glad you decided to join us.”  The two were pushed onto their knees. Sokka rubbed his shoulder. “We heard your plan to destroy the Earth Kingdom town.”  “Our plan is to rid the valley of the Fire Nation.”  Y/n glared at him.” There are people living there, Jet. Mothers and fathers and children.”  “We can’t win without making some sacrifices.”  “An entire town isn’t some sacrifices!”  Sokka pointed an accusatory finger at Jet. “You lied to Aang and Katara about the forest fire!”  “Because they don’t understand the demands of war, not like we do.”  “I do understand. Understand that there’s nothing you won’t do to get what you want.”  “I was hoping you’d have an open mind, Sokka, but I can see you’ve made your choice.” Jet looked at Y/n, as Pipsqueak and Smellerbee grabbed Sokka. “You understand where I’m coming from, don’t you Y/n? I mean we’re basically one in the same, parents killed by the Fire Nation, living in the forest with no one but who we run into. You get it, right?”  Gulping, she glanced between him and Sokka. “Yeah, I do get it.”  As Sokka’s expression fell, Jet offered a smile. “I get that you’re just as ruthless and horrible as the Nation you hate so much.” She was quick to flip backwards onto her hands, kicking Jet in the chin as she flipped into a landing.  Jet stumbled back, as she jumped up to grab onto a branch and pull herself into the trees. “We can't have them warning Katara and Aang! Get her!”   Longshot offered a silent nod, pulling himself up into the trees. Jet looked at Pipsqueak and Smellerbee. “Take him for a walk. A long walk.”  “You’re not gonna get away with this Jet! Y/n is going to get to Katara and Aang!” “No, she won’t. But cheer up Sokka. We’re gonna win a great victory against the Fire Nation today.” 

Y/n was quick to jump between the branches of the trees, behind her she could hear someone following. Jumping across a long gap between trees, she was barely able to grab the branch. Before she could pull herself up, an arrow zipped through the air, stabbing through her right hand and pinning it to the branch. She shouted in pain. Using her teeth, she bit down on the arrow and pulled it from the wood in the tree. She didn’t have time to try and get it out of her hand, so she opted to break off the end with her teeth so not as much was sticking out. As she was pulling herself up onto the branch, another one lodged into her ankle. Not having time to deal with this one, she just left it there for now.  Gritting her teeth, she did her best to keep jumping through the trees. With the two arrows in her it was hard to move around, and it made her slower. Longshot was catching up to her. When he jumped onto the same branch as her, Y/n jumped down to the ground, hitting it with a roll. The arrow sticking out of her leg hit the ground awkwardly, making her yelp in pain, but at least some of it broke off. She groaned in pain, but forced herself up.  “Y/n!”  Turning around, she saw Sokka running at her, Smellerbee and Pipsqueak hot on his tail. Longshot jumped down to the ground, landing right as Sokka passed him. Running past Y/n, he grabbed onto her wrist and started to drag her along with him.  The two of them jumped over a pile of leaves, while their three chasers did not. Smellerbee, Pipsqueak and Longshot all ended up getting caught in a snare, hanging several feet in the air.  The two stopped, turning to look up at the snared trio.  “While you two are up there you might want to practice your knot-work.” Sokka held up the bindings they had been using for him as he spoke. Y/n laughed quietly at his words, following him as he turned and walked away.  “You have a plan, Sokka?”  “Yeah-” His expression twisted to concern when he looked at her. She was limping a bit. Were those broken arrows sticking out of her hand and leg..? “You’re hurt.”  “I’ll be alright.”  Wordlessly, he grabbed onto her arm, and pulled it around his shoulders, wrapping his other arm around her waist to help her walk. She breathed out a quiet sigh of relief. “Thanks.” “No problem. C’mon we need to get to Appa. I don’t think we’ll be able to stop Jet, so we’ll just need to warn the town.”  They’d been quick to find Appa, and ride out to the town. Y/n had stayed up on Appa while Sokka warned the town. When they doubted him, the old man from before vouched that he was telling the truth. The town was completely evacuated, a few minutes before the dam was blown and water flooded it. They flew up to the cliff Aang, Katara and Jet were at.  “Sokka and Y/n didn’t make it in time.”  “All those people… Jet! You monster !” “This was a victory, Katara. Remember that. The Fire Nation is gone and this valley will be safe.” “It will be safe, without you.”  Their entrance really didn’t need to be so dramatic, but she was sure that Sokka would disagree if she brought it up. Katara and Aang looked at them with relief. “Sokka! Y/n!”  “We warned the villagers of your plan, just in time.”  “What!” “At first they didn’t believe me. The Fire Nation soldiers assumed I was a spy. But one man vouched for me- The old man you attacked. He urged them to trust me, and we got everyone out in time.”  Jet glared at them. “You fools! We could’ve freed this valley!” Scoffing, Y/n rolled her eyes. “Who would be free? Everyone would be dead.”  “You traitors!”  “No, Jet. You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people.” Jet looked over to Katara. “Katara. Please, help me.”  “Goodbye Jet.”  After Katara and Aang climbed up onto Appa, Sokka flicked the reigns. “Yip yip.”  “We thought you guys were going to the dam. How come you went to the town instead?” Katara leaned forward on her elbows, looking at her brother. “Let me guess- Your instincts told you.” “Hey! Sometimes they’re right.” “Um… Sokka? You know we’re going the wrong way right?” Y/n let out a laugh.  “...And sometimes they’re wrong.”

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Fourteen

Sokkla Saturday: Pregnancy

Summary: Azula, a decade after the war, loses her memories and thinks that she is 14 again.

So this is something of a preview or demo for something that could be a long fic. Usually for these things I do a first chapter preview but this would probably be a scene that would go somewhere in the middle of a long fic. But with some modification so that there's enough context for it to be understandable.  

Panic, there is only a potent sense of panic. “Prove it.” They have pulled her from the rubble, from a death that they had almost caused her. They tell her that she ought to be grateful that they saved her--a feat that wouldn’t have been necessary if not for their own folly. And they have the audacity to continuously pester her with all of these ludicrous claims

“Prove it?” Sokka furrows his brows. “It’s pretty obvious! First of all, haven’t you noticed that everyone is treating you differently? We don’t hate you anymore, we put up with your complaining and your insults. Do you think that we’d do that if we hadn’t made amends over time?”

“We didn’t make amends over time. You struck me down in combat and now you feel guilty over it.” She touches her fingers to her forehead, feeling the raised line of a scar. “You almost killed me and you’re trying to…”

“We didn’t almost kill you.” Zuko cuts in. “Father escaped and his followers…”

“Father…”

“Your dad was in prison.” Sokka cuts back in. “Ba Sing Se is Earth Kingdom territory again. The wall is fully repaired. It’s becoming more common to see earth and waterbenders in the Fire Nation capital. How do you explain that?” He doesn’t leave her room to answer. You don’t even look the same. I mean you do but...you look different.” 

Azula folds her arms across her chest--a gesture brings a queasiness to her swollen tummy. She is almost certain that the protrusion is more pronounced, and that is without the mirror’s input. 

“Go on, look at yourself.” He gestures to said mirror as though it will provide her with the indisputable proof that he needs her to see. And maybe it will. Maybe that is why her feet remain rooted exactly where they are planted. 

She had gotten a glimpse of herself a few times already since coming home and she has been avoiding mirrors since. They distort her reflection, provide her with a sense of unfamiliarity. She doesn’t want to see it again, doesn’t want to look at the girl who is not quite her. 

The girl with the longer hair and the small collection of scars. The girl with more defined cheekbones and a taller build. The girl with the round belly.

  Sokka guides her to the mirror anyhow.

He can guide her all he pleases but she doesn’t have to open her eyes. 

She doesn’t actually have to see. 

She hears him exhale audibly. He and Zuko both. She can sense that they are getting frustrated, perhaps fully angry. She shouldn’t care, she doesn’t want to. What does it matter if they are angry with her? They had never gotten along…

And yet they have only been treating her kindly since carrying her away from the battlefield. Treating her with more care than they ought to. The sort of care and attention that is extended to friends and lovers rather than the sort that is afforded only from an all life is sacred outlook. 

She shakes her head. 

It simply can’t be. 

It can’t be because she can’t return their affections. And she doesn’t have another ten years to relearn what she had supposedly figured out. Doesn’t have another ten years to waste repairing damage that she had already fixed. 

She opens her eyes to see Sokka shaking his own head. 

“You know what, fine!” Zuko throws his hands down and stomps his foot as petulantly as ever. “If she doesn’t want to see it, let her deal with this alone. We tried to help, I already dealt with this once, I’m not doing it again.”

Her heart sinks. Alone…

“I don’t want to be alone.” She says quietly. 

Perhaps they are her enemies, all of them. But their company, admittedly, isn’t so terrible. In fact, sometimes it is rather nice. Even if she can’t bring herself to receive it kindly, she doesn’t want to let it go. 

“Really? Because we’ve been trying to play nice with you…” Zuko begins before rubbing his hands over his face. “You’ve been doing a good job of pushing everyone away.” 

“Of course she has, Zuko.” Aang says from the doorway. 

“The last thing that she remembers is fighting all of us at the Air Temple and then she wakes up here.” Katara adds.

“She’s scared, Zuko, even if she won’t admit it.”

Azula swallows hard, her heart sinking further. To have one of her strongest rivals read her that well…

She swallows harder still; but what if he isn’t her enemy at all. Somehow that thought is more terrifying. How far had she fallen to have opted to form a friendship with the Avatar...with Zuzu?

Zuko’s face softens. 

.oOo.

“If you don’t want to be alone and afraid, let us help you.” Sokka offers quietly. He feels like he is speaking to fourteen year old Azula again. He supposes that, in a way, that is exactly what he is doing. Starting all over again from scratch. 

And it is far more than a little frustrating. 

To have everything he has built with her, all of the trust that they’ve established, everything wither away into nothing at all. To see her revert so fully back into the hurt and confused girl she had grown away from.

To see love dissipate more or less fully, right before him. 

He misses when she’d let him hold her. Misses reminiscing about old times and how much of a relief it is to have moved on from that. He misses when he could kiss her and caress her. When he could tell her how much he loves her. 

“We need to get you your memories back.” He continues. “The good ones. The happy ones. Don’t you want to be happy?” 

Azula’s lower lip quivers. 

Just like it had the first time he’d offered to help her heal and find happiness. 

Aang is right; she is afraid again. Afraid of the truth and afraid of the very prospect of possibly being happy. 

“Please just look in the mirror.” Raava, he doesn’t know why he is so fixated on the mirror! Maybe he thinks that it will rouse a memory, that she will study her face and remember how she got the scars on her cheek and the ones on her shoulder. 

That she will study her body and remember getting the boomerang wielding dragon tattoo. 

She shakes her head. “I don’t want to do that, Sokka.” 

“Why not?” He asks almost desperately. 

“I...I just don’t like it alright.” 

It is anything but alright. He wishes that he hadn’t become so accustomed to picking up on even the slightest trembles in her voice. “I just want my Azula back.” He whispers so quietly that he is surprised she had heard it at all. But she very clearly has, her whole body goes rigid. 

“What are you talking about?”

He shakes his head. “Azula, it’s been ten years. Whether you like it or not, it has been. And you’re...we’re married.” 

She shakes her head vigorously. He can sense that her horror is reaching a peak. He takes her hand and squeezes it. “Look at me, Azula! I have a full beard. I couldn’t have grown this in only a few months! Look at Aang! Raava’s tendrils, if Toph was here you’d know that it’s been ten years!” He takes a deep breath. “And we got really close in those ten years.” 

“No.” She mumbles. “No. I’m the princess of the Fire Nation. You’re just some uncultured Water Tribe peasant. I wouldn’t…”

“But you did.” He gives her a sad smile. “I miss being able to love you. I just want my Azula back.” 

“We’re not together. We never were.” She insists through gritted teeth. “I’ve never had a love and I don’t want one.”

“If you never had a lover then how did you get pregnant?” Zuko asks. 

.oOo.

Azula cringes quite visibly. “I can’t be pregnant, I’m only fourteen.” She holds her hand against her belly; but that would only make sense wouldn’t it. 

Zuko shakes his head. “You’re twenty-four, Azula. Your twenty-fifth birthday is in a few days.”  

“I’m not twenty-four and I’m not pregnant.” She insists. It sounds petulant even to her own ears. It sounds childish to boot. It sounds like a lie. It sounds like a lie because deep down she knew it from the start.

“Then how do you explain that?” Sokka gestures to her swollen belly. 

She swallows “quite simply.” She clears her throat. “The royal feasts are very good.” Her cheeks color ever so delicately.

Sokka laughs, one of his full body, head thrown back, cackles. And she finds that her face is growing increasingly more flushed. He wipes a tear from his eye and slings an arm over her shoulder. “You’re really good at this denial thing.” 

“It’s not denial I…”

“It is, I think that even you know that, you just don’t want to know that you know.” Sokka quirks a brow. 

Azula cups her hands over her ears, gripping at her hairline so hard that it stings. “Shut up!” And yet she squeezes tighter still as though it could block out the thoughts and what if’s that he has put into her head. 

Seriousness returns to his face, “no, you need to…”

Katara raises a hand. “That’s enough, Sokka. We already gave her a lot to process today.” She turns to Azula, “let’s go lay down for a while.” 

Yes. Yes that would be well. To lay down and think about things. To have some quiet time, some alone time. For the first time that day, she complies. She lets Katara lead her to her room. Perhaps she will put her head to the pillow and when she wakes, things will be right again. 

It isn’t as though she hasn’t thought the very same thing over and over since waking the first time.