#zutara month 2017

[the-badger-mole]

Matchmaker

I don't have a ton to say about this one. This was my sole contribution to Zutara Month 2017. The prompt was, obviously, Matchmaker. I remember originally wanting to make Katara and Zuko the target of matchmaking efforts- probably by Iroh- but then I thought about how meddlesome Katara could be, and I thought this idea was cuter. This is the first ever appearance of my OC, Lieutenant Xei. His second appearance was in my other story The Harbinger Bloom. I really like the idea of Toph ending up with someone more straightlaced than she is. I have some loose plans to flesh out Xei a bit, and expand on their relationship, but nothing concrete yet.

Read the story here

[iolaussharpe-24]

“Nah, he's the opposite for me. Top 3 worst obsessions. Only behind Tom Hiddleston and Adam Driver because there's HISTORY behind those.” Oh hell nah, what did he do?

Okay, let's get into a little bit of lore.

(This is just a sliver of everything. There's more.)

It was 2017. Both Thor Ragnarok and Kong: Skull Island were coming out and I saw the trailers to both back to back.

The realization hit me like a sledgehammer flung out of a catapult. I was excited, more than anything else, to see what happened to Loki after Thor: The Dark World. I didn't like Loki prior to that, at least, I didn't think I did. He didn't fit the mold of what I liked in a character. I tended to lean more towards the heroes. On the surface, at least.

So I stepped back and reevaluated everything I liked in movies and shows. I realized that I did lean towards villains more than I ever actually noticed. I also discovered that I love to draw and write around this time.

My first story was a hundred and fifty page Loki fanfiction that makes me cringe more than I would by sucking five lemons but you gotta start somewhere. And I didn't stop there. I was writing Loki stuff all the time. I was drawing him. Talking about him. Dreaming about him.

Then it branched out to Tom Hiddleston in anything and everything.

There were a few other obsessions along the way, Zuko, Dante Basco, Harry Potter, Sirius Black, Gary Oldman, Dracula, Remus Lupin, werewolves, Hannibal, etc., etc., but the Loki/Tom Hiddleston thing lasted YEARS until I developed a thing for Sebastian Stan instead. And that time felt longer than it actually was. It felt like an ETERNITY of my life was dedicated to him.

Breezing past a couple more hang ups, we reach the Adam Driver period. That was the next BIG one. That was the second atomic bomb. And it was by accident.

I was slowly being influenced by a number of funny things involving him that happened during lockdown (the John Oliver clips, and the Instagram lookalike) and I decided to add him to a PowerPoint I was making to brainwash people into liking the people I like. I didn't have much of a reason other than I like Star Wars and Kylo Ren was easily my favorite part of the last trilogy. (By the way, he still is. I've been a Reylo since the beginning because it gave me Zutara vibes and I ship that too.)

I went looking for a clip of him singing to put in the PowerPoint. I was gonna use the SNL Aladdin skit he was in, but I found "Stepping Back in Time" from the Annette soundtrack. The next thing I know, I have half the soundtrack downloaded and all my Sebastian Stan wallpaper and icons have been replaced by Adam Driver. It was that fast. And suddenly he's known throughout my family as "the new Loki".

Similar to how Tom Hiddleston pushed me to discover my love for writing, fanfiction, and villains, Adam Driver pushed me even further with it. I had started writing an original fiction story inspired by Sebastian Stan, but I had more ideas with Adam Driver as my muse. A lot more. That had the creativity flowing like crazy and I loved every minute of it.

Then I started having the dreams. Really weird dreams. Like that time I dreamt about Adam Driver being one of the aliens from Species and chasing me. Not even a male Species alien like Patrick. He looked like Sil and Eve with full tentacle nips and hair and it was terrifying. And I've talked about the Kylo Ren to insane asylum dream that made me legit worry about my mental health before.

I cut off all Adam Driver related anything for a month. And that's when I found Miguel O'Hara and he led me to Oscar Isaac.

Now there's a new "new Loki."

[iminaworldofpureimagination]

Since I was the anon I'll answer here. I was a zutara /selfzuko shipper in i guess 2008/2011 17-20s zuko fan and only interacted with my sib/youtube vids i didnt hate kataang/maiko I was annoyed with what the cliffhanger of what happened to ursa more than kataang being canon I think between 2017- 2018 i ventured into the atla tags and use to believe those zutara was robbed conspiracies. though i thought people got to harsh towards mai . rewatched prob in 2020 and it was super obvious to me at 30 that kataang was always going to bee canon since episode one. I did still ship zutara but i wasn't in denial that it was meant to be. joining the atla tumblr fandom was quite a .. unpleasant ride of angry zutara shippers who yelled at me whenever i defended mai/aang. Finding aang was a rapist soured me on zutara for months. I still see people throwing a dumb conspiracy about zutara beeing robbed i which gives off strong trump is meant to be pres vibes. they'll prob bee mad at at that comparison but they're the ones making up bullshit claims what ive seen is kataang shippers have annoyance towards zuko more than downright hate so i can navigate it.. there are takes i dont agree wih regarding zutara being a colonizer ship because zuko didnt colonieze thee water tribe. theres a stronger case for jin/zuko being a conloinzier ship but its fiction so i dont care. I dont caree at all about ships being healthy which is the why this fandom is very.. frustrating for me in general . some kataangs get a bit annoying with insisitng kataang is the only good ship. i ship azulaang/zukaang/kataang only one is healthy but i dont care its just what i enjoy. aang befriending azula is amazing to me . fandom would be way more fun if shipping wasn't some moral contest in general

I still ship zutara but the fanbase is just insane and disgusting to want to interact with outside of fanart

i'm really sorry :( i have friends who are zutara shippers, who also love aang and/or kataang. the fanbase has really soured their perceptions of zutara.

actually, if we're going to be truthful, when i was younger i was a multishipper. i circulated between having kataang, maiko, and yes, even zutara at one point in my life as my fave ships. when i finally watched atla for its entirety as an adult in 2020 (as a child i was obsessed with it, but i was only able to watch whatever episodes were airing on cable), kataang became my favourite ship. however, i only grew a stanch dislike for zutara after interacting and witnessing how terrible the fandom was, especially towards people who enjoyed characters like aang and mai or - god forbid - liked the canon ships.

every time i see a batshit take about aang, i can't help but think that not all zutara shippers have to agree with this perception, right? like where is it that they draw the line?

also maybe you can discuss the validity of this statement: as a zutara shipper do you find that it is easier to navigate kataang spaces while being a zuko fan, but it is harder to navigate zutara spaces while being an aang fan?

[zutara-ao3-feed]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Katara/Zuko (Avatar) Characters: Katara (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Aang (Avatar) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Painted Lady & Blue Spirit Series: Part 2 of Zutara Month 2017 Summary:

When being the silently dutiful girlfriend of the Avatar starts to chafe, Katara takes up the mantle of the Painted Lady once more and finds herself in the process.

[doodleladi]

Day 30 - Assassin

au zutara assassin duo with a hit list to bring down Ozai’s rule from the inside?? I certainly think so. 

also scariest fucking assassins ever oh my jesus.

@zutaramonth

[beanaroony]

Zutara Month - Lunar Eclipse

Zuko’s having dreams about what could/should be again...

[sweetprettygeek]

“With the whole world crumbling, we pick this time to fall in love.”

“Yeah. It’s pretty bad timing.”

[addictofreading]

Ohmygosh! It’s finally Zutara Month!! All my entries I made are in black and white manga format, partly because I need the practice for the comic I’m working on and partly because I had big aspirations for a ZK Month project that didn’t come to full fruition due to time constraints. What I have was a ton of fun to work and on, though. :D And I get to share a whole month of seeing new awesome Zutara creations!!! @___@

[thal-art]

Here, have some 20 something zutara!

(I don’t know if it follows any of the prompts but I wanted to participate this year lol)

[reii-ichi]

ZUTARA Month 2017

Day 4: enemies to lovers

[teenytraveler]

It’s december and I need to study hard and then I see that there is a Zutara month in DECEMBER??? WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME

oh   n o

[akaiikowrites]

they call you refugee pt. 4

Summary: “You are mine. Maybe I didn’t choose you then, but I choose you now. That changes everything.” Zuko goes into exile with a scar, a mission, and a wife. [Canon Divergence AU]

Notes: for @zutaramonth​ 2017, day twenty-two, regrets. one | two | three what’s this? hints of plot? as always, y’all’s responses humble me.

Sometimes—when he rolls her beneath him on their bed and kisses her slow, when she helps him bathe after a hard day of training, when they get so close it feels like she inhales and he exhales—it seems everything has changed. Most times it feels like nothing has. It’s that, more than anything, that makes him understand.

“Our marriage was always real,” he whispers against her throat. Nudging her fluttering pulse point with his nose, he listens to her gasp, feels her arch beneath him. “We made it real.”

Laughing breathlessly, she lifts her hands to his hair and runs her fingers through the short black strands. “You’re being sweet tonight,” she says. There’s a melting quality to her voice. Soft, like the honey Uncle puts in his tea sometimes. Everything about her centers him. Anchors him.

Zuko lets his head rest on her shoulder with a sigh. She keeps petting him and he drifts on the rhythm of her caresses. Tangled up in each other, sleep comes easy, and nightmares don’t find them.

Uncle sips from a cup of jasmine tea and watches as Zuko’s fire races over the deck in curling waves. “Very good, Zuko,” he calls. “Allow the fire to surge through you—yes, good!”

Solidifying his stance, Zuko sends another whip crack of fire at Kion. The other man is one of the few soldiers on the ship who is both young enough and strong enough to give him a proper challenge. Outside of the shadow of his sister, he’s mastered everything thrown at him with single minded efficiency.

Now the bout finishes as Kion raises a hand in defeat. Zuko drops his stance and reaches up to scrub a hand through his sweaty hair. Summer near the Earth Kingdom is just as humid as the Fire Nation. Worse, half the time. After exchanging the customary bows, Kion retreats for water and Zuko goes to Uncle for corrections.

“You are getting better at drawing your fire from the breath,” Uncle comments. “Have you been practicing?”

Candles had nearly scorched the ceiling last night as Katara pushed him down during meditation. She’d straddled his hips and grinned at him. Leaned down until her breath whispered against his own and said, kiss me. If his breath control was getting better it had nothing to do with meditation practice and everything to do with kissing Katara until they were both breathless.

“Yes,” Zuko says.

“Hmm.” Uncle eyes him in a way that means conversations Zuko would rather not have. “Katara still has not moved from your room.”

“No.”

And she wouldn’t be. The first night, after the giddy revelation of kissing, they’d stood by the bed not quite looking at each other. Finally Katara had admitted her back hurt and she wanted Zuko to use his heat to ease it. They’d curled together, his hands rubbing gentle circles at the small of her back, until they’d both drifted off. It had been no more or less than every night before.

“You are both...very young...” Uncle says. Diplomatically. “Allowances were made for the circumstances but now that you are both of age, rumors will spread.” They had already spread. Now they would simply grow teeth. It would require another year or so before everyone knew they were old enough to have consummated the marriage. But time was running out.

Setting his jaw, Zuko looked at his only remaining blood kin. “I am not the Crown Prince anymore,” he says. “Unless I find an Avatar who has been missing for a hundred years.” My mission is impossible, he thinks but does not say, I will never be Fire Lord.

When he is in Katara’s arms, he doesn’t know that he wants to be Fire Lord anymore.

Maybe Uncle hears his thoughts. “The Fire Nation will need you, Zuko. Your people will need you.” Some note of urgency carries through and makes the hair at the back of Zuko’s neck stand on end.

A sick feeling curls in his gut. “No,” he says. “No. Katara is my wife.” Before Uncle can say anything he pushes to his feet and gestures for another round. Three firebenders this time, masked and coordinated, and he beats them all. If the world will not stop trying to take Katara away, then Zuko will be stronger than the world to keep her by his side.

Their next port of call is a colony in the Earth Kingdom.

Pulling Katara away from her waterbending practice, he takes her hand in his and urges her into the market. The last few days she’s been quiet. Not quite sullen.  All he wants is to see her smile.

But everything he does seems to make her quieter. Placing his hand at the small of her back leads to her tugging away to look at some fruit. Teasing her about the fruit leads to her frowning and moving away to a stand with little glass necklaces that she’d never bother wearing. Zuko lets it go, even as his heart twists up inside his chest.

Instinct is strong though. When they pause to watch circus performers, he wraps his arms around her waist and puts his chin in her shoulder. Casually intimate the way they’ve been almost since the beginning. Only this time she goes stiff and tries to pull away.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

Katara half turns in his arms, puts a hand to his chest like she’s not sure whether or not she wants to push him away. So he doesn’t let her go. Feels her fingers tangle in his shirt and that feels a victory.

“Not here,” she whispers.

The walk to the shop takes forever but at least she lets him hold her hand. Closing the door to their bedroom behind him, he crowds her toward the bed, until they can curl together like they always do. Pushing back the dark curls of her hair, he rubs his thumb along one sharp cheekbone. “What’s wrong?”

Katara leans into his touch while her eyes close. “I’m not a Fire Nation noble woman,” she says. There’s a terrible strength in her voice. It reminds him of that day in his father’s throne room. “And one day, you’re going to go back to the Fire Nation and you can’t take me with you.”

Growling, Zuko rolls atop her like he can hold her with him. “No,” he says. “We’re married. You chose me, Katara.”

“But you didn’t choose me,” she says. She blinks up at him and there it is. The crack in her queen’s composure. Just the slightest tremble to her lower lip before she stills it.

Agni, he doesn’t know how to tell her that she’s everything. Instead he takes her hand and presses it to his scar. After all these years she’s still the only one allowed to. Blue eyes meet his. Wide and watchful in the flickering candlelight. “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he admits. Too quiet. Dragging the words out raw and offering them to her. “Maybe I go back to the Fire Nation. Maybe I spend my life in exile. I don’t know. But I choose you. I’ll fight to choose you.”

Zuko’s heart stutters in his chest when he sees the first smile in days. It lights up her eyes. “We fight together,” she says. Lets him feel the weight of those words settling over him. Then she tilts her head and says impishly, “Maybe I should start taking half the Agni Kais for you.”

During a break in firebending practice, Zuko feels slender arms slide around his shoulders. The scent of rain and girl fills his lungs. “Katara,” he says. Before he can ask why she’s come to this part of the ship, she presses a kiss to the edge of his scar.

“Uncle Iroh,” she says. Across the low table, Iroh blinks at them in bemusement. “I want to learn all the things you’ve been teaching Zuko. Diplomacy. Geography. History. You should add etiquette.” Now Zuko’s blinking too. “We can draw up a plan this afternoon.” Another kiss to Zuko’s scar and she’s gone.

They sit in silence for a few long moments. Finally Uncle chuckles and shakes his head. “I know when I am beaten. What a queen she will make.” Looking to Zuko, he adds, “I am glad you have had Katara. I am gladder you will continue to have her.”

In the end, Uncle’s blessing has never been necessary. Zuko is happy to have it anyway. And Katara, when he tells her the story later that night, is fiercely proud.

[zukobender]

this was for zutara month day 20 — first kiss, but i got carried away and made it into a christmas edition. i just started doing digital art so yeah it's a little messy but hope you guys like it!

[artofjen]

“How would you like to help me put Azula in her place?”

“It would be my pleasure.”

[doodleladi]

Day 20 - First Kiss

Anon requested Zuko smooching Katara bridal style soooo it kinda fits yay (~˘▾˘)~

@zutaramonth

[airiustide]

Day 20: First Kiss

@zutaramonth

"Here's your drink." Zuko offered his longtime girlfriend.

She sighed, refusing to turn her eyes in his direction, expression indifferent.

Zuko pursed his lips in aggravation. No matter what he did for Mai, she always came off unfazed and unappreciative. He stuck by her for the past six years in hopes that things would change. In the beginning, her demeaner was different to him and he thought he could see a future with her.

Now, it felt like they were strangers drifting side by side until the days passed. It was excruciatingly dull. Yet, Zuko didn't have it in him to give up. He was never one to do so, no matter how disappointing the outcome. Maybe it was time for him to change. Because from the looks of it, as he frowned, Mai wasn't going to.

"This is pink Moscato…" she voiced.

"Oh, uh, I though you might like something other than champagne."

"Do I look like I like pink Moscato?" Mai's eyes finally averting his way, face contorted into a scowl.

"I was just trying to be nice, you don't have to come off as a prude." Zuko didn't mean to snap like that. He had always had to put up with Mai's consistent negativity. She always expected him to accommodate to her lifestyle. Anything he did had to be to her liking but God forbid, if he so much as requested a compromise, all hell would break loose.

They were supposed to have a wonderful evening together. His best friend Sokka and his wife Suki were nice enough to invite them to their house to celebrate bringing in the New Year. Zuko had went out of his way to find the perfect dress for Mai, even going as far as getting help from his female friends, Suki and Toph. Not so much Toph, who mainly complained about being dragged out the whole time but was more familiar with formal wear than she let on.

It irked him how Mai responded to his efforts, only to criticize his lack of taste. It was with that, she ended up going out in a dress of her choice, leaving him utterly hurt and embarrassed.

"You know what, Zuko?" She stood up, "You can spend your New Year alone, sulking. I'm going to Ty Lee's. See you whenever." With that Mai walked out, leaving him alone to process what the hell just happened. If Zuko were by himself, all his rage would be displayed. He didn't deserve being treated this way. Not by Mai or anyone.

It was a five to midnight and Zuko figured it was time to call it in. His night was already ruined. There was no reason to stick around the rest of the night.

Walking to the coat rack by the hallway leading to the front door, Zuko stopped abruptly when Suki stands in front of him. "And where do you think you're going?" She crossed her arms with a smile.

"I'm going to call it a night. Mai had business elsewhere, so Imma head home."

"Well, at least stick around til midnight." Sokka patted his friend's shoulder from behind, offering him a flute of champagne.

"I don't know. I kind of feel left out without Mai."

Suki and Sokka looked at each other. "If it helps, Suki can kiss you after midnight, no problem."

"Sokka!" she exclaimed.

Zuko shook his head. "No, that's not the problem. I'm just tired."

Before the couple could protest, the front door opened. Cold wind swept through the hall as a figure rushed in, shaking the snow off their body. The bulk coat, when removed, revealed a face Zuko had only had the pleasure of seeing once.

It was Sokka's sister, Katara.

"Kat! You made it." Sokka announced, making it to his sister for a hug.

Her blue eyes brightened at the sight of her brother before returning the hug. "Sorry, I'm late, my flight was delayed. Suki!" The woman released Sokka to greet her sister-in-law. "How are my nephews?"

"A ball of energy as always. Although, I can't quite figure out where they get that from." Suki laughed before eyeing her husband as he stuffed a handful of horderves in his mouth.

Zuko watched the encounter, unsure of how to approach Katara. It had been years and he was in college when he first met her. He had almost forgotten how beautiful she was. Now she was just absolutely stunning. Zuko swallowed the lump developing in his throat and suddenly the sweater he was wearing was excruciatingly hot. "H-Hi, Katara…" he managed to croak.

The group stopped talking to look at him. Katara presented him with a sweet smile. "Hi, Zuko."

Zuko opened his mouth to start a conversation when Sokka interrupted him. "Ooh! Almost midnight. Come on everyone! Glasses up!"

Suki handed Katara a glass before following Sokka to the center of the room.

Zuko snapped his eyes around the house, unsure of what to do.

"9…8…7…"

He should've just stayed home tonight.

"6…5…4…"

He should've left with Mai. He should've asked her for forgiveness, maybe she would've stayed.

"3…2…1!"

Zuko's breath was suddenly taken away when a pair of soft lips met his. Hands placed on either side of his face was pulled forward to further the kiss. His eyes widened in surprise before closing them in content. Heat rose to his cheeks when the lips against his parted before coming down to mold with his once again. Zuko never felt such passion in a kiss before.

He sucked in his breath as they parted. His sight finally focusing on the face of his capturer smirking up at him. Blue eyes blowing him away enough to make his heart beat rapidly against his chest.

"You're not going home are you?" Katara chuckled.

Zuko stuttered. He came here with his girlfriend expecting something good to come out of the evening. Turns out, it was someone of the complete opposite that managed to put his faith back into the New Year. "No…No, I'm not."