#zutaraheadcanon

[burntsecrets]

Market Mischief

Pairing: Zuko x Katara Word Count: 820 Prompt: For Zutara Week 2024 | Day 6: Sweet @zutaraweek Warnings: Mild language, lighthearted teasing, humor, food-related themes, playful banter, minor romantic undertones

The marketplace buzzed with activity as vendors hawked their wares, carts rattled, and children darted through the throngs like mischievous sparrows. Katara weaved through the crowd with practiced ease, her arms laden with an assortment of ingredients for dinner. Zuko followed behind, his expression tight as he kept glancing over his shoulder, as though expecting a surprise ambush from a cabbage merchant.

“I still don’t get why we’re here,” he muttered, adjusting the hood of his cloak to better conceal his face. “We could’ve just—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” Katara interrupted, shooting him a pointed glare over her shoulder. “If you think I’m letting you ‘firebend’ our dinner together, you’ve lost your mind.”

Zuko grumbled something under his breath, but his steps quickened to keep up with her. “I’m not bad at cooking.”

“You burned rice.”

“It was one time.”

“And toast.”

“It was...extra crispy.”

“And that pot of tea.”

“Okay, fine!” He threw his hands up. “But it’s not like you’re perfect either. You made soup that was so salty Sokka said he could see through time.”

Katara froze mid-step and spun to face him, a saccharine smile that promised retribution spreading across her face. “Oh, really? That’s how you want to play this?”

Zuko immediately backpedaled. “I’m just saying—”

“I’ll show you ‘just saying,’” she quipped, grabbing a bright red fruit from a nearby stand and shoving it into his hands. “Here. Let’s see if you can even pick a decent lychee.”

He stared at the fruit like it was a bomb about to go off. “What’s wrong with this one?”

“Too mushy. Try again.” She crossed her arms, one eyebrow raised.

Zuko frowned, muttering something suspiciously like, “It’s just fruit,” before exchanging the lychee for another. Katara didn’t even bother inspecting it before shaking her head.

“Still wrong.”

“Are you making this up?” His voice pitched slightly, somewhere between incredulous and irritated.

“Are you seriously questioning my superior market skills?” Katara smirked, taking the fruit from him and swapping it for one from a different pile. “This one’s ripe.”

Zuko squinted at her. “How do you even know that?”

She tapped the side of her head. “Water Tribe instincts.”

“Oh, so now it’s instincts?”

Katara turned on her heel, heading toward the next stall, but Zuko caught the faintest grin tugging at her lips. He scowled, speeding up to walk beside her again. “Fine. Since you’re so good at this, what’s next?”

She didn’t answer, distracted by a stand overflowing with delicate jars of candy. The vendor—a cheerful, round-faced woman—beamed at them as they approached. “Looking for something sweet, young lady?”

Katara nodded politely, her eyes scanning the colorful array. “Just browsing.”

Zuko, however, narrowed his eyes at the jars like they owed him money. “Isn’t this kind of a waste?”

“Excuse me?” Katara looked up sharply.

“I mean,” Zuko said, flailing slightly under her glare, “we’re here for dinner ingredients. Why bother with candy?”

“Why bother with candy?” Katara repeated, her tone somewhere between disbelief and the ominous calm before a tidal wave.

The vendor wisely stepped aside.

“Let me tell you something, Sparky.” Katara plucked a jar off the shelf, full of little sugar flowers, and held it under his nose. “Candy is joy in edible form. It’s a reward after a hard day. It’s the perfect combination of ‘I deserve this’ and ‘Don’t judge me.’ And you, Prince Pessimism, could use some joy in your life.”

Zuko blinked, momentarily stunned. Then his lips twitched, threatening to curve upward. “So…you’re saying I need to eat candy to be less miserable?”

“Exactly!” She thrust the jar into his hands. “Consider it therapy.”

He snorted, a sound so uncharacteristic Katara almost dropped the bag of rice she was holding. “Fine,” he said, unscrewing the jar and popping a sugar flower into his mouth. His expression immediately shifted to one of wide-eyed horror. “This is…this is…”

“Sweet?” Katara offered, biting back a laugh.

“No,” he croaked, clutching his throat dramatically. “This is…too much.” He doubled over, mock-gagging. “I’m dying.”

Katara finally let her laugh burst free, the sound ringing out above the chatter of the marketplace. “You’re such a baby. It’s sugar, Zuko.”

“It’s poison,” he deadpanned, though the corner of his mouth twitched again.

Katara grabbed a flower from the jar and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm. Delicious. Guess I’ll have to finish the whole jar myself.”

Zuko straightened, his eyes narrowing. “Not if I get to it first.” He swiped another candy, tossing it into his mouth with a smirk.

And just like that, the competition began. By the time they left the marketplace, the jar was empty, Katara was triumphantly clutching the last flower, and Zuko—now suspiciously energized—kept insisting he wasn’t going to help clean up the “disaster kitchen.”

“Sweet, huh?” he said, nudging her with his elbow as they headed back toward camp.

Katara rolled her eyes but smiled. “Yeah. Sweet.”

[zutara]

How do you think Zuko asking for Hakoda's blessing would go? And do you think Iroh would sit down with Katara when he knew Zuko wanted to marry her? Sorry if that's been asked before, keep the dream alive. Long live Zutara

Hello you sweet, sweet soul!  (I’m convinced you’re the same anon who asked us those last two really thoughtful questions), I kinda live for asks and headcanons like this one. 

I love, love, LOVE the idea of Zuko asking Hakoda for his blessing! (I do have to clarify I think both men would do it out of tradition and respect but never because either of them think  Katara is their possession in any way, shape or form). I see absolutely no reason why the wedding talks wouldn’t go incredibly well with Hakoda– AND Sokka. You have to include Sokka always bc dang it, he earned his place and always took care of his sister and Zuko would understand that. 

But yeah, I can totally see Hakoda and his men taking Zuko iceberg dodging, hunting, drinking, and any other crazy activity they can come up with. I think they’d probably play a few pranks on Zuko too, but always careful never to cross the line and piss off Katara. If anything I think they’d do it all in good fun in order to welcome him into the tribe with open arms. 

But more importantly, think about Hakoda teaching and guiding Zuko how to carve Katara’s own betrothal necklace. Just let that image sink it.

Think about the nostalgia and the array of emotions cursing through Hakoda as he explains to Zuko the significance of every symbol, swirl and line he could possibly use in his necklace…

Imagine Hokada watching Zuko meticulously work to fabricate something so meaningful, so beautiful, and so different, it leaves no doubt in Hakoda’s mind exactly how much the fire lord loves and understands his daughter. His only daughter, one of the two things most precious to him. The daughter that has so much of her mother in her that it leaves him breathless sometimes. But Zuko would show him with every action of how deserving he is of having Katara’s hand simply because he loves and respects her, just as much as he can tell his daughter loves and respects him. In my mind there was never any doubt about Zuko earning the trust and respect of Hakoda and eventually, the rest of the whole tribe. Her people, and so by default, now his people as well (and vice-versa for Katara).

As for Iron talking to Katara I could also see that happening, but just with a different dynamic. I think Iroh would’ve realized how much his nephew came to care for the water bender even before Zuko did, and the same for Katara. He’d watch them pine after the other and play match maker, and when they finally got together, Iroh started planning the wedding because Iroh always knew, like us, these precious kids belonged together. 

So, when Zuko shows his uncle the ring he has chosen for Katara and tells him he will be asking the water bender master to be his wife, Iroh beams with happiness and hugs his nephew tightly, getting emotional in the process and ends up crying anyway although he had promised himself he wouldn’t. 

The old general then removes a small velvet box wrapped in golden silk from his nightstand and hands Zuko the box, telling him to open it. When Zuko opens the box he finds a beautiful and elegant golden bracelet with a pendant in the shape of a blooming fire-lily at the clasp. The delicate flower is encrusted in blood-red rubies and yellow sapphires; the expert craftsmanship undeniable.    

“This used to belong to your aunt, Lu Ten’s mother. She died in childbirth, years before you were born. I know you never met her, but I think you’d have liked her. I wanted to give the bracelet to Lu Ten, if he ever found a worthy wife….You are like a son to me, and no bride will ever be more deserving than your Katara, so….I’d like to give this to Katara, if you allow it.” 

(And so then Zuko is crying, and Iroh is crying, and I’m crying , and ya’ll crying, and we’re all suffering because ZUTARA.) 

Iroh invites Katara for tea a few days after her engagement to his nephew is announced. hugginh her like a daughter. He congratulates her, listens to Katara talk about her wedding plans and her home. She’ll miss it but she’ll travel back and forth, maintaining her duties as ambassador. Her father and brother, chief and heir, are more than capable of ruling her people. They laugh through tea, dumplings and cakes. He tells her about his son, and how his death led to the  adventure of a life-time and ultimately his awakening. And when he tells her about his deceased wife, the only woman he ever truly loved, he presents her with the fire-lily bracelet, telling her he’d be honored if she accepted it as a token of his gratitude and love for her and her husband-to-be. 

Katara hugs him like the second father he has been to her and Zuko, and kisses his cheek sweetly. 

“He wouldn’t be the man I love if you hadn’t been there for him, guiding him and loving him unconditionally like your own son. We both owe you a great deal.”

Katara wears the bracelet on her wedding day and every single day possible thereafter, always with pride and elegance. Always deserving of it. 

Keep the dream alive. Always. Zutara for life! 

[zutara]

headcanon: the steam babies are Katara's little heaters when Zuko is away doing firelord stuff

Why do you hurt me so?!? Why you attacking me like this?? Making me FEEEEL things and stuff? So RUDE, OMG. 

I WANT IT. I WANT IT NOW!!!! I CAN’T GO ON LIVING LIKE THIS, WITHOUT IT. Can someone take pity on me us and draw this???

[zutara]

Even though I don't support Kataang, it doesn't change the fact that Aang is one of Zuko and Katara's closest friends. So I love the idea that someday, Zuko and Katara would make Aang the godfather of one or more of their children.

There´s this huge misconception that if you ship Zutara you must without a doubt hate Aang, and to me that´s just ridiculous. Although I´m sure it is the case for some people, I think most of the fandom can agree we don´t hate Aang. We just think he´s not good with Katara romantically speaking and vice-versa. 

At least that´s what happens on my case. I love Aang, just not with Katara. 

Thant said, YES!! I wholeheartedly agree and it´d be unjust to say otherwise. I think Aang would play an important role in the lives of their children and making him the godfather of any of them (although I´d put my money on the first born) would be a great way to honor their friendship and show how much they appreciate Aang. I´m all for this headcanon, I hope we can see more of it around. 

[zutara]

Zutara Headcanons Feels- Part II

(Original Zutara Headcanon meme) | (Part I )

I’ve had this ask and another one saved for like 2 years now but I really am not a writer guys, but I’m so tired of looking at the same unfinished draft so here we go, I tried my best. It’s now or never. 

I’ll post the second headcannon separately for obvious reasons.

♦ - Quirks/Hobbies Headcanon

01.

It all starts with an old book and a rare flower.

Zuko gives her the heavy tome for her twenty-sixth birthday, Known Plants of The Four Nations: A Study of Medicinal Botany, from what was once his grandmother’s own private library. To accompany it, Toph brings her back a rare medicinal flower from deep within the Earth Kingdom Jiang-Xi caverns. It takes her less than a week to devour the whole volume and although Katara would never admit to it, both flower and book quickly become her second most valued possession.

By the end of the month the water bender master has already put what she’s learned into good practice, effectively creating several new tonics and herbal draughts for her people. She is, after all, a born healer, and the efficiency of her medicine is quickly noted.

The discoveries her newfound hobby bring soon inspire the water bender master to start her own garden; cultivating a wide variety of plants and herbs while creating her own hybrid specimens in order to widen her research.  

It’s not long before word of Master Katara’s Garden gets around and sure enough Katara finds herself the recipient of plant life from all corners of the four nations, its senders as colorful and diverse as the plants themselves. Toph and Aang make a point to indulge her every time they travel, but it is Zuko who takes it upon himself to turn her studies into a prosperous national health project.

And that’s when the ‘love letters’ begin---metaphorically speaking, of course.

Or at least that’s what Toph tells her during one of their notorious mud masks –and-cocktails-slumber parties.

“The man has never been good with words so he’s courting you through actions.” Her friend deadpans while pouring another drink for herself. “Only problem is, you keep trying to convince yourself it’s all in the name of friendship.”

It takes Katara three shots of a bitter, awful smelling concoction (of Toph’s own invention, naturally) to finally accept the truth behind her friend’s words---and a couple more to forget she ever did.  She eventually tries to argue against the idea, but there’s simply no winning against Toph Beifong.

“Oh, Sugar Queen, you can lie to yourself all you want but you’ll never be able to lie to me! I can feel your heartbeat speed up just at the mention of the poor boy!”

They finish Toph’s hellish contraband and now move on to a bright purple bottle containing some sparkly fruity alcoholic drink Suki sent as way of apology for missing out on tonight.  Katara could no longer remember her own name and Toph could no longer properly stand, but onward they went, exhuming truths.  

“And you know what the saddest part is?” the earth bender continues, grabbing Katara’s face between her hands.

“That I’m this drunk and I still can’t block out the sound of your voice?”

“No! The pathetic bit is that you’re both pinning after each other while failing to notice the other feels exactly the same way. We all know Sparky digs you! So can’t we just skip over the small talk and jump straight into matrimony!?  Iroh wants grandchildren and he isn’t getting any younger, you know.”

And that’s exactly when Katara decides to shove her friend right into the mud pool, drink and all, before promptly stumbling to the nearest shrubbery to throw up.

02. 

It’s a miserably hot, humid morning.

Katara sits outside among the flower beds underneath the shade of an old oak, nursing a hot cup of ginger tea for her aching stomach. Toph had left only a few minutes before, claiming breakfast and sparing practice with Iroh, but not before leaving her with one last question about a certain fire bender.  

“Is it really that difficult for you to see how much he cares for you?”

She knew the answer before the word even left her lips.

“No.”

She had known it all along. And perhaps that’s what had terrified her.

His feelings had clearly always been there for her to see. Marked in every action and in every kindness; veiled in each hand written note thoughtfully added to the many margins of all the books he had given her throughout the years. Colorfully woven in the way every new envelope full of seeds he sent while apart came with a detailed drawing of what the plant would eventually look like during all its stages.

But most of all she felt it in the way he looked at her, as if she was his favorite unresolved riddle in the entire world. Like a paradox he was now too fond of to give up on.  

A soft, euphotic smile dances across her lips despite the sharp stomach pains, the thought of him loving her as more than a friend warming her more than any tea ever could.

03. 

Like in all previous visits to her oasis he comes bearing dumplings and green tea. In turn Katara has a trey of his favorite sweet cakes waiting for him, still warm from the oven. He’s discarded his royal tunic for the day and sports his sparing clothing instead, ready to spend the next few hours weeding overgrown flower beds and teaching her more hand-to-hand combat.

They find solace in each other’s company, their conversation flowing easily as usual. Laughter comes just as naturally and Katara decides she rather likes making the young Fire Lord smile, a feat not many can claim to nowadays. Rebuilding the world from the ashes of war and prejudice had taken its toll on the young dragon, as they now called him, but to her he’d always be simply her Zuko. So when he nonchalantly lays his head on her lap to rest during tea time, she runs her fingers through his hair and lays a chaste kiss on his brow without a second thought or care in the world. It’s overwhelming and confusing, yet nothing in her life had ever felt so damn right.

She ignores the little voice inside her head whispering that nothing in her life had ever come easy, and so why should this be any different? But the sun feels wonderful on her skin, there’s a cool breeze ruffling every single leaf in her garden, and there’s a handsome slumbering Fire Lord on her lap; and so Katara pushes the nagging voice away, hoping for better days.

04. 

 He’s beaten her 2 out of 3 matches by the time he calls a truce. They had taunted each other as they sparred, pushing each other harder than they had ever done before. Her joins scream in protest as she tries to move to the nearest chair, and there’s definitely a new bruise on her thigh from her last fall. Zuko follows after her, massaging a sore shoulder and grinning as he went. “I’ll be feeling that kick tomorrow.” He tells her, and it’s her turn to grin. She had returned as much as she had gotten despite her loss.

“I’ll heal it before you leave, you big baby.”

He lies on the floor at her feet, exhausted, smiling at her like any cheeky kid would.

But when the sun retires for the evening, so does the fire bender. Katara suddenly finds herself making insignificant small talk just to keep him a little bit longer but duty and exhaustion eventually win the battle regardless. It was time for him to go.

He towers well over her as he pauses momentarily to tenderly kiss her cheek, hugging her close while whispering a quick good night as he went. She barely has time to mumble a quick reply before he’s gone and she’s left watching his retreating back, chest still aching.

The gossamer feel of his lips on her skin lingers, and although the tress nearby are still merrily dancing in the cool breeze, her whole body feels as if it were on fire.  

Katara decides that the next time he dared kiss her, it better damn well be on her lips. 

[zutara]

Zutara Headcanons- Part II. 2

(Original Zutara Headcanon meme) | (Part I )  (Part II. 01)

Warning: Implied sex ahead, or whatever you wanna call it. Very safe and nothing graphic but hey, you’re all big kids responsible for your own consumption. Also I’m crap at this and have never written smut in my life. Suffer at your own risk. 

✿ - Sex Headcanon

She’s been gone for 3 months, ambassador duties taking her from him for more than what is good for him. By the time her ship arrives and a weary Katara starts making her way towards him it is well past sundown.  

Walking slowly and without hurry, they meet each other half way. His heart leaps at the sight of her, golden eyes drinking in every small change brought on by her travels.

And suddenly it’s as if all the hustle and bustle of the market place disappears; his heavy burdens dissolving into nothingness as that wonderful sense of calm only she can give returns, seeping into his very bones.

“You cut your hair.” He tells her, running a quick hand over the shorten strands.

She smiles lovingly in return, kissing him lightly on the cheek before hugging him close and burying her face in the crook of his neck.

“And you grew out your bear again.”

That earns her a lopsided grin she can’t really see but knows it’s there all the same. She hugs him tighter.

His warmth feels like home more than anything else ever did before.

.......

There’s a wild pounding in her chest and pure madness cursing through her veins.

He’s barely closed the door behind him when she’s already pressed deliciously tight against him, kissing him senseless.

Her clever hands quickly relieve him of his robes; her own are not very far behind.

Then his hands are all over her body, religiously worshiping every familiar plane, curve, and valley of her landscape. Caressing and torturing every sense until she grows impatient, quivering with want. And when his mouth suddenly wonders from the erratic pulse on her neck to the delicious peak of her nipple-- at the very same time his hand finally slips between the warmth between her thighs--she’s finally had enough.  

“Zuko.”  

Golden eyes look up innocently at the breathless sound of his name, never stopping his administrations. It takes her three more minutes before she is capable of speech again.

“Bed…Now…Please…”  

He chuckles softly against her skin before easily picking her up in response, making her wrap her long legs about him in surprise.

“Thank you, milord--now, to bed.” Her eyes twinkle with mirth before kissing him again.

Zuko bites her lip, smirking, only too happy to oblige.

“Welcome home, ambassador.”

.......

The warm rays of the sun sneaking through the curtains feel heavenly on her naked back; but the lips gently kissing her back and shoulders even more so.

Spirits, how badly she had missed him. How badly she had missed waking up to this.

“’Good morning” She stretches like a cat, her sated smile answering his question before it’s even asked.

“‘Morning, sleep well?”

“Like Sokka on a food coma.”  

“That’s very good sleep then.”

She turns to look at him, kissing him sloppily. “The very best there is. How are you feeling?”

“Like Aang after a glass of rice wine.”

“Ooh, extremely light and happy then?”

“Yep, light as a feather and ridiculously blissful. Do you want me to order you breakfast?”

“Not yet, but thank you. And give it a few days, Sparky--you’ll remember exactly how horrible I am soon enough.”

“I’ll have to find a way to manage somehow.”

“I’m thinking maybe I should try to earn some extra points now that I’m still in your good graces...?”

“And how exactly are you planning to do that?”

She straddles him then, kissing him soundly on the lips; a promise of what’s yet to come.

“Oh, I have some very good ideas in mind.”

He grabs her hips, running gossamer circles with his thumbs on her skin.

“Show me.”

And so Katara does just that, all notions of breakfast quickly forgotten.

[zutara]

I like to think that as fire lady, Kuatara wore the traditional fire nation robes, but instead of red they were blue, to represent her water tribe ancestry

I am in full agreement of this headcannon 110%. But I think she’d wear all the colours possible; hues of blue with gold; red and black; white and corals for those particular hot days.Katara would never stop honouring and representing her Tribe and heritage, but she’d also acknowledge and respect her husband’s…and by effect, her new people’s culture.She’d blend and honour both nations through her clothing, always reminding everyone around her change in unity is possible and the only way into the future without a doubt.

[zutara]

how about Iroh x Happiness?

Let me tell you something. There are very few things in the world that I love more than Zutara and Harmony, but Iroh x Happiness is without a doubt one of them. vomit / don’t ship / ok / cute / adorable / sexy / perfect / beyond flawless / hot damn / screaming and crying /i will ship them in hell

Although I’m sure Iroh probably did his fair share of sins during his military campaigns back in the day, I can only see the man he was during the actual time line of the show. So based on that….I want Iroh to wake up every day and be able to do whatever brings him joy. Whether if that involves playing Pai Sho, challenging Boomi and Aang to bending matches, pestering kitchen staff over their lack of skill in the art of preparing tea, or attending political meetings with his nephew (aka his most precious adopted son) so he can advise but also make Zuko crack a smile or two.

I want Iroh to open his own tea shop–one in the Fire Nation and another branch in the Earth Kingdom because of nostalgia and pretty Earth Kingdom ladies. I want Iroh to find love and companionship again in a woman if that is what he wishes.

By everything good and holy in the world, let Iroh swell with pride and joy every time he notices what a wonderful, incredible man and leader his nephew has become. To have Zuko in subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways show his uncle his deep respect, love and appreciation for him. All of that because it’d make Iroh so blissfully happy.

I desperately want Iroh to be able to dote on and enjoy his grandchildren; I think he’d be the most amazing grandfather, constantly taking care of the little ones, telling them stories and taking them on mini adventures; feeding them sweets before dinner time and teaching them how to play instruments and bending stances. And of course, telling them of how ridiculously grumpy and sulky their dad used to be. Katara would laugh and play along adding her own testimony, while Zuko would sulk and pout.Actually, I want Iroh to become everyone’s grandfather. So have Iroh work closely to Zuko in reconstructing the Fire Nation and the New World. Have Iroh participate in the Fire Nation market and festivals, telling the young and impressionable tales of his travels and the lessons they should take from his stories. Have Iroh participate in debates, let him lecture in universities and give bending classes. Have Iroh teach children how to play pai sho and the Tsungi horn on Music Nights. I think Iroh would enjoy feeling needed and busy again.

But most of all, let Iroh spend his days enjoying the company of his family. Have Iroh arm wrestle with Toph while exchanging colorful advice.Have Sokka take Iroh on wild hunts while they bounce off invention ideas off each other.Have Iroh remind Aang he is still only human–and “still very much just a kid”–when Avatar duties get too heavy. Let them talk about their beliefs and tactics. Please let Iroh spend peaceful evenings with his nephew full of laughter and long conversations. Let Iroh change diapers and give baths to little water bender babies with their father’s golden eyes but with their mother’s temper. Let him get soaked from head to toe only to just create steam to his grandchildren’s delight. Let him have tea and sweet breads with Katara every day at 3pm so they can both talk and relax from the day’s events.

JUST LET IROH BE HAPPY, ALWAYS AND FOREVER!!!!! As long as he is with those he considers family, he will be.

Send me a ship and i’ll rate it

[zutara]

Headcanon: Because Izumi and Kya wer just adventurous and stubborn as their parents Zuko and Katara had to go on many long rescue missions for their daughters

YES. YES, YES, YES. YES. 

SOMEONE FIC THIS, RIGHT NOW. YES. 

[zutara]

Zutara Headcanons Feels Overdose.

So I got attacked by FEELS as I was answering Zutara headcanons and I wrote a thing--several things, actually. In othe words, someone plz take away the internet from me before I hurt myself. 

❧  - First kiss headcanon 

He kisses her first.

The world had just started to settle into an uneasy peace and the gaang is invited to a celebration in their honor at the Water Tribe. Toph complains it´s too damn cold and Sokka is the happiest any of them had seen him in months (rebuilding the world had taken its toll on all of them). Within hours of landing Katara has already managed to open a bending and healing school with the mindset to inspire girls to follow in her footsteps.

They are all a little drunk on happiness, punch, and Fire Nation summer wine from Iroh´s own personal stock brought in especially for the occasion. There´s music, dancing, and enough food to feed a whole army; Aang has been dragged to the dance floor by Ty Lee  and Sokka is hustling winnings from an arm wrestling competition he set up between Toph and some Water Tribe hunters.

Laughter and smiles come easy nowadays, but Katara is still waiting for this to feel like her life.

That´s when she sees him excuse himself and exit the tent. It´s strange to see him without Mai at his arm but she would be lying if a part of her is not pleased at the current change of events. (When Katara inquired about the break up a few weeks ago all she had gotten from the Fire Lord was a tired smile and a simple “she just didn´t understand” comment as a way of explanation).

Later she would blame the summer wine, the laughter and the carefree atmosphere of the party, but before she can think twice of it she is following him outside (and no one but Iroh takes notice of her leave).

Light snow has begun to fall and he stands with his back to her, arm extended, watching snowflakes evaporate the second they land on his outstretched palm. He has disregarded his coat completely and the bright red of his robes make a shocking contrast against the white drop of the snow covered street.

“Zuko?”

He looks back at the sound of her voice and smiles, one of those secret smiles she can never quite figure out.

“It was getting too hot in that dining hall.” He says, and Katara decides not to comment on the absurdity of it all (A fire bender master that prefers to brave the arctic cold instead of a stuffy dining hall? Really now, Zuzu…!).

“And you–everything alright?”  It´s a simple enough question but suddenly he turns to look at her and the intensity reflected in those golden orbs is anything but.

And suddenly the world shifts and she´s free falling, coming undone at the seams and the pressure that´s been building up inside her chest for months finally bursts and oh gods…he knows! He knows even before she does but oh, oh! Now she understands and there´s no going back now.

Her eyes are wild with shock bordering on hysteria (Zuko could see her tears coming) and so before she can turn around and leave him standing alone in the middle of an empty street with a storm of unresolved feelings he reaches for her; hands gently cupping her face, thumbs softly caressing her cheeks.

She´s gone as cold as the chilled night air and when he speaks his breath is a puff of steam against her skin. 

“…Katara?”

He sends a small wave of heat through his hands and into her skin, his own silent way of reassuring her. She melts into his touch and finally takes a deep breath, her eyes refocusing on his once again.

He has never been good with words and she´s not used to losing control. She´s stubborn to a fault and he has learned that duty must come even before his heart.  And yet here they are, on the verge of crossing a line they have been too patriotic to cross (because, Aang!). But logic, reason and patriotism are concepts the heart knows nothing of. They have been fighting this for so long there´s nothing left to do but to give in.

And so he kisses her, slow and demanding, giving as much as he takes. Telling her everything his words could never convey. Her hands find their way to his hair and he pulls her closer, deepening the kiss. She smiles against his lips before breaking apart and planting a kiss against his temple, letting him hold her a minute longer before stepping back.

 “So…”

“Yeah…”

“I don´t regret it.” The intensity is back in his eyes. “And I won´t apologize for it.”

“I wouldn´t expect you to. I don´t regret it either.”  His smile matches hers and she wants nothing but to bury her head in his chest and kiss him silly again.

“So what do we do now?”  He asks in a single breath and she can see anxiety creep back into his face.

“We do the right thing, Zuko. We can´t keep lying to him–to everyone….to ourselves. The rest will fall into place as we go. That´s all we can hope for.”

“Katara?”

“Mmhm?”

“Can I kiss you again?”

She laughs, letting go of all her fears, and lets him do just that.

***

Z/K- “He knows all of my secrets and still wants to kiss me” / -Warsan Shire. 

♫ - Iroh the matchmaker headcanon

The royal dragon-hawk finds Katara in the deep swamps of the Earth Kingdom where she has spent the past month researching medical plants and helping the local healers with a nasty outbreak of river flu.

She takes the parchment from the bird and is not surprise to see two sets--one with Iroh´s white lotus seal and the other bearing the Fire Lord’s personal single flame. She reads Iroh’s first and his news are not good. The old general has taken a nasty fall from a komodo-rhino and is now been treated at his “favorite place in the entire Fire Nation”—the Royal Palace´s Water Gardens.

At Zuko´s request she has been summoned to the Fire Nation as soon as her duties allow so she can take care of the old general and foresee his full recovery. Katara packs her bags that very afternoon.

(NOW CAN YOU GUYS IMAGINE ALL THE WONDERFUL SHANNANIGANS IROH WOULD COME UP WITH IN ORDER TO MAKE ZUKO AND KATARA SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER!!!??)

She is treated like a queen the second she lands at the capital. Zuko himself is waiting for her.

“Holy Kyoshi, you look so OLD, Zuko!”

“And I see you finally took the part of peasant to heart, Katara. Are they so terribly against baths at the swamps?”

-But before the water bender can respond she is been whisked away by the palace’s Keeper of the Keys, Madame Olenna. She throws Zuko a look but the fire lord only shrugs and laughs, assuring her Mdm. Olenna is under his uncle’s orders; orders which not even the fire lord of the Fire Nation would dare contradict. Katara can only glare.

Soon the waterbender is scrubbed, polished, waxed and tweezed within an inch of her life and dressed in the finest silks and jewelry. Gifts from General Iroh and the Fire Lord, she is told, and to please meet them for dinner in an hour at Iroh’s private quarters, please and thanks.

The Water Gardens are a thing of beauty even at night, with lanterns paving her way to Iroh’s apartments. She finds Iroh propped up in a mountain of pillows playing pai sho with Zuko, his eyes dancing with mirth. 

“Katara!! It is so good to see you my dear!! You look absolutely lovely! Don’t you think so, nephew?”

“You look beautiful, please come in. Should we eat now?”

Katara hugs Zuko and turns to playfully glare at Iroh “Only if you promise me I’ll be allowed to finally see to his health afterwards!”

Iroh laughs at that, moving away the pai-sho board and motioning for Katara to sit. She gives him a slopy kiss on his cheek and takes his hand in hers.

“It’s just a few broken bones and one constant massive headache, my dear. I´m afraid I am not as young as I used to be! But you’re here now, and that´s what matters. Hopefully my nephew can stop worrying now.”

And so it begins. Her days are spent at Iroh’s side mending bones, one big concussion and high blood pressure. But her days are never dull. Iroh tells her stories, makes her laugh and Zuko tags along as much as he can. Iroh arranges tea parties for three, theater dates and private opera performances but he´s always sure to retire early, purposely leaving Zuko and Katara to their own devices. The Fire Lord takes her out to important diplomatic meetings and dinner dates. She´s invited to speak at different universities and institutes about a broad array of subjects from healing and medicine, to woman´s rights and her role in the final battle.  It´s almost uncanny how easy she slips into the role of a diplomat and it´s not long before she is well respected within most political circles of the Fire Nation. Zuko has never been so proud.

Iroh is always engaging his favorite kids- pushing them into wonderful arguments over nothing and everything. They discuss future plans over summer wine and hope the brave new world they are all working so hard to build is kinder than the one they are leaving behind. Most exciting of all, Zuko and Katara take up sparing upon Iroh´s request, most matches ending in breathtaking bending battles. Glorious, incredible, beautiful, heated bending battles filled with so much sexual tension there soon is a fat, juicy betting pool within the palace walls big enough to buy the whole Fire Nation Navy Fleet. Even the rigid Mdm. Olenna has taken up the bet.

Iroh has his money on a December/New Year wedding, but with the hot, steamy sex happening by the next fortnight. He knew his nephew (and his honor) pretty well. At least that much he tells Toph in his letters.

For Iroh one thing is certain; falling off that komodo-rhino was the best damn thing that had ever happened to him. 

★ - Sad/bittersweet headcanon

They become best friends; it’s the most natural order of things, and nothing had ever been easier for either of them.

They write letters to each other, tell each other things they would never tell anyone else; confessions of hopes and fears, shameful truths and beautiful dreams.

The letters come once every two weeks without fail and this pleases Katara more than it should.

But soon her engagement to Aang is announced and the letters suddenly stop, and then its radio silence for a whole month before his final letter arrives, on the very day of her wedding, delivered by him personally.

He comes in her waiting room without warning, his eyes drinking her in as if memorizing every line, detail and freckle on her skin. She tries to speak but no words come out, so she wears her questions on her eyes and desperately hopes he answers them. He kisses her on the cheek instead, pushing an envelope onto her hands and tells her she looks breathtakingly beautiful, wishes her good luck and leaves.

Her heart tightens and breaks; shatters in a ways she didn’t know it could. She waits for the tears to come but they never do. Her disappointment is bigger than her pain.

Her hands still shake as she breaks the royal seal and unfolds his letter.

There´s a single sentence written on his familiar scrawl printed across the page, and this time the tears do come.

If truth be told part of her, the part of her that had always belonged to him, had always hoped to hear those words. But they had reached her far too late.

Time had failed them; he had failed them. And now she would fail him. 

She burns his letter and dries her tears. Fixes her make-up and walks out the door: she could hear the ceremony starting below.

And yet…

Even as the blue-eyed waterbender girl says her “I do”s at the altar, his words are still ringing in her head….

“I think I could have loved you.” 

☠ - Bluetara headcanon

I´ve always thought they would revive their Blue Spirit/ Painted Lady personas the second they discovered Zuko´s mother was alive. Because he would ask her to go with him and she would accept without a second thought. Because they both know no one understands them better than each other. Plus they make one kick ass double team; they are compatible in every single way possible. Like yin and yang, the sun and moon—Zuko and Katara are a perfect balanced harmony.

SO GIVE ME ANOTHER ADVENTURE WHERE ZUKO GOES OFF TO FIND HIS MOTHER AND HE TAKES ONLY KATARA AND THEY GET TO WEAR THEIR MASKS AND KICK ARSE EVERYWHERE THEY GO!! AND OF COURSE GIVE ME HOT MAKE-OUT SESSIONS AND LAUGHTER AND SURVIVING IN THE WILD TOGETHER! GIMMEH ALL THE SEXY TIMES TOO! JUST GIVE ME ALL OF THAT AND I CAN DIE HAPPILY!

I remember I tried to write drabbles about that once (read it here) but I never got around to finish it. Someone should definitely write that fic. I would read the crap out of that fic. *le sigh*

*passes out from the overdose of feels* 

[zutara]

Zutara Headcanon Meme

So I ran into this lovely headcanon meme and I thought it would be awesome if we did our own version for Zutara (^___^)V I took the liberty to modify the list a tiny bit and even added a few of our own so it would fit our ship more, but of course all credit goes to the ORIGINAL post! 

Be sure to link me to your headcanons so that I can re-blog 'em here at the community!  #ZutaraHeadcanon

Zutara Headcanon Meme

☾ - Sleep headcanon

★ - Sad/bittersweet headcanon

☆ - Happy headcanon

☠ - Bluetara headcanon

❧  - First kiss headcanon 

✿ - Sex headcanon

■ -  Bedroom/house/living quarters headcanon

♡ - Romantic headcanon

♥ - Family/STEAM BABIES! headcanon

☮ - Friendship headcanon

♦ - Quirks/hobbies headcanon

☯ - Likes/dislikes headcanon

▼ - Childhood headcanon

∇ -. Old age/aging headcanon

♒ - Cooking/food headcanon

☼ - Appearance headcanon

♫ - Iroh the matchmaker headcanon

♣ - Love & Politics headcanon  

ൠ - random headcanon

◉ - Any other question of your choosing