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zukkababey · 4 years

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Wait hear me out - enemies to lovers pirate!Zukka where Sokka leads the Water tribe ships and Zuko is with the Fire Nation BUT since they keep bumping into each other and the sexual tension is just through the roof and they start to like each other a bit more Zuko just decides that Ozai is a whiny ass homophobic bitch and just boycotts the navy from the inside does this make sense? My very tired finals brain is just about to die so i apologize if it’s nonsense

okay this has been sitting in my inbox for a WHILE (sorry about that, friend, i’ve been waiting for inspiration) but now i’m ready to elaborate!!

okay so this is an au where zuko and sokka are both older, like late twenties or early thirties, bc they’re not gonna be navy captains as teenagers, lol

so, ozai is fire lord and the fire nation is known for being aggressive, but there isn’t a full out war, at least... Not Yet

sokka’s always kind of hated the fire nation, especially growing up with his father as a captain of his own ship, and all the time sokka spent at sea with hakoda and katara after kya died.

but then hakoda retires and sokka rises through the navy ranks, and now he has to deal with fire nation ships just like hakoda did, and boy, does he hate it. more specifically, he hates a very specific fire nation navy captain, who goes by the name of zuko. he’s so annoying, and so cocky, and so goddamn attractive, and sokka hates him a lot.

sokka can recognize zuko’s ship when it’s still just a blob on the horizon. it’s purely because he’s a diligent captain and definitely not because whenever he sees that ship he feels a type of excitement that he hasn’t felt in a long, long time.

and sokka doesn’t know how it happens, but they almost always have shore leave at the same time. zuko is usually hanging out with a girl in earth kingdom green, and sokka mistakenly thinks that’s his girlfriend. he pretends he’s not disappointed.

on the other hand, sokka usually sends word for katara, and her and aang show up and spend a couple weeks with sokka while he’s back on solid ground.

one day, they all run into each other at the day market. there’s a lot of animosity between zuko and sokka, but maybe it’s kind of turned into sharp digs and playful flirting. but sokka would deny that until his dying breath.

katara kind of wants to hate zuko simply because he’s fire nation, but she knows her brother. she knows that her dumb brother is harbouring a hate crush on this man. and zuko doesn’t really seem that evil, even if he is a fire nation captain.

she teases sokka the entire two weeks. sokka sulks.

the next shore leave is three months later, and katara and aang are both busy, and when sokka bumps into zuko at the night market, zuko’s earth kingdom friend is nowhere to be seen.

they talk. like, more than three words to each other. words that don’t even have bite to them. it’s a shock to them both. it must be the gentle ambiance, or the quiet night, or the fact that they’re in casual clothes, their nation rivalry left on the ocean waves, away from sight.

sokka reveals why he got into being in the navy in the first place (his father) and zuko also reveals why he’s in the navy (his father). zuko is pretty honest, but he still doesn’t go so far as to admit he’s the son of the fire lord.

next time they see each other on the water, maybe they’re not as mean to each other. maybe they’re almost.... friendly. when zuko and his crew leave, sokka slumps over the ledge of his ship and thinks, shit. i like him.

next shore leave is weird. because once again, katara can’t come. but zuko’s friend is next to him when he walks into piandao’s shop, and sokka is reminded that zuko has a girlfriend. it’s like a bucket of ice water over his head.

zuko doesn’t recognize sokka at first, drawn directly to the other side of the shop where the dual daos are. his girlfriend is trailing behind him, arms crossed, looking supremely bored.

but before he can get very far, he sees sokka. he’s startled, but then introduces toph to sokka as his friend.

which sokka finds very interesting.

they find each other at the night market, as has become custom during their shore leaves. zuko says that toph had to leave early.

they chat. they eat. they kiss.

they spend the rest of shore leave together in sokka’s apartment. it’s like a little slice of paradise. but it comes to an end, like all good things must. they go back to work. back to the ocean. back to opposite sides.

when sokka sees zuko again, he has full battle armour on, and he’s flanked by 10 other soldiers. one of them reads out a scroll, declaring that fire lord ozai has declared war, and that prince zuko is here to oversee the arrest of sokka’s entire crew.

not only is sokka pissed about the war, and how his crew is about to be taken prisoner, but he’s only just learning that zuko is the prince? the utter betrayal is almost enough to bring him to his knees.

a fight ensues, because no way is sokka going to go down without a goddamn fight. at least zuko has the guts to fight him, even though sokka knows he’s not using his firebending. sokka doesn’t know if he appreciates that or if he’s angry at the way zuko’s going easy on him.

in the end, sokka’s crew is taken captive, their ship set on fire and then sunk. sokka is pissed.

sokka’s alone in a cell that’s separated from his crew. he doesn’t really know why, but he does know that if he was with his crew, he’d have escaped hours ago.

when zuko shows up an hour later, sokka realizes why he’s been separated.

there’s a huge confrontation, because sokka is still unbelievably angry. zuko is the fire prince??? what happened to not wanting to follow the fire lord - his father? what happened to the man sokka had spent shore leave with? where is he?

turns out, he isn’t so far away after all. zuko unlocks sokka’s cell door.

“i’m so sorry,” zuko tells sokka. “but i’m going to make up for it.”

and he does. he really does.

they take over the ship together, with sokka’s crew’s help. they sail to caldera city to confront the fire lord, along with katara and aang and toph and sokka’s crew bc sokka’s crew is badass and loyal to sokka, through and through. and they’ve seen sokka fall in love with that fire nation dork, and they’re the forgiving type.

anyways, they defeat ozai. zuko becomes the next fire lord and actually starts to do things in the fire nation that he’s been wanting to do for years. all the knowledge of being at sea and seeing different nations has really shown zuko the things he needs to focus on to be a competent leader. and he does it all with sokka’s help.

sokka stays in the navy, because he loves the ocean and he loves his new ship and he loves his crew.

but if he retires a few years earlier than he planned so he can stay in his boyfriend’s bed all day all the time, instead of once every few months for a couple of weeks, then that’s his own business.

#and then they get married and have izumi sorry i dont make the rules #zukka #anyways sorry this took FOREVER #for me to post #and is so long #long post #i wish you could add read mores on mobile but i cannot be arsed to open my laptop rn so you all have to deal with this #18+#bc there were things that were implied #i actually kinda am in love with this au #if you wanna write it you have my full permission #like PLEASE write it i beg u #and then link me hehe #anonymous #answered

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royalblue-star · 4 years

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the boiling rock- zuko

Y’all this turned out to be a lot longer than I excepted, but I couldn’t help myself. Thank you if you read through the whole thing:))

Pairing: Zuko x Firebender! Reader

Summary: When the reader arrives at the Boiling Rock, she quickly becomes part of an elaborate plan to escape. And reunites with an old friend.

(Not my gif)

The gondola ride to the Boiling Rock was so tense that you could cut through it with a knife. You stood in the corner of the machine surround by criminals of the Fire Nation and the leader of the most recent invasion, Hakoda. You glanced over at the guards stationed by the entrance to the gondola. They were deep in their own conversation, perfect.

"Sir," you whispered to Hakoda.

After a moment of silence, you gathered that he was blatantly ignoring you. So, you tried again.

"Sir, please."

"What?" He whispered harshly back.

You should've excepted the ferocity of his tone because you were from the Fire Nation, but it hurt none the less.

"I just, uh, wanted to say that your plan to invade the Fire Nation was brilliant, and... I'm sorry that it failed." You paused, taking a deep breath. 'I was rooting for you."

This caught Hakoda's attention. You? Clearly, someone from the Fire Nation, hoping the invasion of your own nation succeeded? The man looked at you firmly, trying to understand you. You looked out of place among the other prisoners. So, how did you get there?

"Who are you?" He asked.

"(Y/N), sir. I was on Ozai's war council, one of his best battle strategists. I tried to convince the other council members that there wasn't an invasion, but Azula had found out about it as well."

"You were trying to let the invasion happen?"

"Yes, sir."

Hakoda looked bewildered. First by the fact that Ozai would let someone as young as you on his council. And second by how willing you were to betray your nation.

"Why?"

"Oh, so many reasons." You grimaced. "The Fire Lord is a monster."

You glanced over at the guards again, they were still deep in conversation, but you were approaching the prison quickly. You had to shoot your shot. Hakoda was probably the only person at the prison who could help you.

"Sir, I'm trying to come up with an escape plan, and I understand if you don't trust me-"

"(Y/N)," He cut you off. "I'll make sure you get out of here safely."

Letting out a sigh of relief, you replied, "Thank you."

Suddenly the gondola stopped, and the doors opened. Outside in the yard, the Warden and a few guards stood waiting for your arrival.

Across the yard, Sokka, Suki, and Zuko stood anxiously waiting for the new prisoners to arrive.

"Who's that?" questioned Suki. She was pointing at you as you were pushed out of the gondola and into line with the other prisoners. Your head was down, making you look even smaller among the rest of the group. Zuko followed Suki's line of sight and gasped when he laid eyes on you.

"That's (Y/N)."

"Who?" Suki inquired further.

"She's the one who helped me escape on the day of the invasion! My father must've found out that she played a part in it." He watched as you were roughly led away from the Warden and towards the inside of the building. "We have to get her out with us."

"What! Why!" Exclaimed Sokka, who was confused as to why they would have to add another person into their escape plan. "You might've changed, but she might not have!"

"You don't know her, not like I do. I offered to take her with me, but she refused. She said, 'You need an ally on the inside, Zuko. I'll be working from within.'"

"But-"

"She's coming with us."

You grunted as your body connected with the stone floor of your cell. Laughter from the guards that had led you there came from up behind you.

"You used to be one of the brightest minds in the Fire Nation. The Warden even admired your war tactics. Now, look at you. You're here, washed up and broken. It's sad." One of the guards sneered.

The door slammed shut, and you were left in the dark of the cell. A hot tear rolled silently down your face. 'You did the right thing by helping Zuko. You chose to pay for this price.' You thought, wiping the tear away.

Zuko and your relationship were always special. The two fo you were practically inseparable when you were young. The prince would steal you away from Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee so he could play with you. You didn't mind, he was more fun to be around anyways. But as the two of you grew older, it became harder to find time for one another.

Zuko was the Fire Lord's heir, and you were a general's daughter. While he was learning how to rule, you were learning the ins and outs of war. The two fo you did, however, learn to firebend together, but that was only for a short period each day. So, the two of you agreed to meet in secret during the night. Over time you developed a crush on the prince, and soon the crush turned into love. And love quickly became a secret.

Outside your door stood a nervous Sokka. Zuko and surprisingly, his father, had made it clear that you were to be involved in their escape. But he was skeptical due to your previous position in the Fire Nation. Reluctantly, he pushed the door to the cell open and quietly slipped inside.

You shot up from your place on the floor at the sight of him. But, there was something off about this guard. He came off as a new recruit, but that was obviously not the truth.

"What do you want?" You growled, stepping back into an offensive stance.

"Uh, are you (Y/N)?"

This caught you off guard. It became clear that this "guard" was in fact, not a guard. There was something else at play here.

"Who's asking?" It was meant to come out as a question but ended up being more aggressive.

"My dad told me that you were escaping with us. I'm Sokka." He left out Zuko's name on purpose. He wanted to see your reaction. He wanted to see if you'd still help them without the prince.

"You're Hakoda's son?"

"Yeah.."

"He came up with a plan fast." You remarked, impressed by the older man. "What is it?"

A small smile grew on the Watertribe boy's face, and he began to fill you in on the details. Occasionally you would ask questions or drop in suggestions to improve things, but mostly you let him talk. He seemed to be like you in a sense that he had a mind for strategies. He was very clearly a diamond in the rough, but he was finding his shine. The two of you didn't have as much time as you would've liked to discuss the plan.

"Look for me in the yard once everyone is let out." He rose from his place on the ground and reached over to open the door and leave.

"Wait!" You said suddenly, jumping up from the ground. Sokka stopped and turned to look at you. It's a good plan, I think it just might work. You did a good job, thank you."

He wasn't able to hide the shock on his face, and instead of thanking you, he just nodded.

Once the door to your cell flew open, you were out of there in a flash. You bolted to the courtyard, pushing through all the hundreds of other prisoners. There were so many of them, how were you ever going to find Hakoda or Sokka? As you navigated through the growing crowd, you heard your name being faintly called. You turned to see Hakoda waving you over to where the rest of the group was.

"Hey," You said, running over to them. There was a girl that you hadn't met standing with them, but she looked familiar. Then it clicked. "Are you one of the Kyoshi warriors?"

She looked taken aback, "Yes, I'm the leader, Suki"

"That's so cool! I love your group, I think what you all do is amazing!" You marveled. She smiled at you as a form of gratitude, and the two of you quickly developed a mutual understanding of one another.

"This is it!" Called Sokka as he ran up to us. "We have to start a riot."

"Okay, but how do we do that."

Your eyes widened. This was a basic detail, and they forgot it. You bit your tongue to hold back the remarks that were threatening to spill.

"I'll show you." Smirked Hakoda. The older man made his way over to another prisoner and shoved him. And it failed, obviously.

You pinched the bridge of your nose and sighed, you were going to have to think quick.

"This isn't working," Sokka stressed.

"Yeah, no kidding." You grumbled.

"Do you have any better ideas!"

"Planning things was my job, of course, I do!" You retorted. You turned around to survey the courtyard. These were mostly Fire Nation prisoners, and the good majority were probably firebenders. And that meant one thing: Pent up anger. It was a known fact that the Warden didn't treat anyone here with any respect, so that was a common source for revenge among the prisoners. And to add fuel to the fire, everyone here must be incredibly bored. So, it would only take one simple action to set everyone off. The trick was figuring out what that action would be.

'Hey, you!" Called a new voice. "You're lucky I didn't rat you out. But my generosity comes with a price. I know you're planning another escape attempt, and I want in."

'Oh, he's perfect.' You thought, a lightbulb going off overhead.

"You," You directed, pointing at the new person. "We need a riot. Do me a favor and just go over there and have fun."

"I like your style." He smirked before following my instructions. Next, you turned to Suki and tilted your head slightly, indicating her to go ahead of us when she got a chance. She was a Kyoshi warrior, why not let her have fun.

'Impressive," remarked Hakoda as the courtyard erupted into chaos. "How did you get that idea?"

"As I said, it's my job to plan things."

"Oh, good Zuko! We're all here." Sokka exclaimed. Your heart just about stopped. Zuko was here?

You turned to see hair dark hair whipping around wildly as he ran towards the group. You just about melted as your gaze made contact with his golden orbs.

"Zuko." You whispered in disbelief.

The prince stopped dead in his tracks. "(Y/N)?"

Without another second passing, you jumped into his arms. Your arms locked around his neck and your legs went around his waist. He gripped your waist tightly while bringing one hand up and into your hair.

"You're okay." He breathed. "I've been worried ever since I left."

Sokka cleared his throat from behind us, full knowing that he was going to tease Zuko for this later. "I hate to break up the moment, but we need to get the Warden."

"Suki's on it," you replied as you untangled yourself from Zuko.

"Yeah, your girlfriend's taking care of it." We all turned to see Suki scaling the wall headed towards the Warden.

Intertwining you and Zuko's hand together you said, "Why are we still standing here? Let's go!"

By the time everyone caught up to the Kyoshi warrior, the Warden was officially our prisoner.

"How do you like my tactics now?" You questioned the Warden as Suki handed him off. He only glared at you, so you smirked triumphantly.

The path to the gondola was riddled with guards, but you were met with a group of them as you approached your method of escape. One of them fired a blast of fire at Sokka, but Zuko stepped in front of him and deflected it. You moved up next to Zuko and shot two equally powerful balls of fire towards the guards, forcing them back.

"Back off! We've got the Warden!" Zuko demanded and the guards reluctantly backed down.

You all crossed the bridge cautiously and you threw the gondola doors open. "Everyone get in!"

Once everyone was inside, Zuko shut the door and raced over to a lever. Where he proceeded to pull it and bash it, sending the gondola moving. You happened to look out the window just in time to see Zuko dodging fire blasts while jumping towards the gondola.

Once Sokka had pulled the prince safely inside the gondola, you an over to him and smacked his chest. "You absolute idiot! What on earth were you thinking?"

"I was making it so that the guards couldn't stop us."

"Shut up! I'm supposed to be the smart one!"

He laughed and moved some loose hair from your face. "You still are."

Your arms made their way around his torso as a sigh escaped your lips. It had been a while since the two of you had even had a moment of peace together. Even upon his return to the Fire Nation, the two of you scarcely saw each other. So, moments like these, with the two of you locked in each other's embrace, were treasured.

"I missed you, Zu."

"I missed you too."

Across the gondola, Hakoda leaned out of one of the windows and shouted, "Wait, who's that?"

He was pointing at the figures of Azula and Ty Lee racing up the cable towards the machine.

"That's a problem." Zuko groaned, his arm moving from the previous hug to gripped your waist. "It's my sister and her friend."

"This is the rematch I've been waiting for." Suki snarled, cracking her knuckles.

"You have no idea."

You, Sokka, Suki, and Zuko all climbed out of the gondola and onto the roof, ready to face the princess and her acrobatic friend. You stood up, taking an offensive position next to Zuko while Zula pulled herself up onto the roof. The prince's arm flew out in front of you as if to protect you, not that you needed it, but anything is possible with Azula.

"Oh, how cute." Azula sneered. "The two traitors protecting each other."

She delivered a flawless kick which sent a blast of blue fire towards us. Zuko managed to block the first two blasts, but when Azula sent a surprisingly big blast, he was thrown back. It took everything in you not to check on him and focus on your opponent. He would be alright, and you knew that.

Wasting no time, you jumped into a front ariel, dodging Azula's next blast and sending your own towards her. Landing in a crouched position, you glowered at her. "You just had to ruin everything, didn't you?"

"Now, why would I let you and Zuzu have all the fun?" Two more quick shots of blue fire were sent at you, and you bearly managed to block them from the ground. Backbending back, you shot more fire from your feet at the princess in an attempt to throw her off guard.

"You know," she mused. "You could come back. Regain your rank on the council, and have your name cleared. We could forget this ever happened."

"Why would I do that?" It was rhetorical, but Azula answered anyways.

"Maybe then your family wouldn't get hurt."

Your guard instantly went down. You had completely forgotten to ensure your family's safety. The events of your arrest had happened so fast that you didn't think up a way to protect them.

Azula saw her chance. Your guard was down, and you were vulnerable. The princess sent a bolt of lightening square into your shoulder, and you were thrown into the metal hold of the gondola.

Your ears started to ring, and your shoulder felt as if it had been lit on fire. Slowly, your senses started to fade. Azula was standing over you, talking, but you couldn't make out what she was saying. All you could focus on was the growing, hot pain in your shoulder. The last clear thing you saw before your vision blurred was Azula holding out her fingers, preparing to fire again.

You blinked, and suddenly Zuko was standing over you, forcing his sister back.

You blinked again, attempting to keep your mind from completely fogging. But the pain was so intense. The last thing you felt before losing complete consciousness was you being lifted up off the ground and handed off like a rag doll.

Later that night, everyone was sound asleep on the airship they had stolen from Azula. Well, everyone except for Zuko. He hadn't left your side since they had taken off. Worry practically radiated off of him ad he clutched your limp hand for dear life. He had only just gotten you back, and now you might be taken away from him again.

"You idiot." He mumbled to your unconscious form. "Why did you try to take Azula on your own. You're supposed to be the smart one."

He knew that that wasn't fair, but he couldn't help it. You had always been able to hold your own, even as kids. But he couldn't help but feel protective over you. You were the one thing in his life that had remained consistent. You never gave up on him, you were always there for him, and you always forgave him. He had already lost Iroh, he couldn't lose you too.

"You love her, don't you?" Sokka remarked, coming up from behind the prince.

"I thought you were sleeping."

"Don't avoid my question."

Zuko turned back to gaze down at your fragile form. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"She's a lucky girl to have someone who cares so much." He patted Zuko's shoulder reassuringly. "She'll be okay."

Moments after Sokka had walked away, Zuko felt your hand shift. His head shot up as you groaned.

"Zuko..?" Your voice was scratchy, but it was the most beautiful sound that he had ever heard.

You tried to sit up, only for Zuko to gently place his hands around you and move you to a sitting position.

"Easy, (Y/N), you were just struck by lightning."

"Is that so?" you grumbled sarcastically. "I take back what I said to Sokka, your friends are bad at battle strategies."

"I know." He said laughing lightly. But after a moment he grew serious and asked, "How did you end up in the Boiling Rock?"

"Your father found out that I helped plan your escape, and that I knew about the invasion on the day of the eclipse. Obviously, I forgot to inform him about either so he sent me there. He thought that by my being at the Boiling Rock, he would still have access to my skills if needed."

You watched as the guilt flooded into Zuko's golden eyes. "It's my fault you were put there. I'm so sorry about everything. You've done everything, risked everything for me, and this is how I repay you."

"Zuko, I made those decisions on my own. I wouldn't have helped you if I didn't think it was right. I will always be by your side. And I will always support whatever crazy choices you make."

"Thank you so much, I don't think I've said that to you enough. Thank you. Where would I be without you?"

"Probably lost in a tunnel." A smile spread across both of your faces.

"Zuko I-"

"(Y/N) I-"

"Oh! I'm sorry-"

"Sorry I-" Our words overlapped each other.

"Wait," You weakly held you a hand. "You first, Prince Zuko."

"But-"

"Go."

Zuko's heart started to beat so loud that he was sure you could hear it. "(Y/N), I just wanted to say that I... I like you. More than a friend! Spirits, I might even love you! I've never felt this way about anyone before and I- I don't know what to do. You make me feel safe and loved and free, all at the same time! I can always be myself around you! We've been through so much together and I.." He trailed off. "I hope you feel the same."

He began to grow nervous as the seconds of silence ticked by. Did he overstep by confessing everything to you? Suddenly. you pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, cutting off his anxious thoughts. Zuko began to relax into it and kissed you back deeper. Once the kiss broke, you pressed your forehead to his and brought your hand to the side of his face.

"I love you too, stupid."

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jessiewritesthings · 4 years

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Saudade - Pt. III

Prince Zuko x Reader

Part three is here and ready to rumble! I’ve decided that there needs to be an epilogue here, because I just haven’t had enough of this whole thing so that will be coming in the next few days! Thank you endlessly for all the love it means the absolute WORLD to me x

Part I - Part II - Epilogue

It was extremely fortunate for Zuko that it hadn’t taken long for the others to welcome him into their group – albeit with a fair amount of hesitation, which he couldn’t exactly blame them for. Burning Toph had been an accident – one that had upset Zuko to no end. The fact that he had turned up without you had also raised concern – Katara was particularly unimpressed that he’d left without you, despite explaining multiple times that you had refused to join him.

Zuko had sighed in frustration, running his hands through his hair. He wasn’t sure how many times he would be able to go over the scenario again.

“You could have just taken her, though? That probably would have worked,” Sokka had commented, chewing sloppily on his bowl of porridge.

“I’m not sure that would have made y/n feel any better towards Zuko, don’t you think?” Aang sat across from his friend, lounging against a boulder Toph had pulled up for them to rest on.

“Hmm. Guess not,” Sokka replied. Zuko frowned, although he knew Aang was right. You’d made it pretty clear that you weren’t sure Zuko was worth your trust, no matter how much you wanted to believe in him.

“Anyway, y/n wouldn’t leave if she knew Azula was going to hurt all those innocent people. She would hate the thought of that. I think you made the right choice, Zuko, even if it doesn’t feel like it.” Aang stood up to place a hand on Zuko’s shoulder. An automatic flinch rolled through Zuko and Aang pulled his hand back, sharply.

“Sorry,” Zuko whispered, looking up at Aang. “I’m not used to… friendly touches yet.”

“No worries, buddy. We’ll get you there.”

Katara rolled her eyes, sitting away from the boys as she silently played with a ball of water in her palms. It was obvious to Zuko, and the rest of the group, that Katara wasn’t fond of him and it didn’t look like she was going to warm up any time soon.

Toph, on the other hand – or burnt foot – had no major qualms about Zuko joining them, almost as if she had known he would join them all along.

“You guys are forgetting one major thing – y/n is tough. All she’d need to do is wait for the full moon, and she could be on her way out of the Fire Nation like that,” a snap of her fingers slamming two rocks together, shattering gently over the cliff-side.

“I don’t think you understand – it’s hard enough getting into the Fire Nation. Leaving as a prisoner is unheard of. And what does a full moon even have to do with it?” Even as the words left his mouth, Zuko knew he was wrong – he’d gone to the Prison Tower after leaving you, hoping to rescue and reunite with his Uncle Iroh, but had been left wanting when he found his Uncle had already made his own escape.

Katara scoffed, a gleam in her eye as she turned to face the group, the water in her palms slapping to the ground behind her.

“Zuko, I think you should know by now that the full moon enhances the powers of waterbenders,” she started with an eyebrow raised. “Of course, y/n wouldn’t be that foolish. She’s more powerful that you even know.”

“But even the most powerful waterbender would struggle to escape from the Prison Tower, full moon or not. I know she’s strong, but I don’t think anyone is that strong,” Zuko exclaimed, the exasperation evident in his voice. Why was Katara fighting him on this? He knew every detail of the Fire Nation’s defence force.

“Oh, for spirit’s sake, Katara. Don’t make it so hard for the man,” Sokka interrupted. He looked positively jovial, a stark contrast from his younger sisters’ hardy stance. “Y/n can bloodbend, Zuko.”

Realisation fell across Zuko’s features, piecing it together in his mind.

“Bloodbending… I’ve only heard rumours of that. The palace library had ancient Water Tribe scrolls, and a few of them spoke of old, ancient waterbending skills that could cause more harm than any other bending. I never thought it would be true though,” he murmured, putting his elbows to his knees and his face to his hands.

Katara returned to the group, sitting on her knees next to Aang.

“It’s… a terrifying power. No one needs that sort of control.” Zuko watched as Katara fumbled with her fingers, twisting them through her skirt, hair covering her face as she looked at the ground. Aang shifted closer to her side, placing an arm around her shoulder.

“How did she learn to bloodbend? Are there more of you?”

Katara shook her head, wiping a tear from her eye as she looked at Zuko.

“Not that I know of. Well – there was one, but we dealt with that. I’m not really sure how y/n learnt, though. Master Pakku, her grandfather, is a master waterbender, so maybe he encouraged it. But he also thinks women shouldn’t bend at all, so that’s probably unlikely.”

Zuko considered Katara’s words, and Toph rolled over onto her stomach, resting her chin in her hands. Like Zuko, she was also pretty unfamiliar with your past, and it just seemed awfully curious that a waterbender raised by someone with such staunch beliefs as Master Pakku could end up with the kind of strength you had.

“Well, if y/n’s grandfather doesn’t believe women should bend, how did she learn? She was a master waterbender before you all arrived in Agna Qel’a, right?”

Sokka grinned, leaning back as he placed his empty bowl of porridge on the ground.

“Oh, yeah. She was feisty. Absolutely wiped us all out when we caught her bending, by accident.

Aang chuckled, smiling fondly at the memory.

“She only told us that she’d been able to master waterbending by spying on the men as they trained and copying their moves against ice sculptures she would create. I have no idea how she didn’t get caught, though. Pakku lost his biscuits when he caught me trying to teach Katara what I’d learnt from him,” Aang explained.

“She’s a master healer too,” Katara continued. “I’d heard rumours of her before we’d even left the Southern Water Tribe.”

“Bad. Ass,” Toph exclaimed with a grin.

A soft bloom of red crept across Zuko, not going unnoticed by the others.

“Oh, what’s that Sparky? I can feel you beating,” Toph remarked with a cheeky laugh, slapping one hand on the stone floor.

Sokka leapt up from the ground, jumping in excitement as he pointed at Zuko.

“Oh, I get it now! You like her, don’t you? Y/n and Zuko, sitting in a tree…”

The campfire flame crept higher as Zuko buried his head in his hands. Katara watched him carefully, reassuringly patting Aang on the knee in thanks for his comfort.

“It doesn’t matter,” Zuko retorted. “She would never want me.”

“Zuko, y/n gave you one of her most precious possessions. Don’t underestimate yourself.” Zuko glanced at Katara in shock – out of all of them, he figured she’d be against the idea the most, seeing as she was having the hardest time forgiving him for his past actions.

“My family, they’ve hurt her. Put her through so much. Her scars… I just don’t know if I can believe you, Katara.”

“You don’t have to. Just wait and see,” she replied, with a shrug of her shoulders and a small smile. Aang looked between the two of them, grinning. Zuko sighed, lost in thought as his fingers fiddled with the hair clip in his pockets.

“Well, Zuko’s infatuation aside, how do we get y/n out?” Toph asked, her cheek to the ground.

“Well, I’ve been thinking of a master plan-” Sokka began, hands flapping excitedly.

“-We don’t.”

“What do you mean we don’t?” Katara replied, a scowl on her face as she folded her arms.

Zuko swallowed, realising all eyes were on him and they didn’t look pleased.

“You’ve said it yourselves. Y/n is strong – stronger than I had reason to believe. And she’s smart. Azula is more likely to use her as a weapon than actually hurt her any further. I know you don’t like the idea of her being there, and I want to get y/n out too, but it’s too risky.”

“Zuko’s right. Sozin’s comet is only a few weeks away. As long as the Fire Nation has need of a healer, y/n will be okay.” It wasn’t the first time Aang had spoken up in support of Zuko, and he was entirely grateful to have the Avatar’s support. Appa yawned in support of Aang, and that seemed to settle the argument, Katara relenting as her arms fell to her sides.

“We’ll get her back, Katara,” Zuko promised. “If it’s the last thing I do, we’ll get her back.”

_____

Sozin’s Comet

You’d been in the infirmary when you noticed Fire Lord Ozai and Princess Azula leave the palace in their palanquins. Dropping the bandages you’d been carefully arranging, you knelt to the floor, crawling to the nearest window as you silently watched them pass. You knew what this meant. Azula had considered it of the utmost importance that you were informed of the imminent attack on the Earth Kingdom – she so badly wanted to see you suffer, especially when the Fire Lord returned victorious.

The time is now, you thought as your brows furrowed. Looking down at your palms, you flexed your fingers. You’d spent every moment locked in your cell practising your bloodbending, knowing that the time would come where you would need to utilise your power. It had been hard, at first – for starters, you’d only ever practised on the full moon. You’d taken to capturing rodents while the guards weren’t paying attention in the infirmary, taking them to your cell and focussing all your energy on harnessing your power. It had taken some time, but you’d finally been able to do it without aid from the full moon.

Carefully, you walked over to your work bench, avoiding the floorboards you knew would creak. Pulling the bench out slightly, you removed the rug on the floor, using a pair of scissors to jimmy the floorboards up. Here you had hidden your most important possession – your water skin. It wasn’t much, but it would be enough to get you out. Tucking the skin into your belt, pulling your shirt over to cover it, you replaced the floorboards, pushing the bench back into place.

“Where do you think you’re going, water rat?”

Scowling, you turned to face the guards, palm raised in front of you.

“Get out of my way.” Your voice was cold, distant.

The guards sniggered, in disbelief that you would try to defy them – with Sozin’s Comet only days away, no less.

The two of them prepared to attack, one foot raising as another hand came down, but before they could finish you stopped them in their tracks. Spasms started, first in their hands, up their arms, their chests convulsing as they dropped to their knees.

Keeping your palm faced towards them, you made your way to the door, one hand on the handle as your fingers slowly formed a fist. The guards collapsed, heaving, weak and disoriented from your attack. Water streamed out from your palms as you directed it to their wrists, chains of ice securing them together.

Without a second glance you left the infirmary, hiding in the shadows as you followed the palanquin carrying Princess Azula. You knew the Fire Lord was leaving for the attack, and you all but assumed Azula would be at his side, but you needed to know for sure. There was something in your gut that told you something big was going to happen today – not just the comet, but something that even Fire Lord Ozai was unable to predict.

Creeping along behind the grey walls, you halted as you came to an opening, gasping as you saw rows upon rows of Fire Nation soldiers, kneeling as Ozai and Azula were carried past them. All you could feel was despair as you watched on, the sea of red doing much to overwhelm you and make you feel hopeless. There were so many of them. And with Sozin’s Comet just one day away, you knew that their power would only be increasing. Placing your hands on the concrete in front of you, you focussed on your breath in an attempt to calm yourself down.

Aang will show up. I know he will.

Your face shrivelled when Azula poked her head out of the palanquin, and you ducked behind the wall. You were well out of sight, but if you were caught spying now, then the guards you had left in the infirmary would surely be found soon after – and you were sure that an explanation for that wouldn’t come easily.

Peeking out again, you saw that Azula had caught up with Ozai at the platform, kneeling before him. They were just out of earshot, but you could see through Azula’s body language that something had changed – that Ozai had changed his plans. It was evident that Azula wasn’t impressed with these changes – you had managed to pick up on the change in her voice, even though you couldn’t make out the words. It almost seemed like she was shrieking, arguing with the Fire Lord – you’d almost consider her brave, if you didn’t know any better.

Ozai turned around to face Azula now, the tension releasing from her body as Ozai’s guards fitted him with his armour. He raised his arms, the guards now raising a large flag behind him. A huff of air escaped you as you stepped back, almost tripping over your own feet as you heard Ozai, loud and clear as he declared himself the Phoenix King. Banners with the same image from the flag popped up in front of the Fire Nation banners, fire streaming out from behind Ozai. The soldiers knelt again, a declaration of their loyalty to their new King, and you shuddered as the realisation hit you – Azula would become Fire Lord.

Your mind was racing as you made your way back to the infirmary, creeping along as you had done just hours before. Azula would be on her way back to the palace shortly, waiting to see the Phoenix King off before assuming her role as Fire Lord. Spirits, you hoped that Prince Zuko would show up and prevent her from taking the throne. Ozai was awful enough, but something told you Azula would be even worse at the helm of a nation.

The guards were still collapsed on the floor when you returned to the infirmary, and you thanked a silent prayer that they hadn’t been roused and set the alarm. Melting the ice on their wrists, you hauled each guard onto a bed, removing their armour and covering them with a sheet. Closing your eyes, you tuned your hands into them, attempting what you’d practised on the rodents. Your knuckles flexed, before your hand relaxed, placing a hand on each wrist to check for a pulse. A sigh of relief slipped from your lips as you felt a pulse from each guard, confirming that your plan had worked. You knew from the beginning that you didn’t want to kill anyone unless there were no other options – but if you could use your bloodbending to cause someone to pass out, things would certainly become a lot easier.

A sharp rap on the infirmary door startled you, and you quickly went outside, shielding your eyes from the blinding sun.

“Fire Lord Azula has asked for you,” the guard spoke sharply. “Come.” Two guards gripped your forearms, forcing you along. They yanked at your arm as they clutched you, breaking the skin beneath your shirt.

Sweat dripped down your back as you were forced up the stairs of the palace, your hair plastered to your forehead. The sky was slowly beginning to turn a dirty brown colour, which meant the comet was getting closer. You were dropped to your knees in the throne room, eyes widening at Azula sitting behind her wall of blue flame. Her dishevelled look concerned you – the usually immaculate black hair hanging loosely around her face, scraps of fringe sprinkled across her forehead.

“Bow to me, water rat. Tomorrow I will be crowned Fire Lord of the Fire Nation, and I want you to be there to see it happen. I want to see the misery in your face when you realise that you lost.”

You placed your hands on the floor, kneeling forward for Azula. She sneered down at you, fingers tapping the arm of the throne, her black hair flowing softly in retaliation to the flicker of her flames.

“Congratulations, Fire Lord Azula.” The words felt strange leaving your mouth, and you struggled to keep your composure as a wave of anxiety rippled through you.

“I don’t need your congratulations,” she spat. “I was born for this!”

You’re just lucky, you thought. Lucky that Zuko isn’t heartless, like you.

Keeping your head low, you nodded. Azula’s energy was off – she was jittery, she looked exhausted, and her remarks seemed uncalculated, which was a stark difference to the Azula you were used to dealing with. The crackling of fire in the room made you aware that you were alone with Azula – at least, it appeared that way. I could attack her now, put an end to her. The thought didn’t give you any kind of relief – your scar pulsing as if in warning. She certainly seemed off her game at the moment, but you’d seen enough of Azula to know that she liked to play games, and she always lied. How could you be sure it wasn’t all an act?

Azula leapt over the flames, landing in front of you.

“I’ll keep you here tonight. You’ll be needed in the morning. I’ve banished most of my servants you see – all traitors!”

Your fingers twitched again – just one small movement and you could have her under your control. It moved almost voluntarily, you hadn’t even planned on moving it yourself, but Zuko’s face flashed into your mind and you pressed your hands against the warm concrete. Azula was his family, no matter what she had done. It was his fight.

“I see,” you replied, peeling back off your knees, wiping your palms on your pants.

“Of course, I can’t let you run around the palace by yourself,” she jeered, a vicious gleam in her eye.

She flicked her palm up as a wall of flame towered around you, forcing you to your back as smaller rings of fire looped across your ankles and wrists, binding you.

“If you try to get out, you’ll burn. I don’t think you can afford anymore scars, do you?” Azula cackled as she stalked out of the throne room, not giving you a second glance.

She was right – you could barely move without a searing burn ripping through you. Lying on the floor of the throne room, you cursed in despair. Even if you were able to shuffle around, the ring of fire surrounding you would prevent you from getting anywhere. Sweat fell heavily from you now, your clothes damp in the creases. You could bend your sweat – hopefully that would deal with the flames on your body. Carefully you manoeuvred your fingers, hoping that your will alone would pull the sweat on your body to the fire chained around your wrists. Your water skin was still safely tucked into your belt, hidden by your shirt. If you could get your hands free you’d then be able to get out of your heated prison.

Your brows furrowed in concentration as you watched your sweat crawl across your body, running slowly towards your hands. The sensation wasn’t soothing, like standing in the rain was, it was uncomfortable and you wanted to squirm – you imagined that the beads of sweat were small slugs, creeping over you. Finally, enough water reached your wrists, and the flames dissipated.

Hands quick, you ripped your water skin from your belt, opening the sack and extinguishing the fire at your ankles, before sending a short downpour over the ring of flames – just enough to get you out before they rose high once again.

The throne room was empty when you glanced around – much to your surprise, the palace seemed mostly deserted. Azula had mentioned earlier that she’d banished some servants, but you didn’t take her words quite so literally.

You left the palace undetected, the sky turning a deeper red as night began to fall. A cool wind blew, jostling your hair as you turned away from the palace. You wandered through the lanes discretely, though no one was about. Exhausted, you collapsed in an abandoned stable, curling up and falling into a dreamless sleep, knowing that when you woke everything would be about to change.

_____

Your eyes glowed red, the fiery glow from Sozin’s Comet rousing you from sleep. Blinking slowly, you left the stable, intent on making your way back to the palace to confront Azula. A strange groan echoed through the air, and you looked up to see Appa, heading towards the palace with two passengers.

“Zuko,” you whispered, breaking into a run.

It wasn’t long before the palace courtyard was illuminated with Zuko and Azula’s fire, blue and orange pressed together. Spotting Katara, you ran to her side, pressing a soft hand to her palm in greeting.

She gasped as she saw you, gripping your hand in response.

“Y/n,” she whispered, “you’re okay.” The two of you returned your attention to Zuko and Azula, and your heart leapt to your throat at the sight of him. Relief flooded through you, your constant worries since he had left you in the infirmary slipping away.

Katara edged forward, and as Azula channelled her lightning she shot it at Katara, a wave of panic engulfing you. Zuko leapt forward, protecting Katara and getting a bolt of lightning to his chest. Azula cackled maniacally – you had known she was losing her stability – and Katara took over the battle, attacking Azula with all her power.

Sprinting towards Zuko, you collapsed over him, his head in your hands.

“Zuko, please,” you murmured, tears collecting in the corner of your eyes.

A hot flame seared across your back, and you turned to face Azula, a fierce shot of ice pummelling her way. As Katara distracted her, you focussed on Zuko again, water pooling over his chest as you placed your palms on top, that familiar silvery-blue glow starting to shimmer. Zuko groaned beneath you as Katara sealed herself into an ice prison with Azula, chaining her to the grates that held the Caldera’s water supply.

“Y/n,” Zuko stuttered, his voice hoarse.

Smiling, you pulled him into your arms, your hands clasped around his neck. He nestled his head into your shoulder, pressing a gentle kiss to your collarbone before rising, facing his sister as Katara rejoined you.

Azula was wild, in a frenzy as her fire breathed hot and blue from her mouth. Tears streamed down her face, her hair choppy and unkempt. You felt pity for her, strangely enough. She had hurt you, belittled you, underestimated you, sure. You didn’t feel pity for Princess Azula though – you felt pity for the young, impressionable girl who had grown into someone filled with such hatred, that the only option for others was to fear her. Ozai was certainly no honourable figure to have around, and as you clasped your hand around Zuko’s, you felt so grateful that he had been able to see past his father, see past his reputation as Crown Prince, and follow his own path.

Katara turned to you now, properly looking at you as she pulled you into a crushing hug.

“Oh, y/n, I was so worried about you. We all were.”

You smiled softly, shrugging.

“I’m still here,” you replied. “Though I cannot wait to feel the ocean around me again. I’ve felt oddly… dry for some time.” Zuko’s gaze was on you, and despite his pain, a feeling of warmth he hadn’t felt for years was beginning to take place.

_____

The palace courtyard heaved with a happy hum. Citizens from all over had gathered to witness the coronation of Fire Lord Zuko – the mark of a new era.

You watched him in admiration, standing with your grandfather, Katara, Sokka and the rest of the Water Tribe.

His voice rang clear across the courtyard, more confident than you’d ever seen him. Aang stood next to him, proudly watching his friend become the leader he was born to be – even if he did not always believe it.

Sokka elbowed you, leaning into your ear to whisper.

“Your turn next, Fire Lady,” he muttered, laughing softly to himself. Katara thumped him square in the back, and you stifled a laugh as Pakku and Hakoda turned to scold the three of you.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you whispered back with a giggle.

“You know he’s in love with you, right?” Sokka looked at you from the corner of his eye as Katara whacked him again.

“Sokka! Don’t ruin it!”

You gave Sokka your best quizzical look, but he looked at you apologetically before zipping his lips and throwing his palms up in a shrug.

Huffing, you returned your attention to the palace steps. In the distance, behind Zuko and Aang, you could see Mai hovering in the background.

You watched her carefully as she winked at you, and while Zuko spoke about uniting the Four Nations you realised that nothing had changed – he was still unattainable. Not because he didn’t care for you – you didn’t wholly trust Sokka’s words, even though you had a feeling there was truth to them – but because he was still Fire Lord. There would be standards and traditions to keep, and ultimately, a Water Tribe Fire Lady wouldn’t fit in.

Clasping your hands together, you decided you would leave on the first ship heading back to the Northern Water Tribe. Pakku had changed his ways, and it was high time that women were taught how to waterbend by a master – a female master at that.

A silent sort of grief filed through your body, aching for a life you might have had with Zuko. You knew it was for the best, and you had intended on leaving him a note to explain your absence – facing him was just too hard.

Slipping the note into Katara’s hands, you thanked her, before leaving the palace courtyard and making your way to the harbour. Here you would wait for the next available ship, your legs dangling over the water in the dark. The water trickled through your hands – spirits it felt good to bend fresh water again. There was silence all around you – everyone on Capital Island had attended the coronation, and the festivities continued onto the streets as the night wore on.

A soft, orange glow reflected from the water beneath you, your breath running cold.

“Katara came to me with this note. She said it couldn’t wait.”

Biting your lip, you stood up to face Zuko.

“I know that none of this has been easy for you, but I never thought you’d leave without saying goodbye,” he murmured. The sadness in his eyes made your heart ache.

“Zuko, it’s not that easy,” you whispered. “We can’t have a future together. There are certain… expectations you have to uphold. Mai is much better suited for the Fire Lord of the Fire Nation,” a small laugh escaping your lips as you tried to lighten the atmosphere.

“I don’t love Mai,” Zuko responded fiercely. “I love you.”

“Please, Zuko. You can’t change my mind.”

He considered you, watching carefully as your fingers twitched at your sides, your hair softly blowing in the wind.

“I won’t make you stay. But y/n, you must know. I have yearned for you since you first touched my face so delicately in the Crystal Catacombs. No one, save for my mother, has ever been that gentle with me. I didn’t even realise that’s how this could feel,” he exclaimed, gesturing between the two of you.

Your breath hitched in your throat at his words, eyes closed as you pulled his hands into yours, bringing them to your chest.

“Zuko.” You brought his fingers to your lips, kissing the tips gently. “Maybe in another life.”

“I won’t give up on you, y/n. I gave my heart to you in Ba Sing Se, and I want you to keep it. Maybe that way, when I meet you again, we will be ready.”

Tears began to roll down your cheek as Zuko released himself from your grip, reaching up to place his hands in your hair, pulling you closer as you pressed his lips to yours. You felt yourself erupt, feeling everything everywhere as your mind focussed on one thing only: his lips his lips his lips. Zuko’s fingers knotted into your hair, caressing you wildly as you held one hand against his chest and the other delicately resting on his scar.

A loud bang echoed through the air as the night sky was dappled in colours of blue, green, white, gold and red, fireworks to celebrate the new Fire Lord.

Zuko looked at you, solemnly, holding your hands in his as you pulled away from each other.

“You are always welcome in the Fire Nation, y/n. I will always want you.”

The Fire Lord turned away from you, wiping a tear from his eye. His heart was hammering, and he didn’t know what to do. He hadn’t even been Fire Lord for a day, and you were right to an extent – his advisors would most definitely want a Fire Nation queen.

A gentle sob escaped you as you watched Zuko retreat, hand clutching your robes as if that would alleviate the pain.

“Zuko, wait – I do love you. I’m sorry it’s happened this way. But I love you. You are the sun, and when I stand in it, I am warmed.”

_____

Zuko was ridiculously proud of himself. Three years on from his coronation, he was holding the first Fire Lily Festival in years – his first since becoming Fire Lord. Ozai hadn’t been particularly fond of any festivities that didn’t encourage the war efforts, and so it had been some time since the citizens of the Fire Nation had been able to enjoy the excitement that they brought.

Zuko’s mother, Ursa, had helped with many of the details of festival – and she had exclaimed to Zuko that it would be a magnificent idea to invite citizens of the Four Nations – something to welcome them to the new Fire Nation – one that resided on love and peace, not hatred and war.

The palace courtyard was buzzing with people, the hum of laughter and music and good spirits could be felt from miles away.

Zuko stood with his friends, laughing with Aang as Toph played with his younger sister, Kiyi. Toph was making rocks rise in small squares, and Kiyi was attempting to smack them back down before Toph removed them for her. Aang and Katara stood underneath the cherry blossoms, holding hands as they admired delicate art made from the Fire Lily flower.

Zuko sighed, excusing himself from the group as he retreated to the rear of the palace, in need of a quick quiet space to think.

A soft flame in his hand, he followed the path around to the pond, intending to sit for a moment with the turtle ducks, when he saw you.

You had your back to him, unaware of anyone approaching you. You hadn’t been sure about attending, but Katara had convinced you that it wouldn’t be weird at all. You’d tried to ask about Mai, but she’d promptly shut you down, informing you that she’d gone to the liberty of getting you a dress made for the event and that her answer was final.

Smiling to yourself, you sent a soft trickle of water over the turtle ducks, laughing as they frolicked in the water.

Zuko couldn’t believe himself – he would have been convinced you were a vision, just a figment of his imagination, until you laughed and the soft sound vibrated through his entire being.

You were beautiful – always had been – in your blue dress, wrapped around your body, your arms exposed in the heat of the spring. Your skin was darker, your hair lighter, and he could see small dark tattoos on your fingers, in various different symbols. Your hair fell simply down your back, pulled back from your face in a braid, white beads dotted through so they looked like stars in the night sky.

“I didn’t think you’d come.”

You turned to face Zuko, dropping the water you’d been holding in your palm over your dress.

“Oh, spirits,” you muttered, flicking at the dress to get the water off.

“Here, let me,” Zuko murmured, moving closer as he held the fabric between his fingers, running his palm over it. It dried immediately, the warmth seeping through your skin.

“Fire Lord Zuko,” you said with a smile, bowing ever so slightly.

“Oh, stop. I’m just Zuko.”

“Okay, just Zuko,” you replied with a giggle. You weren’t sure where this was coming from – you’d been so afraid to see him and make a fool of yourself, but your giddiness was running absolutely rampant. Seeing Zuko again – it felt about the same as when you had finally immersed yourself in the ocean after being imprisoned by Azula for so long.

“You look well,” he commented. You smiled bashfully, ducking your face from view. Zuko looked good too – in fact, he’d never looked better. He looked strong and healthy, exactly what one would expect in a leader.

“Thank you, Zuko. I’m doing well. I’ve been travelling between the Poles, teaching healing and bending and – and it’s going well,” you said. You couldn’t even speak; your nerves were affecting you that much.

“Wait here,” he instructed. “I’ll be right back.”

You did as you were told, taking a seat on the grass next to the pond, removing your shoes as you dipped your toes in the water. Zuko returned quickly, following your lead and taking a seat next to you. A shiver ran through you as you felt his warmth – how long has it been since I’ve had this?

Silently, Zuko reached for your hand, placing in it a beautiful, vibrant, fire lily.

“I’ve waited some time to give you one of these,” he murmured, pink blush colouring his cheeks.

You placed your hand over his, squeezing it softly.

“For so long, I’ve thought about this moment. When you were… when you were a prisoner, and I brought you the water, I could only think of one thing. When I was a boy, I picked a fire lily for my mother, but Azula distracted me and it died. I tried to revive it, give it more water, but it was useless. And when you were in the Tower, all I could think about was what would happen to you if you dried out. I should have done more. I should have stood up to my father sooner. But I was scared. And seeing you that day, the way you completely changed with the water in your palms… I know I’ve made some bad choices, but you gave me hope.”

You wrapped your arms around Zuko, feeling the weight of his confession evaporate as he melted into you. You could feel his tears as they dripped down your back, and tears of your own trickled down your face.

“Sometimes good people do bad things. What’s important is what we learn from our mistakes.”

“Yes,” he mumbled into you. “I’ll be damned if I ever let you dry out again.”

Zuko found your lips now, his arms roving over you as your heart thumped in your chest. A small laugh escaped your lips between hot, messy kisses and Zuko pulled back, eyebrows raised.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I just have this odd feeling that everyone is going to know about this, soon,” you said, gesturing between the two of you. “Toph has excellent hearing,” you laughed as Zuko pulled you into his arms, legs intertwined with his.

“Don’t leave me again,” Zuko whispered as he pressed hot, desperate kisses to your neck. “I couldn’t bear it.”

“No,” you agreed. “I just want to be close to you.”

“Mmm. To have you in my arms is enough.”

_____

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seyaryminamoto · 3 years

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I think the episode Th Beach was supposed to portray Zuko in a sympathetic manner, but in my opinion it makes Zuko look worse. This is the ONLY episode in which Zuko spends a substantial amount of time interacting with the fire nation citizens, and he can barely control his jealously and temper around them. He even wreaked Chan’s house. Those are his future subjects. He should have learned to treat them better if he’s ever going to be fire lord.

Playing the devil’s advocate just slightly, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I’m pretty sure Zuko’s complete incompatibility with the Fire Nation during the first half of Book 3 intended to convey a message that says Zuko doesn’t know how to fit in with his old life anymore. Hence, he couldn’t have a particularly positive thing going for him in the Fire Nation besides Mai, because then he’d have enough roots to keep him locked down in his role as Ozai’s heir and he wouldn’t feel as easily compelled to turn his back on his royal life and do the right thing.

Nonetheless, it is a problem from a thematic standpoint, I agree 100% with that. I have more than enough problems with Zuko’s character arc, but that his connection with his nation is practically severed or non-existent feels really wrong to me, especially when the show makes a point to feature Team Avatar bonding with ordinary Fire Nation citizens, and even finding some, like Piandao, who aren’t supporters of Ozai’s rule.

In my personal opinion, Zuko could have undergone a storyline akin to that of Alejandro in Mask of Zorro, who was absolutely out of place amid nobles, but he had to play a role so he could find the information he needed and put an end to their self-serving plans. There’s a very heartwrenching scene in that movie when the group of nobles are basically touring a gold mine where enslaved locals are forced to serve their lords, and one of these slaves, an old friend of Alejandro’s, attemps to attack them only to get killed immediately by the asshole captain protecting the nobles. Alejandro then steps forward and cradles the dying man, who recognizes him and realizes what Alejandro is doing, disguised as a nobleman... and then the man dies in his arms, smiling because he believes Alejandro will set things right. But he still dies, and Alejandro is obviously both livid and depressed about it because he couldn’t save his friend.

Obviously... there’s no way Zuko would be put in a similar situation, at least not a situation that’s 100% the same as this, it’d be way too dark for Avatar even if Avatar did feature dark situations when it suited the plot. But if Zuko’s journey had been mapped thoroughly from day one... gee, how about Jet doesn’t die, but instead gets captured and handed over to the Fire Nation, and Zuko finds him in a cell at the Prison Tower when he’s on his way to meet Iroh? His old frenemy, in horrible shape... Zuko finds he doesn’t care about the past, because he knows this is wrong and Jet’s been through more than enough by Fire Nation hands, so he releases the guy and they escape! And then Jet potentially acknowledges that not all Fire Nation people are garbage thanks to Zuko... while Zuko realizes, through Jet’s words, that if there’s good in the Fire Nation he has to find a way to help it grow, and that there’s so much he can start doing to fix the mess of a country he’s supposed to rule someday.

With that as a starting point, Zuko could begin to travel through his nation, to learn more about his people, to visit cities and villages and find out if they’re living well or not (then maybe confront his father about their living conditions, showing a Zuko who’s no longer scared of standing up to Ozai, not even if it means risking the approval he chased after so desperately for years). Imagine him showing up at Jang Hui village, finding this horrid situation the villagers are living in! He’d not only cross paths with Team Avatar, which could be interesting at this stage, but he’d also potentially offer the people an alternate living location because he wants them to be free to live in better conditions than this... only for Team Avatar’s approach to teach him that maybe the answer isn’t running away or leaving when your house is on fire, but to put out the fire by any means you have available. Then, Zuko could start having many similar epiphanies throughout his journeys in his own country and understand that his work with the Fire Nation has to be FOR the Fire Nation itself, and not the glorified concept his father believes in: he’d have to work for the people who are unaware of how oppressed they are, the people who barely can get by in these times of war, those who have lost family, those who have lost friends, all be it for a war that makes no sense. Had Zuko’s character arc focused on THIS rather than exclusively on his own internal struggle... you probably wouldn’t see that many Zuko-critical posts on my blog. It would convey a strong message about what it really means to be a leader, and Zuko’s character would benefit greatly from that.

... But yep. Instead we got him losing his temper at small triggers, acting out and being very much socially inept. I understand what they were going for, I repeat it, and I don’t think it’s fundamentally WRONG... but I do think it’s too simple considering the scope of the story they were telling, and the character development they were trying to build for Zuko. There’s way too much to address with a character like Zuko... and that all his growth was meant to be internal (with even a few things that either were never addressed or were addressed poorly or that he supposedly grew out of but then regressed into all over again) may not have done him any favors.

... And well, I’ll say, I actually don’t think most of The Beach intended to portray Zuko as sympathetic? Maybe only the point where he gives Mai gifts that she rejects, and when he goes to the old family villa, but in general he feels like such an ass in that episode that I’m pretty sure they were making him an ass intentionally xD Yet I can’t agree more, it’s really wrong that the only time we see Zuko interacting normally with common Fire Nation people, as equals, he acts the way he does. I’tll never not confuse me that Team Avatar gets to see and learn more of the Fire Nation, and interact positively with their people, than Zuko did...

#anon #the eternal zuko debate (?)#so many eternal debates (?)#a lot of times I feel the core issue with ATLA...#... is that they didn't have enough time to get to everything they should have #and by they I mean the writers and showrunners #I know some people might say it's a problem of wasting time with fillers but you know what...#ATLA's fillers actually WORK #maybe a few aren't great #but you get to learn more about their world and the characters inner lives and that's great as far as I'm concerned #but if they had longer than just 20-ish episodes per season #maaaaaaaaaaybe...#they could've handled these subjects a little better #maybe #*shrugs*

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eastofthemoon · 3 years

Text

A Paladin in the Fire Nation

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Rating: PG

Series: Voltron Legendary Defender/Avatar the Last Airbender

Summary: After the fight with Zarkon, Shiro accidentally gets tossed into another reality where humans have the ability to bend the elements. His best shot at returning home is with someone called the Avatar, while he waits he might as well take on the job of being the Firelord’s bodyguard.

---------------------------------------------------

Shiro had been fearful Jee or Ling would question him further, and he wouldn’t have easy answers for either of them. Thankfully once he was safely back in his cell and his cuffs were removed, Jee instructed Ling to guard him and said nothing else.

The two sat in silence which suited Shiro just fine. It gave him time to think about his situation.

It was possible this was just a planet that had never encountered Voltron or the Galra but they looked like humans, and the guard had even said they were when Shiro asked.

But this place isn’t Earth, he thought. Wish the rest of the team were here.

His fists tightened. Was everyone alright? Did they survive the fight or did Zarkon capture them all and they were-

A gentle growl rumbled through his mind.

Shiro froze. “Black?”

Ling glanced up. “What?”

Shiro choked and waved a hand. “Oh, uh nothing.”

Ling raised an eyebrow, but gave a shrug.

Shiro leaned back and took a deep breath. Black?

Black purred. The voice wasn’t as strong as she normally was, but the fact remained she was still with him.

Okay, so I’m assuming something happened during the fight with Zarkon and I got transported to this place by accident?

The Black Lion purred again.

Is the team alright? Are they safe?

Another confirmed purr came and Shiro breathed just a bit easier.

Alright, so I’m going to assume I’m not on Earth, am I on a different planet?

He felt a growl this time. Then images of the astral plane along with words of ‘different’ and ‘reality’.

Shiro froze. I’m in another reality?b

The Black Lion purred again.

Shiro took a deep breath as he ran a hand through his hair. That was a lot to take in.

Don’t suppose you can send me back?

The Black Lion growled and this time the words ‘too far’ echoed through his head.

“Figures,” Shiro muttered as he crossed his arms. So he was stuck here until he could find some way to get home. His eyes narrowed at the cell bars.

They were just made out of iron. Shiro could break out of this place easily, but he still didn’t know the layout of it. Besides, he had no idea what this reality was like.

I better just lay low until I can figure out what this place is like, Shiro thought as he drummed his fingers against his knee. Not sure how I’m going to do that though unless I get the Firelord to trust me.

Suddenly, he heard a door open. Shiro quietly watched Ling leave, heard mummering and came back with a tray of food.

“Lunch,” she decreed as she took out two bowls for herself and slipped the tray under the cell for Shiro.

Curious, Shiro pulled the tray closer to him. He wasn’t sure what kind of food this place would have.

Let’s see, looks like a kind of soup and-

Shiro blinked. Slowly, he picked up the second bowl and stared amazed at the contents. “Is that rice?”

Ling raised an eyebrow with her own bowl of soup in her hands. “Um, yes, last I checked.”

Shiro took the chopsticks and carefully picked up a mouthful of rice. He almost moaned in pleasure. Shiro had never been a picky eater, but it had been almost two years now since he’d had rice. Hunk would probably be crying if he was here.

Shiro swallowed, only to realize Ling stared at him in puzzlement.

“You..know that rice is overcooked?” she said. “And I’m fairly certain a day old.”

“I...haven’t had rice in a long time,” Shiro said slowly and forced a smile.

He couldn’t exactly explain he hadn’t had rice since he got captured in space.

Ling raised a wary eyebrow as she sat and reached for her bowl of soup.

“You are weird,” Ling replied but then shrugged as she ate more of her meal, “but I’ll take guarding you over having to watch Ozai.” She cringed. “That man gives me the creeps.”

Shiro had no idea who this Ozai was, but kept quiet as he ate another mouth.

Ling sipped her soup, but then coughed. “Arrg, really, they forgot to heat it up again,” she grumbled as she held the bowl over her right hand. “If your soup is cold, I would be willing to warm it up for you.”

“Um, thanks,” Shiro began, “but I don’t-”

A flame ignited in her hand. Shiro froze as the chopsticks slipped from his hand. Ling smiled as she held the bowl over the clearly burning fire in the palm of her hand. Once steam started to rise, the fire went out and she sipped.

“Much better,” she commented and suddenly noticed Shiro staring at her. “What?”

“How..how did you do that?” Shiro said as he pointed.

Ling blinked. “Do..what?”

“Hold a fire in your hand and not have it burn you?” Shiro asked, stunned.

Did these people have some kind of magical ability here?

Ling tilted her head. “Um..I was just bending.”

Shiro continued to blink in puzzlement.

“Fire bending,” Ling continued as she sent down her soup and waved around her arms. “You know bending.”

“I..I really don’t,” Shiro continued. “Is that some kind of spell?”

Ling’s jaw dropped as if Shiro had just said he’d never seen the sky. “What, no! Great Agni, how do you not know what bending is?!”

“For any truth that everyone knows a thousand people learn it everyday.”

Upon hearing the new voice, Ling sprang to her feet and bowed.

“Prince Iroh, forgive me,” she said as she bowed. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

Shiro frowned as the voice approached and saw it was the older man that had sat alongside Zuko earlier from the meeting.

He gave a reassuring smile as he waved at Ling. “Nothing to forgive,” he laughed. “My old bones are not creaky just yet.”

The man then turned to Shiro as he tucked his hands into his long sleeves. “We were not properly introduced,” he greeted. “I am Prince Iroh.”

“Uh..Hello,” Shiro said slowly as he stood and tried to give a bow like Ling had.

If he was stuck in this place, he had to try to stay on good terms with these people. Although, why was this man here?

Iroh nodded and then frowned upon seeing Shiro’s food tray and looked to Ling. “Is that his lunch?”

“It’s what the chef gave me to bring him,” Ling replied with a shrug.

Iroh stroked his beard. “The quality of the food seemed to have degraded since my time in prison.”

Shiro raised an eyebrow. Did he just say prison?

“I will have to have a word with the kitchen later,” Iroh continued as he returned his gaze to Shiro. “It is just as well then that I extend my invention to you.”

Shiro narrowed his eyes. “Invention?”

“To join me for lunch in my chambers,” Iroh said smiling.

Shiro raised and lowered his hand, unsure how to respond. He had wondered if perhaps this was a local custom he wasn’t aware of, but judging by Ling’s equally shocked reaction it likely wasn’t the norm.

“Your chambers?” Ling said. “Sir, the Firelord made it quite clear the intruder was to remain in his cell.”

“I am aware,” Iroh said as he patted her shoulder, “although, I do believe it is not a realistic request.”

“What do you mean?” Ling asked.

Iroh pointed to Shiro. “I mean, I am quite certain this young man could break out of his cell whenever he wished but is only reframing from doing so in order to be customary to us.”

Ling’s eyes widened and glanced into the cell. Shiro rubbed the back of his neck as he gave a sheepish shrug.

“He’s..not wrong,” he said as he held up his cybernetic hand.

“Ah,” Ling replied slowly but then regained composure. “But Firelord Zuko-”

“I will handle him and take full responsibility,” Iroh said with a smile. “Now, can you please release Mister Shirogane?”

Ling looked hesitant and sighed. “Alright, but only if I’m allowed to escort you and him to your room.”

“That would be acceptable,” Iroh said with a smile as he stepped aside.

Shiro watched bewildered as his cell door was opened. He glanced at Iroh and his body tensed as he left. There was no way he was doing this on a lark. The man had to have some ulterior motive.

Ling went to the wall to fetch the handcuffs, but Iroh stopped her.

“There is no need for that,” Iroh insisted.

“But, Prince Iroh,” Ling began but quieted when Iroh shot her a look and pulled back her hand from the wall.

Iroh’s smile brightened as he tucked his hands behind his back. “This way please. I already informed the guards on route to avoid confusion.”

That made Shiro feel a bit more at ease. He’d rather not have the guards jumping at him for ‘escaping’ his cell. However, he still kept vigilant as he followed Iroh and Ling stayed close.

They walked in silence for several minutes until they reached what Shiro could only assume was the destination.

“Thank you, Ling,” Iroh said as he entered. “You may return to your post.”

Ling looked reluctant. “But shouldn’t I stand guard?”

Iroh gave her a smile. “I believe it would be better if you are at the cell in case the Firelord comes, and do not worry there are guards down the hall if I require assistance.”

Ling frowned, but sighed as she gave a bow. “Yes, Sir.” She glared at Shiro and pointed at her eye then his own. “Don’t try anything funny.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Shiro replied as he watched her go.

He debated if now would be a good time to try to escape, but he still didn’t know the layout of the place. Would he get that far?

“If you wish to escape that is fine,” Iroh commented, “but you might as well fill your stomach first.”

Shiro jumped slightly, but quickly regained his composure. No, it wouldn’t do much to escape now. Besides, talking to Iroh might be his best chance at learning more of where exactly he was.

The Black Lion growled in encouragement as Shiro entered.

Iroh’s quarters were certainly larger than Shiro’s cell. There were some furniture items, some states and artwork on the wall. There were maps, but Shiro didn’t recognize any of them. A low table with food and bowls sat in the centre of the room.

Before Shiro could speak Iroh suddenly shoved some articles of clothing into his arms.

“Here, these seem more fitting and comfortable than the robes you were given earlier,” Iroh said and pointed to a folding screen. “Change behind there.”

“Uh, thanks,” Shiro said as he went to where Iroh directed.

Shiro removed the robes but decided to keep on his paladin undergarments for added protection as he slipped on the sleeveless shirt. It was bright red with yellow along the collar and edges. The pants were simple black with a red sash to tie around his waist.

Once he was finished, Shiro stepped out and saw Iroh was sitting at the table. He smiled in approval.

“Ah good,” he said as he reached for empty cups. “I wasn’t sure if they would fit.” He held up a teapot. “How about a fresh cup of tea? It goes well with the komodo chicken.”

“Before that,” Shiro said as he sat across from Iroh, “how about you tell me the reason I’m here.”

Iroh shrugged as he poured a cup. “To have lunch of course.”

Shiro raised an eyebrow. “I’m not familiar with your culture, but I have a hard time believing inviting a stranger to lunch is a tradition here.”

Iroh laughed. “No, not really,” Iroh said as he set down his cup and poured another. “I merely thought this might be a more comfortable setting for asking questions.”

So he’s doing his own interrogation, Shiro thought. That explains a few things.

Iroh held out Shiro’s cup to him, but saw he didn’t move his hand.

“I’m fine, thank you,” Shiro said.

Iroh gave a laugh. “If you are worried I slipped something into the tea, I promise you I didn’t. To ruin tea in such a way would be a disgrace.” He set the cup in front of Shiro before reaching for his own and taking a sip. “Ah, that warms the old spirit.

Shiro frowned and eyed the cup. He should be suspicious, but something told Shiro the old man was being honest.

Gingerly, Shiro picked up the cup and took a sip. He froze as the flavor hit his tongue and old childhood memories struck him. He knew this taste!

“Is this jasmine?” Shiro asked, stunned. This place may be an alternative reality, but Shiro never expected to see so many familiar things from Earth.

Iroh beamed. “Why yes,” he said and laughed. “It is my favorite blend. Fellow tea lover are you?”

“Not really,” Shiro replied as he stared into the cup. “My grandfather drank it all the time when I was a kid.”

There were times Shiro swore his grandfather had tea water instead of blood in his body.

“Oh, a man after my own heart then,” Iroh said as he picked up his chopsticks. “He must have great taste.”

Shiro gave a bittersweet smile. “Yeah, he did.”

Iroh’s smile softened understanding the use of past tense and took a piece of komodo chicken. “Do you have chopsticks where you are from?”

“Yes,” Shiro said as he picked up his set and tried to ignore his stomach growls and gathered his own chicken. “I haven’t used them for awhile though.”

Iroh laughed. “Then it is a good time to practice.”

They then ate and Shiro had to admit the komodo chicken was delicious. It didn’t taste quite like chicken from his reality, but there was an earthiness to it that was intriguing. He felt guilty the other paladins weren’t here to enjoy it, especially Hunk.

I hope they’re alright, Shiro thought as the Black Lion responded with a comforting purr to the thought.

They ate in silence. Shiro assumed Iroh was trying to be polite, but became puzzled when half the food was gone, Iroh set down his chopstick and patted his stomach.

“Nothing like a good meal,” Iroh said as he reached for his tea. “Would you not agree?”

“Yes,” Shiro replied slowly. “It was delicious, thank you.”

Iroh smiled. “Then perhaps I should send us some dessert? I believe there are some tea cakes in the kitchen.”

Shiro frowned as he lowered his own chopsticks. “Um..perhaps we better get to the reason why I’m here.”

Iroh frowned, but then gave a nod. “Yes, of course.” He set down his cup and tucked his hands into his sleeves. “What would you like to know?”

Shiro blinked. “What?”

“I said what would you like to know?” Iroh repeated gently.

Shiro tilted his head. “Like to-” He pointed to himself. “Excuse me, Prince Iroh, I’m confused. You said I was here for an interrogation.”

Iroh shook his head. “No, I said it was to ask questions.” He gestured to Shiro. “And I meant for you to ask me.”

“For me to ask?” Shiro asked.

Iroh nodded as he stroked his beard. “I assumed there would be less confusion if you understood how this world works before the firelord started to question you again.”

Shiro froze and slowly his eyes widened at his meaning. “You..you know?,” he said slowly.

“That you are from another world?” Iroh asked and nodded. “Yes.”

“But how?” Shiro asked.

Iroh’s eyes hardened. “There had been theories in the past that the Spirit World is a gateway to other worlds or even universes very different from ours.” He reached out for his teacup. “Having my own experience with the Spirit World, it’s a theory I fully believe and it explains much of your behaviour and the odd armour we found you wearing.”

Shiro’s eyes narrowed. “So, you’ve never heard of Voltron?”

Iroh shook his head. “No, but let’s set that aside for the moment.” He gave a small smile. “And please call me ‘Iroh’. I do not care much for formalities these days if I don’t need to.”

Shiro’s shoulders relaxed. “In that case, I prefer being called ‘Shiro’.”

“Very well, Shiro,” Iroh said as he poured more tea into his and Shiro’s cups. “So, to ask again, what would you like to ask first?”

Shiro took the cup, took a sip as he thought and then leaned over the table. “Please explain to me what bending is?”

Iroh gave a smile as he began to answer.

--------------------------------------------

Sokka reached for the last piece of komodo chicken until Toph’s hand took it.

“Hey,” Sokka cried as he watched Toph gulp it down. “I had dibs on that.”

“Really?” Toph said as she swallowed. “I never saw it!”

Sokka glared as she grinned at her own joke before he grumbled.

She snorted as she leaned back. “Besides, you got my tart at breakfast.”

“Because you stole my snack the night before!”

“That doesn’t count! That seal jerky was way too dry!”

“That’s how you know it’s done right!”

A clearing of a throat forced both of them to stop and turned their attention to see Zuko standing in the doorway.

“I have to say, it’s a relief to see the saviors of the world to have grown up into such mature adults,” Zuko said with his arms crossed and he sat down next to Sokka.

Sokka pouted. “You jest but food is a very important discussion and- Toph if you steal my dumpling I swear!”

Zuko sighed as he resisted slapping his hand to his forehead. There were times he had wondered how these guys were some of his best friends? He glanced around and frowned.

“Katara isn’t here?”

“She had to stop by Jang Hui first,” Toph explained. “She wanted to check and see how the river restoration project there was doing.”

“Oh,” Zuko replied softly. “That makes sense.”

Katara was always very passionate about ensuring the small villages of the both Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation got the assistance they needed. It was one of the reasons Zuko had managed to be popular among his lower class subjects and he couldn’t deny Katara held a huge hand in that.

“She’ll be here tomorrow morning,” Sokka replied as he frowned. “So, is everything okay? Your letter just said to get here as soon as possible.”

Zuko sighed as he tucked his hands into his sleeves. “It’s complicated, it might be better to wait until Katara is here so I can just explain it once-”

“We can just repeat things for Sugarqueen,” Toph replied as she sat up and narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on?”

Zuko rubbed his neck. “Intruders have been sneaking into the palace.”

Sokka raised an eyebrow. “What kind of intruders?”

“Not entirely certain but possibly assassins,” Zuko asked but quickly raised a hand, “and before you ask I’m not the target. They haven’t come after me.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Sokka muttered.

Toph tilted her head. “Then who has been the target?”

Zuko cringed. “It’s Ozai.”

Silence fell upon the room, until Toph flopped back on the floor. “Oh, is that all? I say let them.”

Sokka coughed. “Uh Toph, this is Zuko’s dad we’re talking about here.”

"Who is also the bonehead who burnt off half of Zuko's face. And also tried to burn, what was it," she snapped her fingers, "right, the entire world. I don't have any sympathy for the guy."

“Nor do I,” Zuko replied, “but I can’t sit back and let him be killed in cold blood-”

“Whoa, whoa, let’s backtrack a bit,” Sokka said as he patted Zuko’s shoulder. “When did this start?”

“A couple of months ago,” Zuko replied as Toph sat back up. “The guards located some trespassers, but they escaped. We thought they were simply thieves, but they reappeared a few weeks later.”

“And did you arrest them?” Sokka asked.

“We tried, but they got away again,” Zuko replied as he reached into his pocket and brought up a rolled up parchment. “However, one of them dropped this and it’s a map leading straight to where Ozai is being held.”

Sokka took the map and his eyes narrowed as he rolled it out. “Is it possible they were trying to free him?”

“I had wondered as well,” Zuko replied, “but the intruders were Earth Kingdom, one was even an Earth bender.”

Sokka grasped his chin. “Okay, yeah, can’t see why anyone from the Earth Kingdom would want Ozai free, but it’s not impossible.”

“If you ask me,” Toph said as she leaned forward, “the best way to find out is to let them get near Ozai. They either kill him, or they break him out and then you kill him.” She clapped her hands. “Problem solved!”

Zuko buried his face into his hands. “Toph, I can’t let them kill Ozai.”

“I still have yet to hear a decent reason why?”

“Because he is still a Fire Nation citizen,” Zuko retorted. “Prisoner or not, if I let another nation come in and kill him there’s going to be outrage.” His eyes hardened. “Some would even argue it as an excuse to go to war with the Earth Kingdom again.”

Toph paused and growled. “Alright, fine that’s a good reason.”

Zuko’s shoulders slumped. “Granted, I’m not surprised it’s come to this.”

“What do you mean?”

Zuko shut his eyes. “The other nations have been ‘requesting’ I fully punish my father.”

“But he is punished?” Sokka replied. “He’s in a cell and got his fire bending taken away by Aang.”

“To them it’s not good enough,” Zuko said.

Sokka blinked and then chewed his bottom lip. “You mean execution?”

“The diplomats here aren’t that direct,” Zuko said, “but it’s clear that’s their meaning.”

“Why are they only bringing it up now though?” Sokka said as he reached for his drink. “The war has been over for 3 years.”

“I’m guessing cause it’s been 3 years,” Toph replied, “and they figure things are settled enough for you to do something.”

Zuko nodded.

Sokka drummed his drink as he took a side way glance. “Um...have you..well consider…-”

“I can’t kill him either Sokka,” Zuko said as he stared at the ground.

Sokka sighed. “Look, I get he’s your dad-”

“It’s not just that,” Zuko replied. “Aang didn’t want him to die, remember? He’s the Avatar. How would it look if I go against what the Avatar decreed.”

Toph shut hugged her knees. “Yeah, I can see Twinkletoes not being happy with that, even if it is Ozai.”

The room went quiet for a moment, until Sokka cleared his throat and set down his drink. “Let’s put that heavy stuff aside for a moment.” He looked at Zuko. “These potential assassins, do you know anything else about them?”

Zuko’s smile brightened. “As it so happens we caught one this morning....we think.”

“You think?” Toph replied.

“He looks different from the other intruders,” Zuko continued. “He wore this weird white armour and even has a metal arm.”

“Um..if he looks different how do you know he’s connected to the others?” Sokka asked.

“We found him unconscious in the royal garden,” Zuko replied.

“That only raises more questions,” Sokka replied dryly.

Zuko shook his head. “He claims his name is Takashi Shirogane and that he is a ‘Paladin of Voltron’.”

Both Toph and Sokka gave him baffle looks.

“What the spirits is a Paladin?” Toph asked.

“No idea,” Zuko replied with a shrug.

“And where is this Voltron?” Sokka asked.

Zuko’s frown tightened. “I don’t know and I’ve looked on every Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom map I have.” He had even questioned the map maker of it, but she had never heard of the place either.

“But that’s not the weirdest thing about him,” Zuko continued as he rose.

“How is not knowing where the guy came from not the weirdest thing?” Toph asked.

“I think it’s better if I just showed you,” Zuko said as he tucked his hands into his robes.

He led down the hall, and unlocked the room where the stranger’s armor was currently spread out on the table.

Sokka raised an intrigued eyebrow as he approached and lifted up the helmet.

“Whoa, okay I’m starting to see what you mean?” Sokka asked.

“Details?” Toph grumbled.

“It’s all white with black markings,” Zuko said as he brought her hand over to touch it. “I’ve had my best engineers examine it, but they’ve never seen armour built like this before.”

None of them could even guess what nation it was from. Some had been eager to take the whole apart to better understand it, but Zuko denied the request for the time being. At least not until they had a better idea who Shirogane truly was.

Toph was silent as her eyes widened and drew back her hand. “Okay, what is this armour made out of?”

Zuko raised an eyebrow. “I would assume metal..isn’t?”

Toph grasped her chin. “Kind of, it feels a bit like metal except it doesn’t feel like there’s anything for me to grab onto. There aren’t any impurities in it.”

“The style is also weird,” Sokka said as he examined the helmet. “It doesn’t look like Earth Kingdom or Fire Nation.” He tilted his head. “At best...maybe it’s Water Tribe?”

“A Water Tribe assassin?” Zuko asked.

Sokka held it up. “It’s white, so maybe it’s for blending in the snow for sneak attacks?”

Zuko gave him a dry look. “And so he decided to wear it to the Fire Nation where it never snows?”

“I didn’t say he was a smart assassin,” Sokka continued and frowned. “Although, if I’m honest this stuff really doesn’t have a ‘here to kill’ vibe to it.”

“That’s what Uncle said too,” Zuko commented.

It was durable, but no hidden compartments for weapons. Not even a pocket for a dagger to hide. It’s as if the person wanted to clearly display they come bearing no weapons.

“So, this intruder was wearing this?” Toph confirmed.

“And unconscious,” Zuko confirmed. “He claims he means no harm, but what was he doing in the palace then? It makes no sense.”

“Well, why don’t we ask the guy,” Sokka replied as he set the helmet back on the table. “Where is he?”

“In the dungeon,” Zuko said as he turned. “I tried to ask him questions already, but I didn’t get much.”

“Well, you got the ever pervasive Sokka in your corner now,” Sokka said as he placed an arm around Zuko’s shoulder.

“And if that doesn’t work,” Toph said as she punched a fist into her palm, “just let me have a crack at him.”

“I rather his bones remain unbroken,” Zuko added dryly.

“I wouldn’t break them,” Toph said with a shrug, “well not intentionally.”

Zuko shook his head, knowing Toph was joking..well, mostly joking as he led them to the dungeon.

Ling was at the cell and stood straight as soon as she spotted them. “My lord, I did not realize you were coming-”

“At ease,” Zuko said as he raised a hand and looked into the cell. “I just merely wish to question-”

He trailed off as he stared into the clearly empty cell.

“Uh...is this the right place?” Sokka asked.

Zuko took a deep breath and shut his eyes to calm himself. He knew Ling, and she wouldn’t just stand there guarding an empty cell for no reason.

“Ling, where is the intruder?” Zuko asked.

Ling sweated. “I take it you have not been informed yet?”

“Informed of what?” Zuko asked, trying to be careful to keep his temper under check.

Ling rubbed her neck. “That your uncle insisted on inviting the intruder to lunch?”

“HE WHAT?!” Zuko cried.

“Huh,” Toph said as she crossed her arms. “I had wondered why Iroh didn’t join us.”

“Think they got extra komodo chicken?” Sokka asked.

Zuko ignored the comments as he stepped up to Ling. “Where are they?”

“In Prince Iroh’s chambers,” Ling answered.

“And you left them alone?”

“I argued I should remain, but Lord Iroh insisted,” Ling replied.

Zuko groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Of course he did.”

“Forgive me, my lord,” Ling said with a bow. “I should have-”

Zuko raised a hand. “It’s not your fault for following orders,” he said. “You did nothing wrong.”

Ling nodded. “Do you wish me to escort you?”

“No, thank you,” Zuko growled as he stomped away. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have a talk with my uncle about safety.”

“Before or after you murder him,” Toph snarked as she followed.

“I’m debating,” Zuko muttered darkly.

--------------------------------------------------------

This world was ‘unique’ as Shiro quickly discovered. Apparently, in this world some people had the ability to control the literal elements, and they had just ended a hundred year war. Shiro was quiet as Iroh gave him what he could only assume was a quick summary of the events.

“So, the Avatar is the only person that can control all four elements,” Shiro replied.

Iroh nodded. “Yes, Avatar Aang, who is currently the only remaining air bender from the war.”

“And the current Firelord, Zuko, helped him overthrow the previous Firelord who was his father,” Shiro repeated.

“Again, correct,” Iroh said as he grimaced. “You will have to forgive his behaviour earlier, we have been having a bit of a ‘tricky’ time with intruders lately. With your sudden appearance, it seemed to be a logical conclusion you were one of them.”

“No, I understand,” Shiro muttered as he stared into his cup. “I can imagine it wasn’t easy having to rule a nation at such a young age.”

Not to mention trying to make amends for a century-long war, Shiro thought. Willing to bet not everyone was happy with him ending the war.

“With that said,” Iroh continued as he sipped his tea, “I believe Aang would be the best person to assist you in returning home.”

Shiro frowned. “How so?”

“Earlier, when I mentioned the Spirit World? The Avatar is a natural bridge between our human world and theirs,” Iroh continued.

Shiro’s eyes widened slightly but then they narrowed. “I can understand your reasoning, but I’ve never crossed through a spirit world.”

“Are you certain?” Iroh said as lowered his cup. “All worlds have a special place where spirits dwell.” He stroked his beard. “Although, I imagine it looks very different and perhaps goes by a different name.”

Shiro shut his eyes in thought. “I can’t really think of a place-”

The Black Lion growled in his mind and an image of an endless sea of stars appeared in his head.

Shiro froze. Oh, right.

“You thought of a place?” Iroh asked.

“Maybe,” Shiro muttered as he rubbed his neck. “It might be a bit hard to explain-” “UNCLE!”

Shiro jumped, but noticed Iroh remained as still as a tree.

“Ah,” he said as he lifted his cup and sipped. “I believe that would be my nephew.”

“Nephew?” Shiro asked, but was swiftly cut off by the stomping of incoming feet. He whirled around in time to see a furious Zuko storming into the room.

His hair wasn’t as neatly as tied up as he had during the questioning and his robes were much simpler. Shiro noticed a boy in blue robes and a short girl wearing green entered.

The pair kept their distance as the Firelord locked his furious gaze upon Shiro. He looked ready to yell, but forced himself to take a deep breath.

“What are you doing in my uncle’s chambers?” he asked in a brisk tone.

Shiro blinked and then suddenly Iroh’s earlier words dawned on him. He pointed at the angry young man and turned to Iroh. “The firelord is your nephew?!”

“Why yes of course,” Iroh began but then paused as he stroked his beard. “Oh dear, did I never mention that?”

“Someone better answer me,” Zuko sharply cut in, refusing to be ignored.

“He is here because I invited him to share a meal with me,” Iroh stated calmly and shook his head. Shiro recalled his own grandfather doing inappropriate behaviour. “On that note, you are being very rude to our guest.”

Zuko choked as he kneeled next to his uncle. “Our guest?! UNCLE, HE IS AN INTRUDER!”

“Who has currently done nothing to earn such hostility,” Iroh corrected.

“Do you realize how much danger you put yourself in?!”

Iroh laughed. “I appreciate the concern but we both know I am quite capable of defending myself.”

“That is not the issue here!”

Iroh frowned. “Did you forget to eat? You are always more grumpy when you have an empty stomach.”

Zuko’s eye twitched as the two began to bicker and Shiro wondered if they had both forgotten he was present.

However, the other two people clearly hadn’t as the boy approached and sat next to Shiro.

“Hey, name’s Sokka,” the boy greeted, “and this is Toph.”

“Yo,” the girl waved.

“Um, hi?” Shiro said slowly.

Sokka pointed to the arguing uncle and nephew. “So, they’ll be at that for a bit, and I have a question.” He then pointed to Shiro’s cybernetic arm. “Who made that, and is it possible for me to get one?”

“That’s more than one question,” Shiro replied, “and unless you want to have an arm cut off I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Sokka gave a frown, but then sighed. “Yeah, I guess.”

“What are you talking about?” Toph growled as she pointed to her eyes. “Blind, remember?”

“The metal arm Zuko mentioned,” Sokka said. “It’s right next to you.”

“Got it,” Toph said and before Shiro could stop her, she placed her hand on his cybernetic arm.

Suddenly her eyes widened as she whipped her head around. “What the great spirits is this thing made out of?!”

“I just said metal-” Sokka continued.

“It’s not any metal I’ve felt,” Toph snapped and she drew back her hand and stared into it. “It’s weirder than the armour. It almost feels like a meteorite but-”

“How about we change the subject,” Shiro said gently.

Even if he wanted to answer her question, he barely knew what kind of metal his arm was made out of anyway.

Toph gave a pout, but was cut off as Zuko growled.

“Enough,” Zuko snapped and pointed to Shiro, “Shirogane’s going back to the dungeon.”

“His name is Shiro and he will do no such thing,” Iroh said calmly and grinned. “Especially when he was just about to grant me a fascinating conversation on what his world is like.”

Dead silence fell into the room as Shiro felt all the eyes slowly turn to Iroh.

“I’m sorry, what?” Sokka asked.

“Our friend here is from a world, a whole universe in fact,” Iroh continued.

Zuko took a deep breath. “Uncle, if this is a joke it is not one of your better ones.”

“It’s not a joke,” Shiro said slowly as he turned to him.

“Ookay,” Sokka replied as he raised an eyebrow and a hand, “and you are in our world because?”

Shiro sighed. “That’s where things get complicated.”

#atla #vld #voltron #vld gen #takashi shirogane #a paladin in the fire nation #my writing

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quarantineddreamer · 4 years

Text

@zutaraweek 2020 Day 1: Reunion

This is my first Zutara week since I am new to the ATLA fandom. For some reason I am very nervous to post this (I think because I spent my morning scrolling through the tag and OMG THE TALENT!!) but anyways, here it is!

Also posted on my AO3

Rating: G

Summary: “I’ll save you from the pirates” -Zuko Katara

Katara picked nervously at the corner of the scroll she bent over, eyes passing over the familiar handwriting for the hundredth time in the past hour alone. We’re boarding the ship shortly… meeting went really well, I think that any additional negotiations will… I’ve been counting down the days till I get to hold you in my arms again... by the time this messenger hawk reaches you it should only be two more nights spent apart... Love always, Zuko. The letter, detailing the success of the Fire Lord’s diplomatic visit to the city of Omashu where a few restless rebellions had arisen had reached Katara over a week ago.

The waterbender frowned as she reached for her tea -a soothing blend that Iroh had promised would help her sleep despite her worry. Still squinting at Zuko’s hurried penmanship, Katara’s fingertips found the steaming liquid instead of the sides of the porcelain teacup, and she cursed as she flinched, knocking the beverage all over her reading material.

“No, no, no!” she cried, waving her hands, pulling the water from the page rapidly so as to keep the ink from running. When at last she was certain she had managed to save the precious material, she collapsed into her chair with a heavy sigh. As she watched the shadows from the candle on her desk play across the walls of her office, she tried desperately to calm herself.

He’s probably just hit bad weather. An image of Zuko thrashing about in the merciless waves of a storm flashed in her mind. Nope! Nope! He’s, uh, just not caught the right wind. But of course, the Fire Nation vessel Zuko had boarded did not rely on a breeze and they couldn’t have run out of power, not with firebenders like Zuko to provide fuel. Not for the first time, she wished that her friends were not scattered across the globe -wished that, at minimum, Aang had been traveling with Zuko, both of them flying safely on Appa’s soft back. But Aang was with Sokka and Suki in the South Pole at the moment helping with restoration work, and Toph was in Ba Sing Se training a special force of Earth Benders to help take down the remnants of the Dai Li.

The last time Katara had felt anything close to this level of worry for Zuko, he had been lying on the ground motionless, remnants of his sister’s lightning dancing across his body. At least she had been with him then, to look after him. Now, she didn’t know where he was or what condition he was in, but she knew him, and she knew it was not nothing that would keep him from her -not with all they had fought through before...

Katara had never felt so alone, but it was Zuko who had asked that she remain behind. “It’ll only be a month!” She remembered his hand on her shoulder as he gave her a pleading look. “Please... While I am gone Uncle will need help keeping everything in check here. You’re the only person in the world I would trust.” When she had finally reluctantly agreed, the kiss he had given her had banished all sadness at the thought of his absence. What was a month apart when they had a lifetime to look forward to now that the war was over? But he was not here now to erase her fear and dispel the hard knot lodged in her stomach.

The month had gone by fast with plenty of ‘Fire Lady’ duties to take care of, but the days that had passed since his estimated date of arrival had dragged with agonizing slowness as though time itself were taunting her… Her fingers itched to drag the scroll towards her again, to scour its surface for clues. He wouldn’t just disappear, he would tell them if he was going to be late.

A soft knock on the door broke the typhoon of anxiousness tearing through her mind. “Yes?” she called.

Iroh’s face, normally so jovial, was grave as it peered into the room. “A soldier from Zuko’s guard just arrived at the palace.”

“Where is he?” She nearly choked on the question, sensing her worst fears were about to be confirmed.

“Their ship was ambushed by a group of pirates. Zuko has been taken hostage and is being held unless the Fire Nation delivers a significant sum to his captors.”

She barely heard the rest, the where, when, and how. All she knew was she was done waiting, fussing over words on paper as though that could bring him back. She should have trusted her instinct, the tightness in her chest, that had told her something was wrong. Should’ve gone with him to Omashu to begin with... She pushed her chair back and stood. “I’m going after him.”

“Katara, please, we have identified the particular ship that has him, we can send a fleet after him.” Iroh fiddled with the teacup and papers on her desk nervously.

“I can handle some lousy pirates. He’s been gone too long, Iroh! And we can’t have the Fire Nation knowing their ruler has been taken...” Already her heart was racing. She’d never admit it, but a dangerous, secretive, part of her missed this. The raw rush of adrenaline from imminent conflict was intoxicating, addictive. Diplomatic meetings had taken her all over the world, but paperwork and debate had nothing on this.

Iroh hung his head. “Peace is fragile. I am aware…” He hesitated, observing her expression intently before saying, “I suppose no one is better suited to chase down pirates, than the greatest Master Water Bender…”

“Hardly,” she quipped humbly, but he always knew how to make her smile. “I appreciate the compliment.” Already at the door she turned to ask, “May I borrow a small ship from the Fire Nation Fleet?”

“The girlfriend of the Fire Lord can have whatever she wishes.” His tone managed to be light, joking, but his eyes still held great sadness and concern.

Katara stepped towards the older man to give him a brief, strong hug, leaning back afterwards to fix him with an earnest gaze. “I promise I’ll bring him home.”

“Stay safe, brave, Katara. I will handle things here.”

“I know you will.”

Moments later she raced through the palace out into the humid night. She did not stop to catch her breath even as she stole past the guards onto the docks and untied the first boat she saw with sails -one she knew she could manage alone.

Yue watched over her and gave her strength as she furiously bent the ocean around her. Spirits help those damn pirates if they’ve so much as given him a papercut...

-----

Zuko groaned as he came to, vaguely aware of a swaying sensation as though he were about to fall, which he figured had something to do with the massive lump at the back of his head. Or maybe it was the movement of the ship he was on. He blinked, his mind slowly focusing and gaining awareness -and along with it an awful dose of pain. How long had he been out? A fog was beginning to lift inside him, but the lingering grogginess suggested he had potentially been drugged for quite some time.

His most recent memories were of chaos, arrows whistling through the air, latching onto the deck of their ship. He had tried to incinerate most of them, and had been successful, until something had struck him hard across the back and sent him instantly into the void.

Rope rubbed at his wrists and clutched at his chest as he struggled. He tried to bend, but found his movement to be too restricted and clumsy -disoriented as he was. A string of curses tumbled from his lips.

“Tsk, tsk. Not language very fitting of His Highness is it?” a voice called from the shadows of the ship’s hold.

Zuko recognized the voice… One of the advisors that had been traveling with him, Jian… Despite the remnants of drugs in his system it was beginning to become clear how their ship had just happened to fall victim to pirates and who had managed to catch Zuko from behind unexpectedly. “What do you want, Jian?” he asked sharply, glaring as the advisor drew closer.

“You are the last person our great nation should be led by,” he hissed.

Zuko’s lips curled in disgust at the man’s hot breath on his face, his nostrils flared as he exhaled smoke and frustration, pleased when Jian backed away, clearly fighting an undignified cough. “I trusted you. I thought you were helping us work to rebuild… The past year… and last week in Omashu. What changed?”

Jian laughed coldly. “This was always the plan. Your naivety will be the end of you young Fire Lord.”

“To hope for something better is not naive,” Zuko replied fiercely.

The former advisor scanned him for a moment then smirked, eyes shining with mania. “Look at where you are.” He lifted arms clad in elegant red silk to gesture at their dingy surroundings. “You will either die here, or in a cell in a Fire Nation prison unless a ransom is paid.”

Zuko snorted, a small flame escaping his nose. He wished, not for the first time in his life, that he had managed to master more fire breathing than that -something that would be useful in his current predicament- but that had always been more Azula’s specialty despite all of Uncle’s efforts. “Money? That’s what this is about?”

“That is only the beginning,” he whispered conspiratorially. Beady black eyes danced in lantern light as he regarded Zuko with intense hatred. “One day soon, the rightful Fire Lord will return to the Fire Nation throne and he will make you pay for your treasonous actions.”

Zuko rolled his eyes. Great, another Ozai loyalist. Just his luck that one had been insidious enough to work his way to this point. Maybe he was naive, though if Katara and the rest of his friends had taught him anything, it was that trying to find the good in others would never be a bad thing. He had everything to thank for their belief in that. Katara… He shut his eyes for a moment as a wave of longing washed over him. Arguably he had been in worse situations than this, but it had been years since he had faced them without her by his side. If only he had let her come along…but he had been so afraid to leave the Fire Nation unattended with all its troubles placed solely on his uncle’s shoulders.

A knock at the door interrupted Zuko’s thoughts of the Water Bender and the ache that he felt burying itself in his chest knowing she would be worried at his delay. He regretted the stress he would put her through. While Jian went to open the door Zuko tried to subtly tug at his bindings again. If he could just get enough motion in his fingers to firebend and weaken the rope… With Jian distracted he frantically tried to summon enough of the element, fighting the last of the drug’s haze...

“Yes?” Jian asked impatiently of the visitor to the hold, a short, skinny pirate with a large, floppy hat that Zuko could see extended beyond even the width of Jian’s frame that blocked the doorway.

Almost there… Zuko wiggled his wrists in small circles, wincing when a small jet of fire nearly set his pants aflame, missing the ropes entirely. Fortunately the hold’s wood was damp enough that the floor remained unlit. The firebender took a deep breath and tried again, thankful that Jian was still busy discussing something with the pirate at the door.

An image of Katara practicing her bending came to mind. He recalled the graceful, delicate, intention with which she waved every muscle in her hands. On his second attempt to burn the ropes he was careful to control his digits more precisely, and his efforts were rewarded when he felt a small heat pass along his palms and hit the rope.

The sounds of Jian bidding the pirate farewell and closing the door encouraged Zuko to rush his final pass at burning the ropes off. He fought back a hiss of pain as he felt flame pass over the delicate flesh on the inside of his lower arms. Seconds later when he gave the bonds one last tug and felt them fall away his injury was forgotten. He remained carefully still as Jian turned back to him, waiting for the perfect moment.

When the advisor strayed within arm’s reach Zuko suddenly lunged, seizing him by the shoulders and spinning the man, head-first, into the nearest wall. Jian collapsed with a soft, surprised exclamation and a solid thunk of skull colliding with wood, and Zuko, breathed a sigh of relief.

Wasting no time he rushed for the door, throwing himself through the opening and shooting glances down the short hallway. Luckily, it was clear. Quietly, he sealed Jian in the cell and padded softly towards a set of stairs illuminated with pale moonlight. He had no idea what awaited him on the deck. Whatever it was he would handle it then, though he had to shake Iroh’s admonishing tone from his head, ‘You never think these things through!’

When he emerged from the belly of the ship he was prepared for an immediate onslaught of pirate swords and other weaponry, but despite what he was sure were Jian’s desires, these were not Fire Nation soldiers. The crew was gathered around a makeshift table and their drunken cackles and bickering carried loudly above even the sea breeze and persistent slapping of water against the hull.

Zuko crouched behind a wooden crate and scanned the deck. There were more than a dozen pirates playing cards in the moonlight and who knew how many more aboard the ship. With the moon shining brightly in the sky Zuko knew Katara would have been a force to be reckoned with, but he could not say the same for his firebending, and he was disappointed in how weak he felt -from hunger, thirst, likely concussion, and not to mention residual effects of whatever Jian had been using to keep him unconscious.

He was contemplating the slim likelihood of stealing away unnoticed with one of the small boats tied to the side of the ship when the gull-rat squawked at him. At first, he ignored it -at any given moment any seaside town or boat was always under the assault of the persistent creature and its horrible fecal habits- but when it continued to tilt its head at him in curiosity he recalled the companions the pirates he had met several years ago kept…The gull-rat’s call was louder the second time and Zuko swore as its owner, walking away from the card table with a fistful of coins and a drunken grin, blinked at the sight of the prisoner wandering freely.

It was really not his day. Zuko sprinted for the boat he had been eyeing early, bending a blast of flame at the ropes that held it to the main ship and hoping he would not be far behind the vessel as it crashed loudly into the ocean below. The gambling crew were all armed now, and though a few teetered from the effects of what was decidedly not the calming tea Iroh was always drinking, many looked formidable opponents. A circle was already closing around Zuko who searched desperately for an opening.

The Fire Lord managed to dodge two pirates who swung rusty blades at him and pushed back three more with a ball of flame. Seeing an opening in the ranks, he dashed wildly for the side of the ship, glancing back only once when an arrow whizzed past his shoulder.

Once was one time too many. He crashed right into the short, skinny pirate that had stopped by his cell to speak with Jian and they collapsed to the deck in a painful twist of limbs. Before Zuko could roll away the short pirate had pinned him and grabbed both his wrists.

-----

“I’ll save you from the pirates,” she whispered, grinning as the confusion on his handsome face turned to joy when she removed the ridiculous hat she wore so he could see her. His smile was everything, she hadn’t realized just how much she had missed it -instantly warming her from the inside out.

“Katara!” He sat up and pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing the top of her head and breathing in the smell of her hair.

She was disappointed when he broke away to stand. It was understandable though. The pirates were racing towards them -even the gull-rat was giving chase.

“I knocked a boat into the water, if we can just swim to it…” Zuko eyed the railings of the ship unhappily, no doubt imagining the long drop.

“And then what?” Katara asked, drawing water from the ocean and forming two whips over both her arms.

“We, uh, we go?” Zuko offered.

She fought back a bubble of laughter. “You really don’t think things through. Zuko, they can just chase us! They’d catch us in no time in this larger ship. Was that really your plan?”

He fumbled for words, cheeks flushing furiously with embarrassment.

Katara lashed out at the first wave of pirates, tripping them with one long tendril of water. “Zuko, you’re a firebender, set the ship on fire!” She looked away as a stray pirate broke rank to try and shoot them with his bow. A jet of water aimed sharply by Katara eliminated that immediate problem. “You are the Fire Lord, how did you not think of this?” This time the laughter escaped her, his befuddled expression too cute to take.

“I, uh.. Okay, I’m pretty sure I have a concussion... and potentially still some drugs in my system?” he admitted, punching the air with his fists, sending fire at the pirates and the sails of the ship. Soon the entire deck was dancing with the dangerous orange glow.

“That’s our cue!” Katara declared, and grabbed his hand. “Ready?” She stepped up onto the railing of the ship and he followed.

They balanced precariously for a moment, her hair spinning wildly in the wind, before jumping into the air, stomachs dropping for a brief exhilarating second before Katara froze a wave to slide them towards the empty boat bobbing in the waves. A miscalculation on her part landed them in frigid ocean water that stole both their breaths away.

Katara was first to pull herself into the boat, flopping wetly into the wooden hull. She giggled at the sight of Zuko, hair spiked every which way by the ocean, arms flung desperately over the side of the boat kicking furiously to pull himself into the raft. Taking mercy on a Fire Bender out of his element, she helped him aboard. Together they looked back at the burning pirate ship, observing the frantic shadows of the crew moving about with buckets of water. Still, Katara did not wait long to begin moving their vessel to the small cove nearby where she had anchored her Fire Nation ship.

Only when they were confident that no one had pursued them to the sandy shores and were safely sailing towards home aboard her borrowed ship did they rest, allowing the wind to do the work for them. They collapsed, laying on the deck, staring skyward at a ceiling of stars, and Zuko gently pulled Katara against him. She reveled in the familiar beat of his heart beneath her as she settled her head on his chest.

She felt him shake as he laughed quietly. “I still can’t believe I didn’t think, to... Burn the ship?”

Katara reached for a small bit of water and it glowed as she reached a hand back to touch the side of his head. “Better?” she asked after a moment.

“Yeah, much. Thank you…” he sighed and leaned his scarred face into her healing palm. “I can’t say this was the reunion I was imagining.”

“I don’t know…” She looked up at him, the beginnings of a soft smile tugging at her lips. “We’re even now,” she teased, bumping him playfully. “And it was kind of fun... Reminds me of how far we’ve come.” How different things were since the last time they had encountered pirates -and not just his hair, though thank the spirits for that.

“Just another day in the life of the Fire Lord I guess,” Zuko replied wistfully, a hand playing with the end of one of her curls.

“I mean, I’m not saying you should do it again… ”

“Not without you... “Never without you,” he promised -and to Katara’s delight, sealed the oath by placing his lips against hers.

#zutara #zutara week 2020 #zuko #katara #reunion #zuko x katara #zutara fanfic #zutara week #zutara fanfiction #ao3 fic #b writes #zukos-calming-tea

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evienyx · 4 years

Note

I’m rereading Fractures and the fire sage has ignited my curiosity. Did the Fire Sages know Zuko was down there? Or was is just those guards and servants? How was the sage notified about Zuko’s imprisonment? Was it like, “oh no! We have no viable heirs here! We must fine the prince!” “Oh well... he’s kinda under the palace.” “WHAT” I would just like the sage’s reaction to being told about Zuko’s treatment and what he was thinking when he saw our boy in the cell.

Fire Sage Shyu had had an odd year. After helping the Avatar and friends escape, he’d had nowhere to go but to the Fire Sage Temple in the capital in hopes of finding allies.

Thankfully, the Head Sage has stayed incorrupt, and helped Shyu hide while still giving him Fire Sage duties to perform so as to not anger the spirits. Especially Agni. He was a vengeful son of a bitch when he wanted to be.

Now, though, a day-and-a-half after Sozin’s Comet, things were being turned on their heads again. The Head Sags has just received word that Fire Lord (ahem, Phoenix King) Ozai and Princess Azula we’re defeated and captured.

Shyu was free.

The Fire Nation was leaderless.

“Go to the palace,” the Head Sage told him.

“Why?”

“Prince Zuko is still the crown prince and the heir. Begin asking around there about his whereabouts.”

Shyu nodded and set off to the palace.

When he arrived, things were oddly quiet. No one quite knew what to do.

Shyu began asking around.

No one knew where the crown prince was.

NO ONE knew where he had been for the past three YEARS.

This was going to be harder than Shyu thought.

He was just about given up when a woman came up to him. Her dark, wavy hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, and her outfit screamed ‘servant’.

“Yes?”

“I know where the prince is.”

Shyu froze before starting and asking, “Can you take me to him?”

The woman hesitated before nodding. “Follow me.”

She led him through the halls. Shyu learned her name was Keeli.

She stopped on the way and grabbed a wheelchair from the infirmary wing.

“Here.”

He looked where she had led him. A lone door, nearly blending in with the wall. She eyed him for a moment, glanced back and forth, and opened the door.

There was stone, and a torch, and stairs.

He paused before following her down.

The wheelchair sounded weird on the stairs.

They walked for what felt like forever before reaching the end. There were two more people there.

“Keeli,” one of the two guards in front of the door hissed. It was the female one. “What is a Fire Sage doing here?”

“Fire Lord Ozai and Princess Azula were defeated,” Keeli said, and all protests died. “Prince Zuko is to become Fire Lord.”

There was a pause before the male guard snorted and said, “About damn time.” He turned around and fingered a key. Shyu watched as he pushed it into the lock on the next door. The guard pushed the door open and gestured Shyu forward.

Shyu took a few steps and prepared himself for what he would see on the other side.

He wasn’t prepared.

It was a teenager. Not a man, a teenager, sitting slumped against a wall.

He knew who this was.

This was the prince.

Any rumors Shyu might have believed were banished from his mind, because they were all WRONG.

This was WRONG.

The prince was barely older than sixteen, yet he was littered with scars and burns, and that one that stretched over his face. He was thin, sickly, with his face sunken in and his skin sallow.

It was awful.

Shyu pushes these thoughts aside. He had a job to do. He cleared his throat and swallowed.

“Prince Zuko?”

#fractures atla #missing scene #fire sages #zuko #shyu #and then chapter 1 continues as normal #ask #ask away

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bellatrixobsessed1 · 4 years

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A Flame For A Cabbage (Part 14)

Sneaking into the boiling rock is much easier than expected. All it takes is a long and convoluted plot. Such is easy for Azula to come up with. Really, all she had to do was put on a false mustache and claim that her name is Jake, from State Farm, there to update them on company policy. Everyone knows that State Farm is the insurance company used by the Boiling Rock. But Azula does not like such simple thinking. Instead she had come up with a much grander scheme. She journeyed deep into and past a plethora of boobytraps until she came to a lost tribal society. A society that owns the last few dragons in the world. Her world anyhow. They were kind enough to allow her to borrow dragons red dragon, free of charge. Azula, however, felt a sense of kinship with the blue dragon.

The tribesmen had clicked their tongues, tsking. But they said that she could take the blue dragon, all she needed to do was part take in a ritual sacrifice. Being that, according to mother dearest, she is the spawn of Satan himself, this was no big deal for Azula. Unfortunately they were not expecting to do a ritual so soon so they did not have all of the necessary alter tools. So it was that Azula had to journey to find the special dragon atheme. She searched each of the four nations but came up empty handed. She knew that she needed to enter a different dimension.

Unfortunately, Bosco had been in charge of all interdimensional and alternate universe travel--since his death glitches in time and space have been far and few in between. So Azula made her way to the Foggy Swamp where she met with the witch doctor, who informed her that witch doctors and necromancers are not the same thing so he could not resurrect Bosco. But the witch doctor was kind enough to point her in the direction of the Foggy Swamp necromancer. Feeling optimistic, she had knocked on the woman’s door. The woman said that she would help resurrect Bosco, but she was all out of ritual candles.

So it was that Azula journeyed back to the Fire Nation to pick up several ritual candles. But they were all out of black wax. However, the candlemaker was willing to make her a special order if she could procure an item for him. Azula had nodded and asked him what item he seeks. The man said that he needed some protective paper. Easy enough, Azula had thought, forgetting that the virus had left toilet paper in short supply.

After combing through dozens of stalls and finding them baren of toilet paper, the merchant decided that she would have to break into the palace and steal some from the Fire Lord’s stach. She had tried to bribe the guards but he wanted a free cabbage. By all means that was easy enough but Azula never sells her cabbages for free. Instead she seeks out an unlikely alley.

It had taken a lot of searching, but finally she found the hideout of team avatar. Upon asking for help, Katara threw several items at her including a crowbar, a ceiling fan, a spare tire, a walrus, and an electric stove. “You killed Aang!” She accused. And it was a true accusation. And so Azula informed her, “if you help me break into the place to steal toilet paper, I can go to the candlemaker who will make me some ritual candles to take to the necromancer will summon Bosco for me. And while she is resurrecting Bosco, she can resurrect that arrow-headed cabbage killer, Aang.”

Wholly confused by the whole situation, Katara agreed to help Azula break into the palace. “Here, you can borrow our Toph. That ought to get you in.” She had lifted the blind earthbender up and handed her to Azula.

Azula thought that it would be smooth sailing from there, but she was wrong. The Earthbender said that she would only help if Azula could make her see. So Azula tried seeking out Christ. But Azula is an unholy creature, according to her mother, and so it did not work. What she did not know is that all she had to do was go to confession and then she would be forgiven. But Azula is afraid of confessing anything so she chuckled nervously and accepted that it was a hopeless cause. Toph had laughed and said, “man, I’m just messing with you, I’ll help.”

With that they broke into the Fire Nation palace and stole a few rolls of toilet paper as well as the Fire Lord’s toothbrush. Sie cried out in frustration because it was actually his toothbrush.Toilet paper in hand, Azula returned the Toph and fetched the Katara. Katara followed her to the candlestick maker.

“I promised you enough black candles for one ritual!” The candlestick maker had noted. But Azula is intelligent. She had planned for this, “which is why I brought you two rolls and the Fire Lord’s special bedazzled roll!”

The candlestick maker’s eyes had lit up and he procured the black candles. So the cabbage merchant and Katara journeyed back to the foggy swamp where the necromancer lit the candles and resurrected Bosco and Aang. Aang muttered an apology to Azula for destroying her cabbages so many times. Azula faintly thought that she should have apologized to him for murdering him, but apologies are dumb. And for people who are wrong. Azula is, in fact, always right 100% of the time. The merchant and Katara parted ways. Bosco, thankfully was a slave to the necromancer who summoned him was forced to obey her commands. So he had to help Azula with her interdimensional travel. Unfortunately, the author forgot what Azula was supposed to fetch so she had to scroll all the way back up. Azula used this time to file her taxes. With her taxes done and out of the way she journeyed through several dimensions similar to her own but not the same and found the super special, magically sinister, dragon atheme. Having accomplished this she sought out Mai and her Kenu Reeves knife, fought Bosco, and banished him back to the other side. She returned the Kenu Reeves knife, but only because it was along the way to the tribe.

She arrived at the tribe and set the dagger before the tribesfolk who gathered around it and said, “ooo, ah” and “wow that’s so purtty” and “ain’t she a beauty.” They put the dagger aside and began the ritual which consisted of doing the soulja boy twice and the macarena once, followed by the cha cha slide. EVERYBODY CLAP YOUR HANDS!!! The closed the ritual by creating their own hybrid variation of all three dances. Satisfied, the blue dragon accompanied Azula to the Boiling Rock. Thank spirits that they have State Farm insurance, because they were about to need a good neighbor. For the dragon had punched through the window and placed Azula into one of the cells. “Watch my cabbages.” Azula requested of the dragon.

“I will if you bring me two cheez-its.”

With that promise in mind, Azula sets out on her real mission.

“Hello, Suki.” She greets.

Suki flips her off before apologizing and saying, “sorry I mistook you for someone else.”

“Who?” The merchant asks.

“That guy who put me here!”

Azula nods. But she has no more time for discussion. She needs to find Iroh now.

.oOo.

“I'm telling you it wasn't me!” Vows the guard.

“Save your breath! I know you were working together. You threw Chit Sang in the very cooler they used to escape. It was all part of your plan.” Says the warden.

“That didn’t even happen.” The guard points out. And he is right. But now the warden feels all awkward so he decides that he will keep pretending that he is right, despite knowing very well that he is wrong. Before he can begin reveling in his wrongness the door opens and someone enters. “There's someone to see you.” Informs a less troublesome guard.

“Who told you to interrupt me?” The warden snaps.

“I did.” remarks princess Sie.

“Princess Sie, brave and powerful, Princess Sie! It is an honor to welcome you to the Fire Nation's most exemplary prison.” He backpedals. “I didn't realize you were coming.”

Sie enters the room and takes notice of the guard being interrogated. “Who is this?”

“He's a guard who was involved in a recent and feeble escape attempt.”

“What escape attempt!?” Asks the guard with more ferocity. With no real defense, he resorts to a harsh, “Quiet, you!”

Sie folds his arms. “You're wasting your time. Zuzu isn’t around to try to help Sokka break his father out of prison.”

The warden turns around with a look of shock and befuddlement. He does not realize what has transpired, dear reader. You see, in Ozai choosing not to acknowledge the eclipse, the eclipse had never happened. It had been skipped. But this has caused a horrific rift in time. It was in this chapter that Zuko was supposed to break free, but with the opportunity lost, the void had sucked him in and claimed his existence. Perhaps one day he will emerge again.

Presently, the warden looks at Sie. “How do you know?”

“Because I'm a people person.” This is not why. It is actually because he saw the void claim Zuko and he has seen enough bizzare happenings to know how it works. But, ‘I’m a people person’ sounded so much cooler.

.oOo.

Azula sits in her cell feeling like a complete and utter moron, but she knows that the absurd deeds that she is doing serve a greater purpose and she has never been one to shy away from a task. So, without thinking too much, she makes another hideous and obnoxious screech. She has been going for pterodactyl but she is not practiced enough to manage that yet. So she is only able to manage a brontosaurus screech.

It serves its purpose, for Iroh responds back. They have been communicating like so for the better part of the day. By the next morning each and every guard is equipped with a pair of ear plugs (the higher ranking guards get air pods). It is to her advantage for they, having their air pods in, don’t hear her slinking out of her cell.

She takes a moment to think of her cabbages because we have gone several paragraphs without mentioning them once. After listing off the anatomy of a cabbage in her head, Azula proceeds down the hall and finds Iroh’s cell. She gives a faint brontosaurus call to let him know that it is her before opening the cell.

“Here, take this.” Azula hands him a top hat and a wizard cloak. Azula, though off screen, has managed to acquire a guard uniform. She leads Iroh out of his cell. No one questions it because she looks like a guard. But really, she is a cabbage merchant. The top hat and the wizard cloak aren’t strictly necessary. They just make Iroh feel cool™. They please him. Suddenly the plague begins to retract.

The two confidently march out of the prison, Azula wearing gucci shades and Iroh wearing pimp shudder shades. Iroh had found himself a gun holster and is now packing! This would have worked out well and it would have looked so cool™, had the blue dragon not taken off. Azula had not been able to get her hands on any cheez-its.

Azula still isn’t worried. She looks at her new business partner. He gives a cool™ wink and pulls out his gun. He doesn’t have a chance to fire it when Hakoda shouts, “wait! Who's that?” You see, Hakoda was beginning to feel left out, this was supposed to be his time to shine.

“That's a problem. It's my sister and her friend.” Says Zuko as he emerges from the void. But he is different. Changed. His abs have abs and his eyes have a haunted look (and somehow they also have abs). Momo has abs too (but we already knew that). Iroh got abs in prison. Azula has abs. Literally everyone has abs right now. Everyone has abs except Haru who only has a mustache. Nothing else. Just a mustache.

Sie looks up at the gondola that Iroh and Azula are riding as they make their escape. Unfortunately the bit about abs had not been long enough for them to escape unnoticed. Sie decides that this is it. This will be the moment that he gets rid of that pesky merchant and her meddling cabbages.

.oOo.

Offering a guard no word of warning, Sie snatches a set of handcuffs from his belt. But it doesn’t matter because that guard is only a background character and everyone knows that background characters don’t have feelings. TyLee, happy for the opportunity to pretend like she is at the circus again, dashes up the cable. Sie blasts himself with a wave of green fire onto the gondola.

Azula is there. Iroh and Zuko are there (but they are not talking; everytime Zuko tries to speak Iroh ‘hmmps’ and turns his back). Hakoda is there. And for some reason, so is Suki. No one knows how Suki managed to get up there. She hadn’t even been a part of the breakout. No less she declares how excited she is for a rematch against TyLee.

“Me too!” Says Zuko. He looks over at Sie, who he has actually been getting along with rather well lately. He realizes that it is actually Azula who needs to fight the princess Sie. His fight is with Iroh. He knows how it will end. It will end with him in tears. And then Iroh crying for making him cry. And then he crying harder for making Iroh cry. And then Ursa crying for leaving her family behind and losing so much free entertainment.

Sie strikes first, kicking an arc of fire at Azula. The cabbage merchant dodges the attack. She wishes that she had her cabbages to throw. A hole in the sky opens up and her cabbage stall drops onto the gondola. Like a kid on a seesaw at the park, Suki is catapulted back to Kyoshi island. She is not happy that she didn’t get her rematch. But she is glad to be home, she had left the stove on.

Sie snarls, why did things always come so easily to that vile merchant. Nothing ever comes easily to him. He is just regular old princess Sie and his father expects so much from him. No less, he keeps blasting green fire at her. All the while TyLee is jabbing and swiping at the air, not realizing that her opponent is no longer there.

“I don’t need you Zuko, I have cool™ sunglasses now.” Iroh remarks.

“But I need you, uncle.” Zuko replies. “I made a mistake.” Sie was being supportive and everything, but Ozai! Ozai is a beat. A toilet paper shrouded absolute fiend. “I care about you, uncle.”

Iroh readjust his shades, “Did I ever tell you the story of the old man and his pet rabaroo?”

Zuko shakes his head and prepares himself for a long story with a confusing metaphors. Instead, Iroh relays the tale of the two lovers but with a rabaroo and an old man instead.

Hakoda doesn’t ‘do anything because he has stage fright and the guards have taken to watching the scene unfold with bowls of popcorn.

Sie does not have stage right, he kicks more fire at Azula who begins her magical girl transformation. “I don’t think so!” Sie declares before doing the unthinkable. He takes one of her own cabbages and throws it at her, knocking her to the floor, which is actually the roof because they are on the gondola, not in it. So the floor and the roof are technically the same thing???? Sie does not have time to contemplate the circumstances under which a roof can become a floor, for he finally has the upperhand.

“There's the warden! I see him!” One of the guards points out through a mouthful of popcorn. Sie shudders, he knows that something is going to go astray. Nothing ever just comes easily for him.

“Cut the line!” The wardan hollars. Unlike Suki, he is in the gondola for a reason. He likes to read sappy romance novels and shonen manga on his breaks. He is fine with everyone knowing that he likes romance novels, but no one can know that he is a weeb so he hides in a random gondola on his lunch breaks.

“He wants us to cut the line” Says the guard.

“But if we cut the line, there's no way he'll survive!” Declares the guard next to him. The first guard does not know why this one is shouting as they are sitting right next to each other.

“Shhhh!” hisses a third guard. “I’m trying to hear the movie!”

The first guard jams the gondola system with the nearest object he could find, which, surprisingly, is a mechanism specifically for emergency braking. The abrupt halt causes the merchant’s stall to teeter precariously. Sie smirks but the stall does not fall.

“WOOOO HOOO!” Aang shouts as he sails by on his glider. “I’M ALIVE AGAIN! WHEEEE!” The gust of wind that follows him, pushes the stall closer the the edge. Azula is twitching anxiously and Sie is watching smugly.

He swoops down a second time, this time Momo follows. Momo, who is still unapologetically jacked, only nudges the stall and it finally falls over the edge.

Azula’s eyes seem to narrow, but she doesn’t even have time to shout, “my cabbages!! Before TyLee exclaims, “they’re about to cut the line!”

Sie does not have time to relish in the cabbage merchant’s visible distress. “Then it's time to leave.” For once things go according to plan and her blasts himself onto a gondola that just so happens to be approaching. “Goodbye, merchant.”

“They're cutting the line! The gondola's about to go!” Zuko notes.

“Come on nephew, we will cry at each other later.” Iroh gives a particularly loud pterodactyl screech. The sky splits and a flock of the prehistoric marvels swoop down. Iroh extends a hand and helps Zuko onto one of them.

“What are you doing?” A guard shouts, drawing attention to Mai, who throws a fidget spinner in Sie’s direction.

“Testing out my new weapons.” She shrugs. She is confident that figit spinners are more effective than knives because in PG-13 shows blood is not allowed to be shown and she is very tired of having always missing her targets or simply pinning them to walls by their clothes. “I think that this one is going to work.”

Azula, not one to back down over a simple mild inconvenience, realizes that not all is lost. Her new business partner might have abandoned her, but her cabbage stall is still clinging to the gondola. She must stop them from cutting the line! “What is she doing?” Sie asks upon noticing Azula pickpocketing Mai for her fidget spinner.

Ty Lee shrugs and gives a mumbled “I dunno.”

Azula flicks the fidget spinner and it lands a few hits and one critical strike before returning to her. The guards have fallen. She watches the gondola and her cabbages drift off to safety. “My cabbages.” She sighs with relief.

“Leave us alone.” Most of the guards leave at Sie’s command. “I never expected this from you.” She looks to Mai and TyLee as though it was they who had assisted the gondala’s escape.”The thing I don't understand is why. Why would you do it? You know the consequences.”

Mai shrugs and says, “I didn’t know she could do that much damage with a fidget spinner.”

Sie turns to Azula. “And you! You know exactly what happens to people who interfere with my plans.” He pauses for a moment to recall his objective. For a moment, he doesn’t think that he has one. But then he remembers that his father had wanted him to find Zuko for betraying his nation again. He was also sent there to make sure that no prisoners escaped. Ozai bet one of his war generals 300 gold pieces and a roll of toilet paper that no one would ever escape the Boiling Rock. But now Hakoda, Suki, Iroh, and Zuko have escaped. “You know how this is going to end.”

“I guess you just don't know people as well as you think you do.” Azula says. She shudders to herself. Something is not right about this. No, she does not like this at all. She has a deep aversion to what she is about to say and she can’t place why. She ignores the unsettling feeling growing within her. “You miscalculated. I love cabbages more than I fear you!”

Sie’s face twists into a snarl and pulls out a calculator, it reads ‘12’. Just ‘12’. “No, you miscalculated!” He points furiously at the calculator. “You should have feared me more!”

Azula is in fact afraid. But not of the princess. She is afraid of the princess’ words. Not because they have been directed at her, but because of that something. That strange something, that she cannot place. She feels like she should be offended. She is suddenly overcome by a sadness. A feeling as though she has lost something dear and important. But her cabbages are safely sitting on the other rim of the volcano. So what then? What has she lost? Why did his words make her feel so hollow? Why did it leave her feeling so haunted to inform him that he has miscalculated.

Sie begins to generate lighting. Azula clutches the fidget spinner. Mai too holds a fidget spinner. But before Sie can send off his lightning bolt, TyLee jabs him several times and he falls. Azula can’t help but feel a hint of shock; she has no connection to TyLee whatsoever.

“Sorry, my hand slipped!” She explains apologetically, clearing up any confusion.

Sie is well aware that TyLee sometimes has muscle spasms. They mostly happen when she stands or sits still for too long. But in his disgust and outrage, he forgets this. Laying with his cheek pressed firmly against the floor, Sie declares, “you're both fools!”

Azula looks between Mai and TyLee. She isn’t sure which one of them isn’t a fool.

“What shall we do with them, princess?” Asks one of the remaining guards.

“Put them somewhere I'll never have to see their faces again, and let them rot!” Sie says. He realizes that he is being very harsh and that this is probably a misunderstanding. But he has had a taste of power and power changes people. He is a new man now. He decides that he is no longer going to be timid and shy. He is going to be a badass like Iroh.

The guards cuff Mai and TyLee and whisk them away before he can say that he was referring to Azula and TyLee, not Mai and TyLee. He does not have a problem with Mai, as far as he is concerned, she is a victim of the evil merchant too.

The merchant in question had pickpocketed two cheez-its and is smirking at him as a blue dragon flies her to safety. This is the worst day of Sie’s life.

.oOo.

Feeling a sense of accomplishment, Azula sets up her cabbage stall next to the one she had left in the Fire Nation capital. She takes down her ‘back in 15’ sign. And what an eventful fifteen minutes those had been!

“Oh good, I’ve been waiting for you for ten…”

Azula does not let the female soldier finish, for she knows that the woman is only going to set her stalls on fire again. She hastily packs up and hustles to find the tea man.

.oOo.

“Hello?” The warden says into the phone.

“Hello, warden!” Greets the man on the other end.

“Is this Jake from State Farm?”

“It is!” The many replies.

“Wonderful, I’m calling about a busted window and a broken gondola system…”

#Avatar #Azula #Cabbage Man #Zuko #Iroh #Mai #TyLee #Fanfiction

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lykegenia · 5 years

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The Things We Hide Ch. 22

The Southern Water Tribe stood for a hundred years against the Fire Nation, indomitable until Sozin’s Comet tipped the balance in Fire Lord Ozai’s favour. Now, as planned, the South is decimated, Chief Hakoda is a puppet on his throne, and Princess Katara is a political prisoner held in the Fire Nation capital to ensure his good behaviour. But Ozai has little time to gloat. A vigilante masquerading as the Blue Spirit is causing unrest among the people, rebel ships still hound his navy, and right under his nose the South’s most powerful waterbender waits with the patience of ice to strike at the very heart of his empire and bring it crashing down.

Chapter 1 on AO3 This chapter on AO3 Masterpost here

Zuko woke somewhere dark. As his awareness grew, the first sensation to come back to him was pain, a sharp ache at the back of his skull and a dull throb down the left side of his face that he knew would only get worse. Whoever had knocked him out had left his mask on, and it did nothing to relieve the feverish itch of his skin. His hands were chained above his head; the metal clinked when he tried to move. He drifted off again, falling between wakefulness and unconsciousness so that even with his ability to sense the sun, he couldn’t tell how much time passed.

Eventually, he heard footsteps. One set steadily approaching, echoed by another running to catch up. They stopped beyond the shadow he presumed to be the door of his cell.

“Food for the prisoner.”

He shifted, tense, the guard’s muttered response lost in the pop of joints that hadn’t moved for hours.

“Katara, are you sure this is a good idea?” The Water Tribe boy. “You know –”

“I know what I’m doing, Sokka.”

Sokka sighed. “Just be careful.”

She murmured something Zuko couldn’t hear, and then a key turned in the lock and the door swung open on the groan of old hinges. He turned away. Her footsteps carried her through until she halted, and the door slammed shut again, and the scrape of her boots over the packed dirt floor came with the smell of hot food and the glow of a candle.

“Zuko?” she called, with a wary, muted quality to her voice that grated on his nerves. She sighed and crouched down next to him. “How’s your head?”

“Spare me your false pity,” he snarled, unable to help the way his fists clenched.

“It’s not false pity. I’m going to take your mask off now. Even if you won’t admit it you’ll be more comfortable with it off.”

He watched her hand reach for the ties behind his head but didn’t move away, knowing that to do so would be useless, and token shows of resistance were beneath his dignity besides. Even so, he hissed when she pried the mask off him, flinching away as the bandage over the left side of his face stuck to the wood and broke the scab. He had hated her for months – a lifetime – but somehow, it was her gasp on seeing the ruin of his face that formed the hard lump at the back of his throat.

“Don’t touch it,” he snapped as her hand stretched out again.

Her fingers curled in on themselves. “What happened?”

“Why do you care?”

“I care,” she replied. “Zuko, this is infected, let me help you. I can heal –”

“Get away from me!” He jerked upwards, calling fire to his fists so she had to flinch away. “I don’t need anything from you. You did this to me.”

“No, I didn’t.” Her gaze held something inscrutable, like a riddle she was on the cusp of solving, but he was glad when she didn’t reach out to touch him again. “Why are you here?” she asked instead.

He bared his teeth. “Why are you here?”

The only answer was another sigh as she pulled a ring of keys from a loop on her belt and rose on her knees to unlock the shackles above his head. His wrists were still bound together, and the rush of blood back into his hands made them sting as they dropped into his lap, but he nevertheless had to bite back a sigh of relief.

Katara was already standing. “You should eat something.”

He hadn’t noticed her place the bowl next to him. It was mostly rice with only a small amount of some thin, gristly broth soaking around the edges, but at least it smelled edible, and as his watering mouth and rumbling stomach reminded him, it had been at least a day since he had eaten.

“There aren’t any chopsticks, I’m afraid,” she told him. “It was decided you might try to escape – which I wouldn’t recommend, by the way. I managed to convince them to bring you down here without taking off the mask, but everyone knows who the Blue Spirit is now, and the Prince of the Fire Nation is a valuable prisoner to have.”

“I won’t help you,” he managed, because of all the retorts crowding on his tongue, that one was the safest.

“I wasn’t asking for your help,” she replied coldly. “That was a warning. There’s more than one person here who would love the chance to avenge family killed in the war. By your people.”

“Are you one of them?”

She turned away from him, and was nearly at the door before she threw her answer over her shoulder. “My quarrel isn’t with you.”

The door groaned open at her knock and as she stepped through a shadow detached from the wall and reached out for her. She paused, but ignored the touch and kept walking, leaving Sokka an instant to glare through the darkness at the prisoner in the cell, before the guard blocked the sight and slammed the cell closed once more.

When it opened again, dawn was not far off, but the air was more bitterly cold than before. Zuko had managed a few hours of fitful sleep after Katara’s visit, the food palatable but nowhere near enough to fill the hunger that gnawed deeper into his gut whenever he thought about it. He had never had to go hungry, not even on the ship. At some point, someone had left him another candle, with a bowl of salted water, clean bandages, and a pot of ointment to treat his burn. Though he tried to ignore the offer, without anything else to distract him the itching on his face became unbearable, and before he knew it he was reaching for the small stone pot and all but whimpering with relief as the thick, herby salve cooled his fevered skin. He had applied the new bandage as best he could without a mirror, but he left the mask lying where Katara had dropped it. He had no use for it now.

A guard stood before him, one of the ones in deep blue and white. Close to, he noticed a floral pattern embroidered into the hem of the quilted robes, and over the white mantle that draped the man’s shoulders, a heraldry that he’d never seen before.

“On your feet,” the guard snapped.

Prisoner he may be, but Zuko was still a prince. People did not talk to him with such disrespect. “Why?”

“Because I’m authorised to make you if you won’t cooperate.” The man grinned. “Don’t worry, you’re too valuable to haul off to the execution block.”

“Then where are you taking me?” Zuko asked, deciding to stand. His legs wobbled from being cramped for so long, but he didn’t stumble.

“The Grand Master wants to see you.”

Another two guards joined them beyond the door of the cell and together they led their prisoner through a maze of tunnels. He was blindfolded, and though he tried to keep track of all the turns as they took him through the maze of corridors, the construction of the temple was disorienting, and all he could tell was that they were climbing up into one of the towers, the steps worn and uneven beneath his feet. Draughts whistled down the spiral staircase, cutting through his thin clothes and dousing his inner fire until even shivering was too much effort, but perhaps that was the point, a way to make him less dangerous.

Eventually they reached a landing. One of the guards opened a door that creaked on old hinges, spilling warmth and the familiar scent of jasmine out into the corridor.

“The Grand Master will see you shortly,” someone said as he was pushed forward onto thick carpet. The door slammed behind him. For a moment he stood, cautious of his new surroundings, suspecting a trick of some sort because while he was still manacled, nobody had said he could take off the blindfold. When he was sure he was alone with only the howl of the wind for company, he reached up and peeled away the offensive layer of cloth.

The place was plush, well-appointed. Scrolls of artwork decorated the walls and artefacts from every nation filled blank spaces in the shelves that lined the room. The airbenders had little use for fire outside of cooking, so there was no hearth, but someone had installed a stove in one corner of the room, and it blazed with a lively fire while an iron kettle heated water on top of it. Zuko edged towards the only window only to find it locked, the sheer drop on the other side added discouragement to try and escape. As he looked around for another opportunity, his gaze was drawn to the centre of the room, where a low table was laid with a Fire Nation tea set on a lacquered tray.

He started when the door opened. And stared.

“Prince Zuko.” The man who surveyed him was squat, old, his jowls sagging and his brown eyes framed by deep wrinkles at the corners. He too wore one of the blue and white uniforms, but his beard was carefully trimmed in the fashionable Fire Nation style, and though he was balding, his wiry grey hair was pulled back into a topknot with a golden general’s clasp.

“I am afraid if you were looking to find a way out of here, you were wasting your time,” the Dragon of the West said as he ambled towards the stove. “Please, have a seat.” He gestured to one of the large cushions by the table.

Zuko, numbed by shock, forgot his defiance of a moment before and tottered to where he was directed.

“I suspect you have questions,” Iroh continued, turning away to busy himself with the kettle. “I do as well, but that can wait. First, we must be comfortable. How about we share some food and a pot of nice, warming tea?”

#zutara #Zuko #katara #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #blue spirit #avatar #avatar: the last airbender #a:tla

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the-jade-cross · 4 years

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Love on Fire - Chapter 1

Zuko had always thought that if he sat in his father’s presence once again, freely and not on his way to banishment then everything would be perfect… that he would finally be happy. However, now sitting in front of his father, standing beside Azula and catching Ozai up on what happened in Ba Sing Sa, Zuko felt a deep pang in his chest…. A sense of guilt and dread in his gut and he found himself unable to relax and enjoy it.

“Quite an interesting account you have given me,” Ozai remarked. “Some rather beneficial occurrences took place. You brought your treacherous uncle back as well as that slave girl…. What was her name?” “Shira,” Zuko said without realizing it.

Both Azula and Ozai looked at the boy, neither of them surprised to find a slight cloud of sadness pass over the boy’s face, but surprised that he had admitted Shira’s capture.

“Right,” Ozai continued. “I remember her. Quite defiant. Light bender if I recall.” “As well as plant bender father,” Azula added. “And recently I have discovered her ability to ice bend as well.” “Ice bend?” Ozai inquired. “Three bending…. Could that mean….” Zuko lifted his head to look at his father, unsure of what he was talking about, only to see that Ozai had risen to his feet with a concentrating look on his face.

“Question her Azula,” Ozai demanded. “Find out everything you can about her people.” “But I thought all the villagers we brought with her when she was captured as a slave eventually died,” Azula pointed out.

Ozai nodded, “But those weren’t her people. Find out where they are and how many are left.” Azula bowed before leaving the room. Zuko did the same and followed quickly after her. When he left the war chamber, he found Azula talking to Mei and Ty Lee who were standing outside the room waiting for them to emerge.

“Bring her up,” Azula said to them. “I don’t trust the guards to do it without letting her escape. Don’t worry about being rough.” The two girls nodded silently before heading off on the mission Azula had sent them on. The girl then turned to her brother and smirked.

“Care to join me brother?” she asked.

“I would prefer not to,” Zuko replied. “I don’t know how you get information out of prisoners, but I am not really in favor of watching.” “Even when it is your past girlfriend?” Azula asked.

Zuko felt something in his heart snap and for a moment he almost wanted to throw his sister against the wall, but then he stopped, knowing that it would just get him banished again probably.

“She made her choice,” Zuko replied, his voice saying those words…. But his heart screaming something different entirely.

Just then, the sound of footfalls sounded, and four guards strode over to the prince and princess, Mei and Ty Lee in between. Both girls had one of Shira’s arms in their grip but Azula did not notice that their grip on the girl’s arms were gentle but just strong enough to keep her from running off. Shira’s head was bowed, her blond hair covering Zuko’s vision of her face. It had begun to grow back, now laying on the tops of her shoulders. She no longer wore her usual green outfit but a simple pair of brown pants, a long brown shirt that came past her hips and had a leather cord around her waist and her feet were bare.

“Look who it is,” Azula taunted. “Had enough the past two weeks in that prison cell?”

The girl slowly lifted her head and met Azula’s eyes dead on. A deadpan expression was plastered on her face, no look of defiance, anger or weakness. Zuko felt his heart drop to the bottom of his heels at the state she was in. Her hair was straw like, having not been brushed or washed in a while. Her face was slightly soiled and while her attire was not as fitting as her other clothes she had worn in the past, she still looked strong, slender and petite.

Zuko didn’t know how the girl could look so beautiful even in the state she was in, but he found himself staring at how the girl seemed to practically glow beneath the dirt and her mussed hair.

“Follow me,” Azula demanded of Ty Lee, Mei and the guards.

They obeyed, dragging Shira with them. Zuko didn’t fail to notice how she didn’t once look in his direction and the pang in his heart returned.

Zuko remained outside the room, not daring to go in and see what horrible things Azula was doing to Shira…. But also, not wanting to leave. He wanted to see her when she came out…. Wanted to make sure that she came out alive.

When the door swung open and Azula walked out, Zuko’s dread returned at the sight of the smug look on Azula’s face. The soldiers came out next, one of them carrying a limp body in his arms with Mei and Ty Lee at his elbows, continuously telling him to be careful.

Zuko strode over to the soldier who immediately stopped at the sight of the crown prince. The boy’s eyes quickly scanned over the limp body in the man’s arms. Shira was no longer conscious…. Bruises all over her face and her bare arms. The bottoms of her feet were raw and bloody but luckily nothing fatal.

Zuko’s hand instinctively reached out to touch the girl’s hair but just when his hand was within a few inches of her, a searing pain shot through his hand and he jumped back.

“What in the….” He started.

“Zuko,” Mei warned. “I think it is best that you not touch Shira,” she replied seriously.

Zuko looked back at the girl who was still out…. But that was when he saw it…. it was like there was a faint glow about her… like light was shining from her very being. That was when it clicked. Shira was a light bender…. And when she was unconscious…. It defended her…. like she was its protector and in return, it protected her…. even from him.

“I’ll take her back to her cell,” Mei said, taking the unconscious girl out of the soldier’s arms.

The man nodded and all the soldiers walked off. Ty Lee and Mei then began to walk back toward the door which led back to the prison. Just as they rounded the corner out of sight of Zuko, Ty Lee turned to Mei.

“That was so close. If Azula went any further, it would have been dangerous.” Mei nodded, “Let’s hope Azula or the Fire Lord do not find any other reason to torture Shira. It will not just be fatal to Shira.” Ty Lee nodded, “I really hope what Shira told Azula wasn’t true.” “About how her people are completely wiped out when Ozai tried destroying her family in order to find her?” Mei asked. “Why do you say that? If they’re dead then that means they are in a place that is safer than anywhere else.” “I know that,” Ty Lee replied. “But I hope at least a few of her people are still alive…. Because they might be the only ones who can help her… in the condition she is in.” Mei nodded before the two girls headed back to the prison, carefully carrying the girl. What they did not know was that two pairs of silver eyes were watching them from the shadows. Once the two girls disappeared into the prison, both looked at each other with a knowing look and one of them nodded to the other. One of the pairs of silver eyes disappeared…. But the other remained vigilant, watching the prison doors.

*************

When Shira’s eyes opened, she wasn’t surprised to find herself in the prison cell again. She did notice that there was another piece of cloth in the cell, wrapped around her sore form…. A dark red cloak. Must have been from Mei or Ty Lee. Those two had been coming to visit her often and were always sneaking her extra food and water in between meals.

Shira slowly sat up, knowing that if she laid on the cold hard floor to long then her already sore body would be too sore to move. Wrapping the cloak around her form, she leant against the corner of the cell to keep herself propped up, stretching her legs out in front of her to unstiffen them. However, when the bottoms of her feet touched the floor, she winced. Turning one of her feet toward her to look at them, she saw whip slashes and wounds on the bottom of her feet. Oh right, Azula had tortured her the day before.

Shira had only been in that prison for about three weeks and Azula hadn’t come to visit or torment her until the day that Ozai insisted on finding out what happened to Shira’s family. The truth was, Shira didn’t know what happened to them beyond the fire nation attacking the north pole in the attempt to find her and then her older brother Kaname showing up to try and rescue her from the prison academy.

Shira stretched her legs back out, trying to keep the bottoms of her feet away from the ground so they wouldn’t get soiled nor rub against something that would irritate them. She was just about to lean back and close her eyes when she heard the sound of soft footfalls. Lifting her head, she looked toward the prison bars, expecting to see Mei, Ty Lee or a guard but there was no one there…. then she saw it…. a small cat quietly making his way through the bars of her cell until he was standing right by her feet. The cat sat down on his haunches and considered the girl a moment with his striking grey eyes before he closed them. Just like the wolf had back in Ba Sing Sa, the fur on the cat changed to skin, clad in black and the small button nose turned into a young man’s face.

“You again,” Shira remarked weakly.

The young man chuckled. He looked to be about Shira’s age… possibly a year or two older. His black hair was kept much looser and more relaxed than Kaname’s who always (as far as Shira remembered) kept it brushed back.

The boy looked much different than any boy that Shira had ever met. He was almost tough looking with broad shoulders, an athletic build and while he was an average tall height, he was not as lean, slender and agile built as Zuko or even Kaname. In comparison to Kaname who looked like a swan, the boy looked like a bear.

The boy crouched down at Shira’s feet before gently reaching out and taking her feet into his hands.

“They’re not too bad. Just keep off your feet for two days till they heal over and try not to reopen the scabs,” the boy explained in a crisp, rugged but gentle voice.

Shira kept the cloak wrapped around her form, considering the boy thoughtfully. However, the boy’s keen sharp grey eyes lifted and landed on the girl. Reaching over, he grasped the cloak and parted it to get a good look at her. He considered her a moment before wrapping it more securely around her.

“You have gone through a lot,” he remarked in a soft voice. “Yet you keep going.” “Who are you?” Shira asked, still considering the boy cautiously.

Sitting back on his haunches, the boy ran his fingers through his hair. “Out of all three of us, you always remembered Kaname best. I guess it is because you were his little princess.” “You know my brother?” Shira asked. “I’m sorry if I do not recognize you…” The boy shook his head, “It is understandable. You were so little when you left home that I’m surprised you remember Kaname at all… then of course he went all ballistic when you were thrown into the prison academy and had to try and save you…”

Shira looked down, “Kaname was hit the same way I was in Ba Sing Sa… did he….” “Oh he made it,” The boy replied, smirking. “He always does. He doesn’t look it but that guy has nine lives. Don’t worry your little head Yuyu.” Shira froze, “Wait…. I have heard that name before….” When Shira looked back at the boy, he had leant over to ruffle her hair, his eyes closed and a boyish grin on his face. The moment she saw that smile and felt the gentle but rough way he ruffled her hair like a puppy…. She knew. “Mitsuru!” The girl whisper yelled.

The smile on the boy’s face grew, “Good to have you back sis.” “But…. What are you doing here? Besides that…. How are you here?” Mitsuru chuckled, “I’ve always been here Yuyu. Hirako and I take turns watching out for you. As for getting in here, I didn’t find out until a few years after you were taken as a slave that I am actually an animal bender.” “Animal bender,” Shira whispered. “So…. You can…. Turn into animals?” “Certain ones,” Mitsuru replied. “I’m still having trouble with marine animals.” Shira chuckled softly before Mitsuru moved in his position, so he was seated cross legged before his sister, “As for why I am here…. It is time for you to reconnect with who you really are. Discover the truth…discover that things are not always as they seem. It is time for you to remember who you are: Shirayuki Yang Trusang.”

***************

As the sound of approaching footsteps neared the cell, Shira quickly changed from a cross legged position to a leisure position, leaning her back against the wall of the cell, her shoulder facing the bars, letting her legs sprawl out in front of her. She quickly tore the leather cord from her hair, letting her hair fall back around her face.

The footsteps stopped and Shira glanced through her hair at who stood at her bars…. Zuko. This was the first time he had visited her. Of course, she had seen him a week prior when Azula had tortured her but that was it. The boy looked much different with his hair pulled back and out of his face, wearing fire nation clothes. It almost suited him, but Shira missed the free, relaxed boy in simple attire and his hair down.

“I brought you some tea. I thought it would taste better than water.” The girl turned her head back to stare at the wall opposite her. Zuko knelt down and slid the tray of still warm tea through the bars into her cell.

“I’m sorry about the conditions you are in,” Zuko remarked. “I’m trying to convince my father to free you.” “You’re wasting your time and breath,” the girl replied with a deadpan expression. “Even if you did manage to get me out which is impossible, I would not stay in your father’s good graces for more than an hour at the most.” “Why do you say that?” Zuko insisted. “You lived here for years without my father trying to kill you…” “Until I revealed my true past and tried to protect someone important to me, only to have that very person go and turn his back on me,” Shira spat.

Zuko took a full step back when the girl hopped to her feet, turning to face away from Zuko so her back was defiantly facing him.

“Do you think I had a choice?” Zuko demanded. “I was able to get my honor and my father’s love back!” “And you lost your uncle and I in the process,” Shira hissed quietly.

Zuko frowned before storming back over to the bars and slamming his fists against them, “I was doing it to protect you! When Azula electrocuted you, what else was I supposed to do? Carry you half across the world while escaping from my sister?” “Fine job you did!” Shira yelled, turning around and storming over to meet the boy, her eyes flaming blue fire. “I am in a prison cell wise guy! Swell work trying to protect me, which I doubt that was what you were trying to do!”

“What else do you think I was doing?” Zuko demanded, getting closed to the girl…. Or as close as the prison bars allowed. “We could have died! All of us! Uncle had low chances of dying because he’s just lucky but if I had tried to carry you, half dead and unconscious through banishment, both of us could have died!”

Shira let out a loud yell of anger, sounding somewhere between a roar and a scream before slamming her fists against her sides. This motion created a peak of ice which struck Zuko none too gently and threw him away from the bars, against the opposite wall so that he fell onto his backside.

“What do you think I was doing when I saved you from Azula!?” The girl yelled, tears beginning to stream down her face. “I was not thinking when I jumped on that boat in between a brother sister battle of fire and lightning! I can only bend light and ice which are nothing compared to those! There was only one thing that was on my mind and that was you! I couldn’t see you getting hurt or dying so I did something stupid! I got hurt in the process, yes, and could have died but I didn’t because it was my choice! I made that choice to get on that blessed boat and stand between you and Azula! It was my choice to jump in the way when Azula shot lightning at you! IT WAS MY CHOICE TO SURVIVE! I have survived countless things Zuko, most of which you know and most of which you don’t, but I hope by now that you know that I do not do things just to do them. Everything I do has a reason and there is a reason I chose to stand by you when you were going through a crisis within yourself. I had a reason to get hurt countless times for a boy that I did not remember. I had a reason for stopping your father during the Agni Kai all those years ago! And there is still a reason why I choose to not leave this cell and to not side with your sister or your father.” “And what is that?” Zuko snapped, getting to his feet.

“BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!” Shira yelled, slamming her fists on the bars, making all of them crust over with ice. “Because I freaking love you, you idiot! That is the reason why I have done everything I have since the moment I stepped into the fire nation as a child and a slave! If you have a reason for betraying your uncle who has treated you like a son his whole life, if you have a reason for betraying me and the trust I held for you, then say it.” “You would have died otherwise,” Zuko replied quietly.

Shira let out a soft sigh and when Zuko looked back at her, she had retreated from the bars and back to her original seated position with her shoulder to him. The ice on the bars had disappeared and the cell was once again swallowed in dark shadows. “Was that the only reason?”

When Zuko gave no reply, Shira turned so that her back was to him, leaning against the wall. “Come back when you find an answer. Until then, good day Prince Zuko.”

Shira waited for five minutes after Zuko’s footsteps had died away before she sat back up straight again. Grabbing her hair tie, she tied her hair up in a short ponytail out of her eyes and then sat cross legged, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.

Once she did, the pile of rags and blankets in the corner shuffled to reveal a small black cat who quickly transformed into the familiar rugged figure of Mitsuru.

“Thought he would never leave,” the boy sighed, ruffling his hair. “You have no idea how hot it was underneath those things! Though I have to say, when you said that you two had been in love, I wasn’t expecting that kind of greeting.” Shira gave her brother a death glare and immediately Mitsuru raised his hands in surrender, “Sorry! I won’t ask further. Let’s get back to training, shall we?” Shira nodded as her brother sat down in front of her, also cross legged. “First, we must calm down your nerves from your…. most recent conversation….OW!” The boy rubbed the side of his head where Shira had slacked him over the skull at his remark.

“Which will take a while,” Mitsuru sighed, returning to his serious mode. “And then we can begin to practice entering the spirit world.”

“Why should I go into the spirit world?” Shira asked. “Isn’t that something only the avatar can do?”

Mitsuru shook his head, “As children, we were all taught how to enter the spirit world because of our heritage. However, you were taken to safety before you could learn. As for ‘why’… there are a few people there you should meet.”

#zuko #avatar #avatar the last airbender #zuko x oc

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squiddybeifong · 7 years

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Bittersweet

Day Five of the Azula Ship Challenge

Pairing: Tophzula

Notes (on chronology) in tags

Red rimmed eyes stared unflinchingly at the guard as he entered. The armored man walked calmly around her, loosening her chains and leaving just enough space for her to move around. She observed the sliver of his neck that was left exposed and felt her fingertips twitch, trying to ignite a light that couldn’t be lit.

He noticed her staring and squared his shoulders, quickly depositing a tray on the grimy tile in front of her. Noodles, tea, sliced komodo-rhino sausage, boiled cabbage. The prison’s chef even left her two of the kitchen staff's sweet buns.

Flicking her sight up, the prisoner couldn't help but feel her eyes drawn to the man again. The corners of her mouth tilted down as she watched his stance, observing the nearly imperceptibly nervous shifting of his heels. She suppressed the instinct to snort. Pathetic. But then again, he was on prisoner duty, so he couldn't have been worthy of being called one of the fire nation's best. Still training her attention on him, she watched his jaw shift for just a moment before he spoke, his voice booming in the silence of her cell, “Here you are, Princess. Enjoy your lunch.”

Azula barked out a harsh laugh. Princess? What was she the princess of? The only things under her command were the circumstances that imprisoned her: her honorless defeat of an Agni Kai (against Zuko no less!), her crumbled sanity, the fluttering shreds of her dignity, left only through her royal blood. She ruled the heavy chains that bit into her wrists, the unkempt, stringy strands of uneven hair that covered her face, the horrible throb between her ears that lasted for weeks on end every time that waterbending peasant attempted to heal her mind, the short condescending visits of her oh so dear brother. Yes, she certainly was a princess, wasn't she?

She kept cackling as he left the room, the thud! of the door slamming shut drowning out her voice. The brunette gradually fell quiet, still letting breathy little giggles escape her mouth at the humiliation of it all. The back of her throat burned, cracking and dry as she tried to wet her lips.

She tilted a bit under her own weight as the ground trembled. It was a tiny shake, as subtle as a hushed breath, but Azula felt it nonetheless.

She knew what it meant, of course. The earth’s quiet jolts didn’t surprise her as it did the first time.

Against her better judgement a wry smile overcame her lips. She should have moved to position herself in some menacing stance. She should have turned away from the eastmost wall, where her visitor would appear. She should have grabbed the tray and angled herself the best she could, poised to beat their heads in the moment they appeared. She should have forced her weary features into a sneer. A wicked twist of her lips that would strike the deepest chamber of the heart of whoever could witness her glare.

Whether they could see it or not.

But she didn’t even attempt to make herself more intimidating. She simply sat up, straightening her back and rolling her shoulders.

A moment later the ground opened up and a figure plopped out. Without a moment’s hesitation they sauntered in front of her, easily bending the metal off her wrists with a simple flick of one small hand. Azula watched as Toph grinned at her and couldn’t help but stare. The short girl's hair was hanging loosely around her shoulders and back, a strange sight compared to her signature bun. Decked out in a red cloak and loose fitting pants, she looked like the average fire nation peasant. While greens and browns fit her far better Azula had to admit that Toph played the part well.

Saffron eyes watched as the short girl straddled her hips and made herself comfortable in her lap, settling down with her chin against the princess’s chest, her rough fingertips resting right underneath Azula’s ribs. This time the firebender couldn't contain her snort, amused at the girl's impatience.

Toph pressed a firm kiss on her shirt, right in between her breasts. Languidly, she spread her slender fingers and traced the edges of Azula’s stomach, fanning down and clutching where her waist bloomed out into her hips.

Lazily trailing her kisses up to her prisoner’s neck Toph felt the princess shift under her. Restlessly, Azula grabbed at the younger’s biceps and pulled her even closer, growling under her breath at the chuckles that escaped the blind girl. Impatient, Azula lunged forward, crushing her lips against Toph’s own. She snarled into the kiss, tasting the salt and dust that coated her lover’s skin, aware that the blind girl tasted the metallic blood on her own.

Calloused fingers reached up to palm her face as Azula dove further into the kiss. The younger girl broke their embrace, trailing her fingertips along the royal’s jawline. Foreheads resting together, Toph was silent as she continued her inspection, feeling the sharp contours of her princess’s face. Azula’s half lidded eyes watched as her lips quirked down into a frown.

“You need to eat, Lightning Bug. Starving yourself won't help.”

Azula snorted at that and leaned down for another kiss, her face nearly moving into a pout when she was rebuked.

The earthbender’s face was set in concentration as her slender fingers trailed over Azula’s body, feeling the jutting rib bones and chafing skin beneath her shirt. Casually, her palm raised and with a flick of her wrist the tile underneath the tray rose and slid towards the two.

Toph grabbed one of the sweet buns and held it up, pressing the pastry against her lover's cheek. Stubbornly, Azula pressed her lips shut and shook her head, growling out, “I refuse to eat any of that.”

Toph tilted her head to the side, eyebrows raising up mockingly, “So you're not hungry? At all? Even though Snoozles could probably find you just from how loud your stomach's been grumbling?”

As if to emphasize her point a rolling gurgle was heard from in between them. Gold eyes glared at her traitorous stomach for a instant before her eyes were back to Toph's face. Ignoring the anger in her cloudy eyes, the princess repeated, “I'm not eating it. It's beneath me to do so.”

Intensifying her glare, she pressed, “And I am not hungry, Toph. Give it a rest and kiss me already.”

The blind bender’s brows only rose up even further, a concerned line forming from her lips. “Zula…” Azula frowned at her tone, taking in the girl's change away from teasing and use of her actual name.

Groaning in annoyance Azula let her head fall back until it hit the wall behind her, taking some pleasure in the loud bang! of her skull against the brick. Toph's hands came up to weave at the back of her neck, the pads of her dirty fingers rubbing at the matted patch that was her hair and behind the backs of her ears.

The two were silent for a while, the only sound being their breathing and the rhythmic shifting of the small fingers in the princess's dark brown strands.

Azula closed her eyes and tried to calm her breath to steady herself. She felt her shoulders slump and the tiniest arch come over her spine as she started to relax. She could feel Toph shift against her, the muscles of her arms tensing a bit. The princess bit her lip, a heavy feeling pooling in her stomach as she realized she could tell that the short girl was nervous. Toph breathed in once. Shifted a bit more. A second breath, deeper than the first. Azula attempted to brace her mind.

“I can tell when you're lying.”

Dark eyelids snapped open and the prisoner tensed, her body completely still. Irises the color of a newly dying sunset slowly traced the cracks and spider-roach webs that decorated the ceiling. The dusty features called out to her, slowly urging her weary mind to register, to somehow accept her companion's words.

Against her will tears started to well up in the corners of her eyes. Her pupils seemed to pulsate, dilating and shrinking as reality just kept hitting her. She had truly lost everything. She couldn't lie. She couldn't bend. She couldn't walk around without these Agni forsaken chains binding her. A dry, choking sob escaped her trembling lips as she squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn't even talk. Her throat was closing in and her hands balled into fists at Toph's waist.

The princess of the fire nation. Ozai’s protege. The firelord for all of a few minutes. The forgotten prisoner hidden away for nearly two years now. The psychopath that few deemed redeemable, if any thought of her at all. The sixteen year old who'd been conditioned to fight for pleasure rather than necessity.

The teenager who was currently being comforted and straddled by a fourteen year old, who had seen her less than fair share of war as well.

Her sobs turned to laughter as she curled in, clutching Toph to her chest in a tight hug. The earthbender was silent, only rubbing soft circles into her hips and tenderly scratching behind her ears.

Azula felt crushed from all sides: her stomach was caving in on itself, her sanity was still unstable, her legacy would be left as one of an invalid. Her abdomen growled out and she felt as Toph moved, grabbing the cup and pressing it to her chapped lips. Without any encouragement the princess drank, feeling some of the tea fall from the corners of her mouth as she did so.

Toph refilled the cup and held it to her lips again.

Blankly, the prisoner blinked as she drank. Her still leaking eyes painfully rolled in their sockets and focused on the crown of Toph’s head. She watched as her bangs fluttered about and brushed against the length of her face and felt the need to move them aside.

Before she could the little earthbender was twisting again, grabbing something just out of reach. Azula lazily flicked at a pesky lock of hair that peeked out from beneath the golden headband and came face to face with a sweet bun.

She took in Toph’s hopeful face and snorted.

“Come oooon....” Toph’s voice was teasing as she took a bite of the bun, humming in satisfaction as she chewed on the sweet fruit inside. Azula drew her lips into a tight line as the pastry was once again held level at mouth, the waning figment of her pride keeping her from being fed directly. Then the earthbender grasped her chin and neither her pride nor her hunger could prevent her from leaning up into the tomboy's kiss.

Azula felt the stretch of her pinched skin as she leaned up, jerkily tangling her fingers along Toph’s hair. She hummed, the sound surprisingly light in her mangled throat, enjoying the soft feeling of long locks in between the gaps of her fingers.

Toph tasted sweet. Like fruit filling and soft bread and jasmine tea and salt. Azula deepened the kiss, running her tongue along the inside of the shorter girl’s mouth, feeling as the metalbender eagerly responded.

If any shred of her once royal dignity was left, it vanished at the whine that involuntarily escaped when Toph pulled away again. A wicked smirk had enveloped her thin lips -- lips that were beginning to be bruised, Azula noted proudly -- and she raised that infernal bun up again.

“Ah, ah, ah, not yet. You need to eat dinner before your dessert.” Despite her obvious teasing a part of Azula wished to singe the smirk off her face, but the lethargy that pulled her limbs down prevented her from doing so. A finger twitched and she jumped a bit, stunned at the hazy idea that flitted into her mind.

Violence wasn’t to be enjoyed, merely endured. She had to remember that. To even think of violence against Toph...

The prisoner shook her head, physically shaking away the treacherous thoughts. Her eyes flicked to the pastry again and when she spoke she knew Toph could feel her deadpan, “Sweet buns are dessert, you know.”

She ignored the wonderful twist around her heart at Toph’s lazy chuckle, “No duh, Fire Lily.” She leaned in, pressing their noses together and casually flitting her thumb on the protruding bone of Azula’s collar, “My dessert is way sweeter.”

Their lips brushed against each other; not a kiss, but a promise.

Her voice in a whisper, Toph softly nuzzled her face as her hands wrapped around the prisoner’s shoulders, adding, “Plus, I brought you a little something extra.”

Eyes fluttering shut at the tenderness, Azula softly pried the bun out of her lover’s grasp and took a bite.

...

Azula braced herself on the frame of her cot and leaned back against the wall, feeling the dull weight of the chains on top of her thighs. Glancing first at the crumbs that littered her hands and then at the washcloth more than an arm's length away, she settled for popping her index finger into her mouth.

Oh. The taste of her skin tasted just like Toph. Sweat and dirt and blood and breadcrumbs. Sweet and salty.

The princess smiled sadly, gazing around her grimy cell. The shadows’ darkness engulfed the room, sucking away any of the lingering remains of the feisty earthbender.

Chuckling darkly, slim fingers unwrapped the little package -- Toph's extra something special -- and carefully picked up the candy. It was a small piece of chocolate, carefully molded into the shape of a bear. One eyebrow raised as she studied the figure in an attempt to figure out what kind of bear.

It obviously was neither a platypus-bear nor a roach-bear. Gopher-bears had different snouts. Armadillo-bears had stumpier paws and skunk-bears were hairier.

Was it just a bear?

Golden eyes narrowed as she observed the shape more intently, picking up the paper and noting the insignia of Ba Sing Se on the back of the paper. She snorted, shaking her head at the memory of Kuei’s odd fondness for his pet. It was just a piece of candy, what use did she have for it?

But then again…Toph had brought it for her.

Azula plopped the sweet into her mouth, feeling it melt against her tongue. Slumping down until her chin rested on her collar, she softly chewed on the chocolate, feeling the nuts embedded within.

Her eyes flicked down to her hips, exposed by her ridden up shirt. She smiled as she took in the beginnings of a bruise: five little circles the size of Toph’s fingertips. Azula’s gaze moved from the pink marks to the dust and grime and shadows and scraps of food that surrounded her. Something soured in her mouth and she grimaced.

The princess swallowed the chocolate thickly, the candy settling like a rock in her stomach.

The taste of Toph still lingered in the back of her throat, refusing to be overwhelmed by the creamy chocolate. But it didn’t matter anymore; not until her little earthbender came back for another visit.

Until then, it was too bitter for her.

#azulashipchallenge #princess azula #toph beifong #tophzula #my writing #day 5 #bittersweet #i feel like by now my issues with chronology are clear #will be put on ao3 later #this is the first in the chronology #so achievement? i guess #also you can probably tell how i am absolutely hamfisting these prompts into the chapters

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wickedwitch1997 · 7 years

Text

Katara, of the Fire Nation

heNew Zutara Fan fic, this one is an AU. Where Katara is found to be the last water bender, she is taken from her home and brought to the fire nation where she is thrown before Fire Lord Ozai, who takes her in, hoping to one day use her to his advantage.

Chapter one:

“Mummy, I’m scared.”

“Go find your Dad sweetie, I’ll handle this.”

Katara runs, she runs straight out of her home to find her father.

“She’s the one you want!” she hears an old lady shout, Katara stops and turns to the noise, she sees the old lady pointing her out to a guard from the Fire Nation. Several other people nod in agreement and encourage the guard to take Katara.

The guard tries to grab her, Katara jumps back in shock and bends water at the man, hitting him square on the chest and making him fall back with an ‘oomph’.

“Don’t touch me!” Katara screams as the man gets up and lunges at her again.

“General!” the man shouts, grabbing Katara by the arm, “I found her!”

The general comes out of Katara’s home, dragging Katara’s mother by her hair.

“NO!” Kya screams when she sees Katara in the arms of the other man, “No, not her, she’s not the bender! I am take me!”

“She bent water at me, sir,” the man says, tightening his grip on Katara.

“I do not appreciate being lied to,” the general snarls.

The next thing Katara knows is that she is being hauled onto the Fire Nation ship and taken below deck and thrown into a cell.

“Let me out!” she screams, she feels the ship start to move and her heart launches into her throat as fear consumes her.

Katara is taken from her home, she is kept in the small cell with little food and water. When the general opens her cage and the boat stops moving, Katara is almost too weak to stand.

“Get moving,” the general snarls, pushing Katara up on deck.

Katara’s little eyes widen as she sees the sky and land around her. The land has no ice or snow blanketing it; the air is warm.

“Where am I?” Katara asks, her whole body shakes in fear as she is pushed off the boat. Katara assumes she’s in the Fire Nation.

“The Fire Lord wishes to have the girl brought to him,” a messenger says, stepping forward as the general and Katara step onto the docks.

“I want to go home,” Katara stutters, but no one listens.

Katara is passed over to the messenger and then shoved into a carriage she is then taken to the palace.

The messenger brings her before the Fire Lord. She is forced to her knees in front of the flames.

“Is this the girl?” a deep voice asks, Katara shakes in fear as she refuses to look past the fires.

“Yes, Fire Lord,” The messenger says.

“Leave us,” The Fire Lord commands, the messenger leaves and the fires die.

Katara hears the Fire Lords step down from his throne and approach her.

“What is your name?” he asks.

“K-katara,” she stutters.

“When addressing me, you will call me Fire Lord, or my Lord,” he commands, “is that clear?”

“Yes, Fire Lord,” Katara whispers, hanging her head and refusing to look into the eyes of the man.

“Stand child,” The Fire Lord commands, Katara obeys and rises to her feet.

Suddenly a cup of water is poured onto the floor in front of her.

“Bend this,” the Fire Lord commands.

Katara stares at the puddle of water, she has never bent water on command before, she’s never been taught how to.

“I can’t,” Katara stammers, “I don’t know how to, my lord.”

“If you don’t, I will send my army back to your tribe, and slaughter them all,” the fire lord threatens.

Katara’s heart races, she focuses on the water and then holds her hands out in front of her.

“Do it!” The Fire Lord shouts, his voice startles Katara and she screams and falls to her knees, but as she does, the water in front of her jet’s upwards, splashing the Fire Lord in the face.

Katara looks up, mortified to see the Fire Lords face drenched in water.

“I’m sorry!” She stammers, bowing her head once more, “I didn’t mean to!”

She hears the sound of her water being turned into steam as the Fire Lords skin becomes heated.

“You will train here,” he says, making Katara look up to him in shock, “You are my prisoner now, disappoint me, and I will burn you alive.”

Katara’s arms shake in exhaustion as the Fire Lord summons the messenger to re-enter.

“This is indeed the one,” The fire lord says, “Take her to her chambers, see that she is fed and dressed.”

“Yes, Fire Lord Ozai,” the messenger says, he grabs Katara by the arm and pulls her to her feet.

Fire Lord Ozai seems to growl and a breath of fire is blasted at the messenger.

“With civility,” Ozai demands.

“Yes, Fire Lord,” the messenger says, this time his voice is shaking, so are his hands, “come on,” the messenger says, holding out a hand to Katara, “Come with me.”

Katara takes the man’s hand and stands back to her feet, she follows the man out of the room and into the hall way, there she passes a young boy with golden eyes. The boy stares at her as she passes.

“Enter!” Ozai calls, startling the boy.

The boy looks back to the water bender one last time before rushing into the room.

Katara is taken to a small, blank room. She is showed to her closet, filled with fire nation garb, and then to the bathroom.

“Bath and change,” the messenger orders, “Someone will bring you food shortly.”

Katara nods her head and then watches as the messenger leaves. She hears the door lock and a small breath escapes her. Katara looks around her room, a bed in the corner, the dresser in the other, and a desk by the door. Katara cries as she falls to her knees, she’s terrified of the fire nation, she’s heard the stories they whisper around the tribe. And now Katara’s in the capitol, held prisoner in the palace.

Katara sobs uncontrollably, though few tears fall, she has been given little water over the past few weeks and she is extremely thirsty.

Half an hour later, there is a knock at the door, Katara looks up as the door is unlocked.

“Hello?” comes a softer, friendlier voice as the door opens.

A man enters the room, he looks old, with greying hair and a beard. He carries a tray of food and he has a warm smile on his face.

Katara sniffles as she wipes her nose with the back of her coat.

“Oh dear,” the man gapes, stepping further inside and shutting the door behind him, “You don’t look so good.”

Katara flinches when he steps towards her, the man puts the tray on the desk and then kneels down in front of her.

“What is your name?” the man asks.

Katara keeps her mouth shut, the man looks Katara up and down.

“My name is Iroh,” The man says, still smiling at Katara.

“Katara,” she finally says, wiping sweat from her forehead.

“Well, Miss Katara,” Iroh says, standing to his feet, “I was told that you were taking a bath.”

“I don’t know how,” Katara says, Iroh looks to her and then to the bathroom as she says, “I don’t know what to do.”

“Come with me,” Iroh says, holding out his hand to Katara. Katara takes the man’s hand and then follows him into the bathroom. He places a stool in front of the tub and helps Katara to step up on it.

“This is a tap,” Iroh explains, he turns the knob and water begins to pour out of the stout. Katara’s eyes widen, she leans forward and cups her still gloved hand under the water, she drinks from her hand as best as she can.

Iroh doesn’t laugh, the situation is more sad than funny.

“Here,” he says, taking Katara’s hands and ungloving them.

Katara goes back to gulping down the water, she gets into the tub and practically sits under the water, letting it drench her clothes.

“Do you want to take a bath?” Iroh asks. Katara looks to him and nods her head eagerly.

Iroh lifts Katara out of the tub and puts the plug in. As the tub begins to fill he looks back to Katara as she watches him carefully.

“Do you need help with your coat?” He asks, Katara nods her head once.

Iroh helps Katara into the water, he adds bubbles and hands her soap.

“Call me when you want to get out,” Iroh says, stepping out of the bathroom as Katara scrubs at her body with the soap.

“I’m done!” Katara says, before Iroh can even get two steps from the bathroom.

“Well that was quick,” he says, turning back to see Katara climbing out of the tub and grabbing her towel.

Katara wraps the towel over her shoulders and stares up at Iroh.

Iroh almost melts when he sees those big blue eyes staring up at him, he can see her fear, she is so far away from home, and in a strange land, surrounded by people she’s been told to fear.

“I will get you some clothes,” Iroh says, going to the girl’s new dresser.

Iroh helps Katara dress in the different Fire Nation style, though the colours of red and black do not suit her nearly as well as the blue and white did.

After Katara is dressed, Iroh sits her up at her desk and helps her with her food, all the while reminiscing about his son’s younger years.

Katara does not understand the utensils in front of her, she does not understand the food or the clothes. She is utterly confused about this whole place.

But she is certain that Iroh is a good man, he is kind to her, he doesn’t shout or push her around; she likes him. He is patient with her, showing her how to use the eating utensils, and how to use the taps, and also how to dress herself in the new fire nation style.

There is a knock at the door and a soft voice calls out, “Uncle?”

“Come in, nephew,” Iroh says, Katara watches as the door opens slowly and the boy from the hall enters.

“Father wants to see you,” the boy says.

Iroh sighs and stands to his feet, Katara’s hand shoots out and she grabs the sleeve of Iroh’s tunic, her eyes pleading for him to stay.

“Where are my manners,” Iroh laughs, “Zuko, this is Katara. Katara, this is my nephew, Prince Zuko.”

Katara’s eyes widen, she gets out of her chair and falls to her knees, not entirely sure how she should bow, she presses her forehead to her hands and closes her eyes tightly.

“What is she doing?” Katara hears Zuko ask.

“Be nice,” Iroh chides, “Katara, it’s alright, you can stand.”

Katara stands to her feet slowly and looks to Zuko.

“Zuko,” Iroh says, noticing how Katara looks to him, “Will you keep little Katara company until I come back?”

Zuko sighs but nods his head, Iroh smiles and then walks out of the room, closing the door behind him, leaving Katara standing alone with the crowned Prince of the Fire Nation.

You can find my other fic master list here

@squishysuho @the-weird-fob-fangirl @pepewntz @thegaang6

#Katara of the Fire Nation fic #zutara #katara #kya #ozai #iroh #zuko #awww #awww precious little babies #baby katara #baby zuko

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rudderless-in-an-ocean-of-stars · 7 years

Text

false veneers and failed façades

of broken mirrors and haunted rooms (i’m empty inside but so are you), chapter two

An ATLA fanfiction.

Not a lot of people read the first chapter, or even seemed interested in this story, but who cares, I love it, so I’m putting it out there once more and with a brand-new chapter to boot. :)

Here’s a direct link to the chapter on Ao3, where I hope you’ll drop by to leave me some feedback on this work. :)

http://archiveofourown.org/works/10998975/chapters/24795549

The tea takes nearly an hour to fully block her chi.

A liberal helping of sugar does little to mask its bitter taste.

Azula traces her fingers around the rim of the empty cup, one by one, as she waits. The delicate edge of gold-rimmed porcelain hums beneath her touch as she leans back against the stone wall of her cell. Across the table is the Avatar, who calmly sips his own tea as they sit in amicable silence.

She feels every second of it, feels every path to her inner fire being carefully closed off and boarded up like a building deemed too dangerous to enter.

For the first time in years, Azula feels truly cold.

Even sailing through Arctic waters hadn’t left her such a chill, not a firebender with her prowess and skill. Her thin summer robes feel like paper against her skin, and she works hard to suppress a shiver.

The Avatar watches her with undisguised worry shining in the depths of his grey eyes- in spite of the years spent trying to perfect this drug, no one was quite sure how well a bender of her caliber would react to it.

“Just spit it out, Avatar,” she scoffs, tossing her hair back with a smooth shrug of her shoulders. These days, without a crown to pin in place, Azula leaves her hair down more often than she bothers putting it up. “I may have all day to loiter here, but I’m sure you must be a very busy man.”

“Not today, Princess,” he says, inclining his head with a soft smile, “Today my only obligation is to you.”

“You can’t be serious. You don’t honestly intend to spend the rest of the day here, do you?”

“Why not?”

“You’re the Avatar.” Azula speaks slowly, the way one would to a small child or a particularly stubborn animal. “You have responsibilities to the people.”

“You’re my friend.” He says it like it’s the simplest thing in the world, and Azula resists the urge to slap the cheery grin off of his face. He shouldn’t look so thrilled at the prospect of calling himself a friend to the Mad Princess, as she’s so aptly been nicknamed by the denizens of the Four Nations. She’s no longer sure exactly who the crazy one is in this relationship. “I have a responsibility to you as much as anyone else.”

Azula channels as much of her newfound frost into her voice as possible when she speaks again. “Is that what we are?”

His expression doesn’t falter in spite of her icy tone. “Do you think we aren’t?”

“I think you should be careful with who you choose to call ‘friend.’ You have a reputation to maintain, after all.”

The world wouldn’t take to kindly to the Avatar calling a war criminal a friend.

She doesn’t realize she’s spoken her thought aloud until he frowns down at her, a crease forming in the space between his brows.

Azula remembers being taller than him when they’d first met. Now, even sitting, he’s tall enough to have a few inches on her. On anyone else, the height difference coupled with his uncharacteristically severe expression would have appeared condescending.

“The war made criminals of us all.”

Somber.

There’s no other way to describe his tone.

He sounds like a mourner at a funeral, and in a way, she understands. None of them had gotten through the war unscathed. They’d all lost something- friends, family, homes. And, of course, Azula’s personal favorite-

Innocence.

But he’d lost everything.

A hundred years, buried in ice as the world moved on without him, everyone he’d ever known dying or growing old while he slept.

No matter how good a façade he showed the rest of the world, he couldn’t fool Azula.

She was a good enough liar to recognize when somebody else was concealing the truth, master though he was at deception. It’s a skill she initially never thought he’d have any talent at. Time and time again, the Avatar has proven her wrong, much to her amusement.

Most people are predictable to her.

Easy to read.

Even easier to intimidate.

Easier still to control.

Puppets dancing on strings Azula had been able to see since she was old enough to remember.

She’d learned how to pull the strings herself, even as Ozai had twisted hers into knots she might never fully unravel.

The Avatar is a pleasant change of pace from the monotony of all that. Like the element he was born to, the Avatar is unrestrained.

“Not like me.” Azula lets her eyes slip lazily shut as she replies, a wave of sudden exhaustion flooding her veins.

She’d been warned that this could be one of the side effects of the medication. Chi-blocking was an art truly mastered by only the Avatar, and since he’d point-blank refused to permanently take away her bending at the Fire Lord’s request for reasons she didn’t even want to bother trying to comprehend, this was the only alternative that wouldn’t leave her as a pile of drooling mush in the corner.

Never like me, she thinks, and the world should see that as a gift.

The world should be grateful Ozai hadn’t succeeded in molding Zuko into his personal weapon alongside her, or they’d have likely razed the world to ash side-by-side, and built their father a kingdom on the bones of the fallen.

She dreams of it sometimes, a castle made of blood and bone.

Her father stands at the very top of it all, smiling his terrible smile as he surveys a kingdom forged in death and endless pain.

If there is one thing Azula knows better than even her bending, it is pain pain pain-

A crown dripping the same crimson that stains her fingers, never to wash off.

She scrubs and she scrubs until the red is her own, the blood is her own, the skin is rubbed raw and oozing-

A hand reaching out to beckon her to stand at his side, the monster’s daughter, the demon princess.

She scrubs and she scrubs as if the taint of his touch could be cleansed, as if his poison didn’t run through her veins, blood is blood Azula, blood is blood is blood-

“Princess?”

A single word drags her back, spoken by the one voice that could actually anchor her to reality unlike so many others.

Ozai had shattered her mind, and the sounds of Zuko’s voice only ever served to yank her back to the start of it all. Everything about him drew her back into the past. The same went for Mai and Ty Lee. All three of them served as constant reminders of the childhood she’d never really escaped, at least, not with all her pieces intact.

Not with all the pieces normal people aren’t supposed to live without.

Azula’s never been normal, that much has been evident since she’d been blessed with Agni’s blue flames. But perhaps she could have come close without Ozai to warp her beyond repair.

“Mmm?”

“Are you well?”

A drowsy smirk tugs up the corners of her mouth. “Fine. Jus’ tired.”

“You’re slurring your words.”

She musters up the energy to half-open her eyes, and makes a conscious effort to speak clearly. “Am I?”

He’s leaning across the slender table and wrapping a hand around her wrist before she can even think of moving away, fingers pressing down lightly over her pulse point.

“You feel like ice.”

If she’d been more awake, Azula would have been able to hear the concern weighing his words down. But she is tired, too tired to listen and almost to tired to even bother voicing a response.

“I just need to sleep. They warned me of the side effects, as I’m sure they did you.”

After that, her eyes slide closed and she finds that has neither the energy nor the desire to force them open once more.

The last thing she remembers before the rest of her senses give way to the alluring darkness of oblivion is the feeling of a sudden, soothing warmth wrapping her in its embrace.

Safe, her sluggish brain murmurs to itself before finally succumbing to the ceaseless siren song of slumber.

Safe.

A burst of airbending keeps Azula’s body from hitting the ground as she slumps sideways, clearly unconscious.

It’s easy enough to maneuver her prone form into the bed on the opposite side of the room with his bending, and it takes little effort to summon the nurses assigned to watch over the sleeping princess for any signs of possible harm caused by the drugs, but a sense of unease lies heavy in the pit of his stomach nonetheless as he leaves the facility.

It wasn’t like Azula to display such overt signs of weakness in front of anyone, least of all him.

Even in the beginning, even with dark circles under her eyes from night terrors the nurses gossiped about in hushed, horrified whispers, even with moon-pale skin and trembling hands from the overuse of sedatives that the previous doctors had used in a futile attempt to keep her docile and meek, defiance had shone bright and clear in her golden eyes. Her calm, steely demeanor betrayed nothing to anyone who visited her, even him.

The drugs back then hadn’t suppressed her bending, but they had nearly made her too weak to even use it. He’d hated seeing her so drained, but never once had she allowed herself to appear vulnerable. Not until today.

Zuko had fired them all after Aang had informed him of their form of so-called treatment. He’d questioned the nurses after seeing the way Azula’s hands trembled despite what he knew to be her best efforts to keep them steady, the way her golden eyes looked dull and glazed over during his other visits.

Today, her eyes had looked hollow and distant.

The last time she’d seemed so out of reach she’d been completely unstable and out of touch with reality, screaming curses at Ursa for leaving her with Ozai.

Seeing her so visibly unhinged had shaken him.

Azula didn’t know about his first trip here with Zuko.

He hadn’t even gone into the room.

The nurses mentioned she was having a bad episode, and it wasn’t safe to introduce her to an unfamiliar face.

Apparently hunting someone down for over a year didn’t count as familiarity.

He’d watched from the bars as she’d writhed and screamed, watched as she huddled in the corner as soon as she’d laid eyes on Zuko’s face, recoiled from the sight of him with wide, terrified eyes.

It was the sight of her then that had convinced him to stay, to extend his visit to the Fire Nation.

Here he was, three years later, a permanent resident on Ember Island, one of the closest islands to the one that the mental hospital had been built on to house the fallen princess.

He still traveled the world with Appa on occasion, but for the most part, he was only called upon to resolve the most dire of situations. It had been agreed that the Four Nations needed to learn how to stand on their own and forge peace without the constant use of the Avatar as a crutch.

The repair of the Air Nation temples could wait, at least, for now.

Sokka and Suki split their time between the Southern Water Tribe and Kyoshi Island. Chief Hakoda refused to accept anything less than regular visits from his children and his new in-laws. The rebuilding of the tribe was going much faster now that most of their captured benders and warriors had been returned home.

Toph hadn’t exactly settled down yet- at the moment, she was spending some quality time at the Fire Nation Palace, doing her best to annoy Zuko to death. But the Earthbender finally had the one thing she’d spent her whole life clawing for- freedom.

She’d nearly been disowned, but in the end, her actions had spoken for themselves, and the Bei Fongs finally accepted the fact that their daughter was more than her disability.

And Katara.

The first kiss they’d shared had also been their last, they’d broken apart laughing from the sheer hilarity of it.

After a clarifying conversation, they’d walked away with a bond stronger than ever, finally confident in the knowledge that they were destined to be the best of friends and nothing more.

She’d been crowned Fire Lady a mere year and a half after the final battle against Ozai and the Agni Kai against Azula.

While there had been dissenters in the beginning, Katara had earned the love and respect of the Fire Nation with her fair judgement and compassionate heart. Even the most stubborn of the nobles had eventually caved in and developed a grudging respect for her unbreakable spirit.

Surprisingly enough, Mai had been one of Zuko and Katara’s most staunch supporters. She’d been the one to break off her relationship with Zuko and push him to act on his feelings for Katara. Now, she served as royal advisor to both Fire Lord and Fire Lady, though Katara made it clear she had a monopoly on her best friend’s time.

Their friendship had been another welcome surprise- not many had expected the girls to develop such a close bond, not after everything that had happened between them all, especially with regards to Zuko. But Mai had worked hard to redeem herself after being freed from her imprisonment after betraying Azula at Boiling Rock, and so had Ty Lee, who now lives happily among her fellow Kyoshi Warriors. That had earned them both a second chance in Katara and everyone else’s eyes- after giving one to Zuko and so many others, it wouldn’t have been fair not to.

Unlearning a hundred years of prejudice and hatred was hard, but it was something that people from all of the nations were finally learning how to do.

Everyone was finally getting some semblance of a happy ending, and it was more than a little unnerving to witness.

They talked about it sometimes, when they gathered. It felt odd, living without the weight of war on their shoulders. None of them had ever really thought of what life might be like after the war. Most of them hadn’t even assumed they’d survive.

Yet survive they had-

And there was no denying that it felt good.

Azula deserved peace like that too.

He’s never been as certain of anything as he is of this.

Aang had made several disturbing revelations over the years, many of them concerning the princess herself.

Nobody had ever given the girl a chance.

Ozai had seen a weapon.

Ursa had seen a monster.

Even Iroh had thought her past saving.

He’d worked hard to guide Zuko, even when the banished prince had been consumed in the same darkness as his sister. But he’d never extended the same hand towards his niece, to steer her towards the side of good with the same ruthless, unyielding determination he’d used with her brother.

Beneath the carefully crafted veneer of cynicism and sarcasm was a girl whom nobody had ever really thought to show kindness to.

Three years ago, after seeing her trapped in hallucinations drawn from memories of what he was horribly sure had been a childhood even worse than Zuko’s, he’d become determined to change that.

Because in a way, Azula wasn’t totally responsible for who she had become.

Not when she was simply following the path that everyone else had forced her to walk.

Had he been in her shoes, he’s sure he would have crumbled long before the Agni Kai.

At the very core of her being, Azula is a survivor.

He hopes she’ll survive this, prays that her indomitable willpower can endure this change.

Spirits help her.

Spirits help us all.

As always, feel free to drop me comments here or at Ao3 using the link above. :)

#ATLA #Avatar: The Last Airbender #Azula #Aang #Avatar #fanfiction #Ao3 #rudderless writes #Post-Series

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bellatrixobsessed1 · 4 years

Text

A Flame For A Cabbage (Part 13)

Azula pushes her stall down the vacant streets. She is the only one outside, she is the only one with the sense not to panic buy toilet paper. What she does not know is that the toilet paper has served its purpose. The streets are vacant because the void has taken its annual sacrifices and those who had not been possessed and driven to leaping into its swirling depths are not yet awake because it is 3:15 in the morning. This is when Azula starts her day. It is not when normal people start their day. No less, Azula finds that she is more productive when she rises at 3:15. Her mother had once said that it is another sign that she is ‘literally Satan but with a top knot and cute clothes.’

She finds herself what she believes is an optimal place to set up her stall. It is a shady spot nestled between a cafe and an inn with a lovely maple tree. She picks out a cabbage and smiles. Today will be different, she will have her sales.

She spies her first customer and holds out a cabbage. “Has your toilet paper saved you?” She begins.

The man shakes his head.

“I didn’t think so.” She replies. “See, I tried to tell you, but you did not listen. Luckily for you, I am a generous person. I am still going to allow you to buy a medicinal cabbage.”

The man seems to recoil but he reaches for his pocket. She thinks that he is going to draw out a few copper pieces. Instead he draws a single square of toilet paper and wipes his nose. “No thanks.”

“Good morning.” Azula greets a woman. She thinks that it is the soldier who had abolished her cabbage stand the morning before so abruptly drops her sales pitch. She is not usually one to run, but she is also not one to carelessly put herself into a losing situation. She hustles to pack away her stall. She thinks that she will have better success elsewhere anyhow.

“Halt!” The soldier shouts. “Merchant! Get back here!” The woman is waving something at her. She picks up her pace.

.oOo.

“Father, I have important news.” Sie begins.

“Sie, I am trying to organize my rock garden, you know that I always organize my rock garden at exactly 5:30 in the morning.” He picks up a plastic flamingo, this one is electric blue in color. He strokes it lovingly, the shade reminds him of something important to him. Something that he has lost long ago. Tenderly, he sits it by the rest of the blue flamingos. He moves onto the next one, a standard pink lawn flamingo. This one he puts at the center, for it is the flamingo of the day. This is how he organizes his rock garden. There are no rocks in his rock garden. There is no war in Ba Sing Se. There is no God in the Fire Nation.

There are only flamingos in Ozai’s rock garden. There is only the false illusion of safety in Ba Sing Se. There is only Iroh’s unwavering wrath in the Fire Nation.

As Ozai picks up a flamboyant green flamingo with sunglasses, the Pterodactyl of the West screeches in his cell.

Sie does not get to inform his father of the news.

.oOo.

With her stall once again erect in a new, slightly less comfortable location, Azula decides that she is going to have to take a more direct approach. She looks at the charred body next to her and recalls that this is not normal for the Fire Nation. She also notes that it is, in fact, bad for business to have a body laying around so she quickly pushes her cabbage stall over it.

That ought to fix it. If you push it under the bed or shove it in to the closet then you cannot see it. And if you cannot see it then the mess is gone. No one can see the corpse. So the corpse is not there. It can fade from existence as though it had never been a part of it all. Such is the nature of things. Object permanence is meaningless. It is like time which is also meaningless. Time is not only meaningless, but also a social construct which is why Azula does not have a problem being awake at 3:15 in the morning, because it is actually 5:30 (which is still questionable early). But not for Azula, because Azula believes that it is 3:15 and therefor it is 3:15. Now if you were to ask Ozai, he would say that it is 5:30. And if you asked Zuko, he might say that it is 1:00 in the morning and ask you why you are waking him so early. If you asked Iroh what time it is, he would tell you that he is in a jail cell so time is twice as meaningless as it was before and so he does not know what time it is. So you are best not asking the time at all because, really, how are you to know who is correct? Just who has decided what time to go with anyways?

While the unimportance of time as it pertains to a person was being discussed, several customers have came and went. Each of them hilariously rejecting the socially inept cabbage merchant’s offers.

Azula grows increasingly frustrated. “You are going to buy a cabbage.” She informs the first person she sees. “It is not debatable. You are going to…” the man walks away from her as though she is nothing and no one at all. She is left to ball her fist and wave it at him in a silent display of frustration.

Jet’s words echo in her mind. And maybe he is right, maybe her business will crumble... It could be that the height of her luck had been on the wall all of those days ago. Azula wanders back to her stall, picks out her favorite cabbage of the day, and hugs it to her chest.

She isn’t feeling so well. It is not the illness that plagues the Fire Nation streets. Nor is it the virus that is currently making a mess of a different dimension entirely. It isn’t the black plague either. It could be seasonal allergies--yes, she thinks that it is seasonal allergies. But it is also something else. Something… Emotional.

She is feeling sad. The merchant isn’t sure that she has ever felt sad before. Has she ever felt anything save for pride and determination, and more recently, angry and frustration?

Azula pulls her keens up to her chest and hugs the cabbage closer. A single tear escapes and slips down her cheek. The wind stirs up her hair and rustles the leaves of her cabbages. She can practically hear them whispering, “it’s going to be okay, Azula.”

She is skeptical. But there might be hope yet. She takes a deep breath, she has never done this before. Never.

She puts a, ‘out for lunch, back in 15’ sign on her cabbage stall and heads for the Fire Nation prison.

.oOo.

“Father, I still have news.” Sie tries again. This time Mai and TyLee are standing behind him because they need some screen time. But they aren’t going to do anything particularly important.

“Not now.” Ozai says. “I have important things to do.” Such important business consists of inspecting his toothbrush, bristle by bristle. This is something he routinely does after he organizes his rock garden.

“But father, this is important.” Sie speaks. He can wait, for Ozai is on the last three bristles. But upon that task’s completion he sits upon his throne and seems to stare directly into the flames around it. Sie knows not to interrupt Ozai when he is peering into the flames, seeking out divine wisdom. Mostly the fire simply crackles and shrieks incoherently like a thousand voices from the ninth ring of hell as fires tend to do. But occasionally the fire will crackle and tell Ozai that his beard is pretty. This makes Ozai blush but in a very manly way.

Mai, growing impatient ages up a year. And then one more after that.

Sokka remains the same age though. As do June, Toph, Aang, Katara, Zhao, Haru, Azula, Jet, Ozai, Zuko, and Lo. But Li. Li is not exactly 83 while her sister is only 82. Teo, in his wheelchair also ages a year. And Earth Kingdom Azula is suddenly 8 years old again and her adoptive mother weeps in despair. We cannot be sure of TyLee’s age. Even TyLee doesn’t know TyLee’s age.

“Father?” Sie coughs.

The man only narrows his eyes and concentrates harder on the fire as a good Fire Lord does. Sie shakes his head sadly. Things have been weird between he and his father these days. Ever since he got home. He thinks that his father resents him for some reason but that does not make sense for he has been the perfect daughter. “Father the Earth Kingdom is planning an invasion.”

“Hmmm…” Ozai says taking a sip of his coffee. “Nope.”

“Wh-what do you mean, nope?”

Ozai turns away from the fire but only for a moment. “Nope, there will be no invasion.”

“But there is going to be an eclipse.”

Ozai shakes his head.

“Yes.” Sie inists. “The Earth King…”

Ozai plugs his ears and says, “la la la la, I can’t hear you.”

“Father…”

“There won’t be an invasion because I forbid it.”

“Father,” TyLee starts.

“He’s my father, not yours.”

“Ooohhh, I thought that his name was father.”

Sie shakes his head.

“Sie’s father, TyLee begins again, “we were told that…”

The Fire Lord raises a silencing hand. “If you speak without permission even once more, I will teach you the same lesson that I taught my son.”

Sie shudders violently, not a day goes by where Zuko doesn’t talk about the horrors of calculus derivatives and trigonometry. His face still bears the scar given to him with The Math itself punished him for his wrong answer. Not that Ozai hadn’t summoned The Math in the first place.

“Please no.” TyLee squeaks.

“But father, we should be making preparations…”

“Preparations for what?”

“The invasion.”

“What invasion!” Ozai roars, and with his rage the fire flares. “There is no invasion. I already said ‘la la la’.”

Sie, fearing punishment and The Math, backs down. He clenches his teeth and hopes that he is wrong about the eclipse. “Come on, TyLee. Mai.” He beckons for them to follow. Boredom satisfied, Mai ages down a year again. The others do not.

“Ozai!” Greets a chipper and cheerful high-pitched voice. “Did you trim your beard!? It looks hella fine!”

Ozai smiles. It is the only time that is black and vile soul sees even a faint pin-prick of light and goodness.

#Avatar #Azula #Cabbage Man #Ozai #Mai #TyLee #Fanfiction

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