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the-badger-mole · 8 months

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A Kya lived (but with some serious burns) AU.

Katara's relationship with the other characters?

In what way would this also affect Sokka?

Aang accidentally burning Katara?

Yon-Rha being alive or not,and Zuko and Katara hunting him down.

Depending on what ripple effect Kya being alive has on the series, what other changes do you think would impact things going forward?

Do you think kat*anng would still happen or zutara?

To answer your last question first, Kataang shouldn't have happened in general, so, no they absolutely don't happen here.

This would've been an extremely traumatic event for Kya, and I think she would become very protective of Katara. Sokka would have a complicated relationship with it because on the one hand, he'd get it, and he'd be very protective of Katara too (even more than he was in the show). On the other hand, I think it would very much read as favoritism to him, and he'd probably pull some very dangerous and stupid stunts in order to get his mother to fear for his life like she does for Katara's. I think instead of being sent off with well wishes, Katara would have to sneak away, and Sokka would come with her to protect her.

I think Zuko seeing the burns that Kya suffered would give him pause. He would still try to go in with all his bluster and bravado, but it would be a sight that would startle him. I think it would change the dynamic when he confronted Katara (does Katara get Kya's necklace here? I don't know. I could see it go either way). He might appeal to her desire to end the war instead, promising that once he got home and took back his rightful place, he'd make ending the war his priority so no one would have to suffer like Kya. His arc would then be centered on trying to reconcile what he knows of his father with his own hopes for how the war would end. I don't know if they still go after Yon Rah. I don't think it would have the same impact, to be honest. I think Katara's mother would be what bridges the gap between them still, but I think instead of focusing on their mutual loss, Katara would find out explicitly how Zuko got his scar and why. They would still connect over maternal sacrifices, but also the scars.

Katara, I think, would be the biggest change. I think she'd be a less maternal figure and less inclined to play caregiver to the people around her (which is part of the reason I don't think Kataang would happen). Her anger would be a lot more apparent because not only did her mother sacrifice herself for Katara, she treated her like she was too vulnerable to be let out into the world on her own (this version of Katara would probably have an easier time connecting with Toph, tbh). I think any attempts of people trying to protect her or tell her she can't do something would be met with much more force. Her fight with Pakku would've been much more feral and unhinged because I think she'd actually be out for blood. Like for real, for real. And her stint as the Painted Lady would probably end with a few dead soldiers. I see Zutara not only happening in this version of the story, but happening way sooner because Katara's anger would be easier for Zuko to see and understand, and then connect with. I think her pain and anger would hurt him for her sake, too. Getting to know her would make him finally understand everything Iroh was trying to do for him, and he would in turn try to be that for Katara. In the end, they'd both wind up helping each other find peace.

Also, as for what happened when Aang burned Katara? He'd have gotten a double barrel of anger from the siblings. Sokka would possibly lay hands on him, and Katara would resent him for not taking any of his learning opportunities seriously. I think Katara in this version would be much more militant (a reason why I don't think Aang would have a crush on her in this scenario to begin with). This episode would see him getting thee crap scared out of him, and possibly set him down the path of understanding just how badly the war needs to be ended.

#atla #zutara #elseworlds atla #an angrier katara #would be too much for the human senses #this would not be able to remain a show for young children #they'd have to put this on the -n instead #THE YEAR OF CONTENT!!!!

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levitatingbiscuits · 1 year

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Anyway, I will always be suspicious when people in fandom go out of their way to condemn the justified anger of characters of color and then very conspicuously do not keep that energy for white or paler characters

#katara #gale hawthorne #mace windu #tho tbh mace never even shows anger just sternness #and ppl assume he must be angry bc he's played by samuel l Jackson #honestly OBI-WAN is angrier than he is!!#fandom racism

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ssreeder · 3 months

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Hi pook 😢 ( sorry if u don’t like the nickname) but I’ve been reading your series and I am reading Into the Fire (chapter 8) and I’m just wondering why you made Sokka give in so easily when people tell him to control himself that’s not Zuko. Because I would imagine that he would be more stubborn and more focused on what he wants instead of being caring. Even though he’s a caring and kind person I feel like being in prison would make him more selfish and less understanding of other people if than makes sense 😭

Like it just aggravates me when I see Katara try to idk really baby him and control him a bit (not mentally) it just kind of annoys me. Because even though Sokka loves his Sister I feel like he shouldn’t listen to her for real.

But that’s just me because that’s my opinion coming from someone behind has anger issues/ gets angry easily 🤷‍♀️

I love love love this series btw!!!!

I added your other ask too so I could respond to both! Hiiii hellooooo I don’t mind nicknames it’s actually nice because then I can keep anons apart haha

as for your comment about sokka I gotta say you’re probably the first person to tell me sokka isn’t angry enough haha. Which is fine because everyone’s allowed to have their own opinions, but my thoughts on LIAB angry sokka is his intelligence is often battling his emotions. I think sokka is smart enough to know he isn’t supposed to be lashing out at people the way he is or clinging to Zuko so tightly to where they both can’t breathe. i also think he is desperate to be back to his “old self” without actually wanting to be his old self. I do think he is fighting his path to healing every step of the way but even with all the time spent in prison he is still SOKKA. He cares for people he loves his family and he knows from watching his parents growing up what a healthy relationship looks like - his codependency to zuko is probably not it. I doubt it will change much, but when people tell him ‘you need to chill’ Sokka is very much like I FUCKING KNOW BUT I HAVE NO CHILL!!! NONE! ZERO CHILL.

but I can’t imagine sokka wanting to hurt anyone who doesn’t deserve it. Or fighting his friends and family to isolate himself anymore than he already is. I have learned that writing a more emotionally triggering fic does stir up emotions in people and causes them to project onto the characters a bit which is fine but everyone processing trauma differently. & sokka is doing it his own way just like zuko is.

Also…. This is a fanfic and I don’t know if people wanna read sokka being a raging asshole for 50k… so some of the realism in healing gets lost to word count because unfortunately I can’t spend years and 1000k helping these boys overcome their trauma so some of it has to be rushed a little for word count / plot purposes haha.

Liiiiiiisten here pooki-anon you come yell at me anytime about liab I’ll be right here to soak up every word! Thanks for the ask I’m glad you’re enjoying the series!!

#I have tried to take my time with the healing arc #Because we spent SO MUCH TIME dismantling the boys #I wanted to give them the change to be somewhat put back together to where they can at least function #I do agree with you anon!#Sokka could be 10000x angrier he could close up and say fuck off to everyone but it’s just another hurdle to climb over #His anger has been a reoccurring theme because I do write liab sokka angry #He has a right to be angry too!!#But I don’t know if people wanna sit and read sokka going in circles with his anger anymore than he already has #I love love love a good healing arc and I’m trying to take my time with the boys but….#*word count and plot point and me eventually wanting to work on a project that isn’t LIAB haha*#I do think sokkas a mess right now #But damn it I want him and zuko to snuggle and him and Katara to laugh and his dad and him to pal around and toph and Aang to give him shit #And momo to pull his ears and appa lick him and idk all the fun sokka stuff we miss #I can’t do that if sokka won’t be open to healing and being less angry #Which is why I’m allowing him to progress haha #Ugh now we gotta work on zuko!! ->#Zuko: “why I’m fine??”#Boy is NOT FINE but he is damn good at acting fine haha #Thanks for the ask anon #Ill #give you the tag #Pookianon #Liab #ITF #ask

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ladyemberswrites · 4 months

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For a guy that's supposed to be sympathetic and all knowing and knows exactly what it feels like to have your childhood ripped away from you and lose your loved ones. Aang was certainly written to be very ambivalent towards the agony Katara was going through. Even Sokka seem whatever about his mother's killer running lose and this the same guy that attacked Aang for burning Katara that one time and literally broke into an impregnable, high security prison to save his father and girlfriend. Lost his shit when Azula taunted him about Suki. I understand that Sokka didn't remember much of his mom, but you'd think that would make him angrier. That whatever relationships he could have with her was literally stolen away from him, leaving him to grow up with his mother or his father around.

But anyways, but Aang going up to Katara and telling her how proud he is of her for forgiving the man that slaughtered her mother in cold blood and was responsible for robbing her of her childhood. 🥹 It makes it so much worse because Katara probably found her body too.

And Katara is literally like: the fuck I did? He's lucky he was too pathetic to be bothered.

Like this kind of further emphases that Aang is like 12. He may be the avatar and act as though he is all knowing, but lacks maturity and experience. Zuko was obviously aware of what Katara needed, he wen through a similar situation with his father, confronting him to find some sense of closure with an absusive authority figure.

I know people are gonna get at me about he's 12! I know, but judging from what little we are given about Aang as dad - um, well😅

#kind of zutara #zutara

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randomgirlyoudontknow · 3 months

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No one will probably read this, but as a long-time fan of ATLA (as in, I literally watched the show as it aired in 2005-2008), I wanted to share my thoughts on the live action. Let it be known that I am far from an ATLA purist––the original certainly had its own flaws and aspects that didn't age well, in retrospect. Despite the generally negative reviews I've seen from the fandom, I was actually very satisfied with this adaptation! But I’ve seen people saying that the characters were butchered, that it’s a soulless and superficial reproduction, and those who liked the live action aren’t capable of thinking/watching critically, which I wanted to push back against (I mean, I’m working on a doctorate in literature…I am quite literally incapable of watching anything uncritically).

The shift in tone to a darker, more mature one was a positive change, imo. It is definitely a much angrier show than the original, even if some of the characters were not as fiery as they should have been (*cough* Katara *cough*). Overall, while there were certainly decisions made that I didn't agree with (mainly related to pacing and narrative), I thought the cast and crew really captured the spirit of the original, and even added depth and nuance to parts I felt were initially lacking.

In general, I really appreciated the added emphasis on the cost and suffering of war and imperialism, as well as the depiction of the physical effects of bending. Now, I realize this is largely a matter of personal preference––for example, I'm very interested in depictions of war in fiction (I mean, my dissertation partially covers the impact of WWI on avant-garde art & literature, so...). But I've seen several claims that the live action glorifies war and violence in a way that is meant to traumatize the viewer, and I simply don't think that's true? While the original handled war, genocide, trauma, etc. in a phenomenal way for a kid's show in the early 2000s, it was also still sanitized when it comes to death and injury, to an extent that I feel like we, the viewers, almost lose sight of the fact that bending KILLS. Sure, we were exposed to its after effects, like the death of Katara and Sokka's mother or Zuko's scar, but there's something to be said actually seeing and acknowledging the very palpable danger that something like firebending presents.

I've even seen someone say that the show's depiction of "gratuitous violence" constitutes a "profound misunderstanding" of the source text, which I think is frankly a bad faith take. The death and violence, though more realistic, is still not a major focus of the show, nor is it glorified in any way. A glorification of violence would look like indiscriminate killing and maiming for the sake of edginess (looking at you GOT). We would see graphic depictions of death and injuries, which simply does not happen in this show (they even joke about the fact that we never see anyone die in Ember Island Players). War and fighting are still treated with the same depth and gravity as the original, only this time, the severity of its consequences isn't obscured from the viewer.

I also thought the show's handling of trauma (especially Katara's) was excellent. The choice to have Katara's mom's death revealed in flashbacks (specifically when around firebending) was something that really stood out to me. And the new characterization of Bumi, which I realize was quite unpopular, was another change I quite appreciated. His bitterness and cynicism seemed more in-line with someone who had endured 100 years of war and the suffering of his people at the hands of a brutal imperial force. Lastly, I was pleased to see the narrative attempt to address the role Iroh played in the Siege of Ba Sing Se (something that was absolutely missing from the original). The Earth Kingdom soldier confronting him and calling him a butcher was a powerful moment, for me. I truly hope the show continues to dive into this aspect of his character in future seasons.

Speaking of characters, I loved that we got extra background and insight into several of the characters. Zhao, for example, was unexpectedly quite funny, and his actor really did a phenomenal job of fleshing him out and making him feel like a real person (as slimy and smarmy as he was) rather than a stock, cartoon villain. And I have to give kudos to the actors who played Sokka and Zuko––they both did an incredible job of embodying their respective characters, in a way that felt highly reminiscent of the original. In particular, I thought the handling of Zuko's backstory was truly outstanding––perhaps even better than the original.

All in all, I felt the live action did a really nice job of balancing the darker sides with the light. While I've seen fans complaining that the show doesn't have the same goofiness and lightheartedness, I actually thought the humor worked really well––it was one of the few times I felt the overly ironic, Joss Whedonesque one-liners actually fit. Sure, the humor was a lot drier and more toned down than the original, but I nonetheless thought it carried the show's spirit well (loved that they let Sokka say “ass” not once, but twice). There were moments when I genuinely laughed out loud! I also appreciated how, despite the more mature tone, hope, friendship, and harmony still remained the most important aspect at the end of each episode.

There's a lot of room for improvement, but I was overall very satisfied with the live action, and I'm very glad that the series has been renewed. I'm very excited to see what the cast and crew does with the rest of the show!

#tl;dr i really enjoyed the live action #long post #there's honestly so much more i could say but my brain is currently fried #this is probably a little all over the place but i just finished up a book review and i am incapable of forming coherent thoughts #atla #avatar the last airbender #natla #natla positivity

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amirazat · 27 days

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I want to talk about why Aang says what he does to Katara in “The Southern Raiders”, because I think that it goes deeper than just repeating lessons he learned from the monks.

When he’s trying to relate to Katara, Aang says “how do you think I felt when the sandbenders took Appa?” And that’s an odd choice for him to make. Thinking about Katara’s situation, the more logical comparison to make would be to when Aang found Monk Gyatso’s body. Gyatso was Aang’s parental figure, and like Kya, he was lost to the fire nation, so this is actually a reasonable reference point. So why choose to talk about Appa instead? I think it’s because Aang’s feelings about his own behaviour when he lost Appa are driving what he’s saying to Katara.

When Aang lost Appa, we saw him at one of his lowest points in the entire series. He yells at his friends and makes unfair accusations.

He seems to genuinely wish harm to the sandbenders in a way that’s very uncharacteristic for him. He even (probably) kills a buzzard wasp, which is I think the only occasion when we see Aang deliberately kill anything.

If Katara hadn’t pulled Aang out of the Avatar State, he may well have killed some sandbenders too.

If Aang regrets the way he reacted to Appa’s loss, and that regret is informing his words, it makes sense that he would see Katara’s anger and become focussed on trying to keep her from making the mistakes that he himself made (and almost made).

This focus on his own regrets would also explain why he managed to miss the mark when it came time to actually helping Katara process her rage. Aang wasn’t really focussed on Katara’s situation, and as a result his attempts to help just made Katara angrier. Sometimes you’re too close to a problem to see the solution.

#aang #avatar the last airbender #the southern raiders #the desert

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who-is-there · 2 months

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Avatar: Last Airbender where when Zuko and Katara go to the palace for the final Agni Kai, they expect to find soldiers, guards, anyone.

Instead they find an empty palace, set loose by a long list of banishments, and a young girl mindlessly sobbing in front of a smashed mirror, yelling at her mother. Zuko has a moment of staring at his younger sister bargain with the woman that had left them, before she sees him in the mirror. She assumes he’s here to gloat too, and just asks him to leave.

He refuses, which makes her angrier, but he eventually pulls her away from the mirror, and when she sees that he’s actually there, she tries to stand, but just collapses onto him in exhaustion. Katara steps forward, ready to heal the girl’s (girls, they’re girls, they’re the same age-) arms and hands, which are scratched and bleeding from glass shards. In her sleep, Azula mutters something about her mother, and both Zuko and Katara try to consolidate this with their idea of mothers, and what exactly Azula saw in the mirror.

#atla zuko #atla #atla katara #atla azula #princess azula #azula #zuko #katara #prince zuko

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gladerwolfstarkimagines · 2 years

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Imagine teasing Sokka and Suki for being embarassingly romantic and them getting revenge when they realise you like Zuko

Sokka and Suki were a great couple, their only flaw however was the sickening things they said to each other publically. You were travelling to Ba Sing Sei and ran into Suki who waited precisely 5 minutes before flirting with Sokka. “Look at you sleeveless guy, been working out?” Suki asked Sokka. You gagged loudly drawing Suki’s attention but Sokka didn’t seem to hear you. “I’ll grab a tree branch and do a few chin touches every now and then” he bragged and you snorted “more like a twig, you couldn’t lift a tree branch if you were a wood bender”. Sokka and Suki shot you a look but Katara and Toph laughed. You hated romance and anytime someone was sweet or soppy you couldn’t be in the vicinity. Unfortunately Sokka and Suki (mainly Sokka) turned into lovey-dovey messes around each other every single time.

The rest of the gang all thought you were being dramatic apart from Toph but that wasn’t much consolation considering her feelings were driven by her crush on Sokka. You tried to tolerate as much as you could but sometimes they were just downright sickening. You thought you were the only person who hated romance and then Zuko arrived. Apparently you were just from the wrong nation. Zuko quickly explained how affection and love ballads weren’t a thing in the fire nation. People expressed themselves but usually in more subtle and private ways which suited you perfectly. So reassured you weren’t crazy you relaxed and became eager to find out how suited to the fire nation you actually were. To do this you spent time with Zuko learning about his nation. You were fascinated by everything he told you and absorbed everything he told you about his culture.

“I’m moving to the fire nation after all this” you announced one evening when Zuko told you dancing also wasn’t a thing in the fire nation. “It turns out they’re my people so why waste any time? After this invasion business is wrapped up I’ll be moving into a fancy house right by the palace, right Zuko?”. Zuko smirked slightly at your tone and nodded “I promise once this is all over if you want to move to the fire nation I can arrange that, fancy house and all”. Zuko then excused himself to make some tea and you smiled watching him. “Man it’s good being friends with the prince” you smiled leaning back on your arms and Sokka rolled his eyes. “Sure friends...” he smirked and you frowned “we are friends, just because Zuko hates most things doesn’t mean he hasn’t warmed up to me”. “Ow I’m not doubting he’s warmed up to you, i’m merely suggesting that’s not all”. You sat up, getting angrier by the second at Sokka’s tone and sighed “just say whatever you’re hinting at, I know you’re dying to”. Sokka laughed “you and Zuko...you like each other romantically”. You laughed in response “no we don’t! Where did you get that idea from?”. This time Sokka laughed “ow I don’t know maybe by how you stay up late together by the campfire trading stories or how you stare at him transfixed when he tells you about the fire nation”. “Because i’m interested in other cultures!” you cried and Sokka smirked “nice try y/n but we all know you’re interested in more than Zuko’s culture” Sokka said suggestively and you blushed vividly making him laugh loudly. “You had no idea what you’re talking about!” you cried and stormed away.

Although you denied Sokka’s accusations they planted a seed in your head and you began wondering if your feelings for Zuko were more than a friendship. It had surprised you how well the two of you got along and you did find yourself drawn to him more and more. Maybe Sokka, shockingly, was right.

You couldn’t sleep, Sokka’s words were still in your head so you went for a stroll. From your vantage point you spotted movement. It was Zuko and he was climbing up on Appa. You frowned and part of you wondered if Zuko was trying to steal him but only a small part. You thought it much more likely something else was going on so crept your way to Appa and waited. Not long after Sokka appeared. Zuko scared him making him fall hard. “Well that was dramatic” you commented from your hiding place and Zuko jumped following Sokka on his fall to the ground. You grinned seeing both of them rubbing their heads staring up at you and jumped down “so what’s going on?”. Sokka soon explained his plan to save his dad from prison and you and Zuko managed to convince him to let you come. You left a more convincing note for the others explaining your absence than Sokka’s “went fishing” idea and took off.

You and Sokka decided to nap seeing as you wouldn’t arrive till morning and Zuko agreed to keep watch. You woke a few hours later to see Zuko still stood in the same position staring out at the scenery. “Hey” you smiled “you okay?”. “Yeah i’m fine” Zuko said softly and you raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because you haven’t moved from that position in hours”. Zuko turned to face you fully “don’t worry I’m fine, just keeping watch that’s all”. You nodded and looked out at the sunrise. “So how are you feeling about heading back into the fire nation?” you asked. Zuko shrugged “indifferent to be honest, the idea doesn’t really bother me. I just hope we all get in and out safely”. You nodded but Zuko hadn’t quietened your worry “aren’t you concerned about someone recognising you? What if we see someone you know...maybe this is too dangerous for you?”. “I’ll be fine y/n” Zuko said simply and went to move away again when he paused “but thanks for your concern for me”. You locked eyes and panicked over what to say. “Err no problem” you blushed “just don’t die”. Zuko chuckled “I’ll try not to” and turned back to manning the ship. You stared after him blushing when Sokka appeared suddenly “what time is it, did I miss much? Wait why are you...”. “Nothing shut up” you cried and went inside the cabin so Sokka couldn’t see the vivid blush on your face.

You landed the ship and soon snuck into the prison. You couldn’t find Hakoda but you did manage to find someone else. “It’s Suki!” Sokka cried and you sighed “ow god...get ready for it” you whispered to Zuko who frowned “ready for what? Who’s Suki?”. “Only the most amazing beautiful wonderful girls in the world!” Sokka yelled and you shot Zuko a look “that”.

Once you found Suki everything fell into place. Hakoda arrived and you’d worked out an escape plan and not a moment too soon as Azula, Ty lee and Mai arrived. Azula and Ty lee were hot in pursuit and you managed to dodge most of their attacks but all it took was one. Azula sent a large attack at you and there was nowhere to dodge it on the narrow platform. You winced as Azula’s flame pushed you hard into the wall and heard Sokka yell your name. Zuko reached you first and you groaned trying to move your arm “somethings wrong with it”. “Can you move it?”. You shook your head and Zuko frowned “I think it’s dislocated”. “Dislocated?” Sokka cried “what do we do?”. “I can fix it we just have to get her to the barge, y/n can you stand?”. You nodded but groaned as your arm moved. Zuko grabbed onto you and placed your good arm around his shoulder “is this alright or do you need me to carry you?”. “This is fine” you blushed and Zuko nodded helping you get to the barge. Once inside Zuko started working on your shoulder, talking you through what he was going to do softly.

“It's gonna hurt but just try and focus on something else okay?”. You nodded and honestly it wasn’t difficult. Zuko was staring at you, filled with concern, as he tried to gently fix your shoulder. You were more focused on not blushing than your shoulder and it didn’t help that the others were watching everything. Sokka seemed to have a smug smile despite the circumstance and you reminded yourself to kill him later.

After Zuko set your shoulder you drifted off to sleep and awoke back at the temple where Katara was overseeing Zuko’s work. When they realised you were awake they both rushed to you but Zuko got to you first. “You’re awake!” he cried “how are you feeling?”. “Okay...” you replied tenderly “my shoulder feels a bit sore”. Katara nodded “that’s to be expected, i’d rest it for at least a week and make sure you don’t do any heavy lifting with it okay?”. You nodded and Katara excused herself with a smile. “You’re really okay?” Zuko asked and you nodded “yeah, sorry I guess I wasn’t much help in the final fight, did everything go okay?”. Zuko shook his head “don’t be silly you were hurt! We were all just worried about you more than anything. We got away fine with some help and all made it back in one piece”. “Wow that almost sounds too good to be true, we got lucky”. Zuko nodded “we really did” before he smirked mischievously. “And to think after all that warning about it being too dangerous for me, you’re the one who tried to take on my sister alone” Zuko smirked teasing you and you struggled not to blush. “Yeah well you are the prince of the fire nation remember, I just have really bad luck”. Zuko smiled “sure you do, either way be more careful next time okay?”. “Only if you are” you retorted and Zuko nodded “deal” gripping your hand in promise. His gaze lingered on you for a few seconds too long and he abruptly stepped back “erm I’ll leave to let you get changed and freshen up, I’ll come visit you later. Get well soon”. You nodded and searched for something to say back. “Thanks you too!” you cried before realising that didn’t make sense at all. “Wait I didn’t mean that, you don’t have to get well because you’re fine...I don’t know why I said that”. Zuko chuckled as your face reddened and he smiled softly “don’t worry it was funny” and he walked away. You breathed in a deep breath before you heard laughing. “Who’s there!” you cried and Sokka and Suki stepped inside the tent from the opposite doorway, laughing hard. “What’s so funny?” you asked and they both smiled widely. “Nothing....we just find it ironic that’s all” Suki smirked and you frowned “what?”. “Well you’ve spent this entire time acting like you were better than us because romance is for losers and then Zuko shows up and you’re the one blushing and laughing at his jokes. “WHAT” you cried “I am not...we’re just friends, we have the same sense of humour and we’re both the eldest so of course we’d gravitate towards one another”. “Sure and that has nothing to do with you finding him attractive? Just a coincidence?” Suki asked. “I don’t find him attractive why would you even say that?”. “Huh guess we were wrong” Suki shrugged “see you around y/n” and they sauntered away.

After the air temple’s position became compromised you moved to a house Zuko’s family-owned and you were greatly enjoying home comforts as opposed to bare caves and temples. So you let your guard down and didn’t see the attack heading straight for you.

“Y/n come quick! Aang’s in trouble!” Suki yelled. You dropped what you were holding and ran as fast as you could into the courtyard. You shot around the corner and narrowly missed getting hit by a jet of fire.You blinked ready to counter the attack when you saw Zuko and Aang staring at you confused. “Y/n? What’s wrong why did you do that I could have hurt you!” Zuko cried and you blinked “Suki said...” you glanced around and saw Suki and Sokka sat on a bench across the yard smirking at you. You were confused why they seemed so smug, all they’d done was made you embarrass yourself in front of everyone, then you realised Zuko wasn’t wearing a shirt. “Suki what was that?” Zuko asked coming to stand in front of you and you looked away “nothing it was just a prank” you cut in hoping Zuko would drop it. Zuko seemed confused but he shrugged much to your relief...then he carried on coming closer. “It's not a funny prank if you get hurt, I didn’t burn you did i?” he asked reaching out for your arm. You moved your arm out of his grasp immediately your cheeks flushing “no i’m fine! Not a scratch on me”. “Are you sure because burns need treating right away or they’ll...”. “I’m fine Zuko” you said sharply and he paused at the harshness of your voice. You immediately felt guilty as Zuko stepped back “okay”. An awkward silence fell and you were getting ready to retreat but Sokka and Suki weren’t done yet. “Hey Zuko didn’t you say you wanted to show y/n how to fight a fire bender given what happened at the prison?” Sokka called. Zuko nodded “I do but i’m training Aang this morning”. “Yeah but maybe we could end it there for today? Honestly I’m exhausted and could use a break” Aang sighed. Zuko frowned looking up at you “well okay but if now doesn’t work for you we could do another time?” Zuko asked timidly and you again felt awful for snapping at him. “Now’s great” you smiled softly and Zuko smiled back making you blush vividly and you heard Sokka and Suki laugh. “Let me know when you’re ready” Zuko told you grabbing a bottle of water and drinking deeply. You watched as some water spilt over and ran down his neck. “You okay there y/n?” Suki asked and you glared going bright red. You marched over to them furiously “you two think you’re so clever but I know exactly what you’re trying to do and it won’t work!”. “Won’t it?” Sokka asked “you’re pretty red y/n, sure you can handle shirtless Zuko?”. You blushed at his word choice making them before erupting into laughter again. “Y/n?” Zuko called and you paused “yeah?”. “We should probably get started soon that way we can get an hour in before the sun becomes too intnese. You nodded and with a last glare came to stand across from Zuko. “So I think the reason Azula’s attack was so successful is because you fought it head on rather than manouvering it, fire is life, it isn’t solid like a rock so you can be more flexible with it, how is your flexibility?”. “My flexibility?” you asked blushing as you heard Sokka break out laughing. “Yeah...” Zuko said confused looking from you to Sokka “good hip and foot movement can really help you dodge attacks”. “Yeah y/n how’s your hip movement?” Sokka called and you glared at him before turning back to Zuko “okay I think...”. Zuko nodded “okay well try dodging some attacks and I’ll give you some tips?”. You nodded and focused on Zuko. You dodged his attacks and Zuko nodded “good but try being lighter on your feet and guard your centre more”. “My centre?”. “Yeah, so you place your arms beside your body but try moving them infront, that way if you need to dodge it’ll be easier”. When you moved your arms confused Zuko smiled “here like this” and he helped place them correctly. You blushed as he reached around you and both Sokka and Suki smirked widely. “Got it?” Zuko asked and you nodded staring straight ahead, pointedly not looking at him “yep”. “And maybe loosen up a bit, you seem tense”. “I wonder why” Suki muttered and you broke stance “okay that’s it...” when Sokka stood up. “Don’t worry we’re going, it seems like you two need some privacy anyway” Sokka smirked “that way you can train more intimately”. “Have fun” Suki grinned “although not too much y/n” she cried winking at you. The door closed and Zuko turned to you “not too much fun?”. “Erm Suki just knows I love training that’s all she meant...shall we begin?”.

You spent most of the day training with Zuko and while it got a lot better when there was no audience, the minute you stopped all your shyness returned. You could barely look at Zuko and just wished he’d for the love of god put on some clothes.

You just finished training as the others returned and they all shot you smirks as they walked past you into the house. Sokka and Suki seemed very smug and you seriously doubted they’d actually gone into the house. You glanced around the yard wondering where they’d think to hide when you realised Zuko was also staring at the house with a frown. You immediately grew worried that he’d gotten suspicious of all their teasing but luckily that wasn’t the case. “Damn I was hoping to sort out all this training stuff before they got back” Zuko said gesturing to the training equipment around you “Sokka really hogs the shower”. You laughed very familiar with Sokka’s intense pamper regime. “Well why don’t I sort all of this?” you asked. Zuko paused “no I can’t make you pack all of this away on your own”. “It’s fine honestly” you assured him “plus if you don’t move now Sokka will be in there for like an hour”. Zuko nodded “that is true...okay, thanks y/n you’re the best”. You smiled blushing slightly “no problem...”. Zuko smiled back “thanks again and good work today” Zuko added before rushing inside.

The second he was gone Sokka and Suki emerged from a hiding spot just like you figured they would. Before they could speak you held up a hand “Don’t even speak”. “What we weren’t going to say anything” Suki smiled “just you look a little red that’s all”. “Yeah good session?” Sokka asked “or did Zuko work you too hard?”. Suki laughed and you glared. “That’s it! If you two won’t quit then fine I admit it! I like Zuko! He’s stubborn and dramatic and has a short temper which are all things I shouldn’t like but I do because I’m the exact same! But he can also be sweet and shy which makes him adorable considering he’s literally royalty. He’s also really funny in his own way and I love how awkward he is. Not to mention how incredibly attractive he is! His hair alone makes me weak but seeing him shirtless and sweaty today...I barely got through training without passing out so are you both happy now? You’ve driven me to insanity with all your teasing! I like Zuko, I’ll admit it because I can’t think of anything else but him!”. Silence settled and Suki went to talk when a small voice asked “you do?”. You turned to see Zuko stood in the doorway with a very confused look on his face. “Zuko....did you hear all of that?”. Zuko nodded “I forgot my shirt so I came back...you like me?”. You blushed “kind of...” but when Zuko frowned you sighed “I mean yes, I like you...but I don’t expect anything in return I mean you’ve got so much on your plate right now and I know you just saw Mai...”. Zuko didn’t talk or even react to what you said he just stared down at the floor thinking. “Zuko?” you asked after the most uncomfortable seconds of your life passed “please say something”. Zuko sighed “I don’t know what to say...I mean we get along well and you’re all of those things you said about me and more but I think I need time to work out how I feel, is that okay?”. “That’s totally fine take as long as you need” you nodded and Zuko nodded “thanks y/n” and walked away. Zuko left and Sokka and Suki looked at you “Y/n we’re so sorry!” they both burst. “We didn’t plan that at all we just wanted to tease you a little bit we promise” Suki cried. “Exactly! I’ll go explain it all to Zuko about how we pushed you to say all that” Sokka offered and you sighed. “No it’s okay...I mean he was bound to figure it out eventually, it’s probably better he knows I guess”. “Y/n we’re really sorry is there anything we can do?” Suki asked and you shook your head. “It wasn’t your fault and actually all this teasing has made me think. I was rude and cruel to both of you before so i’m the one who should apologise to you. I made fun of you just because I have a different idea of what a relationship looks like but that doesn’t make yours any less valid. I should never have teased you guys for showing affection just because I’m not like that. I’ve been an awful friend...can you ever forgive me?”. “Of course we can!” Sokka cried and Suki nodded “we knew you never meant any harm”. “I know but actions matter more than intentions so I’m really sorry”. “Hey if you can forgive us for outing you to your crush then we can forgive you for teasing us” Sokka said hugging you and Suki joined in “what are friends for?”. You still felt utterly humiliated but at least you had your friends to comfort you.

As time passed and Zuko never mentioned that day to you again you figured his silence spoke louder than any words. He didn’t return your feelings and that was fine. You understood Zuko didn’t have to like you back or want anything more with you just because you got on well. You respected his friendship enough to not be bitter or rude to him for his choice. All you wanted was for him to be happy and if that was with Mai or another person then you were happy.

You put everything in the past and managed to win the war. Aang defeated Ozai and Zuko, with Katara’s considerable help, defeated Azula becoming Firelord. You were so proud of all your friends and stayed in the fire nation for a while to celebrate. Things had been awkward between you and Zuko at first but now they were back to normal and you were pleased your friendship had survived. You hoped to remain good friends with Zuko and thought that seemed likely even with your encroaching departure.

One day before you were due to leave Zuko found you in a spot in the palace you liked to read in. “Zuko” you said surprised “what brings you in here? I thought you had Firelord things all day?”. “I did but I heard you were leaving and I need to speak to you, can we talk?”. You were instantly confused and nervous but nodded standing up “okay...”. Zuko led you to an empty study and closed the door. He was breathing very quickly and was playing with his hands nervously. “Zuko are you okay...” you started when he cut you off. “I like you” Zuko said suddenly and you froze “you do...but it’s been so long since...are you sure? If it took you this long to come to the realisation maybe you’re just feeling pressured? Zuko I won’t be angry if you don’t like me”. “No that’s not why it took so long” Zuko assured you “I knew I liked you the day I heard you say all those things about me”. “You did?” you asked and Zuko nodded “well really I knew long ago but after hearing you say it I thought about it and realised I liked you too. But y/n we were living in as fugitives with the odds stacked against us. Any of us could have died or been captured, our future was so uncertain that I didn’t want to start anything in such an unstable situation. So i waited, I thought I’d wait until after the war and see what happened. By some miracle we all won and I became Firelord” he said as if the very idea was still hard for him to get used to. “As soon as the war was over I wanted to tell you but I barely got a second alone with you so I kept putting it off for the perfect moment. I didn’t want it to be rushed or forced but I took too long and so when I heard you were leaving tomorrow I knew I had to tell you. Please tell me it’s not too late and I haven’t ruined everything?”. You shook your head “no Zuko, you haven’t ruined anything��. “So...you still like me?” he asked cautiously and you rolled your eyes. “I may not be overly affectionate but don’t let that fool you, everything I said about you is still true”. “Really?” Zuko said blushing “because you said a lot of stuff i’m sure other people wouldn’t think”. “Well it’s their loss” you smiled and Zuko smiled too “and my gain I guess” taking your hand. “I’d like to think so yes” you agreed and Zuko chuckled before touching your cheek softly. He leant in to kiss you and you closed your eyes. You kissed him back and separated after a few seconds. You laughed softly under your breath and shook your head. “What is it?” Zuko asked “laughing isn’t usually a good response after a first kiss”. “No it’s not you, it’s just Sokka and Suki are going to be so smug after this”. Zuko laughed “let them” and leant in to kiss you again.

Sokka and Suki were indeed smug but you didn’t care. Zuko was more than enough compensation.

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heinzpilsner · 4 months

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Annnd here's another issue of the "autistic nerd trying make sense of the Southern Raiders zutara narrative on her own" series, because of course it is

I need to write all those posts to regain my honor, don't judge me

You know, my main point of confusion in relation to tSR episode always was this: "Why exactly Katara forgave Zuko in the end? What changed between them during this trip? By which intricate mechanism such a stressful and unfruitful trip was able to improve Katara's relationship with a boy she supposedly hated just days ago so drastically?"

(Spoiler: I finally found the answer!)

All of my hypotheses for a long time didn't sound convincing to me though:

1) Did Katara forgive Zuko because he helped her in her revenge in general?

Obviously, facing Yon Rha didn't really resulted in Katara being happy or satisfied. Quite the contrary, it was a rather unpleasant trip - a trip she spent with a person she supposedly barely tolerated. You'd think, by association, it would make her dislike Zuko even more than before, not forgive him. So, not likely.

2) Did Katara forgive Zuko because after the trip, she was no longer linking* her "mother loss"-connected anger with him, as Zuko guessed?

But... why the association would break? Or anger would subside? Just as a result of yelling at Yon Rha? Sounds like bullshit to me:

- Katara is still angry at Yon Rha in the end of the episode, because anger management doesn't really work like this;

- Katara's anger at Yon Rha, her anger at the Fire Nation and her anger at Zuko, while associatively united, are three separate entities, hence they require individual specific approach to them anyway.

(*associative nature of Katara's anger towards Zuko could be true in itself though - after Ba Sing Se disaster, she linked him in her mind to both "mother" and "most traumatic experiences related to the Fire Nation").

3) Did she forgive Zuko because during the trip he fought so readily against his own nation?

Doesn't sound convincing - he already fought guards at the Boiling Rock and his own sister previously, and Katara was only angrier at him afterwards.

4) Did she forgive him because he sided with her against Aang's preaching?

Not enough in itself, especially considering her supposed hatred towards Zuko.

5) Did she forgive him because he called her mother a brave woman? Not enough in itself. And how dare he comment on her mother at all after his betrayal anyway? The nerve! Just another reason for Katara to be angry, it seems. Except... She really wasn't, for some reason. Hmmm.

(Why she decided to tell him the story of her mother's death at this point at all? Wasn't she supposed to merely tolerate his presence? What a truuuly confusing mystery!)

6) Did she forgive Zuko because he fought so enthusiastically on her behalf?

Also doubtful. Such an enthusiasm from a person you don't like (or even hate) would only be unpleasant, and 'mr and mrs smith" synchronicity of movements with him would feel disturbing. Who does he think he is?! If Katara hates him, it is not Zuko's place to act like this. It also wasn't his place to wait all night in front of Katara's tent - that would be creepy af. This kind of behaviour would work against him in her eyes, not for his benefit. So nope, no forgiveness.

(Unless, of course... She didn't really hate him as much as she made it seem in the first place? Buuut it's too early to settle on this explanation, hehe.)

7) Did she forgive him because he didn't comment at her bloodbending?

Not enough in itself. And it only shows what an awful, awful person he truly is anyway.

8) Did she forgive him because of something that happened after Yon Rha - something the audience didn't get to see?

Well, in all seriousness, that just wouldn't be a good storytelling move. So, nope, bad hypothesis. (Could be true within universe though).

9) Oops. The last hypothesis I have is a romantic one I mentioned in my different post. In short - Katara was angry at Zuko because he didn't seem to realise the importance of their connection in Ba Sing Se for her. But when he offered to revenge her mother, it was a signal he finally understood. Hence, she forgave him.

So, in the end, we have two convicing hypotheses at our hands (6 и 9):

- one which works only under condition that Katara didn't really hate Zuko at the start of the trip;

- downright romantic one;

And several satellite ones, each of which implies Zuko's full acceptance of Katara.

So... Here's my answer, I guess.

I basically came to the same conclusion about the nature of zutara interaction in tSR as before, just by different path. And I didn't even have to use romantic framing as an argument this time, which is a big improvement in my books, lol.

The only question left though - if Katara didn't really hate Zuko, why she lashed out at him after their escape from the Western Air Temple?

Well, I'd guess that Katara was generally frustrated at this point. By Azula's attack, by the new separation of her family, by need to hide and run, by war, by the whole situation, really. She was pissed. So she lashed out at the only Fire Nation person around. Basically, it wasn't something personal at this point (...Until Zuko decided that to ask her why she doesn't trust him like all the normal people do is a good idea lol. Oh boy).

Something like this, I guess.

Now I wonder if the writer of the episode meant it to be read that way, or she just wasn't so good at psychology, and all those implications were purely coincidental, lol.

Or maybe it's me who isn't good at psychology, and all I just said was no more than a load of bullshit induced by my lack of sleep?

Well, who knows.

Definitely not me. I'm not a psychologist - I'm a Melon Lord, Bwahahaha!

(... No, really, I'm not a psychologist, don't trust me)

#atla #zutara #zuko #katara

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sneezypeasy · 2 years

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So. The Script.

(Just a quick post, long post will come later.) I spent 3½ hours (my husband, who was stuck outside, said it was more like four hours, but he’s exaggerating, anyway -) I spent 3½ ish hours in the Shavelson-Webb Library, aka the Writers Guild Foundation, digging through ATLA scripts for Zutara tidbits like a pig sniffing out truffles :P I am super busy for the next few days, as I am packing up and moving (permanently) from LA back to Melbourne, Australia on Sunday. So these next few days are going to be super tight - I will *try* to get a long post written up with all my findings, but it may have to wait till Sunday to be published (if I haven’t had time till then, I can type it up on the plane). To clarify one other thing, these scripts were submitted to the Writers Guild Foundation before animation/production. They are not first drafts; to my understanding it’s rare for the library to actually have those, but they are submitted early enough in the production process that typically there are differences between the library’s copy of the script, and the script we actually see on television. From here on, I’ll be referring to these scripts as “the original scripts” for simplicity’s sake, though whether that term is strictly accurate perhaps depends on what you consider to be true “original scripts”. I can confirm a few basic observations:

The original script for the Southern Raiders is “shippier” than what we see on television. I was absolutely shocked to see that the ship name “Zutara” is explicitly referenced in one paragraph describing Zuko and Katara’s “synchronicity and cooperation”. Yes, these are direct quotes. (I will provide the full quotes in the long post).

In the original script for Ember Island Players, Aang’s reaction to Actor!Zuko and Actress!Katara getting smoochy on stage is given greater focus; he is explicitly written as angrier/broodier - and directing these emotions towards real!Katara.

Katara’s emotional reaction to the Kataang scenes in Season 2 and the first half of Season 3 (e.g. the Cave of Two Lovers maybe-kiss, the almost-confession in The Earth King, the Day of Black Sun kiss scene) are less ambiguous in the script, than on-screen. The script suggests a clearer picture of her feelings for Aang in these scenes, or at least, that she’s aware that something is going on between them.

In contrast, the script for the second half of Season 3, especially Ember Island Players and the Southern Raiders, are written to suggest a deeper discord between Katara and Aang than we get on screen, and a “shippier” dynamic between Katara and Zuko than we get on screen. The final words acknowledge a ship war/battle between Zutara and Kataang, one that Kataang ultimately “wins”.

Based on these observations, these are my thoughts/speculations:

Kataang was originally planned for

As the show was being written, and the compelling/intriguing aspects of Zutara gradually unfolded (perhaps even unintentionally at first), the writers recognized that they had a choice of going with their original plan, or changing gears and writing Zutara instead

Some writers (esp Elizabeth Ehasz) are/were clearly pro-Zutara

Disagreement over the ships, or desire to capitalise on the benefits of dragging out a ship war in the fandom, or some combination of both, led to a greater ambiguity in the Kataang scenes (on screen) than what was originally written in the script

By the time the last half of Season 3 was submitted to the guild, it seems Zutara was being teased/considered as a legitimate contender in the ship war. At least, that’s my interpretation of the way the writers are explicitly acknowledging both ships, by name, and the fact that one of them ends up “winning”.

I will be making a long post with full quotes and more detailed analyses as soon as I can. Meanwhile, here’s a small crumb, from the Southern Raiders:

Katara: But we were too late. When we got there, the man was gone.

(Sobs)

And so was she...

Zuko is moved... maybe even has a tear in his eye.

Zuko: Your mother was a brave woman.

Katara puts her hand on her necklace.

Katara: I know.

Katara lies down and closes her eyes. Edit: One more thing! I will be heading back to the library this Friday, September 30th, to see if I can find anything else (I looked up a lot of episodes, but I’d like to do one more read-through and maybe look through some episodes I missed). If you’re an LA local, you’re welcome to join me there, read scripts and say hi! But you have to make the appointment TONIGHT, as they require a minimum of 24 hours notice.

#zutara #atla #the southern raiders #the writers guild #digging for treasure

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botherkupo · 3 months

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i think people let nostalgia blind them a little when it comes to atla. don’t get me wrong, it’s great cartoon and i’ve rewatched it countless times but i also recognise it’s fine for the live action to make changes because that’s what happens when you adapt something. the live action is not perfect, but i had fun watching it and it feels like some people are just watching to nitpick and hate

Big agree. There are weak spots in the cartoon and also weak spots in the live action show. Are both enjoyable shows, though? Yes.

And that’s what I feel people can’t grasp. They’re like oooh they cut this, or why did they add that, or this character isn’t the same blah blah — and like yeah it’s not the same. I had zero interest in watching a replica with real people. I’ll just watch the cartoon and enjoy it

Like shows with real people have a lot of limitations, and not just because of budgets. It shouldn’t be news to people that there would be changes and a lot of stuff will get condensed, cut, or adapted in a different way. That was always going to happen.

I’ve seen people complain about Bumi and I’m like you know what I really loved the live action show Bumi. It’s a different take on it — him feeling bitter, showing obvious trauma from the pressure of ruling during a war that’s lasted this long, and being more unhinged rather than all super goofy guy like hey Aang just wait till you realise who I am. It’s different, more serious, and that’s okay. You can still enjoy cartoon Bumi. He ain’t going anywhere

Ppl complain about Katara, and like yeah I get it. She’s not as “fierce” in some aspects. But she suits this version of atla. She suits feeling more like a younger sister instead of a pseudo mum. She suits getting angry when Sokka treats her like a little girl rather than angry he doesn’t wash his own socks. She suits being paralyzed during fights at first because she has major ptsd and has been hiding her bending gif so long. It is realistic and fits the show, just as Cartoon Katara fit the cartoon and is still there. You can enjoy her. Cartoon Katara is not going anywhere

Like please will ppl stop looking for the things to complain about and instead see what we’re being given — an adaptation that is intense, funny, emotional and yes different.

We get Jet and the freedom fighters bombing places in omashu than wanting to flood a fire nation village. That’s not a bad thing. It cut out a whole lot of unnecessary stuff and also gave us an emotional scene with Jet and Katara. Did the part where she freezes him and says goodbye feel less dramatic? Yeah, honestly I would have been down to see her angrier. But I also think part of that is the limitations with special effects and waterbending (which always looks the weakest). the actress playing Katara is also dojng her interpretation of the character. (And can I just Jet was perfectly cast and I couldn’t imagine a better Jet)

So we didn’t get Sokka being with Jet? Who cares. Sokka’s story arc is focusing on different things. I loved how his interactions with Suki went. I love even more the scene where he’s listening in on Hakoda and Bato’s conversation and that line “some people aren’t made to be responsible for others lives” or whatever it was. It was so powerful.

And the cave of two lovers being resolved through family love? YES. I love that so much. Like thank you for giving non-romantic love a moment to shine. Katara and Sokka’s argument in that cave had so much weight and emotional intensity. It’s different from the arguments we get in the cartoon and that’s okay. Their dynamic is slightly different and that’s okay. THE CARTOON IS STILL THERE. YOU CAN ENJOY THE CARTOON OKAY

And honestly I could scream for days about what they’ve been doing with Zuko and Aang. I love them both so much and I love the extra stuff we’ve been getting with them. The Blue spirit stuff and that scene after was sooooooooo good. The little smile, the way they start to connect, and then Aang says t he wrong thing (bringing up Ozai) and Zuko lashes out and it’s just perfect ahhhhh

Also Zuko actually fighting back in the Agni Kai but hesitating to hurt his father was such a good choice. I love the cartoon for having him cry and beg to the end, but I also love the live actuon show for giving us something different. I WANT TO SEE THESE KIND OF CHANGES

And maybe I’m in the minority for that and I really don’t care if ppl think my opinion is rubbish. I love the cartoon. I love tye live action show

I wish ppl would understand that it’s okay they are different

#atla #netflix atla spoilers #atla live action spoilers #wooo this is long #i could keep talking about this as well but I’m hungry

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seldomawriter · 6 months

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Zutara Week Day 5: Respite

The rain kept falling as they returned to Appa.

“We should find shelter,” Zuko called, “get some rest before we fly back.”

Katara had stormed on ahead of him, but as he spoke, she stopped and turned around.

“Appa will-”

“You’re in no shape to pilot. He likes me-”

Katara started to say something, but Zuko spoke over her.

“-but he trusts you. I won’t be able to get us back to where we left the others. We should stay the night here, and set off first thing in the morning.”

She looked like she wanted to argue, but her tiredness won out, and she just nodded curtly.

They worked quickly and quietly to set up the campsite, making sure to cover Appa’s saddle to keep the rain out, before retreating to the one tent they’d packed for the night.

Katara was silent for a while, just staring into the small fire Zuko had made.

“Are you okay?” Zuko asked softly.

She gave him a cold look.

“Right. Stupid question.”

“I thought-” she gritted her teeth and looked back at the fire. “I thought this would be it. That I’d face the man who killed my mother, and I’d finally feel better. But I’m still so angry!”

The sound of rain on the tent increased for a moment. Zuko glanced up at the noise, and when he looked back at Katara, she was looking right at him, her blue eyes glowing in the firelight.

“I understand.”

“Figures.”

No that’s- well, yeah. I was fueled by anger for three years, after my banishment. I thought bringing Aang to my father was the key, that that would restore my honor, and my place in my father’s heart. But then I went home, and I was still so bitter and alone. I realized it wouldn’t be that easy, and that only made me angrier; angrier at my father, and at myself. I opened my eyes, and I knew I couldn’t live like that anymore. I had to find my own destiny. Like my uncle told me.”

“So… what do I do?” Katara asked in a small voice.

“I can’t answer that for you. The next steps in your journey are yours alone. You have to decide what you’ll do with how you feel.”

She nodded slowly, looking off into space. Her eyes filled with tears.

He shuffled over to her, and reached out his hand. She took it, and pulled herself in closer, tucking herself against him and laying her head on his shoulder.

Zuko didn’t say anything, just wrapped his arm around her as she shook with heavy sobs.

They sat like that for a while, until Katara sagged against his arm and raised her tearstained face towards his.

“Thank you.”

Zuko could only nod.

They pulled apart and went to their respective bedrolls. As they both laid down, Katara piped up.

“Aang and Sokka were right. Trips with you are intense.”

Zuko chuckled.

She flashed him a tired smile, and Zuko knew deep down she’d be okay, no matter hat she’d choose.

i had the idea for this story years ago, maybe for another Zutara week, but never wrote it. does it fit the theme of "respite" ? maybe, and maybe not. whatevs.

**4 feb: edited to correct spelling errors that took me 3 mos to notice 🤦‍♀️

#zutara #zutaraweek #zutara week 2023 #atla #avatar the last airbender #fanfiction #zutaraweek2023

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