#* ——— & . visage . aang ◞

[notdrifting]

remember that "calling ur dad “my father” is just the socially acceptable way of saying “my dads a bastard and i hate him" post? yeah.

#bumi 「study」 #BUMI 「visage」 #i hc he mostly calls his father by his name rather than dad - he only calls aang that when he's emotional #he talks about him as if hes a stranger bc well... he is... #also on a non related note bumi's side profilee is so stupidly handsome

[bestkage]

“Don’t trust me.” for the prompt game!

prompt game!

“So, uh, Mr. Blue Spirit guy– or girl–“

Zuko represses a heavy sigh threatening to escape lungs, swallows it as he throws another glance around the dark corner.

If he had known saving the water tribe boy from the Dai Li he was tailing would result in one-sided casual small talk and unfunny quips every other minute, he would’ve left him where he’d found him like a tarnished coin stuck to a wad of chewing gum.

Alas, leaving him would’ve done more harm than good in Zuko’s kinda-sorta grand scheme of things. Even if the grand scheme was only comprised of “get dressed”, “sneak out”, and “follow”. Leaving behind the water tribe boy would spark vigilantism in the Avatar and Zuko had no doubt he’d find Zuko and his uncle in the outer city walls.

“I have two things to say and I promise I’ll shut up.” The water tribe boy says. Zuko feels a vein near his temple twitch and he doesn’t bother turning his head to look at the other boy, keeps his gaze down the alley even though the coast has been clear for a good two minutes. His silence does nothing to deter the water tribe boy. “One, thank you for getting me out of that whole thing back there. I totally could’ve taken them all myself but I…left my weapon.”

Zuko can hear the petulant disappointment in the boy’s voice and good. Why a friend of the Avatar would leave without his weapon is a great question.

“Two, do you think you could uh…maybe let go of my hand now?“

Zuko feels heat crowd to visage as he realizes that he- in fact -is still holding the boy’s hand. He drops it like it’s burning to the touch even though the only thing he can feel burning is him.

“Okay, and secret third thing-“

Zuko audibly groans this time.

“Can I just say how cool it is to be here with the Blue Spirit. I thought you were a myth and that Aang was making you up. Aang’s the Avatar, just so you know. Like, the name of the Avatar. His name is Aang. Anyway, you’re like, a legend. A hero in the night and all. Not that I’m a fan or anything but I think that’s pretty cool. Can I actually get you to sign my-“

Zuko turns to look at him this time and it freezes the boy where he was reaching into his ridiculous satchel to grab something for Zuko to supposedly sign.

They share a beat of awkward silence and Zuko can’t help the way his fingers twitch in agitation.

The boy’s cheeks darken and he holds his hand up in surrender.

“Okay, sure, I get it. Not the time.” He says and Zuko’s only slightly amused at the embarrassment in his voice. Slightly. “So uh, is the coast like, clear and all?”

Zuko peers back around the corner. It’s as clear as it was five minutes ago so he gives a small nod. As if his judgement wasn’t enough, the boy peers comically around the corner, big head and prominent ears showing themselves in a way that’s so far from discreet that Zuko’s sort of glad he’d held the boy tethered to his hand his entire time.

“Oh. Okay. Cool.” The boy says, stepping around the corner and Zuko lets himself only slightly relax. He is in the presence of an enemy after all. Even if the enemy is bashfully kicking his foot in the gravel like a freshly rescued damsel in distress getting ready to confess their love. “So I guess this is it.”

Zuko nods again and finds himself captured by some awkward force lingering in the air.

The boy is still standing there, idle only in body but eyes darting as if he still has something to say.

“One day, I’ll return the favor.”

For some reason, that shocks Zuko and now he’s the one idling awkwardly.

Zuko’s “saved” a good bit of people that either were in the way of his plans or didn’t necessarily get in the way of them either but this is the first time he’s gotten something other than gratitude from the act.

He supposes that repaying the “legendary” Blue Spirit isn’t the most formidable thing that can be done since the water tribe boy is quite literally a companion of the 112 year old Avatar.

It’s a pact. One made with the most unlikely of candidates.

And it’s honorable.

Something Zuko lacks.

So as the boy gives a final gesture of his hand in a goodbye, Zuko finds himself stuck in the dark corner of the alleyway and the only thing that crosses his mind is,

“Don’t trust me.”

Because the next time Zuko dons the Blue Spirit disguise, he can’t guarantee that he’ll be saving the boy.

He may be striking him down and watching betrayal cloud blue eyes.

#this was fun!! #thank you so much for sending me a prompt! #I could literally cry tears of joy! #zukka #my writing #side note- I love your fics btw ahahshhs

[lobster-tales]

Promise

Zutaraang Week 2022 Day 1 @zutaraangtastic

Modern AU - Aged Up Characters

This work is available here on AO3. 

CW: Language

By the time Katara remembered to send the ‘On my way home’ text, she was already there.

She slumped back against the wall of the elevator. The nice thing about coming back to the apartment so late is that she usually didn’t have to share the ride up with anyone. Mirrors surrounded her. She had checked her appearance in them that morning, nearly… spirits, 12 hours ago? Katara groaned to herself, making note of the changes in her visage: her braided hair was no longer neat, but frizzy with activity. Her shirt had a weird stain on it: who knows when that got there. What little makeup she wore seemed to have disintegrated, only a faint wisp of purple eyeshadow remaining.

The exhaustion really began to set in as she entered the hallway. Her briefcase was heavier, since she’d chosen to bring her work laptop home. More so as a precaution - she (hopefully) wouldn’t need it. Not after staying after hours to grind through all that paperwork.

There was the door to their penthouse–no doubt her husbands were waiting for her. That’s how everyone referred to Aang and Zuko: legally, she was only married to Aang, but it made little difference when the three of them had been in a relationship for so many years.

Katara fought through the haze in her brain as she tried to remember what day it was. Tuesday or Wednesday, right? Which day was Aang’s day to cook? Which one was Zuko’s?

She slipped the key in the lock. It didn’t matter who was cooking, just that she would open the door and smell that heavenly aroma of-

Cologne. And just cologne. Well, it was late after all: they probably ate without her and packaged up the food. A reheated meal was better than no meal at all.

She barely had time to set down her briefcase and brace herself before Aang rushed her, wrapping his arms around her waist and hoisting her high into the air. “You’re home!” he crowed, squeezing her tightly.

“Aang!” she laughed, pretending not to like the attention.

When Aang stepped away, Zuko was there, his back against the wall, head bowed, arms crossed. It wasn’t like him not to greet her, or at least give her a nod of recognition.

But Katara didn’t care if he was grumpy: she was too tired to play into it. “Hiiii,” she said, trying to catch his eyes.

He answered, but didn’t meet her gaze. “Welcome home. Finally.”

Finally? The word pricked at her. She opened her mouth, prepared to unleash her day on them: the meetings, the paperwork, the coffee spill on her shirt.

But Aang spoke before her. “You want to shower first before we go?”

“Go?” she asked, confused. “Go where?”

Then it clicked: the cologne. Katara realized her husbands were both dressed up: Aang’s mousy brown vest over his white shirt, sleeves rolled up around his elbows. Zuko was more formal, a full black suit concealing the crimson collar of his shirt.

Aang’s response had a tinge of disappointment. “To… the restaurant?”

“It’s Thursday,” Zuko said abruptly, less so a reminder than a reprimand.

“Shit,” she muttered. Thursday. Thursday was fancy night. Every week, they chose one night out, rotating the restaurant choice between them. And Katara had picked this one out tonight: a seafood restaurant on the dock. One that needed a call ahead. “Oh shit, the reservations.” Her hands twined in her hair, making it messier. “Oh spirits, I totally forgot, I’m so sorry, guys.”

“It’s okay!” said Aang, though Zuko’s expression said otherwise. “They’re still open, if we leave soon, we can probably make the last round of dinner service.”

A light scowl played on Zuko’s lips. “We’d have to leave in the next ten minutes. Hope the maître d' takes bribes.”

Katara couldn’t tell if she wanted to punch him or apologize again. “Ten minutes, yes, okay.” Her mind ran through it: no time to shower, but she could remove and reapply her makeup quickly. What clothes did she have? That blue satin dress again? But she’d worn it last week: ugh, it’ll have to do.

She was halfway through planning jewelry when she entered the bathroom and saw herself again.

For Katara, appearance was less about how she physically looked, but how confident she felt. She didn’t wear makeup or nice clothes out of insecurity. If anything, it was a booster, prompting her to stand up straighter, draw power from her elegance. She had been the one who pushed for fancy night in the weekly dinner rotations: a chance to don her armor.

But tonight, no amount of armor could make her feel powerful. Not after the drag of the day. She had been holding everything in, a dam to keep back the tide. But when the coffee stain entered her field of vision, Katara couldn’t keep it back anymore. She cried.

She smeared the tears over her cheeks, trying to get ahold of herself. One bad day didn’t mean it had to be a bad evening. Katara sniffled, and splashed some water on her face.

Katara slunk from the bathroom, partially from embarrassment, to the bedroom and slipped the satin over herself. She prayed there would be no reporters, no press to blog about her: ‘Katara wears the same dress two weeks in a row’. When she had collected herself–2 minutes past Zuko’s deadline, unfortunately–she reemerged into the living room.

The overhead lights had been turned off, replaced by soft candles around the apartment, giving the room a warm glow against the cool lights of the city outside. Their smoky scents mingled in the air. Aang and Zuko were sitting together on the couch now, but stood when she entered.

“Ready?” Katara asked, slinging the silvery strap of her purse over her shoulder.

Her husbands exchanged looks. “Actually,” Aang said. “Um… maybe we should just stay in tonight.”

“... But it’s fancy night,” said Katara. “I was the one who wanted to do it, and you’re both all dressed up and I already kept you both waiting and-”

Zuko’s frustration had fallen away, replaced by… guilt? Is that what it was? “It’s okay, Katara. Don’t worry about us.”

Aang answered the question in her eyes before she even asked it. “We… we heard you in the bathroom.” Crying. That’s what he didn’t say. “Fancy night’s supposed to be fun, we don’t want you to be stressed.”

The embarrassment came back, stronger this time. “No,” she said. “This is my fault, I didn’t communicate, I didn’t think about it.”

Zuko said, “You probably had more on your mind,” before repeating, “It’s okay. We’ll just heat up the bulgogi I made last night. It’s not really ‘fancy’ but…”

“And,” said Aang, “we can watch one of your favorite movies. Or we can play a game or… I don’t know, we can relax. Whatever you want to do.”

The tears came again, but they were different this time. They didn’t feel like water over the edge of the dam, but like the dam had disappeared. She didn’t even get a good sniffle in before Aang’s arms were wrapped around her, followed by Zuko’s.

The heady mixture of their colognes warmed her. She smiled into the fabric of Aang’s shirt. “I need a new dress anyway.”

“Yeah,” Zuko said, ever tactful. “You do.”

Aang gasped. “Zuko!”

“What? She said the same thing I did.”

Aang recovered for him. “That dress still looks amazing on you, Kat.”

“Ohh.” Zuko gave her a quick apologetic smooch on the forehead. “That’s not what I meant, I was just… you know, public perception and all that. Of course you look great in it, you look great in everything.” His hand wandered to her lower back. “Or nothing.”

Despite Zuko’s lack of diplomacy, Katara giggled. She pulled her husbands in close one last time then stepped back. “I accept these terms, but only on one condition.”

The men waited patiently.

Katara said, “I get to tell you about my wack ass day.”

“Of course!” Aang said with a grin.

Zuko nodded. “I’ll make some tea.”

#zutaraang #zutaraang week 2022 #ATLA #Katara #ATLA fic #my fic #modern au #alternate universe #Aang #Zuko

[t-marveland]

𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫 : 𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐥'𝐚𝐢𝐫 | Zuko

ᵈʳᵃʷⁱⁿᵍ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ᵇʸ ⁿᵉᵏᵒᶜᵃᵗ

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

Zuko x Reader

Warnings : spoil

Mots : 1775

Masterlist

❝ tasukete...❞

PT. 2 ici

PT. 1

    TU ÉTAIS UNE maître du feu, mais le problème était que tu ne maîtrisais pas bien tes compétences. Tu avais donc besoin d'un maître qui pouvait t'apprendre à bien contrôler cet élément.

    Tu travaillais dans un restaurant de passage qui te permettait de rencontrer beaucoup de personnes différentes, mais tu n'avais encore trouvé personne. Les seuls maîtres du feu que tu voyais étaient des soldats malpolis et qui se sentaient supérieures à tout le monde, c'est-à-dire tout le contraire de ce que tu cherchais.

    Jusqu'au jour où tu rencontras le général Iroh et son neveu Zuko. Tu savais exactement qui ils étaient. L'un était le prince héritier de la Nation du Feu facilement reconnaissable par sa cicatrice sur le côté gauche de son visage et l'autre était un puissant maître du Feu calme et respectueux des autres.

    Tu avais trouvé la personne que tu cherchais, le général Iroh était la personne idéale pour t'aider, car son attitude était tout le contraire des soldats que tu avais rencontrés jusque-là.

    C'était alors sans gêne que tu lui avais demandé de te prendre sous son aile et de t'aider à perfectionner ta maîtrise du feu. Il te sonda du regard et sembla hésiter pendant quelques secondes qui te parurent longues puis finalement accepta. Zuko, lui, répondit négativement de manière agressive mais cela ne fit pas changer d'avis son oncle et après tout, ce n'était pas lui qui allait décider.

    À partir de ce moment-là, tu les avais suivis partout et en même temps Iroh t'apprenait la maîtrise du feu. Tu avais ainsi assisté au départ de Zuko après une dispute avec son oncle puis à son retour après le combat avec Azula, sa sœur.

    Et maintenant vous étiez dans la capitale du Royaume de la Terre, la célèbre ville de Ba Sing Se.

    Grâce à Iroh et sa connaissance en matière de thé, vous aviez trouvé du travail comme serveurs dans un salon de thé. Mais un soir, un homme, Jet, était venu vous voir au salon pour vous défier au combat dans le but de vous faire utiliser votre maîtrise du feu mais au lieu de cela Zuko prit des épées pour vous défendre. Heureusement, personne ne le crut et vous ne fûtes pas démasqués.

    Le soir en rentrant Iroh annonça que vous alliez bientôt ouvrir votre propre salon de thé notamment grâce à sa notoriété et c'est donc quelques jours plus tard que votre salon de thé, le Dragon Jasmin, ouvert.

    ❝━ Je n'arrive pas à croire que vous aillez réussi, maître Iroh. Dis-tu.

━ Tout est une question de volonté, (T/P).

━ Si vous le dites. Ajouta Zuko, ennuyé.

━ Bon, c'est parti commençons le travail. Dit, joyeusement, Iroh.❞

    Tous les jours étaient les mêmes dans la boutique, bien sûr de temps en temps il y avait des clients qui sortaient du lot mais c'était quand même assez ennuyant. Mais un jour, une jeune cliente du salon de thé invita Zuko à un rendez-vous. Il accepta surtout pour faire plaisir à son oncle. La vérité était que tu étais un peu jalouse car de un, personne ne t'avait encore proposé un rendez-vous depuis que vous étiez arrivé et aussi parce que malgré le fait qu'il soit impatient, agressif et qu'il ait plein d'autres défauts, tu commençais à t'attacher un peu plus de jour en jour à lui.

    ❝━ Quand est-ce que Zuko compte rentrer ? Demandas-tu, impatiente de le revoir.

━ Je n'en sais rien.❞

    La porte s'ouvrit sur Zuko.

    ❝━ Alors comment cela s'est passé ? Demanda Iroh.❞

    Zuko alla directement dans sa chambre sans répondre, mais quelques secondes après il entrouvrit la porte et dit :

    ❝━ C'était bien.❞

    Les jours suivants Zuko apprit que l'avatar était dans la cité après avoir vu un papier qu'il distribuait pour retrouver Appa. Il décida alors de traquer l'animal et de l'utiliser comme appât pour attirer Aang à lui.

    Finalement, il infiltra la base secrète du Dai Li sous le Lac Laogai et trouva Appa dans sa cellule, mais même s'il ne vous avait rien dit, Iroh savait ce qu'il se tramait. Alors Zuko fut surpris quand il vous vit dans la cellule du bison.

    Iroh gronda sévèrement son neveu pour son inconscience et tenta de le persuader d'arrêter sa recherche de l'Avatar et de suivre sa propre voie. Zuko ne savant plus quoi faire, cria de rage et libéra Appa.

    Finalement, vous rentrâtes à la maison mais une fois rentré Zuko s'effondra au sol pris d'une terrible fièvre.

    ❝━ Que lui arrive-t-il ? Demandas-tu paniquée.

━ Je pense qu'il s'agit d'un conflit intérieur entre ce qu'il vient de faire et qui il veut être. C'est comme une métamorphose dont sa lutte interne a des effets sur son corps. Et à la fin Zuko ressortira comme la personne qu'il devra être vraiment. Expliqua Iroh.

━ J'espère qu'il ne deviendra pas pire qu'il ne l'était déjà.❞

    Iroh te lança un regard accusateur et tu lui répondis avec un regard amusé.

    Après être resté des heures à côté de Zuko, tu vis Iroh bâiller alors tu lui dis d'aller se coucher et que tu allais t'occuper de Zuko. Tu te retrouvas donc seule avec le malade.

    Il ne faisait que transpirer du visage alors à chaque fois, tu devais le lui essayer avec un linge. Et finalement après des heures à être restée réveillée, tu ne pus t'empêcher de t'endormir sur le sol.

    Dans la nuit, Zuko fit un cauchemar horrible dans lequel il se réveillait et allait se passer de l'eau sur le visage mais en se regardant dans le miroir, il se vit avec les tatouages de l'Avatar.

    Il se réveilla dans un cri d'horreur et toucha sa cicatrice pour s'assurer de sa présence. En regardant autour de lui pour voir où il était, il te vit couchée à côté de lui en train de dormir paisiblement et il ne put s'empêcher de sourire et d'être heureux de voir que tu prenais soin de lui.

    Zuko resta au lit pendant plusieurs jours durant lesquels vous restiez à l'appartement toute la journée. Et finalement, Zuko se réveilla et sembla totalement guéri. Il était devenu incroyablement optimiste, ce qui n'était pas dans ses habitudes. Tu n'étais d'ailleurs pas la seule à être surprise, Iroh l'était aussi mais était heureux de voir que son neveu semblait avoir trouvé la paix intérieure.

    Grâce à la notoriété naissante de votre salon de thé, vous fûtes invités au palais pour faire goûter votre thé à sa majesté en personne. Étonnamment, Zuko fut heureux d'entendre cette nouvelle. Vous vous mîtes alors en route direction le Palais Royale mais en réalité tout cela n'était qu'un piège tendu par Azula, qui préparait avec le Dai Li un coup d'état contre le Roi de la Terre.

    Iroh et toi aviez réussi à vous enfuir alors que Zuko avait préféré affronter sa sœur. Mais le Dai Li l'arrêta et l'emprisonna dans une grotte avec une jeune maître de l'eau, Katara.

    En chemin pour sauver Zuko, vous croisâtes l'Avatar, la personne que Zuko avait traquée pendant environ 3 ans sans succès. C'était la première fois que tu le voyais et sincèrement il n'avait pas l'air si dangereux que ça, mais mieux valait se méfier de lui. Finalement, Aang vous accompagna car son amie était aussi prisonnière.

    Et après quelques recherches vous les aviez finalement trouvés. En te voyant, Zuko se leva et te prit dans ses bras.

    ❝━ J'ai eu peur que tu ais été capturée... Dit-il.

━ Oh ! Euh... et bien non, je vais très bien, merci.❞

    Tu ne te sentais pas trop à l'aise, qu'est-ce qu'il lui prenait ? Il n'avait jamais été comme ça avec toi, c'était très surprenant.

    En te lâchant, Zuko vit que l'Avatar était avec vous et sans aucune raison, il tenta de l'attaquer mais Iroh l'en empêcha et dit à Aang et Katara de partir.

    Après leur départ, Iroh et toi tentâtes en vain de dissuader Zuko de continuer de poursuivre l'Avatar. Mais Azula arriva, accompagnée par deux agents du Dai Li qui vous emprisonnèrent dans le cristal. Azula demanda l'aide de son frère contre l'Avatar, affirmant que joindre ses forces à elle rendrait à Zuko son honneur et le respect de son père. À votre grande surprise, il accepta.

    Iroh fut stupéfait et décida de défendre Katara et le corps sans vie de l'Avatar, leur permettant ainsi de s'échapper. Tu le suivis dans sa décision car tu avais décidé de suivre Iroh peu importe où il irait et peu importe ce qu'il ferait. Vous vous laissâtes ensuite capturer sans opposer de résistance et tu ne lanças même pas un regard à Zuko tellement tu avais honte de sa décision.

    Vous fûtes ramenés à la Nation du Feu et emprisonnés dans une tour. En seulement quelques heures, ta vie avait radicalement changé. Ce matin, tu étais au salon de thé à Ba Sing Se et ce soir, tu étais dans une cellule froide et humide dans la nation du feu.

    Une nuit, Zuko vint secrètement vous voir, il voulait parler à son oncle mais celui-ci lui tourna le dos et refusa de lui parler. Il alla alors à ta cellule pour voir comment tu allais.

    ❝━ (T/P) ? Tu es là ?❞

    Le silence.

    ❝━ Ne m'ignore pas s'il te plaît...❞

    Tu pris sur toi pour lui répondre.

    ❝━ Tu ne t'es pas gêné pour nous ignorer, nous. Lâchas-tu amèrement.

━ Je n'avais pas le choix, il fallait que je retrouve mon honneur et-

━ Je me fiche de tes explications Zuko, je ne veux plus jamais te voir compris ? Ne reviens plus me rendre visite et si par miracle je réussis à m'en sortir, ne pense même pas à me chercher parce que si je te vois, je serai dans l'obligation de te tuer ! Le coupas-tu.❞

    Tu te tournas et regardas le mur en face de toi. Zuko resta quelques minutes de plus durant lesquelles il essuya de te faire parler et de se faire excuser mais tu ne bougeas pas et ne lui répondis pas. Finalement, il partit et tu ne pus empêcher les larmes de couler sur tes joues.

#zuko #zuko imagine #fire lord zuko #avatar the last airbender #atla #prince zuko #x reader #reader insert

[whatmikamakes]

It's been almost a decade but...

#yeah #Mai #Avatar #Atla #avatar: the last airbender #Lok #Tlok #The legend of korra #Aang #Korra #Ty lee #Azula #Zuko #Toph #Katara #Sokka #Michelle Visage #RuPaul #Rpdr #RuPaul's Drag Race #Drag #Netflix

[dvnities-a]

new    muses    →   aang wangdu   +   sokka siku

#✧･ﾟ* aang ➳ visage #✧･ﾟ* aang ➳ interactions #✧･ﾟ* aang ➳ musings #✧･ﾟ* aang ➳ answered #✧･ﾟ* aang ֊ headcanon #✧･ﾟ* study ft. aang #✧･ﾟ* ft. aang #✧･ﾟ* sokka ➳ visage #✧･ﾟ* sokka ➳ interactions #✧･ﾟ* sokka ➳ musings #✧･ﾟ* sokka ➳ answered #✧･ﾟ* sokka ֊ headcanon #✧･ﾟ* study ft. sokka #✧･ﾟ* ft. sokka

[blindshe]

drop 1.

#visage. #people : aang. #people : katara. #people : sokka. #people : zuko. #people : suki. #people : azula. #people : mom & dad. #people : kokoro. #people : kanto. #people : shinobu. #people : misaki. #people : lin. #people : suyin. #people : opal.

[mangaien]

aang tags drop !   

#: character / aang . #: character / aang . visage . #: character / aang . musings . #: character / aang . aesthetics . #: character / aang . headcanons . #: character / aang . interactions . #: dynamic / aang and appa . #: dynamic / aang and momo . #: dynamic / aang and katara . #: dynamic / aang and sokka . #: dynamic / aang and gyatso . #: dynamic / aang and toph . #: dynamic / aang and zuko . #there are so many more realtionships with him that are intresting and i could have a tag for but also my boi is to friendly

[kivinik]

tag dump

#✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ inside you are destructive & cold self-doubt rages through your core ❜(azula) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ earthen-made cast in mud baked with thunderstorms & erupting volcanoes ❜(toph) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ she wasn’t looking for a knight she was looking for a sword ❜(mai) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ the earth would bow to the tilt & pull of her unabashed feet as she walked graciously ❜(ty lee) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ he has loved the moon too fondly to be fearful of the night ❜(soka) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ the true heart can touch the poison of hatred without being harmed ❜(aang) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ the fire touched you once & has not let go since ❜(zuko) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ she is screaming lungs; rolling waves & sea foam eyes ❜(katara) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ fireflies with bright ideas ❜(wishlist) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ the sea does not forget the lives its swallowed ❜(promo) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ i am water; soft enough to offer life tough enough to drown it away ❜(self promo) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ a fear of the sea & of falling — ❜(mobile post) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ let the ocean take me ❜(queue) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ if salt water heals all wounds i shall live by ocean forever i presume ❜(aesthetic) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ the sea has only one voice — a mighty voice that drowns our souls in its majestic music ❜(music) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ pearly teeth & salt water lips beach wave hair falling halfway down your spine paint your sun-kissed skin as shore ❜(visage) #✧ ･ ° ･↣ ❛ when the sky fell down the stars were screaming in agony as they shattered into the ground ❜(musings)

[comradekatara]

a question we've all been dying to know: katara's hair/skincare routine?

okay so here's what we canonically know: katara has a special seaweed lotion (where she got it from, and how she intends to get some to aunt wu, we don't know), and her skin is very smooth.

considering the fact that she can constantly heal any minor cuts or bruises on her skin probably further contributes to its flawlessness.

before she figured out how to remove pimples with healing, or on days when her cycle is so adamant on making her break out that even waterbending cannot reduce the zits that hath appeared violently upon her pubescent visage, she freaks out and acts as if it is the end of the world, and tells aang that she'll kill him if he looks at her!!!!! even though he legitimately has no idea what katara is talking about because the zit in question is tiny and basically indiscernible unless you are looking for it really closely. but she's also mastered the art of positioning her hair loopies just so, so that said pimples are less noticeable, either obscured by her hair or the shadow it casts. the ones smack bang in the middle of her forehead, on her chin, or on the tip of her nose are the real troublemakers. and the fact that like 98% of the time she has flawless skin is what makes those outlier pimples (that last three days at most) so egregious. it's only when she complains loudly in the company of zuko, who's like "oh no, having a tiny, barely noticeable blemish on your face.... how horrifying...." that she's sufficiently mollified.

as for her haircare routine, i can only imagine she also has a special shampoo & conditioner that she uses to get her hair so luscious and perfect, but i think it's also just a matter of lucky genes. as someone with very similar hair to katara, i don't actually do anything in particular to get it the way it is, i just let it dry naturally and it does what it wants. that said, i definitely think katara uses waterbending to speed up the process of washing and drying (and even potentially cutting?) her hair, so that it's always washed to perfection and contains the exact right amount of moisture.

the hot, dry desert air made her hair feel all stringy and greasy and heavy and gross, further cementing that day as one of the top 5 worst days of her entire life. she's also not a fan of fire nation humidity in general, because she's not used to having to manage her hair under such conditions and it took a long time for her to figure out.

she often offers, out of the kindness of her heart, to wash toph's hair with her super special conditioner, but toph adamantly refuses every time due to the fact that katara will be sure to wash all the dirt out, which is one of toph's worst nightmares actually.

some other important things to note: katara does not shave, and in fact takes pride in having longer leg hair than suki (they measured it, and she won by a hair); she does not wear makeup regularly, but has been known to enjoy it on occasion when she is feeling fancy; upon acquiring access to nail polish (which canonically exists in atla bc mai wears black nail polish in book 2!) she is constantly applying and reapplying blue nail polish, which is the best nail polish color in her humble opinion because a) it matches aang's tattoos b) it represents the water tribe (duh) and c) it matches zuko's nails, which are also painted blue (that is, at least every time he is in katara's presence, because painting each other's nails is a cornerstone of their friendship)

and finally, here are some images of katara enjoying a spa day:

#id in alt text #katara #oh to be a teenage girl...... #aang&katara #katara&toph #katara&zuko #katara&suki #asks #beangods #was gonna just link to a couple drawings of zuko w blue nail polish but then i realized i have like a million.... so i linked .... uhhh.... #many ... #anyway thank u for this ask i love an excuse to talk abt this #katara the most beautiful girl in the world <33333

[raavad]

tag drop !

01. ↣『 ooc 』

01. ↣『 psa 』

01. ↣『 wishlist 』

01. ↣『 promos 』

02. ↣『 visage 』

02. ↣『 headcanons 』

02. ↣『 musings 』

02. ↣『 aesthetic 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ asami sato 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ mako 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ bolin 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ tenzin 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ senna & tonraq 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ eska & desna 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ naga 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ airbender kids 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ katara 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ raava 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ the krew 』

03. ↣『 rel. ╱ america chavez ┈ starpunches 』

04. ↣『 in character 』

03. ↣『 verse ╱ book 1 』

03. ↣『 verse. ╱ book 2 』

03. ↣『 verse. ╱ book 3 』

03. ↣『 verse. ╱ book 4 』

03. ↣『 verse. ╱ post-book 4 』

03. ↣『 verse. ╱ pre-book 1 』

03. ↣『 verse. ╱ modern 』

03. ↣『 verse. ╱ star wars 』

03. ↣『 verse. ╱ marvel & dc 』

04. ↣『 dash games 』

04. ↣『 memes & ask prompts 』

#01. ↣『 ooc 』 #01. ↣『 psa 』 #01. ↣『 wishlist 』 #01. ↣『 promos 』 #02. ↣『 visage 』 #02. ↣『 headcanons 』 #02. ↣『 musings 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ asami sato 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ mako 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ bolin 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ tenzin 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ senna & tonraq 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ eska & desna 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ unalaq 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ naga 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ airbender kids 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ katara 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ aang 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ raava 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ the krew 』 #03. ↣『 rel. ╱ america chavez ┈ starpunches 』 #04. ↣『 in character 』 #03. ↣『 verse ╱ book 1 』 #03. ↣『 verse. ╱ book 2 』 #03. ↣『 verse. ╱ book 3 』 #03. ↣『 verse. ╱ post-book 4 』 #03. ↣『 verse. ╱ pre-book 1 』 #03. ↣『 verse. ╱ modern 』 #03. ↣『 verse. ╱ star wars 』 #03. ↣『 verse. ╱ marvel & dc 』

[heldenwelt-a]

TAG DROP - VISAGE 2

#( visage ) aang #( visage ) sokka #( visage ) zuko #( visage ) ty lee #( visage ) suki #( visage ) jake peralta #( visage ) dean winchester #( visage ) anna of arendelle #( visage ) kristoff bjorgman #( visage ) david kawena #( visage ) jennifer jareau #( visage ) danny williams #( visage ) tani rey #( visage ) link #( visage ) johnny bryant #( visage ) tia manson #( visage ) rachel green #( visage ) joey tribbiani #( visage ) ross geller

[zutarasecrettunnel]

OK I did it I updated my Zutara Week chapter fic. This idea was inspired by the Day 6 prompt for this year, "Spirits".

Story summary:

The war is over for everyone but Katara, who keeps seeing the scarred face of the boy who sacrificed himself for her and for the world everywhere she looks. When she finds out why she is experiencing these so-called hallucinations, she may be led right into a trap centuries in the making.

Here's chapter 2 of Your Face, I See. 

You can also read it on AO3.

Teardrops marked her path like breadcrumbs as she made her way through the empty streets of the Fire Nation capitol. She raced toward the palace, desperate to believe that what propelled her was just another hallucination, albeit much more terrifying this time. She wasn't even sure the voice that sounded so much like Yue had been real. Why had she talked about Tui and La? Why had her visions of Zuko intensified? Why could she now hear his voice? She was convinced that her mind was lost, reduced to ash by the flames of Sozin's comet.

Katara threw open one of the grand, heavy doors of the palace. Her feet pounded into the lacquered wood floor, aching with each impact. Her breath was frayed, lungs inflating jaggedly as she struggled to take in the breaths needed to recover from her long, swift escape. Her passage through the daunting royal halls was blighted by tears and dim torchlight. She wiped at her eyes pointlessly as she pressed on.

The many-legged monstrosity had not followed her. She ran from her fear, her grief, and her doubt. She ran aimlessly, toward nothing in particular. She ran straight into something solid but soft.

"Master Katara?"

At first she didn't want to hear another voice, but when it's owner registered in her mind, she turned her chin upward to meet the surprised gaze of Fire Lord Iroh. His face was gaunt but kind, his half-illuminated expression full of concern. She blinked slowly, finally able to gain some clarity in her blurred vision. This was the first time she had seen this man since the joyless coronation ceremony held shortly after the end of the Hundred Years War. He had used the duties of the crown to avoid the younger war heroes almost completely, only holding audience with Aang and even then infrequently. The reluctant ruler had lost his lust for life with the loss of his nephew. He operated only in duty now.

He gazed at her, confused at her sudden appearance in a misplaced palace hallway. At her silence, he tried again.

"Master Katara? What are you doing in this part of the palace, especially so late at night?" His tone was doleful and flat, but not accusatory. He sounded tired, and uncharacteristically old.

She tried to maintain the facade she had so carefully cultivated over the recent months. She tried to reinforce the levies of her fears and sadness. With the sound of Iroh's broken spirit, the waterbender was overcome. Her emotion spilled over the dams she had built like a tidal wave.

She launched herself at the man's midsection, burying her face in the silk of his robes. She soaked them with all of her pent up mourning, all of the anguish, consternation and madness. Iroh stood for a moment, unmoving, before finally pulling the crying girl into an empathetic embrace. She sobbed, openly and fiercely, the sounds eventually trying to form words that were finally ready to come out.

"I can't stop seeing him."

Iroh resisted the urge to pull away from the soggy girl at her admission, instead placing a hand reassuringly on her shoulder. He waited a moment before calmly asking the question he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer to.

"Can't stop seeing who?" It was at that point he felt her tug, removing herself from the sleeve of his robe to look directly at him.

"Zuko."

Iroh took a small step back, regret clear in his features. The suspicion had been present in his mind since the girl spoke her first sopping words to him in the darkness, but to hear it caused his latent guilt to come roaring back to life like a tigerdillo. At the same time, the tidal wave of emotion in Katara had begun to recede. She couldn't continue to meet the old man's forlorn gaze. Her wind-tangled hair fell around her shoulders as she studied the floor.

"He's been haunting me ever since. . ." she paused, sniffling hard, before continuing quietly. "About a week after he. . .after he died."

The aged Fire Lord pondered for a moment. Silence hung between the two figures huddled in the opulence of the royal chambers like the fine tapestries on the wall. Iroh was slow in his words as he responded, returning to the sagely demeanor that had defined his character prior to the end of the war.

"Grief. . .does many things to people," he started, stroking his beard. "It can often feel like a negative spirit hanging over you, or a curse. You most of all were connected to the. . ." the older man lost his words at this point, but regained them after a moment, "the loss we all suffered. You were there. You were. . ."

Katara didn't lift her head or move from the spot as Iroh found himself unable to finish his statement. "In any case, I'm sure you wi-"

The water tribe peasant demonstrated her knowledge of and respect for Fire Nation customs as she pointedly interrupted it's ruler.

"I only see his face, always just staring at me. But tonight he called my name, asking me to help him. Begging me. But this time there was a monster and-" the words tumbled out of her as she faced Iroh again, only coming to a halt when he grabbed her by the shoulder.

"What kind of monster?!" His whisper was a shout in disguise.

"I-it crawled. It had so many legs, like a giant centipede. But it had his face," Katara felt her eyes stinging again as she recounted the features of the miscreation that had poached the scarred visage of the fire prince. "I don't know," she shook her head, hands on either ear, "I didn't look at it too long. I ran straight back here."

The already feeble posture of the lament-laden Fire Lord continued to cave. It was as if Iroh had lost his footing on the thick wood of the palace hall.

He uttered one syllable, his eyes unfocused. "Koh."

Katara let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding on to.

"Who-what is Koh?" she hurled her question more forcefully than she meant to. The possibility that she may not just be going insane had slipped from her weeks ago.

Iroh turned from her, waiting before speaking. "The face stealer, a nefarious spirit," he replied. The wizened old firebender muttered to himself quietly while Katara attempted to process what had already been said.

"A face...stealer?" the information settled into the young girl like a stone in a lake. "You mean it. . .he. . .Zuko. . ."

The waterbender quieted, a different kind of storm brewing inside of her. Her voice was a low rumble when it came from her next.

"Do you mean to tell me that this. . .Koh. . .stole Zuko's face in the spirit world and has been haunting me with it ever since?"

Iroh placed a palm on the crimson painted wall of the palace hallway, steadying himself on this renewed grief.

"It would appear so," he replied softly, sadly.

"So how do we save him?" Again her inquiry was hushed, a murmur of hope too scared to make itself known.

"We don't."

The Fire Lord's voice was a scratch in the darkness as he uttered the short response, as if the words themselves burned in his throat like his element uncontrolled.

The growing thunder in Katara rumbled louder.

"What do you mean 'we don't'?"

"Master Katara," Iroh began, "this spirit is dangerous."

She stared intently at the older man, her lips a thin quivering line of a response not yet ready to be released. In its stead, the tired ruler continued.

"When I was a younger man, after I lost Lu Ten, I entered the spirit world to find him, to bring him back. It took many months of study, and in trying to find my way in, I also found knowledge of Koh the face stealer, a spirit who can take your face if you show any hint of emotion in his presence," he explained, "If you go after him, it will only be to give him your face, too. I do not know of a way to defeat him."

Katara stood firm. The sadness that had hovered over her like a stormcloud for months finally snapped, and the waterbender unleashed the full power of the anger that now coursed through her like the lightning that had been its origin.

"Dangerous? I've been haunted by this spirit for months. I've been seeing Zuko's face everywhere, and I thought it was just guilt, just sadness, just me going crazy because he died saving me. He died saving me and for what?" she cried, her emphatic syllables echoing through the chamber. "For me to do nothing? For me to be afraid? Even if I can't bring him back, I can't leave his spirit like that. He risked it all, his country, his future. . ."

Her words slowed as the tempest within her drained itself. Her voice broke and quieted again as she finished her thought.

"I can at least risk my face. I can at least. . ." She felt her own fingers lightly touching her left cheek as she trailed off.

Her companion waited, ensuring the storm had passed before issuing his decree.

"I forbid it."

The assertion was strong, an uncharacteristic order more suited to the Dragon of the West than the grief-stricken old man he had become.

"You will lose yourself in this doomed quest. Do not try to go after Koh, Master Katara," he softened, adding one final thought to his order. "I will have the fire sages and the healers work to find you a remedy for this influence. You shouldn't see him again."

Tears flowed freely from the girl's eyes as she refused to allow them to look up at the man in front of her.

"I will go to them in the morning, Fire Lord Iroh," she responded weakly, "now I am tired. May I please be excused to my chambers?" He bid her the leave she requested, but not before placing both hands on her shoulders in a gesture of comfort to the wounded girl.

"I promise you will have peace, my dear," he said calmly, his own pain present in his tone, "the sages have access to vast libraries of spiritual knowledge that will be used to heal you of this affliction. "

He barely heard her mutter a thank you before she bowed and quickly made her way down the grand hallway.

#zutara #zutara week 2021 #zutara fanfiction #my fics #zk fanfiction

[southslates]

legally you have to write a zutara miraculous au bc you made the bluetara marichat comparison

i have! i don’t think i ever posted it on tumblr but i wrote a blutara marichat inspired au a while ago. i’ll just drop it under the cut :)

the strength of my convictions / blutara / 2.4K / oneshot: 

“Katara! C’mon. Please, don’t be boring —”

“Shut up,” she says as she dusts herself off and gets out of her brother’s van. Suki bends over from the back as Aang and Toph tussel about the latter’s music taste.

“ Katara. Sokka’s new friend will be there —”

Aang manages to get himself out of Toph’s headlock long enough to bend his neck outwards and smile genially at her, lips quivering as if he wasn’t just in the process of strangulation. The short girl smirks and tugs harder at him but he temporarily ignores her — and he’ll have to pay for that, Katara knows. “You know Zuko! He’s really nice and new and he’s —”

“He’s Fire Nation, isn’t he?” She raises an eyebrow and Aang rubs his hand against his neck sheepishly before getting pulled back into the car. Sokka grabs her hand as she turns around. “I know who Zuko is and I don’t want to go meet him, Sokka.”

Suki’s painted lips quirk up a little bit as she tilts her head pleadingly. “Come on. He’s a great guy and you told me that you were going to start expanding your horizons —”

“Suki!” Katara hastily gestures to Aang, who luckily is fighting over the radio dials and too busy to hear those words. The martial artist rolls her eyes playfully and reaches over to tug at her. She pulls away and crosses her arms. “I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine. My dating life is fine. And I’m not going to date your new Fire Nation friend.”

“Just meet him, please? And you can’t tell me the fact that he’s Fire Nation is throwing you off —”

“No it’s just . . . I’ve met him. He spilled coffee on me last week when you guys were checking out the hospital’s structure and he always dresses in all black. He looks like he screams trouble and I don’t want to get involved in that even if you all are fine with throwing yourselves to the wolves —”

“So, what? You’re going to sleep at nine on a Friday and just —”

“I have an early shift tomorrow and you know it, Sokka! Someone here has to be responsible. And my dating life is fine,” she addresses her best girlfriend. “Seriously, don’t sweat it. I’m cool for right now. I’m happy with my early nights.”

She knows that there’s probably a strange lilt to her tone but Toph’s won the war and her cacophonous noises mask it, and the dark and dry night hides the small flush of her cheeks. Sokka sighs once more before releasing her arm and letting her go into the night; she reaches down to hug Suki before tossing her bag over her shoulder and giving Aang and Toph a small wave that they both ignore. The van speeds off as she stands in front of her apartment, her face contented.

/

“Who are you texting?” she says as she places her backpack on her couch and slides down onto it as well. “Wait, how’d you get in?”

“You shouldn’t leave your window unlocked, sweetheart, a criminal might come in,” she can tell that he’s smirking as his wooden mask brushes her face. She moves the bottom part of it up and warm lips touch her forehead. “And I’m just canceling plans I forgot I made with a few friends.”

“Sneaky,” she laughs as he falls into place next to her. “I’m glad that I don’t have to account for more terrible lawbreakers coming here.”

“You’re happy with this one?” he asks teasingly as he pulls her closer to him.

“Yeah,” she looks up into the mask’s terrifying visage — it should be worrisome that she doesn’t know what lies beneath it but she trusts the Blue Spirit implicitly. She has for the past several months. Her lips curve up and then she buries her face into his warm black outfit, his smoky and spicy scent comforting. “Yeah, I am.”

He moves his arm around her and grabs the remote; she takes it from his hand and starts clicking through Netflix, selecting a cooking show to watch after a moment. As they watch contestants line up he breathes into her ear. “You left your front window open too, you know. I heard you come in. That was your brother, wasn’t it?”

“And Suki, and Toph and Aang,” she hums, pulling the mask up a little to bare his lips to her, tracing them with her fingers before widening both corners until he’s faux-smiling. He chuckles through his teeth.

“They wanted you to go somewhere with them?”

“Yeah, to meet one of their new friends or something,” she says dismissively “I’d rather be here, though.”

His voice shudders. “Do you not like the . . . person?”

“No,” she shakes her head. “Zuko . . . I haven’t interacted with him very much but I’m really certain that Suki, at least, wants to set me up with him.”

She waits for a moment and then his voice croaks. “Oh.”

Katara threads her fingers through the hand he has around her waist and stares at some kid chopping asparagus. “I said no, of course. I’ve got you.”

“Katara . . .” he says hesitantly, “you know that I know I can’t ask you for this much, right? It doesn’t really make sense for you to . . . I’m a bad guy . . .”

“It’s in quotations,” she replies slowly. “I like you just the way you are with all of your heroics.”

“I can’t ask you for that, though. You don’t even know my real name —”

“Blue,” she looks up into the sheer panel around his eyes, pulling the mask down a little so she knows that she’s truly making eye contact with him. “You like me, right?”

His breath catches for a second before he does something like stutter. “Y—yeah, of course. I like you a lot, Katara. I think I like you — the most, out of all the things I like —”

“Then we’re fine,” she winks at him, crushing his fingers, long and pale as they are. She draws his hand into her lap and starts rubbing her fingers on his wrist. The skin there is clear and smooth. “And they say I’m boring.”

“You like sleeping at nine at night, I’ve heard,” he says ruefully, and she’d like to think he’s raising one of his eyebrows.

“I definitely do. I’m a model child, definitely. I sleep on time and then go to work —”

“And you don’t associate with criminals,” he abruptly stops. “I’m winking, right now. You can’t tell,” he grows quiet for a moment as the judges on the television deliberate over their dishes. “I should tell you who I am, Katara. You should — I like you. You should know.”

“You’re not getting out of it forever, definitely,” she winks exaggeratedly at him. “But I don’t think you’re comfortable with it right now and I want you to be okay with it.”

“I don’t deserve you,” he lets out a breath and moves himself over so that his chin is resting on her head. His voice sounds small and she smiles secretively.

“You deserve everything,” she pronounces, turning in his grasp to tap at where she thinks his nose is. “Let’s order food. I’m hungry.”

“I can cook.”

“I haven’t gone shopping for groceries in, like, a week,” she admits as she gets up, running her hand over his hair as she goes to grab her phone.

“Katara! Not cooking?” He asks mockingly. “Are you alright?”

“I’m busy,” she sticks out a tongue at him from where he’s turned around and facing her. “And you fill up my spare time, you creaky spirit. All my friends really think I’m a basket case,” she admits before perking up. “Pizza?”

“Yeah, of course — and Katara? You’re not boring at all —”

“What toppings?”

“You know. But you’re not a basket case —”

She plugs one of her ears to rattle off their order — a large spinach and olive and pepperoni pizza — into the phone. He quiets down as she finishes and then reaches for her hands as she wanders back. “You know they’re probably kidding, right? They’re just concerned about you. I mean — they don’t know about me. They have no idea how you’re spending your time. Not that they should know everything you’re doing or anything like that, that doesn’t make much sense either, but they’re just concerned . . . Katara?”

“I’m fine.”

He reaches a hand up and warmth cushions her face and wipes away her tears — she sniffles. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

She just nods and shoves her face into his chest. He holds her with one arm and angles his mask up a little again, shifting it to the left to ensure that it covers his scar before pressing his lips to her cheek. She tastes salty. “You’re not boring.”

“I mean, what do I do besides be with you and work? Watch Netflix?”

“That’s what everyone does. You’re not missing out on — I do wish I could take you out in public,” he sighs, and she snickers.

“I can just imagine us going for a picnic in the park and everyone just staring . . . that would be hilarious, wouldn’t it?” He doesn’t think it’s quite that funny at first but after a second he considers the implications and starts chuckling as well.

“Yeah, we would make quite a pair. The doctor and the criminal.”

“Sort-of-criminal.”

“I’m a criminal.”

“You have a heart of gold,” she says, her eyes clear again, as she reaches up to press his lips against hers. And now he feels emotional again and like he’s going to cry — he’s lucky she can’t see a tear leak out of his damaged eye. That’s going to be a hard one to bring up eventually anyway, even if she hasn’t yet brought up Zuko’s. But at least she doesn’t completely hate him. He feels so dishonest. “Now let’s shush. I want to finish this episode. I think the girl in the flower apron should’ve won that round. At least she hasn’t been disqualified yet.”

Katara curls her feet up into him, clothed in large fuzzy socks, and he smiles as he gathers her up into his lap.

/

She’s already asleep by the time the pizza guy comes knocking at the door, and he lets her down gently as the person outside slams it harder. Zuko makes quick work of his mask and grabs his wallet from his back pocket, grabbing a twenty-dollar bill and thrusting it at whoever’s outside before grabbing the warm dinner and stealing it back in. He’s just tightened the last string on the blue visor when Katara flops and turns around, her eyes opening slowly.

“Time to get up, sleepy,” he teases, walking over to her kitchen and sliding out two plates. She wanders over to the bathroom to wash her hands before they dig in, and ostensibly also to wash her face and remove the lethargy marking her features. When she’s back and he’s cleaned himself as well he sits with his mask up a bit and places a piece on both of their plates. With another yawn she takes a smacking bite. He reaches out and smooths out a portion of her hair before digging in himself.

“It’s good,” she moans around it, and he hides his smile behind his own bite.

“You should sleep after this, too. When did you wake up today?”

“Four or five,” she mutters. “But I napped in the shuttle.”

“Yes, for barely an hour,” he reprimands. “Sleep time for you.”

“You woke up early too.”

“I work a nine-to-five, sweetheart. I’m much luckier than you.”

“Just like Sokka,” she groans. “You crazy engineers.”

“We’re very sane,” he notes as he reaches for the chili peppers. She shudders as he spills them across his slice.

“Nobody who enjoys that much spice can be sane.”

“You want some?” he smiles and hands out the nearly empty packet to her. He’s gotten slowly better at matching his voice and mouth to his expressions, but it’s hard to be fully candid without his eyes. She shirks away immediately before seeming to reconsider.

“One bite. I’m living on the edge today.”

“Every day,” he reminds her and sprinkles some over her slice. One second later and she’s running over to the trash can and spitting the bite out. “You really have no tolerance, do you?”

“I have tolerance. I can eat really salty and bitter stuff but spice — ugh, no,” she shudders, eyes lighting up. “I should make you try sea prunes!”

“Yeah, I’m good,” he notes but she’s already reaching for her phone and heading to her grocery list app.

“I’m adding them right now. You’ll come over on Sunday, right?”

He tilts his head and stares at her expression through the mesh, so unbearably happy in this moment. “Where else would I be?”

“Good point,” she declares. Then she finishes the rest of her slice, eating around the reddened area, before grabbing another and shoving it into her mouth. He matches her pace and by the time they’re on their thirds they’re both full.

“Dishes on me,” he grabs them and Katara brightens at him before sliding the box into her empty fridge. She stares at him rinsing their two plates for a second before he sets them aside, pouting when he reaches down to rinse his hands.

“I should sleep.”

“You really should,” he notes, turning away only for her to ram her way into his arms. “You’re going to do lots of intelligent-people things tomorrow.”

“Boring things.”

“Never,” he reiterates, slowly shuffling away until they’re in the middle of her living room. She’s almost pressed to the wall and her cheeks are flushed. He leans down with his pizza breath and kisses her on the lips; she returns the favor to his cheek before flattening down off her tiptoes.

“I probably won’t be home tomorrow,” she pulls his mask down and he nods.

“Okay. I’ll come over on Sunday. Does any particular wine go good with your stew?”

“No wine will be involved,” she points her finger into his chest. “It’ll just be the two of us. And a good time. I’m going to miss you.”

“Me too. I like you,” he traces the contours of her face and she blushes, running her hand over the mask and the skin right below it — the right side, luckily.

“I like you, too. Now go, you spirit.”

At that he moves over to her window and slides it open a little before stepping out onto the fire escape below. She turns off the lights before he hits the bottom, but he can see her figure outlined in the dull glow of the moon, sending him off.

#zutara #zutara fic #dee writes #zuko #katara #atla #the strength of my convictions #blutara

[the-badger-mole]

Presence Part 6

 The feeling of not being able to breathe was getting worse. It wasn’t as if his lungs weren’t drawing in air- there was nothing wrong with Aang that required a healer’s touch- but there was something heavy in his chest. It made itself known with each breath. He began to look forward to mornings and dread the nights. The spirit’s presence was still tangible in the rancid stench that hung over Aang during the day, but it was better than the ghoulish visage that haunted him at night. 

The spirit no longer smiled. Aang never thought he’d miss the eerie smile, but there was now an air of dark purpose in the spirit’s face. Too often Aang noticed that gaze lingering on his friends. Katara and Zuko in particular. Aang didn’t know what the spirit meant towards them, but he knew it wasn’t anything pleasant. Aang hated the nights because he could see the malice in the being’s face. He hated sleep because in his dreams, that malice was his own.

 In his dreams, he did terrible things. Usually just to Zuko, but sometimes to Katara too. He woke still hearing the screams and sobs, still felt the slick of blood on his hands. In sleep, their terror brought him inexpressible satisfaction. In the day, Aang couldn’t meet his friends’ eyes. 

It had all continued to tell on him. He’d stopped eating- this Katara noted with consternation. He’d always been thin, but he had become gaunt and pallid despite the tropical sun. More of his days were spent apart from his friends. He’d told them he was meditating, though it wasn’t necessarily a lie. The hours he spent on the overgrown cliff staring out over the ocean had begun to feel meditative, but it never brought him any sense of equilibrium or peace. Eventually, the sun would set and the spirit would still be there. 

Katara had been fussing over him more and more, pressing food and snacks on him in an effort to put some weight on him. She’d even learned some more vegetarian recipes with more substance than the thin broth and vegetables over rice she’d been serving him the last few months. A few weeks earlier, that kind of attention from Katara would have set his heart racing. Now, the joy of it was tempered by the way she stood beside Zuko, the pair watching him concernedly. Her interactions with Aang had become distinctly maternal, and it was all Aang could do not to dump the meals she prepared for him into the fire. 

Despite Katara’s obvious concern for him, it was Zuko who’d approached him first. He had found Aang sitting on the beach on morning, before the others had risen. Aang tensed at the sight of him, but didn’t make an excuse to leave. Zuko sat beside him and watched the waves for several long, quiet minutes.

“When I was in Ba Sing Se,” he began at last, “I got sick- very sick- for about a week. When I could think clearly, I was sure I was going to die. Uncle thought so, too.” Aang bit down hard on his tongue to keep his own thoughts about Zuko’s near death to himself. 

“Eventually Uncle realized it wasn’t a physical illness,” Zuko continued, ignoring, or maybe not noticing his companion’s sullenness. “It was a spiritual illness manifesting physically.”

“What would you know about spiritual things?” Aang snorted. Zuko turned to him, his good brow quirked and something like a smile at the edge of his lips.

“Well, maybe not as much as you,” Zuko admitted, “but my uncle is very wise, and sometimes I even listened to him.”

“And you think that what’s wrong with me is spiritual?” Aang asked blandly. Around him, the scent of rotting corpse intensified, but by now he’d had enough practice pretending not to notice. Zuko, of course, couldn’t smell it at all. 

“I don’t know,” Zuko turned and examined Aang with a concerned eye. “Benders tend to be more sensitive to the spirits than most other people. That illness came very close to killing me. I can’t imagine what that sort of spiritual illness would do to you.”

“No, you couldn’t,” Aang said scathingly. He glared at Zuko out of the corner of his eye, remembering the dream where he’d neatly sliced Zuko’s throat open and watched the blood stain his neck like a ruby necklace. The prince’s eyes had bulged out of his head in shock, and he’d gasped like a dying fish. 

Aang blinked. The memory of the dream dissipated, leaving Zuko gazing at him in concern. Aang’s cheeks flushed angrily and turned back towards the crashing waves. 

“I can’t say that I know how to help you,” Zuko said. “But there is a shrine to Agni on the property. Maybe you should try meditating there.” 

He’s trying to help, Aang reminded himself, taking in a deep slow breath. He’s just trying to help. 

“Thanks,” Aang forced himself to say. “Maybe I’ll go later.”  Zuko smiled tersely at the younger boy and raised his hand as if he were going to touch Aang’s shoulder. He thought better of it and climbed to his feet.

“I’ll go start on breakfast,” Zuko said. “I can show you the shrine after we eat.” 

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6,  Part 7,  Part 8,  Part 9,  Part 10 , Epilogue    

#atla #atla fanfic #aang #anti-kataang #zutara #presence #presence part 6 #fanfic

[grither55]

The Princess and the Peasant - (An Azula Epic) - Chapter 121 - Haven

A meeting was underway in the Spirit World between two Avatars, of past and present.

“Avatar Roku. I need your guidance about an important matter. What can you tell me about the Component?” Aang asked in an unusually serious voice as he sat gazing back at the older man’s contemplative face.

While a concerned frown overtook the Fire Nation man’s deeply troubled face.

“I see. I regret to say that there is not much that I can tell you Aang, as I did not personally encounter the Component in my time as Avatar.” Roku replied with his grave amber brown eyes staring back at the younger man’s apprehensive face.

“What! Isn’t there anything that you can tell me?” The Avatar blurted out in a worry-stricken voice while he studied his predecessor’s thoughtful countenance.

“There was once a sorceress by the name of Mava who I once clashed with early in my days as Avatar. She sought to bring about the return of this power to accomplish her goal of destroying the Avatar Cycle.” The former Avatar stated as he held a hand under his chin while he sat staring seriously back at the monk’s unsettled face.

“A sorceress by the name of Mava?” Aang repeated as he stared with unease in his gray eyes back at the older man’s nodding face.

“Yes. Although to my knowledge the sorceress has not been seen since the beginning of my conflict with Fire Lord Sozin.” Roku spoke in a voice of wisdom while a relieved look came over Aang’s eyes.

“Well, I suppose that is good to know.” The Avatar remarked as he breathed a sigh of relief while the older man still gazed on introspectively.

“However, be advised that her former accomplice Silah may still be alive and well.” The former Avatar informed in a ruminative voice with his amber brown eyes staring back at the younger man’s alarmed face with unrivaled graveness.

While the young Avatar’s eyes now began to widen in an expression of fright.

“That…that name! It…feels familiar. I’ve heard it before! She’s wanted for the destruction of many villages in both the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom.” Aang exclaimed as he sat up with his eyes once again taking on a more troubled look while Roku frowned grimly.

“That wouldn’t surprise me. But be aware that your most urgent concern is the Component herself. You may well be the first Avatar in over a thousand years to face the Component in battle.” Roku advised with a profound look of concern still adorning his features while the young Avatar’s stared back in rising worry.

While the young man swallowed nervously as he sat there in silence paying close attention to the older man’s ever word.

All the while as the Fire Nation man stared back with his amber eyes conveying indescribable urgency.

“T-the first in over a thousand years?” The Avatar questioned in an unsettled voice as he gazed down with widened gray eyes.

“Indeed Aang. I urge you to be cautious. While I did not encounter the Component in my lifetime. I know that the Component is the single greatest danger to the continuation of the Avatar Cycle. Even more so than the Fire Lord.” The former Avatar revealed with unfathomable weight to his foreboding words while the monk sunk back into a perturbed silence.

“Even…more dangerous…than the Fire Lord.” Aang breathed as he gazed up from the ground with panic in his eyes.

Only to find himself gazing around as the Spirit World began to fade around them.

Just before he turned back to Roku’s face as the older man too started to dissipate from view.

“Continue to seek guidance in your past lives and no matter what, do not allow yourself to be caught in the pathway of the Component’s spirit negating energy.” Roku cautioned in a deep in thought voice while Aang listened with a disconcerted expression in his eyes.

“Avatar Roku…what happens if I get caught in the way of her spirit negating energy?” The Avatar inquired in a distraught voice while the older man gazed back with worrying concern in his aged eyes.

“If you are not careful Aang. The Avatar Cycle could be destroyed and then it will be lost forever.” The former Avatar called out in a highly alarming voice while the young man’s eyes grew wide in dread.

And then before the Air Nomad could even so much as say another word.

He watched with an intensely unsettled look in his eyes as his predecessor finally faded away.

And not even a second after that he found himself awakening from his meditation aboard the airship.

While he sat in a disturbed state of silence on the deck of the hidden ship from where it rested in the expansive sea cave.

All the while as he gazed on with a vividly distressed expression in his eyes as he listened to the ocean’s waves crash outside the mouth of the cavern.

Later on, that day.

The Dragon of the West set down his teacup while he gazed on with his lone eye gazing on in indescribable dread.

“You…say that you encountered Azula and this girl in the Spirit World?” Iroh questioned in a horrified voice with a pale expression overcoming his aghast face while the young Avatar numbly nodded his head.

While Zuko stared on with mutual unease in his widened eyes.

“They were. She’s…she’s learning how to master her power.” Aang responded with anxiety in his voice while he stared back at the former general’s unnerved face.

“I knew that it wouldn’t take Azula long to begin to deduce that girl’s power! At this rate Azula will have the girl’s power completely mastered before we can devise a way to counter it!” Zuko exclaimed with fear in his voice as he clenched his left fist while a sense of unease consumed the air.

“You may well be right Prince Zuko. We must get through to that girl before it is too late.” The Dragon of the West commented with urgency in his sage voice while he gazed down into his teacup.

All the while as the prince stared on with a look of doubt in his angered golden eyes.

Such a task was easier said than done.

Given that there was no going near that girl without Azula right by her side!

“I…I tried to speak to her once again. But she won’t listen to a word that I have to say! It’s almost impossible to approach her when she is with your sister!” The Avatar stated with frustration lining his voice while his enemy turned friend grimaced as he sunk back in his seat.

All the while as the former general stared on with his lips entrenched in a profoundly bothered frown.

“It may well be that Azula’s claws may well be in too deep for us to remove.” Iroh remarked in a reflective voice while he gazed up back at his two younger companions unsettled faces.

While Aang turned to gaze away as he pondered if the former general might be right.

All the while as Zuko gazed on with brooding golden eyes as he sat scowling in his seat.

And shortly after that the Avatar and the prince left the room.

While Pakku now stood in the doorway gazing back at Iroh with a scowl on his lips.

“It is not wise for us to remain here for much longer.” The Dragon of the West began in a disconcerted voice while he met his old friend’s worried gaze.

“Where do you suggest that we go?” Pakku asked with a frown on his lips while Iroh let out a heavy sigh.

“Well…it isn’t safe for us to return to the Misty Palms Oasis. It likely never will be. Not now that Azula knows the location of our old base.” Iroh spoke in a factual voice while the waterbender gazed down at the floor of the ship.

“Iroh…forgive me. Had I not submitted under their torture…then Azula wouldn’t have discovered our base of operations.” The waterbending master confessed with great shame in his voice as he gritted his teeth while he glared down at the floor.

While Iroh gazed back with a sympathetic expression in his amber eye as he reassuringly shook his head.

“Pakku…please do not torture yourself any further.” The Dragon of the west began in a calm voice while the other man balled up his fists at his hips.

“That…monster threatened to light Katara on fire and launch her over the walls of Agna Qel'a in a trebuchet!” Pakku snapped with rage lacing his voice as he trembled in fury while Iroh stared on in revulsion.

“You have no need to apologize my old friend. Anyone else would have done the same to save their family.” Iroh consoled in a softened voice with a shake of his head.

While Pakku still scowled as he gazed back at his friend with an uncertain expression in his eyes.

“In any event…our next destination is Shu Jing. Where we will lay low in Piandao’s castle for a while.” The Dragon of the West declared in a contemplative voice while Pakku glanced up with surprise in his eyes.

“Shu Jing? But that it is situated in the heart of a Fire Nation town.” The waterbending master commented with a raised brow while he gazed back at his old friend’s thoughtful visage.

“While that is true Pakku. It is a secluded village. And sometimes the least suspected hiding places are the ones that are in plain sight.” Iroh explained as he smiled slyly back at Pakku’s pondering face while the waterbender nodded his head slowly.

Katara stood on the deck of the ship once more as she stared on with a determined expression in her furious blue eyes.

While she swung her arms through the air in an elegant motion with the aid of her waterbending.

All the while as she forced herself to ignore the stabbing pain that was shooting through her arm as she pushed herself to continue.

And not even seconds after that a large wave of waterbending impacted with the wall of the sea cave.

All the while as she stood panting lightly with her hair sticking to her forehead.

While she glared on with a prideful stare in her angered eyes.

Before she paused when she heard the sound of soft footsteps behind her.

All the while as she turned around only to find her expression of rage softening when she found herself face to face with her lover.

While Aang stared back at her with gentle concern in his eyes as Momo sat faithfully on his shoulder.

“Your arm is getting better.” Aang greeted in a relieved voice while Katara nodded her head as he moved to stand beside her.

“Not fast enough Aang.” Katara replied with a scowl pursed onto her lips while she gazed down over the railing of the airship.

Only to find herself turning to glance back at her boyfriend when she felt him gently take hold of her good hand.

And with that the two began to relax as they stood side by side with one another.

All the while as Appa rested behind them with his snores flowing loudly into the air.

“Avatar Roku…says that I am the first Avatar in over a thousand years to face the Component.” The Avatar admitted in a soft-spoken voice as he stared out into the distance while his girlfriend listened in unease beside him.

While he found himself frowning in deepening concern.

All the while as the Water Tribe woman pondered her lover’s words with a disconcerted look in her eyes.

Before she turned to face her lover with a supportive expression taking over her blue eyes.

“You’ll figure it out Aang. I know you will. You’re the Avatar. If anyone can do it is you.” The healer insisted in a loving voice while she squeezed her lover’s hand.

While the Air Nomad turned to smile back at the woman’s momentarily tender face.

“Thank you for believing in me Katara.” Aang stated with affection in his voice as he held onto his lover’s hand while Katara nodded her head.

All the while as a spark of anger flashed in Katara’s eyes as she stared resolutely back into her boyfriend’s kind gray eyes.

“Mark my words Aang. We’ll defeat this girl and Azula both. No matter what it takes the Fire Nation will be stopped.” Katara declared in a firmly determined voice while Aang stared back with a taken aback look in his eyes.

While the Air Nomad found himself pleased to see that his lover was regaining some of her usual spirit.

Only for the Avatar to find himself nodding with a resolved expression overcoming his face.

“Yes! We will.” The Avatar agreed in a purposeful voice as he frowned all the while.  

On the morning of the following day.

Ling and Ruolo stood on the deck of the airship while they gazed back at the faces of Team Avatar and the White Lotus.

All the while as Katara stared curiously back at Ling as the princess gazed back at them.

She hadn’t had much chance to so much as even say a word to the woman due to the wound that she received thanks to those monstrous firebenders.

“The time has come for us to part ways General Iroh. We feel that it is best if we travel separately rather than as one force. However, be assured we will meet again in the near future.” Ruolo stated in a diplomatic voice with his hands folded behind his back.

While the White Lotus leaders and Team Avatar gazed back with pensive expressions in their eyes.

All the while as the young Avatar swallowed as he held onto his staff with a worried hand.

It was more than apparent that the old adviser was concerned that if they were to fall in battle.

That Princess Ling would suffer the same fate and by extension so would her entire kingdom.

“We understand Ruolo. We wish you the best of good fortune with your travels.” The Dragon of the West responded in an amiable voice as he smiled back at the two while the other man nodded in response.

All the while as the Earth Princess stared on with a calm expression in her light green eyes as she gazed back at Team Avatar.

“The same to you.” The adviser answered in a slightly kinder voice than he used when he first met the group.

While Zuko stood beside his uncle as he exchanged looks with his friends.

All the while as the swordmaster made his way forward as the princess turned to calmly meet his gaze.

“Ling. Take what I have taught you…and use it wisely.” Piandao spoke in a stoic voice with his eyes staring back at the young woman’s composed face.

“I promise you that I will Master Piandao.” Ling assured in a proud voice as she bent over to bow to her teacher in respect.

And then the man bowed in response as he offered the Earth Princess a slight smile.

“Until we meet again Princess Ling.” The swordmaster concluded in a sophisticated voice while the princess rose from her bow.

All the while as the rest of the allied forces gazed back at the princess and her devoted adviser.

Just as the two turned to walk across the walkway to their smaller vessel.

Only for the princess to pause as she turned to gaze over her shoulder at the blind earthbender leaning against the wall of the ship.

“Toph Beifong…for what you gave me. I am in your debt.” The princess commented with her light green eyes staring back at the younger woman’s grinning face.

While the rest of Team Avatar gazed between the two women in fascination that their unruly companion seemed to have made a friend.

“Don’t worry about it, princess.” The blind bandit replied with an easy-going shrug while she grinned in the older female’s direction.

“Perhaps…the next time we meet we will be able to spar again.” Ling remarked with her lips cracking into a small smile while Toph smirked back at her.

“Of course. That is if you think that you can handle me with both arms.” Toph boasted with a cocky smirk on her lips.

While Ling smirked in return back at the younger woman’s face.

Before she developed an emotionless expression once more as she offered the other woman a final parting glance.

“Farewell Toph Beifong.” The princess spoke in a composed voice as she turned to walk away with her adviser following after her.

While Toph attempted to gaze in the general direction of the departing woman with a grin still adorning her lips.

All the while as the elder members of the White Lotus and the rest of Team Avatar watched the two’s departure.

“See you around princess.” The blind bandit called out as the wind lightly blew through her hair while her friends observed from alongside her.

While the princess now walked away with her light green eyes now taking on a much more hardened gleam.

And with that the princess and her adviser stepped aboard their stealthy vessel that had been designed for them by the great mechanist himself.

And soon after that the Earth Princess’s ship departed to sail out of the sea cavern.

All the while as the White Lotus and Team Avatar stared out onto the horizon as they watched their new allies sail away.

Later on, that same day.

Iroh and the others sat in relative calm until they spun around towards the door when a sentry came rushing through with his eyes agape in terrible panic.

“General Iroh! General Iroh! We received a letter addressed to Aang from one of our sources!” The sentry cried out in an unsettled voice while the group tensed up as they exchanged looks with one another.

“A letter addressed to me?” Aang asked with his gray eyes gazing on in concern as he sprang to his feet in worry while the man stopped before the former general.

“Calm yourself and take a deep breath. I will have a look at this notice.” Iroh remarked in a sagely voice as he accepted the rolled-up scroll from the frightened sentry.

Just before the man turned to stumble off while the former general began to hesitantly open it.

Only for his expression to pale as he held onto the paper with a trembling hand.

All the while as Team Avatar gazed on with concern in their eyes.

“What does it say Uncle?” The prince pondered as he stood behind his uncle as he moved to gaze down at the letter.

Only for his golden eyes to widen in horror as he read the contents of the letter.

While the rest of Team Avatar except for Toph leaned forward to read the scroll.

Only for their eyes to grow wide in shock as they struggled to maintain their composure.

The letter was written by an unnamed sender and it was addressed to Aang.

It was utterly ruthless and to the point, and it read as follows.

Dear Avatar Aang,

Your struggle is meaningless. You will never defeat us. And your traitor prince will never defeat our majestic Princess Azula.

For the Fire Nation is indomitable, and Her Highness and the Fire Lord are vast.

While you are small, and your numbers dwindling even smaller.

For you and your filthy Water Tribe friends were born to be ruled. Ruled by the Fire Nation because you are lesser.

But we are not without mercy, which is why we are going to make you an offer.

Turn yourself in immediately for execution to Fire Nation authorities, and we will spare the lives of all of your worthless friends.

If you do not, we will begin executing your imprisoned friends one by one.

Starting with the disgraced former leader of the Kyoshi Warriors.

You have ten days from the date of this notice to turn yourself in.

Should you refuse, then Suki will die.

Sincerely,

Your Friend

PS.

Do let Sokka know that she still screams for him to save her.

Team Avatar stood there in a state of disbelief.

While their enraged eyes now gazed on in a state of speechlessness.

All the while as even Iroh stared down at the letter with a look of shock in his eyes.

“What? Is anyone going to tell me what it says?” The blind bandit inquired with a raised brow while she listened to the rising heartbeats of her friends.

While Sokka now stood with his teeth ground together in unrivaled fury.

All the while as Katara trembled in vengeance with her hair shadowing her eyes as she placed a comforting hand on her distraught older brother’s shoulder.

While Zuko stared on with his jaw dropping as he pondered who could have possibly sent such a horrifying letter.

It wasn’t something that he would put past his sister.

But it didn’t sound like it was written from her perspective.

So, if not Azula…then who?

“I have to do something to save them!” The Avatar shouted in a highly emotional voice as he moved to run off.

Only to find his wrist was swiftly seized by Iroh.

“Do not do anything rash Aang! The purpose of this letter is to provoke you into exposing yourself! And then once you do our imprisoned comrades will have no hope!” The Dragon of the West cautioned in an imploring voice while the young Avatar shook in outrage in his grip.

Only for everyone to turn to Sokka not a moment later when the young man released a heart wrenching cry.

“Suki! How dare they!” Sokka bellowed in an anguished voice with his fists clenched in his rage as he took off sprinting out the door.

“Sokka!” The healer called out with shared rage in her worried voice while she moved to follow her brother.

Only to find herself gazing on in surprise when the prince ran after him.

While the rest of the group remained behind in a stunned silence.

The Water Tribe warrior punched the metal hallway while his blue eyes brimmed with unfathomable rage.

Just when he felt a hand cautiously touch his shoulder as he turned to himself facing the sympathetic face of the prince.

“Sokka. I promise you that I will help you rescue you them! We are not going to let them die!” Zuko exclaimed in a determined voice while the other man just glowered back at the wall.

And then Sokka sunk forward with Zuko’s palm still on his shoulder while he punched the wall once more.

Meanwhile.

A small island sat in the middle of the ocean shrouded by a dense fog.

A foreboding citadel loomed over the rocky landscape at the center of the island.

The citadel had five jagged spires that rose into the air with the middle spire towering high above all of the others.

A mechanical badgermole rested before the outside of the fortress with its lifeless eyes gazing soullessly ahead.

And on the inside the hallways of the citadel were decorated with countless puppets and mannequins that stood in their respective places as if frozen in time.

While their master now strode down the hall with her callous dark green eyes gazing ahead through her broken mask.

Just before the puppeteer stepped through the door of her inner chamber.

Only for the killer to pause in her tracks when she sensed a presence in her domain.

While her merciless dark green eyes widened an ever so slight fraction as she turned to glance around her.

Only for her gaze to spin around when she saw shadows spiraling forth into being from her citadel wall.

While she watched in fascination when the shadows took the shape of many ghostly hands.

All the while as she stared on with a narrowed stare when a dark-haired woman in crimson robes emerged from the shadows.

And not a moment after that her dark green eyes formed a murderous glare as she lightly bent the fingers on both of her hands.

And just like that a wide array of humanoid puppets sprang forth from the ceiling to drop down beside their master.

While the mysterious woman’s lips curved into a wicked smile as she unflinchingly met the puppeteer’s bloodthirsty gaze.

All the while as the former Earth King now stood behind his master with his expressionless light green eyes gazing on ahead over her shoulder.

“You must be Silah.” Vega spoke in a soft voice with her monstrous golden eyes staring back at the puppeteer’s partially covered face while the other woman glared back at her.

“I am. Who are you? And how did you get in here?” Silah responded in a cool-headed voice as she curled her fingers while her many puppets stood defensively behind her.

While she never once took her predatory eyes off the seeming Fire Nation woman’s deviously grinning face.

“My name is Vega of the shadows…and just as my name goes. There is no fortress that I cannot enter.” The herald declared with a smirk on her lips as she folded her arms over her breasts while she stared back into the puppeteer’s marginally widening dark green eyes.

Only for the killer to regain her composure not even a second later as she stared icily back at the shadow woman.

“So, you are Vega. Then you must be its herald.” The puppeteer remarked in a frigid voice while she stared calmly back at the enigmatic woman’s smirking face.

“You know of us…” Vega trailed off in a suggestive voice with her bleak golden eyes staring back at the other woman’s half masked face.

“There are many things that I know. Creating artwork from people that I find interesting is one of them.” Silah stated in turn in a callous voice as her lips curved into a ruthless smile while her puppets moved forward ever so slightly behind her.

While she gazed out of the corner of her frigid dark green eyes as she watched more shadowed hands phase through the wall behind the strange woman.

“Then you also know that you are in our way.” The herald announced with as sadistic undertone to her voice while she gazed back at the puppeteer’s smirking lips.

“And what exactly are you going to do about it?” The puppeteer sneered in a mocking voice as she stared fearlessly back at the shadow woman’s darkly smiling face.

And not a moment after that the mysterious woman began to exude an incredibly powerful dark chi from her body.

While she stared wickedly in the puppeteer’s direction.

Only for Silah to let out a malicious laugh as she too began to flare her own mighty aura as her energies began to seep into the air around them.

And just like that the two powerful women gazed back into one another’s eyes as their auras began to consume the very chamber itself.

All the while as Vega’s shadow hands swirled around her poised body with a savage smirk making its way onto her lips.

While Silah stared back with defiant dark green eyes as her predatory smile grew even lager.

While she ran her tongue along her lips with her favorite puppet sink into combat formation behind her.

And then not an instant afterward the two immensely mighty women’s auras impacted in a stunning clash of energy.

Just before countless shadow hands spiraled forth into the air to pierce their target.

While a fleet of corpse puppets sprang forward to slaughter the invader.

And not even seconds later an explosion of chi erupted from the core of the citadel chamber.

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