#Azula likes Azula gapes

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Imagine getting Azula a present for her birthday

The first thing you noticed when your family returned to the fire nation was how serious everyone was. You’d been born in a fire nation colony so had little experience with the capital of your nation. Your parents were high born but even they’d relaxed in the colonies and allowed you to have a mostly normal life. However once Ozai declared your parent’s mission over and summoned them back to the capital that all ended. Rules patroling you seemed to spring from everywhere. Don’t wear your hair fully down, don’t meet the eye of anyone who ranks higher than you, bow from the floor to all members of the royal family...the list was endless! Due to your parent’s being very well respected you were introduced to Azula and she took you into her group. Part of you wondered if she only did it to please her father or because you were considered an oddity here in the capital but as time went on you didn’t think either was the case. Everyone here was very strict or distant and even Azula’s closest friends didn’t know her very well. Mai seemed to tolerate her mainly because of her titles and brother. Ty lee, while seemingly fond of Azula, obviously didn’t try getting closer to her than necessary. That wasn’t how friendships worked in your town and you were determined not to pick up this capital custom. So you put time and effort into all three of the girls and made progress with each. You’d go shopping with Ty lee, discuss popular and obscure theology with Mai and help Azula think through her battle strategies. Azula was the one who reacted the strongest to your attention and friendship. She began spending more time with you alone, seeking you out regularly and inviting you to events where even Mai and Ty lee weren’t permitted to go. You found yourself drawn to Azula because she seemed like the one who could most do with a friend. Mai had Zuko, Ty lee seemed content flitting from numerous different people but Azula didn’t really have anyone.

So you continued nurturing your friendship and when Azula’s birthday came around you set out to get her the most meaningful present you could to let her know she was cared for. You were very excited with your choice of present and rushed into the palace, the box you’d spent hours wrapping and unwapping until it was perfect, held tightly in your hands. “Good morning” you smiled finding Mai, Ty lee and Zuko in the royal wing. “Good morning” Ty lee beamed back but Zuko and Mai just nodded not being morning people. Mai noticed your present first. “What’s that?” she asked and you smiled “Azula’s present!”. They all looked at you confused and Zuko spoke first “why are you buying my sister a present?”. “Because it’s her birthday” you explained but that didn’t seem to help, they all still stared at you blankly. “It’s her birthday so I got her a birthday present...is that not something you do in the capital?”. “No but it sounds very sweet” Ty lee grinned. Mai shrugged “I would like presents every year just for being born but I can’t say I understand the logic”. Zuko nodded but you shrugged “ow well, hopefully Azula will enjoy it anyway”. “You’re still going to give it to her”? Zuko asked shocked and you paused “well why wouldn’t I?”. “She might think it’s weird considering you only give people presents when you’re...”. Mai hit Zuko’s arm before he could finish and shook her head. You stared confused “if you’re what?”. “It doesn’t matter” Mai said quickly “Zuko was thinking of something else, I think Azula’s in her study if you want to see her”. You frowned but Mai and Ty lee smiled at you encouragingly so you shook Zuko’s words from your mind and went to find the birthday girl. 

You knocked on Azula’s door and heard her call come in. “Happy birthday Azula!” you cried as soon as your eyes fell on her. Azula jumped vividly, the  brush she was writing with dragging messily across the page ruining her letter. “I am so sorry” you gaped “can it be saved”. “No it cannot” Azula sighed angrily “please in the future don’t scream just because it’s my birthday”. You nodded “is wishing someone a happy birthday not a thing here either?” you asked “just when I think I’m getting a handle on the capital I mess everything up”. “Birthdays are not a big deal here” Azula nodded “only important ones are given any recognition but I have heard of some places where every single birthday is celebrated. I take it your home town is one such place?”. You nodded smiling at the memory “Yes! Every year you usually have a party or do something special with the people you love most! You eat your favourite foods and someone usually makes a cake, it’s lovely”. Azula nodded her head but looked unconvinced and then her eyes fell on the box in your hand. “And what is this?”Azula asked. “A present” you smile brightly but Azula blushed and looked away for some reason. “For my birthday right?” she asked “this is one of your odd traditions nothing more?”. “Yes” you agreed unsure what else a present could mean “you also give the person whose birthday it is a present, something you think they’ll like and wrap it up nicely for them...can I give it to you?”. Azula was still red but nodded so you placed it down on the desk before stepping away. 

Azula picked it up hesitantly and undid the bow before removing the lid carefully. You watched her face excitedly for any reaction but all Azula did was stare inside. You were dying for a sign however small to know if she loved or hated it but Azula continued to stare until you thought you would burst of anticipation. When you couldn’t contain yourself any longer you sighed “so do you like it? It’s the trinket we saw in that glass store in town”. Azula nodded her head “yes I recognise it...how did you decide on this for me?”. “Well I thought I saw you admiring it when we were there because you kept staring at it but now I’m not sure if you staring at something means you love or hate it”.

Azula remembered the day a few weeks ago when you went into town together and she recalled how you’d mysteriously disappeared before reappearing minutes later. She picked up the small figurine carefully. It was a rose that fit in the palm of her hand made of different orange, red and yellow coloured glass all intricately folded together. When the light hit it looked as if it was on fire and Azula remembered thinking it looked very beautiful and she had the same thought now. 

“So...is it okay?” you asked nervously “If you don’t like it then I can always return it and get you something else?”. “No!” Azula said sharply before she composed herself and rid her face of the emotion she felt underneath. “It is a nice present, I like the colours...” she said awkwardly aware she was blushing “I will keep it, thank you”. The look on your face made Azula’s heart beat faster. You were so happy that she liked the tiny piece of glass and Azula figured if such a small thing could cause you so much happiness maybe it wasn’t such a stupid tradition after all. “I’m so glad you like it” you grinned “I was going to suggest we have a meal or something to celebrate but as that’s probably not a thing here either I’ll leave you to your work. Have a lovely birthday day Princess” you smiled and with a bow to her you disappeared.

Later

All day your gift didn’t leave Azula’s mind. Usually when you gave someone a present it meant you were interested in courting that person. For a second when you entered Azula thought that was what you intended, she thought this was your declaration before she realised what your intention’s really were. As she stared at the small rose she recalled the slight relief she felt realising you didn’t mean to court her but she also felt another feeling, larger and deeper inside herself which she refused to acknowledge. 

Azula placed the rose back in the box and got back to work. A while later a servant let her know that her father was ready for her and she prepared to meet with him. She hesitated to leave the present you gave her and frowned. She saw the servant glance at it and blushed furiously. “Tell my father I will be there soon” she commanded and he scurried away. Azula sighed and lifted the lid off the box once again. The rose was still shining beautifully and Azula hesitated before picking it up and slipping it into her pocket. 

The meeting did not go well. Ozai didn’t mention Azula’s birthday which wasn’t odd but the fact he didn’t even seem aware it was today stung a little considering a girl she knew for only 8 months did. The meeting went from bad to worse as Ozai started snapping at everyone in the room and through it all Azula gently held your rose. It was cold in her palm and she liked the coolness. She carried on with her meeting, holding the rose whenever she needed something positive to focus on, and got through the meeting. 

When Azula was finally dismissed she was relieved and felt the toll it had taken on her. She started back to her study aware she still had work to do but honestly her eyes were tired and her brain hurt. She didn’t want to do any more work and your offer suddenly came into her head. You’d mention something about food...a tradition you’d thought to try before figuring Azula wouldn't want to. Azula thought it over before she found a messenger and dispatched them to go find you.

You arrived at Azula’s apartments in the palace confused. Her note hadn’t said much just that she wanted to see you and to come quickly. So you dutifully dropped your very busy schedule (which concerned lounging and reading in the gardens) and made your way to her door. Two guards let you in and you called out for Azula. “Ah y/n” a voice replied and you turned to see Azula descending the stairs. “Azula” you smiled before remembering the note “is everything okay? Your note just said to come here”. “Everything is fine” Azula assured you “I just...thought we could entertain that custom of yours”. “The meal?” you asked excitedly. Azula nodded looking away to disguise her blush “exactly, what must we do?”. You laughed “we don’t have to attack it like a battle! I have everything planned, I’d already gotten the picnic ready and I still have the spot in the gardens although I do need to decorate it and call the others...if you give me an hour I will have everything ready!”. Azula nodded “that is fine” and with a smile you rushed for the door. Before you could disappear Azula called out to you “ow and y/n there’s no need to disturb the others i’m sure they’re too busy on such short notice”. You paused “are you sure? You’re their friend so i’m sure they’d happily drop whatever they were doing to celebrate your birthday, I mean it only happens once a year”. Azula smiled at the sentiment but shook her head “somehow I doubt they’ll think that way but it doesn’t matter, I will be happy with just the two of us”. Now it was your turn to blush. You nodded and bowed slightly “of course princess” and left the room. 

An hour later Azula made her way to the gardens, following the instructions you’d sent her. She usually avoided the gardens for obvious reasons but she was hoping you’d give her a good memory in the place her mother cherished. You’d said to follow the yellow flowers and so Azula did that until she saw a raised area. There was a small platform with food all arranged along a small table. A small cake perched in the centre with the words “Happy Birthday Azula” frosted on the top. Lanterns hung around the platform and lines of colourful fabric hung from the ceiling of the structure. Cushions were placed on the floor in a seating area and the whole area looked very inviting even if it wasn’t very fire nation. Azula took in the scene for a few seconds before she realised you were there. You were muttering about something as you re-arranged some of the decorations your back to her. “Y/n” she called and you jumped “Azula! I promise I’m almost done I was just trying to work out where to place the balloons”. Azula smiled “there’s balloons too?” looking at the sea of decorations all over the small structure. You paused “why is it too much?”. Azula stepped through the doorway and saw due to the streams of decorations you were practically hidden away from the rest of the garden. Azula liked that idea and surveyed the rest of the platform. The lanterns made the light that passed through them change colour and they chimed nicely in the breeze. The food looked and smelled delicious and the cushions looked very comfortable. “No this is just perfect” Azula smiled. You beamed at her happily and squeezed her arm “I’m so happy you like it! You deserve a special day”. Azula blushed and wasn’t sure how to respond to something like that, especially while you were staring at her just inches away. So Azula just avoided the topic. 

“Shall we begin?” she asked and you nodded. You placed a selection of all the foods (which were all Azula’s favourites of course) on a plate and passed it her before doing the same for yourself. You joined her on the cushions and smiled “so! How was your birthday? What made you decide to indulge me?”. Azula looked down at her food “it was fine...I had a really long war meeting and honestly the thought of doing more work after it was not appealing, so I contacted you. I know it’s not ideal, a whole evening wasted on being frivolous but there’s nothing to do about it now. I’ll just work extra hard tomorrow”. You frowned before looking up at her “it’s your birthday so I think you’re allowed to have a more chilled day just enjoying yourself. Plus you already work so hard anyway, if anyone deserves a rest it’s you”. “Yes but I work hard for a reason, you don’t become the best by being lazy”. You nodded “yes but you’re already the best!” you grinned “so sit back and relax for one evening. The world will still be waiting for you to conquer it tomorrow”. You nudged her shoulder and despite your words going against everything she’d been taught Azula found herself smiling “okay”. 

The two of you chatted while you ate and when you finished you began cutting Azula a piece of cake. She watched the concentration clearly etched on your face fondly. You passed Azula the piece and she took a bite cautiously but she had no reason to. It was wonderful. “This is rather nice y/n what type of cake is it?”. You smiled “it’s based off a red velvet cake because you know fire nation but I also added some spice because I know you like it”. “You made this?” Azula cried and you nodded “yes but it was no bother...i’m just glad you like it”. “I do” Azula agreed “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this silly custom of yours. It is nice to be spoiled”. You nodded grinning “it is! My birthday is in January just so you know”. Azula froze at the thought of having to plan something like this for you when you laughed “don’t worry I was joking, you don’t have to do anything for me”. “Well I doubt I’d be able to match this” Azula said gesturing around her “but I will remember, you have my word”. You smiled blushing but didn’t break your eyes away from her “thank you Azula, I’m really glad I met you”. Azula went red matching you and nodded her head “I am too...although I should be going soon. I have a meeting early tomorrow morning”. You nodded standing “of course, would you like me to walk you back to your room?”. Azula shook her head “that is fine thank you y/n...do you need any help with all the decorations?” she asked hesitantly. You shook your head “no it’s fine, the decorations will take 5 minutes to pack away and i’ll take the spare food to the kitchen...the only thing is the cake, would you like to take it or would you like me to?”. Azula eyed the cake remembering the delicious taste and nodded “I will take it with me”. You packaged it up for her and smiled “well I hope you’ve had a nice birthday”. “I have thank you” Azula nodded “now I must be going”. You nodded and waved as Azula left the gardens. 

Azula walked through the palace to her room your cake in her hands and she felt proud. Her friend had made this to celebrate her birthday. She hadn’t asked you to, you did it because you wanted to do it for her, because you cared for her. Azula stepped inside her room and looked about her. She couldn’t help but realise after all the colourful decorations you’d used just how dull her room was. Despite all of the finery none of the room was really hers. None of the pieces had been bought just for her, they were all things passed down for generations. Azula placed your cake on a table and took your present out of her pocket, running her hand over it softly. Nobody had ever bought her something just because they wanted her to be happy. Azula wondered where to place your present. She didn’t want it out in the open where anyone could see or break it. She couldn’t find anywhere suitable so she changed and got into bed still undecided. She toyed with the figurine remembering the way you’d smiled when she said she liked it. Now safely in her own room alone she recognised she’d been slightly disappointed this was a token of friendship and nothing else. She enjoyed having your attention and liked you most out of all her friends but in a very different way. Still, even if this wasn’t a romantic gesture it was still a gesture of love and such an open un-fire nation one. 

Azula smiled to herself before placing the rose under her pillow where she could hide it but also keep it close to her while she slept. “What a strange day” she muttered to herself but she knew it hadn’t actually been strange, it had been the best birthday she could remember having and it was all because of you.   

___

I’m constantly sad Azula never had anyone really love and care for her like Zuko did, she deserved better. But even if someone had shown her affection, based on her sad upbringing, I feel like Azula wouldn’t know how to respond to it because she’s never been shown what love is so I want to shower her in it!!  Hence this story :)

#azula #atla azula #avatar azula #azula x reader #princess azula #azula imagine #avatar the last airbender #avatar the last airbender imagine #avatar the last airbender azula #fire nation #mai #ty lee #zuko #atla mai #atla ty lee #atla zuko #avatar mai #avatar ty lee #avatar zuko

[stardust948]

3 Inch AU

Prequel to this post

Zuko rubbed his aching eyes, praying what he thought just happened didn't. That a bright light did not flash in the middle of his and Azula's spar leaving his body sore and head aching.

He forced himself to open his eyes and found himself in the middle of a strange spirit forest. Great. First the body switch fiasco now this! Why were there so many spirits hanging around the palace?!

"Nice going dum-dum." Azula spat. "You angered the spirits again!"

"Again?! That was your fault! Both times!!!"

"As I recall, no one knows what angered the last one, but you pushed me onto this spirit and now we're 3 inches tall!!!"

"What?!" Zuko shot up.

Azula pushed the vegetation back revealing an oversized throwing star Mai gifted her. The very one Zuko knocked out of her hand when their spar turned into a messy free for all.

Zuko's heart sank.

"Like I said, 3 inches tall. Thanks a lot."

"None of this is my fa-"

A shadow fell over them seconds before a huge bird swooped down. The siblings barely had time to jump out of the way as the bird snatched up the throwing star. The two shared a frightened look. They had to get out of the garden or they'll surely be next.

A brief silent truce was formed as Zuko and Azula began the trek. Thankfully, they were relativity close to the walkway before they were shrunken. After scaling the huge steps, the ground trembled as a massive figure in deep red robes passed by. The siblings gasped.

"DAD! HELP US!"

"WAIT! DOWN HERE!"

They quickly chased after him, but it was no use. Ozai tuned out their now shrunken voices, assuming it was a chorus of summer insects. And there was no possible chance of the siblings catching up to him on foot.

Azula grabbed Zuko's wrist. "Agni's Arrow!"

Zuko skidded to a stop then spun his sister around. Azula produced fire jets from her feet to build momentum. After counting to three, Zuko released her. Azula shot through the air at breakneck speed straight towards her father.

This better work for they were both done for.

~*~

The palace was quiet. Too quiet.

That alone put Ozai on edge. He swore he heard his children out by the garden earlier. It was just another sibling spat but when he decided to check on them, the garden was empty.

A part of Ozai hoped the children settled things on their own and left without a big fuss. The rest of Ozai knew that was wishful thinking. So, he walked the perimeter just to be sure.

Ozai let out an annoyed sigh. The humming bees were a lot louder today. He'll have to talk to the groundskeeper about that least they overrun the whole garden.

Something landed on his shoulder. Ozai tsked and brushed it away. It seemed the infestation already began.

"Dad!!!"

Ozai stopped dead in his tracks.

"Azula?"

It was so faint. Maybe he was hearing things.

"Down here! Hurry!"

A small blue flame shot from his arm. Ozai glanced down and saw his daughter dangling from his sleeve.

"What the-"

Ozai quickly scooped her into his palm before she lost her grip.

"A-Azula?" Ozai gaped at his now tiny daughter trying to get her bearings. "What... how...?"

His eyes widened. If Azula was like this then...

"Where's Zuko?!"

Ozai lifted his feet as horror gripped him. Cool relief washed over him when he spotted a small figure running towards him.

"Dad!"

Ozai knelt down and lowered his hand for Zuko to climb onto. Now that his children were safe, Ozai calmed down enough for his mind to piece together what happened.

"Don't tell me-"

"Spirits." the siblings answered at the same time.

Ozai groaned. "Not again."

#another random au from my brain at 1 am #yes it takes place in the same timeline as the body swap au #fire palace is probably cursed btw #atla #atla au #3 inch au #bc i can't think of a better name #this took way longer to write than it should have #royal fire family #azula #zuko #ozai #tiny azula #tiny zuko #g/t #giant tiny #atla g/t #ficlet #star's writing #probably won't turn into a full fic #just vibes darling #ok i'm talking too much in the tags now

[the-badger-mole]

The Volunteer: Part 2

The first day of volunteering at Hama's Haven went as well as could be expected. Zuko spent his four hour shift painting the stair wells of the building. There were only three floors, but they'd only painted about two and a half landings. The men that Zuko worked with were happy with the progress, though. They were friendly enough, despite his clear inexperience. They gave Zuko the nickname Splotch because of how messy his painting skills were.

"Good thing we have drop cloth down," said the man named Due. He gave Zuko a good natured slap on the back and offered him a can of beer.

"Um...no thanks," Zuko declined politely. "I'm underaged. And it's kind of the reason I'm here in the first place." Due and the other men laughed heartily at him, and Zuko was given another round of back slaps to seal their newfound camaraderie. They would finish the paint job, they told him, the following day. Then the next week, when he returned, they would take on the second set of stairs in the middle of the building.

"See ya, Splotch!" they called after Zuko as he went to go find Azula and the others.

It was a bit later than he realized. Without a doubt, Azula and her friends would be at the front desk or the car already, and furious with him for making them stay in that building. Zuko hurried down the stairs and through the hall towards the front desk. It was only his quick reflexes that kept him from crashing into Katara and her brother as he rounded the last corner.

"Sorry," Zuko mumbled.

"Hey! I know you," Sokka said. "You're that jerk from my physics class! The one who ruined spring break by reminding Mr. Piando that he didn't give the assignment. You volunteer here now?"

"He's with the group the judge sent over," Katara told her brother.

"What?" Sokka laughed. "Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes? What did you do to get sentenced to community service? Let me guess, public mopery? Brooding with intent to skulk? Did you scowl at the wrong cop?"

"They're in for arson," Katara supplied, eyeing Zuko with disapproval.

"That's none of your business," Zuko growled at her.

"Get out!" Sokka gaped at him. "Arson? Seriously?"

"You are literally the only one who doesn't know that." Katara rolled her eyes at her brother. Sokk, still unfazed, just shook his head and let out a low whistle.

"Dude...when you rebel, you go hard, huh?"

"It wasn't like that!" Zuko insisted. "Look, I've got to go." He took off down the hall towards the front desk.

"Alright," Sokka called after him. "But you stay out of trouble. No more arson around!" Zuko could hear him laughing at his own joke.

Idiot, Zuko thought rolling his eyes to himself. He stopped at the front desk to make sure Hakoda got his hours logged.

"You sister and friends are waiting for you outside," he told Zuko. There was a tightness in Hakoda's face that made it clear that it would be a good idea for them not to linger. Zuko thanked Hakoda quietly and hurried out.

As he anticipated, Azula was in an even fouler mood than she was when they got there. She was standing outside of the car with Mai and Ty Lee ranting about her day. Mai, who had been assigned to work with her also looked unhappy, but she at least seethed silently.

"I should sue this place!" Azula was saying as Zuko approached. "I'm covered in whatever was rotting in those bins. My shirt is ruined, and that useless, smug knuckle dragger just laughed at me! My dad with tear this place to the ground. When he is done, there won't be anyplace for the rats infesting this place to hide!" Zuko was taken aback by is sister's vitriol.

"Let's get home," Zuko said, glancing around the parking lot. Fortunately, no one was in the immediate area to hear his sister's tirade. She looked at him and scowled.

"What took you so long?" she demanded. "We've been waiting for you to leave this disgusting place for ages!"

"It's only been a few minutes, Azula," Ty Lee interjected timidly. Azula rounded on her with a sneer.

"I'm sure you wouldn't mind staying, would you?" Azula spat at her friend. "Made a lot of good friends in the kitchen? Why don't you ask if there's a spare room. I'm sure they'd be happy to let you stay." Ty Lee shrank back, biting her lips against the tears that were about to fall. Azula just rolled her eyes and huffed in disgust. She turned and got into the car, taking the front seat this time.

"Zuko's going to be cramped in the backseat," Mai said.

"He can deal with it for twenty minutes," Azula snapped. "Shut up and get us out of here." Zuko slid into the backseat without a word. Azula moved the seat up a few inches so that Zuko at least had room to get in, but that was it. Azula continued ranting the entire drive, coming up with some particularly creative and vicious names for Hakoda, the staff and the residents of Hama's Haven. Her brother and friends just let her go. Mai interjected occasionally with some snide remarks of her own, but she didn't have the energy for all out rage like her friend. Zuko did his best to tune them both out, and he politely ignored Ty Lee's subtly wiping away stray tears next to him. Not for the first time, Zuko wondered why the sensitive, bubbly girl was friends with Azula and Mai of all people, but he'd stopped searching for an answer to that years ago.

True to her word, Azula went into her father's home office and demanded that he get her out of her community service sentence. Zuko could hear her while he fixed himself a snack in the kitchen. Interestingly, he noted, she didn't mention a thing about getting him or her friends out of the mandated service. Not that it bothered Zuko. He'd already decided he didn't mind the work.

Ozai did end up calling the judge to demand that something be done for his daughter. Zuko heard it the next day. He'd forgotten to shut the door to his office completely, so Zuko was able to hear Ozai alternately threatening and cajoling Judge Jeong-Jeong to release Azula from her punishment. He offered bribes. He swore to get Jeong-Jeong removed from his bench and disbarred from practicing law anywhere. He offered to donate a ridiculous sum of money to the shelter, if Hakoda was removed from his position. Jeong-Jeong said little through the near hour-long call until the very end.

"Mr. Kaji," he began ponderously. "Firstly, I feel the need to remind you that bribing a judge is a federal offence, and this call is being recorded. Secondly, my ruling stands. It is only the generous intercession of your brother that kept your children and their friends from spending the next 8 to 13 months in a juvenile detention center. I feel I have been more than fair with my judgement, but if Azula would rather serve out her sentence in juvenile detention, I would be happy to arrange that."

Ozai swore and started to speak, but Jeong-Jeong cut him off.

"As for having Hakoda terminated," he continued. "He has been serving at that shelter since it opened, and he has never had a single complaint about how he runs it in all that time. I have no say in what happens there, but I sincerely doubt the board that oversees the operation of Hama's Haven would be willing to let him go on the say so of one disgruntled, mandated volunteer and her overly indulgent father. This is Azula's only option if she doesn't want to go to the juvenile detention center. If she refuses to honor her service hours, or if Hakoda dismisses her, that's exactly where she will end up. Am I clear, Mr. Kaji?"

"I'll find a way around this," Ozai promised.

"You are certainly welcome to try," Jeong-Jeong sounded amused. "I'm sure the additional scrutiny from the government won't affect you...much."

Ozai swore at the judge again, but again Jeong-Jeong cut him off.

"If there is nothing else, Mr. Kaji," he said. "I have better things to do than babysit your tantrum." The call ended abruptly, leaving Ozai to rage in his office to no one. Zuko took his book and crept towards the back stairs. It was better if he wasn't in his father's line of sight while he was in this mood.

He made it to his bedroom just as Ozai came out of his office and stormed up the main staircase. He shut his light out and stayed silent. Ozai, though, went straight to Azula's room. Zuko heard her door fly open and hit the door with a thud.

"What's your problem?" Azula snapped.

"You're going back to that pit and serving your hours," Ozai told her. "I don't want to hear another word out of you about it."

"But, Dad!" Azula protested.

"Not another word!" Ozai barked. Azula went silent. A moment later, Zuko heard the door slam shut and his father stomped down the stairs. Then he left the house, slamming the front door even harder than Azula's door. Zuko waited until he heard his father's car peeling out of the driveway to make his way carefully to Azula's room. He knocked at her door lightly, then poked his head in. Azula stood in the middle of the floor, absolutely seething with rage. Her dark glower got darker when she saw her brother.

"What do you want?" she hissed.

"Just checking to see if you're okay," Zuko said. He was. It was rare to see Ozai's anger aimed at Azula.

"Peachy," Azula snorted. "I just found out that Dad's connections are useless. Now I'm stuck either cleaning up after people i wouldn't let touch my rags or spending a year in jail."

"It's not that bad," Zuko said, shrugging. "Some of the people are pretty cool, once you get to know them." Azula shot her brother a disgusted look.

"I should've known you'd be fine there," she said. "What are you doing in my room, anyway? Get out!" She stormed across the room and slammed the door in Zuko's face. He just barely managed to keep his hand from being crushed. With one last scowl at Azula's door, Zuko decided he'd had enough of the house for a while. He took his car and drove off in the opposite direction of his father.

The next week of school was annoying. As Katara had implied, word of their sentencing had spread throughout the school. People stared and whispered as Zuko passed through the halls. Well, more than usual. It was annoying, but people were too intimidated by Zuko to say anything to his face, so he could ignore most of it. At lunch, Zuko headed towards his usual spot in the far corner of the cafeteria, but he was stopped half way by Sokka appearing at his side.

"Yo!" he greeted Zuko. "Come sit with us today. I'll introduce you to the rest of the Haven Crew."

"What?" Zuko's nose wrinkled in confusion. Sokka had already started walking, though. Zuko followed awkwardly to a table where Katara sat with three other people. Zuko recognized Suki, who was in the same martial arts club as him, but the other two- a boy with a tight fitting beanie and a girl Zuko was startled to realize was blind- he had no idea who they were. They looked like freshmen.

"Katara you know," Sokka said, pointing to his sister. "This is Toph and Aang. The babies of the group. And this beautiful, terrifying girl is Suki, my girlfriend of two years."

"We've met," Suki told Sokka. She smiled politely at Zuko. "Nice to see you again, Zuko."

"So," Toph drawled, leaning towards Zuko. "You're the guy who blew up a building."

"What?" Zuko sputtered. "I didn't blow anything up!"

"Whatever you say, Sparky," Toph grinned at him. "Hey! I'm not mad at you. There's a few building's I'd like to blow up. Starting with this one."

"Toph, don't say stuff like that!" Aang glanced around nervously, looking for a monitor or a lurking teacher.

"Nah, it was just arson," Sokka told his friends, grinning. "I didn't know he had it in him, though. Sit, down, Zuko. You can't eat standing up." Zuko eyed the open seat between Sokka and Aang hesitantly.

"Would you just sit down already?" Katara snapped irritably. "The seat isn't dirty." Zuko scowled at her, but sat down.

"Zuko and his accomplices are going to be working off their debt to society at the Haven," Sokka explained. "We'll be seeing a lot of him. Dad says they've got nine months of work to finish."

"Um...you all volunteer at the shelter?" Zuko asked.

"Yeah, we're all there at least a few times a month," Suki told him. "I do tutoring once a week."

"I help out in the garden." Aang grinned cheefully.

"Pottery and crap," Toph said.

"Crafts," Katara said. "You do pottery and crafts." Toph snorted at that.

"We made comb sheaths last month," she said. "I think crap is spot on."

"Toph," Katara let out a long suffering sigh and shook her head.

"So, Sparky," Toph turned back to Zuko with a smirk. "Why don't you tell us how you landed on the chain gang?"

"Toph!" Suki chided. "You can't just lead with that."

"Why not?" Toph demanded. "It's the most interesting thing to happen in this school all year!"

"Maybe he doesn't want to talk about it," Aang suggested, looking at Zuko nervously. Katara rolled her eyes, which bugged Zuko most of all for some reason.

"There isn't that much to tell," he said. "We got drunk at warehouse and my sister dropped a candle, or something into a box of tea leaves. The fire department put the fire out before there was a ton of damage." The finer details, Zuko decided, didn't matter.

"And that's why you always use a flashlight when you're drinking," Sokka said sagely.

"Or you could just not drink underage," Katara scoffed.

"Too easy." Sokka waved his sister off. And with that the topic moved onto something else. It was jarring. Zuko wasn't sure what he was expecting. An interrogation. Derision. Some sort of prank to humiliate him for daring to think they actually wanted him to sit with them. But the conversation turned to what they all had done over the weekend. Zuko had little to add there, and no one pressed. It was a pleasant lunch, all things considered. Sokka invited him to sit with them again the next day and the one after that. By the end of the week, Zuko joined them on his own, if a bit hesitantly. They welcomed him. Or rather, they didn't tell him to get lost. Zuko decided to count it as an open invitation.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

#atla #zutara #ask box prompt #volunteer work au #part 2 #THE YEAR OF CONTENT!!!!

[a-witch-in-endor]

i LOVED the autistic Representation in the form of Zuko in ur Funny Hat au!!! it didn’t feel forced, or like what a nt person thinks an autistic person is like (only making me think they’ve never even met one…)- it just was so refreshing to not have it feel like ‘Autistic character- who’s name is zuko’ but instead ‘Zuko- cool fire sage who’s super smart and funny and interesting and also autistic and-‘!!!

And i KNOW that one scene where Azula tells Zuko ‘something’s wrong with him’ and he says ‘what if there’s something wrong with you too but you’re just better at hiding it?’ was supposed to be super dramatic and everything- IT WAS!! it literally had me open mouthed gaping… AND all i could think when he said that was ‘Autism sees Autism’ LMAOO

Feel free to ignore this if it makes u uncomfortable tho!! i myself am not Autistic, just your regular neurodivergent, but a lot of people in my life and a lot of my loved ones are on the spectrum, so i really appreciate and love good representation (and good characterization in general!!!) like what i saw in this fic. just, thank you so much for writing this wonderful story, i can’t wait to check out your other fics!!!!!

I'm really happy you liked the representation! Thank you for your lovely note. :)

That Azula scene was a favourite of mine to write!

#while mighty oaks do fall #sorry for the delay yall I got a migraine #new chapter coming soon #fire sage zuko #autistic zuko #I mean #is there any other kind of Zuko

[745voiceofthepeople]

Hello @745voiceofthepeople !! How’s it going?

Got an ask for you this time.

A reversal AU where Katara is the princess of the Water Tribe and Azula is a peasant from the Fire Nation. The Water Tribe isn’t the bad guys. There was never any war in this AU.

Azula and her family journey to the South Pole when the FN goes there for a diplomatic meeting. Azula is one of the servers at the feast and Katara can’t stop staring at her because she really thinks Azula is gorgeous. After the feast, Katara seeks Azula out and starts talking with her.

It’s slow, but they do bond a great deal while Azula is there. Whenever Azula is done with her chores and Katara is done with Princess lessons, they met up and hide away. Azula is worried about how people will react if they find out she’s seeing a princess and, while she never says it outright, Katara is also a little worried about how people will react if they find out she likes a peasant from the FN so they keep everything under wraps. The only people who know are Sokka and Zuko.

When Azula has to go back to the FN, Katara tries to find every reason to visit. Eventually, her parents let her and Sokka go to the FN and Katara tries to find Azula again. No one in the FN knows Katara is a princess so when she takes off the expensive furs and crown, she looks like a regular Water Tribe girl and two can be seen in public together. Now Katara gets to spend some time in Azula’s world.

That’s all I got for now. What do you think?

I’m doing well @waterfire1848 , thank you.

This scenario is really interesting! I’ve never really though about the reversal of royal positions for Azutara before, so this is pretty cool.

In a no war Au, I can see this happening sort of like the following (maybe)

Its like you present, a peasant Azula can at first charm a (princess) Katara with her looks and then her personality as the two get to know each other.

I can picture a scene where there is some sort of international dispute being discussed between the SWT royal family (by Hakoda or his father) and the diplomats of the FN. And it is in the midst of this discussion when the FN diplomats call for wine bearers to come and bring in more drink.

This is when Azula comes in and stars pouring wine in everyone’s ones cups. Meanwhile Katara is having a discussion with an FN noble about fishing rights and Maritime boundaries between the South Pole and the Fire archipelago. While Katara is conversing she see’s her glass being filled up (with wine) and turns to look at the servant doing so. Only to stop dead in her grace as she sees the most beautiful women on the planet pouring the wine.

Katara openly gapes at Azula and she trails off in the middle of conversation. Sokka (who would be sitting to her right) has to stomp on her foot to get Katara to pay attention to the diplomat.

After everyone retired for the night, Katara would sneak out of her room (wearing what she believes is a “good disguise”) and try to get into the guest quarters. That held the FN diplomats and their retainers.

She’d find Azula randomly, and the two would have an enjoyable conversation. Talking about everything and anything. Life as a princess, as a servant, Waterbending, Firebending, politics, etc. And for the rest of the diplomatic mission, the two would have secret rendezvous at night. They quickly becomes good friends. Even showing each other their bending ability. Katara being amazing at Waterbending is expected. What Katara would not expect is for Azula to be powerful at firebending. Yet the peasant girl was. With Blue flames and the raw power to match even a princess of the Southern Water Tribe.

So for the next fortnight, Azula and Katara’s nights are spent talking, (sneakily) flirting, laughing, and sparing (discreetly so as to arose the suspicion of anyone else).

These rendezvous would continue until one night, Katara overwhelmed by desire, and falling in love with the beautiful Fire peasant, gives into her courage and kisses Azula.

From there, their secret rendezvous becomes more romantic. But eventually reality sets in and they have to “end” the affair. Even though neither of them really wish to do so. Katara is greatly worried about her parents and the rest of the Water tribes reactions to finding out she their prodigal princess has fallen for a peasant dorm the Fire Nation. Another girl at that!

Later when Azula goes back to the Fire Nation Katara becomes greatly depressed. Her love for the Fire girl is all consuming. So much so that he even begins to trump the bonds of duty. Eventually, Sokka notices Katara downtrodden state and (correctly) assumes that that is has to do with the beautiful servant girl from the Fire Nation that Katara drools over.

Sokka eventually goes to Hakoda (the high chief the United Water Tribes) and convinces him that he and Katara need to experience the Fire Nation for themselves. So as to better understand their newfound allies and financial partners.

Hakoda agrees, and Sokka goes to tell his sister the big news. Who is of course ecstatic.

Once the Water siblings get capital city, they check into the palace and greet the FN royal family. After this greeting, Katara goes into their library and reads their book of records. Once she finds the info she’s looking for (Azula adress, sir name, typical occupation, and other personal info) Katara puts the book back into its resting place.

Katara then flees the FN palace. Evading both the FN royal guard and the Water Tribe guards is a laughably easy affair. Had Katara not been so cornermen’s with finding Azula, she might have been concerned. As it was her mind was solely focused on the Fire Nation breaty. She had even forgotten to warn Sokka. She decided to leave her crown and other royal effects behind. With the exception of a coin purse.

Katara commanders a dingy in the docs. She paid for it though! And traveled via bait and Waterbending to Hawk-crab island (name I just came up with). Which was a small island in the southern archipelago, where Azula and her family lived. The trip itself took nearly two days. Katara spent the time alternatively thinking about Azula, how angry her parents would be, how she forgot to tell Sokka the good news, and damning her impulsiveness and forgetting to pack food. Fortunately, Katara being a royal Water bender can de-salivate the ocean water and make it potable.

Eventually, Katara arrives at the small port on the island. Anticipation and momentary panic erupting in her very bones. Still she steels herself and goes looking for her beau.

Walking through the port…town was an odd affair for Katara. She was used to be stared and gawked at all her life. Being a princess of the Water Tribes and all. Here? After Katara had gotten rid of anything signifying she was royalty? No one gave two cares about her. Sure, people would still occasionally stop and stair for a second. Because I she was WT on an FN island. And II she was great beauty in her own right. Still, now one belived her to be a princess. Such a realization was both dreadful and exhilarating for Katara.

She finally comes to a small shop in the middle of the port town. Katara had been directed to this shop by a kind women, after she inquired about Azula’s whereabouts. She entered into the small shop. It was duels designed. One area for black smithery and the other for glassblowing. And their Katara see saw her. The women of her dreams and and waking thoughts. Azula.

Azula looked up and saw Katara, her jaw dropped to the floor. She dropped the the glass she was working on and it shattered at the floor. Neither Azula nor Katara payed attention to that though.

Azula rushed to Katara arms and the two spun around. Laughing and crying tears of joy. Katara brought their lips together. Finally she was home.

For the next few month, everything was perfect. While it lasted. Katara got to know Azula and her family. Her father Ozai (a blacksmith), her mother Ursa (a tailor), and her brother Zuko (an apprentice-blacksmith). Katara didn’t believe that life as a peasant could be so fulfilling. To be sure, it could be exceedingly frustrating. And it took a long while to adjust from being a princess to peasant. But nothing could be the simple of joy of returning to the arms her girlfriend future wife(?) after an honest days work. Katara fished off her dingy that she brought over from capital city. Zuko would often tease Azula about being a trophy fishwife to a WT princess.

Katara and Azula are able to be together incognito. Katara is able to enjoy the simple life in the Fire Nation. Just her, her fishing boat, and the her pretty Firebending girlfriend.

Until of course, the Water tribe arrives. You see the guards panicked when the princess Katara disappeared with out a word. They had assumed she may have been kidnapped. And so the Hausa quickly rushed to inform the Chief Hakoda just what was going on.

Sokka assumed that Katara had found where her Fire Nation lover was and gone after her. So he was not overly worried. Especially, when he found (and later hid) Katara’s royal effects. Sokka would keep up a girl of ignorance to confirm the guards and the Fire Nation nobility at the FN palace. Sokka would do a good job of it too. Until Hakoda showed up in the Fire Nation personally.

Under his fathers intense scrutiny, Sokka lasted maybe V or VI minutes. Then he blabbed. Both about Katara’s love for a Fire Nation peasant (Azula) and her intentions to find her.

Hakoda and Sokka subsequently travel to Hawk-Crab island to find Katara. They find her to the Fire Family home. Hakoda demands that Katara abandon this peasant foolishness and return to the South Pole. Katara tells him of her feelings for Azula, but Hakoda replies that it is irreverent next to her duty. He offers a choice to Katara stay with the peasant and become one yourself, or return to the South Pole and remain a princess of the Water Tribes and a member of their family. While Hakoda does not like separating Katara from her love, he feels it is something me must do to maintain order in the tribes.

It is at this point, that Azula interrupts Hakoda and request permission for Katara hand. Right to the chiefs face. Impressed by the peasant girls audaciousness, Hakoda decides to give task reminiscent of say Beren and Luthien of the Silmilrilion. If Azula retrieved the pearl of spirit Sharks cove. A jewel of myth and legend, important to the Water Tribes culturally and materially. Then he allow Azula to marry his daughter, and even for Katara to retain her title and place in succession.

It was an near-impossible task that may mean Azula’s death. But she accepted it gladly. She traveled to the hive and retrieved the pearl. Overcoming all obstacles. Though only because of the aid of Katara (who did so secretly).

Azula presents the pearl to Hakoda and true to his word, grants permission for Azula and Katara to marry. Which they do gladly. Several years down the line.

Eventually, the two will bare a child (spirt shenanigans) whom will inherit the chieftenship of the Water Tribes.

Anyway, that’s one way it might go. Thanks for the awesome scenario @waterfire1848 !!!

#azutara #ask #Princess Katara #peasant Azula

[imagines--galore]

||The Thread of Fate|| Part Six

Summary: Soulmate AU. They say the Thread of Fate connects you  to your one true love. It may tangle. It may stretch. But it will never break. Wrapped around your little finger it tightens when it feels your soulmate is close and loosens when they are far. And becomes visible  with the colors of your soulmate’s Nation when you finally fall in love with them.

Pairing: Zuko x OroraOC (ATLA)

Rating || Genres || Warnings: T+ Romance. Adventure. A little fighting but nothing too detailed.

Previous Chapters - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five

A/N: Introducing the Gaang and Azula! Dun dun dun!!!

Blue eyes blinked open, wincing slightly at the sunlight streaming almost directly into them. Orora turned over, hoping to go back to sleep, but a nearby shuffling sound had her sitting up.

Bleary eyed and hair mussed, she blinked where Mushi was busy heating up some leftover fish from the previous night. He looked up, giving her a smile in greeting. “Good morning Orora.” He said, his voice as cheerful as it could get. The young teenager grumbled in response, though Iroh did manage to capture words along the line of morning master, though he couldn’t be too sure.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Orora stumbled out of the cave entrance and made her way to the stream. Bending down she splashed some of the cold water in her face, effectively chasing away any sleep that was leftover. Running wet fingers through her short hair, she quickly made herself presentable before returning to where Mushi had breakfast waiting.

As she accepted the food from him with a thanks, her eyes darted around. Frowning slightly she took a bite of fish. “Where’s Li?” She asked. It was surprising to see him not there. Normally Orora would see him in the morning and they would always share breakfast together as an unlikely trio.

The old man sighed, closing his eyes briefly before meeting her gaze. “I am afraid my nephew will not be traveling with us any longer.”

She had been about to take another bite when her hand stopped midway. Her eyes widened and she gaped at him. “What?” Her gaze flickered to where the string was around her finger and sure enough it was hanging loosely once more as opposed to being taut when Li had been near.

“He has decided that he will benefit more from traveling on his own, to try and find his own path.”

“His own path?” A feeling of guilt settled in her as she stared at Mushi. “I-I think--Spirits! I think he left because of what I said yesterday. About trying to find his new purpose.” She turned her frantic eyes at the older man. “I am so sorry Mushi, I didn’t realize he would go off like that and leave you.” The man shook his head, reaching out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, where she sat only a couple paces away.

“It is not your fault, my dear. I believe spending some time on his own shall allow my nephew to realize his purpose. Although.....” He trailed off, prompting Orora to glance up at him in confusion as a playful smile played about his lip.

“I do not intend to have him go off alone.” A pause before she spoke. “You mean to follow him.” He nodded. “Correct. My nephew has had many people leave him his entire life, and I am not about to be added to that list.”

Her gaze moved over his shoulder where she could see a small bag already prepared. A heaviness settled in her chest as her shoulders slumped and she looked away from Mushi.

“Well, I suppose I shall wish you luck on your quest.” She said, suddenly feeling envious of Li. Envious that he had someone who loved him so much that they were going after him.

Nobody had even bothered asking where she would go when she had walked out of her father’s house in broad daylight.

Mushi smiled gently, placing his hand on her head in a comforting manner. “Do not believe for a moment that I shall be leaving you behind Orora.” Surprise flitted across her features as she gaped at him, hardly believing her ears.

“You consider me your Master, and since that makes you my student you will be accompanying me for I do not believe your studies are complete yet. And there is much I can still teach you.” He gave her a playful wink, smiling as he did. Tears stung her vision, of happiness. She wiped at the corner of her eyes, while Mushi turned away to pick up his pack and shoulder it.

“Now finish your breakfast and pack up.” He urged her, to which she nodded. Instead of doing one task and then the other, she ate her breakfast while packing up and was done within minutes. She met Mushi at the stream where he was busy filling their water canteens. Giving him a smile in thanks she gave a small smirk.

“Lets go get that hot-headed idiot back.” She said, to which he let out a laugh.

                                             ————————–

Zuko laid on his back atop the hay.

For the first time in days he had eaten as much as his stomach would allow, and he didn’t feel like he was about to pass out from hunger. His initial days of travel had been all about survival. Of getting just enough food in the forsaken lands he had passed through.

He didn’t understand it.

From what he had read over the years, the Earth Kingdom was a bountiful land that had acres and acres of fruit trees and fields of wheat and rice in every direction. All he had come across were dry husks of land, with the people near starvation.

Had it all been a lie?

Or perhaps had the war dried up every last resource the Earth Kingdom had?

Probably the King was not paying any attention to his subjects, letting them starve.

This was one of the main reasons his forefathers had started to bring land into the Fire Nation.

To help these people.

Right?

Shaking his head, his mind instead turned towards his uncle and how he was doing. Zuko couldn’t deny that in the furthest recesses of his heart he did feel guilty for leaving him like that, but there was nothing to be gained.

Of course as he thought of his Uncle, his mind procured a perfect image of a certain blue eyed short haired girl with an attitude problem.

Maybe she had moved on by now? Then again she could’ve moved on any moment she wanted. There was nothing holding her back.

Certainly not him.

His eyes slid to the finger where the string was tied, the length of which lay loosely next to his head. When he had returned from the stream, she had already been asleep. Their earlier battle had probably tired her out.

It was a good thing that she was. He had only had to speak to his Uncle before leaving. He had a sneaking suspicion she would’ve tried to talk him out of going on his own. Something about respecting your elders and staying with them.

Scoffing under his breath, Zuko turned on his side, ignoring how the straws poked against his skin through his clothes.

His mother would’ve agreed with Orora, he mused. She was forever telling him to always be polite and respectful to everyone. He wandered how his mother would’ve reacted when he told her who his soulmate was. She would be shocked, he suspected, before she would accept fate and welcome Orora.

Zuko recalled how he had once asked her if Ozai was her soulmate. She had gotten really quiet at that, and sad. Really really sad. When she didn’t speak for a long while, Zuko had knelt in front of her, apologizing. She had shaken her head and stroked his hair. A smile was on her lips, yet her eyes were still sad.

“Some people are not meant to be with their soulmates Zuko. They might find them, but fate has other plans.” She had sighed, closing her eyes before opening them again, this time without any of the sadness. “But I am sure you will find your soulmate my love. And that you will be happy with them.”

And in that moment of naivety, Zuko had glanced at the string on his finger and hoped his mother was right.

Sighing, Zuko allowed the moment to fade. The last thought he had, as his eyes slipped shut, was a clear image of shining blue eyes and the only smile he had ever gotten from her.

His soulmate.

                                             ————————–

“Do you think he is alright?”

Iroh glanced at his side where Orora walked a step behind him. She wasn’t looking at him, instead facing the horizon that never seemed to get any closer no matter how much they walked.

Iroh hid a smile at the obvious way the young girl was trying to hide her worry for Zuko. “He is quiet resourceful when he wants to be.” He reassured her to which she simply nodded.

“Lets hope he doesn’t cause anyone harm using his resources.” She wandered if he had robbed anyone during his travels. Though she knew it was no use, she secretly hoped that what she had said to him had effected him just a little bit, and he would refrain from stealing.

                                             ————————–

They had been traveling for a few days now. Perhaps even a week?

During that time Mushi led the both of them through terrains that were much less rougher then what Li had gone over. Orora had a sneaking suspicion he was taking shortcuts. He seemed to guess where Li was headed and simply take the route that was easier for the both of them since they were on foot.

There had been no signs of trouble, and yet Orora couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong. Still, as long as she was with Mushi, she would be safe.

That thought process went right out the window when Mushi was knocked over by a piece of earth being bended right under him.

“Master!” She exclaimed, running to his side from where she had been picking some berries. “Are you alright?” The man groaned, rubbing his backside as he did. “That really hurt my tailbone.” He admitted. Feeling a shadow over them, Orora quickly glanced up to see a young girl standing atop a protruding rock. Instantly she pulled out water from her canteen, ready to throw a shower of ice daggers if the girl proved any further danger. 

Of course her teacher had to calm them both down, claiming no one had been hurt and this was all a misunderstanding.

Before he invited the girl to have tea with them.

Orora blanched her mouth hanging open as she gaped at her Master.

“I can feel your drool from here Ice Princess. Close your mouth.” That seemed to snap the older girl out of her stupor, enough to properly assess the young girl and come to a crucial realization.

“You’re......blind.”

The girl gave a loud laugh at the blunt manner in which Orora had spoken. “Hoping to receive an award for stating the obvious?”

Orora only raised an eyebrow at the girl.

                                             ————————–

Being Mushi’s student meant he would impart all knowledge he had on to her. And that included making tea. Orora had become quite the expert in the past few days, and Mushi had even claimed that it would be his greatest accomplishment as a teacher to have her brewing the best tea.

She hopped he was kidding.

Once she was done with her task, and Mushi had inspected it, he poured the hot liquid into crude clay cups and passed them out. She sat cross-legged on the grassy floor, content on sipping tea and observing the two people in front of her as they spoke.

"You seem a little too young to be traveling alone.” Mushi said, gazing at the younger girl over the edge of his cup.

“You seem a little too old.” She was quick to reply, prompting Orora to hide a small laugh behind her teacup. Mushi joined in as well. “Perhaps I am.” He agreed.

She didn’t seem like she would be drinking the tea, Orora mused as she watched the girl. “I know what you two are thinking.” She paused. “I look like I can't handle being by myself.”

Mushi shook his head. “I wasn't thinking that.” The waterbender simply frowned. “What I’m curious to know is how were you able to pick up that I had created ice?” She asked.

The younger girl shrugged. “I can sense these things. Through the earth.” She laid a hand flat on the grassy surface underneath her. Orora was so taken aback by the response, with a hundred questions forming in her mind, that she lost track of the conversation for a little while. She only came back when she heard Mushi mention his nephew.  “........always thinking you need to do things on your own, without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting the people who love you help you.” Blue eyes dropped to the ground, intentionally avoiding looking at Mushi’s face, as if fearing he would read the truth in them.

“Not that I love you, I just met you. My student here, on the other hand, is someone I have grown quiet fond of since we started traveling.” A pleased smile pulled at the the waterbender’s lips as she raised her cup in Mushi’s direction.

The blind girl laughed as well. “So where is your nephew?” She asked. “I've been tracking him actually.” Mushi responded truthfully.

“Is he lost?”

Orora didn’t miss the way the question caused Mushi’s face to show his sadness as he replied. “Yes, a little bit. His life has recently changed and he's going through very difficult times. He's trying to figure out who he is and he went away.”

“So now you're both following him.” The earthbender clarified, prompting Orora to shrug. “I’m just here because I wanted to travel with my teacher.” She stated demurely as she sipped at her tea.

“You know my abilities also tell me when a person is lying. But I don’t have to be blind to see that you’re lying right now.” She very nearly choked on her tea at being called out on like that. Orora spluttered, trying to come up with some excuse, but catching Mushi watching her with a raised eyebrow and a small smile on his lips, she kept quiet, too embarrassed to really come out and say anything really. Mushi turned his attention back to their new friend.

“I know he doesn't want me around him right now, but if he needs me, I'll be there.” He stated firmly, making Orora envious of Li yet again.

The girl set the cup aside. “Your nephew is very lucky, even if he doesn't know it.” Standing up she turned in both Orora’s direction and Mushi’s. “Thank you.”

Mushi smiled. “My pleasure. Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights.” The young girl shook her head. “No, thank you for what you said. It helped me.”

Orora glanced at Mushi, in time to see him smile and nod at the girl. “I'm glad.” The girl turned to leave before she paused. “Oh, and about your nephew, maybe you should tell him that you need him, too.” Neither of them gave any response as the girl simply turned and walked away, leaving the older man to sit and finish his tea in quiet contemplation.

Having finished her own tea, Orora was just about to rise and go towards him when she felt her finger tug. A gasp fell from her lips as her eyes widened and she glanced down at her finger.

“Orora?” Mushi called out, obviously worried about her sudden change in demeanor. She turned her blue gaze towards him.

“He’s nearby.”

                                             ————————–

The scent of smoke and burning wood was the first thing that caught her attention. Followed by the plumes of fire. Yellow and.........blue.

“Oh no!” Iroh exclaimed in quiet horror beside her. Without even glancing at her, he quickly ran towards the burning village. A brief pause was all she gave before she followed after the surprisingly fast old man.

The two of them burst into what would’ve been the main street of the village. Orora barely had time to glance around when she caught sight of a figure laying prone in the middle of the street. “Li!” She called out, dread settling in her stomach as she quickly skidded down next to him.

A relieved sigh fell from her lips once she realized that he was already stirring. “Can’t stay out of trouble can you?” She said, reaching out to offer her arm to help him sit up. “You’re one to talk. Faced any multiple firebenders all at once recently?” He retorted, though there was no malice in his words as he stood up with her help. His golden gaze shifted to where his uncle stood behind her. “Uncle. Its Azula.”

Orora didn’t miss the drop in temperature at the mere mention of the name. “And Azula is.....” She trailed off. Zuko sighed before turning to where the Avatar and his friends were facing off against the prodigy firebender. “My sister.” With that he raced off towards the small group. The waterbender only had a few seconds of reaction before Iroh grabbed her by the arm and pulled her along as he ran after his nephew.

Though her mind was reeling with many many questions, Orora’s body was beginning to settle in fight mode.

Survival.

It was all that mattered.

Nothing else. 

Zuko stood beside her as his uncle bumped into Azula, sending her scrambling back. A few more people arrived, but Orora didn’t pay them any mind as she froze the water she had to create two short spears. Holding them in a defensive position she followed her Master’s lead as they cornered the other girl, Azula, and surrounded her.

“Well, look at this.” The young woman stated in a rather cool tone. “Enemies and traitors, all working together.” She wanted to look at who the other people were so so badly. But she had a suspicion that if she took her eyes off her opponent for even a second, something would happen.

“I'm done.” Azula raised her arms in the sky as an act of surrender. “I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor.”

Princess.

Princess?!?

Sister.

That meant.................

Though she kept her stance, her entire body froze and her gaze flickered to Li who stood at her side.

What happened next took a matter of seconds.

The Princess crouched before shooting an arm out and catching her Uncle in the chest with a bolt of lightening. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Li cried out from beside her. A horrified sound escaped her lips before boiling anger overcame her very sense of being and with no hesitation she hurled both her ice spears at the other girl.

The rest of them had the same idea as they hurled their bending towards her as well.

It all culminated in an explosion that had all of them stumbling back. Li wasted no time in rushing to his Uncle and dropping beside his still body. Orora was just about to follow when she heard a very familiar voice calling out her name.

“Orora?”

Disbelief shone in her blue eyes as she turned to the other water bender. “Katara?” The younger girl glanced at her before looking at the two firebenders. The exclamation seemed to have caught Aang’s attention who stared at Orora. “What’re you doing traveling with Zuko and his Uncle?” He exclaimed.

Zuko?

Wh-?

Uncle!

Master!

“Master!” She exclaimed, remembering what had just happened. She turned her attention back to the firebenders, only for L-Zuko to round on them and scream. “Get away from us!”

Orora faltered, having never seen such devastation, sorrow and anger burning in someone’s eyes before. “Zuko, I can help.” Katara stepped forward, at which he blasted an arc of fire.

“Leave!”

The blast had no power behind it. No heat.

“Go.” Orora stated firmly, allowing her very persona to drop in temperature as she faced Zuko. “I’ll take care of him.”

There was slight hesitation on Katara’s part, before Aang clasped her hand and all four of them took off.

“Stand back.” A puff of frosted breath fell from her lips as she neared her Master. Zuko made to push her away, but she threw her arm out, pinning him to the nearest wall with a dozen ice daggers and leaving him to thrash there.

Falling to her knees she encapsulated her hands with water. Taking a deep breath she allowed her healing aura to transfer to the water as she set her hands atop the ugly wound in her Master’s chest. She poured every ounce of her healing ability to mend the wound from within. He would still have a flesh wound, but the internal damage would be mended.

Orora could feel the burnt muscle and skin starting to heal, but it took her a good few minutes before she was able to heal him as best as she could. “Uncle?” Zuko had escaped from her trap and was now bending down next to her. There was an almost calm look on the older man’s face, prompting Zuko to let out a small sigh of relief.

"We need to get him to some shelter. Its going to get dark soon.” Zuko glanced up to where Orora was already standing. “And I still need to bandage his flesh wound. I was only able to heal so much.”

She took a step forward, only to stumble and nearly fall over. Zuko was quick to steady her, standing up to grab her from behind as he did. “It’s been so long since I last healed such a deep wound.” She whispered, more to herself then him. Though she wanted to pull away, Orora allowed Zuko to help her sit down beside his still unconscious Uncle.

“You bandage him. I’ll go find shelter.” He said firmly before rushing off in search of a house that wasn’t burning to the ground.

Leaving the young water bender to sit there and tend to her injured Master while thinking over the new information she had just received.

Her soulmate was royalty.

And not just any royalty.

He was the Prince of the Fire Nation.

Prince Zuko.

Fate truly had a cruel sense of humor.

                                             ————————–

Tag List - @wavesofchaos​ @violet-potter

#Zuko x OC #zuko x reader #zuko x y/n #zuko imagine #Avatar The Last Airbender #atla #avatar #the thread of fate

[bellatrixobsessed1]

A Patch Of Grass

Summary: Azula finds her father's body sprawled out in the garden.

Azula shudders. 

She is cold all over in spite of the Fire Nation sun. 

She had always liked the sun. She had liked it until now. The sun creates a smell. Rather it worsens an odor that would be there regardless. But that doesn’t matter, she is young enough to associate the smell with the sun. Its smoldering rays bathe Ozai—if the vivid red of his skin is anything to go by, she would wager that he had been cooking beneath it for hours. 

And he had been dead hours before that. 

He hurt her. 

They don’t think that he does. 

Nobody thinks that he does… 

That he once had. 

She looks upon his face. That smug little smirk is still frozen upon it. He would probably be proud of her. Proud that she can look–perhaps flinchingly–but look no less upon the dead. To look at that blistering, charred ring around a gaping hole of flesh. That she is able to stomach it.

At one point there had been a heart in that gaping cavity. It had only been there in a physical sense. He hadn’t used it much. Not on her and certainly not on Zuzu. Zuzu is gone now and so is uncle. 

She is alone. 

All alone. 

She stands there for quite a long time, casting her shadow over him. She can’t tear her gaze away, though the sight of his body makes her gag. Her eyes are glassy and there is a dizziness in her head when the guards finally see what she is looking at. 

It had taken them long enough. An embarrassingly long time. The man has been smoldering in broad daylight and they hadn’t taken any notice. She feels hands on her shoulders, hands that turn her quickly away from the sight. Not that they are sparing her anything at this point, she has already seared the image into her brain. 

.oOo.

The smell lingers as well. It lingers long after she has stopped smelling it. And it makes her stomach queasy. Queasy enough to compel her towards the bathroom. She doesn’t quite make it there. 

Her audience isn’t particularly big; just Lo, Li, and a handful of guards. But it is humiliating no less. An undignified sight. 

They don’t hold it against her. Afterall, she has just seen her father’s corpse. 

“Let's get you cleaned up.” Lo offers. 

Azula nods and lets Li help her to her feet. She still feels dizzy, it puts a sway in her step. Her cheeks are growing damp and her body is wracked with trembles. She thought that she was stronger than this. Just one body is enough to rattle her and father was training her for war.

But war, she imagines, is much less personal. 

A nameless, faceless soldier hadn’t fed her and ruffled her hair. A nameless, faceless soldier hadn’t given her praise and hugs. A nameless, faceless soldier never let her sit in his lap and read her bedtime stories. 

The servants clean her face and wash her hair for good measure. They dress her in fresh clothes and spritz her with elegant perfumes. “Get some rest, princess.” They advise as they carry her to her bed and pull the covers up to her shoulders. 

But she won’t sleep. 

She isn’t sure that she will ever again. 

She hugs a pillow to her chest and bunches in on herself. 

She can’t squeeze her eyes shut because she will see his face—that horrible, horrible smirk. 

She will hear his voice echoing in her ears, congratulating her, telling her how strong she is, how proud of her he is. 

She clasps her hands over her ears and whimpers. 

She tries to keep it at that; at just a few muffled whimpers. But her eyes are stinging and there are tickles that make their way up from her tummy and into her throat. Tickles that escape her throat as soft little cries until she is weeping uncontrollably. 

Weeps for the man who had broken her brother’s body and sense of self worth. Weeps for the man who had broken her soul and sense of morality. Weeps for the man who had, time and time again, pushed her far beyond her limits just for a scrap of the sort of affection her mother had always deprived her of. 

That is what she is. Broken and deprived of touch. Kind touch anyhow. Sometimes father hit her on days where her firebending was lackluster. Most of the time he would stand idle and watch former prisoners and esteemed guards alike ruthlessly batter her until she hardened enough to fend them off. 

And then he would smirk and tell her that she was his special girl, that he had always known that she was destined for greatness and glory. That he never doubted. 

And that was good enough for her.

That was kindness. 

That was love.

.oOo.

“Azula, when did you find him?” Jinho asks, gruffly. “We need to know! We have an assassin in our midst, a traitor likely. And, for all we know, they might be preparing to strike you down.” 

Azula keeps her lips pressed firmly together and stares blankly at her palms. Just as father had taught her. 

“Let us handle this?” Lo and Li say. 

“As the head of the imperial guard it is my duty to…”

“As the princess’ advisors and caretakers, it is our duty to make sure that a wellbeing it taken into consideration.” Li cuts in.

“This is a delicate situation.” Lo adds. 

“She is just a girl.” They say together. And their attention turns to her. They address her in much softer tones. Softer than anything she is used to. “Did you have a nice breakfast?”

She shakes her head. She doesn’t appreciate their coddling. “I found him before that.” Before that, when the sun hadn’t quite risen yet. She had eaten her breakfast afterwards. And then she’d come back to face father down in the light of day. 

She owes him that much respect, at least. 

“That must have been a dreadful thing to see so early in the morning.” 

Azula shrugs. She had already seen Zuzu with his face on fire. The way that he had screamed…

Sometimes she hears that too, mostly when she is trying to sleep at night. Sometimes, in her nightmares, she is screaming while Zuzu looks on.

Not it is father who screams.

“I’m sorry, princess.” Both of them inform her that, “you’ve had a long day.”

But they don’t know…

They have no idea at all. 

It is a good day. 

He can’t hurt her anymore.

Or so she had assumed. 

There is a patch of grass that she can no longer pass without seeing an impression of him. A patch of grass that she can pinpoint exactly, despite it being no more remarkable than the rest of the turf.

.oOo.

It doesn’t hurt as much when she sees Zuko smile.

It doesn’t hurt as much when Uncle puts a hand on her shoulder and invites her to have a cup of tea.

Tonight she takes her tea alone. In the dark. In silence. 

She doesn’t drink it, mostly she just stares at the cup wondering what the point of a midnight drink is if she doesn’t actually lift the cup to her lips.

She’d rather ponder that than lay in bed with her nightmares. She’d rather watch Zuzu and Mai sneak off into the gardens. He thinks that he is so clever and subtle. But she is well aware. She and TyLee both. Perhaps one day, she will find the words to ask TyLee if she would like to go for a midnight walk. 

He is home and he is happy. He is home and she is not alone anymore. He tells her that mother would be proud of her; proud that she didn’t let father turn her against him for good. Azula wonders if he would think that Ursa would be proud that she had killed father to bring him home.

Maybe she will tell him one day. But she doesn’t want to burden him with that. She doesn’t want to have that discussion at all. She would rather pretend like everything is okay. Most of the time it is. Most of the time she can smile in earnest. She isn’t afraid anymore. Zuzu isn’t afraid anymore. And on the days when she is, on the days that she can’t smile, she isn’t alone. 

Not like she used to be when everyone was terrified of her.

They—Mai, TyLee, servants, and citizens—might be if they knew.

If they could see the blood on her hands. 

Or maybe they would understand; her father had brutalized many more people than his own kin.

It is strange, she thinks, that killing a man has saved her soul before he could render it cold and hateful like his own. It has saved her soul and made a monster of her all the same.

The seat next to her creaks. “You should be in bed, niece.”

Azula shrugs. “I’m not in a sleeping mood tonight.” 

He chuckles. “You should drink your tea.” 

“I’m not thirsty either.” She peers at the teacup in her hands and adds, “don’t let the cup fool you.” 

He chuckles again. “Well of course you aren’t thirsty. Tea isn’t meant to be drunk cold.” Silence fills the dining room once more. When Iroh finally grows tired of it he inquires, “what’s keeping you up?” 

Another shrug. 

“Zuko used to have trouble sleeping too.”

But now he doesn’t. Now he sleeps like a newborn. He sleeps without the burden of having done heinous, unthinkable things. Things like what she has done. “I’m a monster.” She whispers. 

Iroh shakes his head. “You’re a child.”

“I…” She swallows. “You wouldn’t say that if you knew what I did.” She clanks her teacup onto the table only for Iroh to take it for himself. 

Iroh stares across the room, fixing the opposing wall with a hard stare. “You did what I should have done the very moment my brother burned yours. I ran away just like I did after the siege. And look what happened; two children had to grow up too fast. If anyone is a monster it is I.” 

Azula swallows again and clenches her teeth, fighting to keep the tears out of her eyes. Even now father’s influence lingers. 

Maybe neither of them are monsters. Maybe they were all just doing their best and somehow managed to find the worst in themselves anyhow. 

“This isn’t a burden that you should have to shoulder.” Iroh hands her a newly steaming cup and Azula brings it to her lips. “For what it’s worth, I think that you did the right thing. Your brother…” Iroh casts a glance over his shoulder. Through the window he can see Zuko and Mai walking hand in hand at the garden’s edge under the moon. “He didn’t have much fight left in him. I don’t think that I would have been able to keep him going much longer. You saved his life.” 

Azula nods. 

“The war is coming to a close.” Iroh adds. “I think that you understand that it isn’t as simple as good and evil. One flame extinguished helped build a new bonfire.” He takes a gulp of tea.

She nods again. 

She is not an evil person, perhaps. 

But, Agni, she killed her own father. 

Iroh pats her hand. “It is still raw. It will get easier in time.”

“It’s been three years.”

Iroh nods. “It’ll take a while. Trust me, I know. Sometimes my part in the war still keeps me up at night.”

“Well I suppose that we will be sharing midnight tea quite often then.”

Iroh’s eyes sparkle and that goofy grin spreads across his face. “Midnight tea and, if you’re feeling adventurous, midnight mochi.” 

“Yes. Perhaps.” 

.oOo.

Yes, indeed. 

They take midnight tea together quite often for a few years. But their midnight meetings begin to grow sparser as the world around them seems to mend and heal.

Slowly but surely the nations come together again. People don’t eye the Fire Nation with fear and resentment quite as often. Balance works its way back into the world. 

Midnight teas grow sparser yet when Zuko invites she and TyLee on a double date with he and Mai.

They grow sparser as lingering traces of Ozai diminish. 

After a hundred years or so, the world is re-entering an era of peace. She likes to think that she had a hand in it. However silent and bloody that hand is. 

It is more often these days, that she and uncle share tea at midafternoon. Under a pavilion. With Zuzu and Mai and TyLee. 

She can no longer pick out which patch of grass father had laid upon.

#avatar the last airbender #azula #zuko #iroh #fanfiction #one shot

[peony-pearl]

Ursa wakes Zuko and Azula up the day Ozai is set to become next in line for the throne, but something is off. She’s hurrying them, holding garments they’ve never seen before; something ceremonial. These shouldn’t be for a simple announcement proclamation.

Ursa herds her children to the throne room, where Azulon and Iroh stand. Their father isn’t in sight, he must be getting ready.

Azulon takes one look at Zuko and Azula and begins barking.

“On your knees!” He hisses.

Zuko is struck by the hostility. Azula frowns; but just as Ursa can motion for them to do kneel, Iroh holds out his hand.

“Father, there is no need. My niece and nephew should be here to celebrate their new cousin.”

Azulon leans closer to his son. “Their new cousin is nothing short of divinity!”

“Divinity?” Zuko asks Azula, who shrugs. Iroh motions for the two to stand; he is holding something in his arms.

The brother and sister note the infant residing in their uncle’s embrace.

“Zuko, Azula,” Iroh begins. “This is my daughter, Zion.”

“More than a daughter,” Azulon says, towering over his grandchildren. “A blessing. A miracle; given to your uncle by means you cannot comprehend.”

Iroh chuckled. “Father.”

Zuko walked forward. “Means?”

Iroh turned to hand Zion to her grandfather, who quickly, and reverently took her into his arms. Zuko and Azula had never seen him regard anything as being so precious.

Iroh opened his robes to reveal a gaping, twisting hole in his chest, through which they could see the throne on the other side. Ursa clapped a hand upon her mouth. Zuko stepped back, and Azula’s nose wrinkled in a mixture of disgust and horror.

“Means, as in, a very particular piece of me was used to create our future Fire Lord. My heart has been given the honor of providing the housing for a spirit; my new addition, and the future of the Fire Nation.”

Azula stepped forward. “But dad’s gonna be the next-”

Ursa almost tackled Azula before she could finish her sentence. Azulon’s rage was palpable as the flames from his throne up above reached the ceiling.

“Young lady!” Azulon howled. “Show your future leaders some respect! If you cannot maintain the poise and tact expected from your position, perhaps we should evict you from your place in line-”

“Father.”

Iroh’s calm caused a cease in the flames, and in Azulon’s words.

“There is no need for that,” Iroh smiled. He looked back to Azula, calmly and with the smile he used to wear before Lu Ten’s untimely passing.

“Your father was indeed going to be named the next Fire Lord - but the Spirits have deemed I maintain my birthright, you see. With the creation of my daughter, I have been ordained as the proper next in line, by the will of the spirit world itself.”

Zuko finally exhaled. “That’s incredible,” he murmured. Iroh nodded.

“I quite concur.”

Azulon tutted. “You should be getting ready, Iroh. You and Zion both. The ceremony isn’t long now,” he said, gently returning the child to her father. “It will be like nothing we’ve ever had before; a ceremony befitting our own little goddess.”

Azula leaned towards Zuko as Iroh made his leave. “Uncle’s heart made a girl?”

Zuko shrugged.

Ursa grabbed them by their shoulders. “Let’s go; we must be on time.”

“The guest of honor isn’t even ready himself!” Azula cried out.

“URSA.”

Ursa shuddered, and she turned back towards Azulon. He glowered at his daughter-in-law.

“Teach that girl of yours some respect. I’ve expected more out of you as a mother; and each day you disappoint me.”

Ursa swallowed as her children looked up at her.

“Yes, Fire Lord Azulon,” she warbled, bowing deeply. “I am so sorry.”

“As you should be,” Azulon snapped before dismissing them with a gesture.

Ursa stood and nearly dragged her children out of the throne room. The two of them were silent as Ursa trembled with frustrations.

Zuko frowned at Azula. She carried no weight of Azulon’s words; instead she merely looked annoyed at the old man.

“What a gas bag,” Azula said; but just before she could say anything else, Ursa was on her knees and grabbing her daughter by her shoulders, shaking her.

“Azula!! Don’t you realize what is going on?!” She said through gritted teeth.

Azula’s wide eyes regarded her mother with shock.

“Your uncle has been chosen by the spirit world to father one of their own! Your cousin is not of this world. She is here to guide us to the glory begun by Sozin - this is bigger than all of us! You need to understand the gravity of this situation! We are in the presence of things we cannot comprehend - they now share your blood! I need you to please, please hold that damned tongue of yours!”

Zuko’s mouth hung agape as Azula trembled in her mother’s grip.

“Do you understand me?” Ursa reiterated.

Azula nodded once. Barely. It was enough for Ursa to stand and to continue ushering them through the halls.

As they approached the palanquin, Zuko finally found his voice as they piled in.

“What about dad?”

Ursa sighed. “...He’ll be there. On his own life, he will be there.”

#atla au #Ursa #Zuko #Azula #Iroh #Azulon #atla oc #Zion #my writing

[attackfish]

I'm not sure where I got this, but AU in which Zuko decides 'fuck it, if Azula is going to torment me, I'm going to hit back' some time post-Ursa banishment? AKA: "Well, Zuzu, you really should have known better than to run with our Fuddy Duddy Uncl-" "Mom never loved you!"

Really trying to hold Ursa's unconditional love for him over her like she holds their father's 'love' for her over him.

The thing is, the Zuko we see in the show, including in flashbacks, does hit back at his sister. He doesn't just fall at her feet and let her. He tries to fight back. But he doesn't succeed. Why?

Because he and Azula are both opperating from within the same paradigm that Ozai created for them. In this paradigm, Azula is strong, Zuko is weak. Zuko is stupid, Azula is smart. Azula wins, Zuko loses. The power imbalance between Zuko and Azula is both material, in that Ozai's favor allows Azula to torment her brother in ways he would never get away with, and also in their heads. They each on some level buy into it and believe in it. They have to. If they don't, they can't operate within it, and that exposes them to Ozai's wrath. But it puts Zuko at a severe, even insurmountable, disadvantage as a child in his fights with his sister.

Likewise, in this paradigm, Zuko's weaknesses are on full display, and held up by their father for criticism, while Azula's weaknesses are hidden away and not acknowledged. Azula doesn't have to pin point Zuko's weaknesses. Ozai has done that for her, along with creating them in the first place. All she has to do is stick in the knife and twist.

Meanwhile, it's hard for Zuko to realize his sister has weaknesses at all. And I don't think it would occur to him to use Ursa's memory against Azula. He knows their mother loved them both. It doesn't occur to him to doubt that Azula knows this. And Ursa's absence is a gaping hole in his life and a profound source of pain for him, so using that absence against Azula in the way he would know to do, would expose him to the same tactic, and he's not about to do that.

So ultimately this isn't a decision that Zuko is in a position to make, and I couldn't put him in a position to make it without changing the family dynamic beyond recognition.

#avatar the last airbender #zuko #azula #ozai #atla ursa #posts i created #do you want to ask a question it doesn't have to be a question #noodle lord ozai #mother bear ursa #azula needs her own warning #zuko is a dweeby little turtleduck

[glimmerglanger]

So I've been thinking more about Azula being the sibling who goes with Team Avatar after the Day of Black Sun debacle in a world where Zuko doesn't.

Azula, who has never felt secure or safe in her life, who knows (in her bones) that fear is the only reliable way to keep people from hurting her people doing what she wants, pays a little more attention to Zuko's conversations with Iroh in prison. It isn't hard to get a guard to tell her what they said.

And she doesn't let herself care about her great-grandfathers. Of course not. It's simply interesting, that's all, to know an Avatar is in her bloodline. She's sure that weak, foolish boy would have an emotional response to it. In a way, she's his family. As close as he's got left, anyway. She stores that away for the time, a dagger for later use.

And while she's looking around, if she happens to discover some of Ozai's plans for after the attempted invasion...

Well.

It's very interesting, all the fuss about naming himself Phoenix King. And how intriguing that he plans to make Zuzu Fire Lord in his stead. Not her. Not her, who went the Earth Kingdom and did what all the best generals in her nation's history for four generations failed to do, bringing Ba Sing Se to it's knees in days. Not her, who brought this information about the coming invasion.

Not her.

"A rabid eel hound," one of the advisors calls her, in the documents she sifts through. It's not that she can call him a liar, but it hurts he could have phrased it more eloquently.

She understands, she tells herself, smoothly the scroll out carefully instead of crumbling it into a ball. If she were Ozai, she would not give someone like her control of the Fire Nation, either, not invite the knife in the back that was sure to come.

Father was many things.

Including, perhaps, not as much of an idiot as she'd thought. She's always known her spot was on the throne, after all. Always.

But not smart enough to keep this from her, either.

She makes her plans, then. Not a single plan, of course. Plans for if the Avatar somehow succeeds - unlikely - and plans for if he fails - if he's captured - if he gets away - if he dies, really, this time.

And when he runs, beaten and driven off, while Zuko flings himself in Mai's no doubt frigid embrace, she leaves.

It isn't difficult to find the Avatar. The Air Temple is close enough to walk and of course he would go to ground, there. Panicked creatures always run to familiar burrows.

Azula finds them. Children. Weak and squabbling children who presume to take on the most powerful army in the world and a part of her feels afraid invigorated, because what would have been the challenge in wiping out the Earth Kingdom with Sozin's Comet strengthening them, anyway?

Anyone could do that. It took no skill. An empty, hollow victory with no value behind it.

But beating the self-appointed Phoenix King? Decimated the entire army with the force of Sozin's Comet behind them? With a handful of children on her side? Now that was an accomplishment. No one would ever be able to look at that and not know that she was the best.

The best fire-bender.

The best Fire Lord.

The--

Azula does not beg them to allow her to teach Aang. Azula has never begged for anything in her life. She simply steps into the glow of their fire and tells them that she will, and, as they gape at her, peasants and fools, she tells them exactly why they're going to let her; what her father plans to do to the Earth Kingdom and when, and watches the fear in their eyes as they see the noose close around them.

They have no choice but to accept her. They fear too much to refuse. Fear is the only way. And none of them know of her fear, of the way she can't sit, can't be still, in her room - she demanded the finest one, of course, and they gave it to her, of course.

They do not go to see the Sun Warriors. Azula has never had anything but utter focus and purpose, never done less than believe utterly in each step she takes.

It is difficult to get the child Avatar to embrace this focus. He fights her, wants to argue around to his own way, unable to create more than a hot breeze.

But she has kept the dagger for this. She knows how to soften her voice, to approach him about the connection-that-could-be. The one he wants. History. Family.

We've both lost ours, she tells him, crafting each word exquisitely. But we could find one again. With each other.

The next day he bends fire.

#...kinda fic? #azula and team avatar au #atla #i have MANY THOUGHTS #um #like many more #idk what i'm going to do with them #but they're there

[boredhungrytired]

Day 1 - Melting/Rain

For Maiko Week 2022 organized by @idonthatemaiko

Raindrops pattered on the dry cliffside pathway, water streaming down the way like a makeshift waterfall. The pair made no move to leave.

“We just had to come up here, didn’t we?”

Zuko cringed inwardly at his poor judgement. Gray clouds had hung over the blue horizon as he and his girlfriend ascended the slopes of the caldera.

The cliffs, their regular haunt, had become a place of solace. Far from the Royal Guard ordered to shadow Zuko. Away from the curious citizens more than eager to catch a glimpse of the returned prince. No rules, no rigidity, no Azula.

But plenty of rain today. Oops.

“I really thought it would bypass us, I’m sorry,” he murmured into her hair.

Zuko sat up from the blanket they lounged on and shed his outermost robe. Calloused hands passed the garment to Mai.

Mai deadpanned up at him from her seated position, “What am I supposed to do with this?”

A Deadpan Mai, Zuko learned, could quickly lead to a Cranky Mai. Not to be confused with Hangry Mai. Deadpan Mai wielded sarcasm as expertly as she did her knives. Cranky Mai turned to insults that went straight for the jugular. Worst of all, Hangry Mai turned into…a monster. Best to avoid all of them, if possible.

He shrugged, the fabric flowing in the salty storm breeze. “Hold it over your head, maybe? To stop the rain from ruining your makeup…”

The knife-thrower ran a pale finger over her cheeks, the tip coming up black from kohl and mascara that now streamed down her face. Her mauve lipstick was in the beginning stages of running as well.

She sighed, “It’s too late for that now. Come to my place to dry?”

Zuko perked up as he reached a better solution. He searched his mussed-up robe for a corner, attempting to dab the ruined makeup from his girlfriend’s face. Mai resigned under his ministrations, hoping she could at the very least stride through the capitol without bearing the resemblance of a circus clown.

One look at Zuko’s furrowed eyebrow let her hope down. The black streaks had turned into obsidian globs on her alabaster skin. She batted his hands away before standing up huffily.

“Just take me home.” Mai averted her gaze and began walking, discomfited with her appearance.

“Home, yeah. Going.” The prince scrambled to fold their blanket and grab their shared canteen of water.

Mai had walked far enough ahead that Zuko had to jog to catch up. Fat raindrops flew diagonally from the thundering clouds above. Wind blustered and ruffled their robes. Zuko reached out his hand to hold hers. A tube-shaped object in her sleeve pocket bumped against his thumb. Quickly he recognized it to be her lipstick vial.

His fingers snatched the cool metal from its confines.

“I don’t want more of that right now.” Mai walked on, leaving Zuko in the middle of a low-traffic street.

Hastily, Zuko unscrewed the tube and did not think twice before smearing the mauve cream all over his good eye. Uncle had frank discussions with Zuko during their time away. Women are tricky and tend to take more stock into appearances than men. In a way not entirely comical, the lipstick shade bore an uncanny resemblance to his scar tissue.

Mai stopped in her tracks when Zuko caught up to her once more. He slipped her lipstick tube back in its pocket.

“Are you stupid?” Her tone was genuine.

“Now they’ll stare at both of us, not just you.”

She laughed despite herself. “Let’s hurry.”

Drenched to the bone, they hurried to Mai’s vacant home. Thankfully, the streets weren’t as busy with the downpour. Still some passersby gasped and gaped at the melty-faced duo.

Mai didn’t hate the rain so much after that day.

#maiko week 2022 #maiko #mai #zuko #drabble #avatar #maiko fanfiction

[that-was-anticlimactic]

hiii can u tell us about “why does it hurt to love you?” or “you’re what i know about love” for the fic ask game :)

yes hello! hope you like atla because these are both atla fics haha! "why does it hurt to love you?" is my the guy who didn't like musical au centered around zuko, suki, & izumi where zuko and suki are trying to find izumi and it kind of follows the "not your seed" scene! here's a snippet that is prolly longer than necessary because i think i'm funny lol:

“I don’t know for sure,” she answered truthfully. “I think the world is becoming a musical.” Zuko snorted. “That can’t be too bad, can it?” Suki gaped at him. “You idiot!” she cried, smacking his arm. “A musical! Think about the implications! Oh, wait, you like musicals, don’t you?” “It’s not like I’m an actor or anything,” Zuko responded dryly. “But is that seriously what’s happening?” It couldn’t be that, not with all the dead bodies he saw on the streets, not with these zombie-like creatures roaming about the city. All because of musicals? There was no way! “I know that doesn’t sound very scary to you,” Suki hissed, “but when I escaped Kyoshi’s office, I went to the coffee shop down the street, you know, Tui and La, and—” “Wait, hold up: isn’t there a Starbucks down the street?” Zuko interrupted.“Yes. That doesn’t matter right now.

and then "you're what i know about love" is my zukka frozen au! katara is elsa, sokka is anna (he's still the oldest tho), zuko is kristoff (okay but he is literally kristoff), and then azula is hans (but because she's being manipulated heavily by ozai), aang is olaf (but he's not a snowman or anything, he's just the avatar lol)! here's a snippet:

She stood frozen in spot, unable to find the strength to move her legs or lower her arms. “Mommy,” she murmured, “I’m scar…” She trailed off. No, she couldn’t say that, not when she needed to be brave. “I’m-I’m not scared.” The man tilted his head in her direction, and she could just barely see a grin forming. “You said this girl’s your daughter?” he spoke again, reaching a calloused hand out and placing it roughly on her shoulder. Katara shook it off, unclenching a fist to swat his hand away. Through the lines of his helmet, she noticed a small grin. “Maybe she’s the last water bender.”

#moth tag #hi!!! sorry the second one is kind of depressing - i don't have as much of that fic written as i want but i have like. most of it planned! #i'm love they #thank you for indulging me - i absolutely need to keep working on these because i love them so dearly iuygfghijoiugytfc #corey writes:) #corey rambles:)

[questionablepastries]

soulsborne ask 8, 14, 30(also happy late birthday!!! how did i miss it!!!)

ASH!!!!! IM ANSWERINGN SO LATE forgib meh (also THank you for the belated birthday wish YAYAYA <3 )

I wanted to answer this on pc, bc i intended to write a lot given that this is like one of my top favorite franchises and it altered my brain chemistry permanently; aint no way im writing no sorry ass short answer so its gonna go under a readmore :)

8. What are your 3 favorite areas and why?

ough this ones already tough, throughout all the games there are so many good areas lol. I had to write a large list of areas I love and finally managed to narrow it down to three it was super painful and took like 30 min but here they are (in no particular order)

Fountainhead palace from sekiro - probably the most serene location in all soulsborne personally, The music is very peaceful the area is GORGEOUS compared to the bloodbath of the rest of the game. It very much is its own isolated location because technically it is. the royalty in sekiro would seclude themselves in this location and do nothing but ignore the state of the rest of the world and it very much shows since the area is so serene with its cherry blossom trees and massive koi fish to feed. even though the area has since flooded and all the servants turned into fish people hybrids its still awesome to explore what is essentially abandoned royalty temple ruins

Nokstella eternal city from eldenring - the area is just super pretty as well! sorry its starting to sound redundant but unlike fountainhead palace this place is not meant for normal people much less royalty to access and yet its a fucking cinderella castle underground complete with stars and shit, plus everything here is like weird mercury magic and has all these mimics its AWESOME i love doppelgangers and i love the scary silent atmosphere here because its like what did these people DO to get themselves banished underground

Tower of latria/upper latria from demon souls, i chose this one because i think it caused me the most stress in my demon souls run. it was here that i was getting very lost and very scared - probably the most stressed ive ever been my entire demon souls run. going from super scary prison to jesus christ is that a giant fucking beating heart being held up by chains was an experience ill never feel again it was so cool

honorable mentions go to: caelid, lake of rot, crumbling farum azula, academy of raya lucaria (elden ring), the gutter, black gulch, and shrine of amana (ds2), the entirety of shrine of storms (demon souls), nightmare of mensis (bloodborne)

i feel bad not even mentioning one ds3 map so uhhh profaned capital

14. Who is the most underrated boss in your opinion?

leechmonger & adjudicator (yes i chose two, im cheating) from demon souls. I think soulsborne games should lean way more into body horror/horror themes in general given how crappy the state of their worlds are and these guy are like. the definition of both body horror and gore. sad to see both of them being ignored for fan favorite cool people in armor bosses (artorias, ornstein, gwyn, lady maria, malenia, old king allant, soul of cinder, nameless king...etc)

bosses that get this horror thing right include: ludwig, orphan of kos, guardian ape (not exactly underrated but the second phase tho), radahn (he was eating a guy at the start lol he counts as horror in a way? plus he's massive), mergos wetnurse, king allant (the real one!), phalanx (god i love this thing), flamelurker, maneaters, four kings (warped by dark magic and infinitely respawning in an abyss this is the coolest concept of all time), gaping dragon (COOL!!!!), demon of song are a couple i can list with google's help

off topic but my favorite "just a guy" bosses are penetrator (demon souls), looking glass knight + darklurker (ds2) and the corrupted monk from sekiro

30. Rank the games you’ve played!

wahhh......

dark souls 1 (my entry to the franchise im sowwy)

demon souls (really captured the scary morose medieval knight atmosphere i was desperately craving after finishing ds1)

bloodborne (super unique game - has no peer in terms of atmosphere, is only in third place because i much prefer being a depressing knight rather than a cool guy in a trenchcoat on a weekday in london)

eldenring (being unable to ride torrent in the final boss fight, the dissapointment of lack of things to do at the mountaintop of the giants, and no boss living up to radahn or rykard in the end game stretch..(malenia is just a hot lady im sorry; even her second form is just hot lady - now if she was a monster.....) is why im placing this as 4th)

sekiro (another unique game however has zero replayability)

dark souls 3 (might be overdue for a replay since i only beat it like twice since release, and i struggled to remember any bosses or areas when answering these questions. I think ds3 was just like a bunch of references to ds1, however gael one of THE most memorable bosses for me and was a grand way to end the franchise)

dark souls 2 (granted i only played vanilla upon release only once and it left a bad taste in my mouth to the point that i was concerned about the state of the franchise after i finished it because while i knew the main team was working on bloodborne while this was being developed it made me wonder if id ever experience what i felt in ds1 ever again.

#answering this took me like an hour and thirty minutes lol #asks #thanks again ash!! #dank souls #soulsborne

[the-badger-mole]

The Djinn Dilemma - Chapter 23

If Ozai noticed the smell of smoke coming from Azula’s room, he didn’t say anything. Azula wasn’t entirely sure her father had even come home the night before, and he wasn’t home when the maid arrived. Azula called the woman into her room and ordered her to have the drapes replaced and the walls repainted by that afternoon. The maid had gaped at the damage, but didn’t ask any questions. With a nervous half bow, she hurried off to make the necessary calls.

“You could have just wished for me to take care of that for you.” Azula barely choked back a yelp as she spun around. Katara was sitting at her vanity table, combing out her long, chestnut brown hair and watching Azula in the mirror. “I could have that buffed out in a flash. In fact, I could redo your whole room to suit your personality better.” Katara cast a critical eye around the cream-colored walls and crimson accents of the room. “I’m thinking something darker and more sinister. Like a redwing bat cave.” Katara waved her hand, and suddenly the walls were damp, grey stone and stalactites dripped water on to the cave floor. Azula heard the flutter of wings somewhere over head and she ducked, though she couldn’t see anything flying around.

“What did you do to my room?” she demanded. Katara waved her off.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a preview,” she said. “You don’t like it? Well, how about this?” Katara waved again, and the cave was suddenly drier, and lit by torches burning in sconces. Azula’s bed had been replaced with a large wooden rack. The armoire that housed Azula’s TV set was now an iron maiden, opened to reveal the large, nasty looking spikes inside. All the furniture had been replaced with instruments of torture. Azula took it all in with a distasteful sneer.

“Is this supposed to make me feel bad?” she asked. “Are you hoping that surrounding me with this stuff is going to make me face the terrible person I am and see the light?”

‘Oh, relax,” Katara scoffed. “I’m just having some fun. But that other stuff would be nice, too.” She waved again and the room was back to normal, with the scorched wall and tattered curtains still there.

Read the rest of the chapter here

#atla #zutara #the djinn dilemma #the final chapters #THE YEAR OF CONTENT!!!!

[concernedbrownbread]

“I had thought you would hide your identity, your Highness.”

Your Highness. Oh, monkey feathers, what had Aang gotten himself into.

“Only a coward hides behind masks,” the girl – a Princess? – waved dismissively, one hand on her hip, “Where’s Zhao?”

“Outside giving his grand speech.”

“Then we are on time. Handle him, Lieutenant.”

The woman’s face twitched, pleased, before melting back into apathy. “At once, Princess.”

“And while you’re at it,” the Princess stode over to the chair previously occupied by the stronghold’s leader and sat like she belonged there, “Bring us some tea.”

The Lieutenant smiled like it was a private joke and bowed before leaving, the soldiers and their prisoners following. Now alone with the girl, Aang gulped.

“So, uh, what’s happening here?” he asked, a little faint.

“I’m taking over this precious hovel, obviously,” she gestured to the chair across the desk, “Sit, Avatar Aang. There’s some things I’d like to discuss with you.”

A frog climbed out of his shirt, finding its way upwards and onto Aang’s head. Weakly, he glanced at the chair and then to the girl.

“I’d love to, but my friends …”

“I have a medic on board. And we’ll make this quick, hm?” she leaned forward, smirking – a seal-shark finally finding its prey, “As for me: my name is Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation and future Firelord.

I also happen to be the hottest firebender alive.”

The frog on Aang’s head stopped mid-croak to gape. Aang could understand that sentiment.

Another little peek at Lily White, Poppy Red, the Zuko-Azula roleswap AU I'm working on. Still a bit of a WIP ...

Update! Finally wrote it

#lily white poppy red #atla roleswap #atla #ao3 fanfic #avatar the last airbender #atla fanficion #WIP #current wip #wip fic #aang #azula #zuko #atla fanfic

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #5: Sokka vs. Hahn

I think as a fandom we can agree that, whatever the setting may be, Sokka is always ready to punch Hahn’s lights out :’D

This month’s prompt was an action scene! While there were many cool options, Sokka’s fight against Hahn was a lot more memorable for people than I anticipated when I wrote it xD It won by one vote, and while I took a long time to finish it, I’m mostly happy with the outcome. Not necessarily as happy with the background despite it could be worse x’D but I need to settle on one specific layout for the Grand Royal Dome, I know I do, and I swear one day I shall xD

Hope you guys like it! If you want to partake in the selection of the prompts for the Fic-to-Art Project, just a $1 pledge is enough for you to join the suggestions and voting phase for the creation of these artworks :D

#fic-to-art project #sokka #hahn #azula #hina #gladiator chapter 172 #lowkey Sokkla because #I started out by wanting to make it look like she's bored #it ended up looking like she's checking him out from that far away while Hina loses her shit :'D #I mean #she definitely checks him out 24/7 #she used to be subtle about it #not anymore X'D #Azula likes Azula gapes #that's how it works (?) #and Sokka just loves it