#I believe in taller zuko

[overtail]

Can u do zuko x tall reader headcanons? Her being his height or an inch taller??

i mean I'll do that but way taller since Zuko is canonically 5'3...................

he's our short king guys

Zuko x Tall Reader Headcannons

pre-book 3 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔

-zuko was always taller than you as a kid

-he was always teasing you since you were such a short girl

-over summer break, when you and your family went on a trip when you two were 11, you came back extremely tall

-'pre-teen growth spurt I guess?'

-he always felt very inferior to you

-you just kept getting taller as the months went on

-when you signed up to fight in the army, you were teased and called a boy by the others in training

-zuko always defended you, and made sure you felt like a girl

-he would get you flowers, try to get dresses for you, and would always call you his 'girl best friend', even though you were his only friend

-when he was sent on the mission to find the Avatar when he was 13, you couldnt accompany him

-you were devastated, even going as far as trying to quit your soldier training

-but when he left, you gave up on your efforts

-you worked hard, writing letters to zuko that were never sent

-you celebrated his birthday, buying gifts that collected up in the closet of your bedroom

-everyday you believed he would come back

-but he never did

-you gave up after about 2 years

-you tried to focus on your work of becoming a soldier, graduating at 13

-you were the most versatile and strongest because of your height, and you were the top of your ranks

book 3 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔

-over three years later, zuko returned

-his hair was longer, his scar was fully healed at this point

-he was taller now, but not by much. you still towered over him

-he didn't recognize you at first. you of course knew it was him, since the announcement of his arrival was spread throughout the kingdom

-since you were the most trusted by your commander, you were assigned to guard zuko

-you waved awkwardly at him, and the only thing that confused him was that such a tall person has such a feminine figure

-he didn't see your face under the helmet, so that added to the non recognition

-'y/n?'

-he hugged you the moment you took off your helmet, waving back

-you were maybe 2 or 3 inches taller than him

-though it had been 3 years, it was like you were back at iroh's house, learning how to play pai sho

-'you're a soldier now? sick'

-he was already happy that he had his honor back, but seeing you made him ecstatic

-every say you two would take walks around the palace

-you two would eat lunch together, visit the village

-until he started dating mai

-you held no grudge against her - she was a lot like zuko

-you were happy that he met his other half, someone so indifferent to him

-that's what made you jealous

-you two stopped hanging out like regular

-'wanna get lunch?' 'I'm going on a picnic with mai'

-the title friend slowly faded into just being his bodyguard

-🔞it was always so awkward hearing him and mai get up to things in his room as you stood guard outside

-🔞you always wished it was you

-the possibility of you being too tall ran through your mind, how being a soldier cracked your femininity

-on the day of black sun, you caught him writing a letter and setting it on his desk

-'what are you doing zuko?' 'theres no time to explain'

-you insisted that you come with him, that you could help him

-it was both because you wanted to protect him and stay with him

-he told you that he was abandoning his role as the crowned prince of the fire nation, and that if you wanted to come with, you'd no longer be a loyal soldier

-when he said yes, you were both ecstatic and worried

-you would be leaving your whole life behind - you'd be commiting treason

redemption 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔

-none of the members of the Gaang trusted you and Zuko

-they thought you were one of the soldiers that were on the ship with zuko

-you tried explaining to them you had to be 16 to graduate the training academy, and zuko left when they were both 13

-when sparky sparky boom man attacked, you and zuko helped fight him

-they trusted you a bit more, but still held a grudge against zuko

-they forced you two to sleep in a secluded tent together

-the first night you two stayed, there was an awkward silence

-you two were still distant

-'what was in that letter?'

-zuko explained to you that in that message, he told mai that he was leaving her

-he thought it was for the best

-you felt bad for him, not aware that he was going through a break up without telling anyone

-but at the same time, you were happy

-you had a chance

-'im sorry man'

-you tried to hug him, but he looked away.

-something was off about him

-'what wrong zuko?' 'i need to tell you something'

-he not only broke up with mai because he was leaving, but because he liked you

-he looked up at you as you two sat in the tent. the lantern light flickered as you moved closer

-the kiss was soft and first, tender, and practically just a peck on the lips

-when you pulled apart, he was extremely red

-🔞kissing wasn't all you did that night

freaky deaky 🔞 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔

-zuko loved putting his face in your chest when you hug

-he likes kissing every part of your body, especially since there's so much of it

-he likes it A LOT, especially when he can make you buckle beneath his words

-you're such a strong girl that it makes him powerful when he's dominating you

-likes the arch of your back when he's hitting it from behind 🫣

-loves watching your long fingers prepare yourself for him

#avatar the last airbender #fandom #fanfic #fluff #smut #atla zuko #zuko x reader #prince zuko #fire lord zuko #zuko

[oneatlatime]

The Crossroads of Destiny

Strap in folks it's finally finale time!

I'm getting a bad feeling from the 'previously on' segment.

*gasp* Song's bird horse!?!?!

Toph gets some serious speed with that earth tongue walking.

Ty Lee's flattery gets less and less subtle. I get the feeling that a lot of Azula's more worrying tendencies could have been curtailed if someone had stuck her on stage as a child.

Is Zuko taller?

The cuts between these scenes are getting ridiculous. Some of these scenes are maybe 15 seconds long.

Zuko knows what's up. He and Iroh have teamed up on that particular fire breathing party trick before.

"It's time I face Azula." Buddy. No.

"You're so dramatic." POT. KETTLE. BLACK.

The last time Iroh and the Aang Gang teamed up, it was also against Azula. She has a way of uniting enemies.

The longer I stare at this the more I giggle.

"Good inside him isn't enough. Why don't you come back when it's outside him too, ok?" Congratulations to Sokka for articulating one of the fundamental human truths. Intentions can go take a hike when all that's visible are actions.

I love that! Iroh says he brought someone along in a tone that very much implies that he asked for help from a friend! Then you go outside and see he kidnapped a dude! And then they just leave him there!

I see your fake meditation. No one as rotten inside as this guy actually meditates properly.

The Dai Li be like

Katara? Why are you ripping into Zuko? Why is Season one bitchy Katara back? I don't want season 1 bitchy Katara to come back.

"No offence." "None taken." Iroh loves his nephew, but Iroh knows his nephew.

The one time Iroh's advice is explicitly solicited is the one time his advice is corny crap. That sucks.

Ba Sing Se is a tel? That's neat.

Hey Toph? Now would be a great time for that new metal bending trick of yours.

Avatar inadvertently validating my fear of subway grates.

I know this is life or death serious and all, but isn't the Sokka and Ty Lee dynamic cute?

MOMO!

This episode's thesis statement boils down to "what happens when you cancel arts programs and theatre kids don't get a chance to monologue in controlled conditions."

Honest question: Is Azula actually so deluded to believe that Divine Right of Kings crap she just spouted, or is she saying what the Dai Li needs to hear to side with her? Usually I think everything out of Azula's mouth is a calculated statement for manipulating others, but the way the show framed that monologue makes me think she actually believes what she's saying.

This conversation between Katara and Zuko, aside from showing that Katara is as capable as Sokka at sticking her foot in her mouth, is actually showing Zuko's growth well. So many of the things that he waves away with an "it's ok" are things that would have made him explode back in season one. It's about time he redefined that scar of his too.

"Aang! I knew you'd come!" "Uncle! The fuck?" Zuko truly has a way with words.

Hey Iroh maybe save your heart to heart until after you've exited the prison?

Wait so this episode is named after Zuko's arc? It's Zuko's destiny this finale is dealing with? Poor Aang's not even the main character in his eponymous show's season finale? Dang.

What was I saying about waiting to chat until you're outside the prison?

So every word out of Azula's mouth here is definitely a lie. She doesn't need Zuko at all. She's got a whole army and already has possession of the throne. What does she need with someone she considers to be an inferior firebender?

Father's love? That guy who burns off faces? The audacity.

"You are free to choose." Is it really freedom of choice if choosing the answer Azula doesn't want to hear ends with Zuko in a crystal cage?

Gotta say I'm intrigued by how quiet Zuko's being for this whole episode. Compare it to the volume of his confrontation with Azula at the Spa place at the beginning of the season.

This is so awful. This is so skin crawly. This is so going to end badly.

Toph can turn doors into ping pong balls. I like that. And what does she need Sokka scouting for Dai Li agents for? She can sense people for miles.

I love the line read on the "I'm not leaving without Bosco!" But does this guy really think he's in a position to make demands, after all the stuff he's ruined in the last, what, two days?

This is a cool move. Full body air bitchslap.

Katara cut her hair! That's kind of like what she did to Pakku with the ice disks.

How has no one been knocked out yet? Everyone in this fight should have at least 5 concussions by now.

I don't know what to make of it, but when Zuko says "I have changed" he sounds more calm and confident than he has all season.

I love the dynamic between Sokka & Toph and Mai & Ty Lee. Everyone involved knows they're second string and no one's really that invested. So they're all kind of chill.

I don't know what's going on in this fight, but Zuko is far too talented and Katara and Aang are both going down too easily.

And this right here is why this fight is only going to end badly for Aang. As soon as Azula's tired of playing, she'll call in reinforcements. Aang doesn't have those.

I hate Azula so much, which means I'm very annoyed to say that she and Zuko actually make a good fighting team. Did they practice drills together or something back in the day? They way they tag out and back in, and exchange fights, flows so well.

Jesus

Crap ok

She nerfed him in the power up sequence! That's not allowed!

So help me god if the writers hook these two up after pulling this crap I will riot.

Iroh could have been helpful if he'd been there earlier. Guess it takes a while to break out of crystals. Although I do like the detail that he stops fighting as soon as Aang and Katara are out & safe.

I was wondering why the magic water was randomly brought up earlier after disappearing for the entire season. I figured it had been lost in the desert with the rest of the stuff on Appa's saddle.

I'm so sorry, but the way Aang's arrow flashes once to confirm that Katara's saved him makes him look like an external USB device confirming successful connection.

I'm loving how immediate the regret from Zuko is. Proof that he has learned over the last two seasons.

"The Earth Kingdom... has fallen." AND WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? This King rubs me the wrong way. Consistently.

I'm fascinated by the fact that they managed to securely transport a bear on Appa's back.

Final Thoughts

Poor Aang has been demoted to secondary character in his own show. This finale was all Fire Nation.

Well done Azula. No matter which way you look at it, she won. If Azula was the main character, this episode would be the crowning glory series finale.

Sokka and Toph spent the whole episode running around putting out fires, only for five more to spring up in their place. I honestly don't know how they and Appa reconnected with the rest of the Gaang to fly out at the end. There's this feeling the whole episode of being consistently one too many steps behind, and I think it's most obvious in their incessant side quests.

Poor Katara went through about seventy billion emotions this episode. I take back my anger at her bitchiness. She deserved a vent session, although I don't think Zuko quite deserved to be the recipient of it. But he took it well.

Congratulations to Zuko for falling backwards into the only right choice for all the wrong reasons. This episode was only going to end with Azula victorious. She recruited an army and successfully executed a coup without breaking a sweat - that is not a level of enemy that Aang and friends has ever faced before, and not one they can realistically win against. Like with Long Feng, this is not a threat you can hit. You can't bend at ideologies and loyalties.

Zuko was going to end this episode siding with the Fire Nation as a free man, or in Fire Nation custody. This way, someone with an actual semi-functioning conscience now has access to the upper levels of the Fire Nation. This could be really interesting.

To be clear, I fully believe that Zuko chose to side with Azula because he swallowed her offer hook, line & sinker. For the guy who invented "Azula always lies" he sure does fall for her lies a lot, especially when she's saying exactly what he wants to hear. I believe Zuko believed her about getting his honour back bla bla bla, chose to follow her because of that belief, and has already realised at least some of what she said was lies by the end of the episode. Which is promising! It looks like there's potential for a Zuko mole next season!

I'm worried for Iroh. Firelords who burn their children's faces off with no shame don't strike me as the type to shy away from executing their brothers.

The Aang fakeout death at the end was not remotely believable unfortunately, mostly because kids' cartoons don't ever pull a Psycho and kill the nominal main character half way through. It probably would have freaked me out if I'd seen this episode as a kid though.

Azula hitting Aang during his power up sequence was inspired. A very well done subversion of expectations, which finally validates my frustrations with the concept of power up sequences in general. Few things bug me more than the mooks politely waiting their turn while the good guy does a quick wardrobe change.

So... is the war over? The Earth Kingdom's fallen, the Southern Water Tribe have been functionally out of the game for a while now. There's only the Northern Water Tribe left, which are only still standing because of a Hail Mary that I very much doubt Aang can pull off twice. So is next season's focus going to be defending the Northern Water Tribe from a final Fire Nation push? I think that's the only place that isn't conquered by the Fire Nation in name at least. On the bright side, this means the Gaang won't be returning to Ba Sing Se. Good riddance. I hate that place.

I've never seen a show with a finale that focuses so intensely on the conflict of someone other than the main character. I don't really know what to make of this episode. I think I liked the one before it better. To be clear, everything that happened made sense - characters were in character, events unfolded as expected (if you handwave an elite force of earthbenders preferring a 14 year old over their seasoned leader), but something about this episode is just a bit boring to me. Maybe they telegraphed it too hard in the previous episodes? I don't know. I'll have to chew on this one a bit.

#atla #avatar: the last airbender #avatar the last airbender #the crossroads of destiny #a resounding meh

[soopersara]

Respite

Zutara Week 2023: Day 5

Read it on AO3 | @zutaraweek

At the Western Air Temple, Zuko and Katara can't stop arguing. But at night, to let the others sleep, they go by different rules.

“Can’t sleep?”

“No. You?”

Zuko shakes his head. “Still not used to the snoring. I thought my uncle was bad, but between Sokka and Aang, there’s never a quiet moment after sunset.”

He’s lying. Katara has heard him jerk out of sleep enough times to know that he has nightmares, and she suspects that he’s noticed the same about her. But they’ve come to an understanding by now—they may not be friends, but after dark, they don’t have to be.

They don’t argue. That might wake the others.

They don’t ask too many questions. That might make them argue.

It feels like a delicate balance sometimes, but their nighttime truce hasn’t failed them yet. By now, it’s beginning to feel natural.

“The snoring doesn’t bother me too much. You get used to that pretty quickly when you grow up in a tent.” She peers at him from the corner of her eye. “I’m less used to Toph kicking me in her sleep.”

If he recognizes the lie, he gives no sign of it. Instead, he gestures toward the empty space farther down the terrace. “I made enough tea for two cups if you want some.” He raises his cup enough to give its contents a sniff, and his mouth pulls to the side. “It’s—probably a little better than last time.”

“Did you make two cups deliberately, or did you just forget how much water you needed?”

A shrug. “Possibly both. I think I used too many tea leaves last time, so extra water has to be an improvement. Right?”

She perches an arm’s length away from him, allowing her legs to dangle over the edge. “You taste it first. If it’s better than last time, then I’ll think about having a cup.”

“Fair enough.” He doesn’t immediately taste the tea, opting instead to look out over the moonlit valley while the cup steams gently in his hands. “Did I ever tell you that I’ve been here once before?”

“No. But I guess I’m not really surprised.”

She looks downward too, her eyes tracing over the ribbons of mist forming along the rivers and streams in the jungle below. He’s been traveling more than three times as long as she has. After so much time, it’s no wonder that his path has folded back on itself.

“Is everything the way you remember it?” she asks. So long as she doesn’t look his way, she finds that she doesn’t mind his conversation. He is more soft-spoken, more thoughtful than she usually gives him credit for, and if she doesn’t meet his eyes, the anger that would ordinarily roil inside of her lies dormant.

“Mostly. And not at all.” Zuko pauses for a sip of tea, frowns in thought, then pours a second cup and passes it her way.

Katara shoots him a sideways glance before accepting the cup. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean the temple hasn’t changed very much, but—I don’t know. I guess I look at things differently now.”

Her hands clench, and she drags her eyes down toward the valley again. It’s nighttime. As frustrated and angry as she might be, she can’t argue with him now. Not when it could wake the others.

Still, a sharp tinge of bitterness finds its way into her voice. “Why? Because you’ve just changed so much?”

If her tone bothers him, Zuko doesn’t show it much. Dryly, he says, “I’m taller than I was last time I came here. And I can see out of both eyes since I don’t have half my face wrapped up in bandages.” A pause, and when he resumes, his voice is softer than before. “I am different now. You don’t have to believe me if you don’t want to, but I have changed. Maybe not as much as I should, but at least being alone with my thoughts sucks less than it used to.”

“Hmpf.” Rather than responding immediately, she takes a swallow of tea. Though the flavor isn’t spectacular—it never is when Zuko brews it—the tea is at least pleasant enough to drink. Pleasant enough that she can hardly complain about it, even jokingly. She’s had worse in dozens of small village teashops. “I’m still waiting for you to prove that.”

“I know. I’m trying.”

She spares him another sideways glance. The fact that he always manages to sound, to look so earnest unnerves her a little. She doesn’t want to believe him, to trust him, but at the moment, she can’t convince herself that he’s lying. At the very least, he believes what he’s saying.

Maybe that quiet conviction is the problem. Why is it that he can be so certain when she doesn’t know what to believe anymore? It doesn’t seem fair. She’s been on the right side all along. She ought to know who she can trust by now. Zuko shouldn’t have this sort of clarity when he’s only just realized that his nation is in the wrong.

Katara leans back on her hands. She isn’t going to argue with him, but she refuses to give him credit for any clarity either. They have their truce, and if the only way she can maintain it without ceding any ground is to change the subject, that is exactly what she’ll have to do.

“Of all the Air Temples I’ve seen so far, I think I like this one best. The others felt so much—emptier than this one.”

For a few seconds, she can feel Zuko’s gaze on the side of her face, but then he turns forward again. “I get that. The northern and southern temples are so high up that they almost feel untouchable. Like they’re so far away from everything else that no one should be able to reach them.”

“What about the eastern temple? What’s that one like?”

He glances her way again. “You haven’t been there?”

She shakes her head. “The others left me behind in Ba Sing Se when Aang went to visit.”

“Oh.” His voice is almost impossibly soft, and he presses his lips together briefly before clearing his throat. By the weight of the silence, she suspects that he knows exactly when that visit was, exactly what being left behind led her into. “I’ve only been there once myself. It was—more open than the northern or southern temples, I guess. Spread out across a few different mountaintops, and I guess the extra space just made it feel different.”

“Hmm.” She exhales and takes another sip of tea. “I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to see it.”

“I’m sure you will, someday.”

“What, are you some kind of optimist now?”

He shrugs. “You and the others have always managed to find a way before. I don’t see why this would be any different.”

Katara narrows her eyes. The same ember of frustration that has been sitting in her core flares up again, but this time, she can’t quite manage to contain it. “Oh, so that’s it? You decided to join us because you were tired of being on the losing side?”

“What?” His brows furrow.

“You keep telling us that you’re just here to do the right thing. I don’t think that’s true. If you really wanted to do the right thing, you could have started a long time ago.”

They’ve tread this ground before. She knows what’s coming—he’ll insist, yet again, that he’s trying to be a better person, then she’ll push back, and the cycle will go on. They’ll argue over and over, and it will never end unless he gives up or finds a way to finally change her mind.

The trouble is that even she doesn’t know what that might take.

There is a sort of melancholy that comes over his face, and his shoulders hunch. “I’ve been telling you the truth.”

A bitter laugh claws its way up her throat. “You keep saying that. Do you really think repeating yourself is helping anything?”

The tired defeat in his eyes feels like it should break her resolve, but Zuko just shakes his head and looks out over the valley again. “You don’t have to believe me if you don’t want to.”

“You really don’t get it, do you? I do have to believe you. Everyone here is my family, and if you’re going to be around them, I have to trust that you’re not going to hurt them. And—” Despite her best efforts, her voice begins to wobble. “And I can’t trust you.”

“Oh.”

For what feels like a long time, that is all Zuko says. She thinks she sees his hand hover hesitantly toward her shoulder once or twice, but he never quite makes contact. She can’t decide if that’s better or worse. He cares enough to want to comfort her—or enough that he wants to make it look that way—but he’s either too disingenuous or too frightened of her to actually try.

“It was you,” Zuko says at long last, not quite looking her way.

“Excuse me?” She can still feel the heat in her own voice, and she stares daggers at him.

He clears his throat. “The other reason I came here. I mean—I did want to help. I still do. But—” He looks down into his teacup. “I had to leave home. By the end, Father just wanted to see the rest of the world burn, and I was tired of walking on eggshells to keep him from turning me into an example for everyone else.”

That figures, she wants to tell him. He’s the son of the Fire Lord. Sooner or later, life with his own family was bound to become too painful, too dangerous to bear. But the fact that he had no choice but to flee does nothing for his trustworthiness.

Zuko isn’t finished yet. With a sigh, he rubs his eyes with the heel of his hand. “It took me a while to realize that I couldn’t run away unless I had somewhere else to go. But as soon as I did, I thought about what you said to me in the catacombs, and—I guess I felt like I’d finally found my place.”  

Her temper spikes. Maybe he’s telling the truth, or maybe he’s not, but it doesn’t really matter. True or not, the idea that he’s here because of her just hurts.

She slaps her teacup down and pushes back from the edge of the terrace. “Don’t say that. Don’t you dare act like what happened in the catacombs mattered to you.”

Zuko rises just a moment after her. “Katara—”

She starts marching back toward her own room. If she has to stew in there alone for the rest of the night, she will. Anything to stop this conversation.

“Do you remember what you said to me?”

She fixes her eyes straight ahead. Just keep walking. Sooner or later, he has to give up.

“You told me that you thought I’d changed. And I had, a little. But now things just keep changing, and if I can’t stop that, I want to at least have some say in where I’m going.” He pauses, almost like he’s hoping that she’ll turn to face him again. “You thought I could be a better person. I wasn’t back then, and maybe I still haven’t gotten there. But I want to. Whoever you thought I could be back in Ba Sing Se—I’m still trying to figure out how to be that person.”

Katara stops walking, and her hands tighten involuntarily into fists. She wants to believe him. That fact surprises her more than she wants to admit. A person like him, like the better version of him, would make everything better. He could take an immense weight of responsibility off of her shoulders if only his change was real.

Maybe if she could shake free from the mistrust that has gripped her for so long, she would find that it is. That Zuko really is better now.

“Please,” he adds, voice soft. His footsteps come just a little closer, angling to one side where he can make out her face in profile. “I just want to know what I’m still doing wrong. I’ll fix it all if I can, I just need to know where to start.”

She shakes her head. “Nowhere. Don’t you get it? You aren’t doing anything wrong, it’s just—” Her voice wavers, then breaks. “It’s just that I believed you once before. I don’t think I could take it if I messed up and trusted the wrong person again.”

With one last, surprisingly light step, Zuko comes close enough to touch her shoulder, and this time, she feels the soft, warm weight of his hand. “You weren’t the one who messed up in Ba Sing Se.”

Though she is still both furious and hurt, she can’t help but lean into him. “What difference does it make whomessed up? I almost lost one of my closest friends. And I did lose someone else who I wanted to be my friend.”

She can only see him from the corner of her eye, but he appears briefly stunned by her candor. Then, instead of retreating as she expects, he offers her a tentative hug. “I’m not going anywhere this time. Not unless you want me to. If you ever decide to give me another chance, I promise I’ll be right here waiting.”

#zutara #zutara fanfiction #zutara week #zutaraweek #zutara week 2023 #zutaraweek2023 #Respite #soopersara's scribbles

[mugentakeda]

I notice in some of ur Zuko art you give him a little chest scar 🧍🏻‍♂️... is there any headcanons related to that .. do u have any Zuko scars headcanons.. or body headcanons in general... I loved ur reference post for how u draw different characters so consider this an open invitation to talk about your hcs for other characters too *bats eyelashes*

OHHH YES HEHHEHEHE .... if im being quite honest. this is gonna seem soooo silly but Id use female volleyball players as reference for zukos body build if i didnt always draw him in bulky armor and sweeping robes. they have a good balance of slenderness and muscle that i feel really suit zuko, and i personally hc that his legs have more defined muscle in them than his torso. hes strong as hell in the arms as well of course, and has a strong core, but i believe the legs are the true powerhouses if you just had a regular regular fight with him without his bending or swords.

i love the fact that zuko canonically has super powerful legs and can do crazy shit like shatter chains and crack real wood tables, and i like highlighting that. i dont hc zuko as naturally broad in the shoulders like his dad is, and that he has to work hard to keep muscle on them and eat well to maintain it. plus, the way fire nation fashion flares the shoulder part of their clothing gives his shoulders that little extra bit of width that zuko prefers.

(that way zuko doesnt have to constantly puff his chest and flex his shoulders to make himself look bigger than he really is- and on top of that, i like to give his boots a little bit of heel. its all about making yourself bigger and taller, yelling louder, etc.) (and serving cuntress. zuko is a diva okay!!)

as for the scars i like to give him, first of all its bc i think they look cool af!!!!!! second of all just because i think it makes sense honestly. scars from fights, scars from accidents, scars from ozai, scars from his instructors, scars from flailing in one of azulas more thrilling games and busting his ass, scars from himself. scars from weapons, scars from burns, scars from nature.

when i look at zuko and his general demeanor, and this is even without bias, he just doesnt have that same royal flair the rest of his folks do. he can be a total snooty cunt, but hes too prickly and awkward to pull off that charisma everyone else seems to ooze. it may have been a front for her sometimes, but azula had that charisma nailed most of the time, even as a little kid. little zuko just felt like any other fumbly twitchy kid with two left feet in some nice clothes. and him having all types of scars and a golden tooth as a teenager would just make it worse- he gives the vibe of some mangy snarly disgraced sailor kid in royal finery rather than a refined prince. i just feel the scars suit his personality too well on top of just looking cool and rugged!!!!

#i dont have specific stories currently in mind for the big ones i draw but i could def cook some random funny shit up #i think the gaang would def be nosy as hell and would want the stories behind all of them #i will def make a ref sheet of fullbody hcs for the gaang+extras now that the idea is in my head.... thank you gremkins...... #asks

[phoenixfangs]

tagged by @rizaposting HOLDING UR HAND AND PRESSING MY FOREHEAD AGAINST UR SHOULDER i never get tagged in these so this is fun huehue

are you named after anyone? not technically, ive asked my parents multiple times about How they came up with me and my siblings names, but they just. didnt think very hard about it. fjkdlsjfdlas. but in a way im named after my mom, because me and saturns given names start with the same letter as our moms; my younger siblings names start with the same letter as our dads. i guess me and saturn could also be named for one of my dads uncles?? our names mixed make that uncles name. but idk im not willing to believe my dad cares that much about Anyone in his family to honor their memory through our names lawl

when was the last time you cried? i think the other day watching atla, when zuko and iroh reunite before the final battle. zuko trying to stumble through an apology and thinking iroh must hate him, but iroh just without even saying anything grabbing zuko and pulling him into a tight and tearful hug... man ;_;

do you have kids? HELL NO!!!!! im barely halfway through my 20s i should be at the club. dont want kids, never wanted kids, will never want kids. i will tolerate being my nieces and nephews cool auncle when my siblings start having kids of their own, and No More, thanks

do you use sarcasm a lot? i guess so?? its hard to gauge. i feel like most of the time i speak sincerely, but i will also throw in the occasional sarcastic quip. shrugs

what sports do you play? i dont play any sports anymore, but up until high school i played softball. i was pretty good i think! pitcher and second base. also in middle/high school i was a baton twirler for band and i guess dance competitions (i have Never thought of it as 'dance' but i guess technically i was dancing... blegh), and im gonna count that as a sport. any activity with the possibility and probability of being hit on the head by a metal rod counts as a sport to me

what’s the first thing you notice about people? probably their height. most people are taller than me but i will make an immediate note of people who are Shorter than me

what’s your eye color? grrrreen gray? i spent a few minutes staring at my eyes trying to figure out the color but all i did was strain my eyes jfldks

scary movies or happy endings? hmmmmmm i love both. i like blood and gore and guts and evil, but i also like heartwarming fluff where everything works out. i cant decide!! it just depends on my mood hehe

any special talents? i hesitate to claim i have perfect pitch because it sounds self congratulatory, but im pretty sure i have perfect pitch lmao. i cant Identify notes by name but i can recreate pretty much any note i hear, as long as its in my range. im not a good singer though lawl i dont have the technique. in the same vein, i can recreate other noises i hear pretty well, like i taught myself how to do the perry the platypus clicking sound Thing he does just by listening to it

where were you born? texas born and raised! everyone i knew growing up was a redneck or a 'cowboy church' christian

what are your hobbies? drawing, writing fanfic oneshots or rps with friends, bideo games, rewatching the same handful of tv shows and letsplays and video essays over and over again

do you have any pets? my son, my sweet bubby, apollo :> my stupid little man, hes gonna be 3 this year i think! flame point siamese kitty, dumb as rocks, currently i think hes burrowed in the sheets on my bed taking a nappy

how tall are you? 5'2", but add a couple inches because i almost exclusively wear shoes that add height, like my Big Dyke Boots i wear every day hehe

favorite subject in school? any of my electives probably, like art and music/band. in college my favorite classes i ever took were film appreciation, screenwriting, and theatre directing (which i signed up for thinking it was film directing, but it was still so fun and interesting)

dream job? honestly?? i think anything on the set of a movie or tv show would be awesome. maybe creative consultant, so that i can interject my own ideas into other peoples projects. i tend to feel my most creative when im working Around other peoples ideas tbh. all that, or lead writer/director on my own tv show/movie/video game, if i ever feel like i can handle that pressure

GET TAGGED @applescabs @lizardyeast @cottagegay and anyone else that sees and wants to participate :>

#mine #this is such a classic type of post. u never see people do tag memes anymore i feel like #i hardly ever see them anyway!

[astriddestelle]

Bored af so imma do what your favorite childhood fictional crush says about you.

Meant to be taken with a grain of salt. (Just for fun)

Robin from Teen Titans: You love a man in charge, and want someone who is ride or die for you. If he’s not gonna jump off a cliff to save you at the risk of his own life you don’t want him. Doesn’t hurt that’s he rich too. You’re probably taller than your current bf.

Beast Boy: You like a guy who can make you laugh. Probably the youngest in your family. You don’t mind your guys a bit goofy looking. You want a golden retriever boyfriend and probably love animals go figure.

Cyborg: Two words hot jock. You love athletic dudes and played a lot of sports when you were younger, if you didn’t you wished you did. You like a man that can cook and will not hesitate to take care of you. You love a big friendly giant.

Zuko from Avatar: You’re a sucker for bad boys. And think you can change em (lucky for you this one wants to be change) awkward guys who don’t know how hot they are get you going. You find cringe moments cute and adorable. And admire a man with drive passion and ambition

Jet: you’re a sucker for bad boys and think you can change em (jokes on you this one won’t change) you like your men dramatic and angsty with cocky attitude. You’re a sucker for flirting hidden under the guise of snarky banter.

Sokka: You think pick up lines are hilarious and swoon every time. You flirt in fluent sarcasm. You love to laugh and like funny guys. Your perfect date involve something to do with eating. You’ve got a kink for smart men.

Aang: You like you’re men sweet and you’re probably a child at heart. You might be the oldest who wants a man to lessen their responsibilities. You like bald men. You’re a girl who sees future potential. You want a golden retriever boyfriend.

Danny Phantom: Listen you like your men just a wee bit dumb. Honestly who doesn’t love a good himbo er himbo in the making. He’s like 20 percent himbo and that’s good enough for you. You like a guy with big dreams and a protection streak 20 miles long. You’re also a sucker for witty flirtation and fake hair and blue eyes gets you going.

Jack Fenton: You REALLY like himbos. (He had to get from somewhere right) you want a guy that will worship and adore you. You don’t mind having to clean up messes. You like a man that is sweet but will not hesitate to beat someone down in your honor.

Vlad: You REALLY like bad boys. A firm believer in I can fix him. You’ve been waiting your whole life to be a hot trophy wife. You enjoy the finer things in like. You like well dressed men with a sultry voice.

Anyone wants me to do more lemme know. I just got bored haha. Again this is just for fun, please don’t come in with ACTUALLY.

#danny phantom #teen titans #avatar the last airbender #aang #prince zuko #sokka #jet atla #Robin #cyborg #beast boy #jack fenton #vlad plasmius #what your fave fictional crush says about you #what your favorite childhood fictional crush says about you

[jeyuwuso]

Thank you @little-jey! <3

15 Questions 15 Mutuals

1. Are you named after anyone?

Not a person, but a song ("Poor Little Allison" by Gordon Lightfoot. It's pretty!)

2. When was the last time you cried?

A few weeks ago. I'm not typically a big crier anymore (although the season 13 finale of Bob's Burgers literally makes me cry every time lol)

3. Do you have kids?

No, just a cat who believes he's my biological son

4. What sports do you play/have played?

I did tae kwon do, soccer, and softball when I was little. None of them lasted long. I'm not the athletic type.

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Yeah

6. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Physically? Either hair or face. Personality-wise? I always pay attention when I realize someone is really funny or really smart. (Literally all of these things are why I fell for my wife)

7. What's your eye color?

Bluish gray

8. Scary movies or Happy endings

Why not both lol? IMO, no movie has a happier ending than Krampus or Misommer

9. Any talents?

I always tells people I'm like a My Little Pony bc I only really have three talents, and one of them is friendship lol. Otherwise, I'm good at the writing field, and I'm a good cook!

LMAO

10. Where were you born?

Same place I am now! Small town in Michigan

11. What are your hobbies?

Writing, video games, sculpting

12. Do you have any pets?

My two kitties, Zuko and Berry. I love them with all my heart.

13. How tall are you?

Five feet tall (my mom was so sad I didn't get taller than her lol)

14. Favorite subject in school

English - by a WIDE margin

15. Dream Job?

Pretty much what I'm doing right now as a romance author and editor. There are a lot of things I'd love to write, but there's really nothing I love more than writing about happy relationships and helping other people with their writing. If I could do anything else, it would be to work at my university's writing center again, because tutoring is incredibly fulfilling.

Fifteen people is a LOT to tag and I know a lot of folks have been tagged already, so I'll just go with @iguessilikewrestlingnow, @samijey, @harmshake, @imabillyami, and @losercubs!

#tag game

[ml-typhonverse]

I had a thought today of the Fire Nation and dragons. A nation that believes that within every heart is a dragon, and that dragon hoards the people the person loves. After all, what is a dragon without a hoard?

Zuko's hoard starts out so small, because he has a lot of love to give but isn't great at recognizing it when it's given back. He's been taught through his childhood that a hoard has to look a certain way. High quality jewels and gold coins. Traditional.

But Zuko's hoard winds up full of smaller things. A scarf woven with turtleducks from his mother, a tea-scented scroll of proverbs from Iroh. A golden hairpin sharp enough to kill from Azula. Those were the only things in his hoard when he's banished.

But it grows slowly, full of things no dragon should add to his hoard. A crown of dried flowers and a ball of skybison fur shaped like a poorly made turtleduck. Blue and silver beads and a bone skewer perfect for roasting meat. A moonstone tumbled from a waterfall with all the power within. A lump of obsidian perfectly shaped and powerful, and all the more beautiful for it. A simple fan, both lovely and deadly. A set of throwing knives and a pair of bells.

Yet it doesn't stop there. His hoard fills with tea and letters and drawings from children he's never met because 'dad and mom are home again' and the war is over and the hoard grows taller and taller until one could barely see the walls around it. But Zuko knows where everything is. For a dragon knows each and every piece of their hoard, and in Zuko's heart, there's room for it all.

Azula's hoard, on the other hand, starts small and stays that way. She only wants quality items in her hoard; her love will not be wasted on those unworthy of it. Eventually though, there's nothing left.

A golden crown from her father. (Melted by his own flames because what is the Fire Lord to a Phoenix King?) The dragon-embroidered scarf from her mother. (Ripped to shreds; she always thought Azula a monster). Iroh's scroll, a perfect match to Zuko's. (Burned to a crisp as he always favored Dumdum over her.) Mai's daggers and Ty Lee's bells. (Crushed to powder. They betrayed her, and for Zuzu?!)

In the end, Zuko can bury himself in warmth and love while Azula rages at her emptied hoard, before curling herself around the one remaining treasure to sleep.

A dragon scale, red to black from a burned face. (It's all she has left.)

#avatar the last airbender #avatar thoughts #zuko #azula #dragons #dragon hoarding #zuko goes for quantity #azula for quality #one ends up better than the other in the long run #azula is a perfectionist #and it ruins her

[tender-hearteddd]

Bertholdt x OC fic I still need to write :(

there’s this part in my bertholdt x oc fic where my oc gets into a fight with reiner about the progress they’re making on their mission and how reiners plan is just gonna get them nowhere and reiner is just like “no you have to listen to me this is the best plan for us to find the founding titan” and OC, who’s job in the breaching of wall maria was to go directly into the inner wall and get the king (the supposed founding titan), is not having it. in my fic, OC is a woc in a monoethnic country that has no idea where people that look like her come from. they’re pushed to the underground bc there is no place like home for those who have skin like dirt. when my OC breached the inner wall, her own people paid for her consequences by being tortured tested by rod reiss and the MPs to find the titan shifter. if they were ‘useless’, they were used as titan fodder - that’s why my OC hates reiners plan of joining the military police. her plan is to not join the military at all but to track down the people torturing her own - 3 years in the training corps is a waste of time. reiner disagrees with this and they have a big fight over it which causes OC to run away.

she leaves RBA and goes to the underground since she knows she’ll find familiarity down there. she doesn’t even carry out with her plan because no way in hell is she serving marley and honestly the only reason why she would carry out her plan is to get RBA home tbh she’s just having her ‘zuko alone’ moment lol she gets a job in a brothel but the older women don’t let her work as a prostitute, she’s far too young for that - the work these women do have broken them, no woman deserves that. the things OC has witnessed in the underground/brothel is just as scary as titans. she sees all these men using women that look like her, talk like her, dress like her and she’s disgusted. even in this godless island, women like her still literally have to sell their bodies to survive. this whole part in the story is just an analysis of the sexual subjugation of women, especially in non-western countries, like OC.

she meets Hanaan, a girl who lives in the brothel, who lost her mother due to OC breaching the inner wall. Hanaan is weak. She never learned to be strong bc her mother always always protected her but now that she’s gone, OC teaches her how to be strong. There’s a moment where Hanaan expresses to her how much she hates OC’s titan and how she hates how her people worship it. Hanaan believes that OCs titan is nothing, its no god in this godless society. Hanaan tells OC she’s gonna join the training corps to be apart of the MPs. This hits OC right in her chest - she doesn’t care about what she did to the inner wall but she cares about how her actions completely ruined her community. Even though OC didn’t want to join the military in the first place, she enlists in the training corps with Hanaan to make sure Hanaan makes top 10. This is where she’s reunited with RBA. she’s surprised to see Bertholdt has grown even taller and that Reiner isn’t too far behind. She’s also surprised that her and Annie aren’t the same height anymore. It’s only been a year but puberty has made it seem like it’s been decades since she’s last seen them. It’s like the day of your first year of high school and all your friends look extremely different compared to the way they used to look. that night of their first day in the training corps, RBA + OC have a meeting. Despite harboring her negative feelings torwards them for a whole year, all of that goes away when she sees them for the first time in so long. She wants them back home, she wants Bertholdt to be there for his sick father, for Annie to reunite with her father and for reiner to be a warrior; even if that means she never gets to go home. the plan is Reiner’s plan. No fighting this time. She’s just glad that they’re safe. 😁

#bertholdt x oc #bertholdt x reader #RBA #reiner braun #bertholdt hoover #annie leonhart #attack on titan #aot spoilers #reiner x reader #annie x reader #mikasa ackerman #eren jaeger #need to write this fic #but im so busy with school 😭 #I love bertholdt #been thinking about aot a lot lately #also hate the way some people write bertholdt on here #aot warriors #this fic is basically just an anti imperialist analysis on aot tbh #it will be if I actually write it #armin arlert

[none-ofthisnonsense]

LOTR Newsletter time!

For some reason the indent doesn’t work here, so I won’t be using passages from the text - which is a shame! but I can’t do anything about it.

I love how Sam starts singing and isn’t described until he’s finished the song - I really thought it was an elf at first who had crept up discreetly behind them and just started singing!

And... Mordor mentioned again! Such a shame, I felt like it was a while since they had talked about it (I mean. I knew we were going to talk about it from the moment Weathertop was mentioned, but I did hope it was going to last a bit longer). Let these hobbits be happy! (I would say the same for Strider, but he kind of did commit already, so it’s perhaps too late for him. Also, I fully believe he would be the kind (as Strider) to say the Iconic Zuko Quote™:

It’s interesting to see how many times a cairn or a circle of rocks has been mentioned - with the barrows, and here on weathertop, and I think Frodo later on mistakes the trolls Bilbo tricked in the Hobbit for a rock formation in a strange place at first - because it’s certainly not a common image.

Standing upon the rim of the ruined circle, they saw all round below them a wide prospect, for the most part of lands empty and featureless, except for patches of woodland away to the south, beyond which they caught here and there the glint of distant water. Beneath them on this southern side there ran like a ribbon the Old Road, coming out of the West and winding up and down, until it faded behind a ridge of dark land to the east. Nothing was moving on it. Following its line eastward with their eyes they saw the Mountains: the nearer foothills were brown and sombre; behind them stood taller shapes of grey, and behind those again were high white peaks glimmering among the clouds.

(My indent apparently works now, which is great) I just love this paragraph. Tolkien’s descriptions are always so beautiful and imaginative - even when describing unpleasant things.

#lotr newsletter #lotr newsletter spoilers #lotr spoilers #part 2 coming up right next thing #love these coming in earlier it’s so much easier for me than before #i have an absolutely monstrous 36.5 hours of school per week which doesn’t leave me with a lot of free time #also been reading more of silm #which helps my understanding of some tolkien stuff #i'm not done with it by any means though #i'm 1/5th through of beren & lúthien #but then it's 1 of the 2 longest chapters #with túrin #which i have just stared at helplessly seeing the number of pages it has #so instead of reading 1 chapter or 2 before bed each night #i've been reading until i'm tired #then again i read 400 pages of dracula in 3 days #so very tired #lotr daily

[flamingfirelord]

Attention: them!

A snowy kiss as I yearn for wintery weather and my zukka obsession is reinvigorated. Drawing people kissing is so awkward but I think I did alright

#zukka #zuko #sokka #atla #atla fanart #zukka fanart #they’re visiting family #procreate snow flurry brush my beloved #I believe in taller zuko #but if you don’t #then picture him standing on a box or something #he likes to be tall #my art

[gotticalavera]

I love the fact that Air Nomads are tall. And that is the justification for why Kyoshi is so tall, due to her mother's genes, I like this fact so much that I have the headcanon that Air Nomads women got to be taller than Air Nomads men.

And that makes me imagine how the great Fire Lord Zuko, the man who helped end the 100-year war and earned the respect of many... He has to stand on tiptoe to kiss his girlfriend Avatar Aang goodbye when she has to travel.

#All Gaang believed that Aang was going to be the shortest of the group #... even Toph thought about it 😭 #Nobody expected that Aang was the tallest... #Many people in the Fire Nation criticize Zuko's decision to choose a girl taller than his... #... But Zuko is really in love with her💖 #Zuko can hear the rhythm of her heart and her breathing every time he hugs her... is comforting~ #I'm just thinking fluff scenarios with this couple being straight #I love genderbend and I think the concept of Fem!Aang being a cute tall girl needs to be explored #zukaang #fem!aang #aang genderbend #fire lord zuko #avatar aang #avatar the last airbender #aang x zuko #zuko x aang #aang love #aanglove

[backhurtyy]

idk if anyone was wondering but i’m bored so here’s the heights for everyone who’s shown up in never shall we die so far

sokka is tallest, he’s 5’11/180cm

mai is 5’9/175cm

katara and suki are both 5’7/170cm

zuko is 5’6/167cm

toph is 5’3/160cm

(site)

#i believe in short king zuko. sorry y’all #it’s also very important to me that mai and suki are taller than him #particularly mai #there’s a picture of d*niel r*dcliffe and his gf…. that’s mai and zuko #also i know she won’t see this but ty delfi for introducing me to this site. very useful #n e ways idk if anyone was curious about this but i was bored so #there you go. heights for nswd #never shall we die #she do be rambling

[hereforthezutarastuff]

Ooh, loving that Top 5 Katara Moments asks of yours.. how about the Top 5 moments of her adoring Sifu hotman this time? 👀

Thank you for the ask, and I’m so glad you loved the Top 5 Katara Moments! This one’s tricky with not much time left in the series after she forgives him, but I think I can find five moments of Katara adoring Zuko (if we’re being a little loose with the term adore lol)

1. Katara is the first to notice Zuko not in the hug and invites him in

-She does this so easily, like it was never a question, but she also gives him a reason. It’s a “this is just what we do,” and it gives him room to not have to face an internal struggle with companionship and trust.

2. I wish I could add tone to gifs, because when Katara thinks this is Zuko she absolutely melts at his baby picture

-(and admits to teasing him, which is my favorite love language tbh)

3. I mean this whole sequence is so soft, but pay special attention to the body language and expression here

-Because she has been down that road with Zuko, there’s no doubt in her mind that Iroh will forgive him. She’s smiling, then she tilts her head down, and it’s just SO knowing that Zuko, who has been slouched and defeated, now has the strength to sit up taller. It’s a respect that she would meet him at his level and have faith in him, and it shows his respect in her that he believes the words.

4. Katara notices Zuko’s unease and, assuming it’s about the impending fight, reassures him of their abilities as a team

-Without him saying a word, she picks up on the tension and tries to comfort him. It’s not a comfort like with a child. She’s strong and confident in them, and it conveys in how she speaks to him as an equal.

5. I mean... come on

-I think this one speaks for itself.

bonus:

#Zutara #asks #gifs #daintycabinet #I was definitely stretching the adore definition sorry about that 😅😅

[vvienne]

in my heart of hearts I rlly do believe that Azula grows taller than zuko

#gangly girl rights!!!!! #it would also be super funny I am just saying #atla #like half a cm or smth. it would be SO FUNNY

[atlabeth]

hey! i love your zuko fics so much and was wondering if you’d like to write this, because the idea just popped up: maybe a zuko x reader fluff that takes place before/during LOK? maybe they’re reminiscing about their past adventures w the Gaang while helping out the new Team Avatar? idk it’s just that every time I see old zuko it makes me soft and emotional 🥲🔥❤️ anyways, much love! (and don’t feel pressured to do this at all, I was just thinking abt who I could submit this request to, and obvi my first choice was you 💕)

reminiscence - zuko x fem!reader

summary: just because you and your husband are retired doesn’t mean you don’t have amazing advice for the new team avatar.

a/n: this is so cute omg!! thank you so much for requesting this and thank you for much for your kind words i'm honored <33 im so sorry this took so long

sorry im posting so much lately im trying to stop slacking and publish things that have been wips for over a month sdkjfh

wc: 1.3k

warning(s): none bc i choose to ignore the news of zaheer’s plan right after this scene

-

Retirement was… nice.

You had spent your childhood fighting with the Avatar to end the Hundred Year War, a feat that was only made more difficult with your Fire Nation roots and connection to the banished prince. But all that’s well ends well, and you ended up getting your happy ending together — you had to fight hard for it, though.

You married Zuko at nineteen, three years after he ascended to the throne, and spent the subsequent years balancing your duties as Fire Lady and taking care of your daughter. Ruling the Fire Nation was a lot, but you knew you could get through anything with your husband at your side.

When he told you his plans to abdicate the throne, you were more than supportive. One of Zuko’s biggest fears was becoming his father, and by giving up his position willingly to Izumi, it guaranteed that he wouldn’t fall victim to the power-obsessed ways of his ancestors. It also gave him a well-deserved break after decades of being Fire Lord, and you were more than ready to get out of the world of Fire Nation politics. You had sat through enough meetings to fill multiple lifetimes.

But just because the two of you weren’t as involved in every day affairs of the world didn’t mean that you were completely out of it. No, that was far from the truth. You and Zuko were still some of the most important people in all of the nations, which meant it wasn’t a rare occurrence for your husband to be called off on some sort of mission.

One such mission was stopping the Order of the Red Lotus for the second time; Zuko had been part of the team that stopped them from kidnapping Avatar Korra as a child, so it was no surprise that he had been called to help for a second time. You knew even in his old age that your husband was powerful, but you couldn’t help but feel concerned about everything he was doing.

This concern was ultimately what led you to join Zuko on his trip to meet with Chief Beifong and Chief Tonraq in the Misty Palms Oasis. He had originally been against your involvement, claiming that the Red Lotus was far too dangerous, and he didn’t want to risk you getting injured in any way. You, of course, weren’t having it. “The Avatar’s in trouble, and I’d like to think I know a few things about getting out of trouble.”

One thing was certain after you arrived — it had been far too long since you had ridden on the back of a dragon. You truly adored Druk, and you felt bad for everyone that would never have the opportunity.

After conversing with Lin and Tonraq inside, you all exited to greet the new Team Avatar. If what you were told was true, then they had been through quite a lot since leaving Zaofu. For as long as you had been involved in foreign affairs, you had never met Avatar Korra nor her friends, so you didn’t know what to expect — an awestruck boy that could barely speak wasn’t at the top of your list though.

“Oh my gosh. It’s Lord Zuko and Lady Y/N. I can’t believe it!” He stared at the two of you with wide eyes, his voice getting higher and higher as he whimpered. He looked like he was going to fall over until another black-haired boy pulled him out of the way, his tone apologetic.

“Uh, forgive my brother,” he said as he put his fist against his open palm, his brother following suit. “We’re just really honored to meet you both.”

“It’s no problem,” you smiled as you and Zuko returned the greeting. It had been years since someone had reacted that way towards you, and you would be lying if you said it didn’t amuse you. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.”

The two boys straightened again as the taller one gestured to them each in turn. “I’m Mako, and this is Bolin. We’re Korra’s friends.”

“Ah, she’s got her own Team Avatar?” You inquired with a twinkle in your eye. “You know, I traveled with Avatar Aang years back along with my husband.”

“Of course I know!” Bolin exclaimed. “Oh, I’ve heard so many stories about your adventures, they’re all so amazing!” His eyes widened and you actually thought that he was going to fall over. “Oh, oh, could you tell us about some of the things you went through?”

“Bolin, we really shouldn’t bother them—” Mako started, but you laughed and waved it off.

“I assure you, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s not often I get to relive my journeys to such avid listeners. What would you like to hear about?”

He thought for a couple seconds then shot back up again. “What was it like when you escaped the Boiling Rock together? You guys were the first people to ever break out, right? That had to be amazing!”

You and Zuko both laughed as you shot him a look. “It was… interesting,” he said.

“By interesting, he means it was a complete disaster,” you corrected. “Everywhere something could’ve gone wrong, it went wrong. They had originally come there to rescue Sokka’s dad, but instead they found Suki and I. Then Zuko got found out and thrown into prison, our first escape plan failed, Sokka almost got found out, Azula showed up… it was honestly a miracle we made it out at all.”

“It wasn’t that bad!” he protested. “Getting thrown into prison was part of the plan, we wouldn’t have been able to get the cooler out if I hadn’t been found out.”

“I guess I can’t complain,” you chuckled. “I did get to punch you a couple times.”

“They are so cool,” Bolin whispered as the two of you went on in the background. He elbowed Mako in the shoulder and gestured towards the couple with his head. “Come on, ask them something! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!”

“I’m not going to ask them something, Bolin—”

“Excuse me, my brother has something he wants to ask too!” Mako shot him a dirty look which quickly disappeared when you and Zuko turned to him attentively.  

“Oh, um…” He coughed and scratched his head. “I guess.. is there any advice you have for us? With this whole Team Avatar thing, I mean.” You smiled at Mako and took Zuko’s hand.

“The friendships you forge during your journey are the most important thing — they’re the things that will keep you going during your darkest moments, and they will last a lifetime. There will be mountains and valleys, ebbs and flows, but no matter what, you will hold an unbreakable bond.”

You felt Zuko squeeze your hand and turned your smile on him as you returned the sentiment then nodded for him to continue. “Never take anything for granted, and trust in fate. You’re where you are for a reason — everything will end up working out in the end.”

You grinned and kissed him on the cheek, humming in agreement. “It did, didn’t it?”

-

After a few more minutes of talking with the two brothers, they went off to join the rest of their group. It was strange being on the outside of it all after how intense your childhood was, but it was… refreshing not to have the weight of the world on your shoulders anymore.

“The world’s in good hands with them,” you murmured as you leaned your head on Zuko’s shoulder.

“They all have that same fire you had when I first met you,” Zuko chuckled. You watched the four of them conversing and a smile graced your lips.

“Oh? Then I think the world’s in very good hands.”

-

perm tag list: @dv0412 @siriuslyslyslytherin

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