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xreaderxo · 4 years

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My Moon

Zuko x reader

Soulmate AU

genre: angst but with a good ending

warning: death, sickness

summary: Every Fire Nation citizen gets a tattoo on their wrist when they turn sixteen. This tattoo shows the first words your soulmate will say to you. Some people find this person immediately, and spend the rest of their lives together. Some people never get the chance.

"Why do you keep that ribbon on your wrist?"

Zuko clenched his fists by his sides, exhaling a breath of fire in frustration. Sozin's Comet was in three days, and this was the fourth time Aang has stopped training to ask a question that had nothing to do with firebending.

"Aang," Zuko said impatiently, "Stop avoiding training."

"But I want to know!" Aang clasped his hands together. "That's where your soulmate's first words are, right? Why are they covered?"

Zuko groaned. "Because I don't have time for a soulmate. I was too focused on finding you, and now I need to focus on defeating my father."

"So you've never looked at it!?" Aang's eyes widened before he lunged forward. "Let me see! Let me see!"

"Wha- Aang!" Zuko yelled, trying to pry the airbender off of him as he stretched his right arm out of his reach. "Get off!"

"I want to know what your words are!"

"Why are you interested in my love life!?"

"Because I would kill to have what you have and you don't appreciate it!"

"Don't appreciate what?" Sokka asked, popping a grape into his mouth as he walked up to the hill where the two were sparring.

"Sokka!" Aang shouted. "Take Zuko's ribbon off!"

"Ooh, I love annoying Zuko!" Sokka said gleefully, grabbing Zuko's wrist and ripping the black fabric off. "Uh, why am I annoying Zuko?"

"Because Zuko's never looked at his soulmate tattoo!" Aang snatched a frozen Zuko's wrist and read it. "I want the last thing I see to be the moon," he read.

"Poetic." Sokka nodded approvingly. "I like them already, they like staring at my first girlfriend!"

Zuko blinked. "Wait, hold on- your first girlfriend actually turned into the moon? Like literally?"

That was a year ago. Zuko was Fire Lord now. Currently, he was headed to a secluded cliff he had found the day before to meditate. There was a sickness going around, and although it wasn't contagious, Iroh hadn't wanted him to be in a populated area. So, he was going to be alone away from other people.

Or so he thought.

He halted as he entered the clearing to the cliff. There was a person- you -lying down in the grass, staring at the moon. Remembering his tattoo, a spark of hope lit in his chest. He was Fire Lord. The war was over. It would be safe to fall in love. Maybe this was his soul mate.

His hope quickly turned to dread as he got closer. They had the sickness. Judging from their skin and frailty, they probably didn't even have an hour left.

Still, even if they aren't his soulmate, Zuko wasn't about to let anybody die alone.

"Uh, it's pretty cold out," he said as he got closer, and visibly winced. It wasn't cold. It was the middle of summer in the Fire Nation.

You shrugged, not having the strength to sit up to see who your soulmate was.. "I want the last thing I see to be the moon."

Zuko's breath hitched. "No," he whispered.

You chuckled bitterly. "We finally meet, and I'll be dead by morning. Sounds about right." you paused. "You can go, if you want. I don't want you to have to see this."

"I'm not letting my soulmate die alone," Zuko said determinedly, his legs shaking, and laid down beside you. You looked at him, and raised your eyebrows in shock as you recognized him.

"Well, look at that! If I hadn't gotten this cough, I would've been the queen!" you joked. "Nice to meet you, Fire Lord. I'm Y/N."

Y/N. It was the most beautiful word Zuko had ever heard.

"Just call me Zuko," he replied, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. You two laid there for a few minutes, drinking in each other's appearances. You knew he was handsome, as you'd seen his face plastered all over the Fire Nation for years. First listed as a traitor and most recently, Fire Lord. He was even more handsome up close. His amber eyes had flecks of fire orange in them. And his scar? You thought that it was the most handsome part of all. It showed he'd been through something terrible, and overcame it.

Zuko couldn't believe someone so beautiful could exist. You were gorgeous. Stunning. Even in your frail state, your complexion blemished from the sickness, your cheekbones jutting out sharply, Zuko had never seen anything so divine.

"Y/N?" he whispered, his eyes locked with yours.

"Yes, Zuko?"

He gulped, bringing his other hand to cup your cheek and resting his forehead on yours. "Tell me everything about you."

And so you did.

You told him your childhood. You told him about the first time you broke a bone. You told him how you felt when your father died. You told him that your favorite food is Roast Duck. You told him that you always planned on naming your daughter Izumi. You told him how you donated everything you owned to the Ursa Medical Center that Zuko had recently set up. You told him how excited you were whenever you heard that the Avatar had returned, because finally there would be peace.

"I was so happy that it was you who became Fire Lord and not somebody else." You had your head on his chest at this point, his legs tangled with yours.

"Why?" Zuko's fingers were running through your sweat-soaked hair, the wetness not registering.

"Because," you hummed, "You betrayed the Fire Nation to help the Avatar. You were willing to leave everything you'd ever known to bring peace." you paused, tilting your chin so you could look at him. "Plus, you're pretty cute, too."

Zuko blushed as the corners of his mouth turned upwards. "You think I'm cute? Have you seen yourself?"

You chuckled weakly. "Yeah, I'm a real dime piece right now." Zuko's hand stilled. He leaned up on one elbow so he could look down on you.

"Y/N," he said seriously, "You are incandescently beautiful. You are oh so pulchritudinous. You are the most stunning of all of God's creations."

You smiled at him. If your body could produce enough water for it, tears would be running down your face. "Thank you," you whispered. As Zuko laid back down, you spoke again. "Now, tell me everything about you."

So he did. He told you about his mother. He told you about being banished. He told you how it was trying to capture the Avatar. He told you about his time in Ba Sing Se. He told you about his uncle. He told you about being friends with the Avatar, and joining their group. He told you what it was like to face Azula. He told you about how Aang and Sokka had ripped off the ribbon, which you both shared a laugh at.

He sighed. "I wish we had more time," he choked out. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know I just met you, but I can't imagine living without you."

"Well, that's the thing about soulmates," you replied, running your hand through his hair and bringing his head down to yours until your lips were centimetres apart. "We'll never truly be apart."

And then Zuko was kissing you. He was kissing your lips and your nose and your cheeks and your forehead and your eyebrows and back to your lips. He was kissing you as though he thought that if he kissed you enough, he could save you. He was kissing you as if it would be the last kiss you would ever share, which was likely.

You were the one to break the kiss, as you were losing breath. You could feel it coming, and Zuko could, too. "I- I don't know what to do," he whimpered, holding you closer. "We've only known each other for an hour. We should be able to have a life together, to grow old together. It isn't fair!"

"Shh, Zuko," you hummed into the hollow of his neck. "We'll see each other again, my love. And whenever you miss me, just look at the moon. This," you pulled back and gestured to the moon above, "Is our moon. Forever." You laid your head back on his chest, and your voice was barely above a whisper when you next spoke. "Can you sing me to sleep?"

Zuko's heart was breaking, but he couldn't say no. "Of course," he hiccuped, choking back a sob, before he began singing a song his mother used to sing him.

“Deep in the meadow, under the willow A bed of grass, a soft green pillow Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes And when again they open, the sun will rise.

Here it's safe, here it's warm Here the daisies guard you from every harm Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true Here is the place where I love you.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away A cloak of leaves, A moonbeam ray, Forget your woes and let your troubles lay And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.

Here it's safe, here it's warm Here the daisies guard you from every harm Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true Here is the place where I love you.”

As he finished the song, his heart stopped. You weren't breathing. Agony, the worst pain he’d ever felt, ripped through his chest. An inhuman scream erupted from his throat as he pulled your body into him, his tears falling. He'd just met you, and yet you had become his world. And you were gone.

He stayed there the entire night until Iroh found him the next morning, still clutching your ice-cold corpse. Iroh's heart snapped, immediately knowing what must have happened. It took hours to pry Zuko away from you. He spent the next week crying into Iroh's shoulder. "I don't think she heard me tell her I love her, Uncle," he sputtered before another sob wracked his shoulders.

"She knew," Iroh assured him. "I promise. She knew."

He arranged a funeral for you that was fit for a Fire Queen, and had you buried on the cliff where you had met.

Fire Lord Zuko's reign lasted sixty-seven years. After much pressure from his advisors about an heir, he did end up taking a wife. Her name was Mikoto, from a noble Fire Nation family. Her soulmate had died as well, so it was a perfect fit. They both knew they could never love another, but they were best friends.

They had a daughter, who Zuko named Izumi. He was still alive whenever she took over as Fire Lord, and he'd never been more proud of anything or anyone.

And yet, he still missed you. He thought about you every day, and every night he would sit and stare at the moon. Sometimes he would cry, thinking about what could have been. Other times he would be happy, telling you about Izumi's accomplishments. He would always sleep with the window open, so that the last thing he saw before he went to sleep was your moon.

He died at the age of one hundred in his sleep, his face still turned towards the moon.

Zuko's eyes opened to find himself in the Spirit World face to face with Iroh himself.

"Uncle!" he cried, wrapping him into a hug.

"Hello, Zuko!" Iroh said with a smile. "It's nice to see you again!"

"Hey Sifu Hotman, you better give me a hug, too!" Zuko whirled around to see Aang, and his smile widened as he jumped into the Avatar's arms. Stepping back, Zuko noticed that Aang was a lot older than he was.

"Why am I seventeen again?" he asked.

"For the same reason that I am twenty-five," Iroh explained, "The age I was when my son was born. Here, you remain the age you were when you were at your happiest."

"I was happiest when I was twenty-one, when Katara and I got married," Aang explained. "You're seventeen because that's how old you were when you met them."

Zuko froze as he heard footsteps behind him, before whirling around.

"Hello, My Love," you said. You were healthy and in a beautiful red gown. Zuko's breath hitched, his eyes filling with tears. He ran forward to envelop you in a hug.

"I've missed you, too," you chuckled as he peppered your face with kisses. The two of you stared at one another, soaking in each other's appearances yet again. He rested his forehead against yours.

"We can finally spend forever together," he said in what was meant to be a whisper, but he was so elated that it came out as a yell.

"I can't wait," you replied in the same tone.

"I love you." The words Zuko had been wanting to tell you finally left his lips.

"I know," you answered, cupping his cheeks with your hands. "I love you, too."

As the two of you shared another kiss, the full moon above seemed to shine a little brighter.

#zuko x reader #zuko #prince zuko #zuko imagine #soulmate au #fire lord zuko #atla #a:tla #atla imagine #sokka #iroh #aang #soulmate zuko

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incorrectzukka · 4 years

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A:TLA Soulmarks AU 5

- zuko is a tapestry of gray marks. everyone he has ever loved has betrayed him.

- he has a dragon mask for his mother on his right shoulder, and a flame for his father on his left. he doesn’t know how he got them. most parents fondly cherish their memories of their marks appearing on their children, but zuko wonders if his parents even know he has them.

- the one mark he remembers from his childhood is a bolt of lighting surrounded by blue flames: at the centre of his small torso. he feels it burn when his little sister, three weeks old, bubbling in the royal nanny’s arms, sneezes when he touches her nose.

- zuko, who has so much love to give. zuko, who loves so deeply even his marks form a triangle around his heart. zuko, who is ten years old and has no idea what his mark looks like because not one of them have shown it to him.

- his father burns half his face off. his father sends him on what his uncle calls a hopeless quest. the mark doesn’t fade, because his father hasn’t betrayed him. zuko knows this. his father has taught him a lesson. he knows this. the mark is not gray.

- his mother leaves him, but the mark isn’t gray. she is coming back. it isn’t a betrayal, because she loves him and she will come back. the mark will not go gray.

- eventually, they do. zuko doesn’t know when they go gray, because he refuses to look at his marks anymore. he’s practicing his bending (never good enough) in the higher temperatures of some Earth Kingdom port they’re docked at, when his uncle points it out.

- he huffs and moves into his next stance with ease, but the fire at the end of his fist burns a little hotter. he searches for something in himself: anger, apathy, sadness, acceptance. all he feels is shame.

- he spares a moment to wonder why azula’s mark is as blue as ever, and he thinks of his sister, poisoned by their father. he wonders if he has a mark on azula, and if it went gray when he left Caldera.

- his uncle is the one who shows him what his mark looks like. they’re standing on the deck of the ship and iroh lifts his sleeve to show him a patch of angry skin, shot through with a gold slit. it looks like his left eye.

- he laughs, but nothing is funny. his mark of love is the ugliest part of him, because loving zuko is not a gift: it’s a curse. the laugh sounds wet, even to his own ears.

- “it means those who love you... they love you even knowing what you think are your deepest flaws,” his wise uncle says and zuko thinks it sounds overly valorous even for him. zuko doesn’t have flaws. his father made it abundantly clear that zuko was the flaw.

- he feels the burn of a mark at the meeting point of his two collarbones. when he pulls his collar down, it shows a jasmine plant growing out of flames. he doesn’t need his uncle’s wisdom to know what it means: inner peace. strength through chaos.

- after he betrays his uncle, he has nightmares of the scar on his face turning an ashen gray. he wonders if he has ruined the only mark that belongs to him in the world with his selfishness.

- the mark is not gray. his scar looks almost a part of iroh’s skin. he cannot take his eyes off it, scared that it is a dream. his uncle never lost faith in him.

- zuko has resigned himself to carrying his uncle’s mark on himself as the only proof of his love. he only wonders why azula’s mark hasn’t faded yet: she tried to kill him enough. never would he have expected five other people to carry it.

- his mark fits like a puzzle on each one of them. after their experience with the dragons, aang lifts his right arm, streaked with colour over his arrows: katara’s droplet on the back of his hand, toph’s ring around the wrist, suki’s fan on his bicep, sokka’s weapons on the back of his arm, and zuko’s scar. zuko’s horrible, ugly, scar, the reminder that he was never wanted. zuko’s scar on his forearm, fitting in the middle of all those other beautiful marks. he blinks the tears away.

- he takes off his shirt to find a blue arrow swiping from under his left armpit and pointing to his heart.

- toph asks him to spar the next day, and she seems to be winning. she sends out a rock that catches him in the right side, but the pain is punctuated by a cold burn. he knows there will be light green seismic rings surrounding that bruise for a while.

- what he couldn’t have bet on knowing was toph’s hand pushing him up onto his knees, or the way she lifted the hem of her pant and demanded to know what the complete band of five marks around her ankle looked like. his scar almost blends in with aang’s arrow, and he has never been more glad that toph is blind except then.

- after they break in and out of a goddamn prison, sokka sits next to him in the airship. he takes zuko’s hand and places it on his left bicep, where his scar wraps around it, horrifyingly disfigured. he wants to apologize for it, but he looks at sokka’s smile and he doesn’t.

- instead, he asks how he completed sokka’s set, and listens to him explain the zig zag of marks across both his arms: suki’s fan on his left wrist, toph’s rings on his right forearm, zuko’s scar on his left bicep and aang’s arrow on his right shoulder. katara’s mark is the apex of the pattern- high up on his collarbone.

- zuko lifts his shirt to show sokka the crossed sword and boomerang he felt form on his right pectoral, above toph’s rings.

- sokka gasps at suki’s golden fan, framed under aang’s arrow on his other side. he calls suki over, and zuko is infinitely glad no one mentions how odd his marks are: not on arms or backs as most are. no, all on his torso, like a freak.

- suki regards him calmly, before turning he right wrist to show him his scar. “this doesn’t mean i forgive you for burning my village,” she says, but sits down with them and jokes about how all the boys were on her right side, and all the girls were on her left.

- zuko knows where katara’s mark will turn up. by know the pattern is crystal clear: the space on his midriff, just above azula’s mark and caught between toph’s rings and suki’s fan. it forms as soon as he decides that he will help her avenge her mother.

- after it is all done, katara regards him with cool eyes and pulls away from the hug. she twists to her right, showing the entirety of shoulder covered in his scar. he sees the symmetry it forms, sokka’s mark on the back of her neck, aang’s arrow on her forehead, toph’s rings around her neck, suki’s fan on her other shoulder.

- he wonders if they all felt as unbalanced as he did without the set of five, and he decides he doesn’t care. six people. six people in the world love him, and that is enough.

- he never worries about azula’s mark going gray because she burns it off him herself with her lightening. he does worry about the small remorse he feels looking at his scarred skin after the battle.

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eurydicees · 3 years

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August Prompt Challenge Prompt: do-over. Maybe with Zukka

thank you for the prompt! it's a bit rushed, but this was super fun to write :)

to begin again, with new names and familiar faces

summary: in a tea shop in ba sing se, sokka and lee start over.

pairings: gen fic, but can easily be read as pre-relationship zukka

words: 1785

warnings: none

The first time that Sokka goes to the Jasmine Dragon, he’s served by a boy whose hands shake when they set the tea cup in front of him. Sokka doesn’t look too hard at him, distracted by the biscuits that are on the tray with the tea.

The tea is good, and that’s really all that he cares about.

The second time that Sokka goes to the Jasmine Dragon, he goes right before closing. It’s an asshole move, but he’s had a long day of searching for Appa and if he has to sit in that house with the rest of the kids one more minute, he’s going to lose his mind. He can only think of so many places in Ba Sing Se that are open at this hour, and so, before he can regret it, he’s stepping into the tea shop.

The boy at the cash register groans.

“Now, Lee,” Sokka hears someone say, “we’re welcoming of all our customers, no matter what time they come in.”

The boy seems about to protest, but then his eyes lock on Sokka and he cuts himself off. Sokka isn’t quite sure why, until he looks at the boy. At the shaking hands. At the scar on the left side of his face. At the curl of his mouth.

It’s Zuko.

Except, the boy who must be Zuko says nothing. He doesn’t light his fists on fire, doesn’t take aim at Sokka, doesn’t narrow his eyes in anger. He gives no sign of recognition other than the subtle shake of his hands.

Have Zuko’s hands ever shaken before? Or have Sokka’s?

Sokka can’t remember any moment in their many fights when Zuko had done anything other than growl. There had been no trembling hands. There had never been this tense silence between them; there had never been anything even remotely similar to this. To Zuko, standing there with his mouth in a hard line, his hands gripping the counter tightly. To Sokka, standing there with his lips parted, his hand halfway to his boomerang.

“How can I help you?” the boy says. His voice is hard, flattened out into the same voice all customer service workers use. There’s no fire in it; there’s no threat in it. If Sokka didn’t know better, he might think that there was a sliver of anxiety to the formal speech.

Sokka finds himself standing in front of the cash register, money in hand, and convincing himself not to be afraid. Zuko can’t attack him here, not with the groups of people finishing their teas. His boomerang burns where it rests, tied against his back. If the worst happens, Sokka is prepared to fight.

“Hibiscus tea,” Sokka says, swallowing down any fear.

The boy— Zuko, it has to be— bites his lip as he writes down the order. “It’ll be a few minutes.”

Sokka just nods. He doesn’t know what to do with his hands. He and the boy— Zuko, he must be Zuko— just stare at each other, until there’s a clanging in the kitchen and the boy turns away. All that Sokka can see is the red of the scar.

It’s exactly the same as Zuko’s scar. How many people, Sokka wonders, could have been hurt like this? Who could survive such a burn but a firebender?

But Sokka can’t do anything about it. Not here.

So he sits at one of the tables, crosses his arms, and keeps his eyes on the boy. He watches him clear the tables, wiping them down with a rag. He carries several trays in one hand, balancing them perfectly. He talks with the customers, people that Sokka guesses are regulars, who laugh with him rather than wincing at him.

It’s strange and uncomfortable and Sokka itches to run, but he can’t flee now. He can’t give in— he has to figure out what Zuko is doing here. He had been trying to escape the house because Aang was annoying him by virtue of being twelve, but he would still kill for that boy, and right now, all of his protective instincts are telling him to stay in this tea shop.

“Here’s your tea,” the boy says, setting down a tray. The words aren’t a growl, but they’re rough, as if they’ve been burnt, as if Zuko has just coughed out a collection of embers in his throat. Even just this simple sentence, spoken in a tea shop, is enough to set Sokka on edge. The boy seems to realize it, too, because he flinches away from Sokka’s gaze. “Enjoy.”

Sokka, before he can stop himself, grabs the boy’s arm. “Zuko.”

Zuko freezes.

There’s a moment of silence.

Then Zuko tears his arm out of Sokka’s grip. He stands still, staring at the wall, refusing to meet Sokka’s eyes. Sokka, though he wants to fight, take him down here and now before he can get to Aang, is grateful that they aren’t looking at each other. Zuko doesn’t turn around to glance at him when he says, “I don’t know who that is.”

“What’s your name then?” Sokka says.

“My name is Lee,” Zuko says, “you must have confused me for someone else.”

Sokka swallows down any protests. He can see the lie just as well as Toph might have been able to feel it, but he also knows that he can’t fight Zuko in a tea shop. “Okay.”

“Okay,” Lee says, and then, with the stiffness of the hunted, he walks away.

Sokka watches him go, and tries not to flinch when Zuko turns around, his eyes meeting Sokka’s for the first time. In the candlelight of the tea shop, his eyes are a molten gold.

Sokka shivers.

The third time he goes to the Jasmine Dragon, it’s in the middle of the day, at the height of the lunchtime rush. Zuko, standing alone at the register, is hastily scribbling down orders as people come in, barely having time to count out the coins before he’s handing the change off to the customer. He’s rushed, frazzled in a way he hadn’t been when Sokka was there in the empty hours.

Sokka orders his tea— he’s been trying a new one off of the menu every time he comes, and today it’s a blend of lavender and chamomile— and Zuko barely glances at him. The only sign of recognition is the flicker of his gaze from Sokka’s eyes to the boomerang strap at his chest to his eyes again. But still, he doesn’t bring out his fire and he doesn’t attack. He only waves Sokka towards a table and promises that the tea and macaroons will be ready momentarily.

Sitting down, Sokka watches the rush die down from his table by the door. It’s a strategic placement, he tells himself. There’s an easy escape route, and he can keep an eye on Zuko without craning his neck towards the register.

It’s not long before Zuko comes over to his table with his tray. His hands are steady as he sets it down in front of Sokka and pours the tea. It’s slow and careful, like Zuko has been practicing pouring tea his entire life. He can’t have been, though, because Fire Nation royals don’t pour their own tea. Sokka watches Zuko’s fingers, wrapped around the handle of the tea kettle, knuckles paling until he sets it down.

“You’re busy today,” Sokka says casually.

“It’s lunch hour,” Zuko says. His voice is rough, but there isn’t the same nervousness that there had been on Sokka’s last visit. “It’s always busy around this time.”

Sokka nods. Then, because he doesn’t know how to control his mouth, he says, “Sit down with me. Take your break.”

Zuko falters, his hand slipping as the tea kettle clatters back on the table. Nothing spills, but Zuko shakes out his hand like he had been burned. “What?”

“You look overwhelmed,” Sokka says, trying to figure out what he’s doing and why. It’s part of a plan, he decides. His mind just hasn't caught up with the plan his tongue is weaving. “So take your break.”

Zuko stares at him. Sokka can feel his skin burning with the glare of the afternoon sun that floods through the wide open windows. Sokka thinks that maybe Zuko is going to run away, but instead he just swallows. “I’ll tell my uncle I’m taking lunch.”

“Okay,” Sokka says, and Zuko turns towards the kitchen. Just before he walks out of earshot, Sokka calls out, “Don’t keep me waiting.”

He doesn’t realize it sounds like a threat until Zuko flinches. He doesn’t realize how scared his voice sounds until Zuko disappears behind the kitchen doors. There are a lot of things that Sokka is unsure of, right now, and one of them is whether or not Zuko is going to come back— and if he does come back, if he’ll be coming back with fire-hot hands.

Zuko does come back, though, and he comes without any weapons. He’s wringing out his apron in his hands, like he needs something to keep him steady. As he slides into the seat opposite of Sokka, he drops the apron against his lap and clasps his hands on the table.

“What do you want?” he asks, voice small. “I’ll do anything. Just… leave this place alone.”

Sokka frowns. “What?”

Zuko still doesn’t meet his eyes. “I’ll turn myself over to the Avatar. I will. Just let my uncle have this.”

He’s serious, Sokka realizes. He really will turn himself in if it means keeping the Jasmine Dragon peaceful. He’s willing to give up this false identity that he’s created, he’s willing to give in to whatever Sokka asks for.

There’s a rush of power that runs through Sokka’s head— Zuko has been making his life hell for the past few months, and he has the ability, now, to take him prisoner.

But Zuko— Lee, now— looks so tired as he sits there, head bowed. Zuko drops his hands from the table to his lap, pulling at the strings of his apron.

“Your name is Lee,” Sokka says quietly, “I don’t know why I would ever introduce Lee to the Avatar. I don’t know why Lee would want to meet him, either.”

Zuko’s head snaps up, widening eyes meeting Sokka’s. They stare at each other for what feels like years— the kind of years that bring the wisdom that comes with a stalemate. Or, not a stalemate, nor a surrender, but a peace treaty. Sokka doesn’t bring Aang here, and Zuko doesn't start a fight with them.

“Right,” Lee says quietly. “I don’t know either.”

Sokka takes a breath. “Then let’s start over, Lee. Do you want a macaroon?”

#ask #my writing #august prompt challenge #atla #zukka #atla fanfic #avatar fanfiction #avatar: the last airbender #zuko #sokka #zukka fanfic #zukka fanfiction

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fanboyzuko · 3 years

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I don’t know if you’re still taking prompts, but if you are, what if Canon Zuko met Hui?

"Well, look at this." Azula said, backing away as they pushed her into a corner. "Enemies and traitors all working together."

A strange swirl of light appeared above her as she raised her hands over her head in surrender. Zuko knew he shouldn't take his eyes off his sister for a second. There was no way she didn't have a trick up her sleeve, but the circle of light continued growing larger at a rapid pace.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the anomaly, distracting even Azula as she glanced up. "What is-"

Three screaming figures came hurtling out of the light and landed directly on top of her.

"Owww, I think I broke something."

"Yeah! Me because you broke your fall on me!"

"Guys, I think we landed on someone-"

"AZULA?!"

The three Earth Kingdom teenagers that fell from the sky scrambled to their feet. As the smallest one checked on Azula, who had been knocked out from the force of three people falling on her, Zuko got a good look of the scar fanning out from his left eye, across his face.

Was this some sort of sick joke?

The boy looked up from Azula (how did he even know her?) and his unscarred eye bulged out of its socket. His companions shared similar shocked expressions, but they were staring right at Zuko while the boy's gaze locked on the Avatar.

"Are you an airbender?! Do you know the Avatar?"

"Well, I am-"

The Water Tribe boy shoved his hand over the Avatar's mouth, looking between Zuko and the scarred boy in a strange mix of disbelief and distrust. "How about before we figure out what in the world is going on, we take care of Zuko's terrifying sister before she wakes up."

"You're going no where near my sister!" Zuko snapped. He may have just been fighting against her, but no way was he going to surrender her to them!

The scarred boy glanced away from the Avatar, only for his eye to bulge even more "Un-" The girl with him covered his mouth with a forced laugh.

"Maybe let's make sure our landing cushion isn't too hurt and get through some..." She shared a look with the other Earth Kingdom boy, then, for some reason, Uncle and the Avatar's group. "-introductions..."

"I can take a look at her," the waterbender said in clear disgust while pooling her water around her hand.

"No!" Zuko shouted, almost overshadowed by the scarred boy's exclamation of, "Are you a waterbender? Do you know how to heal!?"

"Is anybody going to explain what the heck is going on?" The Avatar's newest companion huffed, waving her hand out at the scene before her. "Where did these new people come from?"

"TOPH?!"

She cocked her head toward the scarred boy with a confused scrunch of her nose. "Do I know you?"

"This is some very bad nightmare, I'd like to wake up now please," the Water Tribe boy groaned.

"We're just- Going to go over here for a moment!" The Earth Kingdom boy said in a nervous rush, dragging his companions away from the unconscious Azula.

Somehow between the strange trio scurrying away to have a hissed conversation, Uncle convincing Zuko to let the waterbender check on Azula, and a lengthy round of introductions that involved a lot of weird stares at Zuko and the Hui boy, Uncle started serving tea. And since Uncle set up tea, it meant everyone settled down to have some. And somehow that meant they were under a temporary truce as they figured out what spirit energy transported Hui, Bun Ma, and Ju Long into the middle of their standoff against Azula.

The whole situation was really starting to piss Zuko off. Hui was some sort of scholar researching the last Air Avatar and had some crazy ideas about her relationship to Zuko's ancestor Princess Akari. He had no stopped asking the Avatar questions about airbender culture and customs since they all settled for tea. Between his questions, Hui rambled nonstop about Avatar Yangchen and her companions. If that wasn't bad enough, he kept trying to include Zuko in his conversation as if Zuko should know anything about any of this, or even care about it!

"Nephew, isn't it fascinating to hear such detailed stories about Princess Akari?" Uncle asked quietly, so not to disrupt Hui's argument with the waterbender about Princess Akari's supposed spirit healing ability. "I remember you were quite enamored by her when you were younger."

Sure, he had been interested in her gentle flame technique and how she was close to dragons, but he wished he had never heard of his great-aunt before now that everyone get giving him looks as Hui shared his stupid stories! Worse were Hui's calculating looks between Zuko and the Avatar while he stressed the deep bond of the past Air Avatar and Fire Royal and how they worked together.

Zuko may have accepted this temporary truce—because clearly Hui's group had some sort of connection to him from how everyone was acting—but he was not the Avatar's friend! Once they got to the bottom of this strange day, Zuko would finally capture the Avatar like he was supposed to and go home. Stories of Princess Akari and Avatar Yangchen be damned.

A quiet groan between Uncle and Zuko made him jump. He looked down as Azula groggily opened her eyes and took in their ridiculous party gathered around Uncle's travel tea pot. She didn't even test her bindings before dropping her head with another groan.

"Please tell me I'm having a nightmare and I wasn't taken out by a second Zuko falling on top of me."

((Behind the scenes from everyone else's perspectives. Bun Ma and Ju Long immediately clock canon Zuko as Zuko and that somehow they're in the future or a different reality since Toph didn't recognize their Zuko. So they convince LTF!Zuko to keep being Hui, because he also quickly puts together that somehow he's faced with an older version of himself and they're probably not in their world.

(Since canon Zuko has Iroh and Azula to place him, while LTF!Zuko has Bun Ma and Ju Long who don't exist as Zuko's friend in canon so canon Zuko is able to fool himself into not recognizing himself. Which, to be fair, I think isn't so crazy a concept. I don't think Zuko examines himself often in the mirror and looking at his younger self in an Earth Kingdom getup, it'd be fairly easy to disregard similarities as a really strange coincidence.)

Meanwhile Sokka's reasoning is hold up! Don't admit to being the Avatar or else we'll get TWO Zuko's going after us! But then he and all the gang start doubting what they see before their eyes bc "Hui" is??? Nothing like the Zuko they know?? Aang and "Hui" are hella vibing fanboying over Yangchen together all the while.

And then Iroh is kinda just there. Stumped. And confused as to wtf is going on. But also hopeful that this wild whacky encounter will convince canon Zuko to rethink his path... But also he is dumbfounded as to what could have possibly led to "Hui" being the way he is.

And then Azula wakes up and addresses the elephant mouse in the room lmaooo I can't even begin to imagine the hijinks that ensue from this point 😂 ))

#lmaoooo oh my god this is such an indulgence #its so chaotic and ridiculous and i love it #i had so many possible choices for this set up but i naturally chose the most chaotic one #im going to get to the rest of your prompts eventually i swear but i was consumed with the drive to write this one today right now #and so i did #but also i couldnt resist the temptation to include the gaang and bun ma and ju long #like i said complete indulgence #happy 1 year anniversary ltf~~~~~#learning to fly #writing requests

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is-that-another-soulmate-au · 4 years

Text

I may or may not be a sucker for soulmate AUs

But hear me out. An eye soulmate au, like everyone has their natural eye color to start out, but when they make eyecontact with their soulmate one of them changes to match. But let's also mix in the painsoulmate au.

Basically Sokka at the age of 13 is screaming in pain in the middle of town holding his eye as the tribe tries their best to help him. All the while he's screaming "it burns! Oh God! It burns" and the sheer pain alone causes him to pass out in a slump against the cold snow. He knew then that noone in his tribe was his soulmate. It was very obvious.

The pain eventually subsided but he still couldn't get the memory of the pain out of his head, what happened to his soulmate. He could only wonder in fear.

The day that they found Aang in the Ice Katara's right eye and Aangs left switched to mirror eachother.

Not long after there was a firenation ship on their shore and Sokka was facing the man leading the group out. He himself hadn't noticed until the man was hit in the head by the boomerang Sokka threw. Knocking his helmet off and causing them both pain. They stared at eachother for what felt like forever, the man had a scar over his eye that made it hard to see that it had changed to a bright blue mirroring his own. However, Sokka, didn't even realize it was his it was mirroring. Until after they rescued Aang from the ship and Katara was staring at him

"Your eye, its gold"

"What!?"

He looked the reflection of his boomerang and looked up at Katara in horror "he got that scar at 13 katara, remember when I was screaming, it felt like someone was digging into my eye with hot coals for a solid 5 minutes"

They both shuddered at the thought of what could have happened to him. Swearing that they'd soon enough snag him up and adopt him.

(Boutta be skme divergence from the Canon here because i can )

They'd run into eachother multiple times but when they were caught in the fire sage temple Katara and Sokka were thrown into a cell with Zuko. All three in shackles, the siblings shackled in front and the firebender in back. Zuko seemed to just want to be away from them by curling further into the corner "Zuko..."

"What do you want?"

"Tell me how you got your scar" Sokka demanded

"Why do you care?"

"Uhm, maybe because at 13 I was overcome by the worst feeling of pain I've ever felt, my eye felt like someone was stabbing a torch into my socket and it hurt so bad to the point I was screaming bloody murder in the middle of my village for 5 minutes until I passed out from the pain alone. Oh and our eyes are mirroring?" He raised a brow "so tell me, how did you get it. I'd like to know who put both of us through that bile inducing pain"

"My dad did, I was..." he paused, realizing who he was talking to "you know how old I was... I spoke out in a war meeting and was challenged to an Agni kai, thats a fire battle to the death for honor thing, I thought it was the general, but it was my dad. I didn't fight, I begged him to spare me, and he.. well.. you know, then he banished me right after and now I'm here in fire nation waters, captured and likely going to be killed because well banishment means if i step foot in fire nation land or waters, ill be killed he gestured "now Mr. Mirror boy, does that satisfy your question" his voice was like venom, not potent venom but angry 'I'm big and bad' venom

"No, not really, but it does solidify my desire to off the firelord" he said in an absolutely enraged voice catching Zuko off gaurd

"What"

"And it confirms that you should totally join us" Katara cut in hoping to finally adopt Mr. Fire Jerk

"What would I do that?"

"Uh... maybe because your dad is a piece of shit and from what I'm guessing wouldnt think twice about killing you."

"Neither would you?"

"Wow, you wound me. No we won't kill you" Sokka spoke up with a playful sarcastic tone

They sat in silence for a while but Katara spoke up "its nice you two bonded and all, but like, we should probably get out of here, Sokka grab the pin from my hair"

Doing as instructed he grabbed it and handed it to Katara who picked the lock on Sokka's shackles who returned the favor and moved towards Zuko "stay away from me pea-"

"Shut it will you? I'm helping you, just because you've chased us all over doesnt mean we're gonna leave you to die"

After running for their lives and convincing Aang to help him they fly out and Katara Aang and Sokka sit further to the front discussing the situations and Aang nearly cries until he looks at Zuko. And then he does "Zuko, I can tell from how you act you probably blame yourself-"

"Of course I do! It was to teach me respect"

"But you were just a kid Zuko, you still are just a kid, we're all just kids."

"Obciously, but I still ne-"

"No Zuko, listen, I know it'll take time to settle in the right mindset but, what he did was wrong. And you've been chasing me for 3 years right?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"I only resurfaced like a couple months ago Zuko, he sent you out on a mission searching for someone who didn't exist. That's one horrible power trip for him to pull on a child"

Of course he didnt take kindly to the words at first but soon enough, by the time they made it to the north pole Zuko was integrated into their group fairly well.

(This was not meant to turn into a sort of fic, but I honestly like it too much to not post it so here, have my brain dump)

#zukka #zukka au #soulmate #sokka #sokka x zuko #atla sokka #zuko #prince zuko #atla zuko #avatar aang #aang #atla aang #katara #avatar gaang #avatar the last airbender #canon divergence

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miraculouscontent · 3 years

Note

*moon walks in* have you ever written anything for zutara? If not that’s cool *moon walks out*

I’ve written a piece, yes. It’s a what-if on Zuko’s scar getting healed by Katara instead of them getting interrupted after their conversation in the catacombs:

"It's a scar. It can't be healed."

"This is water from the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole. It has special properties, so I've been saving it for something important. I don't know if it would work, but..."

Likewise, Zuko didn't know why he allowed Katara to touch his scar. He'd long grown used to the fact that he had it, but that also didn't mean he let people idly touch it like it were something to gawk and poke at.

And what did he really expect? That his scar would be magically taken away, just like that? His life had never been that easy. He'd struggled all throughout his existence, and any wounds caused along the way were likely there to stay.

This girl was clearly fooling herself, acting as if it'd just be--

"Yeah, I--" Katara summoned forth her spirit water. "--I think this might work."

He gave her a weird look, though given that his neutral expression usually made him come off as sour anyway, she probably couldn't tell. "What?"

She seemed to ignore him, her spirit water bending around her hand. She looked up at him, eyes briefly squinting like she was unsure, then stared down at the spirit water with the same expression. She took a breath, apparently solving whatever mental debate she was having as she raised her hand to touch his scar again.

He flinched, and then hated himself for flinching. The water had been freezing.

"Oh!" she gasped. "Sorry. You're a firebender, so it must be too cold for you."

He was almost suspicious, but the look in her eyes seemed genuine. He had a slew of responses for her, most of which were sarcastic, but he somehow ended up saying, "It's fine. I can handle it," instead.

She tilted her head, concerned, but that just made him more determined to prove her wrong. He forced himself to stand rigidly in place, staring her down like he was ready for a fight.

She snorted - actually snorted - at him! Was she amused? The nerve!

"Alright, hold still," she ordered gently, raising her hand again.

Zuko tried not to look so obviously like he was steeling himself up. Thanfully, if Katara had noticed anything this time, she showed no sign of it, and the water touched his face without issue. He was surprised in a way, as he'd expected her to make the water colder just out of spite.

It was nice to be wrong, he supposed.

The water felt strange against his skin. He couldn't see what she was doing obviously, his left eye closed from the water while his right could see a bit of her hand if he really tried. Katara's gaze, meanwhile, was focused and steady, never wavering from where her hand was.

He was only forced to stop looking when the water began to glow. The temperature of the water suddenly stopped mattering, as he couldn't determine it. Maybe it was numbing him?

He could feel the vibration as the liquid shifted like a calming wave, like it were washing over the left side of his face over and over despite it already being submerged. At first, he didn't understand how it felt like it was seeping into his skin, seeking impurities and washing them away, without hurting him at all.

But water was the opposite of fire. His father's flames had burned him and the heat had dug so deeply as to leave a scar, so it would only make sense if water could reverse it. He'd just never imagined it was possible, and he was more glad than anything else that the light forced him to close his eyes as to avoid Katara seeing any more emotion than he was comfortable sharing.

Could someone's sins really be washed away with something as simple as water?

Suddenly, there was the sound of rocks collapsing nearby, jarring both he and Katara out of their state. Katara staggered forward in surprise, but seemed compelled to keep her hand on the left side of his face. Likewise, he tried not to move, unsure of how interrupting the process would go and not wanting to tempt fate.

His left eye couldn't see beyond the now-faint light of the healing water, while the right could only stare at Katara. She'd averted her gaze, presumably to look at what'd caused the disturbance, and although Zuko couldn't see it himself from where he was at, he knew well enough that she was capable and would say something if anything were wrong.

Katara's eyes widened. "Aang!"

Recognizing the name of the Avatar, Zuko's head twitched on reflex to look, only barely managing to keep the rest of himself still as Katara's hand was still on him. She went through something similar, shifting her body as if to run off before remembering the situation.

She peered up at him, the light intensifying now that her focus had returned. She tilted her head and eyed him critically as she ran her thumb where his scar was. He may've taken the critical gaze personally under normal circumstances, but he supposed it was just the water having an effect on him.

Finally, the light died down, Katara pulling her hand away along with the water. Zuko was immediately hit with the strange sensation of just the left side of his face, covering it with his hand in surprise at the shift in his vision.

Katara had already run off. He straightened, looking over to see her in the middle of hugging Aang, who was currently glaring at him. Iroh was nearby, rushing to Zuko to embrace him. It wasn't that Zuko wasn't happy to see his uncle, but he focused on returning Aang's glare, not sure what the Avatar's motives are.

Given that, he wondered aloud, "Uncle, I don't understand. What are you doing with the Avatar?"

Aang broke away from Katara and replied, as if he'd been asked, "Saving you, that's what."

Needless to say, Zuko didn't appreciate the cheekiness in his tone. He tried to move, ready to fight, but Iroh hugged him tighter to prevent him from going anywhere.

"Zuko, it's time we talked," he said sternly, but quietly. Finally pulling away - allowing Zuko to lower his hand from his face - Iroh turned to face Katara and Aang. "Go help your other friends. We'll catch up with you."

Aang bowed, then ran off for the nearest cave. Katara followed, but kept a slower pace to look back at Zuko.

He saw a slight raise of her brows, then a smile that wasn't directed at the Avatar, but at him. He tried not to show too much of a reaction to it, not matter how bizarre it was, but that didn't stop him from continuing to maintain eye contact until she'd fully disappeared into the cave.

Then, remembering himself and that Iroh had never answered his question, he turned. "Why, Uncle?"

Iroh faced him, looking serious. "You're not the man you used to be, Zuko. You--" He cut himself off, eyes going wide and mouth dropping open in surprise. Apparently, all the seriousness had just drained out of him. "You're really not the man you used to be!"

"What?" Zuko asked, but realized a second later exactly where Iroh was staring. Bringing a hand up to his face, he finally felt along where his scar was.

Or rather, where his scar used to be. His skin was smooth, his vision just as good in his left eye as it was in his right. In fact, the only sign that there'd been a scar at all was his lack of a left eyebrow, though that could grow back with time.

"The... Katara," he began, "she used a type of water she got at a spirit oasis."

"A spirit--of course..." Iroh's expression regained its calmness as he placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Zuko, listen to me. You are stronger and wiser and freer than you have ever been, and now you have come to the crossroads of your destiny."

Zuko raised a brow (well, the only one he had), not sure he understood.

Iroh continued, "It's time for you to choose. It's time for you to choose good."

Zuko opened his mouth, but the conversation was cut off by a sudden earthquake. He managed to keep his balance, but a slew of crystals suddenly burst through the ground, separating him from Iroh and trapping the latter in a crystal prison.

He gaped at the sight, then assumed a fighting position at nothing in particular and readied himself, not showing any emotion even as Azula descended form the sides of the crystal chamber alongside what he presumed to be two earthbenders.

Walking to Zuko and Iroh, Azula kept up her usual demeanor despite his vanished scar. "I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle, but Zuko," she began, "Prince Zuko, you're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you?"

Zuko glared. "Release him immediately!"

"It's not too late for you, Zuko," Azula insisted as she stopped in front of him, not paying his order any mind. "You can still redeem yourself."

Iroh shouted to Zuko from his containment in the crystals, "The kind of redemption she offers is not for you!"

"Why don't you let him decide, Uncle?" Azula challenged. She glanced back at Zuko, voice softening as she continued, "I need you, Zuko. I've plotted every move of this day - " She raised a fist for emphasis. " - this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the only way we win is together. At the end of this day, you will have your honor back. You will have Father's love. You will have everything you want."

Father's love? Everything he wanted?

"Zuko," Iroh called out gingerly, "I am begging you. Look into your heart and see what it is that you truly want."

Zuko looked back and forth between the two, Azula's eyes unusually gentle while Iroh's were as gentle as they always had been. However, he lowered his gaze, not meeting either.

"You are free to choose," Azula said. She raised a hand, the gesture wordlessly telling her guards to leave the premises. That done, she simply walked off into the cave that Aang and Katara had gone.

Zuko thought back to Iroh, though still not looking at him. I'm begging you, he'd said, and it was familiar because he'd said it before. Zuko had been down this path before, being asked what he wanted and what his "destiny" really was back when he tried to take the Avatar's bison. He remembered it well.

I'm begging you, Prince Zuko! It's time for you to look inward and begin asking yourself the big questions. Who are you, and what do you want?

Prince. Iroh had called him that, even back then. Azula was doing it now as well, but...

Zuko knew deep down that it was one of her tricks. He'd played her games too many times; been played too many times. He wasn't foolish enough to think otherwise, but he also couldn't be sure that Azula would betray him completely.

Already, he could hear a fight ensuing in the the direction that Azula had gone. His feet were itching to move; to do something, but what?

Iroh spoke up, "You said it was water from a spirit oasis."

Zuko glanced over at him, giving him his attention.

Iroh continued, "Zuko, that scar you had was full of suffering and terrible memories. Had you truly wanted to go back to that, I'm sure that you wouldn't have been able to be healed from it." He shook his head, his voice thick with sorrow. "All this time, you've been trying to make up for something I've never held against you."

"What do you mean?"

"Think," Iroh urged. "You spoke up, yes, but against the idea of lives being lost! Are you going to apologize for that?!"

Zuko blinked, eyes wide at the fact that he'd never thought of that.

Iroh's voice softened. "I'm sorry that I let you into that meeting. I had to live with that guilt for the scar you had on your face."

"What? Uncle, no, I'm the one--"

"You were young, but you were already a far better Fire Lord than your father will ever be. You cared about the lives of others even if they weren't for your own benefit. I'm proud of you, and I'm so happy that you have a moment to start over again." He paused, squirming briefly within the crystal restraints. Realizing that he was firmly stuck, he looked back to Zuko, uttering firmly, "Go."

"But, Uncle--"

"Go!"

Zuko's feet finally moved. He dashed past Iroh and into the cave as quickly as he could.

He felt stupid. He felt pathetic. He'd spent all this time torn and twisted between two sides when his heart had made up its mind a long time ago and his body struggled to listen.

"The Fire Nation took my mother away from me."

"I'm sorry. That's something we have in common."

Common. Relating to someone was not something he often did. His father and sister had long since convinced him that he was less than nothing without earning his honor back, but what did honor mean? If he was less than nothing, why could he get so close to the Avatar and his bison with his own efforts?

The only thing he had in common with Ozai and Azula was blood, and it'd been boiling away ever since he'd been banished.

Who are you, and what do you want?

As he made it out of the cave, he jumped, letting out a blast of fire between the ongoing fight that Azula, Katara, and Aang were having. They all stared at him as he landed, his stance ready for action as he looked around at the lot of them. Now that his mind was clear, he could see the almost expectant look in Azula's eyes, along with a hidden threat if he dared to betrayed her.

He was no pawn. Not anymore. He wrote his own destiny.

"I'm Zuko," he declared firmly. "and I want the kind of honor that you and my father could never give me!"

He inhaled, then thrust his arms forward to let out a blast of fire so loud that it drowned his own cry of frustration. Years of pent-up aggression were put into the flames, and he just barely caught the sight of his sister's wide eyes before she almost seemed to become engulfed in it. It wasn't that he thought he'd truly destroy her with it, but finally letting it out gave him a sense of freedom he hadn't felt before.

Aang and Katara flung themselves back due to the heat, despite not being within the flames' particular range. Aang gaped, confused, then glanced at Katara for answers.

But she wasn't looking at Aang. She was meeting Zuko's gaze with her own. For the moment of calm in the battle, they simply stared at one another.

They said nothing, but shared an unspoken promise, held together by the simple commonality they shared.

Let's take down the Fire Nation together.

#other: non ml talk #((Could've sworn that I'd posted this a long time ago. Sorry about that!))#Zutara

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jessiewritesthings · 4 years

Text

Saudade - Epilogue

Prince Zuko x Reader

Here she is!! Saudade is my baby and i’m so happy and so grateful for everyone that has taken the time to read this, i love you all! thank you thank you thank you x

Part I - Part II - Part III

168 AG

Izumi smiled softly, flipping through the pages of the family album. Black and white photos dotted the pages, documenting the life you had shared with Zuko for more than seventy years. Images of you and Zuko at the helm of numerous Fire Lily Festivals, visiting Fire Nation Citizens, meeting with delegates from all over the Four Nations. The images Izumi liked the most were the ones with all your friends in them – as a child she had thought it was just the coolest thing that her parents were best friends with the Avatar.

She also particularly loved the photos you would take on your vacations to Ember Island – loved how proudly you held yourself, scar and all. Most people would take to hiding away, a scar so bad as yours was enough reason to, Izumi had figured. She knew her father struggled with it every day – no matter how many times you tried to comfort him, he always saw it as a sign of his weakness, a reminder of the cruelty that Azula and Ozai, and the rest of his predecessors had put the world through.

Your life with Zuko hadn’t always been easy, though it had definitely been worth it. Numerous assassination attempts on the both of you had plagued your first few years together, and the backlash from Zuko’s advisors as he proposed and promptly married you, crowning you his Fire Lady, hadn’t gone down particularly easy. Nonetheless, you were stronger together, and in time the Fire Nation grew to love you, just as they did Zuko.

Izumi sighed, a tear rolling down her cheek as she closed the album, placing it on the corner table before joining her father on the balcony.

“Izumi, my dear,” Zuko murmured, reaching for her hand as she placed it on his shoulder.

Izumi stood silently with her father, watching as their guest’s ships began to depart. If she squinted, she could see Katara with Tenzin and Pema, waving as Pema wrangled with Jinora and Ikki, young Meelo clinging to his father. Raising his hand to wave in return, Zuko thought about how desperately he wanted Aang, or his Uncle Iroh around – someone that could help him come to terms with the most devastating blow he’d been dealt yet.

It had been two weeks now, since Zuko had woken to find you cold, yet soft and peaceful in his arms. Your arms had still been pressed across his chest, the same groove you always found yourselves sleeping in, legs pushed together like you were two halves of a whole – which, in a way, you were. Zuko had swallowed down his fear, and his cry for help, as he looked at you, softly brushing your white hair from your face, his fingers delicately running the beads along the strands.

“Oh, my sweet y/n,” he had whispered, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead, his tears starting to fall over your face. He stayed there with you, unable and unwilling to move, as if he stayed still forever you might open your eyes and greet him. His eyes didn’t move from your form when his attendant, Mira, entered the room, a tray of hot breakfast and steaming tea in her arms.

The tray was quickly placed on the side table as Mira rushed to the bedside, gasping in shock.

“Lord Zuko,” she started, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Mira, please.” He let go of you now, gently removing himself from your bed, as if trying not to rouse you.

Mira came to his side, placing an arm on Lord Zuko’s shoulder before he smiled softly at her and pulled her into a hug. Zuko continued to cry, comforted by Mira. You had been loved and admired by all of the palace staff, and many of them had requested to follow you and Zuko when you had moved to Ember Island following Zuko’s abdication as Fire Lord.

“The Lady y/n will be remembered fiercely, Lord Zuko. The Fire Nation’s most delicate flower.”

Zuko smiled, fondly remembering the first time he had introduced you to his dragon, Druk. Zuko had the utmost confidence in the dragon, and you had been positively terrified – not because he was a giant fire-breathing dragon – you’d proven yourself more than capable of handling fire by now – but he was just so big. Nonetheless, you had mounted Druk, and shrieked in surprise as Zuko leapt off the dragon, watching as you soared into the sky, your wild hair flowing as you clutched onto Druk’s scales. Zuko was positively enamoured – he’d already spent a lifetime loving you, but seeing you ride Druk with such tenacity and grit had sent him straight into the past, flying through all your history until you were both back in the Crystal Catacombs in Ba Sing Se. Zuko was enchanted by you, and he knew he would be until his heart stopped beating.

You were beaming as Druk had landed, your hair windswept and your blue robes loose, exhilarated. Leaping off the dragon, you ran to Zuko’s arms, flinging yourself to him as your arms found their natural home, your lips pressing to his scar.

“Zuko, that was incredible,” you’d exclaimed, astounded.

“Mmm, it certainly was.” Zuko smiled – watching you ride Druk was better than being in the reigns himself.

“My Dragon Queen,” he murmured, pressing soft kisses against your neck, the spot he knew you loved the most.

_____

Zuko sat with his daughter until the sun had entirely disappeared, and then they sat together for longer, watching the night as the stars began to dapple across the sky, the moon incandescent in its beauty as it graced the sky. They sat silently, hands clasped together, tucked into a patchwork quilt you had made for Izumi’s birth – a delicate, stunning piece of work that seamlessly incorporated both sides of you and Zuko, magical swirls of red and blue speckled with gems and beads.

Izumi twirled the blue beads adorning the quilt through her fingers, recalling the countless nights that she would rouse you both from sleep, claiming to be plagued by nightmares. You never complained, always opening your arms to pull her in, letting her nestle in-between you and Zuko where she would sleep freely. Sometimes, before sleep took her, Izumi would feel your fingers drifting through her hair, and she would fall asleep in such a tranquil, safe space.

Eventually Izumi heard stories about her grandfather Ozai – horrifying stories of what he’d done to the world, his nation, his family. She’d never asked her father about his scar – in-fact it never occurred to her as a child that it deviated from malicious intent, because her mother had one too. In Izumi’s young mind, she used to imagine that the two of you being scarred was just the spirits way of making sure you found each other, as if your scars acted as magnets that would bring you together wherever you were.

“I was so lucky to have her love me, Izumi,” Zuko hummed, voice raspy. “I always knew I would love her, after we first met. Your mother, she was magic. Ethereal. It has been the greatest honour of my life to love her, and that love brought me the greatest gift: you.”

Izumi smiled fondly at her father, leaning forward to press a kiss to his forehead.

“She was lucky to have your love, too.”

Lord Zuko turned to his daughter, a soft smile gracing his face. She was an excellent Fire Lord, and he recalled the time Ursa had told him that a Fire Lord producing a nonbending child was a disgrace in Ozai’s eyes. Of course, Ozai was wrong. Izumi was not a bender, but Zuko constantly found himself in awe of his daughter’s calm demeanour, and when he abdicated his throne, he had never been prouder of Izumi as she was crowned Fire Lord.

Izumi’s birth had not been easy for you – she was a stubborn babe, and you’d been in labour for hours – days actually, as you later found out. Katara was assisting you, and Aang had taken Zuko away to keep him distracted – it was awfully improper for a husband to be present at a birth of course. Naturally, that didn’t deter you, and you constantly pleaded with Katara and your handmaiden to please, please, please get Zuko. As Zuko and Aang returned to the palace, Fire Lord Zuko was informed that your child still had not been delivered. Anxiety consumed him, and to the horror of his advisors he’d dashed to your chambers, grasping your hand and whispering sweet nothings into your ear as you finally delivered a healthy, beautiful, precious baby girl.

Zuko was enamoured with Izumi immediately, and would often be found after a particularly highly-strung meeting with his advisors sitting on the balcony in Izumi’s nursery, holding his soft, sweet girl in his arms. Before Izumi was born, Zuko had confided in you that he wasn’t sure about his ability to be a father – he wanted to be a good father so much that it overwhelmed him, and he wasn’t able to comprehend it. He’d blurted it out in the middle of a game of Pai Sho, neither of you knowing that you were in-fact already carrying the Crown Princess of the Fire Nation. You’d reached your arm across the board, hand gently caressing Zuko as you gave him a reassuring smile.

“You will be magnificent, my love. Any children we have will grow to see their father the same way I do – brave, intelligent, loving and kind.”

Zuko took your hands, pressing them to his lips as he watched you, shadows from the flames flickering across your face.

“Have I told you that I’m madly in love with you?” he replied, a cheeky grin forming. Forgetting the game of Pai Sho, you crept over to his side, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“Not nearly enough,” you answered, your lips pressing together as Zuko put his hands in your hair, pulling his fingers through.

“I’m madly in love with you, y/n. Every minute of every day.”

175 AG

Lord Zuko stirred softly in his sleep, out on the balcony as usual – you had spent most of your time here curled up together, after all. He was smiling softly, thinking of you as he always did. It had been an interesting few years without you, but nothing could fill the void that was left inside Zuko after you left. He would often wake from a restless sleep, desperately clutching the sheets as if you were there, only to be disappointed every time. He played many games of Pai Sho with Mira, and she would sit with him each evening, enjoying a cup of tea on the balcony as they kept each other company. Most often, Zuko would sit on the loveseat in the balcony, your favourite blanket draped across him for comfort instead of warmth. He’d sit there with his tea, usually forgetting it as he would drift into a deep sleep, visited by you and your memories together.

“Come, Zuko. Let’s go down to the beach,” you urged.

The sun was setting on Ember Island, and you were due to return to the palace tomorrow, Fire Lord duties to be resumed. Iroh had graciously stepped in in place of Zuko to allow the pair of you to have on ‘official’ honeymoon, something you were both incredibly grateful for.

Slipping your hand into his, you’d made your way down to the beach, both barefoot and revelling in the soothing nature of the sand. You’d let go of him now, running through the waves as they crashed on the shore. Zuko couldn’t do much more than stare at you – your hair shined in the fading sun, the red hues making you look delicious and warm. Your gown wrapped around your waist, unravelled slowly, revealing your scar. Zuko grimaced, a flash of pain echoing on his face. Seeing this, you ran to his side, placing your hands in his.

“I just…,” he started, swallowing. “I just wish I could take it away, for you.”

“Don’t, my love. It is as much a part of me as yours is you. I am proud to have this scar. Proud of what it represents for us, for all that we’ve been through. I don’t want you to feel this way every time you look at me.”

Zuko smiled softly, pressing his lips to your forehead.

“I look at you, and I am alive.”

Zuko placed his hands on your waist as you wrapped yours around his neck.

“Dance with me,” you whispered. Zuko blushed – forever the one with two left feet – and the two of you danced, softly, delicately, holding each other as if all the love in the world had been given to only you both in that moment. Water rushed over your feet as you moved across the sand. A laugh escaped you as Zuko caught his foot on yours, accidentally tripping you up as you both fell into the sand, water lapping at your feet. Sighing, you ran your fingers through his hair as you rested on top of him.

“I think I loved you the moment I saw you. Even if I didn’t know it then,” you’d whispered, gazing into his eyes. Zuko had raised his head slightly, watching you carefully, almost as if he didn’t believe you. “We will be remembered, Zuko. For the right reasons.”

Pulling himself off the sand, Zuko lent back, allowing you to shuffle into his arms. You sat silently together, watching as the stars began to dot across the night sky, peaceful and content like neither of you had ever felt before.

Zuko woke slowly, the first rays of the new day dawning. You stood before him, hazy and radiant and celestial in your beauty, before reaching one hand out to him.

“Come, Zuko. There’s still so much more to see.”

Zuko’s eyes closed, a long, deep breath escaping for one final time. He was in his dreams now – dreaming his dreams with you.

_____

“Lord Zuko,” Mira called, unsurprised to find the elderly Lord had once again slept on his balcony.

Mira approached him, a gasp of shock leaving her as she realised just how peaceful he looked. In his hands he held a small, silver hair clip, adorned with white and blue gems and beads.

Ah. Together again.

_____

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#mywriting #zuko #prince zuko #zuko x reader #zuko x you #prince zuko x reader #avatar: tla #avatar imagine

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a-monsters-love · 4 years

Text

The Air Between Us: Part 1

[Prologue] [Part 1] [Blurb 1] [Part 2] [Blurb 2] [Epilogue]

Zuko x A!Reader:

Genre: fluff

Warnings: mild swearing

Word count: 7742

Time line: Takes place when the Gaang goes to the Fire Lords beach house with Zuko on Ember Island. I changed it from them going to see the play about themselves and go to a circus instead; I extended the time they were on the island to fit everything.

A/N: If your reading this I hope it lives up to any expectations, the prologue got so much more love than I thought it would. This is my first fan fic, the reader was originally written as my DnD OC so I apologize if she’s written wonky. I hope I wrote Zuko’s character well, I was worried I wrote him too OOC but I’ve read so much Zuko x Reader fanfics that I felt like it wasn’t that bad lmao. I am my own proof reader so please message me if I messed something up. Also I don’t know how to write Sokka or Suki’s character, I’ve never met anyone like Sokka and Suki has so little dialogue in the show that I feel like she’s just happy to be there.

(Y/N) = Your name (S/C) = Skin color (H/C) = Hair color (E/C) = Eye color

————

“SSHHUUUUUUU.” A loud, terrifying, growl hissed through the Fire Lords vacation home. Echoing into an almost animalistic growl.

“Ah.” Shu looks over to Katara, ”Sounds like (Y/N) is awake.” Probably also waking up everything else in the greater vicinity. Based on the ferocity in your voice they decide it’s probably best to rush over to the room you’re now resting in.

You’re alone, in a hastily cleaned dust covered room. You don’t know where you are. You aren’t aware of how you got here or what day it is. You’re sticky, you reek of herbs, and everything HURTS. These are facts you listed as you woke up. You hear the softest knocking on the door, “If you are not my brother or with him I will rip you to shreds.” You snarl at the door, it’s been a long time since you’ve been this mad, you can hear the hand that was on the door knob let go and take a step back, not going much further than that. Exhaustion starts taking over but you were determined to stay awake until you received your answers. You hear large familiar foot steps run over to the room you’ve been placed in. When the door finally opens you see your twin brother, Shu with Katara, and a very nervous looking Zuko up against the wall behind them. You determined he was the one you threatened. Your (E/C) eyes flick from the nervous fire bender to your brother, “You’re late and I have questions, little brother.” You hissed menacingly.

——

It’s been less than 24 hours since you passed out. In that time, you’ve managed to win over the Gaang and somehow sort out the choices your brother made for the both of you. Neither of which you disagreed with however you barely remember anything that happened after the end of the fight at the circus. You blacked out, this wasn’t a first, but it was a first from blood loss. Katara has been working on healing your wounds every 4-6 hours, letting the salve do its job before cleaning you as best she could through the fear that you might not have made it otherwise. She looks exhausted.

The night prior, when Zuko escorted you to the evacuation area, the Gaang had received the full disclosure on your wounds, your history, and your goals. During your first healing session you were face-in-lap of the Fire Prince, as he received endless teasing. Katara, all though giving him the ‘all knowing’ look the entire time, was the only person to have his back. You lost so much blood you needed to stay as warm as possible until your body regulated, and what’s a better hot water bottle than a fire bender?

——

“Hey Sifu Hot Water Bottle!” Toph hollered down the hall, Zuko groaned. Knowing he will never be able to live this down, but was it worth having you nuzzle into his lap like a sick turtle duck? Absolutely.

“What, Toph.” He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms at the tiny earth bender.

“Shu and Katara are getting herbs so you should keep your princess company~” Toph grinned from ear to ear, knowing his reaction, even if she couldn’t feel it through the hardwood flooring.

Zuko’s cheeks flushed brightly at the comment, letting out a forced ‘groan’ in an attempt to get the better of the girl. He, however, quite liked the idea and rolled around options in his head to see if he could do anything for you without needing healer expertise. He decides to prepare tea. He remembered a recipe for a pain killer tea that his uncle had made for him, it tastes like crap but he knew it could help.

Walking up to your door, no problem, walking in? That’s another story. You were passed out, why is he suddenly so nervous? Then he heard it, well he heard you. He’s never heard such a terrifying savage sound escape someone, let alone a person of your stature. He lightly knocked on the door as not to surprise you but received a threat regardless, this was new. “WHAT DID YOU DO??” Toph whisper yells from down the hall, Zuko not wanting to give up his spot, while not disturbing you he throws his hands in front of his chest indicating ‘I don’t fucking know’ quickly remembering she’s blind.

As if saved by the bell, Shu and Katara rushed up the hall to your room, “I didn’t wake her, I got here after the roar.” Zuko whispers before they open the door. He sees your bandaged body and has the desire to help but decides it’s best to stay out of the way. His gold eyes meet your own (E/C) eyes, causing him to remember the night prior, a blush dusts his face and he looks down.

Shu and Katara enter the room, leaving Zuko in the hall. “In or out, princeling.” You state dryly. He decides to walk in and sit against the wall, opposite to your brother and the water tribe girl. Setting down the tea pot he prepared. You can feel warmth radiating from him, Fire bending perks, you noted. “Someone help me into an upright position…please.” Your tone changes, almost begging for help. You’re tired and in pain and in need of answers. Zuko and Shu both gently help you lift yourself from laying on your chest to sitting upright. Zuko grateful for the bandages looks into his hands after letting go of you. Katara hands you a cup of tea. You look between the healer and Shu, “So… I barely remember anything after the battle at the circus, please fill me in..” You take a sip of tea without even flinching at the taste, to Zuko’s surprise.

“What?? What’s the last thing you remember?” Katara seems mind blown by the idea and Zuko looks as if he’s the one who lost too much blood.

You sip your tea slowly and tilting your head back and fourth trying to stitch together the memories. “Well, we trapped all the Fire Nation soldiers, Shu and I high-fived and that’s when things started getting hazy,” You stopped and tried to pull pieces to your mind, “I had said.. something to you guys and then my legs went weak and Zuko caught me.” You pointed at him, your ears turned red at the thought. “After that, nothing. Last time I blacked out that bad was in Omashu, like 2 years ago, and that was a party.” You ramble on, still a bit delirious from blood loss and medication.

Katara watches you, thinking over your condition. “Well, you did lose a lot of blood, if we knew sooner then maybe we could’ve done something.” She shakes her head and looks between the two boys before explaining the context of the night prior. She then comments that neither you or Shu gave goodbyes to anyone before you left, which she found weird.

You and Shu exchange looks, and erupt in laughter. To the shock of both Katara and Zuko, who found himself confused but smiling seeing you laugh. You groaned and held you sides, laughing hurt. “We’re circus kids, don’t worry about ‘goodbyes’ we have our means. Since we left them that means Auntie and Uncle are probably retiring.” You move your attention to your brother, “Did Uncle give you anything?” You finished your tea putting the cup down for a refill. You let a small shiver consume you.

“He gave me a box and told me to open it when your up and-or well,” He rolls his eyes. “Whatever that means.” He leans over and refills your glass.

“We’ll need that in the up coming war, so don’t lose it,” You seem back to you matter-a-fact like self. Looking back to Katara, “What’s the status on my wounds?” You ask, picking up your cup for another sip.

She sighs, “It should only take a couple more sessions for it to not hurt so bad and to get you up again” She looks at the ground almost in an ashamed way, she glances at Zuko briefly while choosing her words. “I wasn’t able to prevent the scarring, you will forever have a large scar that stretches from the middle of your back up your neck and down your shoulders to both your hands.”

The room is quiet from Katara statement, you can feel the tension from her words. Noting the look she sent the scarred prince but keeping a calm face you nod, “Well, that’ll look badass.” Taking another sip of tea, “I wonder if it’ll be a problem with Aangs training, Air Bending masters get tattoos, right?” You start thinking aloud. You shrug at the thought, “Well, either way, when can we get to the next healing session? Because I’m cold and everything hurts and I’m hungry, this tea is helping but I can’t eat in this condition.”

Katara smiles brightly at your quick resolve and ushers the boys out to start the healing session. Zuko was replaying how quickly you came to a resolve about your scar in his head not noticing Katara trying to get his attention. “Hey.” You snap your fingers close to his face, causing a small breeze. “Are you gonna watch or are you gonna leave? I have to strip for this.” Zuko’s face was immediately red at the thought of what you just said and stumble-ran out of your room. And so, your first session while awake starts. Followed by every curse word and obscenity you can imagine escaping your mouth. This isn’t healing, this is assault!

Due to the depth of the wounds and the concern of Katara, you had multiple ‘healing sessions’ throughout that day. The day following you were up and running again, for the most part. You found yourself mostly watching Zuko and Aang train, much to Zuko’s dismay but he took note of the a light blush that dusted your face and he redness of your ears when he took his shirt off. He started taking it off earlier in his matches with Aang to see if he can get a reading out of you. Your angelic poker face is not something he could win against. That small smile is constantly plastered on your face.(*1)

However much you enjoyed seeing him with his shirt off, you enjoyed studying their sparring session more than anything. Both Zuko and Aang had multiple different influences in their bending, there are time Zuko’s moves look like that of a water bender. You have never seen anything like it, however you’ve only ever practiced with Shu, an earth bender, so you weren’t one to talk. You asked Aang the occasional question about air bending basics. Things to practice so you can find the middle ground you needed to have control of your bending better. You sit on the patio while they trained practicing your control, letting Aang correct you when needed.

——

“What about bending? When can I start fully practicing that?” You ask Katara while making a fresh pot of jasmine tea, it’s one of your many favorites.

Katara hums at the question, “You should be okay for now. BUT!” She looks you in they eyes. “No heavy lifting, and no going past your limits. If you start feeling sore or exhausted you must take a break.” You almost spat at the statement but stifled your laughter, you’re an air bender. Is air heavy? You jokingly thought, knowing how hilarious that sounds.

“Awesome,” You cough to hide your ongoing laughter. “Can you help me then? I want to change to practice.”

Katara agreed and followed you to your room. She had tied your (H/C) hair back, neater than you’ve ever tied it. You’re still in full bandage but you have a halter top exposing your bandaged midriff, and your most comfortable short harem pants, you liked the way they hugged your hips and sat comfortably at your knees. You walk out barefoot to the training grounds to Toph, who almost hit you with a boulder. “Hey, lightfoot! At least make sure you have a presence for me, you could’ve been back in bed!” She scowled in your general direction, “Katara would’ve blamed me!” She huffed.

You make sure both feet are flat to the ground and walk to the girl, “Could you help me with something?” At Aangs references and Sokka’s bad memories you try to describe the Airball court and the type of game that was played in it. “If we make one out of stone you can ‘watch’ me and Aang play and it’ll give me good practice to handle my air bending without creating an actual tornado or by using my fans.” Toph rolled the idea around in her head, “If we get a fire proof ball we can get Zuko in on the game?” You further suggest.

Almost like a light bulb goes off in Toph’s head she lights up, “(Y/N)! You’re a genius!” She runs off to look for the ideal location.

You go find Aang, catching him before he starts his sparing session, “Hey, Aang!”

Aang sees you calling and perks up, “Hey (Y/N), what up?” The young nomad asks, meeting you halfway.

“Okay, so,” You clap your hands together holding them in front of your chin. “Can Airball be played with 3 goals or does it have to be 2?” Your (E/C) eyes are almost glowing at the question throwing the boy for a loop, you’re finally acting more like yourself again.

“Well, since Air Nomads are traditionally pacifists I’d say only 2 goals to avoid having 2 teams ganging up on 1 team.” He smiles remember the times he played back in the Southern Air Temple, then his brow knit. “Why do you ask?” (*2)

You smile putting your hand on his small shoulders, “I’m having Toph use her bending to build an Airball court so I can practice my bending and I thought it could give you and Zuko a different type of field to spar on.” That last part you made up on the spot but it is a valid option. Aangs face lights up, “Do you want to grab Zuko and show me the ropes?”

You both grab Zuko, and a random empty metal box from the vacation house. He begrudgingly follows, being pulled hand in hand by two Air Benders, what has my life come to? He thought to himself while not shaking off either hand so he can keep holding yours. Aang explains the game rules and how it’s played on the way.

You follow the noises of the court being built by Toph and you hear her call, “(Y/N)! What were you thinking to use for the ball??” You can see she had stone and river rock options behind her however you didn’t want to risk the damage to you or Zuko. (*3)

“How ‘bout this?” You hand her the metal box, “If you metal bent it to the shape of a ball we can leave it hollow so it’ll be easier to move for me as an ‘inexperienced’ air bender and for Zuko who will have to use his flames to actually propel it.”

You can see Toph physically frown, “Hey, I’m not an earth bender, and as much as I wouldn’t mind taking responsibility if he got hurt, throwing boulders at him is not in my job description.” You both laugh and Toph agrees. You suggest Aang and Zuko use the court first for training then you can get to the game.

Toph has lifted a platform to the height of the court, “You’re pretty good at staying balanced on moving boulders.” She comments.

“Yeah, well, having a giant but strong Earth Bender for a twin your whole life does wonders for your balance.” You joke, pushing your elbow into Toph who is trying to stifle a smile at the mention of Shu.

While watching the boys jump around so gracefully reminds you a lot of the circus. You feel a bit sad at the thought and Toph picks up on it. “What’s wrong, lightfoot?”

You don’t hate the new nickname as much as the others seem to hate theirs, you lean back a bit on the platform holding your knees to keep your balance. “I was trained in all sorts of circus and show performances, piano, guitar, gymnastics, acrobatics, juggling, tight rope walking, and contortionism-“

Toph would have spat out her drink if she had one, “YOU’RE A CONTORTIONIST?” She gaps at you causing Zuko to blush, losing his balance and Aang to give him a big stupid grin.

“Ah-well-“ You stammer, blushing hard because no one outside of the circus ever seemed to be interested in the things you trained in. “Ye-yeah I was trained in all sorts of things-“ You look down at your knees to avoid making eye contact with the boys and not wanting to look at Toph, regardless of her being blind. “Watching them dance around reminds me of home.” You chuckle sadly.

Toph talks your head off with all sorts of questions about the circus and what you can do, once your embarrassment subsides you find yourself passionately talking about it. Before you realize it, the boys are done sparring and Aang asks if you’re ready.

You nod and hop to the court, trading places with Zuko. You accidentally bump your shoulder with his arm causing him to grab your hand in case you slipped, sending a hot sensation up your arm from where he held you. You smile softly and embarrassed “Sorry.” You rub the the back of your neck and squeeze his hand.

He lets go quickly. “Ah, yeah.” He stammers, “It’s fine, (Y/N).” Shooting a subtly smile back. You blush loudly, realizing this is the first time he’s said your name to you. You scurry to get to the center of the court.

“S-sorry if this isn’t as great as the courts you had at home. My instructions were vague.” You tell Aang, he shakes his head with a smile, he doesn’t care he’s just excited to play. You practice spinning the make shift ball in a web of air. Before throwing the ball at Aangs hoop.

——

The game starts between (Y/N) and Aang, and Zuko can’t take his eyes off of you. You don’t look like someone who can’t control their bending. Just watching you spin, flip and dance around from post to post is like a choreographed show. Even when you throw or kick the ‘ball’ consumed by air. “So, when are you gonna ask her out, Sifu hot water bottle?” Toph snickers, getting a general idea of the game, enjoying it none the less.

“What? What are you talking about?” Zuko scowls at the girl who just sarcastically snaps her neck in his direction.

“Really? Dude, your attention is on her every move and reaction.” Toph cheers loudly for you, making you a bit embarrassed missing your footing. You slip off the beam you aimed for but you push off the side of it just to hop on the top of another, Aang claps saying you’re a natural. “See, your heart rate just spiked at a little slip. Just ask her out, the worst she can say is no right?” Toph shrugs suggestively, “Maybe she likes you back.”

Zuko scoff at these comments before actually thinking about them. “Shut up.” Toph laughed and punched him in the arm. “What was that for!”

Toph smiles, “Thats how I show affection.” Her face beamed as she moved to the ledge of where they sat and waved at the on coming footsteps.

——

Aang has 3 points on you and you haven’t even scored yet, to anyone else you’d say it’s fine, it’s the first time you’ve played. You on the other hand are fairly competitive, and according to Aang you seem to have the rules down. You have the ball in your hand now and decide to throw all cation to the wind, literally in this case. You air bend something close to a funnel weaving around the posts and throwing the ball into it. Your hand twirling lightly to keep it moving. This does not work as planned, as the funnel created so much momentum that the metal make shift ball flattens to the stone hoop. You gasp putting your hands on your temples, “Oh spirits!”

Aang laughs a little too hard, Toph laughs while grumbling about ‘all her hard work.’ Zuko lets out a chuckle, this embarrassed you but your glad he seems to be having fun watching the mess you call a match end. “That was great (Y/N)! I’ve never seen you have that much control with your bending!” You hear Shu say, you didn’t even realize the rest of the Gaang had made their way to watch.

“I was trying so hard to be delicate, agh why don’t I know how to be delicate!” You groan, “I couldn’t even make one shot!” Ruffling you’re hands in your hair.

“There’s the competitive little sister I know,” Shu snorts, you made a tiny ball of air at the tip or your finger and shot it at him, hitting him in the center of his forehead. You laugh anyway.

“I can control little things and big things with my bending, the in between is where it gets hard.” You stretch letting out a barely audible whimper from your burn wounds.

“Hey, that was a lot better than I remember from first time Aang made me and Katara play,” Sokka snorts.

The only one who heard your whimper was Zuko, but that’s because you never lost his attention. Which annoyed him to no end when you were unconscious, but now? He just felt lighter having you around. He couldn’t pin down why, maybe it was the way your laugh was contagious, or that you always knew how to say the right thing? Even when it wasn’t directed at him. Somehow your flaws made you more wonderful to him. Competitive? Generally sarcastic while sounding like an Angel? Even when you’re cranky he wants to be around you. He just liked it, a lot more than he anticipated. He thought at first he wanted to be more like you, now maybe it’s not that.

He let the thoughts run around his head as the Shu and Toph earth bend the platforms everyone was sitting on back into the ground. You head back with Aang, Zuko and Toph, who was dragging Shu by his hand, talking about the game and how to improve the court. Aang laughed explaining that it’s great for training but Airball posts were general made of soft woods, you face palm at that lack of knowledge. Letting out another small whimper from your wound. Zuko hesitates but decides to put one of his hand gently over top the biggest part of the wound. With his generally high internal temperature he figured the heat might help. Your back stiffens in surprise and he starts to pull away, you grab his forearm gently indicating that it’s okay and look over towards him. You mouth the words ‘Thank you,’ your general angelic poker face now replaced by something more relaxed and dusted with blush, you look away hoping he doesn’t notice that your ears turning red. He does.

——

Later that evening everyone was heading to bed, you were more sore than you let on but you weren’t tired. You’re finally starting to feel some energy come back to you after ‘working out’ today. You couldn’t do your normal stuff but you weren’t upset, understanding the situation. Katara was the last person you said good night to after she helped you bathe, you had your healing session in the water. Now with a fresh pot of jasmine tea you sat on the porch staring at the scenery, less than a week ago you lived such a hodgepodge lifestyle with the circus. Albeit this is temporary, you couldn’t imagine your life any other way at this point. You hear soft foot steps come from behind you, you pay no mind until you hear them speak. “You know, you should probably have a blanket or something with you, it’s cold in the evenings here.” It’s Zuko, you smile up at him and offer him tea. Seemingly ignoring his comment about the weather you pat your hand at the space near you, suggesting he sits.

He sits down and pours himself a glass, jasmine. His favorite, he wonders if you knew. “Jasmine tea is one of my favorites,” You say.

“Really?” He sips the tea, and watches you. Your seemingly angelic demeanor is gone, you look like you’re in your own world now.

“Well, actually I haven’t met a tea I didn’t enjoy.” You chuckle and hold the glass in your hands to keep yourself warm, you were relishing in the cold but for some reason now you craved warmth. Maybe since he pointed it out? You don’t think too long on it, you focus on your breathing. Aang taught you a special breathing technique that all Air Benders use to regulate their body temperature. “There is an older gentleman who would visit my aunt and uncle when our travel schedules aligned, he made the best tea.” You smile into your cup, “He’s the one who actually taught me how to make tea.” You chuckle, knowing you’re not nearly as good as him. A shiver overcame you.

You made him think of his Uncle Iroh, he has a lot of regrets to work through regarding that matter. Zuko looks down and adjusts the teapot, scooting closer to you after noticing your small shivers.

“You remind me of myself in a lot of ways.” You said, still taking in your surroundings. Zuko didn’t understand the statement, that was clear on his face when you glanced over to him, not realizing you’re start to lean towards his warm arm. “For an assortment of reasons.” You start to explain. “You always come off as super grumpy and quiet, but you’ve never seemed grumpy to me. Earlier you were the only one to notice I was sore. It felt amazing and honestly I was just grateful you didn’t make a scene about it.” Zuko thinks on this for a bit, realizing that the angelic demeanor you have is a facade, this was (Y/N), and outside of maybe your brother it seems like he’s the only one you’ve shown your true self to. Regardless of the reason, Zuko smiles softly.

Now realizing your arm is leaning up against his. “Great Spirits you’re warm!” You cover your mouth realizing how loud that might’ve been. You chuckle.

Zuko laughed quietly and leaned back into your arm, “Fire Bending perks.” He said, he felt embarrassed touching you earlier but for you to say it felt amazing? He blushed hard thinking about it, grateful for the night sky.

“I knew it.” You murmur playfully as you sip your tea.

You pull back from Zuko’s warmth to stretch, groaning.

He hesitates to ask, “Does it hurt?” He wants to touch you, maybe this fire in him is good for something.

You sit back next to him, maybe a little closer than before. Trying to consume his extra heat, “Of course it hurts, but the pain isn’t something to be bitter over.” You bump his leg with your knee at the comment.

Hesitantly he moves the arm pressing against you and leans on it now close behind you. Your arm now touching the side of his abdomen and his arm touching your back, with his hand on the floor. He doesn’t respond. You lean into his side thinking, “Yes, it was a terrible thing that happened to me, but there’s no changing it and the pain is temporary. Why should I be bitter about it? That only makes the aggressor look powerful.” You know you both have terrible scars, yes yours is bigger but yours isn’t on your face. You thought to yourself. “Those who attack people smaller or weaker than themselves are nothing but cowards.” You mumble. Zuko leans his side into you, as a sort of silent response. You stayed like this for sometime before deciding his warmth is making you sleepy. “Has anyone ever told you, you make people sleepy?” You yawn at him.

A smirk raises to one side of his mouth, “Just once,” Remembering your face nuzzling into his lap the night you collapsed.

You raise an eyebrow but don’t question him, you smile though. “Well here’s a second, your natural warmth is cozy and I’m getting sleepy.” You got up to head to your room, when Zuko gently grabs your bandage covered fingers.

“I-uh, usually have a hard time sleeping,” He admits. “If you ever have a hard time sleeping you can come sit with me.” He was looking at your hands sadly, as if they received the worse kind of treatment.

You giggle, knowing you’re always out here before him. You squat down to his level from standing and give him a soft smile, “I naturally don’t sleep much so you can always come get me if you’re lonely.” You squeeze the hand that’s still holding your fingers before making your way to your room. Your skin is buzzing from where his heat once was. “You know where to find me.” You flick your hand up in a lazy peace sign.

——

At lunch the next day Toph and Sokka were trying to figure out who was the oldest twin. “Seriously, who’s the oldest.” You and Shu move in unison looking from each other to Sokka.

“Yeah! You keep calling each other older or younger! What’s the deal.” Toph pouted next to Shu, as she continued eating.

You twins laughed, “Ancient family secret.” You both said.

“Come on, Toph!” Sokka continues, “One of them has to be lying!” The two started to bicker. Suki and Aang can’t stop laughing from you and Shu doing and saying everything in unison, from blinking to eating. This was something the two of you had perfected at a very young age.

You and Shu glance at Aang, “You okay, Sifu Twinkle Toes?” You both go, the room erupted in laughter.

——

The days continued like this. Aang would give you something to practice, you started training with Toph or Katara. Shu and Toph started to trade training tips on metal and magma bending or would practice sand bending together on the beach. You had your healing sessions and a bath afterwards and once the sun was down and everyone was off to bed you started spending your evenings with Zuko.

You always seem to be waiting for him, you decided rather than staying awake in your room to just sit on the patio. Part of you didn’t want to wait to see if Zuko would actually come find you. You heard him walk up on cue, “Tonight’s tea is chamomile.” You say tilting your head towards him. He wore just a shirt and loose shorts, you imagine these are his pajamas.

He smiled and sat in the same position he had the night prior, arm around your back hand on the floor and the side of his abdomen pressing firmly against you. You poured him a cup this time. The two of you would talk for sometime before retiring to bed.

——

One night Zuko found his way to the patio and you weren’t there, he waited where he usually sat with you for some time before he realized the tea pot was gone. He walked to your room, lightly knocking before opening the door. You weren’t there. A sort of panic washed over him, he decided to look around for you before alerting anyone you were gone. Zuko walked down to the beach when he found foot prints, a sigh of relief left him when he found you sitting in the sand. Knees pulled to your chest, face down, cold tea pot and cup sitting next to you. He watched you for sometime before deciding to walk up. “So this is where you’ve been.”

A small sniffle comes out as you wipe your face, “Ah- Yeah.. Sorry..” You force an awkward chuckle. “I didn’t mean to worry you.” You didn’t look at him, he wasn’t sure you were looking at anything when you finished wiping your eyes.

Zuko sat down beside you, he wasn’t good at comforting people. He tried to think of something his uncle would say if he knew you. “My uncle told me once, that sometimes the best way to solve your own problems is to help someone else.” He spoke quietly, not really sure how to help. “I don’t really know how to comfort people but if there’s anything you need, you can ask..”

A small smile made its way to your face, you were pretty sure he had no idea what that statement meant. “I just uh-“ You looked up at the sky, “I feel guilty. And shameful.” You mutter. You could tell he was confused by this statement but you didn’t say anything for sometime. “You heard my families history, Jesa had an excuse. Sure it wasn’t a good excuse but..” You trailed on. Your voice was getting louder and more shaken with every word. “I was always so ashamed of my bending because it put my family in danger. I was ashamed that my family didn’t fight to defend the air nomads!” The air started stirring aggressively around the two of you. Tears started bubbling up in your eyes again and you pushed yourself from the ground. Zuko grabbed at your hand. You roared at the ocean in front of you, tears streaming freely down your cheeks, bending so much force in frustration waves flew up high before crashing down as you fell on your knees in front of Zuko.

His eyes wide, jaw slacked at the raw power you possessed. He’s never seen Aang use his air bending in such an aggressive manner. You were squeezing his hand, this pulled his attention from what you had just done. He squeezed your hand back before gently pulling on it, coercing you to come closer. You did, you ended up in his lap. You were between his legs that wrapped around you, your knees pulled up, leaning your side and head against his chest. He wrapped both arms around your waist and rested his chin your head. Zuko hushed you until you calmed, and the air around you two had settled into the stale ocean breeze.

His warmth calmed you, he didn’t have to say anything. You’re frustrated with yourself, you didn’t realize you’d bottled up so much. You buried your face into Zuko’s chest, “I feel guilty for being..-“ You hesitated, “For being so happy. Knowing my people have been eradicated.” This stings Zuko’s heart and he just holds you tighter.

Zuko’s history plays through his head, finally understanding what you had meant the other night. ‘You remind me a lot of myself’ you told him. He tilted his head down, pressing his nose and mouth against the top of your head. “Maybe that’s why your family made it. Because of what-“ He thinks of how to put it, “the Fire Nation did to your people. So that you could be happy, so that you could be here and build your people up again when this horrible war ends.” He didn’t know, but you were quiet.

You moved and held onto his bicep that rested between your thighs and bust, you’re both tired and wide awake now. (Y/N) never thought about it that way. That maybe being here, after everything, was your destiny and not just a selfish desire. You squeeze his arm softly, “Thank you, Zuko.” You mumble.

Neither of you said anything for the rest of the night. Not when Zuko heated up the tea pot and your glass, not about you staying in his lap. You both had the nights events and words playing in your head. Zuko realized what his uncle told him was right. Zuko told you what he needed to hear.

——

Zuko was always the last to sleep and the first awake, these were old habits he couldn’t break. However he didn’t mind it so much since (Y/N) has been around, you’re like him. Last to sleep first to rise, at first it was a constant surprise as you’d daze around the kitchen making tea at dawn. Your pajamas leaving very little to the imagination. A short but loose fitting top and loose shorts. Your bandages helped him not look like a bigger fool than he felt he already was. You never teased him about it though, you always just offered a smile. This house was starting to feel like a home again. The early mornings and the evenings were becoming his favorite time, these were times when you were yourself and when you leaned on him. You did this more than he mentally prepared himself for, the first time you did it was when Zuko was preparing tea for the morning, you lazily made your way into the kitchen and poked around him realizing he was doing what you had planned to start. You ended up leaning against his back while holding on to the edge of his shirt and commenting about the warmth before moving to pour yourself a glass of tea. The mornings that followed that one he started to notice you’d seek him out in a tired stupor. Clinging onto him regardless of what he’s doing, warming yourself up for the day, before making yourself a glass of tea and walking off.

He’d watch your beautiful figure laze around with your tea until you found the patio and sat down. You always manage to look back at him with your bedroom eyes expectantly. This always causes him to blush but he makes his way over and sits with you. He’ll watch you from the corner of his eye as you start to wake up.

He missed your presence during his training sessions but was always able to catch a glimpse as you train with one of the girls. Your control over your bending was exceedingly better than it had been when you first met.

“So. Sifu ‘hot water bottle’” A voice says mockingly. Zuko scowls and tears his attention from you and turns around to see Shu. His expression quickly dropped, not wanting to get on your brothers bad side.

“Uh, hey Shu.” Zuko says nervously, “What’s up?” He starts rubbing the back of his neck trying to temporarily purge what happened at the beach from his mind, you letting him wrap you up in his arms and lap was engraved in him. Shu waves him over to follow him.

He follows him until they’re out of your line of sight, “If you like my sister you’re going to have to fight me first.” Shu states pointedly and crosses his arms.

“Wait-wait. What??” Zuko throws up his hands, “I don’t want to fight you, we’re uh,” He stops at the word but shakes his head. “We’re friends, sparring is one thing but I can’t just fight you.”

Your brother flares at him and slides his foot, bending just enough earth under Zuko to knock him down. “I’m not just going to hand my sister, whose like,” He throws his hands up. “An international secret! To someone who can’t protect her!” Shu hisses. This is fair.

His glare drops and he offers a hand to help Zuko up, confused at the quick demeanor change until he hears you talking to Katara and walk past the scene. “Think about it.” Shu quietly hisses before walking away. Zuko stood there dumbfounded for quite some time.

“Your healing session today will be the last for your arms,” Katara tell you. “Your back will take some time but unless the wound gets struck again you shouldn’t have to worry about it opening on its own.” This was the best news you’ve had in some time. You can start actually exercising again.

That night, Zuko was the first to the patio. You stared at him for a bit, something about the moonlight hitting him makes your stomach flop about. You finally walk towards him, realizing he looks uncomfortable. “You okay?” You ask as you sit down beside him.

He looks over at you, he doesn’t say anything but just stares. Examining the lack of bandages on your arms and the concern in your face before speaking. “I’m trying to take all the right steps to make right all the wrongs I’ve done.” He looks away.

You keep looking at him, the gaang has already told you about their history with Zuko when you and Shu asked them how Team Avatar came to be. Zuko hands you a cup of tea before continuing, “I did some- a lot.. of awful things that I can’t take back. I can’t even apologize to my uncle for betraying him.” This statement causes Zuko to put his face in his hands. “He probably hates me now.”

That statement stings you, you’ve only ever seen the Team Avatar version of Zuko. You hesitate but decide to put your hand on his back, running your hand up and down his spine, making shapes with your fingers. “That might be true,” He flinched at this comment. “However. If you can get a group of people you literally tried to kill, to actually like and appreciate you and to care about you. I doubt it’ll be too difficult to get someone who’s always loved you to forgive your actions.” You smile and lean your head on his shoulder still rubbing his back. “From what you’ve told me and what I’ve heard from the others I can imagine he’ll be so proud of you for doing the right thing.”

Zuko doesn’t reply for sometime, replaying the words in his head. Replaying what he told you at the beach. He did do the right thing, he has changed. But what if it’s too late, he wants to ask but he already feels foolish for his actions. He lifts his head and looks over at you before resting his cheek on your head. “You don’t think it’ll be too late to apologize?”

You straighten up and smile at him, and cup his face with your hands. “If you truly mean it when you apologize then it’ll never be too late.” You leave a small kiss on his cheek and then smile at him. Zuko pulls you into him, holding one hand firmly around your shoulders and one around your waist. This caused you to gasp but he doesn’t let go. He needs this, you think. Hugging him back with your arms around his neck and a hand brushing his hair with your fingers till he’s ready to let go.

As much as he needed a hug the second he hugged you he was extremely embarrassed. Embarrassed that he wanted to pull you into his lap again and not let go. Especially after you kissed his cheek. He feared letting go as you would see his blushing face. Not realizing you can feel his blush as his body temperature rose. It wasn’t until you held him back and pet his hair that he started to savor the moment, engraving it in his mind before letting go and looking at the sky. You watched him carefully, you wanted to kiss him more and find all the reasons as to why everything would be fine. “Your brother told me I have to fight him.” Your face snapped away from his, you knew what this meant, but why would Shu say that to Zuko? Why wouldn’t he talk to you first? Did he tell Zuko how you feel? You were panicking.

(Y/N)’s ear are red, Zuko noticed. She seems embarrassed. Was she embarrassed of Zuko? Was it her brother? Or something else? He couldn’t get a read from you, “D-Did he say anything, ah,” You started. “About me, uh, when he did..?” You couldn’t make eye contact with him.

His face turned bright red, yes the whole thing was about you! He’s thinks your embarrassed about your brothers actions. “Well, ah,” he stammers, “I kind of, uhm, brought it upon myself.” You both look away from each other. “He told me to think about it.”

You sigh putting your red face in your hands, “I am so sorry.” You groan. Embarrassed that you thought this was about you.

“No no it’s not your fault!” He stammers, “We should uh, we should head to bed.” You nod at him and take the hand he offers to get up.

Your fingers touch his as he walks you to your room, “Uhm. Good night Zuko.” You smile and whisper to him as you separate, he watches you as you disappear behind your door. He wants to follow you in, realizing what you mean to him.

When he got to his room he closed and slid down the door. “Good night, (Y/N).” He sighed, “What am I going to do.”

——

A/N: Holy smokes, guys! We made it through Part 1! If you’d like to be tagged in this series please feel free to message me or comment on this post! Here are my starred notes: (*1) Imagine that customer service face we all have, you know the one (*2) When I wrote this line for Aang it ended up destroying my whole plan for the rest of this scene because I was like “Shit Aang would actually say something like that” (*3) Did you know river rocks explode when they get too hot?

Tag List:

@coalsmind @bucky-blogs @fanficflaneuse @cutiepoo16 @eridanuswave @grapesauze @theblueslytherin @coolpenguingoddess @royahllty @whalerus @shewritesseashells @lammello @ditu-m9 @kryptidkova @gxrleexis-arctic-monks

#a:tla #a:tla x reader #a:tla fanfiction #atla #atla x reader #atla fanfic #zuko #prince zuko #zuko x reader #prince zuko x reader #zuko imagine #avatar #avatar the last airbender #avatar the last air bender fanfic #fanfic #fan fiction #fan fic #zuko fanfic #first fanfic

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shadowhunterdownworlderhybrid · 4 years

Text

Youth (Zukaang)

Summary: Zuko Talks to Ozai and he’s pissed remembering the past. Pretty shitty not Enough Zukaang but hey. 🤷🏻‍♀️

_____

‘Don’t let him win, all he’s trying to do is get in your head’

Is what Zuko repeated to himself when he visited his father down at his cell, the new air to the throne couldn’t really remember why he went there in the first place but Suki was kind enough to pull him out of there when he slowly began to lose his temper.

Which he was working on he may add.

Zuko was drained from the burning anger running through his veins, his blood boiling slowly shifting to lava. That’s how angry he was, that's how close he was to losing his temper.

Ozai always had a knack for getting into his son's head; he always knew which part of his insecurities to put pressure on. As you could tell from Zuko's actions in the past. The Fire lord was still not proud of his actions from the past; he was still angry with himself for trying to capture Aang all because his father said that was his only way to restore his honor. Where was the honor in capturing someone?. Especially when the Avatar was apparently a child who trapped himself into a large iceberg to protect himself and his bison from a late night storm and nearly drowning freezing said self for 100 years getting out only because two siblings had to go out and get food for their tribe.

Zuko huffed through his nose, steam coming out frightening a guard that he walked past.

He tried really, he did. But this is Zuko's father we're talking about, the same father who scarred him. Literally for life. The fire Lord continued his journey down the hall letting his feet lead not really paying attention where he was heading his mind on the man who was supposed to love him not treat him as if he was scum, "you're lucky you were born in the first place." His father's harsh words rang clear as day in his mind, remembering the comforting hug his mother had him trapped in. His mother… Silence… that’s all could be heard throughout the hallways of the palace, he didn’t hold her, leaving when he was young against her. She was trying to protect him, trying to protect herself from a monster that she was forced to marry.

Zuko remembers the overwhelming happiness when he found her, when he reunited with her and found out he had another little sister… he was happy that his mother was happy he was happy that she got the life that she truly wanted that she escaped the place that felt like a big prison to her.

Zuko closes his eyes. The image of his mothers smiling face clear as day with tears in her eyes, she was happy. She was happy to see him and she was happy to remember him. Kiyi was happy to meet him and immediately accepted him as her big brother. ‘ZuZu!’ She would call him with the most cheerful voice.

He took a deep breath exhaling. So much has happened for the past eleven years, the war has ended, Zuko and Aang are dating, Azula is in a mental ward, his father is in a cell and he reunited with his mother. His whole life has just been one big roller coaster, and very traumatic along the way. His hand instinctively went to the left side of his eye feeling some of the wrinkles, bumps and small craters from the heat boils that formed that day.

Zuko didn’t understand how the Avatar liked him like this, that will always be confusing to Zuko. Zuko didn’t like his scar; it was a forever physical memory of what happened.

The fire bender shook his head trying to pull himself out of thought. Stop thinking, stop thinking of him, stop thinking of that day. That’s what he wants you to do. You have to be stronger, Zuko.

Zuko stopped at a pair of double doors opening them, his eyes immediately landing on the monk in the middle of the room. Aang back was faced towards him sitting on the floor. He must be meditating. Zuko tried to keep his breathing steady, carefully walking to his bed plopping his butt down. As much as he wanted to burst into flame as much as he wanted to even throw a tantrum from how angry he was deep inside he couldn’t. What his father said was wrong, it wasn’t true— it’ll never be true.

He isn’t his father he isn’t— he won’t— he won’t force anyone into marriage he won’t hurt those he’s supposed to love he won’t mentally abuse someone and fuck up their youth he won’t mess up his future children. He won’t. He won’t he won’t he won’t!.

‘You seem to forget your place Zuko and whose bloodline you’re attached to. You’ll mess up, you'll hurt those dear to you.’

Zuko grits his teeth in rage resting his head against his palms gripping his hair. Before Zuko could lose himself to the blaring fire in his system a soft hand rested against his shoulder. Zuko didn’t dare look up he knew who it was, he just didn’t want to meet the silver eyes of pure concern he hated that look in his love eyes Aang went through enough things already he already had a lot of things on his own silver plater to deal with, Zuko shouldn’t be one of those things.

He's a 27 year old man with issues, issues he should be able to deal with. He’s not a kid no more he isn’t a teenager anymore.

“Zuko.” Aang said softly his deep voice echoing in Zu’s ears.

Zuko just shook his head.

“Zuzu.”

Spirits why?.

Zuko huffed scrubbing his face trying to rub the everlasting hatred he feels looking up at Aang.

The Avatar had a sad concern look, exactly the look Zuko didn’t want to see. When he looks at that face he sees that twelve year old boy he met all those years ago, he was a child up against a war, a war he wasn’t prepared for. He wasn’t twelve though. Not anymore, he was 22 now dating the damn fire lord his title has only gotten bigger and so has he, he’s actually a good 3 or 2 inches taller than the fire lord.

“I’m guessing your little chat with Ozai wasn’t so pleasant?.” He asked curiously, sitting beside Zuko. Zuko just huffed in response only giving Aang the answer he expected.

“What did he say?.”

Zuko just shook his head.

“Baby.”

“It’s nothing, it was nothing because I know it’s not true. I’m not like him and I’ll never be like him and I know you won’t let me turn into him.” Zuko blew out his shoulders relaxing.

He looked at Aang, a gentle smile gracing his lips kissing him on the cheek making Zuko slightly blush. “You know I will bother you about it later right?.”

Zuko snorted letting out a small laugh.

“Yeah, I know. WhichI love and hate about you.”

——

Zukaang: @truekrisstianity

#zuko #aang x zuko #zukaang #atla zukaang #zuaang #atla zuko #fire lord zuko #avatar aang #air nation #fire nation #adulthood #fanfic #oneshot #friendship #lovers #mention of suki

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thegoldenavenger · 3 years

Text

Avatar the Last Airbender Fic!! Rated T for TEENAGE ANGST Canon typical violence! It's Zuko so also implied Canon child abuse sorry

CONVICTION (what's in a name)

Part One Sokka + Katara

___

"What can I do to prove to you I've changed?" He rasps, frustratingly desperate, hands almost clawed into the stone of the temple dias.

Katara sneers and draws her water whip to ready, like she can erase even the memory of Zuko kneeling here in this temporary haven. "Nothing!" She yells.

But Sokka raises his hand to his chin and thinks, quickly. There's not much less that he wants than Zuko in their space, helping them. But, here's the thing, Zuko has followed them doggedly, faithfully, since the South Pole. Zuko has found them even now, must have resources to have gotten here, knowledge to have found them. Zuko is the prince of the nation they're fighting... it stands to reason he has intelligence about them as well.

"Then take me prisoner," Zuko starts saying, unfurling his fingers from the stone and offering them.

"We don't want you!" Katara yells and splashes Zuko with enough force he rocks backwards.

Steam rises from Zuko's shoulders, his eye wide as his hair drips in his face, before he steels himself. To try and entice them again, to pick himself up and turn away for once, Sokka doesn't know. He interrupts Katara's next words.

"Give us your soul name," Sokka says.

The silence that follows is deep.

"Sokka?" Aang asks, stepping to see Sokka's face.

"It doesn't matter then, if you have changed or not. We'll have your name if you try to betray us." He tilts his head towards Aang, towards Katara but his eyes don't leave Zuko.

"That's--that's too much," Aang is saying, shaking his head, but Katara considers it. Her mouth is a straight line and her eyes are harder than Sokka has seen them.

Toph says nothing, has said nothing besides her first entreaty to consider Zuko's offer. Sokka doesn't turn to look at her reaction.

Zuko's is enough to look at on its own. His shoulders stiff, his skin pale, there is the smallest rainbow refracted from a bead of water on his sunlit cheek. He's surprised, shocked, maybe even afraid, Sokka has never seen Zuko afraid before just angry, but now, Sokka wonders if Zuko's anger and his fear are two sides of the same coin.

Sokka remembers Zuko crouched over his Uncle, feral almost in his anger--his fear, Sokka thinks now. And who wouldn't be afraid in this moment? To give a peice of your soul away and trust someone with it. Sokka can count the soul names he knows on one hand; his sister, his father, his mother, Yue.

He's only wanted to share his soul name with Yue, before. He remembers the fear and excitement. He hadn't had to share his name with his parents or Katara, they knew him when he was a kid, when that part of your soul is open and effortless, but he wanted to give that part of himself to Yue. She beat him to it.

Even now, her name lives curled inside him, like a gentle-sleeping thing. A perfect reflection of the moon on the surface of ink-black water, icy wind against the back of your neck, and resettling your hood to keep warm. The knowledge that something deep, and beautiful, and so, so kind lies beneath the water, but not daring to break the surface tension.

And Sokka watches Zuko close his eyes. When he opens them it is with resolve.

"Okay," he says. "Okay."

Zuko gets back to his knees, back straight and hands lifted as if in supplication. He keeps his unsettling yellow eyes on Sokka.

It was his plan, so Sokka makes himself step forward. He feels Aang's hand reach out to him, but Aang doesn't stop him so he keeps stepping forward until he stands over Zuko.

It takes him a moment, but he puts his hand in Zuko's and asks for his name.

He feels a rush of heat, and he thinks they should have prepared for if Zuko tried burning them in this moment--but no, it's just. It's just Zuko's name.

Fever-warm--of course, fire bender, Sokka thinks--but also the spray of salt water, which is surprising. The smell of iron, Fire Nation Steel, like the forge at Master Piandao's but thicker in the air. Sokka hears sliding, like silk over silk and the weight of something bearing down, like the gemimite that had crept up Sokka's arms until he couldn't move. And even though Zuko is all firebender heat and steel the feeling of eyes on his back makes Sokka think nothing more than of standing in the middle of the ice fields, knowing an Orcawolf is watching you but not knowing where it is.

It's knowing there is shelter a thousand steps ahead of you and also knowing the moment you step forward the Orcawolf will chase. Zuko's name is taking that step anyways.

Sokka steps back away from Zuko and blinks and blinks. Zuko looks exactly the same, it's only Sokka's understanding that has changed.

Zuko's eyes are predator-yellow, orcawolf-gold, Sokka thinks.

"Zuko," he says to test it. He lets the feeling of fever and forge heated sword steel rise and he says it again. "Zuko."

Something in Zuko's jaw clenches, his eyes sharpen and Sokka feels that lonely ice field again, but Zuko nods. "I think we can say that worked," Sokka announces and turns away from Zuko. He shoves Zuko's name back down, tries to find somewhere that isn't next to his family's names to store it.

______

Sokka leaves first, then Toph with a disgruntled noise. Katara and Aang stand where they're left, with Zuko still... there. Waiting.

Katara looks at Aang and finds him unaccountably sad, his wide grey eyes distressed. To her ears, Zuko's name had sounded the same, flat as ever, from her brother's mouth. But you know when someone speaks with power, it's just that the only name she knows for Zuko is the one her experiences with him have given her so she can't understand yet.

Or ever. She thinks of Zuko and she thinks of fear, she thinks of shadows of violence flickering on the walls of homes, of ice melting as red, red, red licks up and devours entire families. She doesn't want that living inside of her, hates that Sokka is carrying that now.

"I'm going to check on Sokka--Aang. Keep an eye on him." She orders and turns. Of course now they have to keep him, they have his soul name, that changes things. He can teach Aang Firebending and then they can drop him off somewhere he won't be able to bother them anymore, but for now at least they have to keep him.

"Yeah, uh--come on," she hears Aang say, to Zuko she guesses. "No more names today," he says. Katara stomps away.

She keeps her resolve for a couple days. Sokka bounces back, Toph is quieter than usual, Aang dutifully keeps his lessons for Earth and Waterbending and half-heartedly asks for Firebending lessons. Katara puts her foot down. No Firebending lessons until she can be sure Zuko isn't going to fry Aang when they aren't looking.

Sokka is her brother and she loves him, but he shouldn't have to be Zuko's keeper by himself. He'd taken Zuko with him to find their dad, and he had to take Zuko, he wouldn't leave Zuko alone with them. They weren't defenseless but Sokka takes responsibility hard, the same way he had taken protecting their village.

It's the same way he will stay up at night, redrafting their schedule and Katara will have to physically unclench his hand from his vine of charcoal and wheedle, drawing his name from her chest, telling him, please Sokka, it's time for bed everyone is tired.

Sokka doesn't use her name very often. The last time had been at the South Pole when he didn't trust Aang. Before that, he hadn't used her name since their mother had died.

Katara uses his name a lot. She loves Sokka's name. Her mother's name is too sharp a memory, it flutters behind her breastbone like it might escape if she speaks it. Her father's name is tucked in her core, as if she can curl around it and keep him safe from the dangers he faces away from them by keeping it quiet. But Sokka's name lives in her lungs.

She uses it when she scolds him, when she hugs him, when she is afraid for him. She won't let him forget that she's right by his side, and that she won't leave him, not like mom left, or dad left, or Yue left.

Every time Katara says Sokka's name she shades it with her understanding of him. Ice walls sheltering from howling bitter winds and the sturdy foundation of a home. The peircing howl of an orcawolf as the spirit lights dance in the night sky, and polardogs pressed together sharing strength and warmth. Sokka's name is understanding you are part of something more than you, part of a family, and Katara will remind him that he's stuck with her for as long as she lives.

And, well. There's something in her that wants to know Zuko. She wants to taste ash on her tongue. She is sure Zuko's name is fire and violence, but if she knows it then she can keep him in his place. She can make sure Aang is safe, from this threat at least. If she knows Zuko's name, then she finally knows who he is. No more tricks in Crystal cities, he won't be able to prey on her weaknesses anymore.

So when he comes to her, and says, "I know who killed your mother," Katara has already decided what to do.

She says, "Give me your name." And she holds out her hand.

She's vindicated, seeing his eyes widen, the scar pulling around his left side. He inhales, then nods sharply his breath releasing in a cloud of steam. The night is cold, even Katara's breath puffs small clouds in the air, but that doesn't stop herself from thinking he should have more control than this.

He puts his hand in hers and his fingers are shockingly warm, surprisingly callused for a prince. Katara remembers Yue's hands, smooth and fine and elegant. The Earth King's hands as well were soft and weak. That is what she expected, she realizes. Hands that have never seen work in their life.

Zuko's hands are scarred and rough in places, if well kept.

He tells her his name.

Heat at first, of course. Like a burn from the sun, making your skin tight and red, then the cool-sting of salt water making Katara think, ridiculously of spending too much time at a beach. Then blood, biting your cheek on accident, the pain negligible but the metallic tang overwhelming, that's what she expected. Hearing someone or something shift behind you, heart beating panic-fast and then getting wrapped up tight, and squeezed until your bones creak, like when her dad swings her around and around because he missed her. No, Katara thinks, it's getting wrapped up like ice spears, the cold burning as much as fire, and being unable to wrench free. It's remembering how Master Pakku looked at her, knowing she was good enough but refusing her anyways.

Zuko's name is someone, everyone saying no, and then doing it anyways.

Katara takes her hand back. Of course, that's the Fire Nation through-and-through, she thinks. "Take me to him, Zuko," she says. She orders. The copper tang that tints his name isn't ash, but it's close enough.

Katara never needed Zuko's name to show him she was a threat. She's a Master Waterbender under the full-moon, a healer who knows the secrets of the body, she can stop the rain if she has to. And she does.

Zuko doesn't flinch.

He doesn't overstep, he accepts her lead, stays quiet unless he needs to speak up. He's not cowed, he doesn't wait for her permission to speak if he sees something or notices something. He's just.

Respectful, Katara realizes. This is about her, she realizes. She knows this is about her. It's about Zuko trying to prove himself too, but it's like Zuko has forgotten that, in the moment. That helping Katara find justice--or revenge--is all that he's after.

It would be ironic, Katara thinks. Zuko has terrorized her home, he knows she wants justice--revenge?--from him too. Here he is, watching her ready to kill a man for crimes Zuko could be accused of as well and he stands there like this is right.

Like he hadn't knelt in front of her, hands offered, and asked her--them--to sentence him.

She sees him out of the corner of her eye, sees the same calm as when he'd knelt. When she stops the rain she sees the same surprise, the same acceptance as when Sokka had demanded his soul name in answer.

Something heavy settles in her stomach, when she realizes that perhaps, this isn't ironic. That if she had said, I need you to die for your crimes, he would have said okay, okay, in the same exact way. She lets it rain, again.

She says this, half to Zuko half to herself, on the way back. "If I had said you needed to die, for us to trust you instead of Sokka asking for your name. What would your answer have been?"

Zuko blinks at her, wary. "Really?" He asks. She doesn't elaborate, and he falls quiet again.

She starts to think he won't answer when he finally does. "I came to you--to the Avatar, I mean--to... atone. To stop my father and my family, to make things better. I, uh, Uncle says, said, I don't think things through," here he laughs, bitter. "I guess I forgot that I'm my father's son."

Katara sees his face shutter and she turns away, not wanting to see whatever expression he puts on his face. "My father cannot be allowed to continue as he has been. My family cannot be allowed to continue as they have been. I have been complicit in their crimes." He says. "If death is the answer to my father, then for the years as his loyal son I should share it."

Katara narrows her eyes and looks back at him. Zuko is considering his knee, his fingers worrying at a loose thread. Katara knows Zuko now, knows by the cadence of his words Zuko was not calling himself Fire Lord Ozai's loyal son. There was a breadth of history in that phrase she didn't understand.

"But..." he says and looks at her. "I'm done letting my father dictate my destiny. I want to help fix what my family has broken. I don't know what I would have said back then. But I am going to help where my family has only hurt before. I can't do that if I'm dead."

Katara only hums in response, and watches as Zuko's shoulders find their way to his ears. He turns red and looks away from her and mumbles an apology.

Zuko's name is sun burned skin and bitten lips and, Katara is realizing, standing up when no one else will. Not because you're the only one who can, but because if not you, than who?

Something settles in her, and she relaxes. She isn't ready to forget--not Yuan Ran, not the Fire Nation's crimes--but maybe this one boy. This one boy she can try to forgive.

#kamaeteWRITES #atla #soul names #zuko #the gaang #tumblr has a bs text block limit so brb with the next parts

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avatraang · 4 years

Link

Summary: “Hey,” Sokka’s voice is soft. “Come with me. I’ve missed you.”

Distantly, Toph supposes that even the earth moves unsteadily at times; after all, isn’t that how earthquakes are caused?

Notes: This idea has been in my head for literal years. there's a lot of swearing in this story, because you can't tell me Toph wouldn't swear. it takes place over a number of decades. it touches briefly on the comics and on LOK, but not so heavily that you have to have read them or seen the series to understand what's happening. This is a slightly Alternate Universe to that of the comics and of the LOK series. It is a part of my "To Transcend Lifetimes" series, but is not heavily related to the other works in this series. Oh, and also: I know NOTHING about fortune telling. I apologize in advance if I fucked it up royally.

Preview:

Toph doesn’t really bat an eye when she gets a letter from a small Earth village in the middle of bumbafuck. Her secretary reads it to her and she shrugs it off; it gets thrown on her dining room table most unceremoniously. She spends the rest of the week doing what she usually does: focusing on her school and being a little too bored. To be grounded is in her nature, but Toph also has a strange tendency to get restless. Her body starts to twitch and her spirit grows bored. Nothing good has ever come from a bored Toph.

It’s a very un-Earthbender like personality trait; in fact, Zuko once dumbly commented on how it was almost an Air Nomad quality. Aang had agreed. They both got a rock to the shin for that, as well as a stern, “Don’t compare me to Twinkle Toes and his girly methods!”

But, sucky as it was, Toph had to admit, Zuko had a point. She tried to break out of the habit, tried to be grounded like her ancestors were, like her people had a tendency to be. Yet she has always been the type to crave adventure, to crave something new.

Still. She’s stubborn. That is an Earth Native trait. So the letter sits, unanswered on her dining room table. It’s the end of the week before it’s noticed again. This time instead of the slender, white hands of her apprentice, it is touched by working hands. They are calloused, rough, scarred. And dark. She doesn’t know what dark looks like, but she does know that he’s it.

His visit comes as a surprise; yet it’s change, so she welcomes him openly. Sokka’s footsteps are a little more tired than they were during his last encounter with his best friend, and from what she can tell, he’s taller. He’s lost some weight. But that’s the extent of the differences. At least, from what she can sense.

Yet she knows it is him before he’s even knocked on the door.

She acts on impulse; she can’t help it. When it comes to Sokka, Toph has always been hard pressed to control her actions. She sprints through her house, narrowly avoiding running into people or knocking things over. “Sifu Toph!” One of them cries out, dancing around her as she teeters plates in her hands. Toph bends a seat behind her, catching the girl just as she falls.

“Watch where you’re going!” Toph calls over her shoulder, but it’s well natured. The girl only rolls her eyes (something Toph can’t see, but wouldn’t be surprised to hear). Screeching to a halt at the door, Toph throws it open most unceremoniously, revealing Sokka standing there, hand poised to knock on her door. “Sokka!” She grins at him, “what are you doing here?”

He blinks twice, then drops his hand. If Katara or Aang were here, they might have exchanged a hug, but with just them, they simply stare at each other instead, grinning from ear to ear. It’s strange, two best friends who don’t touch each other like that unless other people are around. She wonders what Katara would think. “How’d you know I was here?”

“I would recognize your clumsy ass footsteps anywhere.”

“It’s good to hear you’re obsessed with me, even after all these years.” He teases her, expecting full-well to get punched in the arm. She doesn’t disappoint. Allowing him inside, she falls silent, waiting for Sokka to answer her.

He stretches as they breeze past servants, heading for her dining room, where lunch is soon to be served. Today is a resting day, hence why she’s not working her students to a pulp. Whether Sokka knew this, or it had just been luck, is something Toph is unsure of. “Do you know of a village named Makapu?”

There’s a faraway ringing of familiarization in the back of Toph’s mind, but nothing comes to the forefront. “Nah. Why?”

Sokka’s eyebrows curl together. “That’s weird. You should have gotten a letter. No wonder you missed your train.”

Toph settles down at the table. “Huh?”

“We waited for you this whole week and you never showed, so I grabbed Appa and dipped to get you.”

Now Toph is thoroughly confused. “What the fuck are you talking about? Who’s we? And I never sensed Appa.”

Sokka rolls his eyes. “That’s because there was no room for him to land in this crowded almost-city of yours. He’s on the outskirts, with Zuko.”

“Sparky?!”

“Spirits, I can’t believe you didn’t get that letter.” Sokka sits down next to her and pinches his nose. Peering at her messy table, he begins to idly sort through her mail until he sees a letter in familiar wording. “What the fuck,” Sokka says, tone accusatory, “you lied to me! You did get it! You even opened it!”

“Hell no I didn’t,” Toph denies. “I would’ve remembered a letter with your names in it.”

“Madame Bei Fong,” Sokka reads, “The people of Makapu Village hereby formally invite you to...” he trails off. “These dumbasses. They didn’t mention us, or the train already booked for you.”

“Sokka.”

“What?”

“What the hell are you talking about.”

“Katara, Aang, Zuko, and I were on our way to get you so we could go to Ba Sing Sei.”

“As planned.”

“Yeah.” Sokka nods, “anyways. We stopped in Makapu, a place where Katara and Aang and I had stopped a long time ago, before you and Zuko. We – er, well, Aang – saved the place from a volcanic eruption. Since we were there, we figured we might as well fortify their protection, and we called on you for help. But you never answered, so Zuko and I came to get you.”

“I see.” Toph tilts her head, considering. Leaving now would leave no one in charge of her students; it would break her out of her routine. Already, with the upcoming trip to Ba Sing Sei, she’d prepared meticulously. The sudden change would overthrow all her old preparations.

Next to her, Toph can sense Sokka staring at her. His breathing is even; he’s leaning towards her, expectant. She wonders, not for the first time, what her best friend looks like.

To be steady, or to veer off course.

To veer off course, or to be steady.

“Hey,” Sokka’s voice is soft. “Come with me. I’ve missed you.”

Fuck.

She swallows, hiding her face from him.

Distantly, Toph supposes that even the earth moves unsteadily at times; after all, isn’t that how earthquakes are caused?

“Let me get my stuff,” she grumbles, and the whoop of happiness Sokka lets out makes it all worth it.

Click Here to Keep Reading.

#atla #tokka #atla fic #toph #toph beifong #sokka #zuki #zuko #suki #toph and sokka #mai lee #kataang #lin beifong #suyin beifong #sokka is su's dad you can't change my mind #aunt wu

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mmos-s · 4 years

Text

HIRAETH CH. 2

Summary: stupid waterbending girl captures even stupider firebending boy

CH.1 CH.2 CH.3 CH.4 CH.5

“What do you mean Zuko’s gone!?” Katara yelled.

Sokka had this dumb look on his face, it was like half concern and half panic. He honestly didn’t know what he was saying either. One second Zuko was right by his side and the next he was just gone. Like he’d disappeared into thin air. Everyone at the marketplace looked so normal, he must have let his guard down subconsciously. Then again, Zuko would have never gone down without a fight so how come he hadn’t noticed anything until he was long gone? Sokka thought about the fact that it was a little loud, he’d find himself yelling over people to get his attention from time to time, maybe Zuko had called for help but Sokka just didn’t hear. It was his only guess so far. Someone in that village must have taken him. Sokka tried to recall anyone that might have been following them.

“Katara, I don’t know! He was right by me the entire time,” He replied.

“Did you see anyone that looked weird? Maybe someone from the Fire Nation took him,” Aang suggested.

No, it couldn’t have been that either because if it was a Fire Nation soldier they would have stood out.

“He couldn’t have just disappeared, Sokka. Try to think of anyone that might have stood out,” Suki said.

There were so many people in that marketplace that all the faces seemed blurred. He did remember all the merchants he’d tried to haggle with but none struck him as the kidnapping type. For such a small village there were a lot of people out that day, he wondered why. Most were older, like the elderly, he doubted anyone walking around with a cain would be able to pull something like this. Maybe there was a face he kept seeing but never realized it.

That’s when it hit him.

“Oh wait!” He exclaimed.

Sokka remembered two girls that were at a booth next to the one he and Zuko were at, they sold mirrors or something. He remembered them whispering a lot and one of them kept looking over at the two. He’d overheard the word ‘cute’ and teased Zuko about him finally being able to get some action. He didn’t realize it until now, but he kept seeing the girl that wasn’t managing the booth later on. At other booths, talking to merchants near the ones they were talking to, or just close behind. Either way they were always near them.

“There were these two girls and one of them might have been following us,” Sokka said.

The group looked at him dumbfounded, well everyone except for Toph, cause you know.

“That’s it?” Suki asked. She crossed her arms and raised a brow.

“Hey, it’s something!”

Katara sighed, “We need to get him back. I mean, Aang still needs to master firebending--”

“And!” Aang interrupted her. “Zuko is our friend. If one of us got taken he wouldn’t leave us behind.”

Suki and Toph both agreed. So did Katara, though more reluctantly. Sokka had a feeling she’d forgiven him but that he still got on her nerves.

“Alright, then we need to head back to that marketplace. It’s the only lead we’ve got so far.” Sokka climbed on top of Appa and everyone else followed.

He’d felt like he’d failed again somehow. He knew Zuko could handle himself as well as anybody else, but he felt like he failed as a friend. Friend’s are supposed to be there for each other, not to mention Zuko didn’t even want to go shopping with him that day. Yet, Sokka decided to be selfish and drag him there anyway. Maybe if he hadn’t brought Zuko with him none of this would have happened. Sokka couldn’t stop thinking about how easily he’d let someone he cared about slip away, again, there wasn’t even a fight or anything. There was nothing he could have done to prevent it from happening. He was there and the next second he wasn’t.

Sokka was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt Suki’s hand rest on his shoulder.

“We’ll find him,” She said.

“I know.”

Suki gave him a reassuring smile, and he felt better for a few seconds. Only a few tho.

Yao had to be having the worst night of her life. Scratch that, the worst month. She had to deal with annoying old customers the entire day and the only break she got was when Y/N had come over to chat, which would be once in a blue moon.

She swore people were getting dumber by the day. One man had continuously asked her if the mirrors her father made warded off evil spirits. When she’d told him she couldn’t answer that question he’d accused her of being one of them. Once an elderly woman dropped off crows in front of her shop and told her she’d trade them for the most expensive mirror Yao had. When she refused to accept crow currency, the woman squawked at Yao and then ran away. On the bright side, Yao now has 3 pet crows.

She was just glad to be able to go back home and finally relax--

“Um excuse me?”

Oh for fuck’s sake. What was it this time?

“Yes, hi, hello. Would you like a mirror?” Yao turned towards the front of the booth while giving her usual greeting to customers. “Oh.”

She was met with the boy she and Y/N were talking about earlier in the afternoon. His friend with the scar wasn’t with him though. This time he was with three others that she’d never seen before, and some weird looking animal. If they were going to try and sell that thing to her for a mirror Yao was going to lose her shit.

“Hi, my name’s Sokka and I wanted to ask about the friend that was with you earlier.” He spoke. “You know, like this tall, (e/c) eyes and (h/c) hair.”

Y/N? Why did they want to know about her?

“Why do you want to know about her?” She asked.

As soon as she had a girl with blue eyes stepped forward.

“We think the girl you were talking to might have our friend,” She said.

Yao blinked. “By have do you mean . . . like taken?”

The girl’s face dropped as she nodded and the rest mirrored her.

Yao stood there wide-eyed. She couldn’t think of one reason why Y/N would even think of doing something like that. The few times she’d come to visit her she’d been one of the nicest people Yao had ever met. Though the more she thought about it, she didn’t really know anything about Y/N to begin with. The things she did know weren’t that important. She knew Y/N was a traveler, which was why she’d only see her once in a while, she knew she traveled alone, that she had a pet polar bear named ‘Ro’ and that her birthday was during spring. Yao knew she was one of the only people Y/N actually talked to in the entire village, that she was around her age, and that she was considerate enough to bring Yao something from where she’d traveled last everytime she came back.

She didn’t know what Y/N was like beyond 10-minute talks.

“Well, she’s a traveler. But, she comes back here every couple of weeks cause she’s got a place south of here.” Yao took a deep breath and let her eyebrows crease. She couldn’t believe this.

The girl smiled and thanked her, so did the rest of them.

“Hey, wait!” She waved them back before they could all leave. “I’m sure this is all some misunderstanding, ok? It’s just--I mean if she does have your friend . . .” Yao looked down and wrung her hands.

“She’s a good person is what I mean,” She finally said.

None of them said anything, which was understandable. She would find it hard to believe herself too if she was in their shoes. But she really did mean it, Y/N was a good person, Yao would even go as far as to say she was one of the best. Even if she didn’t know every little thing about her, it doesn’t take a genius to see the good in someone.

The group only left with another ‘thank you’ and a ‘goodbye’. When they were gone Yao didn’t felt like she couldn’t feel relieved to go home anymore, this was news she could have gone without hearing.

She opened the door to her house and set all of her things down, though it still felt like weight was on her shoulders.

Recently, the habit of checking up on her dad as soon as she was home was something Yao had wired into her brain. When she walked into his room, he greeted her with a smile and asked her about her day.

“How’s that friend of yours? What was her name again, Y/N?” Was the first thing he asked. When Yao was little she swore her father was a mind reader, he always seemed to know what was wrong or what people were thinking about. This just proved her point.

“She came back today.” She dipped a dry towel into a bucket of water and set it on his forehead.

“She’s not in any trouble lately, right? I still remember how distressed she looked when I’d first met her,” He said. Once again, he somehow knew what was going on, maybe her 9 year old self was right.

“No, she’s been doing fine,”

Yao could only hope what she had said was in fact true.

Y/N convinced herself she was dying of a horrible, terrible, horrendous illness. She felt her life wilting away at the tip of her fingertips. Memories of her criminally boring and short life kept replaying in her head, she had so much she hadn’t achieved yet. Was this really the end for her? Was she seriously going to die in the middle of a random tundra on a sled? Y/N felt her head start to get fuzzy. This was it.

Y/N had finally succumbed to awkwardness.

No words had been spoken ever since her and the Prince had gotten onto the sled Ro was dragging along the ice. Usually these sort of rides were pleasant for Y/N, there was something comforting about the cold air hitting her face and then being able to warm up at her usual checkpoint. Nostalgia decided to slap her in the face and remind her of all the times she’d take long rides like this with all her friends, there’d be laughing and banter. They’d try and come up with as many games you can come up with while in the middle of a tundra, like whoever could spot the first otter penguin got all the best food. On the way back home there would only be comfortable silence and a few people whispering, not wanting to wake anyone else up. It’d be dark and sometimes the stars seemed almost too pretty, like people weren’t really meant to see them. Her friends would try and make out constellations or just make up their own.

A wave of sadness came right after nostalgia and decked her right in the face. She would never be able to go back to that. Everyone was gone. Gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.

THEY’RE GONE AND YOU DID NOTHING.

Zuko’s knee bumped into her’s and she shot him a glare.

“Sorry,” He said.

“Whatever, just stay on your side will you?”

Those were the first words they’d spoken for hours and Y/N can’t decide if it was a blessing or a curse. Silence settled back in and Y/N can’t hear anything but the Prince’s breathing.

“Stop,” She demanded.

Zuko looked over at her confused, which she understood, he hadn’t done anything yet, something about him pissed her off. Before she’d planned on hunting him down and brought other people to General Lee, they wouldn't be riding next to her. Let alone in the same sled. There'd be a long rope behind her with an even smaller sled attached and that’s where they would ride. But, ever since Ro had gotten injured he couldn’t bear(HAHAHAHA POLAR BEAR)all the weight. Y/N blamed herself for that too.

“You. . . you breathe weird,” She said. Y/N didn’t think about how much of an embarrassing thing that is to get annoyed about. But she was too full of herself to admit at the moment. She’d somehow convinced herself that the painful ride was completely his fault.

Zuko gave her a look that told her she was the dumbest person alive. She knew she deserved it but it still offended her.

“It’s to keep me warm,” He replied defensively, he was acting like she’d insulted his whole family.

This was something that had piqued Y/N’s interest though. How was he keeping warm with only his breath? Was it a form of firebending? She’d never really heard of anything like that.

“Oh. . . how?” She asked sheepishly. She realized how contradictory her actions were. Before she’d continuously told him to shut up and not ask questions, maybe it was the boredom setting in. It might also be the fact that this guy was the same age as her allowing some sort of unwelcome comfort between the two. Y/N didn’t have many people her age that she could talk to anymore.

“What?” Zuko looked less surprised about her question and more surprised that she was trying to make conversation.

“Like--like how do you do it?”

Zuko paused like he wasn’t sure if he should answer or not. He must have thought it was some sort of trap or something.

“My uncle taught it to me, I’m not exactly sure how to explain it.” The mention of his uncle seemed to have made him uncomfortable so Y/N didn’t push any further. Which meant they’d both have to go back to silence. It seemed less awkward now that they’d exchanged a few words. The sled kept moving forward and Y/N found herself actually being able to relax for a few seconds, everything was going according to plan.

The Prince surprisingly hadn’t pulled any escape attempts, so she even found herself letting her guard down around him at times. An example would before they’d left. The sun was a few hours from rising and she’d offered him tea, it wasn’t like she was a monster or anything, she only planned on keeping him downstairs for a few hours to scare him. He’d accepted and sat down at the table. While he drank Y/N leaned against a wall and tried to keep an eye on him. But, she’d been up for so long she found herself dozing off.

It was only for a minute, maybe five but it didn’t matter. When she’d woken up she panicked. She’d really fucked up this time, he wasn’t there. His tea cup was empty and set back onto the table. She’d run outside first, no sign of him. Y/N ran back inside and went down the staircase, she doubted he would head back here but there was no other place. She was right.

There he was, sitting at your desk and shifting through your notes and letters. Y/N was so confused more than anything else. Why would he . . .

Not only that but he was weirdly compliant, besides the occasional stupid question and vocal frustration about being in chains he was more bearable than she’d expected. He hadn’t even tried to escape once. At first, Y/N had thought Zuko just wasn’t threatened by her. But if that had been true wouldn’t he had attacked her by now? She’d find him staring at her on multiple occasions, at first thinking that it was out of hate, but she never saw anything but annoyance or slight irritation. Which is just below normal for someone who's been kidnapped and taken somewhere against their will by a stranger.

He looked like he was trying to figure her out and she didn’t like it. Y/N couldn’t deny she’d been doing the same thing to him though, trying to figure out why he was acting so strange for someone in his position.

A lone otter penguin caught Y/N’s eye and dragged her out of her thoughts. It was gliding along the ice and approached the sled the two were riding on.

“That’s weird,” She mumbled.

Zuko turned his head and looked at the animal then back at her.

“What’s wrong? It’s just an otter penguin,” Zuko dismissed.

Y/N shook her head and turned back toward him. “They’re usually in packs, it’s odd to see one by itself--”

CRACK!

The sled tipped over but she couldn’t register what was happening quickly enough to do anything about it. She manages to catch a glimpse of what caused it before landing flat on her back.

An ice eel. Well really it mostly resembled a huge leopard sea lion mixed with eel, but that was what Yao’s father would call it. She’d always gotten so lucky with avoiding it, why now? Of all the other times she’d cross over this water why did it happen this time?

Y/N felt her breath being slammed out of her. Cold ice hit her back and her vision was engulfed in darkness when the sled landed on top of her. It had also landed on her arm, but she chose to ignore that detail for now, doing that obviously helped when she managed to push the thing off of her.

Her first thought was whether or not the Prince was injured. She looked over to her right to see him face first on the ground struggling to get up. Okay good, at least the cargo was safe. Y/N didn’t have any more time to gather her thoughts when she felt the ice beneath her start to rumble again. She struggled to get up on her feet and ran over to Zuko, grabbing his arm and pulling him upward.

“Come on, get up!” She exclaimed.

He groaned and yanked his arm away from her hand, which is something she would’ve taken as an insult if she hadn’t noticed Ro dangerously close to being devoured. The polar bear was running towards the two with the eel close behind.

Y/N left Zuko’s side with swiftness, ignoring his protest. Bringing her hand up to her waterskin, she bended water out and used it to slash at the eel's face. It hissed and slowed it’s pace making a big enough gap for Ro to get away.

The monster doesn’t stay shocked for long, it dove into the ice and another crash could be heard. At first, she’d thought it had given up, surely having to chase for food for this long was too much. Y/N was too smart to believe that though. She could feel the eel circling around her under ice. She thrust her hands towards the floor and waited.

“What are you doing!?” Zuko yelled.

“Not now!” She replied rather angrily.

“Unchain me and I can help--”

Zuko didn’t get to finish his sentence when the rumbling of ice started again.

There.

The eel burst through the air again to Y/N’s right, a little closer to Ro and Zuko than she’d like but she’d have to make it work.

Y/N pulled her hands up and propelled all the water she could into the air. She then threw her hands to its direction and the water followed. She turned it to ice when the large serpent was hit and watched while it got encased. It wasn’t enough.

The eel thrashed it’s body around violently, shaking off the ice like it was just some winter coat.

Suddenly the eel threw itself at her headfirst. They both collided and Y/N was thrown backwards into the water.

For some reason Y/N’s first reaction was to try and breath in, you know, cause she’s a dumbass. To be fair she did get the wind knocked out of her five seconds ago.

It felt like her body was having a huge brain freeze, but she didn’t have too much time to think about how cold it was. She was losing her breath but the eel just kept on pushing her down. This was when panic was starting to set in.

How far down were they already? How much breath did she have left? Was Ro going to be ok?

She managed to fight the current and punched the animal in the nose, at least what she’d thought to be a nose, eels don’t really have noticeable noses. It’s eyes narrowed and it let out this sort of awful scream.

Y/N bended as much water as she could and pushed it towards it, trying to get as much space between them as possible. The water slowly started to circle around it and started to pick up pace, the eel couldn’t get past the strong currents and would only get pushed back. The water turns into ice and it ceases to move.

Y/N pushed herself to the surface and crawled out of the water, she rolled onto her back and tried to breathe. She could feel her whole body going numb, the air was somehow colder than the water now and she was starting to think that in comparison the water was more of a hot tub. Maybe she should just crawl back in.

Once the dots in her eyes and the ringing in her ears disappeared she noticed someone had been yelling. She rolled over and if her lungs didn’t feel like they had exploded and been grounded to mush she would’ve laughed. He was still there.

Zuko was frantically trying to get the ice shackles she’d made for him off of his hands by firebending and banging them onto the side of the sled. Ro was across from him at another hole the eel had made, he must have mistaken it for the one she had gotten pushed into. She swore he was looking into the water and was on the brink of tears, who knew polar bears had so much emotion

“Shut up, shut up, shut up! I’m trying!” Zuko yelled at Ro while continuously slamming the shackles onto the sled, quickly getting more violent.

Y/N reached out and tugged on his shirt.

Zuko ceased what he was doing and yanked his head towards her direction. Y/N shakily brought her hand up and waved towards Ro’s direction. He ran towards her and sat by her side, he wasn’t whining anymore, what a drama queen. She patted his head and reminded herself to give him a treat later.

Y/N brought her attention back to Zuko and furrowed her eyebrows.

“What are you still doing here?” She asked.

Zuko pulled a face, like she was the stupid one.

“What?”

“You could’ve run away, you could even leave now! I’m practically half dead.” She tried getting up but ended just falling down again, proving her point. “For a prince you’re kind of dumb.”

Zuko grimaced, like she had just slapped him in the face. Something else seemed to cross his mind too, like he was fighting with himself. She guessed it must have crossed his mind, leaving her behind and escaping, but for some reason he hadn’t. Y/N couldn’t stop thinking about what kept him from doing it. What was with him?

“I wouldn’t get very far anyway,” Was his only answer. She knew it was a shit excuse but was too tired to interrogate.

Zuko extended both of his arms towards her, expecting you to accept him wanting to help you up.

“You piss me off,” Y/N muttered.

Zuko’s face turned into one of bafflement. “I piss you off?” His eyes narrowed and he threw his hands into the air in frustration. “If you’d just gotten rid of these stupid chains, I could have helped! And last time I checked you’re not the one being held captive!”

“See, that’s what pisses me off about you.” She said. “You’re not supposed to be helping me, we’re not on equal ground here!”

“What?” Zuko’s face fell and for half a second Y/N thought she’d hurt his feelings.

Y/N finally got it. What Zuko had been pulling wasn’t kindness, it was pity. He pitied her. Why else would he have made things so easy for her? Why else would he have been so compliant? What other reason could there have been for him to not escape during the two chances he had been given. Everyone from the Fire Nation was the same. She’d seen the same look Zuko would give her on General Lee’s face when he’d destroyed her home. She begged and begged for him to spare her and bring back her family. And that day she saw something cross his face. Pity. He pitied her.

And she was thankful for it. Could you believe it? She was thankful. At the time she thought he had handed her mercy, but overtime she realized she was getting toyed with. He knew the task he’d given her was impossible. Yet, Y/N did it. And for once, when she comes and delivers this pain in the ass to the other pain in the ass, he’d be the last person to ever give her that expression again.

“Look.” Y/N begins. “We are NOT friends and we never will be. So quit getting in my way and trying to act like you actually care.”

“How do you know I don’t?” He asked.

“You’re from the Fire Nation, aren’t you?”

“I mean yes, but--”

“Then that just proves it.”

“Sokka, this is getting us nowhere,” Toph said for the billionth.

They’d been flying towards the south with Appa for hours now and hadn't seen anything and by nothing at all he meant nothing. It was just all snow. It sort of reminded Sokka of home but if it was completely barren. Everyone was starting to get tired, which was understandable. They’d been up all night and the rising sun was there to prove it. The cold really didn’t help either. Everyone was a shivering mess except for Aang.

“This makes no sense.” Sokka held up a map he’d bought from the village from earlier. “Stuff is supposed to be here, you know like buildings. There’s even supposed to be another village a few hours away too.”

He swore that if this wasn’t a literal tundra a tumbleweed would be seen.

“Well I can’t see anything. Literally,” Toph said sarcastically.

Sokka was starting to think that the map he’d bought was some kind of rip off or something. There was nothing here but snow and ice. He was starting to lose hope about being able to find Zuko quickly. Things weren’t looking too good.

“Hey look.” Suki pointed towards the ground and at first Sokka couldn’t see what he was trying to point out, but when he took a closer look he saw it.

“Aang, get Appa to land there,” Katara said.

“Yip, yip!”

Sokka was the first to get off and investigate. It was an igloo, sort of like the ones back home. Something was odd though. There were always multiple, making up one whole village or tribe. This one stood alone, Sokka would go as far as to say it looked sad. Half of it looked poorly rebuilt too, like someone haphazardly built it back up themself, which was in great contrast to the well made part of the igloo.

“I think this is somebody’s house,” Sokka said.

“Yeah, like the ones back at home.” Katara put her hand up to the igloo in an almost homesick demeanor.

“Guys,” Toph had her hands on the ground. “The snow and ice might be messing me up but, I feel something hollow underneath that thing.”

“Is it really okay for us to go in there?” Aang asked.

Toph got up from her position and walked right in.

“Guess that answers it then.” Aang and Katara walked in after her.

Sokka turned towards Suki before walking inside.

“I’m gonna check out more of what’s out here,” She said.

Sokka nodded and told her to be careful.

The interior of the igloo was almost . . . homey. There were lots of shelves with books towering all the way to the top, pretty mirrors that looked awfully similar to the ones the girl he and everyone talked to sold filled a part of the wall, lots of rugs decorated the floor all of them looked like they had different styles, but somehow they all worked together. Herbs and medicinal notes sat on a tea table next to tea cups. There was a sleeping bag on the floor that looked recently folded. Sokka couldn’t place it, but something felt wrong. Even though the room looked complete, things looked like they were missing somehow.

“Toph, didn’t you say you felt something underground? I don’t see any doors leading to it,” Aang said.

Toph pointed to a wall, “There.”

Katara motioned her hands towards the wall and took it down. Behind it was a small flight of stairs.

“Okayyyy this has officially weirded me out,” Sokka said.

Aang grabbed some of the paper off of the wall and observed them.

“Whoever did this was planning for a long time,” He said.

“Yeah but why?” Sokka asked.

He walked up to the small desk in the corner of the room. There were basic desk things like ink, writing brushes, and paper, but Sokka noticed something that looked completely out of place. On the desk, nothing looked out of place and everything was neat, yet the room was messy and unkempt. So the crumpled up piece of paper on the desk really stood out. Sokka picked it up and read it.

“He’s acting like a detective again,” Katara joked.

Aang and Toph snickered. Sokka ignored them.

“Dear fuckass General Lee,

I’ll be on my way soon to bring someone new,

so don’t flake out on me.

I’m not kidding, I'll gouge your eyes out and boil them like eggs and feed them to my pet polar bear.

Anyway, I get to pick where we meet this time since you fucked me over the last.

The waterfall.

You’re not that dunce so I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

Have a shitty evening you Fire Nation pussy.”

Sokka could now see why she might have crumpled the letter up and started over.

“They’ve given him to a Fire Nation general,” Sokka said.

He waved the letter around and let them read it. At least they sorta had a lead now, he’d need to take another look at any of the maps he had and mark down any waterfalls.

“This is bad,” Aang said.

Sokka nodded and there was a pause of silence. If they didn’t find Zuko before Y/N turned him in, things were going to get a lot more complicated, that’s what he guessed that was on everyone’s mind. They had to find him soon.

One thing that confused Sokka was why someone that obviously wasn’t from the Fire Nation was helping a General. From the looks of it, this was someone who was from a Water Tribe, so why would they be helping someone completely against them? Brainwashing? Blackmail? Mutual hate for the Prince of the Fire Nation?

Sokka pondered on the last one, it was the most convincing. He had a feeling Zuko had angered a lot of people before joining their group. He’d even say after.

“Guys!”

Everyone turned their heads when they heard Suki’s voice. She was waiting for them in front of the door leading to the staircase.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

“There are tracks behind the igloo. If I’m guessing right that’ll lead us right to him,” She said.

Sokka finally felt hope rise up in his chest. Maybe things would go smoother than he’d thought.

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tag list: @eridanuswave @royahllty

#suki #sokka #aang #katara #zuko #zukoxreader #zuko x reader #xreader #toph #avatar: tla #avatar the last airbender #atla fanfic #atla

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gloves94 · 4 years

Text

Kingdom of the Sun [Fire Lord Zuko] 8

Chapter Warnings: Death Story Rating: M Pairings: Zuko/OC Kingdom of the Sun MASTERLIST

Last Airbender MASTERLIST My MASTERLIST

"Mother…" Tsai paced around the guest room where her mother would be staying. It was past midnight and the shocking news of Fire Lord Ozai's passing had been a hard hit. "What are you doing here?" She pinched the bridge of her nose already feeling overwhelmed.

"It's not safe. Why did you come? Who's taking care of things back home?" Sanju removed her glasses and placed them next to the bedside table, a bored expression on her sharp eyes. "Your friends are terrible liars. Specially that bald boy." "You mean the Avatar?"

Leave it to her mother to have absolute and complete disregard for whom she was entertaining. Just a couple of years back she would've bent over backwards just to entertain him. Now she had reduced Aang from an almighty Avatar to an honest bald boy. How typical of her to be so unconcerned with matters that did not regarded her.

"I've come to take you home. Your brother and I need help running the paper," she said placing her hands on her lap, sitting with her back completely erect, lips drawn into an intimidating thin line. "I didn't mean to come to the Fire Nation, or to stay here for so long… Wait- if you and Mecha are here? Who's in charge? Also- where did my brother go?" Tsai asked, still a thousand questions running through her head. "That boy with the ponytail, he's quite brilliant," Sanju nodded closing her eyes for a moment. 'Sokka? Really?' The young lady couldn't help but be slightly horrified at the thoughts of Sokka running a newspaper. "Your brother is off with some girl," she added flatly. 'Mai, of course.'

"Mom," Tsai looked at her nervously twirling the fabric of her dress skirt in her hands. "What if… What if I want to stay here, in the Fire Nation?" She admitted looking at her with hopeful eyes. "Stay? And do what?" Her mother arched a judgement eyebrow. "What are you going to do here? Lounge around?" Again, three years ago she would've been ecstatic at the news. Hell - she would've packed her up and kicked her out of Yu Dao with a bidding away party. Now, however, she seemed unenthusiastic at the idea. "No," she drawled out feeling small under her mom's intimidating green gaze. "I'm going to stay and I'm going to help people here. There's much reconstruction to do, just like back home."

Sanju made a disapproving sound, yet her posture did not shift. "That terribly rude man has brought nothing but turmoil and more troubles since he came into our lives and still he can't manage to say a single word of acknowledgement to me." She uttered bitter at the lack of appreciation. "Mom," Tsai reasoned with her. "He's in shock, his dad just died." "Oh?" She poked. "His father? The disgraced war criminal whom he allowed to rot in jail?" She huffed with a glare. “It’s no surprise the coward chose the easy way out. Suicide…” She clicked her tongue. Tsai's shoulders slumped forward in defeat. Clearly it would be impossible to get through to her mother and even worse when she was in a mood. "You're impossible," she muttered shaking her head and walking towards the door. "Don't you walk away from me!" Her mother called out sternly. Her daughter didn't respond and exited the room. "This conversation isn't over Tsai!" She called.

Troubled, upset and beyond irritated Tsai worriedly made way to Zuko's room. She wondered if he was still awake this late in the night.

She slid the door open slowly. The maroon room was dark, and she saw him. Zuko was on his bed, laying down on his side over the bed covers. A single candle kept the room dimly lit. She looked at him with concern and walked around sitting on the edge of the mattress. She could see that he was awake. His gold eyes fixed on a particular spot on the wall. He hadn’t said a single word since they had both been informed of Ozai’s demise. Tsai assumed this must’ve been terribly hard for him.

Sure, maybe Fire Lord Ozai was an absolutely vile and disgusting man. He was a war criminal. He was solely responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Yet he was his father – and his abuser too. He was the man who had scarred and emotionally tortured for years. Not to mention the multiple assassination attempts on his young life. Not to mention how he had taken everything away from him, even his mother.

Remaining silent she placed a hand on his arms hoping it would bring him comfort. Unsure of what she could possibly say or do to make the situation any better.

This was a lot. Even for him to process and dissect how he felt. It was not yet dawn when a knock echoed through the room. Tsai turned and allowed the person in. In stepped in Zuko’s assistant holding in several parchments of information accompanied by two Fire Nation guards standing several feet behind him. “The physicians have determined the cause of death,” he said keeping his eyes lowered. Zuko did not move from his position. His glazed eyes simply remained frozen on that same spot on the wall.

“What was the cause of death?” Tsai asked turning to look at Nezu from her seat on the mattress. “Fire Lord Ozai’s official cause of death was exsanguination. An artery was pierced by a stab wound. Foul play is suspected,” he explained. It was then that Zuko actually moved. He sat up slowly his back remaining turned against the messenger. “How’d it happen?” Was all he asked. His tone dry of any sympathy he might’ve held for his father. The assistant cleared his throat pausing for a moment, “Uh…” He hesitated. “Exsanguination,” Tsai repeated what the man had just said. “I want to know how it happened. I need to know every detail,” he spoke in a rougher and angrier tone than intended. His gaze clouded with darkness.

The assistant stammered as he once again unraveled the parchment scroll and continued to read. “- Ozai a male adult of middle age, was found dead in his prison cell in the North Prison Tower on the day of our lord past dusk. The cause of death is considered to be exsanguination from a fetal stab wound to the brachial artery. Signs of struggle were present as the man was stabbed 23 times.”

‘Twenty-three stab wounds?’ Tsai’s mouth went dry. All this time she had assumed that the man had committed suicide, not that somebody had gone in and turned him into a slice of cheese! Whomever had done this- it hadn’t been a casual hit job. This had been personal. Whomever had done this had personal beef with Ozai, but then again, who didn’t? “This was found amongst his belongings,” Nezu said pulling a wrapped bundle from his pocket. Zuko finally turned to look at his assistant. Tsai paled in disbelief, her face resembling a pillow’s bed sheets. Instinctively she reached for her neck and realized the man had taken her sunstone necklace. He placed the necklace and other information on a nearby table. “We will wait until morning to let Lady Ursa and General Iroh know. For now, we will send notice to the other nations and begin the necessary arrangements for the wake and funeral tomorrow. That is all Fire Lord Zuko.” The man bowed respectfully before exiting the room.

Tsai found that she couldn’t move. She didn’t until she noticed Zuko swiftly move around the room and snatch the necklace off the table in disbelief. She reached his side just in time also reaching for it but failing.

He brought the piece of jewelry that he had many times held in his hands and brought it close to his face for further inspection. He looked at it in disbelief. There was absolutely no way that his father could’ve gotten a hold of the necklace by causality. She wouldn’t have carelessly dropped it. It also wouldn’t have been stolen without her noticing. He noted the torn golden chain and put together that he had to have ripped her off her person.

He looked stunned, pained, almost betrayed.

‘Could she have?’ “Did you kill my father?” He rasped bluntly, almost out of air. His eyes turned to her. All evidence pointed to her. It had been a personal crime, the stabbing fit her weapon of choice, the necklace was unmistakably hers. “No,” She responded calmly, “I didn’t.”

He looked at her hard for a moment. As if doubting her. He believed her, but at the same the evidence was too striking. What motive did Tsai have for killing Fire Lord Ozai? She wanted the entire Ozai Order to collapse and she knew that it might if their leader were to be gone, but at the same time why make it so obvious? Why slay him in such a notorious way?

It was messy, emotional, loud. Wouldn’t poisoning him be easier? Zuko knew that Tsai knew how to poison someone if she wanted to. Her knowledge in herbs and mastery of them would allow her to discretely do such a thing. Specially since she once mentioned she had accidentally poisoned her family.

He proceeded to advance to the next logical question. “Why did he have your necklace?" Zuko demanded to know. His hand clenching around the stone as a concerning anger, the one he was infamous for began to boil inside of him. "Why?" He pressed at her silence.

She thought of her actions on the previous day. Everything that had happened after finding the secret passage in Mai’s house and before dinner. She still remembered her conversation with Ozai and just how she had returned to the palace injured, soiled in her own blood and with angry tears threatening to spill. "I went to talk to him," She admitted the truth. Bracing herself for his outburst. "What?" He snapped just as she predicted. Why would she put herself at such a risk? Why would she got see that man? "When? Why? What were you thinking?!" He said incredulously throwing his hands up in aggravated frustration.

"I went to directly ask him who was working for him from outside of the prison walls. So, he bartered, he wanted to see Azula in exchange for information."

"And you decided to keep this from me why?!" He demanded fuming. His father was a Machiavellian genius. If anything, he had just been playing her. Where was Azula anyway? She would probably lose the smidge of sanity that she had left when she found out that her father had been brutally murdered. "I didn't want to worry you," she said frowning slightly. "Because I knew you would react this way, and then yesterday-"

"So you lied to me," he said wounded.

"No, I did not lie," she clarified. "I just never mentioned it." "That's the same thing Tsai! You lied by omission!"

"It's not!" She pressed failing to contain her equally steaming temper. "Did you really go see Mai yesterday or was that a lie too?" "I did," she almost growled out. "I did and I found her father is - was one of Ozai's most loyal followers, and I found a secret tunnel under her house. One that lead to a chamber with dozens of tunnels that are buried all under our noses! I bet that's how they've been meeting and getting in and out of the palace without anybody knowing."

His expression remained hard, eyes focused on hers as he waited to see how this was relevant to his father.

She bit back her lip and looked at him with large eyes as she got ready to tell him her story.

Xxx

Tsai had just escaped the tunnel system. She stood outside of the tunnel entrance she had just exited from. All of this time they had been meeting and sneaking under everybody's noses and nobody had batted an eyelash. She was getting close, closer to finding out who was leading this movement.

Gazing at the Northern Prison Tower from a distance fists clenched at her sides, she angrily made way to pay the former Fire Lord a vision. He didn't have the upper hand in this. She did. She stormed past the prison guards who all eyed her oddly as she made her way to the lowest dungeons of the prison. The walls growing hotter and hotter with each step until she reached the isolated last floor. A floor which was moist with mold growing on the ceiling corners, an unpleasant heat already made her skin glisten with sweat, this time she met him with her identity unsheathed.

She stood before Ozai glowering at the pitiful man who slumped on the corner of the cell with his head lowered. He simply looked up acknowledging her and the fact that his daughter was not standing next to her. "Deals off," she stated coldly.

A vile smirk stretched across the man's thin lips as he glowered at her with malice. He let out a noise that resembled a dry laugh.

"I'm getting close you son of a bitch," she glared threatening me. "Are you?" He cocked his head to the side and rose. He approached her with his shoulder's hunched over, his eyes never leaving hers. "I know about the tunnels," she grimaced which made the smile wipe from his face. "I’m going to get to the bottom of this. Can't wait to see how loyal those rats are when Zuko and I come after them." "Zuko…" He huffed almost humorously as he turned towards her. "My son is weak, always has been still is. I'm not scared of you; I'm not scared of him." She leaned forward gripping the bars of his prison cell tightly. "Could've fooled me," she said with a cocky smirk. Her body stiffened yet she remained unwavering when his hand snatched the opening of her tunic dress pulling her close to him. She could smell his rotten breath and see his snake like eyes hoping to intimidate. She reached for his wrist ripping it away from her as she stepped back, dusting her clothes off. "It was prophesized by the Fire Sages that my demise would be at the hand of my own son," he uttered, tearing his eyes away from her. "Yet even then he doesn't have it in him."

She had never looked at somebody with as much hatred before. So that was his pathetic excuse? That was this monster's excuse for the years of abuse he had inflicted on his family. The anguish and torment he had put both Zuko and Azula through? This was the excuse for the many murderous attempts as his son's life? For his banishment? A stupid story that the Fire Sages had foretold.

Her jaw was tightly clenched. "You monster," she managed through gritted teeth. "You're scared of him…" She said nodding with a determined huff. "That's why you sent him away… That's why you banished him when he was only a child!" She rattled the bars angrily. "You're sick and you deserve everything you have coming to you."

"Everything!” She banged the metal bars rattling them xxx "So you did it then…" He looked at her with hard eyes. A blend of uncertain emotions about the demise of his father and abuser haunted him. "Of course, I didn't." She looked at him with disbelief. "I was livid, maybe I did say somethings I shouldn't have - but I did not kill your father," she looked at him with intensity. He lowered his gaze. She couldn't really tell just what was going through his head. There was sadness in his eyes, hurt, betrayal, and more than anything confusion. "Did you?" She probed. "What?" His eyes widened slightly at what she was implying. "Did you do it?" She pressed.

"What?" Seemed to be the only word he could manage. "How can you say that?!" He rose a morose look on his face. One she hadn't seen since the first few days when they met all those years ago. How could she suggest that he be the one to do it? Zuko had just as much motive just as she did. Also, if Ozai and the Fire Sage’s prophecy was correct. Zuko would be responsible for the demise of his father. Something that had terrorized the former Fire Lord for years. "Because I would've done it… " she looked down in shame. "I would've done it for us."

She shifted on her steps before taking a seat on the edge of his bed, looking at him with a sad look. His shoulders slumped as his anger waivered. "I know he was your father, but with him dead… Think about it. What this means for your people, for the rest of the world, for us… Without Ozai, the movement doesn't have any strength. They can't support him if he's gone." "Don't be ridiculous," he shook his head. "There will always be another backer, it doesn't have to be him. For all that we know it could be Ukano or anyone else." He wasn’t wrong.

She looked at him dejectedly. Of course, he hadn't done it. He had also been preparing and setting up for dinner that night. There was no way he could've sent someone to do his dirty bidding or that he could've been in two places at the same time. She was trying to support him yet couldn't find the words or the proper most effective way to do it.

He sighed and took a seat next to her before burying his face in his hands hunching over in frustration. "Okay, calm down," She said placing an arm on his shoulder. She wanted to ask what the consequences would be for the person who was responsible. Tsai was certain that she hadn't done it. Yet- if her name wasn't cleared. She knew that Zuko wouldn't throw her in the gutter, but it seemed that the other Fire Nations - ones whom already held a certain distaste for her – if they even suspected her of being capable of such an atrocious crime, they wouldn’t even blink twice when locking her up. Even worse, they might rebel against their Lord if he stepped in and meddled. It wasn't the moment to ask for the consequences.

"Whomever was responsible had to have done this between dusk and when my family came in an interrupted." "We have to narrow down our suspects." He said exhaling a sharp breath and sitting up. "That's still a very long list. Honestly, it could've been anyone." She pondered on just who could’ve possibly wanted to murder. Ozai, and honestly the list was long.

"Think- who had the most to win from my father's death." He turned to face her. "Us." "Besides," He continued. She's silent.

"It could've been somebody in the Society itself. Somebody wanting to take over. Somebody wanting to incriminate you. It could've been your father, your brother or your mother-"

She blinked twice staggered at what he was implying. Why was it that her family was number one on the list of possible suspects? "What about you mother and your uncle?" She shot back a little offended.

"You're accusing my mother?" He said in the same touchy tone. It wouldn't be the first time Ursa killed a Fire Lord. However, it didn't seem like her style. Why couldn't she have just poisoned him instead? Aha! Because this time it was personal… Or maybe she wanted to throw everybody off her trail? "You accused my entire family!" She raised her voice. "My family just got here. Now, I know Mecha had this agenda to kill your father a couple of years ago, but why would he act upon it now? Specially with him already locked up. My mother on the other hand… Sure she has a temper, but I've never seen her hurt a fly, much less a person. I don't think she would've managed to get so close to be able to scratch the man. Whomever did this... It had to be somebody that he knew. Somebody that he trusted enough not to hurt him…" "Are you thinking…" he egg shelled wondering if she was also thinking of the same twisted being who could’ve done this.

"No, it's impossible. If this had been Azula's doing we'd all be dead by now."

Zuko turned the evidence on his head. It all seemed to come down to one suspect. "Tsai, I hate to say it but it all points to you," He realized. "What are we going to do when you find out who it was?"

"We can't have a murder amongst us," he said darkly. "It's not safe." "I agree." She says in the same morose tone. He's looking at her eyes fixed on the carpeted floor. "You don't believe me!" She says incredulously. "I know you didn't do it. I trust you," he beathed. "But the evidence- you can't tell me you wouldn't look at it objectively in the same way if it was lined up against me."

"But it is-" She says. "Zuko if you did it, tell me. Tell me and we'll figure out a way out of this."

He couldn't help but crack a smile, of course she'd be the type to offer to hide the body.

"We'll get to the bottom of this." He reassured her.

Both barely managed to catch a wink of sleep before the funeral the next morning.

Xxx

The distasteful scent of incense flooded the Fire Nation capital’s lesser temple. It wasn’t as stunning or grand as the Main Temple, but it was as old as the nation itself. Also, small, yet respectful enough to hold the funeral services of a former Fire Lord and a war criminal.

Tsai glared menacingly at the majority of men and women witch matching Phoenix rings that filled the room. It seemed that all if not most members of the New Ozai Society were present mourning their leader. They all sat near the front. Sharing smug looks with each other all wearing black.

Zuko sat alone by the front. Any moment now he would be summoned to the front by a Fire Sage to ignite the body as the ceremony required.

Tsai sat in the middle with her family and Zuko’s. Iroh and Ursa were there too looking quite gloom and sullen. Kiyi had stayed home with her father, seeing as the event wasn’t suitable for a child. Ty Lee and Suki were by their sides keeping a close eye on everyone.

Specially on Ukano, Mai’s father, who had a dangerous glint to his eye. Zuko was right, it almost seemed like he had been the one to step up to the plate of ringleader.

All members of the Society stepped forward all holding a single white flower and tossing it at the man’s open casket as they each individually paid their services. Iroh approached his brother’s lifeless body and lightly bowed out of respect, yet he didn’t say anything the rest of the service.

Finally, it was time for Zuko to step forward. All eyes were on him as he stood before the flowery casket. He stood frozen wearing his regalia. It looked like he was struggling to ignite it. Concerned Mecha elbowed his sister and nudged her with a gaze that seemed to say to go help him. She nodded and crossed the temple’s aisle.

If he ever needed her it was now more than ever.

She stood beside him and despite still being angry with her, he smiled weakly. She gave his arm an encouraging squeeze and swallowed a lump that had formed on her throat when she looked at Ozai’s stiff pale face exposed before them. The former Fire Lord’s body had been propped on top of a sturdy marble altar table.

Zuko ignited a flame on his hand, both exchanged a look before he shot it down igniting the cask. He stepped back looking at the fire that consumed his father’s resting body slowly. He was much too distraught that he didn’t hear the small clicking sound. It sounded awfully familiar… Tsai’s eyes widened in horror.

“Watch out!” She managed to push him out of the way. Before he could react, a bright light emitted from the fire before a massive flame exploded before them. Both collapsed to the ground, she covered her body best she could shield him from the abrasive flames knowing she’d be immune to them.

Horrifying gasps and screams echoed the temple as everybody rose to their feet some getting ready to rush forward to the Fire Lord’s aid, other running towards the exit only to find the doors locked shut.

Tsai looked at her family fearfully but before they could further advance to her, black smog erupted from each of the pillars of the temple as they detonated one by one. Cracks broke the ceiling as a landslide of concrete debris and steel pieces began raining upon the crowd in destruction. Zuko kneeled his eyes also turned in concern to look at his family. There was no time, he would never reach them. The ceiling was about to collapse!

He looked at Tsai who hopelessly reached forward before wrapping an arm around her and pulling her back to the nearest shelter – underneath the marble altar table on top of which his father’s body had been propped in just moments ago.

He winced when it came down. The thought of his family being crushed underneath the ceiling making his chest ache. Debris and ash fell around them trapping them underneath the small space beneath the marble altar table. Both coughed for breath and the dust and smog. He held her protectively against his body and with more force than he intended a hand over her head shielding from any collapsing matter. Her eyes were shut tightly, heart racing as she choked on a sorrowful sin for her family, for his family, Ursa, Iroh… Their friends. There was no way they had survived the collapse of the temple.

Moments later the havoc ceased, and silence was the only thing either could hear. No more screaming, no more pain. They sat amongst a graveyard. The space that they shared was completely dark, it was also tall enough for the two to be sitting up without having to slouch. “I think it stopped,” he broke the despondent silence that seemed to linger. She hadn’t even noticed the hot tears that had begun to stream down her face. “Our families,” she cried. The thought of everybody they knew and cared for tore her heart apart. He had to be strong, logical, reasonable as his eyes scanned the small space for a way out. There would be time to mourn later, but not now.

The only thing he could do, was hold her, close, a hand lazily holding her head. Mind racing a thousand miles for house as he processed what had just occurred. “What the fuck!” She suddenly spat; her voice angry as she composed herself and sat across from him. “How could we not have seen it?” She pulled at her hair. “It all adds up!” Her jaw went slack as the dots connected in her head. “How else would you gather the entire Fire Nation Royal Family and all of the New Ozai Society in one room?”

She exhaled feeling drained, the lack of sleep taking a toll on her soundness. “My father…” She pondered on her words. “The bombs, it’s his signature style. The Anti-Revolutionary Movement is behind this,” she said out loud more to herself. However, Zuko listened carefully. “I don’t think he killed Ozai. It’s not his style, he wouldn’t have been able to get close enough.”

“It makes sense,” Zuko suddenly spoke. His eyes beginning to adjust to the darkness that engulfed the two of them. “Him wanting to incriminate you.” “I guess you’re right…” She hugged her knees and rested her head on top of them. At this point she didn’t even want to think, she didn’t want to feel anything. She had no reason to believe her father was innocent when it came to this matter. Yet, something in her gut told her she was wrong.

“What are we going to do?” She suddenly cried out frightened.

“There’s no use in trying to dig our way out,” he said stretching out a palm and feeling the wall with sturdy debris, iron and who knows other materials. If a single piece was moved incorrectly, we might lead a slide in and both would be crushed.

“Great. Be crushed or asphyxiate,” She said in uncharacteristic pessimism. “It was a large explosion,” Zuko reasoned. “Somebody’s probably digging around looking for any survivors.” He explained more to himself, than to her, in an attempt to remain cool and collected. But what if nobody was looking? What if everyone was too scared? The only people that could save them were Aang and the rest of the gang and as far as everyone knew they were all in the Republic of Nations all the way across the other side of the sea. “It could take days…” Her tone dropped to almost a whisper.

Again, silence, no sign of survivors. Both shaken by the attack, by the terrible loss of their families. Losing her grip on reality Tsai let out a loud angry scream. One he had never witnessed before.

“I’m so angry!” She shouted making his ears ache due to the closeness to her scream. “After all of this. I can't believe my dad wins. I can't believe he dethrones the Fire Nation and destroys a movement with his anarchic methods. It's disgusting… I can’t believe we…” She trailed off, her eyes growing large as they once again welled with tears.

“We’re going to get out of here,” he reassured her, his voice strained eyes hard, as he attempted to snap some sense into her. “Come here,” he said reaching for her. She crawled to him and sought refuge on his body, sitting in between his legs.

“Calm down,” he whispered hugging her close to him. He stroked her hair, running his fingers through the long locks a gesture which he hoped would help calm him down as well.

She kept her eyes closed; nose pressed against the fabric of his robes. She inhaled his scent wondering if it would be the last time, she smelled it. Wondering if this would be the last time they would be in each other’s arms. This was ironic, life was funny like that. It was what he had always wanted for the two of them to lie in the same grave for eternity. Maybe that’s why he was so calm… ‘So this was how it ended…’ She took in a deep breath. “If anything happens…” She began, “I’m glad it’s this way. In each other’s arms. I hope our story will be immortalized when they find our bodies no longer with life still in each other’s arms,” she said morbidly.

He couldn’t help but smile a little at the thought. Then again this was the guy that actually proposed in a graveyard.

“Our story will live on because we will tell it ourselves.”

“How are you so sure?” She asked wiping away her tears. She moved away from him and he turned banging a fist at the wall of rocks that kept them locked up. The wall remained unfaltering, not moving an inch. “Because it can’t end like this! I won’t let it!” He said wrathfully striking it again and again.

Both still had so much to life for, so much to do…

Tsai didn’t know how long Zuko hit the wall for, or how hard, she looked at him with worry. He was screaming at this point, breathing harshly, his knuckles to the point of bleeding. It seemed that each strike came harder than the last.

“Zuko, stop, you’re hurting yourself,” she pleaded.

He didn’t stop, much too infuriated, much too scared to quiet. “STOP!” She reached for his arm and held it down. She reasoned with him holding him tightly. She couldn’t see well, but could feel him shaking, letting out trembling heaves. It almost sounded as if he was crying. “Stop…” She finally whispered.

She reached for his hands and he winced slightly. She could feel the jagged skin underneath her fingertips. His knuckles were wet, bruised and bloody from the repeated impact.

She held them close to her, sadly stroking them with her thumbs. “Here,” she said. She took in a deep breath and did something she had almost lost the ability to do. It took her a moment to meditate on her emotions. He saw that she began to faintly glow with the life the Sun Spirit had given to her. The light illuminated the room enough for them to see each other. He could feel the pain in his hands slowly dimmish little by little. “I love you,” She couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down her face, “And if there’s a life after this, I’ll love you then too.”

He let go of her hands and in the dim light touched her wet face holding it in place before leaning forward and kissing her for what seemed to be the last time.

It was then that there was an impact on the wall of debris that kept them underground. Dust filled the space, and both coughed for a breath. He held her close, protectively, bracing themselves for the impact of the rock slide.

"You're about to die and this is what you're doing?" Mecha laughed as he stood before them.

Both looked at him shaken up. Tsai had never been so happy to be at the end of one of her brother’s dumb comments or to hear his mocking laugh.

Mecha stood inside of a large tunnel alongside his mother, Iroh and Ursa. Both firebenders held a small flame that lit the way in their hands.

“You’re very wise to choose love over despair my nephew,” Iroh stretched out a rare grin amongst the chaos that surrounded them.

“Mom!” Tsai’s jaw dropped, teary, red eyes went wide in shock, her mediation becoming nonexistent at what she was seeing. The auburn-haired girl gaped in disbelief. “You’re an earthbender?” She managed to ask.

“Let’s get out of here,” The earthbender said curtly. Ignoring her question.

“How?” Zuko breathed just as surprised.

“Sanju managed to shield us from the collapsing ceiling by forming a rock shelter around us,” Ursa explained in a soft tone. Despite her calm demeanor her eyebrows were tuned up in a concern look. “We were very lucky.”

“Ty Lee and Suki are already outside,” Mecha added. “We looked around, but I don’t think anybody else made it…”

That meant- Mai’s father…

“I don’t know how much longer I can hold it,” Tsai’s mother spoke in a strained voice. The woman had both of her shaking arms held up as she held most of the collapsed temple up.

“Let’s get out of here!”

xxx

AN: Wooppp only 4 more chapters to go. (We all know what’s coming ;) ;) )

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