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the-badger-mole · 14 days

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Facultative

It seemed like every day of travel got longer. Even now with Katara and Zuko coming to a peaceful resolution to their issues, the tension hadn't broken over the group.

"Once we get to Ember Island, it'll get better," Suki promised them all. "My troop got antsy like this when we were on duty, too. We just need a break, that's all." This was met with grumbles of disbelief, but Aang was grateful that someone other than him was trying to be the voice of optimism. That role usually fell to Katara, but she had been quiet and withdrawn since she and Zuko had come back from finding Yon Rah. Oddly enough, only Zuko seemed to be able to get more than a few words from her at a time. When they stopped for rest, they would often end up slightly away from the group, falling into hushed conversations, broken up by Zuko occasionally running to get her a drink or a snack, or to handle a chore Katara usually did. She assured her friends she was fine, though. Just tired.

That was the over all sentiment of the rest of the group, too. Even Appa was showing signs of strain. Aang scratched his friend's neck with a concerned frown. They would have to rest that night. They'd all been hoping to make it to Ember Island by nightfall, but Aang knew he couldn't keep pushing his flying bison the he had been. He told the rest of his friends and was met with groans and complaints, and then grudging acceptance. Aang steered Appa toward a small island. It was barely big enough for the name, but there were shrubs and a grasses and small trees, hinting at fresh water nearby.

Once everyone had slid down from Appa's saddle, Aang set to making him more comfortable. He loosened the saddle, promising Appa that he would remove it completely once they made it to Ember Island and wouldn't have to leave for a while. Then, while the others set up camp, Aang wandered around with Appa, looking for a good place for him to graze. Appa stopped every so often to munch on some of the grass growing up from the greyish soil, but he didn't seem terribly interested in it. At one point, Appa stopped under a tree. It was a youngish tree, with tender green branches. This Appa eyed hungrily, but Aang gasped and nudged Appa gently.

"No, Appa," he said, pointing at one of the branches his friend had been eyeing. There was a bird's nest with new hatched chicks chirping loudly. The mother bird flew in and stood on the edge of the nest, trilling angrily at Appa. Aang chuckled and nudged Appa again, urging him gently to move on. But Appa didn't move to Aang's surprise. Then to Aang's horror, Appa leaned up, mouth opened wide, and chomped down on the branch, nest, chicks, and bird all. Before Aang could say another word, Appa began chewing, silencing the muffled tweets and chirps. Aang gagged at the sound of crunching, knowing that some of it was bones.

"Appa..." Aang gasped. Appa turned one large brown eye on his boy and kept chewing, thoroughly unbothered. Aang felt a flush creep up his neck and to his cheeks. He grabbed Appa's reins and tugged him back to camp. "That was bad, Appa! I can't believe you did that! Come on, we're going back to camp, and you can eat the grass where I can see you."

Appa groaned in protest, tugging against his reins trying to get back to the tasty tree, but Aang was persistent, and Appa didn't want to hurt him. He allowed the boy to lead him back to camp where there was little to eat except the bland, dry grass. The others looked up in surprise when Aang arrived back, still scolding Appa.

"What happened?" Sokka asked. Aang, still fuming, tied Appa's reins to a boulder.

"He ate a nest of birds!" Aang told his friends, outraged. When they exchanged confused glances, Aang rolled his eyes. Of course, they wouldn't get it. Aang could smell the meat they'd begun roasting for dinner.

"Appa is a vegetarian," Aang said, by way of explanation. More glances went through the group, this time more uncomfortable than confused.

"Well, sure," Katara said hesitantly. "For the most part." Aang turned to her, stunned.

"What do you mean for the most part?" he demanded.

"Well..." Katara shrugged, looking at her friends for help. "Well, it's just that Appa has eaten meat before."

"No he hasn't!" Aang scoffed. "Appa's been a vegetarian for his whole life!"

"I've seen him eat meat before," Katara told Aang gently. "Many times."

"Appa's been sneaking meat and you didn't tell me?" Aang gaped at Katara in horror.

"He hasn't been sneaking it," Katara said. "Last week he ate a rock squirrel. He caught it right where I was setting up my tent."

"I saw him catch and eat a tree hare," Sokka offered helpfully. "He's actually a pretty good hunter for his size."

"He catches a lot of animals just grazing on grass," Toph said with a shrug. "I thought you knew."

"Of course, I didn't know!" Aang shouted. "If I knew, I would have put a stop to it!"

"Aang," Zuko spoke up. "You do know that most animals eat meat, at least occasionally, right? Even the ones that live off of plants eat meat sometimes."

"Not flying bison!" Aang insisted. "Not Appa." He turned to his friend, who was grazing lazily. Appa didn't seem to have a care at all. Not about eating meat, not about how betrayed Aang felt. Aang stood watching him in stunned silence. Then he felt a warm slender arm slip around his shoulders.

"Hey," Katara said gently. "Why don't you come sit and calm down. I made you lentils and wild rock tubers." Aang allowed her to steer him away from Appa. Toph went in behind him and freed Appa from the boulder. He grunted at her gratefully before lumbering over to a small, green bush to graze. Suki and Sokka stood behind Aang, as if to shield him from the sight while Katara and Zuko gave him his dinner and a cup of water.

"You want a blanket?" Katara asked. Aang shook his head, but Katara went over to find one just in case. Zuko patted his back in a way that was intended to be comforting, but just felt stiff and awkward.

"I know how you feel about eating meat," he said. "But you have to understand that you not eating meat is a choice, and animals don't have the ability to make that choice. When they eat, it's based on instinct.

"Appa's not just some animal," Aang held stubbornly.

"I know he's not," Zuko said. "He's your friend, and he's very smart compared to a lot of other animals. But he is still an animal. It's his nature to eat what he needs when he needs it. It doesn't change anything about him."

Aang disagreed, but he knew he'd find no support among his friends. The problem, he convinced himself, was that Appa was now living with meat eaters. Aang could admit to himself that he, too, got curious about meat from time to time. No wonder Appa had, too. All Aang needed to do was keep a closer eye on his friend and keep him from making poor choices. After all, the monks had told him that flying bison, like airbenders, got their abilities from keeping pure. He would keep Appa away from meat for his own good.

Across the clearing, Appa had moved onto a new bush. This one had the most deliciously tart berries. Appa paused midchew and nosed the ground beneath the bush. He could smell a seagrouse nest nearby. Maybe if he was lucky, he'd get another bird before they had to leave the island.

#atla #appa #aang learns the concept of facultative herbivores #circle of life #zutara #mostly in subtext but still #inspired by a casual geographic video

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elvenmother · 1 year

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The Art of Crossed Wires - 4 - The Date/The Not Date

Pairing: Marcus Pike x Female Reader Rating: Teen. Warnings: Swearing Chapter: 4/9 Word count: 1883

Summary: It's time for a lunch date with Marcus. It is a date right?

Note: This has not been beta read, so apologies for any mistakes.

Part Three | Part One | Series Masterpost

Pulling out two outfits, you lay them across your bed and eyed both of them carefully. Which one you chose to wear today was dependent on the battle going on in your head of whether or not you had a lunch date or a date at lunch. One scenario meant lunch with a work colleague, while the other was a date at lunch, and both scenarios had vastly different dress codes.

The first outfit was your typical skirt and blouse that you wore variations of at work every day. Nice, but a little boring consisting of a plain white blouse teamed with a grey skirt and grey flats. The second was a dress, a little form-fitting but still work-appropriate. A short-sleeved pencil dress with a teal peacock feather design at the front but a plain black back with a pair of low black heels.

“Cos, people say it’s a date as just a saying, you know?” You turned to your giant black and white cat, Sokka, who was sitting watching you from his seat on the chest of drawers. “So saying it’s a date doesn’t mean it’s a date date.”

“Mmurp.” Sokka slowly blinked at you.

“I know.” You nodded and looked back at your clothing choices. “But I don’t want to read too much into this.”

Sokka gave a massive yawn before turning to stare out of the window. You nodded at him as though he’d just given you some sage advice.

“You’re right.” You reached over, gathering up the blouse and skirt and putting them back in the wardrobe. “Fuck it. Even if it’s not a date date, there’s no harm in looking awesome today.”

~~~~~

The morning passed by with little excitement. Marcus was back leading the morning briefing, much to the delight of all the female team members, including yourself. And as he stood talking through the next stage of the task force's current operation, you couldn’t help noticing he appeared to be wearing a new suit. Instead of the usual greys or even browns you’d seen in him before, this was a well-fitted black suit with a crisp white shirt and deep purple tie with a delicate gold swirling pattern. This was one point in the “actual date” column.

After the briefing, everyone had gotten on with their assignments, and you had only seen Marcus twice after that. Once when he had been chatting with your manager Bob where he had caught your eye and smiled at you. The second time was shortly before lunch when he and another agent, Fenton, had brought through a pack of files for your team.

Finally, lunch rolled around, and just as you were logging out of your computer, you heard his voice behind you.

“Hey.” You turned to see Marcus approaching your desk with a big smile on his face. “Ready to go?”

“Sure.” You smiled back, grabbing your bag and following him out towards the elevators.

“You look lovely today.” Marcus looked over at you as the two of you entered the elevator.

“Thank you.”

“Not that you don’t look lovely every day.” He quickly added, looking a little flustered. “You do. You just look especially lovely today. Erm…” He gulped, trailing off.

“Thanks.” You let your smile grow into a grin. “You look great too. Is that new?”

Marcus ran his hands over his tie to smooth it. “Yeah, I… yeah.”

“Looks good on you.”

You watched as he ducked his head down a little at the compliment and you wondered for a moment if you’d crossed a line. But after a moment, he lifted his face to look at you again and you would see that, while he was blushing, his eyes were dancing at the compliment.

“So, where shall we go?” You asked as the two of you left the building, looking around for a nearby spot to eat.

“I actually know a great little place not too far from here.” Marcus held out an arm for you to follow him. “It’s only a short walk, and they serve fantastic homemade soups… if… if that’s your thing. If it’s not, we can-”

“Sounds great.” You nodded as you set off.

“So, how long have you lived in D.C.?” Marcus glanced over at you while the two of you walked.

“Not long.” You quickly counted mentally. “Around six months, almost seven. You?”

“Almost eight years now.” Marcus laughed, shaking his head. “I moved here when the task force was formed. Can’t believe it’s been that long. Wow.”

“And before that, you lived in Austin?”

“Yeah.” Marcus continued to direct you off to the right. “Yeah, I worked for the art squad there for almost twelve years before I got offered the job here. Obviously.” He left out another nervous laugh. “Did you move here for the job?”

“Yeah.” You followed him as he took another right, then a left. “My friend convinced me to apply along with her. We’d both done work for our local PD before, as well as a few local government departments. I got the job and moved here. She didn’t.”

“Oh.” Marcus glanced over at you again. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok. She got a great job offer abroad a few weeks after I moved. She’s living in Spain now.” You laughed. “Are we here?”

“Yeah.” Marcus smiled down at you, the sunlight hitting his eyes, turning them from their usual dark chocolate to warm amber. “Told you it wasn’t far.”

Heading inside, you were greeted with a surprisingly cosy oasis in the middle of D.C. Almost as though it had been transported from the main street of a small town somewhere, the cafe was filled with different shaped tables and mismatched chairs. At the back of the space was a counter filled with dozens of different cakes, probably homemade, while to the right of the door, a small stand held a stack of neatly printed menus.

“Shall we?” Marcus grabbed a couple of menus and headed towards one of the free smaller tables. As you approached, he pulled out one of the chairs for you to sit.

“Thank you.” You smiled up at him as you sat, and he helped push the chair in slightly. “Such a gentleman.”

You watched as Marcus’ cheeks turned pink again as he sat. “Well, this is about starting over and making a good first impression, right?” He chuckled. “And my mom drilled into me how to treat a lady on a, um…”

“Well, we’re doing much better this time around.” You piped up as he trailed off, stopping short of officially calling it a date.

“Oh yeah.” Marcus’ smile quickly returned. “We’re nailing it this time.”

“We’ve chatted about moving here a little. We’ve thrown a few compliments out there.” You started to count off on your fingers. “We already know what the other does for a living… hmmm… what’s next?”

“Hmmm.” Marcus smirked, handing you a menu. “Hobbies? Is that too cliché? Favourite things?”

The two of you sat giggling for a few moments at your own jokes as you scanned the menu. Finally deciding on both having the soup of the day, Marcus signalled for the waiter and after giving your order, you settled in for the short wait.

“Hobbies might be a fun one.” You mused. “Not too personal, but not too serious.”

Marcus suddenly put on a very serious face. “So Miss.” He steepled his fingers in front of him. “Where do you see yourself in five years?” His composure broke on the last word as he set off laughing again.

“Sounds like a job interview.” You threw your head back laughing, knocking it slightly on the high back of your chair. “Ouch.”

“I actually had someone ask me that on a date.” Marcus managed to get out between giggles. “You ok?”

“I’m ok.” You continued to chuckle. “Really? Someone asked you that on a date?”

“Yeah.” He wiped a tear from his eye before calming. “It was kinda a weird date all round. Anyway, seriously. Only no, not serious serious, but what do you like to do for fun?”

“Well, there's the usual stuff everyone says, like reading and listening to music.” You watched Marcus nod along with everything you said, leaning forward slightly on the table as his eyes met yours. “But I really like to write. Short stories mostly.”

“Really?” His eyes lit up. “Wow. What kind of stuff do you write? Genres, I mean.”

“I’ve been trying a few different ones, but recently I’ve been writing a few more horror-based ones. Trying to keep to a theme at the moment.”

“So the short stories could go into a collection?” Marcus’ eyes never left yours. “That’s cool. Huh, smart and beautiful. What a combo.”

You knew from the immediate heat that your cheeks were bright red and you let out a shy laugh, ducking your head down as Marcus had done earlier in the elevator. “No one has ever called me cool before.” You said finally. Looking up, you found his eyes still locked onto you. Those big chocolate pools looking into your very soul.

“Well, you are.” He gave you a lopsided smile. “I think so anyway. But then again, I am a massive art nerd, so that might not actually be a compliment.”

“You paint?” You both paused as the waiter brought over your soups, and you thanked him.

“A little.” Marcus blew on his soup before taking a mouthful. “Hmmm, that’s so good. Not as much as I used to. Not felt very inspired, I guess.”

“Yeah, I get that.” You said between mouthfuls. “I had a break of almost ten years before I started writing again. Just couldn’t find the time and when I could, I had nothing.”

The rest of lunch passed with talk of creativity, finding inspiration and a promise to go with Marcus to a gallery that weekend. By the time the two of you fell out of the elevator back at the FBI building, you were both grinning from ear to ear.

“Wow, we were gone way over an hour.” You pointed at the clock mounted on the office wall. “Crap.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Marcus shook his head, stepping away from you as he headed to his office. “I happen to know your boss, and he’s cool with it.” He gave you a cheeky wink as he disappeared through his door.

Grinning, you turned to go to the main office area but found yourself face-to-face with one of your colleagues, Louise.

“Agent Pike, huh?” She smirked, eyeing you knowingly.

“We had lunch.” You walked with her back to your desk. “That’s all.”

“Uh-huh.” She gave you a sly wink. “I can’t say I blame you. He is a snack. And dating the boss has its perks, right?”

Louise chuckled softly as she went back to work, but you couldn’t help feeling a little colder. Is that what people would be thinking? That you were dating Marcus because he was your boss? And were you even dating now?

Sure, it had been a date. At lunch. During work hours. Sinking your head into your hands, you stared at your reflection in your monitor. Damn it. What if it hadn’t even been a real date? What if this was all in your head?

Taglist: @jxvipike, @miraclesabound, @littlemisspascal, @galaxyofmando, @pintsizemama, @athalien, @zanzann, @furiousmushroom, @ghostofaboy, @thebestrouge, @janebby

#marcus pike #marcus pike x reader #marcus pike x f!reader #the mentalist #fanfiction #fanfic #the art of crossed wires #my writing

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field-s-of-flowers · 2 years

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ATLA headcanon: Kyoshi Warriors can get married, but they are forced to resign if they have children- the reasoning being that you can’t devote your life to your island if there’s another life dependent on yours.

Because of this, Suki never wants to have children. But Sokka does, more than anything in the world.

She suspects part of it is Katara, who already has a little boy with another on the way, who has never had anything Sokka didn’t want for himself. Even so, his enthusiasm is infectious. Soon enough, Suki is imagining little versions of her steely eyes set into his soft brown skin.

But they can’t do it. No matter how many medicinal teas Zuko has imported from the Jasmine Dragon, no matter how loudly Aang invokes spirits involved in that sort of thing, no matter which ways Katara and Toph swirl the waters in Suki’s belly. Nothing.

Little Kya is born, a feisty thing with eyes like the deepest depths of the ocean. She will be a warrior, Aang predicts, and Suki can’t help but agree. This is enough, she thinks. A warrior’s life, a nephew and a niece. This is what she was made for.

Sokka keeps begging her to try, though, with those desperate eyes she can’t ignore.

They get lucky, once. Toph is the first one to know, quickly followed by Katara. The three of them cry, together before telling the world, and Suki’s tears aren’t all joy. Aang joyfully tells little Bumi and Kya that they’re going to have a cousin, and Sokka is as wide-eyed as the day they met. He can’t believe the luck they’ve been given.

Their luck, be it good or bad, lasts a little under four months. It ends in blood.

Katara and Aang have another boy. At his birth, as they wait anxiously for it to end, Sokka shoots Suki a glance. It’s been almost two years, he says later, wiping tears from his eyes. We can try again.

No, she tells him. I’m done trying just to feed your jealous ego. I was a warrior when we met, Sokka, and I will be a warrior until the day I die.

They scream, they cry, they hurl insults. It doesn’t come to blows, but when he calls her stonehearted and uncaring and disloyal, it almost feels worse. Of course, she follows back with inconsiderate and unrealistic and asshole, so it’s even.

The last straw is when Suki catches Sokka praying to the moon for a change of heart. That is when she packs her bags and catches a boat to Kyoshi Island. I love you, she says to Sokka’s sleeping form. I will, always.

Suki leaves her dreams of gray eyes in brown skin at the door. She leaves her lover’s heart, soaked as it is in blood, and she leaves her lover along with it.

She takes her fans and her makeup and her heart of stone, and goes to join her sisters.

#soph’s posts #Soph’s fics #atla #sukka #suki atla #sukka headcanons #Sukka fic #atla fic #Suki fic #Suki headcanons #SORRY #Click the readmore at your own risk #Sukka angst #Suki angst #Blood tw #Ask to tag

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fanboyzuko · 2 years

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Random atla hc, perhaps not how things are but how I think things should be for the sake of being cool:

Eye color denotes bender strength, though no one puts much stock into that tell beyond superstition. Brown/black eyes are common world wide, while airbender eyes are silver/grey, fire benders are closer and closer to gold—some with flecks of red—earth benders actually vary to the point where eye color isn’t a reliable indicator at all, because some benders have eyes of blackest loam and some nonbenders get grass green eyes, and earth benders can have eyes like stone or dirt or plants or so on. Water benders trend towards glacial blue, but not sky blue.

Benders of mixed heritage can actually have eyes from one side and bending from the other, leading to a golden eyed water bender or a blue eyed earth bender or brown eyed firebender or so on.

Aka: I think Sokka should’ve had brown eyes.

Anon you have NO IDEA how long I spent combing through this blog and my main trying to find the fucking post i made along a similar vein. Finally did here. With added supernatural/eeriness bc it's fun... and then angst bc yknow

but honestly fuck yeah, make shit more convoluted/messy. And honestly, before the 100 years war there was plenty of cross cultural exchange and plenty of relationships across the nations so itd be so easy for random Earth Kingdom citizen A to have bright blue eyes and the family is just like ah yes your great-great-great etc grandfather was a waterbender it pops up again from time to time

Aka: so many characters should have brown eyes, and Sokka is high on this list agreed

#Anonymous #jam talks

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indecisiveartform · 2 years

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Sokka got his wisdom teeth taken out and uses it as an excuse to cuddle with Zuko.

“You know you’re kinda crushing me”

“Shut up they said to keep my head elevated”

Sokka needed comfort after the surgery, he cried when they got home and the anesthesia finally wore off. The pain and the overwhelming sensations of the surgery caught up to him.

(click for better quality)

<3<3<3

[ID: Digital drawing of Sokka and Zuko from Avatar the last Airbender, cuddling on a couch after Sokka’s wisdom teeth removal

First image features Zuko, in the centre of the image, with his black hair in a bun and a few strands left out. He is smiling and blushing. He is wearing a red sweater and burgundy sweatpants. His nails are painted black and his legs are spread with one leg folded on the green couch and the other touching the warm brown floor. In between Zuko’s arms & legs and laying on his chest is Sokka. Sokka is wearing a violet sleeveless shirt, grey sweatpants & socks. His brown hair is down, and an ice pack is strapped to his jaw with the help of a long blue elastic wrapped around his entire head and tied in a knot at the top. His face is flushed and swollen, his mouth is hanging open. He also has a nose ring and freckles.

On the back of the green couch is an orange blanket. On top of that is two paintings. The one on the left, is blue and showcases the sky and the ocean. The one on the right purple, showcasing a mildly cloudy sky and mountains. On the opposite wall is a window with brown blinds, that show a view of part of a fir tree that is very close and covered in snow. Further away there are several full fir trees. The ground is covered in snow and the sky is orange indicating that it’s sunset. The room is illuminated with orange light coming from the window. The shadow of the blinds can be seen on the back of the couch and the paintings.

Next to Zuko is a speech bubble that is written :“You know you’re kinda crushing me”. Next to Sokka is a second speech bubble where it’s written:“Shut up they said to keep my head elevated”

Image 2 is the same without the text bubbles/ END ID]

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petricorah · 2 years

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but what if...brown eyed sokka?

(trying some new style variations)

#im not sure if i love how this turned out but i am sharing anyway #sokka #i feel like non benders might have brown eyes #wheres the brown eyed love??#atla #avatar #myart #hhhnnnng i want a new style im tryinggg

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wlwrangi · 4 years

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Brown Eyed Avatar (3/6): Sokka

[ID: Six gifs of Sokka from Avatar the Last Airbender, edited so his eyes are brown instead of blue.

Gif one: Sokka looks into the camera, a sly smile on his face. His eyes flick from the right to the front and he says something, the shot zoomed so only his face is visible.

Gif two: Sokka sits on a clifftop, leaning his elbows on a sheep. The sea is in the background, other sheep eating grass behind him, and he’s wearing his fire nations clothes and a huge fake beard. He nods with his eyes closed, then opens them and gestures as he speaks.

Gif three: Sokka stuck in the hole during Bitter Work. Foofoocuddleypoops sits on his head, asleep. Sokka looks worried and touches his face with his hands.

Gif four: A close up of only Sokka’s left eye. His fingers draw a line in black paint under it as it stares determinedly into the camera.

Gif five: Katara stands behind Sokka at Chin the Conqueror’s temple during Avatar Day. The camera is zoomed so the only part of Sokka visible is the left side of his face. It pans across and his eye moves to glare at Katara as she talks. He is wearing a hat with a magnifying glass attached.

Gif six: Sokka on his knees in Piandao’s house during Sokka’s Master. He looks solemn, wearing his fire nation clothes. He looks at the floor as he talks and then closes his eyes. END ID]

#sokka #sokkaedit #atla #atlaedit #atlasource #atladescribed #airbendersource #avatar the last airbender #windbison #userkatara #browneyed #you guys don't deserve this you only gave brown eyed zuko 21 notes but #im proud of this so here #**

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tomoehotarus · 4 years

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Brown Eyed ATLA: Sokka

(Gaang series 3/6)

[ID: Four screencaps of Sokka are shown. They are all edited so that Sokka has brown eyes. In the first screencap, sokka has a neutral expression, and is looking downwards. In the second screencap, sokka has a goofy grin on his face and is staring straight ahead. In the third screencap, Sokka has a worried expression on his face and is looking beyond the camera. The air is filled with soot. In the fourth screencap, Sokka has an angry expression on his face, frowning, with the air filled with more soot. End ID]

#sokka #sokka edits #atla #atla edits #edits #brown eyed atla #my edits #my posts

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sokkalore · 4 years

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Is there any reason you made Sokka’s eyes brown in u&i instead of blue?? I haven’t read the twilight books so I didn’t know if this had any significance in the series or if it was just a preference!!

i mean bella swan DOES have brown eyes (that edward loves) but like, realistically, in a modern au with no ~bending/nation specific eyes~ there’s no reason for katara or sokka to have blue eyes

#and i say that as a certified member of Brown Person With Weird Light Eyes Club #im the ONLY person in my family who DOESNT have brown eyes #and its weird #also brown eyed sokka is beautiful and i love him

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army-of-mai-lovers · 4 years

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somebody grant me the power to resist changing my icon every single day

#i felt lost without my aang icon #but also #i want a brown eyed pema icon #and an edited tenzin icon #and a jet icon #and a katara icon #and a sokka #day 1 of asking tumblr to let me have six icons at once

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swordgayist · 3 years

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cultural appropriation in ATLA (hinduism edition)

i’m sure there’s already a ton of posts about this, but whatever, i’m still making one idc.

ATLA’s cultural appropriation, everyone knows about it, the white people don’t speak about it, and the asian and indigenous people get ignored. we know the cycle. but i wanted to come here and highlight some of the most prominent examples of ATLA abusing hinduism, as i am kinda sorta hindu (i was raised in a hindu household, i go to chinmaya mission, that kinda shit). i might forget some things so keep that in mind.

this is gonna be divided into 3 main sections, since there are different ways that they disrespect hinduism that i don’t wanna lump together.

and i’d say i know a lot about hinduism but that doesn’t make me an expert, obviously, so if other hindus have anything to add and/or correct then please do !! and if anyone else wants to share how their cultures were appropriated then please do that as well !!

so let’s get started shall we?

appropriating hinduism

1) the avatar

we’ll start with the most obvious example: the avatar itself

i know that there are parts of the avatar mythos that are taken from other cultures as well but the idea of the avatar itself is primarily from hinduism.

basically in hinduism, the term dashavatara refers to the 10 reincarnations of lord vishnu (the god of preservation), with avatar(a) meaning form or incarnation in sanskrit, and das(a) meaning ten. it was said that whenever the world was out of balance, lord vishnu would come down to earth in a certain form to restore balance. Each reincarnation is considered a different life with a different story. the avatars of lord vishnu are often considered the saviors of the world.

so basically, the central idea of the show and the actual name of the show is largely based on hinduism.

2) chakras

many different indian religions have a concept of chakras (chakra meaning wheel or circle in sanskrit), but hinduism is the one that primarily preaches the system of seven chakras, the version used in ATLA.

chakras connect the physical body to the ‘subtle’ body (referring more to the spirit and the psyche) by connecting parts of the body to aspects of the mind. the idea is that through different forms of steady meditation you can manipulate the different chakras and allow the pure flow of energy through the body.

the whole idea of chakras on ATLA is that aang has to unblock them all to let the cosmic energy flow through him so that he can go into the avatar state at will. so yeah, pretty much that whole idea was taken from hinduism.

3) terminologies

these are just a few terms that were taken from hinduism. i’m pretty sure there are more that i can’t think of right now but yeah.

“agni” kai

i’ll be honest i don’t know where the ‘kai’ part is from, i don’t think it’s from hinduism but if it is well fuck me i guess. ‘agni’ in hinduism is the god of fire, so the creators used it in ‘agni kai’, the name for a firebending duel.

“bumi”

this is in reference to the hindu word for ‘earth’, which is bhoomi. this is also in reference to our goddess of earth, bhoomi devi. also this doesn’t really bother me but i wonder if the creators knew that bhoomi is a name typically used for women (as are most hindi names ending in ‘i’/‘ee’).

in general, concepts like having multiple complex gods (the spirits) who are capable of good and evil and the reincarnation cycle are prominent in a lot of asian cultures, including (and arguably primarily) hinduism.

mocking hinduism

now we get into the mockery of hinduism in ATLA, because it is very much there.

1) whoever the fuck that baboon guy in the spirit world was

now what the fuck was this.

i mean i wouldn’t say this is the most egregious example of them making fun of brown people but lord why did this even need to be there? this random guy from the spirit world has an indian accent ? and is fervently chanting ‘om’ for some reason, and it’s clearly meant to be seen as comical. also portraying brown people as monkeys....... really.

2) combustion man/sparky sparky boom man

when rewatching ATLA in 2019 i actually had no idea that this was a thing, because the last time i had watched it was as a kid and i didn’t finish it.

so lord was i in for a surprise when i saw...

now... now what.

if you didn’t know, combustion man’s ‘third eye’ is designed to replicate the hindu god of destruction, lord shiva. right down to the vibhuti on his forehead (referring to the three line markings around the third eye).

in hinduism, lord shiva’s third eye is used to reduce people to ashes, though as far as i can recall, not very frequently. the primary significance of the third eye is that it represents the ability of higher spiritual thought and higher consciousness.

the ATLA writers take the ACTUAL significance of the third eye, throw it out the window, and then take its destructive abilities to make a super duper cool and dangerous new firebending technique.

and if that wasn’t bad enough, the actual person who uses this technique, and is meant to emulate a GOD who is PRAISED, is a scary, burly, half metal man who is a villain and an assassin. not to mention the design of his facial hair replicates that super duper scary “terrorist” depiction of brown people, particularly of muslims, that white people are so thoroughly terrified of for no reason.

this is a parody of a god, and they portrayed him as this terrifying, maniacal fucking assassin who, along with p’li, the combustion bender from LOK, is constantly referred to as a “third-eyed freak”. i’ve made this analogy before and i’ll do it again, this is like making jesus into a hitman.

now onto my favorite example...

3) guru pathik

ah, this motherfucker.

i don’t really have any problems with him as a character, i mean hell, must’ve taken a fuck ton of patience to handle aang’s “why would choose cosmic energy over katara” bullshit.

but we all know it, we see it plain as day, don’t even try to deny it.

“guru” literally just means teacher or guide, so i don’t really know why pathik needed to be referred to as “guru” so distinctively from aang’s other teachers and guides, but that’s just extremely trivial compared to all the other issues with this character.

first of all what is this character design? what is he even wearing? if they’re trying to replicate the clothes of swamis and priests and stuff this is already wrong, realized people don’t dress like this. and why the fuck does he have an indian accent? and why was this indian accent done by a non indian (brian george)?

once again, the poor but extremely heavy indian accent is clearly meant to be mocking, if it wasn’t, they wouldn’t’ve gone out of their way to get a non indian person to DO an indian accent, and instead they would’ve just gotten an actual indian person to play the role.

and oh yeah, the onion and banana juice. because hindus just eat weird shit right.

whether it’s actually weird or not, the show certainly portrays it as weird. and as far as i know no hindu actually fucking drinks onion and banana juice.

ironic because brown people can absolutely destroy white people in cooking. but i digress.

i know what you’re all waiting for. because the guru apparently didn’t have enough fun with guru pathik, so they just had to come back to him in book 3:

where do i begin.

so this is obviously john o’bryan’s super funny and hilarious depiction of pathik as a hindu god.

usually when a god has multiple arms it’s to carry an array of things, from flowers to weapons to instruments, and one hand is typically free to bless devotees (ie. goddess durga and lord vishnu respectively):

but of course white people see this as weird and so they make fun of it, hence guru pathik having multiple arms just flailing about aimlessly (save for the two that are being used to carry the aforementioned onion and banana juice).

then there’s the whole light behind pathik’s head which is usually depicted in drawings of hindu gods to show that they are celestial.

also what the fuck is he holding? is that supposed to be a veena? because this is what a veena looks like:

and i assume the reason this was added was to mock the design of goddess saraswathi, who carries a veena:

but that right there in the picture of pathik looks more like a tambura than a veena.

and it also just kinda looks like a banjo?

but i guess the animators just searched up “long indian instrument” and slapped it on there. actually no, that’s giving them too much credit, they probably didn’t search it up at all.

and then the actual scene is pathik singing crazily about chakras tasting good or something while playing the non-veena and it’s all supposed to be some funky crazy hallucination that aang is having due to sleep deprivation. just some crazy dream, just as crazy as talking appa and momo sparring with swords or tree-ozai coming to life.

our gurus and swamis and sadhus and generally realized people are very respected in hinduism, they’re people we look up to and honor very much. and our GODS are beings that we literally worship. and the writers just take both and make caricatures out of them for other white people to laugh at.

4) other shit

before we move to the next portion i just wanna mention there are also smaller backhanded jabs that i can’t really remember now, but one example was when zuko was all “we’ll be sure to remember that, guru goody goody”. or when a character would meditate and say “om” only when the meditation is supposed to be portrayed as comical or pointless. or in bitter work when sokka was rambling on about karma. small things like that. but moving on.

south asian representation, or lack thereof

now i finally get to the “losing” hinduism part. by this i mean the lack of actual representation there is of south asians (the region where hinduism is primarily practiced) despite the fact that hinduism plays such a big role in the show’s world design.

i think it’s safe to say that broadly the main cast consists of aang, katara, sokka, zuko, toph, azula, iroh, mai, ty lee, and suki.

a grand total of none of these characters are south asian. the writers don’t even attempt to add any south asian main characters.

there are characters with dark skin, like haru and jet, but a) they’re not confirmed to be south asian and don’t have any south asian features or south asian names, b) they’re side characters, so they don’t count as representation, and c) even if they were south asian and main characters, jet wouldn’t even count because he’s portrayed as a terrorist.

the ONLY truly south asian character we get is fucking guru pathik. so yeah. not representation.

i don’t get how the creators of this show rip off of hinduism (among many other south asian cultures they rip off of), mock indians, and then don’t even have the decency to HAVE a main character who is south asian.

i’ve never gotten a chance to compile all this, and this definitely isn’t all the creators have done, but i hope this was somewhat informative.

#atla #cultural appropriation #hinduism #guru pathik #combustion man #chakras #avatar

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mostly-mundane-atla · 3 years

Note

i realize you probably dont care about the upcoming netflix adaptation but the cast pretty much got confirmed and people are talking about it again so, whats your take? are you lookin forward to it or dont care for it?

Usually I wouldn't care about this, and I have said before to please not involve me in discourse i haven't already talked about, but I was going to make this post anyway so

*cracks knuckles*

Alright children, it's come to my attention that some people don't know their etiquette regarding Indigenous peoples and are making themselves look a fool.

First: you are not entitled to anyone's family history under any circumstances, save perhaps them paying you to do a family tree.

There is an aspect of this specific to Native people. I don't know how it works for Native folks in Canada but in the United States, when you are born Native your parents do some paperwork and the Beaureu of Indian Affairs gives you a Certificate of Indian Blood, stating exactly how Native you can be proven to be based on how Native your parents can be proven to be. The Certificate of Indian Blood is often called a pedigree with bitter irony because in essence, that's what it is. We come with papers like fancy show dogs, just instead of it qualifying our "breed" it's qualifying our right to be enrolled in tribal membership.

I keep my pedigree with all my other important documents, like tax information, birth certificate, social security card, that sort of thing. I inherited a total blood degree of 1/4 Eskimo from my mom and thus qualify for tribal membership. Past a certain point, I wouldn't be considered "Native Enough" based on blood alone and i'd have to get a special dispensation to be legally recognized as an Indigenous descendant. It doesn't matter what my tribe or nation's traditional customs regarding kinship and identity were, by United States law, I could be declared "Not Native Enough" no matter my connection to my culture, no matter how accepted I was by my Native family. Kinda fucked up, isn't it?

Oh, and the Beaureu of Indian Affairs is part of the US government. They ran the schools where kids got beat for not speaking English. We have to tell them we are members of this marginalized group that seems to keep demanding safe drinking water and the right to not be kicked out of our homes at the expense of oil companies if we want access to healthcare and scholarships we may not otherwise have access to because of our "unique situation" (systemic disadvantage). This marginalized group that faces police brutality and wrongful arrests for peacefully protesting our right to live in the few places we have been allowed to live. So if the US government decides Native people are a problem, they have a registry of us. Kinda fucked up, don't you think?

So with that all in mind, do you see how uncouth and just plain nasty it is to demand proof of someone being "Native Enough" or "The Right Kind of Native"? If some freak tries to dig up this info and he's more mixed than some have deemed acceptable (so 1/4 or less) or god forbid doesn't even have his papers or tribal membership for any reason (justified paranoia, clerical error, any degree of negligence on the parents' part) he gets to look forward to being treated even more like a pretendian than the fans have already seen fit to treat him as. How fun.

Every day I wake up I am made to remember that I'll never look "Native Enough" to a huge swath of people who may not have even talked to one of us face-to-face. And it's only a matter of time before one of them sends me a message, written to sound like they're crawling on their belly because they have nothing but respect for "Real Natives" but if they saw me in the regalia my older cousin in Nome made for me so I could graduate high school in regalia, they'd throw a fit. If they saw me after I eventually get my tavlaģun, all pale skinned and blue-eyed, they'd treat me as a study in cultural appropriation, as if i'm not trying to learn whatever variation of my ancestral tongue I can get my hands on.

I can totally understand why he or anyone else might have thought it was better not to specify. Like my first reaction (and this isn't necessarily correct nor something i'm proud of, just the first thing that came to my mind) to seeing Katara was cast as that Mohawk girl from Anne with an E was "they couldn't even get a real eskimo?" I'm guessing others felt similarly. If he didn't wanna deal with that, I can't blame him.

If you think he doesn't look brown enough to convincingly play someone native to the tundra, i recommend the following: go on youtube, look up "inupiaq" and watch at least five of the videos that come up to see how varied we are.

Don't watch this live action adaptation if you don't want to, but if you refuse on the grounds of "the actor's not native enough :/" and go on to ignore actual Native media, that's some performative shit if I've ever seen it. Seriously, how many of the people complaining have watched Smoke Signals? Dance Me Outside? On the Ice? How many were hyped over Reservation Dogs (first two episodes are on Hulu as I'm writing this post)?

Anyway, I'm tired. I'm probably not gonna watch the live action series, but that has nothing to do with Sokka's actor not being "brown enough" to be seen as one of the red and brown. I'll finish off this post with a 1491s video so everyone can get a taste of Native media and maybe elevate it more than discourse over who gets to play a Fantasy Eskimo who was originally written and played by white guys with no Actual Eskimo input:

youtube

#response #eskimo on main #sorry this went on a ranty tangent #still not over that one douche in the youtube comments sarcastically calling me a *real pocahontas* because I brought up native things #and my icon looks vaguely like me irl #and my name sounded white because given name from bible + irish surname #as if that isn't super common

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melzula · 4 years

Text

Obstacles

~ part of the fire lilies series ~

requests: Could you write a Fire Lilies blurb where Zuko struggles with how to approach being around Princess Reader when she avoids him and/or gives him the silent treatment? // Hi- I was wondering if you could write a fire lillies blurb where, when the gaang first starts interacts with zuko, they are more protective of the reader. Simply because they know the history between the two.

a/n: the format of this is a little different than how I normally write but I think it works :)

Though Zuko had finally become a part of Team Avatar, he still found himself to be the odd one out of the group. From Katara’s cold glare to Sokka’s reluctance of being left alone with the prince, Zuko struggled to find his place amongst the group. It was odd and new and strange, but at least it was a start in the right direction, and his first step included mending things with the Princess. He had gotten her to fall in love with him once, so it couldn’t be that hard to do it again, right?

In truth, it was very hard. Zuko faced many obstacles and many set backs, and it would probably be some time before she even so much as looked at him, let alone forgave him...

~~~

Katara

Zuko watched from afar as the Princess handled her chores for the day, sitting peacefully by the fountain as she washed the clothes. Her movements were delicate but precise, the water flowing smoothly through the dirt and the grime collected on Toph’s green robes, and a faint smile graced her features as she hummed softly through the work. She was at peace and completely relaxed, more relaxed than Zuko had ever seen y/n in years. Even in Ba Sing Se there had always been a nervous edge to her, an edge she did her best to hide from Zuko, and she had almost been completely rid of it until the caves. He cringed at the thought, guilt overcoming him at the fact that she seemed so much better off without him.

“What are you doing?” Katara scowls accusingly, startling the Prince from his silent watch over y/n.

“I-“

“Y/N’s been really happy ever since she left you, and you’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you ruin that for her,” the water bender scolds harshly.

“I just want to apologize to her,” Zuko replies calmly, but Katara isn’t having it.

“A simple apology is never going to fix all the ways you’ve hurt her. Y/n deserves better, and if I ever see you make her upset or uncomfortable I won’t hesitate to step in.”

Zuko says nothing as Katara stalks away, he knows better than to get in her way when she’s angry, and when her retreating form finally disappears he looks back at the fountain.

The clothes have been washed, and the Princess is gone.

~~~

Sokka

The smell of stew was heavenly to Zuko’s rumbling tummy, and he was eager to join everyone by the fireside. Bowls had been served, seats had been chosen, and an empty spot beside the Princess was his for the taking.

“Excuse me, buddy,” Sokka chirps, patting Zuko heartily on the back before quickly sitting himself beside y/n. She smiles softly at the water tribe boy and offers him her leftovers to which he happily accepts.

Zuko deflates, choosing to sit next to Aang and enjoy his stew of failure. This isn’t the first time this has happened, and it probably won’t be the last. He knew Sokka was just protecting her, and he couldn’t be mad at him for that. Sokka had probably done more for y/n in her time with him than Zuko had ever done, who was he to blame his protectiveness?

Y/n offers to take the empty dishes to wash, and as Zuko attempts to follow after her his path is quickly blocked by Sokka.

“Listen, I know you’re trying to make things right, and while I respect that, y/n’s asked me to keep you away from her,” he explains as gently as he can. “It’s nothing personal, but I care about her and I want to make sure she feels comfortable.”

“Oh... I understand,” Zuko utters quietly. “Will you at least tell her that I love her?”

“...I’ll do my best,” Sokka replies solemnly, watching with a pang of guilt as Zuko retreats to his room for the night.

~~~

Aang

“What am I supposed to do?” Zuko groans whilst tugging at his hair.

“You know I’m a firm believer in peace, and I do think that neither of you will be happy until your issues are resolved,” Aang comments wisely. “But I also think you should never force anything. Y/n will come around in her own time when she’s ready.”

“But that could take forever!” He protests. “I’ve already been away from her long enough, and being near her but not being able to speak to her is torture.”

Both boys turn their gazes towards y/n in the distance where she carefully brush Appa’s hair and talk to him about his day. The sight is very Princess like, which is fitting since she is a Princess after all, but the sweetness of it all makes Zuko’s heart ache with longing.

“What you did wasn’t right,” Aang sighs. “And she’s still healing. But, if she truly couldn’t stand you then she wouldn’t have given her blessing to let you stay.”

“She only let me stay so I could train you,” Zuko argues.

“Okay, that’s true. But she also washes your clothes, serves you dinner, and just the other day I saw her mending a hole in your boot. She won’t talk to you, but she does still care.”

“She’s always had such a big heart,” he murmurs dejectedly. “Back when I was still hunting you y/n always went out of her way to take care of me even if I didn’t want it. I was a fool to take her for granted.”

“I really do think you guys will work it out. Just don’t force anything, and you’ll be fine,” Aang comforts, and the two continue to watch the Princess as she tends to Appa.

~~~

Toph

With a bouquet of wild flowers in hand and his hair combed in that same horrid style his Uncle had given him back in Ba Sing Se, Zuko headed to her room in hopes of finally talking to the Princess. He knew how much y/n loved flowers, and he also knew how much she loved that ridiculously dorky hairstyle, so he hoped that the two combined together would at least earn him a smile in return.

But when he arrived to her part of the temple he found that her door was barricaded with a smooth slab of rock, and sitting a few feet away from said rock was Toph. The little girl sat leaning against the wall, legs crossed over each other and hands folded behind her head.

“Sorry, sparky, boss’s orders,” she explains with a small shrug, and Zuko deflates. “Personally I think she just needs to man up and face you, but until then I’ve been put under strict orders not to let you in.”

“She really hates me, doesn’t she?” Zuko sighs, joining Toph against the wall. The flowers in his hand are beginning to droop from the lack of water, much like his demeanor from his lack of y/n.

“No, but she’s very angry,” Toph corrects. “Really sad, too. Sokka’s already been in there three times tonight.”

“Are they...?”

“Together? He wishes,” the girl scoffs. “His heartbeat picks up a beat or two sometimes when he’s with her, but he’d never make a move on her. Not when she’s so upset and he’s the only one she can talk to.”

“Yeah, well maybe they should be together,” Zuko grumbles, the flower stems charring in his hands from the sudden heat that emits from his palms. “They’re both water tribe and he obviously takes care of her better than I ever could.”

“That’s true,” Toph nods much to Zuko’s dismay. “But she doesn’t love Sokka. She loves you.”

“Loved,” Zuko corrects only for Toph to roll her eyes.

“You dunderhead,” she mutters before punching him in the shoulder. “I should just knock your heads together and make you kiss and make up right now.”

“Can you do that?” Zuko asks hopefully only to receive another punch from Toph.

“You sure do have a lot to learn, sparky.”

~~~

The Princess

The morning is quiet and calm as you rise with the sun, heading out to collect the dew on the plants of the temple so that you may use it as water for your group. Other than Momo, who sits comfortably on your shoulders, everyone is asleep, giving you some time to decompress and enjoy the solitude of the rising sun.

“Anything I can help with?”

Or so you thought. Of course Zuko would approach you now when there was no one to keep him away from you. You say nothing in response, refusing to even look at him as you set down your bucket and begin to remove the dew from the leaves.

“Y/n, please talk to me,” he begs. “Let me make it better.”

Zuko is met with silence and an eye roll. Momo chitters curiously at the Princess, receiving a head scratch in return which is more than Zuko can say.

“I never stopped thinking of you,” he says. “And I wish I could take back everything I’ve done to hurt you.”

“I don’t want your apologies,” you utter quietly. “I want you to go away.”

Hearing your voice after being met with silence for so long brings the boy to tears, and with a hesitant demeanor Zuko reaches out for you. However, at the sight of the water glowing your palms the Prince takes a step back. You’re not afraid to turn your bending on him, not anymore, and it isn’t until now that he realizes he really has hurt you, more than he could ever have imagined.

“Y/n...”

“Go. Don’t make me ask again.”

With a defeated sigh Zuko turns away and leaves the Princess to her own devices. She goes back to tending to the dew, and the Prince goes back to his room to wallow in his shame.

Both have tears streaming down their faces.

| tags: @rainteslerrrr @oddment-niwit-blubber-tweak @thebluelcdy @royahllty @the-firebender-girl @coldlilheart @ilovespideyyy @yiyibetch @eridanuswave @lammello @a-monsters-love @titaniafire @dekahg @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @eridanuswave @lozzybowe @izzieserra @melacholy @music-geek19 @thia-aep @thyunnamed @haylaansmi @nataliahaslosthershit @idkdude776 @aangsupremacy @thirstyforsometea @ihaveaproblem98 @brown-eyed-thang |

#zuko #zuko x reader #zuko imagine #prince zuko #prince zuko x reader #prince zuko imagine #zuko and the princess #avatar the last airbender #atla #atla x reader #sokka #toph #katara #aang #team avatar #gaang x reader #fire lilies

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guiltysecretpasttime · 3 years

Text

Linzin Week 2021 Day 4: Gaoling / Nobility

Note: Here is my contribution for Day 4: Gaoling / Nobility. I admit - this was a bit of a ramble, a ramble that I rather enjoyed as I tried to put into writing this plot bunny I had in mind. Hope you like it. (unedited as of posting time)

-----

Pairing: Lin/Tenzin

Rating: Teen

One shot, AU

You may also read this in AO3.

Lin scrabbled around the room, lifting objects and crouching under furniture. Apparently, searching for clothes appeared to be challenging if they were strewn haphazardly the night before.

Aha.

She crawled partially under the bed, taking care not to stay on the floor too long, to grab her shorts. Her top and underwear, meanwhile, she snatched from behind the lounge seat.

As she put on her underwear, she mused at how the past days went -her five days of independence in Ember Island.

It definitely was lovely, a nice escape from reality and the pressures of her life. She knew she had to make the most of it. It would not be long before the lackeys of her grandparents would find her.

Lin believed herself stealthy and crafty enough to escape Beifong manor undetected. She was proud to say that she did all that and managed to arrive at Ember Island without bribing anyone. She liked to think that she would have made a good criminal or detective if she were not born into the House of Beifong.

Poor Suyin. Her grandfather was sure to tighten security at home now. There was no way her younger sister would manage to have the same ‘liberties’ she had.

Lin snorted as she tied her hair up.

Not like there was a lot of freedom to begin with.

A groan came from the figure on the bed.

Lin hurried dressing up. It simply would not do to have to have that morning after conversation.

The man continued to slumber on, turning to his side, mouth open with a bit of drool at the corner of his lip.

She smiled at the view while she stuffed her other belongings into her satchel.

As much as she wanted for a repeat of the night before (and earlier that morning) and to run her fingers through his soft brown hair, the earthbender knew that her self-control would be tested. She was bound to end up not leaving at all. And that, she sighed at the memory of the pale wiry arms that were wrapped around her, would be catastrophic. There would have been no way for her to hide her identity if her family descends upon Ember Island.

After one final look, Lin Beifong slipped out of the hostel room of her technically three-night stand. She fled to the inn on the other side of the island to prepare for her trip back home.

It was unlike her to be reckless. But damn Agni, did she need this.

But, of course, her life being her life, her luck being her luck, little did she know that this act of rebelliousness would have its repercussions.

---

Tenzin bit his cheek to stop from furiously answering back. They were at the last leg of their diplomatic tour.

Tour.

He scoffed.

More like the Search.

As in the Search for a bride.

Correction – the Search for His Bride.

It was quite tedious, honestly. They have been at it for more than a year now. His father descended from the Air Nomads but this was amount of time on the road was ridiculous.

He did not mind travelling, honestly. He enjoyed it. The feel of the wind while using his glider or the sight of the clouds while on Oogi… In fact, the misguided yet hopeful part of him saw to it that he travelled at least monthly to Ember Island, in a bid to recreate the blissful memories of a past vacation (or rather, in a bid to try and meet the earthbender again, though he failed at spotting her every time).

On the other hand, travelling with his parents meant having a retinue composed of his father’s main advisory council and security. It was fine – for the most part. Accompanying his father during his diplomatic visits around the world was unique, educational and inspiring.

What he hated was that the advisors tended to barge in at all times of the day, leaving no respite for the family when they were on the road.

Right now, for example, Abbot Yuji was going on about the status of the Northern Air Temple.

His father is the Avatar and the one of two of the last airbenders so it was expected that this was well within the territory.

What was grating was how Abbot Yuji started to describe the temple and the lovely female air acolytes that populated it.

Having an acolyte from your Air Temple married off to the family of the Avatar? Outstanding. Having an acolyte from your Air Temple married to the only single airbender? Priceless.

He was getting frustrated at the blatant -.

“Stop frowning, Tenzin.” His mother whispered to him, leaning at his side. “You know Bumi underwent the same thing.”

Oho but no, Bumi did not.

The thought made Tenzin frown deeper.

Avatar Aang and Master Katara’s eldest son had gone ahead years ago and caused a scandal when he eloped in the Fire Nation capital. It was a love match.

Even Kya, the most free-spirited of the siblings, had discarded tradition, gotten engaged them wed to an air acolyte. It was also a love match.

Tenzin wanted the same, except, since apparently he was the only one left of his family bloodline to take over his father’s position in the Air Nation, it was close to impossible to form any lasting romantic entanglements.

There was a lot to take up, to get heavily involved in the Air Nation. To be fair, all of the children of the previously last airbender were equally exposed and poised to lead as part of their birthright. However, Bumi went on to be the consort of the Crown Princess of the Fire Nation. Then, just a few years ago, Kya agreed and, together with her wife, settled in the Southern Water Tribe to take up the mantle as the chosen heir of the late Chief, their Uncle Sokka.

That left him – Tenzin, the airbender.

The master airbender, his father would proudly introduce him – all shaved and tattooed. Despite the ceremony being a few months old, it all still felt fresh to him. It certainly felt odd to him to be shaven and so Tenzin had taken it upon himself to grow out a beard.

Anyone who would marry him would be part of the most powerful dynasties to date. His currently unmarried state was not due to the lack of prospects. And yet for some reason, his parents still saw it fit to keep going back to Gaoling.

Gaoling – which was the only city-state in the entire Earth Kingdom that had their nobles shun the Avatar and his family when they dropped by to visit last year.

Gaoling – where, coincidentally, was where they were a few miles in.

“Why do we keep going back here?” Tenzin turned to his mother once his father made his routine exit of the satomobile. Aang would usually leave the vehicle and go ahead of the convoy, using his glider to reach their destination earlier. “They don’t seem interested in meeting up with us anyway.” He was referring to the highborn family of the area.

Katara paused in the knitting she was working on. “Your father was almost betrothed to their daughter.”

This information took Tenzin aback. They all grew up hearing their parents’ epic love story. This was mainly why they had wanted the same for themselves. So, to hear that it was almost a different story was surprising.

Tenzin shook his head. “What happened?” He eyed the gates with the winged boar insignia the loomed nearer.

“Your father was going around at that time, seeking for support to campaign against the tyranny of the Fire Lord.” His mother tucked her yarn and work in progress in a weathered pouch. “It did not help his case that he had abandoned his role for years on, resulting in the Air Nomads being wiped out. There was a bit of bargaining and one of the conditions of Lao Beifong was to have the Beifong heiress wed Aang.”

Tenzin vaguely noted that the rest of their convoy turned left to the town proper while only their vehicle urged on forward.

The gong sounded from outside of the satomobile, announcing their arrival at the large ominous gate of Beifong estate.

“And then?” Tenzin prodded urgently as the gates opened and the satomobile crept slowly into the grounds of the Beifong family.

“Aang was weighing his options then when the younger Lady Beifong refused adamantly. We were turned away that same moment from the estate. In an unexpected turn of events, Toph Beifong saw it fit to defy her family and joined us. She became your father’s earthbending teacher.”

Tenzin’s eyebrows raised.

He had grown up to tales of his father’s bending masters. Only the blind earthbending master Toph, who became the world’s first metalbender, remained a bit of a mystery to him. For one thing, aside from the Monk Gyatso, he never met her. He only learned now that she has a surname.

There was a sense of anticipation now.

Maybe they will get to meet her in a few minutes?

Tenzin looked out the window. They were now parking in front of what looked to be a sprawling mansion. They have certainly made it further than they did in the last non-visit, where the guards did not even open the gates for them.

The metalbender was the stuff of legend. After having established a metalbending academy, Tenzin can find no trace of what happened to Toph Beifong.

So much was his anticipation that Tenzin did not notice the somber expression of his mother.

---

Lin sat in front of the dresser in her bedroom, silently watching as her grandmother’s maid finished tucking her thick black hair into a bun and placing the last strand of beads coiled around it. After ascertaining that she did not need any further help, the maid made herself scarce, stating she will be back once Lady Beifong called for Lady Lin’s attendance.

Lin blinked once at her reflection on the dresser mirror.

Twice.

She did not feel like herself.

She tilted her head.

She did not look like herself either.

If she were to be honest, the last time she truly felt like herself was the reprieve she had during her stolen time in Ember Island.

Breathing deeply, she reached for a tissue. Methodically, the young woman wiped off one side of her face, then the other.

She blinked again as the angry red marks on her cheek became visible.

---

A touch of his wife on his arm and Avatar Aang knew what she was asking.

It was unusual for none of the Beifongs to be standing in attendance to welcome their visitors.

Aang tucked his wife’s arm into his and patted it. He nodded to his son to follow.

Various household staff bowed to them as Aang led them deeper into the manor. Tenzin looked around curiously, keeping himself within hearing distance of his parents.

“Lord Beifong is in bad shape; he has been since the fire that broke out in the estate last year.” Aang finally shared.

Katara gasped in dismay, gripping Aang’s arm tightly. “And Lady Beifong?”

“She’s doing the best she could. She is…coping.”

“And their grandchildren?”

Aang shrugged weakly, stating he had not seen the grandchildren of the Beifongs yet.

“Is this why they are now considering the proposal…?” Katara trailed off, tossing a quick glance at their son who was seemed to be preoccupied by the framed portraits they were passing.

The Avatar nodded. “I had hoped it would be a joyous occasion, but this is what we’re dealt with.”

---

Tenzin clutched the warm teacup, looking into the dark tea in contemplation with what he had learned so far.

He sat at his parents’ side at the formal tearoom of the Beifongs, a silent participant and observer. Across them, Lady Poppy Beifong sat demurely, seemingly fragile and with the graceful bearing of someone born into the nobility. The airbender found it hard to believe that this woman gave birth to his father’s tough earthbending master.

Pleasantries were exchanged at the beginning and a stream of maids served them tea and an assortment of light snacks. His father shared about the different festivals across the nations that they had attended recently while his mother told stories about the flora they encountered during their trips. Even he was called upon to talk about the developments across the reconstruction of the Air Temples. Lady Beifong calmly spoke about the renovations in their estate, to revive the areas that the fire had touched.

After some obscure statements that were traded among the other people in the room, Tenzin was struck by the realization.

Toph Beifong was dead.

For how long – Tenzin tried to recall of portraits in the hallway – it must have been a long time ago as all of the portraits and photographs were quite dated.

Oddly enough, grandchildren (Toph’s children?) were mentioned and yet there were no photographs of them.

---

Lin tapped her fingers somewhat nervously on the armrests. She tried to get engrossed in the book she was reading, but her mind was not into it.

A few rooms down, her future was being decided, so much for being a young woman of independent means.

As expected, upon her return from Ember Island, Lin received the scolding of her life. Never mind that she was already in the twenties – running off on her own was unbecoming of a Beifong Lady.

Words were said. Lord Lao Beifong’s word was final and his granddaughter had no other recourse but to continue to submit to the duties of the Beifong heiress. The families that depended on their lands for a living were part of her responsibility. Both the Beifongs and their staff flourished under Lin’s attention. Lao was pleased with the profitability of their produce and in turn, with Lin. At least, until it became a Problem.

Once it became apparent, Lord and Lady Beifong cut down the number of their staff and security, locking once again the Beifong gates, unwelcome to any visitors. It was during this period when the Avatar and family had passed by for a diplomatic visit the year prior.

It was also in this situation, a few months later, did fire strike in the household. With the limited staff, it took a long time to get the fire under control. By then, her grandfather, who had been at the indoor arboretum at the time, had inhaled much of the smoke.

Lin and her sister had sought to pry open the gates of the arboretum that had gotten tighter during the fire. In a miscalculated move, metal shrapnel that Suyin fashioned out of her practice cables flew from her grasp and hit Lin as they both struggled to release their grandfather. Despite the blood dripping to her chin and Suyin’s teary apologies, Lin did not pause and endured the pain while working on metalbending the gates open.

They did succeed though Lord Beifong was not the same presence as he used to be.

Once assured that her grandfather would live, Lin endured one of the longest nights of her life.

Since then, changes as to how the household was run were made. Since then, Lin took it upon herself to manage the estate as penance. After all, if it were not for her situation, her reckless behavior, there would have been adequate support in the estate to prevent the fire from spreading.

Bringing herself back to the present, Lin stopped her woolgathering as the knock on the door signaled that her presence was wanted by her grandmother and her visitors.

With one last look, Lady Lin stood to meet with her prospective in-laws.

---

Tenzin waited in tense silence with his parents.

He knew the drill – they had done this song and dance numerous times with other noble families around the different nations. Discussions about potential courtships between him and the daughter, eliciting information about familial expectations and loyalties… Nonetheless, not a single marital agreement came about.

One word from him and his parents would cease and back off from the negotiation or pursuing the potential bride.

Today, however, sitting in the opulent tearoom in the Earth Kingdom while waiting for Lady Beifong and her granddaughter, felt different. There was something in the air, a history that seemed to tie the two families. Or at least, the Avatar and his earthbending master (who, Tenzin learned had quietly passed during the birth of her second daughter).

Click-click-clack-click-click-clack.

Lady Beifong’s shoes echoed at the corridor, followed by a softer set of steps.

The door slid open.

---

Lin kept her head bowed as she greeted the family of the Avatar.

A Beifong lady keeps her eyes averted. So, she did.

A Beifong lady keeps silent until spoken to. So, she did.

She sat down beside her grandmother, hands crossed on her lap, vaguely paying attention to the discussion.

That was why she was surprised to feel a cool hand touching her scarred cheek.

---

“…Introduce you to my granddaughter.”

Everything paused for Tenzin when Lady Beifong stepped aside to present the younger Lady Beifong.

He caught sight of her face.

Her eyes. He will never forget those eyes.

He went through the motions next, his body on autopilot as his mind brought up memories he frequently revisited.

Those eyes which crinkled in laughter when he dropped her in the sea.

Those eyes whose pupils dilated in the dark as he gripped her thighs high.

Those eyes which rested on his without judgment while he whispered his fears of not being a good enough bender for his parents.

Lin now sat before him, where he now found it easy to observe her.

Her face – her porcelain skin was slashed --- who could have done this, what could have happened?

He was barely aware of what he was doing, he reached out gingerly to touch –.

SLAP!

Lin looked at him aghast.

His parents and her grandmother faced them in alarm.

Lin stood up. “Excuse me, everyone, grandmother, may I be excused?” Without waiting for a response, she bowed and rapidly made her way out of the room.

“I-I-I,” Tenzin stammered, dazed. “I apologize I don’t know what came over me.” He motioned to follow. “I need to find Lin.” He bowed and went out as well.

---

It took them a few more minutes to recover from what happened.

And it took them several more to realize that they never did mention yet Lin’s name to Tenzin.

---

“Wait, Lin – I’m sorry – wait!” Tenzin managed to grab her arm when she turned at the end of the corridor.

Lin shrugged him off. “How dare you!” She gritted out, each word hard with controlled anger. “Just because I look like this,” She waved a hand in the direction of her scarred cheek. “I don’t fit the mold of the perfect debutant your parents might wish for you – you don’t have the right to -!”

“Lin, I’m sorry – and it’s… it’s me!” He placed his hand on his chest. “Tenzin, from the beach.”

“No, you’re not.” Lin stared at him.

“I’m Tenzin – from Ember Island, don’t you remember me?” He plodded on, almost desperately. Didn’t their encounter mean anything to her like it did for him?

“No, you’re not him.” Lin shook her head frantically. “Were you hired by grandmother? Suyin? This isn’t a funny joke.” Her voice rose a pitch with each sentence.

What.

Then it clicked.

Damn – his hair.

Maybe Bumi was right – his personality came with his hair.

“No, Lin, it really is me – I – I’m a master bender now.” He raised his hands up, showing the tips of the tattooed arrows.

---

Lin took a step back, finally taking in the man who was her potential betrothed.

It couldn’t be…could it?

He did sound and look like the Tenzin she met last year…

Then it clicked that it was him.

How could she not have recognized him when she had retreated to thinking about their time in Ember Island as an escape…

“Excuse me, Lady Lin? It’s his feeding time.”

Lin froze, almost regretting her instruction to the governess that she could interrupt whatever Lin was doing at any time. She swallowed thickly, ignoring Tenzin’s dumbfounded expression and plastered a smile on her face.

She turned to the governess who had been looking for her and reached out her arms to take the precious bundle for her.

“Hello, dear, are you hungry now?” Lin Beifong nuzzled the baby in her arms.

---

Footsteps clattered nearer to where they stood.

Lady Beifong, Master Katara and Avatar Aang came to a halt as they rounded the corner.

Lin, Tenzin and even the baby turned to face the new arrivals.

Tenzin leaned forward, gravitating towards the child, who blinked back at him with bright grey eyes.

“Sweetie,” Katara started cautiously. “Not to be anything but – don’t forget about propriety, don’t act too...familiar with them.” Her eyes darted towards the Beifongs and their staff, likely worried that any action might be turned against him and he would not escape the situation unscathed.

“I think I’ve done more than enough to be familiar with Lin, mother.” The airbender tickled the nose of the child, to the outraged gasp of Lady Beifong and the widened eyes of his mother.

“Ah-CHWOOOOSH!”

Silence fell on the group.

The baby giggled as he rubbed his nose.

Lin and Tenzin shared a look of awe.

Of all their trips to Gaoling, Avatar Aang could claim that this was his favorite.

The day he met his airbending grandson.

---

Avatar Aang and Master Katara’s children all grew up hearing their parents’ epic love story. This was mainly why they had wanted the same for themselves.

The eldest, Bumi eloped with his childhood sweetheart, the Fire Nation’s Crown Princess Izumi. It was a love match.

Their only daughter Kya married her air acolyte wife in a simple Southern Water Tribe ceremony. It was also a love match.

Their youngest child, Tenzin wed the mother of his child, Lady Lin Beifong of Gaoling. It was, as everyone concluded, also a love match.

-------------

Note: And that's the end~. Love it or hate it - let me know!

#linzin #linzin fanfic #linzin2021 #lin beifong #tenzin

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reinerispretty · 4 years

Text

rotations. (zuko x f!reader) The End.

hello everyone!! i just wanted to say thank you so so soooo much for following this story to the end!! it makes me so happy that it brought you guys joy and it made me happy just writing it! if you could please share that would be wonderful but no worries if u can’t :) enjoy the last chapter!!

pt1

pt25

The three men sat around the table in Zuko’s room, drinking tea and swapping stories. Even though he had heard them a million times before, Zuko asked his friends to recount their adventures with (Y/N), before the two had reconciled. It made him happy to know that she had been taken care of in his absence.

(Y/N) couldn’t contain her nerves. Every inch of her body felt alive, like electricity flowed through her veins. This electricity translated into not being able to sit still, which greatly annoyed the servants that were helping her get ready. She kept having to get up and walk around to stretch her legs, or take a quick trip outside to get some fresh air.

Katara eyed her as (Y/N’s) foot tapped against the marble floors of her bedroom. She had barely spoken all morning, which was very unlike her dear friend. Toph coughed from her spot on (Y/N’s) bed.

“Could you stop doing that?” Toph asked. “I can barely see with all the movement you’re making.” (Y/N) halted her foot immediately.

“Sorry, Toph,” She muttered. She looked down at her hands, which still shook, but she clenched her fists to get them to stop.

“It’s going to be okay,” Katara said, placing her hand atop (Y/N’s). She stared into her friend’s eyes. Katara was always honest, especially with her. (Y/N) let out a small chuckle.

“I don’t know why I’m so jittery,” she admitted. “It’s not like I haven’t known this day would come for the past year.”

It had been almost exactly one year since Zuko had proposed to her on her birthday. She remembered grabbing him by the arms and asking him if he was sure that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. “I’ve never been more sure of anything,” He had said, and the biggest smile appeared on her face as she accepted his offer. He had slid an engagement ring on her finger almost immediately. “I’d been planning on doing this since the first day I saw you after my banishment.”

“Even though I was fighting against you?” Zuko nodded, his eyes crinkling from his own smile.

She stared at the ring now. It never failed to take her breath away. He had it made especially for her. Traditionally, a Fire Lord would propose with his mother’s engagement ring, but Zuko thought that would be a bad omen on their marriage considering how things ended with his parents.

“You’re excited,” Suki said, leaning back into her seat. She and Katara were also being pampered by the servants. They scrubbed at her nails and feet and combed her long brown hair. Toph had opted out of a beauty treatment, considering how she had thrown a woman through a wall the last time someone touched her feet in Ba Sing Se.

“There’s going to be so many people there,” (Y/N) mumbled. Growing up as Fire Nation nobility, she had always been around large crowds of people, but that didn’t mean she liked it. She like to keep her circle small and if it were up to her, she would have had the smallest wedding possible. Maybe Momo as the officiant. But Zuko was the Fire Lord, and with that title came certain expectations. The people of the Fire Nation were invited to watch the ceremony. From what (Y/N) had heard, it was something they all looked forward to, so who was she to deny them of that?

“We’ll be there too,” Katara assured her. “Besides, you only have to focus on one person.” (Y/N) felt butterflies flutter in her stomach. She and Zuko hadn’t been able to see each other at all that day. It was customary for the bride and groom not to see each other until the ceremony, but (Y/N) hated it. She couldn’t run to the one person who gave her comfort and it annoyed her endlessly.

“What kind of food will we have later?” Toph asked. “I’m starving.”

“I can ask the servants to bring you something,” (Y/N) said to her friend. Toph rubbed her hands together as she listed everything she wanted to eat in that moment.

Zuko was in his room on the other side of the castle, with Aang and Sokka. Both had agreed happily to being groomsmen, but Zuko extended the special invitation of best man to Aang. They had been through so much together and they had both changed for the better. If it weren’t for Aang, Zuko might never have reunited with (Y/N) again. Aang graciously accepted his offer. Momo and Appa had been given the titles of honorary groomsmen, but they wouldn’t fit at the altar with the rest of them.

“She took care of herself,” Aang said with a laugh. “It was hilarious seeing an enemy’s face once they realized we had a firebender with us.”

“Especially when we were fighting against the Fire Nation,” Sokka chimed in. “You guys were all ‘Who? What?’ and (Y/N) was all ‘Boom, Bang! Fire blast!’“

“She is a strong fighter.” The guys turned to see Iroh standing at the doorway. Zuko stood and smiled, bowing to his uncle.

“I’m so happy you could come,” He said as they hugged. Iroh squeezed him tightly.

“As if I would miss my own nephew’s wedding! The tea shop is busy, but never too busy for you.” Iroh took a seat at the table. “So, have you prepared your vows?”

Zuko’s face paled. “Vows? Vows? No one told me I had to do vows!” He began pacing around the room, scrambling for a piece of paper and a brush.

“Zuko, it’s fine!” Aang assured him. “Just speak from your heart!”

“It took me years to tell her that I loved her and you want me to speak from the heart?” Zuko was spiraling. How could he have forgotten about the vows? He had made sure that everything else was in line except the one thing that he actually needed to do. (Y/N) would be absolutely mortified is she recited her vows to him and he didn’t have any to say back! What kind of husband would he be if he couldn’t prepare vows?

“We only have an hour before the wedding,” Sokka said, pulling Zuko back over to the table and making him take a seat. “So we all need to brainstorm. All of us know (Y/N) and Zuko pretty well. We’ll just give you ideas of what to say and then we’ll write them down!”

Zuko nodded. “Okay, that sounds good.”

Silence fell over the table as they all thought of what Zuko could say for his vows. Each man stared at each other, waiting for someone to speak up. Finally, Iroh spoke:

“Tell her that she is as lovely as freshly brewed tea.”

Zuko sunk into his seat and groaned. This would be a long hour.

In (Y/N’s) room, she and her friends were putting on their dresses. In the Fire Nation, all women wore different variations of white and red to weddings. The bride’s dress was supposed to be the most elegant, so that she would be set apart from the other attendees. Her hair was placed in an intricate updo, with the traditional royal family crown placed on top.

(Y/N) stared at herself in the mirror. She could barely recognize herself, but she felt beautiful. “I look like a princess,” She said to her friends.

“Like a queen.” Ursa stood in the doorway, smiling softly at her future daughter-in-law. (Y/N) smiled widely, running over to embrace her.

“I’m so happy you’re here!” She pulled away from Ursa, her smile faltering just a bit. “Did you...?”

After announcing the engagement to Ursa, she had asked (Y/N) privately if there was anything that she could do to help prepare for the wedding. She had only one request: locating her own mother to see if she would attend the wedding.

(Y/N) and her mother had had their ups and downs throughout her life, but after their moment in her jail cell, she really began to miss her. It was obvious that her mother was under her father’s thumb and had no way of escaping. And while she loved Zuko’s family like her own, the idea of not having members of her family present at her wedding saddened her.

Ursa smiled, stepping to the side to allow (Y/N’s) mother to enter the room. It had been years since they had last seen each other, but the signs of aging were lost on her mother’s beautiful face. Much to (Y/N’s) surprise, her mother’s eyes watered as soon as she saw her.

“You look so beautiful,” She whispered, embracing her daughter in a hug. (Y/N) gripped onto her for dear life. She felt a wave of relief wash over her as her mother held her.

“I’m so happy you could come,” (Y/N) said with a smile. She turned back to her friends. “These are my friends! Katara, Suki, and Toph.”

“You raised a wonderful daughter,” Katara said, but her mother shook her head.

“She did that all by herself.”

“Can you stay for the ceremony?” Her mother’s eyes quickly turned sad.

“Your father forbade me from attending. I had to sneak away just to come here with Ursa.”

“Why would he do that?” Suki asked. (Y/N) sighed.

“Because he disowned me. As far as he sees it, I’m not their child anymore. But Mother, I’m marrying Zuko. You know that if there’s anything you need--” Her mother held up a hand to silence her.

“I am being taken care of, my dear, and you are as well. That is all I could ask for.”

“You’re going to let your stupid husband keep you two apart?” Toph asked. She was always far more blunt than the rest of them.

“It’s complicated,” (Y/N) said quietly, before her mother could say it. “I understand. I suppose he can’t forbid you from coming to a royal summons?” Her mother smiled.

“No, he cannot.” She hugged her daughter tightly. “I love you, and I am so proud of you.”

(Y/N) felt her tears swell, but she forced them down so she wouldn’t ruin her makeup. Ursa led her mother out.

“Are you okay?” Katara asked. (Y/N) nodded.

“She said she loved me and she was proud of me. And I know I don’t need her approval to know that I’ve been doing the right things but...” She took a deep breath. “It still meant a lot.”

Her friends smiled and wrapped her into a big hug. It took Toph a little bit to join, but once she did, they squeezed her tightly. Despite everything, (Y/N) missed her parents a lot. But she knew she had been given an even better family in her friends.

Zuko, Iroh, Aang, and Sokka, had used every minute available to complete Zuko’s wedding vows. It took a lot of trial and error, but Zuko figured they were as good as they were going to get. “Remember,” Aang whispered as they walked to the altar. “If all else fails, speak from the heart.”

Zuko stood at the top of the steps of the palace courtyard, Sokka and Aang standing a step below him. Momo stood at Sokka’s feet at the bottom of the steps. No one was really quite sure how he had acquired a bowtie, but they decided not to question it.

Iroh stood beside Zuko. He and (Y/N) had asked if he could officiate their wedding, and he had graciously accepted. He smiled gently at his nephew before leaning close. “From the time you were small, I could tell that your souls were intertwined. You loved each other in a past life and will love each other in the next. Congratulations, my nephew.”

Zuko smiled at his uncle. His comment made him emotional, but he was trying not to think about it. The idea that he and (Y/N) would always be perfect for each other made his heart swell the biggest it had ever been.

Toph was the first to walk out, guided by Suki. She stood across from Momo while Suki stood across from Katara. Toph raised an eyebrow. “Why’s Momo with the groomsmen?” Suki shushed her as Katara walked out, taking her place across from Aang. They smiled at each other.

“I can’t wait to marry you,” Aang mouthed to Katara, which caused her to blush.

Finally, (Y/N) exited the palace, the long train of her dress flowing behind her. She kept her head down so that she wouldn’t trip, and only looked up when she took her place beside Katara, across from Zuko. When her eyes met his, all of her fear and worry melted away. She smiled at him.

Zuko couldn’t help the few tears escape from his eyes as he stared at (Y/N). She looked absolutely beautiful in her wedding dress. The sheer realization that this was actually happening, that after everything they had been through together and apart, was enough to make him cry.

She reached out and wiped away his tears, her own sliding down her cheeks. They held each other’s hands as Iroh began the ceremony. (Y/N) felt like every word that Iroh was saying went in one ear and out the other. All she could focus on was Zuko.

When it came time for vows, (Y/N) cleared her throat. She had spent weeks memorizing her vows with Katara, to the point where she had them down perfectly. Her only worry was that her emotion would get the best of her as she recited them.

“I wrote and rewrote these vows a thousand times. What can you say to the person who means the world to you? No matter how hard I tried to shake you and shove down how I felt about you, you always came back to remind me how much I loved you. I loved you every single time that we fought against each other and I loved you every time that we fought with each other. I’m not big into the spiritual stuff, as you know, but a very wise old man once said that you and I were connected by an indestructible thread. No matter how hard either of us tried to cut it, it would never break. And I think that’s true, because no matter where I went, I always found you again.” She inhaled a shaky breath. “You are my sun, moon, and stars. You are everything I ever wanted out of life and more. I love you, Zuko, even more than I love the palace’s fruit tarts.”

When she finished, Zuko couldn’t help but press his lips to hers. (Y/N) giggled into the kiss before softly pushing him away. “You weren’t supposed to do that yet.”

“I don’t care,” Zuko said with a smile.

He pulled his piece of paper out of his pocket and inhaled a deep breath. He only hoped that he could do her vows justice. “I’m not good with words. You know this. I shut down and I keep things bottled up a lot. I’ve been like that for as long as I could remember. But you...you wouldn’t let me. Whenever I was upset as a kid, you’d ask me what was wrong and wouldn’t leave me alone until I had an answer to give you. You’re stubborn, and I’m stubborn too, but your stubbornness always wins in the end.” (Y/N) smiled at him.

“For a long time after I was banished, I wouldn’t let myself be happy. I had one main goal in life and would stop at nothing to achieve it. But when I saw you again for the first time in three years, you threw my goals off course. I was trying to hunt the Avatar, but I knew one step closer to him would be another step closer to you. It didn’t matter that you were fighting against me. Seeing your face gave me the spark that I needed to continue another day. Whether I was sad, happy, or angry, I always wanted you at my side. And I want you to be at my side everyday for the rest of our lives. Because when I’m with you, no matter what I’m feeling, I’m still the happiest I’ve ever been.”

(Y/N) was fully crying now, her makeup undoubtedly ruined, but she didn’t care. She loved Zuko with all of her heart. Every bad thing that had ever happened to her, every battle, every tear that she had ever shed, faded into nothingness.

They said their “I do’s,” and before Iroh could get the last few words of the ceremony out, Zuko’s arms wrapped around (Y/N’s) waist and pulled her close. Their kiss sealed their marriage. Neither could believe that after everything that had happened, they were standing together, finally married. It had been a long time coming, full of trials and tribulations and heartache and sadness, but they both wouldn’t change it for a thing.

The couple pulled apart, smiling at each other, before turning to the crowd to present themselves. They waved at the people who watched as Iroh boomed behind them: “I present to you: Fire Lord Zuko and Fire Queen (Y/N)!” Their friends and the people of the Fire Nation cheered for them. She saw Mai and Ty Lee at the front of the crowd, both wearing smiles on their faces as they clapped. Momo leapt into (Y/N’s) arms, giving her a big lick on the cheek.

A dagger flew through the crowd, narrowly missing (Y/N’s) head as it sank into the wooden pillar behind her. Throngs of people dressed in black jumped over the palace wall. The crowd screamed in terror, and (Y/N), Zuko, and their friends watched as the men and women in black began fighting their way toward the palace.

Zuko looked down at (Y/N). “Are you ready?” She nodded.

“It wouldn’t be a party without at least one battle.” Zuko chuckled.

As a team, (Y/N) and her friends sprung into action to fight. As she fought with her firebending, she couldn’t help but think that this was the perfect wedding.

---

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