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enmy-writes · 3 years

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Just Let Me Help You

Summary: Zuko, trying to keep is girlfriend safe, unintentionally gains the trust of the Gaang after a showdown with Combustion Man.

Word Count: 2728

Fandom: ATLA (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Pairing: Zuko x Fem!Reader

Genre: Mostly fluff, is fluff-angst a thing? Idk guys I’m soft, you tell me.

Rated: 18+

Content Warnings: Profanity, some gore graphics (brief mentions of blood, killing, murder), uhhhh that’s it I think I’m sorry if I forget anything else.

****Huge shout-out to my friends Kenz and Jenna for editing this and hyping me up. Hopefully, since this semester from Hell will be over soon, I’ll be able to write more. Please request things! Thank-you all for supporting this and let me know more of what you want to see in the future :) Also, feedback is always welcome. Enjoy!****

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They had landed the war balloon days ago, stalking the tired and defeated Team Avatar and trying to figure out how the complicated Fire Prince would convince the people he chased for months that he wants to help them now.

(Y/N) was stoking the hot flame provided by the fire bender, making sure the coals were burning a cherry red before she added leaves and herbs into a pot to make a stew for the two to enjoy. Her eyes followed Zuko as he paced back and forth, practicing what he was going to say when he finally decided to confront the rebel group, lips turned upward in an amused smirk.

“Hey, Zuko here…” she heard him say before he started rambling a bunch of nonsense about his past; from his discovery, to Azula, to his father-- all the tragic topics. It took him about three minutes, but he finished with a hopeful look in his direction.

“Well?!” He clenched his fists at his side in a nervous gesture, only wanting to get this right.

The girl on the log cleared her throat before speaking, obviously hiding her laughter from the sensitive boy. “Well… it’s perfect. I especially liked the ‘Hey, Zuko here’ part. I’m sure that Aang and his friends with be very pleased to finally learn your name instead of thinking you’re called ‘Angry Ponytail Hotman’.’’

He groaned loudly, rubbing his eyes with clenched fists. The melodic laughter from his companion tempted him to give up his quest and just run away with her and live a happy life free of his father and his destiny… whatever that may be.

Still laughing, (Y/N) stood from her log by the fire and made her way to Zuko, coming up behind him. Her arms slid right around his slim body, holding on tight as she tried to pull his mind from the depths of his insecurities.

“Zuko, love.” Her voice is soft, but intense. “Just go down there. I won’t lie, they might not take you right away. You have done a lot of damage to them and their goals.”

His warm hands slide down the tops of her forearms and slide between her chilled fingers, entwining them together as Zuko grips her like she’s holding him down on the land they’re on.

“I… I just…” He struggles to get his feelings out, finding it hard to convey how he feels even to the girl wrapped around him.

She shushes him. “I know.” Is all she says, as they stand there in a momentary comfortable silence before she detaches from him to continue dinner.

____________________________

Zuko had told her to stay behind, that he’d be back to either get her or because he failed to convince the group that he came to support them, instead of harm them.

“Zuko! I could easily be an alibi for you. A reason for them to trust you!”

“No. End of story. They could attack me and you’re in Fire Nation clothes. You’re staying here.”

A staring match between the two only lasted a few seconds, but (Y/N) let it go; remembering Iroh’s advice that sometimes the boy has to do what eases his mind to grow.

The empty pot gleamed an orange glow from the flames, a light in the dark woods that surrounded the two as they lounged by the fire.

(Y/N) was carding her fingers through the upset prince’s hair while he stared at the sky; confused. His emotions spilling onto (Y/N). He didn’t talk much about the encounter, only enough to tell her that they wouldn’t be helping the Avatar defeat his father anytime soon. Rather than pressure him, she offered her solace with calming actions rather than words.

The two had met in their early childhood, (Y/N)’s father being the leader of the Yuyan Archers and of course the Fire Lord wanted the talented girl to meet his… troubled son. In hope that she could help bend his son into the ruthless leader the nations needed to proceed him. Though they didn’t see each other as much as they should have due to (Y/N)’s schooling, the two quickly became close friends and were often found with Lady Ursa quietly running around the palace grounds.

His banishment led to (Y/N) perfecting her skills, and becoming the master she was destined to be, given there was no more distraction. No one could understand her in the way that Zuko did— they fit together like they were made for one another. Where he was hotheaded, she was cool; Where he was nimble and direct, she was resourceful and hidden. The two were the perfect set of opposites who ultimately balanced each other. And one without the other was a heartbreak everyone could see.

When she heard the news of his return, she rushed to the palace; radiant as ever. In an instant, the two fell back into where they left off; barely any words needed between the two. Her fingers and lips had trailed over his scar often in those few days, brushing away the tears and insecurities that came with it.

Leaving the Fire Nation with Zuko wasn’t even a debate in her mind. She was tired of the life of lies and torment that her nation inflicted upon the world. She had spent the last two years relocating and rebranding people who were targets to the Fire Nation. In total, about one hundred innocent lives were saved from her dangerous missions. Her skill level was better than even her father’s, and she prided herself in her abilities. (Y/N) was truly a professional in her art with the eye of an eagle.

When she caught Zuko writing a letter to her with packed bags on his bed, she instantly went into the shadows and caught up with the boy easily, hiding in the balloon behind the engine for a while until it was too late for him to turn back. It was hot and the most uncomfortable thing she has ever done, but she regrets none of it. She joked with the boy; how did he not question a pile of fabric behind the piece of equipment that holds fire? She let it go after he hugged her close and cried for a while.

“Don’t do that shit again, Zuko.” Her voice was stern, though her voice stern, she held him close. She ghosted her fingers over his tense shoulders; the shoulder that carried such burdens. She pressed her fingers into his shoulders; trying her best to rub the tension from his body.

“I won’t. Never again. Don’t leave me, I need you.”

A rustle of leaves and broken trees in the forest near the edge of their little camp put the two into defense, instantly gripping her perfectly crafted bow and quiver. Her ears pricked at a slight movement and she aimed her bows in the direction of the noise without even looking. Suddenly, green clothes fill the area as a younger girl makes her way into the clearing. Startled, Zuko sends a wave of fire towards the intruder, burning the girl.

Everything happened fast.

(Y/N)’s left foot—her plant foot—sunk into the ground and twisted inward, releasing a loud crack into the air. The Earth girl was long gone now; Zuko had been screaming at himself when he heard the cry of pain and the sickening noise that left the lips of his girlfriend.

The earth has released its hold on her, but the damage was done. She kneeled, trying to hold back tears but failing as they kept streaming down her face in a pain response. Zuko’s own eyes filled with tears as he ran over to her, helping her sit down and take the tension off of it.

The joint was already beginning to swell, black and blue and purple and yellow starting to show up in swirls around the area. Zuko carefully tried to feel the injury, barely touching the girl in fear of hurting her more. (Y/N) sighed, pushing his fingers away and ignoring his protest. She rotated her foot outward, cringing at the pain, but crying out when she turned it the other way. Zuko cupped his hands around her ankle, hands heated slightly to hopefully alleviate the pain.

“Baby… it’s okay—”

“No, you’re hurt! I knew this would happen!” He cuts her off with a panicked yell. (Y/N) places her hands on the sides of his face, forcing his eyes upon hers with a slight wince of discomfort.

“It’s most definitely, at worst, a fracture. I can still move it outwards without a lot of pain. It’s, like, a week off my foot at most and then another week with a splint and a crutch. I am okay, Zuko.” They stared at each other for a solid minute, saying nothing.

"Promise?" Zuko whispered.

"You think I would lie to you, Zuko?" She says as she wraps her pinky his for good measure

They turn in not too long after, (Y/N)’s ankle wrapped up in some extra clothes for stability. Zuko’s arms hold her to his chest as they slip off into the world of dreams.

_________________________

Oh shit. She thought from her perch on top of the cliff edge. The assassin that they have also been trying to find has been blowing up the place, really testing the stability of the edge of the cliff in shakes after shakes like an earthquake. Zuko had told her to stay at camp, but unfortunately for Zuko; (Y/N) was never that good at listening to commands.

She was sitting down, watching the Avatar, his friends, and her boyfriend try to figure out how to win this fight against the combustion bender, feet dangling over the edge. She didn’t want any pressure on her foot from standing on it; settling for the dull throbs of pain coming from the force of gravity alone.

Some third eye. (Y/N) thought to herself as she watched her boyfriend get too close to being blown off the edge of the cliff, wincing. She quickly strung her bow, aiming it at the man. She smirked, a devious smirk, and aimed it in a precise location.

Zuko was still trying to talk the man out of it when suddenly, his eyes went blank and the grossest sound he has ever heard reached his ears. Everyone watched the man, confused as to why he just stopped. It’s not until red trails down his forehead and around his nose in a slow trickle that they look at his eye.

In the middle of the red eye, that at one point seemed indestructible; an arrow sat; a perfect shot — his perfect shot. "Bullseye!" (Y/N) howled, her voice resonating in his ears.

In the midst of Zuko's panic, he failed to recognize the cliff he was standing on becoming increasingly unsturdy; turning he locked eyes with the archer. A ghost of a smile graced her lips, pride radiating off of her. Though he was angry, he couldn't help but share her pride. He locked eyes with his girlfriend who was sitting nonchalantly on the cliff edge above them all, waving nonetheless, when he told her to stay back. It’s then that the earth beneath him rumbles and falls, taking him with it.

“Zuko!” She screams, jumping to her feet; a loud crack coming from her ankle, buckling under the pressure and bringing her to her knees.

With a hobble in her step, (Y/N) climbed down the cliffside. The tears ran down her face at a ferocious pace, making her way over to the cliffside, a loud sob relented from her mouth as she saw Aang helping Zuko up over the edge of the cliff.

"Spirits, Zuko!" She breathed, limping her way over to him and hugging him tight. "I should kill you, you fucking idiot!" She sobbed, pulling him into her chest.

Zuko huffed out a laugh, wrapping his arms around her. He took deep breaths, calming his nerves from his near death experience; he focused on the feeling of her hand carding through his hair to grip it tight, and the hold on his shoulders. As he calms down, he remembers that he told her to stay put; and he sharply pulls away.

"I told you to stay at camp!" He huffed, "I told you I was coming back for you!”

She scoffs pushing on his forehead with two fingers. “In case you have forgotten, Zuko, I have authority issues. If I weren’t here, who would be saving your stupid royal ass? No one! You’re welcome, by the way. He wasn’t going to negotiate, Prince Pouty, and you and everyone else here is no good to the world dead.”

“You—You---You could’ve been hurt! (Y/N)! Or worse!” His protest was a whisper, trying to make the scene more private as he’s aware of the crowd around them.

“Zuko, love, I can handle myself. I’m a master at my craft--.”

"—your craft of carelessness, you could've been killed—"

"—but I wasn't Zuko!"

"That's not the point." His voice stern, making it clear that the conversation was done for now. (Y/N) simply nodded, pulling away from him and fixing her clothes.

Aang, Toph, Katara and Sokka watched the two as they argued; watching as they continuously tried to out-care the other. They watched as the two eventually stopped arguing, instead remained staring, as if daring each other to speak

“That was a ... nice shot? I guess?" Aang spoke, clearing his throat and drawing the couples attention to him. "He's definitely you know, dead."

(Y/N) smiles at the boy. “Thank you, Avatar, for helping save this dumb ass from falling off a cliff.” She gets up and bows to him. Zuko suddenly picks her up, the world turning sideways as he put her bridal style in his arms.

“Stop putting weight on your ankle!”

“I’m literally showing respect to the person who just helped you, is that a crime?”

“What if you break your ankle so much that you have to cut it off.”

“Oh, now you’re just being ridiculous.”

“Okay well you were first when deciding to sit on the edge of a cliff with a broken ankle.”

“You’re right! Sitting is dangerous. Next time, I’ll make sure to stand so at least I’ll have a better chance of reacting if the cliff side starts falling from under me. Oh wait, you were standing, and you still fell.”

Zuko sets her down on a broken rock that’s suitable enough for her to sit on. “Will you just shut up already and let me help you.” He reaches for her ankle, but she moves it from his grasp. Their eyes meet again and narrow in competition.

A mess of limbs as the (Y/N) evades the grip of Zuko, occasionally slapping his hands away if they get too close.

Sokka tilts his head in confusion and opens his mouth. “Is he—is he actually caring for someone?”

Aang nods. “I think? I don’t know, they’re kind of fighting a lot.”

Toph cringes, “Guys, I think it was me who hurt her in the first place. Last night at their camp. Zuko instantly stopped trying to help me when I heard her scream.”

“Guys… I think I’m supposed to let him be my master. I mean, he did just risk everything to save us.” Aang says, eyes locked on the one member who he cares more about than anyone.

Katara, still holding off on agreeing, looks to the two Fire Nation kids again.

“Ow! You bit me! Are you crazy?!” Zuko yells, shaking his left hand out.

The stranger girl laughs cheerfully. “Only crazy for you, stupid.”

And a phenomenon occurs. Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation blushes and looks down at the ground, a huge smile on his face.

“I hate you.” Is all he says.

“Yeah, I love you too.”

Katara, seeing the humane side of the prince, finally lets her guard down and walks over to them. Zuko’s eyes widen at her proximity, but the water tribe girl holds his gaze.

“I’ll heal the girl if it gets you two to shut up. And you have to find dinner for tonight.”

Katara’s eyes widen again at the sight of the crying prince who suddenly bows to her feet, thanking her with his whole heart. He then turns to his smiling girl beside him and pulls her into a hug.

“Thank you, (Y/N). For everything.”

“I’ll always help you… stupid.”

#zuko #zuko imagine #zuko x reader #avatar zuko #atla x reader #atla #fanfic #Avatar The Last Airbender #atla fanfic #atla x you #zuko x you #zuko x y/n #x reader #enmy-writes atla

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tsukihimeyfan · 3 years

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Sorting the main cast of AtLA into Hogwarts Houses

I know I’m late to the party because I’ve seen many different people tackle this before, but I feel like it is my civic duty as both a Potterhead and an AtLA stan to put in my two cents, since every single time I’ve seen it talked about people either misinterpret what each House values in their members or pick a House by taking into account only one aspect of their personalities. I want to make it clear that these are my own opinions, which I’m basing on the definitions we’ve gotten of the main traits of each House over the years and the “core values” of each AtLA character, and that I’m in no way am I trying to insult anyone who thinks differently. That being said, here goes nothing!

Let’s start with the easy ones. Namely, the Fire Siblings:

1) Azula is 100%, undoubtedly, definitely, incontrovertibly Slytherin. Just doing a quick rundown of the qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his handpicked students, as stated by the Sorting Hat, Albus Dumbledore and Pottermore: Cunning? Check. Resourcefulness? Check. A disregard for rules? Check. Using any means to achieve her ends? Check. Shrewdness? Check. Ambition? Check. Self-preservation? Check. Pride? Check. An argument could even be made that, as a member of the Fire Nation Royal Family, Azula also kind of meets the “blood purity” criteria. I’m sure most of us agree on this. Even if she does exhibit a lot of loyalty to her father as well as courage and intelligence, there is just no contest. Azula is one of the most Slytherin characters I’ve ever seen outside of the Harry Potter universe.

2) In the same way, Zuko is irrefutably a Hufflepuff. Hear me out! I know that he’s very brave and daring, but when we think of Zuko, what is his most essential trait, what do people tell us again

and again

about Zuko’s character?

He’s a hard worker. And what’s the House of the hard-working?

"You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true, And unafraid of toil.”

You guessed it. Hufflepuff. Of course, that’s not the only trait valued by this House that he exhibits. Who is more loyal in the series than the child who got half his face burned off and still did his best to earn the love and respect of the one responsible? Who never faltered in his loyalty even when he was sent away on an impossible mission? Who spouted angry words most of the time yet was willing to let his ticket home go temporarily in favor of ensuring the safety of his Uncle and his crew? That’s right, our boy Zuko. That very loyalty to his father is what unfortunately bound him for the longest time, until he was forced to face what a monster he was and let go of it in favor of more important things, namely his own morals and his loyalty to his Uncle.

He also has an incredibly strong sense of justice, as proven by the above statements, as well as this moment:

and he can be incredibly patient when he needs to be, as seen during The Blue Spirit and the Southern Raiders episodes.

Hufflepuffs are also said to be fair (which he clearly is), dedicated (need I say more?), honest (which Mr. shouts-his-feelings-at-the-top-of-his-lungs and can’t-lie-without-being-obvious-or-glancing-away-and-has-been-found-out-every-time-he-tried of course is) and modest (this one he starts without but by the time he joins the Gaang there isn’t anyone more modest or humble)

As “an idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor” , Zuko is the Hufflepuffiest Hufflepuff to ever Hufflepuff and I will die on this hill

3) Another easy one is our girl Suki, whom I’d say is a Gryffindor through and through, even if she is very loyal to her friends.

The rest of the Gaang under the cut.

The other members of Team Avatar are a bit trickier because they all exhibit a pretty even mix of traits from more than one House, but still if we just concentrate on their defining characteristics we can get to an answer.

4) I’d argue that Sokka belongs in Ravenclaw, even though he is of course quite brave and extremely loyal to his loved ones, not only because he’s a strategist and an inventor, but also because, as best stated by Master Piandao:

Ravenclaws most value wit, learning, intelligence, creativity and wisdom (this last one is a bit iffy but I’m sure he’ll get there when he’s older), as well as priding themselves on being original in their ideas and methods. That’s Sokka to a T.

5) Katara gave me a hard time. She’s unbelievably loyal to her friends and family, she’s compassionate, patient, fair, hard working and dedicated, with a REALLY strong sense of justice, so a case can be made for Hufflepuff easily. However she can also be quite cunning when she wants to (most obviously during The Waterbending Scroll, City of Walls and Secrets, The Painted Lady, and The Runaway), she has a lot of ambition (if you count every variation of “I will make the world a better place by force if I have to”), she disregards the rules when it suits her (again The Waterbending Scroll as well as The Runaway) and she can be proud at times, so we could argue she’s a Slytherin. She’s also undoubtedly very intelligent and even quite wise for her age. It took me a while to decide but then I pondered; at her very core, what are the statements that define her? What words just scream “that’s it, that’s Katara”? They are, of course, these two phrases:

The first sounded incredibly Gryffindor to me, and the second is half Gryffindor half Hufflepuff, so it had to be between those two. As such, I decided to look into Gryffindor first. Katara is, of course, astoundingly courageous, but what else? I had to actually look up definitions for the Gryffindor traits besides courage because they all just kinda meant “brave” to me initially 😅, but what I found was:

*Nerve: “one's steadiness and courage in a demanding situation”. Yep. Who’s the most level-headed, steady and reliable person whenever the Gaang is in any kind of pinch? That’s right. Katara

*Daring: “adventurous or audaciously bold“. Yep. I’d say she ties with Toph for boldest in the Gaang

*Determination: “firmness of purpose”. Yep, absolutely. See the above image from the Painted Lady. ‘Nuff said.

*Chivalry: can mean 2 things, one is “sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms”. All of that is true of her (her “arms” being her waterbending), but I found it interesting that to be chivalrous can also mean “gracious and honorable toward an enemy, especially a defeated one, and toward the weak or poor”. I’d argue that this fits her even more. Once again, just take a look at The Painted Lady episode.

*Courage and bravery: they can mean the same thing, namely “the ability to do something that frightens you” and of course that fits Katara, but the word courage in particular has another meaning, which is “strength in the face of pain or grief”...

I’d say she’s pretty good at that. I think that settles it, Katara is a Gryffindor.

Turns out that when it came to the water tribe siblings Bato was right all along

6) For Toph I was split between Gryffindor (thinking of her brash, bold nature) and Slytherin for a while, but after looking into Katara and researching all those definitions I think I have to give it to Slytherin. Of course, Toph doesn’t seem to be very ambitious unless you count “being recognized as the greatest earthbender in the world”, but she is quite cunning. She knows exactly how to use her “poor helpless blind girl” persona to get what she wants, as seen both on The Blind Bandit and The Runaway. She’s also an extremely good actress, being able to play the “reserved and obedient little girl” to her parents for years, and being easily able to pick it back up when it suits her.

She’s also stubborn, proud, and 100% willing to use any means, regardless of laws or rules, to get what she wants.

As for self preservation? Remember that her response when asked to teach Aang, which was crucial to save the world but would’ve compromised her secret, was this:

Slytherins can also “hesitate before acting, so as to weigh all possible outcomes before deciding exactly what should be done “ and my first instinct was to say that it didn’t fit Toph at all, but what is Toph if not a person who “waits and listens before striking”? Slytherins tend to favor Neutral Jing it seems.

Almost forgot that as a daughter of the Beifong family she’s sort of nobility and she technically also meets the “blood purity” criteria.

7) Finally, we get to my boy Aang. He was really difficult. He’s loyal, patient, fair, kind, modest (usually) and just but I can’t really call him a hard worker most of the time.

He’s brave, adventurous, determined and chivalrous but he does tend to get discouraged during demanding or stressful situations (his friends always make it better though)

He’s creative, very wise for his age, and quite smart (except when he’s playing around with Sokka in which case they share one brain cell 😂)

He can even be cunning when he needs to be. If he ever went to Hogwarts, he’d definitely be a Hat Staller like Harry. I heard someone say once that they considered Aang a Gryffindor because he liked to show off a lot, but that’s not really a Gryffindor trait (think of Neville Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Harry Potter and Minerva McGonagall. I think any one of them would sooner Stupefy themselves than go show off their skills in front of a crowd for no reason other than to brag).

Once again, we must pin down what it is that defines him, what his core is. After much thought, I decided it’s this:

It’s his compassion, which he learned from his people, and his desire to value and protect all life. It’s his loyalty to the ideologies of the Air Nomads of which he is the last remaining bastion. It’s his strong moral code, his sense of right and wrong, his wish to make friends and to believe the best of everyone. That’s his center. That is what makes him Avatar Aang. In light of that, I think we can consider Aang, first and foremost, a Hufflepuff.

In the end, Team Avatar is made up of one Ravenclaw, one Slytherin, one Gryffindor (two after Suki joins), and two Hufflepuffs

Ironic, that the House least valued in the Harry Potter universe is the one that houses arguably the most pivotal characters of Avatar the Last Airbender: Zuko and Aang. Fitting, that even in this they parallel each other.

This is already long enough so I don’t think I’ll do Mai, Ty Lee, or Iroh. Maybe some other time.

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yuueee · 4 years

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song: bruno mars & b.o.b. - nothin’ on you slowed

word count: 2,456

request: Hello, if you're talking requests for atla. May I request a sokka x reader in which she works under Piandao and during Sokka's Master episode they meet and become close? Maybe they meet again during the finale or the Gaang asks her to accompany them on the rest of their journey?

author’s note: I am so sorry for taking forever to post something! I rewrote this and like 2 other fics almost 3 different times because I didn’t like how they were turning out so I hope this was okay🥺. thank u for requesting and I hope y’all enjoy!

“You want me to do what now?” you asked the boy in front of you incredulously, attempting to wiggle your shoulders out of his hands’ grip. He straight up lied to your face and expected you to just get over that? It had nothing to do with his water tribe heritage of course - being that you hated the fire nation’s outlook on the other countries and this pointless war as much as Piandao did. You just didn’t understand why he felt the need to lie to you about it!

During the meager amount of time you had to spend with him, you two had an immediate - albeit odd connection. He was able to get you out of your shell of composure in a way that Piandao and Fat were never successful in. On the contrary you aided him heavily in training and kept him motivated - although it often sounded more like insults.

“I know you’re upset but I promise I can explain everything later. But I really think you should join us in defeating the fire lord!” he reassured, his blue eyes seemingly sparkling in excitement. Shrugging out of his grasp and turning towards Piandao, you hoped that he would add in some useful input.

“But what use will I be if Master Piandao hasn’t even finished training me yet?” you asked, balling your fists in frustration. Your master simply shook his head and gave you a smile.

“{First-Name},” he spoke gently as to not further anger you, and leaned down to your height. “You are beyond my training at this point. Your destiny now lies in helping the avatar defeat the fire lord and besides - it’s what he would have wanted.” you couldn’t argue with that. Having trained you since around the age of twelve, he hadn’t heard you talk this much in all of the three years he had known you. Even after only knowing Sokka for about two days - he trusted you with him. He could see the positive effect you had on eacho other just from observing your interactions.

He’d be lying if he said that he hadn’t been worried about you ever since your father and his closest friends’ passing. You had went from a bubbly and joyous child to emotionally repressed and largely untalkative. Although he had still not seen you smile since before your fathers death - the outwardly expressed anger and frustration at Sokka’s idiocy was atleast something.

“I trust that you’ll be in good hands.” he said sternly, giving Sokka a pointed look.

“It’s settled then! You’re joining team avatar!”

While you weren’t quite sure why Sokka was so adamant on you joining him and his friends, you were somewhat happy to be leaving Shu Jing - which was new. Other than the weather being insufferably humid the majority of the year, your home in Piandao’s castle was bearable. In the past you hadn’t minded the repetitive nature of your days - but things were different now. You felt that you owed it to your father to join the fight against the country that took his life. And if this was the route you were forced to take, then so be it.

Surprisingly, as annoying as he was Sokka was the one you remained closest with in the group - but Toph was a close second. Though you didn’t talk with him that often, Aang was always kind and making sure that you felt included in the group - which wasn’t exactly necessary but appreciated none the less. Katara on the other hand was having some difficulty warming up to you - which you understood, so you didn’t speak to her unless necessary, which wasn’t often.

Although you had indeed become slightly more emotive and open, it was normally limited to sarcastic quips when Sokka said something stupid or asking Katara if she needed any help with groceries or cooking dinner - which she actually appreciated. Overall though, you still spent the majority of your time with Sokka. While he was still annoying and enjoyed teasing flirting with you every chance he could get, you’d be lying to yourself if you said you weren’t somewhat enjoying it - you’d never admit to that though.

One of the first times you got to be alone together was when you both were trying to escape Toph and Katara’s arguing.

“I’m going to head back out to the market,” he said, getting up off of the ground. “I’ll see you guys later.”

“Wait, can I go with you?” you questioned somewhat awkwardly, getting out of your seat and sprinting some to catch up with him.

“Of course!” he grinned in return, slowing down some so you could walk at the same pace. His smile made your chest feel warm, slightly catching you off guard.

“So, is Piandao your dad or something?” he asked gently, trying not to press too much. Though it was a sensitive topic, you felt oddly comfortable with Sokka - even though you had only known him for several weeks. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.” he responded to your silence, ceasing walking and looking at you sincerely. You shook your head in return and kept walking.

“No, it’s fine.” he nodded and followed apprehensively. “Piandao is kind of like my uncle I guess? He and my Dad were friends when they were both in the fire nation army. And you know how Piandao eventually deserted the army?”

“Yeah, I recall him saying that.” he gave you a concerned glance, but you kept your gaze trained on the ground in front of you. While your expression was obviously pained, it still seemed restrained in a way as if you had practiced holding back your feelings for years. It was at this point he realized he’d never seen you smile, not even when when you were making fun of him.

“Well, my Dad also attempted to leave - but he wasn’t as skilled as Piandao was.” there was a beat of silence before you felt his hand envelope your own, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. Normally if someone did this you would’ve snatched your hand away - but you didn’t want to. His hand felt nice, warm and comforting.

“I’m really sorry about your Dad, and it was really brave of him to try and leave the army.” he gave you a look of concern and understanding, leading you to remember him mentioning

“Um, thanks.”

The rest of your afternoon at the market was spent making conversation about your childhoods and the messenger hawk he had just bought. The entire time he never let go of your hand. You assumed he was just doing it out of friendly comfort - but then again who platonically holds hands? You only stopped when you both returned to the small campsite and greeted the others.

You didn’t mean to snatch your hand away, but at the same time you thought your heart was going to jump out of your chest if you didn’t let go. But it didn’t seem to bother Sokka though, not at all. So maybe it was just platonic? But this wasn’t the only situation in where he left you utterly flustered and confused.

When the five of you were seated around the campfire listening to Katara’s story, you could see Sokka inching towards you out of the corner of your eye. Everyone else seemed rather uncomfortable, and while it was a quite unnerving story if you were scared you weren’t showing it. As the story went on, he would jump closer which each detail - until he was eventually leaning on your shoulder with his arms wrapped around your waist, shaking in fear like a small child.

When she finished her story, Katara and Aang just stared in awe as you didn’t shove him off. You just rolled your eyes and mumbled something about him being an idiot. They noticed a change between you both after that day. You almost seemed closer in a sort of way? You still scolded him for saying and doing stupid things - but you no longer pushed him away. He was quite touchy and handsy with you, never in a disrespectful way though. It’s just when he got excited he’d sometimes pick up you up for a few seconds before placing you back on the ground. Whilst you didn’t really return his affections, you weren’t rejecting him either. But the two of you were forced to confront this rising attraction all to soon, the day of the invasion.

You had a moment alone before you had to go your separate ways. After staring down at your feet for what seemed like a few minutes, you gained the courage to speak.

“Don’t, uh die.” you finally said aloud, meeting his gaze. Before you could say anything else he doubled over in laughter, clutching his stomach to get a hold of himself. “Sokka I’m being serious!” you said in frustration, seconds away from turning around and getting back into the submarine. Once he calmed down, he placed both of his hands on your shoulders and gained a serious expression.

“I’m sorry for laughing. But we’re gonna get out of this alive. Okay?” he finished his sentence with a smirk, tilting his head to the side. You nodded, feeling somewhat disappointed for some reason. But what were you expecting? You were just friends, and you didn’t like him like that anyway... right? Your thoughts cut off when you felt a pair of lips peck your cheek and his hands leave your shoulder to interlock with one of your own. “Come back to me okay?” he said sincerely, his eyes filled with worry.

“I promise.”

After the failure at the fire nation capitol, the few weeks before the arrival of Sozin’s comet blurred by far too quickly for your liking. The anxiety concerning Aang’s final battle with the fire lord was a top concern on everyone’s mind, including your own. Things were a bit stagnant between you and Sokka. You couldn’t ignore your feelings but at the same time you were fighting a war - there wasn’t any time to put energy into a relationship.

However after you, Toph and Sokka took down the airships, you were forced to confront these feelings yet again.

After riding with Appa over Ba Sing Se to look at the fireworks, you two were aimlessly roaming around the upper ring - watching the festivities of those celebrating the end of the hundred year war.

“So,” he asked suddenly, looking at you with a smile and nudging your arm jokingly. Normally you would have shoved him back, but all you could do was look down at your fidgeting hands and hope he couldn’t hear how fast your heart was beating. “What do you plan on doing now?”

“Um, I’m honestly not sure.” you responded, looking up at him. “I guess I’ll go back to the fire nation? I still want to help, I just don’t really know where I guess.”

“I get what you mean. I mean you could always stay with me...”

“With you?” Sokka began sputtering and waving his hands around after realizing what he just insinuated.

“I mean not with me per say.” he rephrased, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck. You actually felt a tinge of disappointment at his words. “I mean with team avatar, we aren’t exactly finished saving the world - and you’re a vital member of our team.” Instead of calling him an idiot like you would have in the past, you gave him a small smile - catching him completely off guard and causing him to blush.

“I’d like that.” He intertwined you’re fingers and ran his thumb over the back of your hand. Before you could speak again you were interrupted by the rest of your friends running towards you.

“We were wondering where the two of you ran off to!” Katara said slightly out of breath, leaning over.

“We were having a moment and you ruined it!” Sokka shouted at his sister, causing her to start complaining about how he shouldn’t have broken off from the group without telling them if he didn’t want to be followed. As they continued to bicker, you felt Toph shove your shoulder.

“It’s about time you two got together.”

“Shut up Toph.”

Several years into the future, you continued to aid team avatar in helping the the different nations recover from the wars aftermath. Surprisingly, you and Sokka’s relationship still had no title and stayed undefined. To everyone else’s was clear you were together - but you still hadn’t kissed or showed in public displays of affection as of late. To on onlooker it just looked like you both could’ve been close friends. But that would finally change when you and Toph went to visit Katara and Sokka in the southern water tribe.

After greeting Katara, you were almost knocked off of your feet by the force of Sokka hugging you and eventually picking you up so you were about a foot off the ground.

“I missed you so much!” he borderline squealed, rocking you back and forth a bit.

“I missed you too, but can you set me down for a minute? I have something to give you.”

“You do?” he asked, his eyes sparkling in excitement. Reaching behind you, you handed him a sword with slightly shaky hands. “Is this, for me?”

“Yes.” you replied quietly, looking down at your fidgeting hands - still not rid of the habit even at 17. “I felt really bad after you lost your space sword and I couldn’t find another meteor but I wanted to make you a new one to replace it anyways...” you continued to ramble on before you heard the sword drop onto the snow covered ground with a quiet *crunch*. “Hey! I get that it’s not your old one but that doesn’t mean I didn’t spend a lot of timmmph!” you were cut off when you felt his lips cover your own, his arms wrapping around your waist.

You didn’t kiss back at first out of shock, but eventually did so and cupped his cheeks with your gloved hands. Once you broke apart, he leaned his forehead on yours. “I love it.”

Later on that evening when everyone had turned in for the night, you found yourself tucked into Sokka’s chest as he snored softly - his head resting on top of yours and his arms protectively encircled around your waist. Though the journey had been long and exhausting, you were greatful for it. Maybe joining team avatar hadn’t been such a bad idea after all?

𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 - @practicallylivesonline

#sokka x reader #sokka imagine #atla x reader #sokka x you #sokka x y/n #avatar x reader #avatar #sokka #avatar: the last airbender #avatar imagine #atla x you #atla imagine

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merakiaes · 5 years

Text

Dirty Little Secret - Zuko

Pairing: Zuko x reader

Requested: By @felicity291

Prompts: #42 and #43 from the smut-list.

Warnings/notes: Smut! I didn’t know if you wanted full smut or not but I ended up writing it anyways. This Is my first time writing smut in a long time and I’ve only written about four smut scenes all in all in my life so it might be a bit cringy, but I’ll work on it xD Hope you like it! (I haven’t read through it so sorry if there’s any mistakes)

Wordcount: 2571

Summary: Some shitty Zuko smut where you’re a part of the Gaang and secret lovers.

You didn’t remember how it started; all you knew was that Sokka was going to kill Zuko when he found out that the two of you had been having a relationship behind their backs. You didn’t know why you kept it a secret. At this point, Zuko was just as much a part of the Gaang as the rest of you.

But you guessed there was a certain charm about the forbidden that made it unspeakably desirable. What everyone failed to mention, however, was that it was all fun and games until feelings showed up to the playground.

It hadn’t started out with feelings. It had just been a temporary solution to let out trapped in frustrations, at first. Nothing too major, some oral here, some hand jobs and fingering there, but never the whole way.

You were never supposed to mean this much to him, and you were never supposed to fall so hard, or at all, for that matter, but you did. You both did. He was a risk, a mystery, but the most certain thing you’d ever known and you couldn’t get enough.

He, just like you, didn’t understand where exactly along the way he had developed such strong romantic feelings for Sokka’s big-mouthed, annoying best friend. But you guessed it was pretty much inevitable when you had gone through as much as you had together, not to speak of all of the nights you had spent with your hands stuck down the other’s pants.

So, yeah. It happened. You had never felt this way about anyone before, and neither had he. Neither of you were very good at talking about your feelings. Pretty much the only way you knew how to express them was through discrete, gentle touches when people were looking the other way, or by sex behind closed doors.

But when you were stuck on a giant flying bison several days in a row, it wasn’t very easy to sneak off to be alone. Not even when you stopped to pee, clean up or get food did you get a chance, as Sokka would be glued to your side the entire time, until you had to get going again.

Today had been a particularly rough day for all of you. You hadn’t left the sky in two days, you had run out of food and water that morning, and Sokka, being the child he was, had gotten moody from the lack of food and started picking fights with everyone but you.

Instead of picking a fight with you like he did everything else, he had clung to you like you were a married couple, holding on to your hand, playing with your fingers and your hair and resting his head in your lap.

You didn’t really have the energy to protest, and even if you did, it wasn’t like this was anything out of the ordinary for you and Sokka; you had been raised together, you were as much brother and sister as him and Katara were.

But Zuko didn’t see it that way in that moment. The only thing he saw, was another guy being touchy-feely with his girl. Now, he knew he couldn’t be reckless and reveal your secret before talking to you about it yet, but that didn’t stop him from picking fights with Sokka about other things, his attitude being one of them.

This in turn, started a whole war, leaving you to sit in between the two boys to keep them from throwing hands as they had almost fallen off Appa. Unbeknownst to each other, both Sokka and Zuko had tried to grab your hands where you sat, but you had just snatched them both back before they could get a grip on them, too mad at both of them to be able to even look at them.

Luckily, you had come across a temple that stood empty and untouched in the mountains, where you would be able to set camp for the night.

The mood was anything but happy as you all got off of Appa after landing, each and every one of you going your separate ways after you had hugged Aang thank you for helping you try to keep the peace while in the air.

The young Avatar had gone off into the mountains in search for food with Katara, Sokka had marched off to find firewood, which only left you and Zuko. But before he had been able to say a word to you, you had gone off into the temple in search of, well, you didn’t really know, but you needed to clear your head.

You were pretty sure your mood wouldn’t have been as bad if you had food in your stomach, but you couldn’t care less in that moment. Everything and everyone around you was just getting on your nerves with their attitudes and bad moods.

You desperately needed to blow off some steam, and as if hearing your prayers, Zuko rounded the corner just then, not that it made any difference, as you, in the mood you were currently in, weren’t sure you wanted to forgive him for starting a fight yet.

“(Y/N).” Zuko spoke as he laid eyes on you in the middle of the corridor, approaching you with calm steps, his shoulders slightly slumped and his face sad and obviously regretful.

You stood still, crossing your arms over your chest and leaning against the wall, not moving a muscle as Zuko came over to you and wrapped you in his arms, sinking his face into your neck.

“I’m sorry.” His voice was muffled from being pressed into your shoulder, and his arms hugged you tighter as the words left his lips.

“You can’t just start fights with Sokka just because you get jealous.” You just scolded, turning slightly to make him look at you.

His face was now scrunched up into an angry frown. “I’m not jealous! It’s just, you’re mine!” He spoke in a stuttering manner, the volume of his voice forcing you to cover his mouth with your hand to stop him from yelling any further.

“Be quiet!” You scolded, resisting the urge to laugh at his sour pout. “That’s exactly what a jealous person would say, you idiot.” You pointed out, finally breaking a small smile, which in turn caused him to drop the frown.

“Oh, I love it when you talk dirty to me.” He said then, instantly latching himself to your body, pushing you against the wall and bending down to press a kiss to your neck.

You slapped his chest, trying to push him away. “Are you insane? Not here! The others could walk in any second!”

But he embraced you just as quickly as you had pushed him away again. “We need this.” He mumbled into the skin of your neck, continuing to prepper it with kisses. “You’re in a mood, I’m in a mood. I haven’t gotten to touch you in almost three days. Please.”

You leaned your head against the stone wall to be able to look at him as he came back up from your neck. Studying his face you took in the bags under his eyes and the hint of anger behind his eyes, mixing with the exhaustion you were sure all of you were currently feeling.

After thinking long and hard and taking a look down the corridor, you finally brought your eyes back to his and answered. “If we get caught, I’ll kill you.” And then you brought your hands down to start untying his pants, the small action being enough to make his head fall against your shoulder in relief of what was to come.

He let out a shaky breath as your cold hand came under the hem of his pants and pressed against his length through his underwear. While you rubbed him slowly, he brought one of his own hands into your pants to cup your heat, and your head instantly fell back against the wall with a thud, a wave of pleasure and relief shuddering through your entire body as the feeling of his thumb stroking along the core in search of the place where you needed him the most.

It didn’t take him long to find the sensitive spot as he was more than familiar with your body, at this point knowing it better than you did yourself, and you keep the moan in when he started rubbing the small bundle of nerves.

“Zuko.” You moaned, having a hard time focusing on touching him with the pleasure he was giving you.

Zuko brought his other hand up to cover your mouth at that, shushing you quietly as he was breathing heavily into your neck. He pressed his thumb down harder, and at that point you had completely forgotten to touch him back, instead bringing your hands up to nestle them in his hair, fingers pulling at the black strands.

But he knew his turn would come, it always did. It was this he had been craving all day, every day that you hadn’t been able to touch each other; touching you, hearing you whimper and moan out his name and having you tremble under his touch.

He let out a husky moan in the crook of your neck as you tugged on his hair, feeling himself get harder and harder just by hearing you moan under his mouth and feeling your chest pressed against his, no matter if it was still fully clothed.

All while continuing to rub your clit, he brought his other fingers down to your heat slowly, prodding them just inside your opening to gather your wetness, spreading it around all the way up to his thumb to make it even more pleasurable.

You shook at the new sensation, and before you even got the time to think about it, he slowly slid a finger inside your heat, letting you adjust for a second before starting to move it, instantly finding your G-spot.

As it had been days since you had even come close to touching each other like this, you found yourself getting close sooner than you would’ve liked. Zuko recognized the way your body started trembling and tensing better than he did anything else, and wasted no time in sliding in another digit all while adding pressure and speed to his thumb.

Not even a minute later, you found yourself toppling over the edge, your eyes rolling to the back of your head, your whole body tensing and your teeth biting down on Zuko’s hand in order to keep quiet as you released yourself on his hand.

Zuko kept going until you had rode out your high on his fingers, slowly kissing his way up your neck and to your lips as you caught your breath. You opened your eyes once your lips had parted, and he looked into your eyes as he brought his hands out of your pants and up to his lips, sucking his fingers clean of your wetness.

The sight in itself was enough for your eyes to darken a significant amount, and Zuko couldn’t help the smirk rising to his lips as you suddenly turned him around, pressing his back against the wall. All while keeping eye contact, you leaned in and pressed the softest of kisses to his lips, before kissing your way down his chin, his chest, and finally, his stomach, until you found yourself at the edge of his pants.

Looking up at him through your eyelashes, you brought a hand up and palmed him through the fabric, feeling his hardened length twitch under your fingers at the sensation and watching as his head fell back like yours had done only minutes before.

But that wasn’t the way you wanted it. Snapping your fingers, you brought his attention back to you, giving him a small smirk as you spoke. “Don’t look away.”

There was no quicker way to make that boy to come than having him look into your eyes as you sucked him off, which was why he usually never did. But right now, quick was exactly what you were going to need as you could be walked in on anytime.

He didn’t say anything, only nodding ever so softly to told you he wouldn’t, his chest starting to rise and fall heavily in anticipation as you slowly pulled his pants down his hips, just enough for his manhood to spring free.

You gathered as much spit as you could in your mouth, wasting no time in taking his head in between your lips, giving it a soft suck before taking all of him in.

You chuckled slightly as you noticed he way on his way to lean his head back again, the vibrations being enough to bring his head back to face you, one of his hands shooting to hold onto the wall for support while the other went to your hair.

He said nothing as you sucked him off, long and hard, but his eyes said everything with the way they flickered with fire. The hand on your head gently nudged you further down, and getting the memo, you let your head sink even deeper on his length, your cheeks hallowing for extra effect.

You sucked him like that for a while, enough to get him riled up for the big finale, because when you would bring in your tongue, you knew he would be done. You let your hands rise to grab his thigh gently to hold him in place, before you finally started using your tongue, licking around his shaft.

Zuko moaned loudly at the new feeling, and before you could think about it, you slapped one of your hands against his thigh lightly in a way to tell him to be quiet, but it seemed to do just the opposite, instead riling him up even more.

Feeling his legs start to get wobbly, you picked up the pace, brought one of your hands up to pump what you couldn’t take in your mouth and sucked your cheeks in even harder, taking him even deeper into your mouth and moving your tongue from his shaft to swirl around his tip.

The grip he had on your hair tightened, and one look at the determined look on your face as you looked up at him through your eyelashes while devouring him whole was enough to send him over the edge, his warm fluids hitting the back of your throat only a few seconds later.

He thrusted himself into your mouth a few times as he came, and you let him ride out his high, pushing back the gag reflexes. Then he stilled, and you pulled away from him, swallowing every single drop while still not flinching away from his gaze.

His eyes were dark of lust but his face was relaxed of relief. After looking at each other for a long few seconds, he took you by your hands and hauled you up to your feet, hugging you close to his chest while leaning into the wall tiredly.

None of you said a word as he scanned your face tenderly, lifting a hand up to your face to wipe away some left-over spit before leaning down to capture your lips in a soft kiss. But you quickly broke apart, as Katara’s voice broke through the silent corridor.

“(Y/N), Zuko! Aang found food, where are you?”

You looked up at Zuko with a small smile, taking his hand in yours and pulling him off the wall. “Think it’s time to tell them?”

“Probably.” Zuko answered with a small smile, his fringe falling in front of his eyes. He squeezed your hand in his as you started heading in the direction of Katara’s voice, and you didn’t let go as you entered the room where the others had set camp.

#avatar #avatar: tla #avatar zuko #avatar the last airbender #zuko x reader #fire lord zuko #prince zuko #sokka #sokka x reader

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comradekatara · 4 years

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any headcanons for if Zuko/Sokka got married in the canon world like after Izumi's born and everything? What kind of couple would they be? What kind of parent is Sokka?

sorry this took so long to respond to! here be some bullet points:

while i like where your head’s at, i also am deeply opposed to marriage as an institution and firmly maintain that zuko and sokka in fact do everything in their power to abolish marriage in the fire nation. in fact, i once even wrote an entire post detailing how they go about accomplishing this.

i also don’t think that sokka ever lives anywhere full-time. i’m convinced he has a meticulously-crafted schedule of where he goes when during the year, and tries to divide his time among all the various parts of the world where his friends live fairly evenly.

he crashes with toph (or aang when he has had enough of toph being a horrible roommate) in republic city, with suki on kyoshi island, with katara in the south pole, and zuko in the fire nation. not only do i think he’d get bored if he spent all his time in one place, but that’s frankly pretty irresponsible of him considering he is the official babysitter of every world leader (this not only includes, but especially goes for king kuei).

and when he’s not with at least one member of the gaang, he’s traveling by himself thinking about how all his friends are doing important work meanwhile he’s just procrastinating and goofing off (he’s discovering quantum physics, but since literally no one else would care except for toph he wonders whether he should just bake her a cake instead and it would have the same effect on the world. only he cant bake for shit so), but actually whenever he’s not around, literally everyone (this includes iroh, for he knows no other pai sho opponents worthy) is like “damn when sokka’s getting back tho” (he gets tackle-hugged a lot)

the day zuko stops to be like “woah hold up. there’s a baby in this dumpster” is the day his entire life changes. for one thing, he’s deeply concerned that his citizens think it’s okay to dispose of babies by just. throwing them in the trash???? he establishes 200% more orphanages. but also, he’s keeping this baby, because how can he not, and look at her little face!!!!!!

not only does sokka (obviously) help raise izumi, he also helps raise lin and su as well, because let’s be honest, toph needs the help. not to mention katara’s (not that she’s a bad mom or anything, but someone needs to teach her kids math, yknow?) sometimes people ask suki when she’s gonna have kids, and at first she was just like “why the fuck would you assume that i want kids” but then her go-to response just started being “with whom? sokka? he already has six”

when izumi is crowned firelord and zuko can finally abdicate, he moves to a cottage on a mountain on an island in an archipelago off the coast of the fire nation, the location of which is only known by his closest friends and family, and is only accessible by dragon or flying bison. finally, he can live that sweet sweet #HermitLife babey! not a single piece of furniture in his entire house is red.

in fact, red is BANNED. he got reprimanded every time he tried to redecorate the fire palace even a little (he only wanted to repaint all the walls and vandalize all the portraits of ozai, azulon, and sozin...) but now is finally his time to shine. he paints one room light blue, one room a soft green, and the other room a pale yellow. the only acceptable reds are on the covers of books and the fruits in the kitchen. when the firelord comes to visit him, which she often does, she takes off her crown and changes out of her traditional robes. she loves the fire nation, and takes pride in her country, its values and its history (well, parts of it), but.. she gets it.

when izumi is in her early teens, she goes to live with katara in the south pole for a while. she thinks it’s valuable that as the heir to the throne, she actually get to know her future political allies. and she’s only met katara a handful of times, because katara absolutely loathes going to the fire nation and flat-out refuses to do so except for occasions that require the use of the fire palace, and even then she first pleads with toph if the palace can’t at least first be moved?

izumi has never been anywhere like the south pole before. katara takes her penguin sledding and izumi is lowkey scared because riding a penguin down a very steep hill doesn’t seem very safe, but she reminds herself that her dad warned her that katara is a *shudders* jock and she’s just going to have to get used to that for the next few weeks because katara simply does not understand the concept of being an indoor kid.

katara also shows her how politics is done in the south pole, and it’s really very fascinating because she’s never seen a huge public forum in action before, and she can’t believe that katara actually listens to every single citizen, and even addresses them all by name. as much as she knows that her dad cares, he also cannot remember anyone’s fucking name for the life of him. she thinks she wants her reign as firelord to be a bit more like katara’s, and when she tells him this, zuko is so very proud of her. (sokka’s just like “oh boy.”)

izumi is a lesbian, obviously (i mean, just look at her), and she has the five greatest mentors in the world. ty lee and suki teach her self-defense and how to say no to men. toph teaches her how to be confident and embrace her creativity, and she’s always there to give her sound, albeit harsh advice. mai is just plain awesome. and she and azula adore each other. though azula was also a precocious child, she used her talents to be coy, as opposed to plainspoken. she loves how direct izumi is, how she has no problem communicating her wants and needs, and calling people out on their bullshit. if azula says something she disagrees with, she engages her in a discussion about it, and azula finds that even though she’s talking to a child, she is genuinely intellectually stimulated. azula says to zuko one day “out of all the dumpsters in in all the alleys in all the world, she fell into yours...” and zuko’s like “is that a casablanca reference?” and azula’s like “no what the fuck is a casablanca”

zuko hates the fire palace. he hates it slightly less every time sokka voices all his concerns with it: “it’s ostentatious, it’s gaudy, it’s too big, the furniture is tacky, that chandelier is a hazard,” etc. but sokka thinks the hidden passages are really cool, and zuko loves the garden and not one day goes by where he doesn’t feed the turtleducks, and they both agree that the best room in the palace by far is the library. it’s no wan shi tong, but it’s close. there’s a lot of resources they have due to a century’s worth of colonialism, but after asking permission from the southern water tribe, the earth kingdom, and aang, zuko returns the original manuscripts (he keeps the air nomad artifacts in his possession until aang founds air temple island, for safekeeping) but keeps copies. and eventually, their joint dissertation on king lear makes its way onto a shelf, too.

#imo marriage is just when u coauthor a dissertation w someone....... so......#asks #izumi #zuko #sokka #katara #azula #sokkaxzuko #keiynans-lonsdale

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carnistcervine · 4 years

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For the WIP game: touched or water (or both👀👀👀👀)

Hello Pandora, welcome to box. :3

Zuko Foster Care AU Outline *Unsurprisingly, Zuko blows up at his psychiatrist, Joo Dee and sets her office on fire. Her smile is unnerving, and it doesn't fade or flinch as she calmly uses waterbending to put the fires out before security comes in and gives him a shot of something that suppresses his firebending.

Platonic Soulmates Gaang AU Outline *When Katara starts to waterbend, Kuruk mentors her. Being dead, he cannot waterbend himself, but he can at least pass his knowledge unto her.

*Every soul has a specific color unique to it, but each nation has a hue/hue range specific to it. Water Tribe - Blues, ranging from deep navy and sapphire to electric blue. Earth Kingdom - Greens, ranging from deep emerald to neon yellow-ish green. Fire Nation is Golds, ranging from dull golds, to brilliant, intense golds. Air Nomads is Grey, ranging from shining silvers, to a whole variety of light and dark greys.

Phoenix Chaser AU Outline -At first the people of the Southern Water Tribe are terrified of the angry, burned firebender. Then he starts asking about some mythical Fire Nation creature, and they can barely contain their laughter. Has no one told this idiot that phoenixes aren't real? And why would he think he could find one at the SOUTH POLE? They stop laughing when his fists catch fire.

-Incidentally, he does come to investigate the prison ship after the earthbenders revolt and leave, finding Katara's necklace. He remembers the Water Tribe girl wearing that exact necklace and wonders what she was doing on an earthbender prison. He decides to return it to her as he does owe her for getting her pest of friend to leave his ship.

-His uncle insists upon checking out a pirate ship. Zuko must concede that being well traveled, the pirates may know a thing or two about phoenixes. While Zuko is desperate enough to believe in phoenixes, he's not gullible enough to trust pirates and understands very quickly that their just trying to make a quick coin off him. However, he does overhear the pirates conversing about a stolen waterbending scroll, and an air nomad. The waterbender!

-Zuko laughs because this is obviously a joke, right? How is he supposed to teach firebending to an airbender. The airbender claims that he's the Avatar. Zuko doesn't believe it. The Avatar disappeared a CENTURY ago, this kid is obviously still a child. The waterbender says that the boy(Aang) is absolutely the Avatar, he can also bend water, and has gone into the avatar state more than one time. Zuko still doesn't believe it.

-Much to Zuko's surprise the waterbender and the airbender decide to show off to Zuko and, the airbender is actually the Avatar!

-When they aren't looking, Zuko makes a break for it. The waterbender freezes his feet, but he manages to melt the ice before they can get the ropes out and promptly runs off.

-The Gaang manage to find Zuko in time to watch his ship explode. They fish his unconscious body out of the water and Katara heals him. He's still injured, but he'll at least live. With his uncle's blessing they take off with an unconscious Zuko in tow.

ATLA Modern Highschool AU Outline *He(Aang) ends up rooming with the prince and princess of the Southern Water Tribe, and the Fire Prince at the prestigious United Elements Academy.

DarkAvatar!Bolin AU Outline -Bolin is concerned, but convinces himself that it's just stress and nightmares. After all, he's just an earthbender, it's not like he's somehow become the new Dark Avatar. Then, one day while he and Korra are messing around, she splashes water at him and he bends it.

Avatar Zuko AU Outline -Eventually a small rag-tag group of Water Tribe kids are discovered with one of them airbending. The world assumes that the airbending Water Tribe boy is the Avatar(he's not but shhh). Zuko latches onto this, see he's not the Avatar, that kid is. Iroh knows that it's entirely possible the boy is just a lost airbender dressed in Water garb, but humors his nephew anyway. It's an opportunity to get an airbending teacher if nothing else.

-In the Southern Water Tribe, a young airbender named Ara receives a vision about the identity of the Fire Nation Avatar from the spirits. At sixteen, he'd only just mastered airbending and the spirits were demanding him to locate and teach the new Avatar. With the blessing of his elders, he departs from the Southern Water Tribe with his two friends, Katara and Sokka. He accidentally blows his cover as a non-bender when he airbends to defend Katara.

-In this AU, there are hidden airbender sects in the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes. They managed to evade death by pretending to be non-benders and regular nomads.

-When they get to the North Pole, they initially attack because Zuko is Fire Nation, but stop when he starts airbending at them. Zuko didn't mean to airbend, he was trying to firebend, but air responded instead and the Water Tribesmen, seeing as this is actually the Avatar, just start laughing at him.

Another Avatar Zuko AU Outline -The airbender, Avatar Aang dies when he drowns at sea. The waterbender, Avatar Korra dies protecting her tribe during the southern raids. The earthbender, Avatar Xin Hu perishes alone in the Si Wong desert. By the time he draws his final breath, the firebender, Avatar Zuko is born into the world.

-When he struggles with his firebending, they step in to offer help or advice. When Korra offers to show him a few moves, he gives her a look. She's obviously a waterbender, what in the world could she teach a firebender? She just smiles at him and says that if he weren't so cute, and she weren't incorporeal, she probably would have decked him for being so oblivious.

-Iroh remains Zuko's firebending master, and a call goes out for the other three masters to teach the Avatar. Pakku becomes Zuko's waterbending master, a Dai Li agent named Kyun becomes Zuko's earthbending master, and a strange sage from a secret airbending sect hidden in Ba Sing Se named Youra becomes Zuko's airbending master.

Avatar Sokka AU Outline -Aang dies in the ice, and Sokka is born to the Southern Water Tribe.

-Far as he's concerned, he's just a normal guy and all this spiritual, water-magic stuff is just a bunch of balogna. He doesn't even believe in spirits.

If Sozin was a good person AU Outline *Aang is found by the son and daughter of the Southern Water Tribe's chief.

*The people of the Water Tribe are all surprised to see a living airbender. The world seems to be under the impression that they all vanished with the Avatar. Some theorized that they either floated off into the aether, or maybe just died from a sudden plague.

*While touring the place, Aang notices a large crowd gathering around the docks. He makes his way through to find a Fire Nation ship. Aang wonders what the Fire Nation is doing in the Southern Water Tribe, when he overhears them talk about looking for the Avatar.

*Aang manages to convince the Water Tribe sibs that he's not the Avatar, but still refuses to confront the Fire royals. Aang's skittishness makes Katara fear the worst, and she promises to help protect Aang from there.

War Erasure AU Outline -It doesn't take too long for word to reach the Air Temples of a young airbender afflicted by a terrible madness. Apparently, said airbender is traveling in a group with a blind earthbender, and two Water Tribe kids. The Nuns plot to drug the group so that they can be sent off for treatment. Zuko overhears the plan and the group escapes, but only barely.

Thoughts of Reason, Thoughts of Treason Chap 6 “Uh, er… It’s a term that refers to firebenders. Like, a compliment. For firebenders, the sun is the ultimate source of our bending and our life.” Zuko touched a hand to his chest, over his beating heart. “To say that a firebender holds the sun, is to say that they are warm hearted and full of light. There’s also a saying that firebenders with really gold eyes, like mine, hold the sun in their soul.”

“The Avatar’s right.” Zuko rasped, attracting the attention of the Water siblings. “The movements of a real airbender are much more deliberate. Like someone who can actually control the air.”

The Calm Before Outline *Aang demands to know who the spirit is. The spirit tells Aang that he’ll give up his identity if Aang has a little bit of the food and water.

*Without the war, the Southern Water Tribe is gorgeous, prosperous. Utterly, unspeakably beautiful. Much like the northern one.

*One day he and some other monks are helping an old lady that lives in one of the villages down at the base of the mountain/island. The group is walking across a dry riverbed when there’s a sudden flood of water. Acting quickly and on instinct, Aang uses his water bending to divert the water flow and save the old lady’s life.

*Katara tries to distract herself by practicing her waterbending with the fellow master benders of the south and hanging out with her mom.

*Sokka devises a plan that involves Katara’s waterbending skills. They secretly, slowly store more and more supplies in a hidden boat. Then when they’re finally ready to go, Katara bends the snow and whips up a snow storm. While everyone is distracted, the duo make their way to their boat and Katara bends them out of there.

*Of course Katara takes this time to study more waterbending forms.

*They debate as they fly over to the Sea of Lost Souls. The water is murky and the coral hands seem to be moving, the remnants of cosmic energy spiraling around in the abnormally dark waters.

Zuko's Invisible Friend Outline *Zuko has a difficult time comprehending this concept and asks Agni if he’s ever sad that no one can celebrate his birthday. Agni is genuinely caught off guard by the question. He fine with not having a birthday, because the mortals do have holidays in his honor, but he can’t help but feel a little touched at how sheerly empathetic Zuko can be.

*They go down so Katara and Aang can practice waterbending.

*So Aang goes right back to waterbending with Katara.

*Zuko tries to ask Agni what he means when he’s pulled back into his body because he got completely soaked by cold water and all of their supplies have been “practiced” away.

*Having his connection to Agni suddenly cut with cold water like that means that it’ll be a hot minute before Zuko can communicate with the ancient spirit again.

*Zuko figures that since he found himself on the fire lion turtle, maybe his friends are on a water one.

*However as soon as they reach the north, the waterbenders imprison Zuko for being Fire Nation.

*The water warriors scour the city for the lost firebender, and the Gaang act all mad that they lost the Avatar’s firebending master.

Raging Spirit AU Outline *The water warriors are suspicious of Iroh, but the Gaang vouch for him, so they decide to trust him.

*They all take on soldier uniforms to disguise themselves as they enter into Fire Nation waters.

*So finally, she goes and everyone eats together like a Water Tribe family and it’s so fucking cute, I can’t take it.

*The thriving settlement looks much more like the North Pole, especially with all the waterbenders running around.

*Tanokka offers to tutor Katara on the old ways of Southern Water Style.

*Tanokka says that it’s a side effect of dream bending. Nothing in the dream is real, so the water lacks the weight it should have.

~Katara practices Southern Water Style under the tutelage of Tanokka.

A Testimate To Good Publicity and Societal Forgetfulness Outline *After that, he(Wan) gained air, water and finally, earth. And the Avatars following him were also born into the cycle by the order of the elements he learned.

The Lady in Alabaster Chapter 1 A massive inferno greedily chewing up the dainty little home while the Water couple who lived there watched on, the orange of the flames even consuming the blue in their wide eyes.

Legend of Korra REwrite Outline ~By age sixteen Korra’s mastered water, earth and firebending. But has shown no aptitude for airbending.

~They enlist the help of the Fire Nation, and both Water Tribes, who happily oblige.

Korra vs Amon REwrite Pain surged through her body as he took control of the water in her muscles, causing them to spasm as they were pushed and pulled against the wills of her nerve impulses.

Okay, so maybe going after a bloodbender on a full moon was a bad idea, but she’s a waterbender too!

(You get the whole paragraph bc fug it) “Amon of the Equalists.” The Avatar spoke, voice layered over by another that was feminine, but distinctly not Korra. “Or shall I say Bloodbender (Amon’s real name I dun remember lol) of the Water Tribe, son of Yakkone.” Her tendrils ripped the mask away and wiped the make-up clean. His followers gasped at the truth. “You have demonstrated a lack of regard for not only the balance of this world, but also it’s keeper.” Her voice was calm, but still somehow betrayed a seething rage. “And for this crime, I shall strip you of your power, forever!” The burning white spread from Korra’s eyes and enveloped her being, then spread to Amon.

Badvatar AU Outline -At the age of twelve, having mastered airbending, Aang ends up finding out he can waterbend too.

-What happened was a terrible storm hit the temple, and one of the younger students with weaker bending had been hit by a powerful gale. He would have been fine, but the ground was slick with water and he was going to fall to his death. Aang didn't think he could get the elder's attention in time so on pure instinct he reached out and suddenly an arm of ice had ensnared the boy and the torrential rain, seemed to slow slightly.

-Toph lives a quiet, repressed life with her oppressive and neglectful parents. In secret, she sneaks out many nights to participate in Earth Rumble fights. Then one day, her interest is piqued when she finds an airbender in attendance with the supposedly "kidnapped" son and daughter of the souther water tribe. The two kids seem happy enough, it must be a situation like hers, where their parents think that their kids are helpless and just assumed that they had been kidnapped when they willingly ran away.

-At the festival, Zuko meets an odd group. An air nomad, two water tribe kids, and an earth kingdom girl. It clicks to him that these are the "kidnapped" children he heard the servants gossiping about. He is almost caught by Azula, but his new friends help him give her the slip and he officially joins the Gaang.

-Meanwhile, in his cell, Aang had become sullen and withdrawn. The monks who came by to give food and water would try and speak to the young Avatar. They found that he was engaging with them less and less. They worried that the Avatar's condition may have been worsening.

Catching the Embers Chapter 1 His(Aang's) waterbending companion was defending him.

She coated her arms with water and lashed out at him with water tentacles.

Until finally, she broke through his fire and roped him with her water. Zuko felt himself lifted up and then thrown across the cavern into another pool of water. The water quickly rose up and encased his body.

“I trusted you.” The waterbender hissed. “I thought you had changed!”

“You thought wrong.” With a charged up blast of fire, he blew out of his watery prison.

The icy cold water slammed him right against the hard cavern wall, but if he was being totally honest, it didn’t hurt that bad.

Catching the Embers Outline *She just shrugs and leaves a bowl of water for him, saying that she figured he was thirsty.

*Despite being very thirsty, Zuko doesn’t drink the water out of spite.

*Once he tries to get up, the family doctor looks Zuko over. He makes him drink some water and gives him some broth to drink, but overall gives him a clean bill of health.

*Iroh remains silent, he wants to test the waters a bit. Thinks this over, maybe see if Zuko will listen.

*Suddenly there’s a flash of lightning, and Zuko and Aang are standing across from each other in a pool of water.

*Aang’s expression is blank, his eyes hollow. Crimson blood reaches out into the water around him.

*The sages have the guards drug Zuko’s food and water, so that he doesn’t try anything when they look him over.

*As a peace offering/apology for what his(Iroh's) forefathers did to Katara and her tribe, he gifts her with as much of the Water Tribe loot that the Fire Nation took as she wants.

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wiseabsol · 4 years

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WA Reviews “Dominion” by Aurelia le, Chapter 11: The Chase

Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6383825/11/Dominion

Summary: For the Fire Nation royal siblings, love has always warred with hate. But neither the outward accomplishment of peace nor Azula’s defeat have brought the respite Zuko expected. Will his sister’s plans answer this, or only destroy them both?

Content Warnings: This story contains discussions and depictions of child abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and incest. This story also explores the idea that Zuko’s redemption arc (and his unlearning of abuse) is not as complete as the show suggested, and that Azula is not a sociopath (with the story having a lot of sympathy for her). If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, I would strongly recommend steering clear of this story and my reviews of it.

Note: Because these were originally posted as chapter reviews/commentaries, I will often be talking to the author in them (though sometimes I will also snarkily address the characters). While I’ve also tried not to spoil later events in the story in these reviews, I would strongly recommend reading through chapter 28 before reading these, just to be safe.

Now on to chapter 11!

CHAPTER 11: THE CHASE

Alright, so on to chapter eleven, “The Chase.” I think I know why I stalled on this one, besides life getting in the way: there’s a game in this chapter, in which the readers are challenged to find all of the trope names that Aurelia has snuck into Sokka’s POV sections. And, despite being one of the betas for this story (which renders the reward for finding all of the tropes meaningless), I still want to win. So let’s put on ATLA’s soundtrack and get cracking!

We start with the Gaang arriving at the Royal Palace. Toph still has a crush on Sokka, which both Sokka and Suki are aware of. He describes Katara and Aang as “Sickening Sweethearts” for the first trope. I like that Aang has a “gusty” laugh here—it’s a nice pun. Aang is in such a good mood and I’m like, “Oh buddy, you just wait, the angst is imminent.” Sokka thinks that it’s been two weeks since they last visited, which might be a hyperbole on his part, but if so, boy have things changed quickly.

“Little lump of baby fat who was heir to the Burning Throne” is a great description, though I have my doubts that Lu Ten is going to sit on that throne, given that there’s a chance that he’s a non-bender (which, along with the sexism that has made it so that they’ve never had a woman ruler before, is something the Fire Nation will need to get over at some point, since it could be seen as a fantasy equivalent to ableism).

“Having gotten to know Zuko a little better since then, he concluded it would probably actually suck to be royalty.” Yes and no, Sokka. Definitely don’t doubt how sweet—okay, to interject for a second, “Leaves on the Vine” just came on and it hurts my heart—but anyway, Sokka, don’t doubt how sweet being royal is. There is a reason that people fight for that title. Being a responsible ruler, on the other hand—one who works their butt off to serve the people—yeah, that can be rough, because you need to go to those meetings and listen to those complaints. Doing so is, hopefully, also rewarding to the soul, but in Zuko’s case…hard to say. I think he prefers to be directly involved in making things better, rather than being in a managerial position. I think I’ve mentioned before how he should have been sent on rebuilding and reparations missions, with someone like Iroh doing the governance side of things…though putting Iroh in charge might have been scandalous after the Siege of Ba Sing Se. There were no good choices there.

“Missing Mom” for the second trope. “He found himself wondering if dysfunction was some kind of prerequisite for royal families.” No, though I can’t imagine that the pressures of living in the public eye, making decisions that affect an entire land and its people, and trying to build a legacy helps. Doing that for a few years is probably fine, but not for your entire life.

Sokka makes an amusing fish pun in this section. “First Love,” “Manly Tears,” and “Vengeful Spirit” for the third, fourth, and fifth tropes.

The Gaang arrives at the throne room, where Zuko and Iroh are arguing. Zuko mentions something about selling Azula to someone, which must be the Earth Kingdom, since he had a tense conversation with them last chapter. Zuko is in a foul mood, snapping at his friends as they walk in.

“Visual Pun” and “Clean Cut” for a sixth and seventh trope. The Gaang and Zuko then start talking, with Katara quickly catching on to the fact that Zuko was in a fight with Azula. Zuko explains that Azula slashed his face with a pin, and almost mentions that he and Azula slept together, before cutting himself off and blushing. Sokka notices the blush and is confused by it.

“Aang breezed up to him”—I see your pun, Aurelia.

Toph asks where Mai is, and Zuko tells them that Mai and Lu Ten are staying with Mai’s family. You know what, totally fair, Mai. I’d want space too. Zuko goes over Azula’s escape and mentions that they fought, and Sokka points out that Zuko should have been able to track her afterwards, since he’s a “Scarily Competent Tracker” (for an eighth trope). Zuko lies and says that Azula knocked him out, which Toph notices.

“I’m kinda starting to doubt her resolve,” Sokka says about Azula killing Zuko. This is both funny and sad, because, well, Azula and Zuko are siblings. No one should have to worry about one of them legitimately wanting to kill the other, even in the games of thrones. It doesn’t even occur to Sokka that Azula might care for Zuko. And why would it? As far as he knows, she tried to kill Zuko during their Agni Kai, and before that sounded excited about the prospect of becoming an only child.

Sokka is annoyed that things aren’t adding up in this conversation, and Zuko bursts out that he doesn’t know why Azula does the things that she does, which is another lie. Toph catches on to that one, too, but isn’t sure what it means. What’s notable here, though, is that Zuko is so used to calling Azula crazy that he says this as an outburst, even though he knows better. It’s a kneejerk reaction for him.

Zuko tells them that the Earth Kingdom is planning to execute Azula if they catch her, which offends Aang, since the tribunal agreed that life in prison would be Azula’s maximum sentence. Zuko explains that the politics around her case got dirty, shocker. Aang matured a lot during the show, but in some ways, he’s still rather naive.

“‘I gave them everything they ever asked!’ Zuko raged helplessly, glaring at the black stone floor. ‘Why can’t they just give me my sister?’”—This is sweet, though I think that Azula would be offended by the idea of anyone giving her to someone else.

“Mismatched Eyes” for a ninth trope. Toph tells Zuko that he’s just going to have to find a way around the Earth Kingdom’s sentence, which Iroh and Zuko agree with her on. Zuko mentions that they’re having their lawyers look into the court case, and then turns on Suki, asking how Azula got slapped with a torture charge.

Sokka says that Zuko is out of line for accusing Suki here, but honestly? Getting slapped with a torture charge is huge, especially when there’s no evidence that the accused did it. It’s slanderous and I’m not surprised that Zuko is reacting poorly to it. The implication here is that Suki’s comrades lied about the torture out of spite, or, if they were tortured, that it wasn’t on Azula’s orders. The Fire Nation absolutely did torture people, namely the Southern Water Tribe’s benders…but so did the Earth Kingdom, since they psychologically tortured and brainwashed their own civilians in Ba Sing Se. One crime doesn’t negate the other—they both need to be held accountable for their actions—but there is definitely some hypocrisy here from the Earth Kingdom.

Suki seems to think that her comrades were tortured, or at least she didn’t want them to “lie on [Azula’s] behalf.” But Suki, do you know for a fact that it happened? Obviously, I think that you should believe your comrades, since it’s better to believe the victims than not. But if it happened, who tortured them? Has the person who gave those orders been brought to justice? Because letting Azula be scapegoated for someone else’s crimes isn’t justice, it’s vindictiveness, and it means that somewhere out there, an actual torturer went free.

“Ridiculous accusations”—no, Sokka, this is a fair accusation, and it’s something that should have been brought to Zuko’s attention during the court case, or at least to the attention of Azula’s lawyers. They have the right to know what their client is being accused of and the evidence against them. That is, in fact, how the law is supposed to work. Mind you, I’m speaking of modern law practices, but it seems like their law practices are analogous.

Sokka says that Azula getting beheaded would be a favor for everyone, and Zuko snaps. He lunges at him—Sokka gets his boomerang out—and Iroh steps between them. Iroh scolds Zuko for being so aggressive with his friends, which is fair. He’s lashing out a lot during this conversation. Zuko then breaks down, with Suki and Katara hugging him in response. Toph sighs in a “Surrounded by Idiots” way for a tenth trope.

Sokka feels guilty over making Zuko cry. “He guessed that even if she was a crazy bitch, she was his sister, too. Of course that was what Zuko would think of, when it looked like she was going to die. Zuko had got this way when she starved herself too, Sokka recalled, and thought that he should have remember that sooner.”—Yeah, no kidding, Sokka. A little empathy and tact would have served you much better in this conversation.

Sokka apologizes shortly after this and Zuko apologizes in return. Katara promises that they’ll always help Zuko, and I wonder if that would still be true if they knew that he’d raped Azula (which he definitely did, even if he didn’t realize it at the time, since Azula wasn’t able to consent).

Sokka “wondered idly why [Katara] couldn’t forgive him that quickly when he said something tactless.” While Sokka assumes that it’s because Zuko is crying, I’m pretty sure that it’s because Katara has an unacknowledged crush on Zuko, so she’s more inclined to cut him some slack.

“It would be like Toph shoe-shopping. No one would buy it.”—This is very funny.

“Sokka reflected again on the idiocy of investing this much time, emotion, and debate into someone as damaged and dangerous as Zuko’s psycho little sister.”—I see what you’re doing here, Aurelia.

Sokka asks what they should do if Azula tries to kill them, and Zuko says, “She’s crazy. And scared, and alone.” And on the one hand, that’s true, but on the other hand, he shouldn’t be infantilizing her.

“‘Please just—remember that, if she does anything too desperate, or,’ he practically choked on his words, ‘says anything too desperate.’” This is a bad look for Zuko, since he is, essentially, trying to give himself a cushion against any accusations that Azula levels at him. He is trying to plant a seed of doubt so they’re less inclined to believe her about the rape. But I think that this will backfire on him, because he’s priming them to pay attention to what she says instead. The cold truth is, if he hadn’t done this, I don’t think they would have believed her. They’d think she was trying to slander him, because A.) They like and respect him and want to believe that he’s fully redeemed and would never do such a thing, B.) They believe that she’s a lying villain who wants to take him down, and C.) Many people don’t believe sexual assault victims anyway, regardless of the evidence they have to support their claims. But now he’s drawing arrows to her accusations, and a few of them will probably remember that, and how weird he was acting during this conversation. They’ll wonder why he said that they should dismiss what she says, which would have normally been a given for them.

The conversation wraps up as the Gaang goes to their rooms, and Zuko and Iroh continue to talk offscreen. We shift over to Azula’s POV. She’s riding an ostrich horse past an abandoned mill. She’s being rather nasty to her mount, using her fire whip to make it do what she wants. It seems like she hasn’t grown out of being cruel to animals yet (though I just re-watched the introduction to June in ATLA, and she liberally uses her whip on her mount, so I’m not sure that this is an uncommon treatment of animals in this world, just distasteful).

Azula didn’t stop to grab provisions, which is a surprising mistake, coming from her. Granted, she had to escape quickly in the last chapter, and was probably scattered from a fresh dose of trauma. She fantasizes about eating Rai’s potato and leek stew, rather than some of her favorite foods from the palace. To be fair, if that was my most recent, tasty meal, I’d probably be doing the same. But also, I think the kindness of that meal has probably gotten under Azula’s skin.

“She had been discovered. She knew how that would end. So why did she stay? She had asked herself that a dozen times since the cook betrayed her, and now thought she knew. Not for Rai’s company, certainly. Azula ought to have her traitor’s tongue out just for the presumption she showed.”—Okay, Hot Stuff, have you ever actually ordered for someone to have their tongue taken out, or are you just repeating something nasty Ozai that threatened to do? Because I’m betting it’s the latter. Also, I bet you stayed because you liked being shown some basic human kindness.

“No, worse still, it was to eat food that didn’t taste the same every day, and lay her head on a pillow at night, and take a bath—an actual bath—without unwelcome supervision…”—You mean the things that every human being should have? Especially the unsupervised baths part? I understand why Azula was watched, since she might have tried to hurt herself if she was left alone in the asylum, but still, that’s terrible.

“If she let such base considerations drive her, she would be no better than her hedonist uncle. Far better she had been betrayed now and so incompetently, then continue that way. It was that kind of complacency that would get her captured, or killed.”—Oh good, you’re going to deny yourself basic human comforts to get the job done, that’s healthy for you, Azula. You want to know who I bet never did something remotely similar to that? Ozai. I bet he’s always slept with a pillow and always had a cook on hand and was always able to bath in private. Good lord, child.

“Her father was counting on her. Her country was counting on her. She could not make these kind of mistakes.”—That’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself, my dear. Sadly, I think that the Fire Nation might have forgotten about her, since no one tried to break her out.

Azula unloads her mount of supplies and sends it running in another direction—with more fire whips, shame on her (though is she hurting it or just scaring it? That isn’t clear)—to leave a false trail for anyone who might be pursuing her. She then thinks, “It was too bad about losing the ostrich horse though, especially after Mother gave her so much grief—" So she’s still seeing Ursa. To be specific, Ursa was chiding her about stealing the ostrich horse. There are a couple of things of note about this. One is that Azula is committing the same crime that Zuko did in the show, and will probably get more flack for it. The other is that the voice of her mother, in this moment, seems to be her conscience—meaning that Azula feels guilty about stealing.

“They never did anything for me either . . . So what do you imagine I owe them?”—Azula shuts down her guilt by saying something that sounds suspiciously like something Ozai would say. That because someone wasn’t kind to her, that gives her the right to be cruel to them. Which…really isn’t how you should treat people.

“She didn’t talk to it. Wasn’t that her rule?”—Does that help you, Azula?

“How could she expect to rule anyone when she couldn’t even rule herself….”—Another thing that I’m certain Ozai said to her at some point.

“She had a mission. Everything else was immaterial. This was her one chance. No room for mistakes. No room for distractions. She had to focus. She had to get better. She would not be as effective as she could be, until she was whole again.”—Again, that’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself, Azula. Sadly, you might be right, though. The Earth Kingdom isn’t going to give you a second chance to find your mother. They don’t even want to give you this one.

Azula then burns down the mill and escapes by boat, hopefully widening the distance between herself and those searching for her.

Back to the Gaang! Toph and Aang are practicing earthbending, while Sokka preps the war balloon and inwardly gripes about them not helping. Aang and Katara are searching for Azula on Team Appa, while Suki, Sokka, and Toph are on Team War Balloon (which has been dyed black for the occasion).

Sokka makes a basket case pun about the balloon as he and Suki argue over how he treated Zuko the previous day. Suki points out that he missed the fact that Mai left Zuko, which Katara is peeved about. Katara, you don’t know and don’t want to know the full story there, trust me. Suki agrees with me. Katara reveals that she tried to talk to Mai, which Suki is horrified about, because good lord is it none of Katara’s business. Tact does not run in this family.

Zuko comes charging in, upset by this. Zuko and Katara argue, and Suki, hilariously, “looked to Sokka in clear disbelief that this much tactlessness could be contained in one family.” I knew that Suki and I were on the same page.

“Since when does she need to cool off? She shows all the emotion of an ice cube.”—Hey, Katara? This is super rude. Just because you don’t like Mai and are lowkey jealous of her relationship with Zuko does not give you the right to insult her.

“‘She had every reason!’ Zuko hotly defended, and implicated himself by saying so.”—Whoops, Zuko. Good job. “I brought you here to find my sister, not play marriage councilor! So why don’t you just stay out of problems that don’t concern you?”—Ho boy, so he shouldn’t have said this as hotly as he did, but he’s also not wrong? Focus on the problem that he’s asked for help with, Katara. His marital problems are none of your concern.

Katara responds equally hotly to this, but she’s in the wrong here, even if it will probably take her some time to realize that. What she’s most upset about is Zuko acting like he summoned them to his side, rather than them coming because they’re friends, and like…I can see why that would be insulting, but you also just tried to interfere with his marriage, Katara. I think you messed up worse in this fight.

Katara and Aang head out, or in Katara’s case, storms out. Team War Balloon leaves soon afterwards, with Sokka thinking that he’d rather deal with Flaky Aang over Angry Jerk any day, which is fair. Zuko and Katara were both poorly behaved here.

“He guessed they’d all be happier once Azula was back in her straightjacket. But first he had to make it happen. Right. No problem.”—I doubt that you’re going to make it happen, Sokka, and I think that you doubt it too.

And that’s the end of chapter eleven! Next up is chapter twelve, “The Seal,” which is my favorite chapter in this fic so far. I’m excited! As always, thank you for the read, Aurelia.

Sincerely,

WiseAbsol

#WiseAbsol #Dominion by Aurelia le #Fanfiction #Review #Azula #avatar: the last airbender

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snake-house · 6 years

Text

Zuko X Male!Reader - through time.

Zuko X Male!Reader warnings: angst, mentions of homophobia, time skips ***spoilers for the ending of the series ah he/him pronouns used for reader *set during the episode 'the fire bending masters' in book fire [season 3] and later**DOES NOT go with canon, duh, it's fanfiction ___ requested by an anon!!!

word count: 7,020

(i was fixing the ending and ended up changing the whole thing and added 300+ more words ahhh)

___

It was still a shock to how it all happened. You were set on tracking down the avatar and bringing him back to the fire nation to finally earn your place among the military, where you belonged. Because that's who you were, that's what was meant to become of you, the groomed weapon and son of the highest ranked General in the Fire Nation Military. That's all you knew until you stumbled upon the avatar and his firebending master. One moment you were ready to see the end of the avatar, the next you were in awe of what he was capable of. You didn't think you've seen anything as beautiful as watching the two dance with dragons, it was amazing. The avatar and his master seemed so in tune with their firebending, and for such a stereotypically nasty and violent element, it was so serene and made you stop and really think about what you were doing.

What were you doing? You were here on a mission to trail the avatar and if all else failed, kill him, if the timing seemed fit. But why were you doing this? You slowly slunk away from the display back to where you set up camp deep in the forest to really think about what you were doing. This was horrible and you felt sick to your stomach. This was not what you wanted from your life. Through the fighting and training, it was all you knew, it was all you had since you were barely five years old. But, you didn't want this anymore. It was a blessing that you realized this was no longer the life you nor the one you wanted to live anymore. You knew now that the avatar was humanity's only hope from the Fire Nation's destruction. Before the two saw the two perform the Dancing Dragon, you had listened to the little group and the fog that clouded your judgment had been lifted. You always thought the destruction of the Southern Water Tribe and the take over of the Earth Kingdom were good things, proof of how powerful and wonderful the Fire Nation was, but you were wrong. Everything you once knew was wrong. All those events just showed how disgustingly evil the Fire Lord was. It wasn't until the next day you approached the group with your guard down. You needed to be open with them if you wanted them to trust you. As soon as you were spotted, the female waterbender froze your feet where you stood. You held your hands up in surrender, "I just want to talk," You stated quietly. The male with the ponytail was the first to approach you and crossed his arms, "How can we trust someone decked out in official Fire Nation clothing?" "Because I want to explain myself," You flinched with a pained expression as you noticed the curious eyes of the avatar. "Maybe you should let him talk," he stated but ponytail held his ground, "I mean, it wouldn't hurt anything. We gave Zuko here a chance, why not give him the same chance?" Eventually, you were unfrozen and allowed to explain yourself, "I am from the Fire Nation, I was sent by the Fire Lord to trail the avatar," there was a loud commotion from the male Water Tribesman of 'See! I told you so,' "I was sent to trail you and your friends, and if the time seemed right- to kill." All hands were raised in defense to fight and your feet were frozen once again, "But I have changed my mind. I was raised as a child prodigy seeing I was the son of General Bujing. I've been raised under the propaganda that the Fire Nation instills in all of the citizens. I-I've been following you all since you arrived at the Air Nomad Temple, and I've been able to hear what the Fire Nation has really done around our world. I thought they were doing good, but I know now that all they have done is kill too many innocent lives and instilled fear into the rest of our world." You bowed your head in shame, "I'm sorry for what I have done, but I know there can be no forgiveness for helping in the tyranny across the nations. But, I would like to make up for it, I can help you all," You looked on now with hopeful eyes, "I've been in those high ranking strategy rooms, I can tell you what they are planning and I am a master in hand-to-hand combat and various other self-defense techniques." The group was silent for a while, they seemed to be speaking with each other merely through their facial expressions. It was a sight to see, people close enough to be able to communicate like that. You haven't had a real friend since you were a child. A cough brought you out of your thoughts. "So, you said you know what they're planning?" The firebender said with a small grin and your feet were unfrozen for the second time. You let a bright smile surface on your face at the fact they were going to give you a chance, "I do, but it will take some time to explain," your smile fell as your grimaced, "This will not be pretty." -- The days leading up to the final battle Aang was destined to be in, you helped the 'Gaang' in every way that you could. You told them everything you knew about what the Fire Lord was planning, you showed them their moves so they could be ready to fight. You taught them all you knew about combat to strengthen their skills. They may have been benders, save Suki and Sokka, but you can't depend on just that. When they went to break into the Boiling Rock Prison, you were there to give them extra credentials and the mission went by flawlessly. Well, of course, there were a few kinks, but for the most part, it was flawless. Everything was great, you really thought you found friends in each of the teenagers, even the rowdy and loud earthbender. It wasn't until you all watched that horrid play did something finally click. "Y-You're Zuko- the Zuko? As in the crown prince of the Fire Nation?!" You squeaked and went ridged at his narrowed stared. Zuko clamped his hand over your mouth and tugged you around the corner and out of sight of all the island citizens. "Yes? I thought you knew this," He hissed quietly and folded his arms over his chest, "What's the big deal anyway? You were fine with me before, what changed?" He said in a softer voice, eyes now full of concern. You took a deep breath and couldn't help the blush surfacing to your face, "I'm [Name], the son of General Bujing, w-we used to be friends, before you and Mai started going out and before I was sent to train night and day. I was at first a disgrace to my father for being a non-bender, I couldn't refuse or else I would disgrace his name even further, do you remember?" You paused and darted your eyes away, "I didn't recognize you, I never saw you after you got scarred." Zuko eyed you for a while, straightening his back at your explanation. He was going to deny what you said, but then a flurry of memories surfaced. A memory of him playing with a little [hair-color] boy by the pond, and how the boy was just as excited about the turtleducks as he was. That was you. "[Name]..." He said softly and made you meet his eyes again, "I never knew what happened to you, I-I was told you didn't want to play with me every time I asked my father or yours." You smiled slightly at him and nodded, "I was told the same, my father told me you were a distraction from my training and that my training should be more important than childish things." The two of you chatted like the excitable teenagers you were as you caught back up with the rest of the 'Gaang'. That night, the two of you were inseparable and everyone took notice of it. Aang seemed a bit confused until Katara caught on and explained what was going on to him with a sly look in her eyes that unsettled you. "How have you and Mai been? I knew you had a huge crush on her when we were younger, did you guys ever end up dating?" You asked casually and took a drink of your water. "Uh, yeah, we dated for a while actually. But we've broken up multiple times so I don't know if we are still a thing or not right now. War kind of gets in the way of these things you know," Zuko said with an uncomfortable shrug of his shoulders. You smiled and nodded, "That's nice, I mean I guess it is." You looked down at your crossed legs, "You're right though, war changes things. I never had a girlfriend," You averted your eyes, "-or a first kiss or date," You pulled your knees up to your chest and laid your head on them, "We're just kids and here we are stuck in a war we didn't start." "Never?" Sokka cut in obviously wanting to veer away from the topic of war for right now, "Not even a little peck on the cheek?" He added sounding shocked. "Nope, not even a peck on the cheek," You laughed in response, "But it's ok, romantic relationships are a luxury only few can afford." "I beg to differ," Katara said in an offended voice, "Everyone deserves love and relationships no matter in they're romantic or platonic," She gave you a sad smile, "What did the military do to you to think like that?" You shrugged, "Took away my innocence I suppose." There was only silence after that. You were right, they just didn't want to believe it quite yet. -- Watching Zuko be crowned as the new Fire Lord made tears come to your eyes. It may have just been the beginning, there was chaos still reining throughout the nations, but everything could only get better from here on out. "I'm so proud of you," You said once you and Zuko were alone in the throne room, aside from Iroh, "I know you will make a wonderful Fire Lord." Zuko flushed at your praise, "Thank you, that means a lot." Iroh placed a heavy hand on his nephew's shoulder and beamed at him, "He's right, you'll do great I'm sure of it." "I know I will if you mentor me in all the political stuff," Zuko said back with a grin, "And if you, [Name], could help with getting our military back to a respectable organization, I would really appreciate it." "Of course," You said quickly, "I am more than happy to help rebuild the Fire Nation." "As am I," Iroh agreed before changing the topic and turning to you, "I know my nephew has Mai but don't you have a special someone to come back to?" You grimaced and shook your head, "No sir, I didn't have time for such things nor do I ever believe I will." Iroh ignored his nephew as he turned to speak to the members of the 'Gaang' as they walked in, "Why do you say that?" Now he sounded concerned. "Because you could say I bat for the same team," You whispered with a flush, "and I don't want anyone to know- I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable or anything. I just want to be normal for once and not in my Father's shadow like I have been for all of my life." Iroh nodded in understanding, pulling you into a hug without a second's thought, "I'm sure you'll find someone out there for you, everyone has someone." You glanced at Zuko over Iroh's shoulder and shook your head, "If you say so, General." "Please call me Iroh, I thought I have told you this before." He chastised with a warm smile radiating over his features. With a laugh, you nodded and went over to greet the rest of the crew seeing you didn't have much time to speak with them before the coronation. -- Months later, it became too much. Even with the happiness of the Hundred Year War being over, there was a looming sadness that you couldn't shake any longer. With a deep breath, you walked up to Zuko in his office and stood before his desk where he sat, "May I speak with you?" The dark-haired male looked up and grinned before dropping the papers he was looking over and leaned back in his chair, "Isn't that what you're doing right now?" He teased. You smiled sadly at his words, now worrying the other, "I suppose. I was going to ask for some time off, seeing as you are my boss." Zuko looked at you quizzically, "What do you mean by that?" "I need a break... I-I just need a break that's all. I thought I'd travel a little around." You stated with a sigh. The Fire Lord furrowed his brow in confusion, "A break? What's been troubling you? I mean, you can take off all the time you need, but if you want to talk about it I'm here." "I'd rather not," You said immediately, "But thank you. I'll write while I am away." With that, you left to go pack. Zuko was still confused by your sudden change in behavior as this was not the first time you have been like this with him, so... formal. He quickly shuffled away from his paperwork and went to find the one person who could probably answer his questions about you, his uncle. You have developed a strong relationship with his uncle as Zuko had with him. He was your mentor and friend and taught you the things a father was supposed to, seeing as your own father only saw you as a weapon. "Ah Zuko," Iroh beamed as he saw the boy walk into the garden, "To what do I owe the pleasure? Or are you just early for our afternoon tea?" Zuko smiled and sat down beside the older male, "I wanted to ask you about something." He quirked a grey eyebrow, "Oh? And what is it?" "Do you know what is wrong with [Name] lately? He hasn't really seemed like himself at all and just asked for some time off like I'm his boss or whatever." "You are his boss," Iroh deadpanned. "But we were friends first," Zuko sighed, "And he's never addressed me as his boss like this before too." Iroh hummed in acknowledgment, "Is that all you have noticed has changed about him?" Zuko looked at the older man in confusion before turning his eyes to the greenery in front of him and thought about the question, "He doesn't seem too ready to spend time alone with me anymore, as before we would often mediate together before the others woke up and so on," He trailed off, not really sure where his uncle was going with this, "He's uncomfortable around Mai, which is completely understandable, Mai gives off that vibe, but it does seem rather unusual now that I think about it." "Is that all you can think of?" Iroh prompted. "I guess overall he seems uncomfortable and... sad. Detached almost." Zuko said slowly. Why didn't he notice all of this before? He was supposed to be your friend. They two stood in silence for a while, simply taking in the beauty of the garden he fell in love with as a child. "You said he was leaving?" Iroh hummed with a thoughtful look. "Yes, I assume he went to pack after he finished talking to me," Zuko replied. When Iroh chuckled, the Firelord snapped his head towards the man, "Do you know what's wrong?" Iroh shrugged nonchalantly, "I just suppose it became too painful to watch someone you love with another." He said cryptically. "If that is all, there are some things I need to attend to before our afternoon tea." Zuko let his uncle walk off with a look and air of confusion about him. He didn't have a clue on what his uncle was trying to say. - "[Name]." You turned away from your bag towards the voice from your doorway, "Yes?" You said, smiling when you noticed it was Iroh. "Are you sure this is what you wish to do?" He asked with a well hidden pained look. "Yes," You repeated as your face fell, quickly turning to your bag to see if you needed anything else before the boat you were taking left in an hour. "I think it's time. Every day I see him so happy and vibrant with someone else, and even though I love him, I can't continue to torture myself. I've tried going on dates-" "But only with women." Iroh interrupted with an unimpressed look. "But I can't make myself have feelings towards anyone else," You trailed off with a sigh. "Maybe if you came out, you'd be surprised how open people are about homosexuality," Iroh said placing a hand on your shoulder, stopping your movements, "You can't expect yourself to find love elsewhere when you're not being true to yourself." You bit your lip, "I know this. I do. But I can't lose him or my friends if they don't agree. I just need some time away to forget about these stupid feelings and emotions," You laughed bitterly as you furiously wiped away your tears, "My father was right about one thing, emotions are useless and only hinder your performance, and that is exactly what's wrong with me." "[Name]," Iroh said softly as he pulled you into a warm hug, "You know that is not true. I wish there was more I could do for you." You held tightly onto the older man. Savoring the warmth of the hug. "Could you make me forget about him?" "I would if I could, but I know that's not what you want," Iroh chuckled, holding you out at arm's length, "How about this. I have a tea shop in the Earth Kingdom that I have neglected these past months, would you be willing to run it for me for a few more months until Zuko is back on his feet?" You smiled warmly at the offer and nodded, "I would like that. It will be a nice change of pace for me, I think." Iroh beamed at you and brought you back into another crushing hug, "It's settled then. I will send you with a letter of my wishes. Sounds good? And I will see you off when you leave," He said as he headed out of your room, pausing in the doorway, "Which is when?" "In an hour," You mumble and bit sheepishly. "You are very ready to leave then," Iroh sighed affectionately. "I will meet you at the harbor then." "Thank you, Iroh, for everything." The man simply smiled and waved off your thanks like he did every time. - Iroh was the only one to see you off. He beamed as he handed you the letter about the tea shop, he was acting as if you were taking over the family business and you found it very endearing. He gave you a map of where it was and a brief rundown over the fact people still hold judgment towards you because you were of the Fire Nation. Even though the war was over, it would take some time to heal the wounds in the other nations. The older man eagerly waved you goodbye as you boarded the ship, even as you the ship drifted away and towards the Earth Kingdom. You didn't deserve his kindness, and yet here you were. You would never be able to thank him enough for all that he has done for you and his influence on your life. - - Life working at the tea shop was amazing. You weren't sure how you would adjust to it, or if you would even like it at all. But you fell in love with everything about it. The locals surprisingly welcomed you with open arms. The two girls that had been running it in Iroh's absence happily taught you everything you needed to know, from transactions to how to make the tea. Their names were Qin and Mina, and they were the sweetest. They were cousins that looked more like sisters than anything. Qin was the younger of the two at 19 and Mina was 22. They both had curly sandy blonde hair that they kept short and long respectively, and light brown eyes, though Mina's looked more like an amber than Qin's warm honey brown. You grew close to them, and after a few months of getting to know them and being friends, they were the first people besides Iroh you told about being gay. It surprised you that they laughed when you told them. "Oh no, don't get it wrong," Mina had said as she brought you into a warm hug, "Everything just makes so much more sense now!" "What does that mean?" You said nervously, even if you were relieved that they accepted you. "It means we have been trying to set you up for months but you have not been receptive at all!" Qin exclaimed as she ruffled your hair affectionately, "Have you really not noticed?" You blushed and shook your head, "N-No, I haven't..." They shared more laughs at your expense, not that you blamed them, you supposed you were more obvious about your sexuality than you thought. "That just means we have to start in on guys with you and all will be good!" "Oh no!" You said as you frantically waved your hands in front of yourself, "Please don't do that. I'll just embarrass myself." "Awe you poor thing," Mina said with a slight pout to her lip, "So obviously naive when it comes to romance, which means you need experience! And let us provide that for you with expendable boys to give you some experience." You groaned in self-pity and hoped you could fend for yourself as they tried to play matchmaker. - - It didn't let up one bit when Iroh finally arrived back in the Earth Kingdom to take over his tea shop again four months after you arrived. The older man found it incredibly amusing to watch you flounder in front of the guys Mina and Qin tried to set you up with. "How have you been adjusting?" Iroh asked as the two of you were cleaning up the cafe after closing. "Wonderfully," You admitted with a smile, "I like the simplicity of this life. Everyone is so kind here and so open. Even... Even with me being attracted to men, no one has batted an eye at the fact, it's amazing." You gushed as you went to the next table to wipe. Iroh smiled at your enthusiasm, glad you were happy at least right now. "I'm glad," He said with his own smile, "You are more than welcome to stay and to continue working with me here," He started, "You don't have to go back." You smiled as you looked up to the man, "Thank you, I would like that. I wish to return, but not right now and not anytime soon. The Fire Nation will always be my home, and people tend to always find their way back to their homes." "Until that time, you have a home here too." - - You were twenty-five when you returned home to your nation. During your time spent in the Earth Kingdom, you kept you regular letters with your lost childhood friend. If Zuko ever found out why you needed to leave the Fire Nation in the first place, he never alluded to in his letters. It was actually a letter from Zuko that sent you sailing back to your home. It was an emergency express telegram that was from a mere two days before. The letter stated that Mai had died shortly after giving birth to their daughter and that he really needed you and Iroh back home. He didn't say so, but you knew he was asking for emotional support and help. You and Iroh were on the next boat out to the Fire Nation. When the two of you arrived as soon as you could, about five days later (it was the quickest boat they could get on such short notice), you found Zuko secluded in his room with his newborn daughter Izumi. His eyes were worn and bloodshot from both the stress and lack of sleep. And you were sure from crying as well. You greeted your old friend briefly, offering to take the little girl as he caught up with his uncle and father figure. He gratefully accepted the help and you left the room with a slightly fussy baby in your arms. You didn't have a proper reunion with Zuko until a few weeks after Mai's funeral, as he was still in his mourning period for a while. Your reunion with the man was different than what you expected it to be. You expected it to be stiff and uncomfortable, even if you both kept in touch over the years, but it wasn't. He acted as if time hadn't passed and the two of you were still those teenagers who helped save the world and grew closer through those experiences. Izumi stayed with you mostly as Zuko went through his mourning. You simply inserted yourself as her caregiver as your friends went through the motions of grief. Even though she was just a baby, as the weeks and months went by, it seemed like the little girl attached herself to you. Besides her father, she seemed to favor you over the nannies and her wet nurse. And this did not go unnoticed by everyone. Iroh would give you a sweet and slightly mischevious smile every time he stumbled upon you and Izumi. Zuko, however, was harder to read when he watched you interact with his daughter. The firebender would watch your interactions with her very closely as if he was analyzing you. At first, you thought it was because he was protective of his daughter, but since he always left you with a soft smile, you weren't sure why he was acting like that. - Eight months passed and Izumi was crawling very good and starting to get into everything and anything she could find. She was a little terror and kept everyone on their toes. You didn't know when it happened, but somehow you managed to make yourself Izumi's full-time nanny if that would be what you called it. You took care of her the majority of the day while Zuko worked, as simple as that. Zuko didn't pressure you into your old position all those years ago, nor did he with you helping take care of his daughter. But being with Izumi felt right, and where you were supposed to be. "I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you for all that you've done to help me with her," Zuko said as you both crept out of her room after putting the fussy girl down for her nap. You smiled at him and shook your head fondly, "I don't need any thanks at all, I love Izumi and I'm happy to have a part in her life." Zuko hummed in thought, neither of you knew where you were walking to, just simply walking to be in each other's presence. "I'm glad you're back," Zuko says as you enter the garden, "It's been lonely all these years without you." You couldn't help the blush that surfaced at his kind words, and you supposed that old flame never truly died. "I'm glad to be back, I never realized how much I missed my home." "You still consider the Fire Nation your home?" He asked curiously, stopping at the edge of the pond. "I always did," You nodded, crouching down to get a better look at the turtleducks and their spring hatchlings, "After everything, this will always be my home. I loved the Earth Kingdom and the tea shop, but I knew that one day I would return. It was simply at your calling did that time come." There was a beat of silence before Zuko uttered those words that you feared. "I'm sorry I never realized," He started quietly, "And I'm sorry I pushed you away." "I-I don't know what you're talking about," You denied. Even if you didn't look up at Zuko, you would picture the sharp look that would cut through your lie. "You are my friend, one of my closest friends," He corrected himself and sat down on the grass beside you, "I should have realized that, for one, that you weren't interested in women- I mean, looking back at it, it was so obvious," He teased, making you blushed harder. "And for two, that you were in love with me." He sighed and ran a hand through his loose hair, "With how uncomfortable you were with me and Mai, I just thought it was because she was a little rough around the edges, but I was wrong. I pushed you away without realizing your feelings, even if I didn't feel the same." "Zuko-" "No, this needs to be said," Zuko said swiftly, "I'm not saying I regret basically choosing Mai over you, she gave me Izumi after all, but I shouldn't have pushed you aside and ignore you completely." "Zuko," You repeated, looking up at the firebender, the boy you watched take the throne at 17 years old wasn't so little anymore, "It's ok, it's in the past and I've moved on," You said averting your eyes back to the pond, "I don't blame you for anything of the past. You didn't push me away, I left. It wasn't your fault or Mai's fault that I hurt when I saw you together. I was glad you were happy, but I needed some distance, to get over myself and recognize your feelings." "Don't think of it like that," Zuko said a bit sadly, "Your feelings, I should have taken yours more seriously like you did mine. You thought of me and my happiness before your own, and that's where I went wrong. I was supposed to be your friend." You smiled at his words and nodded, "It's ok. I hold no resentment or bad feelings about that. I've buried that a long time ago." The two of you sat in silence for a while, gazing at the water, watching the fish and turtleducks swim in peace. You missed his company, you realized then. All these years and you never realized how alone you felt without Zuko in your life. "Can I ask when you knew you loved me?" You started at his question and Zuko blushed at his own forwardness, "I mean, you don't have to tell me-" You laugh cut him off. "The day we saw the play about the Avatar on Ember Island when I realized who you were. You were more worried I would treat you different when I realized you were the crown prince than anything. I mean, I didn't realize until the next day when I really thought about it, but that was when." You blushed at your childishness, "I admired the fact you wanted to know for you, not your title, and with everything else, I knew my crush wasn't so little anymore." Zuko nodded to your words, his stomach fluttering at your flattery. "So you had a crush on me before that?" You scoffed and shoved the man next to you, hitting his arm as your face lighting up with a blush, "Don't make fun of me!" Zuko laughed at your antics, knowing you weren't serious about hurting him because you were a trained assassin, you would be able to kill him with only four of your fingers. "Hey, I was just curious. But judging by your reaction, you must have," He added slyly, grinning as your blushed harder and buried your face in your hands. Once you got yourself under control, you peeked at the male through your fingers and sighed, "I did," You said, "I found your emo, bad-boy kind of look very cute so of course I had a tiny crush on you. But then you just so happened to have a heart of gold behind those looks and I was done for." "With all this flattery, you'd think you still loved me," Zuko said with a teasing grin, only to have it fall when you tensed, "I didn't mean to insinuate anything-" "I know," You said, now avoiding his gaze again, "I just think that old flame wasn't completely snuffed out," You added in a whisper. Zuko was silent for a while, making you squirm uncomfortably and for a moment, you thought you completely ruined the relationship you had with Zuko. "Does that mean I have a chance if I were to ask you on a date? Like a real one?" Zuko eventually said, looking too bashful to be on the face of the Firelord. Your head snapped towards Zuko. Your mouth fell open to speak, but nothing came out. Was he being serious? "I know it seems kind of sudden, especially because of where the conversation started," Zuko started in explanation, "But when you came back when Izumi was born and stepped in as if you've been here for much longer, you were my savior. And the way you are with Izumi, I mean, I'm convinced half the time she loves you more than me and sees you more as her dad than me." You flushed at his observation, but you knew this all too. You fell in too easy, and you supposed this was why. "When I walked in on you bathing Izumi and blowing bubbles at her and her giggles bouncing off the walls of the bathroom, I think that's when I started to fall for you," Zuko said unprompted, "You just fit, you fit better with me than Mai ever did. I loved her and she will always hold a place in my heart, but the way you work with and around me and Izumi, it's so easy." "I'd love to," You blurted, "I mean, I'd like to start with a date, to see where things go," You mused trying to not seem too eager. "Great," Zuko beamed a bit too eagerly on his part, "How about this weekend sometime? I'll see if Ty Lee would be interested in babysitting, I know she'll get a kick out of this," He added with a faint shudder. He knew he will be cornered for all the details when he asked the girl. "That sounds good," You said standing up, "Want to grab something to eat before the princess wakes up?" Zuko nodded and took your offered hand to stand as well. As the two of you headed towards the kitchens, you talked about anything and everything. The both of you were hyper-aware of how close you were standing next to each other, your hands brushed as you walked and it would have been so easy just to grab ahold of his. But not yet. You needed this to move slow, for your sake and his. - - That first date ended up being the first of many. Everything progressed smoothly and you loved every minute of it. You were right in the fact that the old flame you had for the firebender was never fully out. You may have let yourself date in the Earth Kingdom, (men this time), but it was always Zuko in the back of your head you held a piece of your heart. Your date nights were every other Saturday, with either Zuko's personal maid or Iroh, when he was in town, babysitting little Izumi. Officially, the two of you dated for four months until you guys made it official, which was rather pointless because everyone knew you were together and exclusive. Iroh had a field day when he came to visit before the two of you were 'official' and called it as soon as he walked off the boat. "I knew the two of you would find each other," Iroh had said patting both of your shoulders before whisking Izumi from your arms, "Eventually that is." Because of Izumi, you didn't move into Zuko's chambers until she was almost a year and a half old. (10 months after your first date and 6 months after you became official). Even though ten months is a long time, you were worried you were moving too fast. You were worried about what people would think, because of how Zuko and Mai's relationship ended, you didn't want anyone to think that you had taken advantage of Zuko in a vulnerable state. Thankfully, Zuko quickly shut you up when you christened the bed with a passionate night and morning. He reminded you that he was taken as much advantage of you as you were him, but in all the good ways. That was when you knew you <i>loved</i> Zuko more than anything. Well, Izumi was neck and neck with Zuko. - - "Mai never believed in weddings," Zuko said as he adjusted your ceremonial robes, "But I always wanted to have one." "Really?" You asked, looking over your appearance in the mirror. "Of course, I remember all the talk of how wonderful my parent's wedding was, despite the circumstances, and I wanted something like that for me. But Mai was Mai." You giggled at that, "When I disappeared and we broke up, she was worried her parents were going to marry her off to the next best bachelor, so the whole thing left a sour note in her mouth." "I can understand that," You said as you turned to Zuko and picked an imaginary piece of lint from his shoulder, "But I'm glad you're finally getting one." Zuko beamed and brought you into a breathtaking kiss, humming and licking his lips when you pulled away slightly flushed, "I am too, and I'm glad it's with you." You smiled at the sweet sentiment, "I'm glad you're going to be my husband, but I am not loving having to wear women's ceremonial robes," You grumbled as you looked at yourself in the mirror one last time. "I am sorry about that, but it's the traditional robes for the soon-to-be spouse of the Firelord, and well, there's never been a man in your place before." Zuko said with a laugh, "They do make your ass look very good though," He added with a pinch to said assets. You squeaked at the pinch and huffed, and started walking towards the doors exiting your shared chambers, "At least that is a good thing," You said with a grin, "Does that mean you'll have fun taking them off after the reception?" You asked innocently as you left the room to see how Izumi was holding up to all the papering of being the Crown Princess. Zuko growled at your coyness and followed you out of the room. - Zuko proposed to you on your birthday when Izumi was four. You had been together for just over three years by then, but Zuko always liked to say you've been together since Izumi was born. You were always unsure of the idea of marrying, because Zuko was the Firelord, and there was still animosity out there for same-sex couples. You didn't want to damage Zuko's image just as he has made himself a name as the Firelord. But Zuko was having none of that. He proposed to you after he threw you a far larger birthday party than you anticipated. He had the entire throne room decked out for the occasion and invited many many people you knew and didn't know. Then he proposed to you at the end of the night after you opened all your presents. You instantly started crying and looked around to see if there was any sign of trouble. But all you saw was support from your friends, and the people you didn't know. "I know you're scared, but I would love nothing more to declare to the world that you're mine," Zuko had said as soon as you turned back to him, "I love you [Name], and nothing is going to make me ashamed of that or you. Will you-" "Yes," You breathed before he could finish, "I'm sorry I was ever scared. I will, I love you too, so much." You beamed and if it wasn't for Zuko's strength and height he would have toppled over at the sheer force of your hug. Your wedding was the next spring when all the flowering plants were in bloom. Many diplomats attended the wedding, not that you cared or paid attention to that. You were, however, beyond happy to see Mina and Qin in the crowd as you stood beside Zuko. This day was to be filled with happiness and love, and you were glad to see them, along with the rest of the GAang, and all your other friends from all over the place. The ceremony was very traditional and some would even call it boring, but you loved every second of it. "I love you," You whispered to Zuko as you walked to the throne room for the reception, "Thank you for making my heart whole." Zuko smiled softly at you, pressing a kiss to your temple, "I love you too, and I should be thanking you for everything. You are my everything and have changed my life for the better, in more ways than one." They say if you love something, let it free. You did let Zuko free when you left long ago, but you found your way back. Through everything, you found your way back to your heart and found a greater love than you would ever imagine having. All it took was time.

#avatar #avatar the last airbender #zuko #zuko atla #atla #male reader #x reader #x male reader #male reader insert #imagine #lok #reader insert #avatar tla #avatar the last airbender zuko #atla zuko

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setaripendragon · 7 years

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Like Fire and Water - Part 3

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 Sokka is a mad genius, and I love him. This part was just so much fun to write. It was really good to finally write some real bonding between the two halves of this family. It probably says something that I feel Sokka is the most well-adjusted of the gaang (besides Suki, who is so well-adjusted it’s almost unreal), but I try not to think about it too much ^^”

“Are you sure this is the place?” Sokka asked, squinting at the ragged old apartment building. It was sturdier than some of its neighbours, made of stone rather than wood, but it still looked as though it had seen better days.

“If this place is the address I gave you, then yeah.” Toph replied caustically.

Sokka winced. “Right, right, sorry.” He muttered. “It just doesn’t seem like the sort of place Dad would stay. I mean, he has his cabin on the ship. Oh, but I guess it’s more his… wife’s? Place?” Sokka trailed off, bewilderment stealing his voice.

It was just… strange for there to be a member of their family that he didn’t know. The only thing he knew about her was that she was Earth Kingdom, and called Xia, which Toph had told him on the way out to the lower ring. It was uncomfortable, and Sokka really wanted to meet her and get the awkward ‘welcome to the family, stranger’ stage out of the way. At the same time, he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to meet her. He’d told Katara it wasn’t fair of her to blame Xia or Dad, and he held to that, but he also felt a bit of discomfort at the idea of some new woman taking Mum’s role in their family.

“If you say so? Usually women don’t own property in the Earth Kingdom.” Toph told him.

Sokka squinted at her. “You mean… Men run the house?” He asked, trying not to be judgemental. After all, if Kyoshi Island could train its women to fight, then it was entirely possible that their men took care of the house.

“Run it? No. That’s the wife’s job. Own it? Absolutely.”

“…There’s… a difference?” Sokka asked.

“Yes. Why’re you stalling?” Toph demanded.

“I’m not-!” Sokka began, and then stopped at the look Toph was giving him. It was unfair that she could do that, given that she couldn’t actually see him at all. “Okay, fine. I’m just… a little weirded out by all of this.”

“Does the Water Tribe not remarry?” Toph asked, scrunching up her face.

“No, we do. It’s just… not without the rest of the Tribe knowing who your new partner is and what they’re like and approving of them?” Sokka tried to explain. He didn’t feel like he was doing a very good job. “Ah, never mind. Come on.” He forced himself to step into the building, and climb the stairs to the right floor. He glanced up and down the corridor, trying to orient himself.

Toph tugged on his sleeve, pointing down the hall. “They’re on the left down that way.” She said. “There’s someone else in there, too, though. He seems familiar, but I can’t remember where from.”

“How…?” Sokka wondered, faintly awed.

Toph rolled her sightless eyes. “Earth-bending, Snoozles.” She told him scornfully. “I could tell you how many people are in this building right now. The next room over isn’t exactly stretching my abilities any.” She huffed, blowing her fringe away from her eyes, then stomped down the corridor to the door on the left, then stopped, arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently.

Grinning to himself, and shaking his head at the melodrama, Sokka followed, and turned to regard the door. From beyond it, he could just vaguely hear the sound of voices. A woman’s voice, he thought. With the sound of Toph’s foot still tapping away behind him, though, Sokka only gave himself two seconds to brace himself and gather his nerve. Then he knocked.

“I’ll get it, love.” His father’s voice said, only discernible because it was so very familiar.

The door opened, and there was Dad. He looked just like Sokka remembered, from that painful day two years ago when he left. A little older, maybe, or just more weather-beaten, and Sokka could count a couple of new scars on his bare arms. His face broke into a delighted smile when he saw Sokka, and Sokka was helpless to do anything but smile back. “Hi, Dad.” Sokka managed.

“Sokka. I wondered if you’d come today, or…” Hakoda said, then pulled Sokka into a hug without finishing his sentence or waiting for a response.

From inside the apartment, someone who was obviously not Dad’s new wife made a strangled sound of… aggravation? Anger? Alarm? Sokka wasn’t entirely sure, but it was enough to make him look past his dad’s shoulder.

The apartment was nice, it had touches of home to it that made Sokka want to smile, and the pretty woman at the low table had to be this Xia person, but his attention was caught, and held, by the angry, scarred jerk-bender on his feet next to the table, not quite in a fire-bending stance, but still balanced on the balls of his feet, ready to attack.

“You!” Sokka yelped, twisting out of his father’s hold to grab for boomerang.

“Sokka, what-?” Hakoda began.

“Zuko…!” Xia called, reaching out with a calming hand.

“Oh, that’s why he seemed familiar!” Toph announced, thumping a fist down onto her palm in realisation. “I didn’t recognise you when you weren’t angry. Hey, is Uncle here with you?” She asked, sounding almost eager.

“I- No, he’s coming later- Never mind! What are you doing here?!” Zuko demanded.

“I came to see my dad! What are you doing here?!” Sokka demanded right back.

Zuko went about three shades paler. “Your-” He began, then looked between Hakoda and Sokka rapidly, eyes slowly widening as the realisation sank in. Then he slapped a hand to his face. “Not peasants,” he muttered to himself, “children of the Chief. I’m so stupid.”

Sokka snorted his agreement, which earned him a poisonous golden-eyed glare. He shrugged it off, because as long as Sparky wasn’t throwing fire, he didn’t actually feel all that threatened by him. “I guess you two know each other, then?” Hakoda asked warily, while gesturing for Sokka and Toph to come in.

Still on edge, Sokka did step inside, although he made sure never to get too close to Zuko, or to take his eyes off him. Zuko was gracing him with the same wary regard, although a lot of the hostility had bled out of him for reasons Sokka couldn’t figure out. “Know each other? You could say that. If getting chased across the entire world by this fire-bending maniac counts as ‘knowing each other’, then sure. We know each other.”

“Chasing them across the world?” Xia asked, raising an eyebrow at Zuko. It was an oddly chiding expression, and Sokka shook off the ridiculous idea that she might be- No, she was Earth Kingdom.

Zuko looked away from Sokka finally, his expression reading as nothing more or less than abashed. “I told you. Father ordered me to capture the Avatar.” He stated defensively. Sokka swallowed hard because that reaction made him think that his first thought had been right, and… Oh, hell. Looking at Xia again, he could see the resemblance. Not so much to Zuko, although it was there in the shape of his eyes and nose, but to Crazy Blue Fire. If you aged her up a bit, and took away the sneer that had been on her face the last time Sokka had seen her, then… yeah.

Xia – if that even was her real name – closed her eyes like she was praying for patience. “And Hakoda’s children are travelling with the Avatar. Oh, dear.” She murmured. She shot a look over at Hakoda; a helpless sort of ‘what do we do now?’ sort of look.

Hakoda slid the door shut behind Toph, and walked around her and Sokka to sit down at the table opposite… his Fire Nation wife. Sokka wished his could pick his jaw up off the floor to ask questions about that, or maybe just shriek incoherently for a while, but he was too busy trying to process to remember how to make his jaw muscles work. “I don’t suppose everyone would be willing to talk this out like reasonable people?” Hakoda wondered dryly, giving Sokka and Zuko a look that was caught somewhere between Dad and Chief. Sokka knew that look all too well, but apparently Zuko didn’t, because he actually leaned back a little, regarding Hakoda with wary nervousness.

“I-” Sokka began, his voice coming out far too high for his own comfort. “Wait, rewind. You married the Fire Lord’s wife?!” Sokka demanded, still too high, but at least it was more coherent. He paused, and thought about that. “Ex-wife?” He corrected, dubiously, casting a look across at… whatever her name really was. “Is your name really Xia?” He added.

“No, my name is Ursa.” She replied. Sokka nodded, then looked back to his dad, waiting for an answer to his first question.

Hakoda shrugged. “Seems so.” He replied, as if it didn’t matter at all.

Sokka gaped at him for a long moment, then shook his head. “Right.” He murmured in disbelief. Then, resigned, he trooped over and sat down between Hakoda and Ursa at the table. Toph, following his lead without much concern, flopped down a little behind him and to his right, sprawling out inelegantly as if she intended to take a nap. “Okay. I’m willing to talk about this, I guess, but Katara is going to flip her shit when she finds out. Just so you know.” He told his dad.

“More than she has already?” Hakoda asked wearily, and for a moment, Sokka could see acute pain and grief on his dad’s face. It was an expression he was too familiar with seeing on his dad, and he grimaced in sympathy.

“Uh, yeah.” He admitted reluctantly, scratching at the back of his head. “You marrying again is bad enough – she’s just not ready to move on yet – but… you marrying a Fire Nation lady? When the Fire Nation killed Mum?”

“Would it help if she knew that I killed the previous Fire Lord?” Ursa asked, with the sort of dry chill Sokka had heard a few times from the people in Chief Arnook’s court, and more often from the nobles here in Ba Sing Se. It was cold, but still perfectly polite, and it could hide any number of unpleasant things. And it made Zuko wince. Or maybe it was the fact that his mum had just admitted to killing his grandfather. That had to be awkward.

“You… did?” Sokka asked hesitantly.

“Yes.” Ursa replied simply.

“Uh… why?” Sokka pressed, because from anyone else, the answer would have been obvious. He was the Fire Lord, the biggest douchebag in the world. But this was the man’s daughter-in-law. Sokka had to wonder if Gran-Gran was in any danger.

To his surprise, it wasn’t Ursa that answered, but Zuko. “To protect me.” He said, finally sitting back down and staring at the table, not meeting anyone’s eyes. When Sokka glanced at Ursa to check if that was true, she nodded once, solemn and completely without remorse. Which was kind of a point in her favour, from Sokka’s perspective, although it still seemed slightly creepy.

“Then, uh… yeah, maybe? If you could get her to listen long enough to tell her.” Sokka mused, going back to Ursa’s original question. Zuko snorted in disbelief. Ursa give him a chiding look, but Sokka, reluctantly, had to agree with the moody bastard. “No, he’s right. It is Katara.” Sokka muttered. Zuko’s head jerked up to stare at him, and there was a moment of highly uncomfortable camaraderie between them. Sokka really wished it would stop.

“We’ll worry about Katara later.” Hakoda decided, leaning his forearms on the table, and glancing between Sokka and Zuko with a faintly pleased expression. “We’ll start by seeing if we can’t sort things out between you two, first. Yeah?” He prompted.

“Yeah.” Sokka agreed.

Zuko shrugged uncomfortably, then sighed. “I only wanted to capture the Avatar so that I could go home.” He stated, oddly fierce. Then he glanced over at his mother, and something conflicted passed over his face. “Now… I don’t-… But…” He clamped his mouth shut and dragged a hand over his face. After a long moment, he tried again. “I still have a duty to my people, whether or not I still want to go back.” He stated firmly, then looked up and met Hakoda’s gaze challengingly.

Hakoda nodded acceptingly, which made Sokka want to gape and protest. But he reeled himself in just in time, remembering that this wasn’t Water Tribe versus Fire Nation. This was… a tribal dispute, being mediated by the Chief. “Will going back help your people?” He asked, doing his best to keep any judgement out of his voice.

Zuko glared at him. “You want Azula as my father’s heir?” He asked darkly.

Sokka blinked, then winced. “Oh. Oh, wow. Okay, bad thought, bad thought.”

“Exactly.” Zuko drawled.

“Only…” Sokka began, mind racing. “Does what your dad wants even matter, if we’re going to kick his ass anyway?” He wondered. “I mean, it’s not like Aang’s going to stop him and then go ‘oh, yes, let’s put his psychopathic lightning-flinging mini-me on the throne, that’s a great idea’, you know?” He paused, and realised who he was talking to. “Er… sorry?”

Ursa looked very sad and very tired. “Is she truly that bad?” She asked

“She tried to kill Uncle.” Zuko said quietly. Ursa winced.

Hakoda reached across the table and caught her hands in his. She looked at him, her expression hard to read. Hakoda seemed to understand though, because his smile was soft and full of compassion. “Not your fault, love.” He said quietly, full of sincerity.

Ursa swallowed. “I left her there, with that monster.” She glanced over at Zuko, and her smile twisted into something that was equal parts proud and sorrowful. “I knew you’d be strong enough to stay yourself, no matter what Ozai did to you, but… Azula’s always been… such a fragile soul. I should have taken you both with me, but…”

“Father wouldn’t have let you.” Zuko said, voice hoarse.

Ursa grimaced and looked down.

Sokka was just trying to put Azula and fragile together in a way that made any sense at all. It wasn’t working all that well. “So, ignoring that horrific little piece of family drama,” he began, and ignored the stink-eye Zuko favoured him with, “what you’re telling me is that you don’t want your dad fucking over the world any more than we do.” He concluded.

“My father-” Zuko began heatedly, and then stopped.

Sokka watched him, wondering at the conflict he could see chasing itself over Zuko’s face. He clearly still wanted to defend his father, which Sokka could kind of understand in an abstract sense, as long as he was thinking of Zuko’s father and not Fire Lord Ozai. But he wasn’t doing, and that was a pretty big change from the persistent and persistently angry Prince Jerk-bender that had chased them across the world.

A thought – a horrible, terrible, kind of awesome thought – occurred to Sokka, and he jolted upright where he sat, staring at Zuko, because Zuko was a fire-bender. Zuko stared back, eyes narrowed and wary, and Sokka almost blurted out his terrible idea right then. He thought better of it at the last moment, and clamped his mouth shut. Zuko might not be instinctively defending his father anymore, but there was a world of difference between that and being willing to admit the crazy asshole needed to be stopped. And an even bigger difference between that and being willing to help stop him.

“Oh, no. I recognise that face.” Ursa murmured. “What crazy scheme did you just come up with, then?” She asked, long-suffering and fond.

Sokka glanced at his dad, who grimaced with playful sheepishness, then at Ursa, who raised an eyebrow with a very mum-like stern patience. It hurt, because she wasn’t his mum, but at the same time, something came loose in his chest, flooding him with a sense of relief and tentative hope. He had a mum again, and that… that was good. He smiled at her, a little rueful and a little hopeful, and cleared his throat. “Not a crazy scheme.” He lied. Ursa seemed a little too taken aback by whatever she’d read off his face a moment ago to call him on it, so he pressed on. “Just… wondering…” He said slowly, turning a wary stare on Zuko.

“What?” Zuko snapped, bristling.

“Well… it sounds to me like you… kind of need to figure a load of stuff out, right?” Sokka checked. Slowly, Zuko nodded. “Okay, so… while you’re doing that, can we agree to a ceasefire? Like, you don’t chase us, we won’t tie you up and hang you upside down from a tree. And if you do decide you really do need to capture Aang for your people or whatever, you’ll tell us first?”

For a long moment, no one said anything. Then, Zuko nodded once, sharp and almost angry. “I can do that.” He confirmed.

“Awesome!” Sokka cheered, pumping his fist in the air. “Welcome to the family, brother!” He announced dramatically, just for the way Zuko recoiled and stared at him as though he’d grown an extra head and started speaking lemur.

Hakoda put a hand on Sokka’s shoulder, the other hand falling on Zuko’s. Sokka only looked over at his dad, grinning, but he could see the way Zuko tensed up, like he was expecting an attack. It made his grin maybe just a little less bright than it could have been, and the look on his dad’s face sobered him up further. Not because Hakoda looked unhappy, but because there was such fierce pride and gratitude in his eyes that it made Sokka feel simultaneously a hundred feet tall, and too small to be worthy.

“Thank you.” Hakoda said, simple and honest, looking between Sokka and Zuko to make sure they knew it was directed at both of them. “I’m proud of you both.”

Sokka smiled, bashful and proud all at once, but Zuko’s face scrunched up in confusion. “What? Why?” He asked.

Hakoda’s brow furrowed a little bit, but he answered Zuko plainly anyway. “Because you both took the time to try and understand each other, to listen, and accept each other’s limits. Because Sokka,” Hakoda glanced at him and smiled his acknowledgement, “had the compassion to know better than to ask for more than you could give. And because you had the honour to agree to give them due warning if it turns out your differences are too great.”

Sokka didn’t think his dad had said anything all that remarkable, even if he was feeling stupidly warm and fuzzy because of it, but Zuko… Sokka had to swallow, because the look on his face made him look ridiculously young. Vulnerable. That was the word. He looked vulnerable. And that made Sokka feel really uncomfortable.

Hakoda sighed softly, and gave Zuko’s shoulder a small squeeze. “I know that I’m… not your father, Zuko, but… I think any man ought to be proud to have a son like you.” Sokka could hear what his dad wasn’t saying, and it made something small and jealous twist in his gut. He clamped down on it at once, knowing that was just as unfair to blame Zuko as it was to blame Dad. And besides, he thought with a glance across the table at Ursa, if he was getting to share Zuko’s mum, then sharing his own dad with Zuko was a pretty good bargain all round, really.

“I-…” Zuko began, and his voice shook faintly. He stopped, blinked rapidly, then tried again. “Thank you.” He said it quietly, but it was still clearly audible. Hakoda gave his shoulder another squeeze, then leaned back.

The emotional moment stretched out, turning sour with awkwardness the longer the silence drew on. Sokka opened his mouth to say something witty and inappropriate, when Toph beat him to the punch. “So… who gets to tell Crazy Blue Fire that she’s been trying to kill her step-siblings?” She asked from where she was still lounging behind Sokka.

Everyone at the table just stared at each other, no one quite willing to move while that question settled in each of their minds. Then Sokka gasped with delight, because he had so many ideas. “Dibs!”

#Avatar The Last Airbender #Ursa #Hakoda #Ursakoda #Sokka #Zuko #Toph #'welcome to the family brother!'#getting to know each other #Hakoda is an awesome dad #peacekeeper #and chief #mediating disputes #talking out problems #this is how you solve shit

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