#Sokka: no but really why are you in this saddle | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

empressofthesunwriter · 11 days

Text

Yin and Yang

Balance is a key aspect in the world, so why shouldn’t the Avatar have an opposite?

In a world where Raava and Vaatu merge with humans, the Avatar and the Daimon try to keep the peace between the four nations.

Aang and Hua are the current incarnations, but wake up 100 years in the future.

How will these two learn all four elements in one year and defeat the Fire Lord?

Book 1.03: The Southern Air Temple

Water.

Earth.

Fire.

Air.

Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony.

Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar and Daimon, masters of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed them most, they vanished.

A hundred years passed, and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar and Daimon, an airbender named Aang and an earthbender named Hua.

And although his airbending and her earthbending skills are great they have a lot to learn before they’re ready to save anyone.

But I believe Aang and Hua can save the world.

A few days had passed since Aang and Hua were broken free from the iceberg, which had been their prison for 100 of years.

Together with the water tribe siblings Katara and Sokka the Avatar and Daimon had begun their journey to master all four elements to end the long war the Fire Nation had started.

The first main goal was to reach the North Pole to find a waterbend master.

However, it didn’t mean they couldn’t make some stops.

Aang and Hua had been gone from the world for so long, anything had changed, they needed to see and learn how to move in this new world.

Also, they had important things to check.

So their first stop was the Southern Air Temple, Aang's birthplace, to look for other airbenders and maybe find out what had happened.

The quartetett one flying bison and a Kyuubi had camped yesterday on this tiny piece of island and were making anything ready for their journey to their destination for today.

Hua had a bad feeling in her stomach, as she helped Katara put their luggage in Appa's saddle.

She remembered with clarity how Gran-Gran, Katara and Sokka's grandma, had told them how no one had seen airbenders for 100 years.

She knew it was nearly impossible to meet up again with old friends and mentors, like Monk Gyatso, they were for sure dead, but Kanna's information and its implication, worried Hua.

Deep down she had a feeling if airbenders were still around, they wouldn’t be open about it and the other possibility…how Aang and her (even if she was only a quarter airbender) were the only airbenders left gave her a bitter taste in her mouth.

Other than Aang who was so sure to find his old home full of living airbenders, Hua had a strong feeling they would only find one thing there.

Death.

The black-haired girl shuddered.

It felt like yesterday as Monk Gyatso explained to her some only Daimon-related quirks.

Her Daimon spirit was born out of chaos and darkness, it meant she had a kind of radar for darker things more than Aang as Avatar, who flourished in order and light.

Destruction, pain, and even death gave her a thrill but also made her feel sick.

When she heard how no airbender had been seen for 100 years, a voice inside her said: they are dead.

Call it instinct or her weird Daimon Darkness-Radar, she knew it was true.

Hua had tried to warn Aang, to not get his hopes up, but sadly he didn’t listen to her.

He was too optimistic.

Typical Avatar.

“Wait 'til you see it, Katara!”, Hua heard Aang talk, returning her from her dark thoughts. “The Air Temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world!”

“Aang, I know you're excited, but it's been a hundred years since you've been home.”, reminds him Katara cautiously.

The waterbender looked at Hua, who gave her a tiny nod.

Other than her counterpart, Hua didn't get her hopes up.

"That's why I'm so excited!", told Aang giddy.

"It's just that ... a lot can change in all that time."

"Katara is right Aang.", agreed Hua. "I have a really bad feeling about this. You shouldn't get your hopes up."

This made Aang roll his eyes and jump down from Appa's head.

"You and your bad feelings. You need to be more optimistic.", tutted Aang, which angered the Daimon.

She was not a little child!

"It would help you to be more realistic, Mr. Avatar. You can't live with your head in the clouds all the time!"

"I'm an airbender, it's in my nature."

"Yeah, that's your excuse for anything!"

"Children!", got Katara between them.

She had a tired and annoyed look on her face.

No wonder, since she and Sokka joined them, she had to stop the Avatar and Daimon regular from arguing.

"Not this early in the morning, please."

"Sorry, Katara.", they chorused together.

How synchronic they could be, when they didn't want to smash heads with each other, would astonish Katara forever.

Since neither Aang nor Hua wanted to give Katara any grief, they decided to drop the matter, for now.

Hua called for Jaiyi, who had been playing with the waves.

While her Kyuubi joined her and Katara on the saddle, Aang got Sokka out of his sleeping back, pretending there was a prickle snake in it.

They were ready now!

***

Serenly Appa was flying through the Patola Mountain range.

It's a great day for flying, musses Hua, as she sits beside Sokka and Katara on Appa's saddle, having Jaiyi in her lap.

Her nine-tails currently getting pats from her and Katara, as Sokka's stomach growls loudly.

The three females look at him in a deadpan.

Really?

He was hungry again?

They had breakfast about an hour and a half ago.

How was this possible?

"Hey, stomach? Be quiet, all right? I'm trying to find us some food.", grips Sokka with one hand his growling stomach and with the other reaches for their food bag.

His tongue out of his mouth full of anticipation, as he starts to go through it.

He looks surprised for a moment, but quickly turns the bag upside down to pour the contents into his hand.

Only a few crumbs land on his glove.

"Hey!", the water tribe warrior shouts, pointing an accusing finger in the direction of his companions. " Who ate all of my blubbered seal jerky?!"

"Oh. That was food? I used it to start the campfire last night. Sorry.", tells him Aang happily.

Hua makes a facepalm, Jaiyi just deadpans more and Katara can only shake her head.

Meanwhile Sokka nearly cries and whines about why the flames smelled so good last night.

"The Patola Mountain range! We're almost there!", announces Aang with excitement.

Katara and Hua look at each other, silently agreeing and they crawl towards Aang.

"Aang, we need to talk.", begins Hua.

"About what?"

"About the airbenders."

"What about 'em?"

"Well, we just want you to be prepared for what you might see. The Fire Nation is ruthless.", tells him Katara. Sadly her hand goes to her chocker. "They killed my mother, and they could have done the same to your people."

In compassion the earthbender wraps an arm around Katara's shoulder, giving her a squeeze.

The older girl had told her this a few days ago, when they had bathed in a hot spring together, enjoying some time away from the males. Both had cried together for their dead family and comforted the other.

Still, Hua would always comfort Katara when she needed to, like Katara did with her.

However, this does not have the wished effect on Aang, because he just cheerfully says how the airbender probably escaped and how you can reach only one of the temples with a flying bison and he doubts the Fire Nation had.

So no worries.

For that Hua flicks the back of his head.

"Hey! What was that for?!"

"You are an unsensible brat, you know that?", hisses Hua. "Katara tells you her mother was killed and not even some condolences from you! What a great friend you are."

This makes Aang blush in embarrassment.

"Katara I-"

"Aang, Hua, it's okay, don't start to argue again, alright?"

"But-?"

Suddenly Jaiyi lets out a warning yip, as Appa starts to climb higher and higher the mountain. The only one who isn't screaming in surprise and tightly holding onto the saddle is Aang since he sits on Appa's head and holds the reins tightly.

After a few seconds, they break the cloud and there is it...the Southern Air Temple in its glory.

"Aang, it's amazing!", shouts Katara.

"Ha, I forgot the bumpy ride, but for this visual it's all worth it!", musses Hua, still holding Jaiyi tightly to her chest, as the nine-tails make an agreening sound.

"We're home, buddy! We're home.", says Aang with happy tears in his eyes to Appa.

A while later Appa lands them on one of the landing platforms of the temple and the humans with Jaiyi make their way towards it.

Of course, Aang was in the lead, Hua and Jaiyi behind him, making Katara and Sokka take up the rear.

With only a half ear Hua hears how Sokka wants food and Katara scolds him for it, reminding him how they are the first outsiders at the temple.

Since they touched down, the Daimon feels sick to the stomach.

It's like she can taste the decay in the air.

Hearing screams of pain and plaids of mercy.

This is a graveyard and nothing more.

How she feels bad to think this about the temple.

Her point is only proven when Aang tells the others where he played airball with his friends, where the bison slept and trails off to admit how everything changed and only weed is remaining.

They quickly approach Aang.

To lift his spirits Sokka plays with him airball and gets absulty demolished.

At least the Avatar is again in a good mood.

But poor Sokka who landed hard in the snow.

Hua has Jaiyi in her arms, looking at how Aang lets the airball twirl in his hands, wondering when she will be apply to do this, as Katara calls for them.

The younger ones walk towards them, only to see how Katara buries Sokka with snow.

"What's up?", ask Hua confused.

"Uh ... Just a new waterbending move I learned."

"Nice one! But enough practising.", exclaims Aang. "We have a whole temple to see!"

The airbender walks away and Hua follows after a second.

She has a feeling about what Katara and Sokka found and wants them to see, Hua tastes and feels it in the air, but maybe, just for a few minutes more, she can lie to herself.

Even if it was for a short time, the Southern Air Temple had been her home, it's already breaking her heart to see it so empty.

Hah, she is such a hypocrite!

Telling Aang he needs to face the truth when she is here trying to ignore it.

Jaiyi licks her cheek, trying to lift her spirits. In thanks, she gives her a kiss on the head.

For a few more minutes she will be just a girl, who returns home, then she will face the truth, she promises herself.

They reach the courtyard where Monk Gyatso statue stands.

"Hey guys!", Aang calls back to the water tribe siblings. "I want you to meet somebody!"

"Who's that?", asked Sokka.

"Monk Gyatso.", answers Hua, a tear slipping down her eye. "When I was brought to the Southern Air Temple he became my guardian. He was already Aang teacher and mentor, so I was his charge also."

"He was also the greatest airbender in the world and taught me anything I know.", adds Aang.

Together Aang and Hua bow before the monk both loved like a father/grandfather, remembering times long ago…

***

Hua is swinging all alone on a swing in a beautiful courtyard of the Southern Air Temple. She can see some bison calves eating grass and a few flying lemurs are sitting on the tree, where the swing is tied.

Her heart is heavy, but she refuses to cry.

“Of course, you are here.”, she hears the gentle voice of Monk Gyatso behind. “You want to tell what happened, Hua?”

She turns her head to the monk, stopping her swinging.

“Aang is an idiot and nothing more. I can’t believe he is supposed to be my other half.”, she grumbles.

Monk Gyatso frowns, stepping beside her.

He pats her gently on the head.

It helps a little to feel better.

“Talk with me Hua, what happened?”

“I don't even remember anymore, we always are at each other throats for stupid things.", she admits quietly. "The Avatar and the Daimon are supposed to be a team, but Aang and I hate each other guts. It makes me feel like a failure. I'm more and more sure that the monks and the earth priests were wrong about us."

"Now, Hua, the only thing that they did wrong was telling you both your destiny and making you meet now and not at sixteen. But we can't concern ourselves with what was. We must act on what is.", Gyatso tells her calmy.

"I try, but I'm not really good at this. Will I be ever ready? Can Aang and I become friends or are we doomed to hate each other?"

"Your questions will be answered when you're old enough to enter the air temple sanctuary. Inside, you will meet someone who will guide you on your journey. Normally you would be brought to an Earth Temple Sanctuary, but the elders and our priests had to mix up anything.", was the last thing the monk huffed irritated.

A little smile forms on Hua's lips.

"I hope you are right because if not, I will bury Aang alive."

This makes both of them laugh.

"Give it time, little flower.", reassured her Gyatso. "You both were always friends in any of your lifetimes. You will find a common ground."

"Well, if you say so."

"Now, how about a hug? I can see that you need one.", smiles Gyatso grandfatherly at her.

The young girl grins and falls in the comforting embrace of the monk, who was more like a grandfather, than a teacher to her.

***

Aang and Hua are still bowing before the statue of their shared guardian, as Katara puts a hand on each of their shoulder. On the floor between them is Jaiyi, who snuggles the Avatar and Daimon to her best abilities.

"You must miss him.", says Katara in understanding to her two friends.

They confirm and start walking.

"Where are you going?"

"The air temple sanctuary.", begins Aang and Hua ends the sentence with: "There's someone we are ready to meet."

Aang and Hua enter the hallway, Jaiyi following after them.

Katara looks questioningly at Sokka, who just shrugs.

They both start walking after the Avatar and Diamon.

The round symbol of intertwined air currents, the national symbol of the Air Nomads is largely embedded in the floor, surrounded by two square shapes that form some sort of sun together.

The quartet and nine-tailed fox have reached the entrance of the air temple sanctuary.

The door supports a combination of metal-coloured pipes and three, blue, rolled-up, pipes that are similar looking and arranged like the symbol for airbending.

The large wooden door is framed by the branches of an old tree standing on the left of it and the hallway is illuminated by sunlight that falls through little, round windows.

"But Aang, Hua no one could have survived in there for a hundred years.", protested Katara sceptically.

"It's not impossible. We survived in the iceberg for that long.", reminds Aang.

"Good point."

"Whoever is in there, will help us to become a fully realized Daimon and Avatar.", explains Hua.

Eagerly Sokka steps forward, with a hungry look in his eyes.

"And whoever's in there might have a medley of delicious cured meats!"

Full of anticipation and longing, Sokka charges at the door, but it will not budge and he simply smacks into it, head first.

Hua, Katara and Jaiyi try not to laugh, but tiny giggles escape them.

The water tribe warrior quickly turns around and puts his back on it, trying to push the giant door open.

When the door does not move, he sighs, slides down to the floor, disappointed, and rests against it.

"I don't suppose you have a key?", he ask towards Aang and Hua.

"The key, Sokka, is airbending.", simply states Aang.

Aang gets in position as he takes a deep breath.

He spreads his arms and thrusts them forward, sending an air current into both of the tubes on the door.

The air follows the path of the right air current as it travels through the pipe. The wind makes one of the blue curled tubes turn around.

When it does, the tube changes colors to purple and the wind blows out like a horn.

The process is repeated for the other two blue tubes as well.

When the three blue tubes have turned and become purple, the door unlocks and it slowly starts to open.

Light penetrates the dark room.

The doors sway open.

"Hello?", calls Aang into the room. Slowly stepping in. "Anyone home?"

The others follow behind him.

Inside the room there are a large amount of statues of people, lined up in a circular pattern.

It's always two statues beside each other, nearly every one of them holds hands, but there are a few who just stand beside each other.

"Statues? That's it? Where's the meat?", groans Sokka in disappointment.

"Who are all these people?", wonders Katara.

Aang and Hua look pensive at the statues around them.

"I'm not sure. But it feels like I know them somehow. ", states Aang.

The Dsimon nods.

"I have the same feeling, hey look!", she points at a female statue. "This one is an earthbender."

"That one's beside the earthbender is an airbender.", says Aang.

"And this one's a waterbender, who holds hands with a firebender. Never thought I would see that.", musses Katara before she realizes. "They're lined up in a pattern: air and earth, water and fire, earth and air, and fire and water!"

"These are the Avatar and Daimon Cycles!", shout Aang and Hua together.

"Of course. They're Avatars and Daimons. All these people are your past lives, Aang and Hua."

"Wow! There are so many!", exclaims Aang.

"They go till the highest point of the room!", notes Hua. "I wonder why some hold hands and others not."

Katara lets out a hum, then snaps her fingers.

"I bet the ones who are holding hands were couples and the ones who don't were friends."

"Huh...makes sense.", mumbled Aang, looking like he bite into a lemon.

He feels deep down that Katara is right.

He so does not like this!

Hua is right behind him making a yucky sound, stating: "I can't believe we were that often a couple! I can see maybe ten or so who were only friends."

However, both start to follow along the circle, looking at the statues.

Meanwhile Sokka of course doesn't believe this reincarnation bullshit and Katara has to make clear how every Avatar and Daimon after they die gets reincarnation in the next nation in their cycle.

Transfixed the Avatar and Diamon stand before the last two statues in the room.

A male Fire Nation Avatar holding hands with a female Water Tribe Daimon.

It's strange, but Hua has a feeling the beautiful aged elderly lady statue is calling for her.

Like she had met an old, dear friend, the presence is calm and comforting.

She hears the whisper of crashing waves, the soft and cold touch of snow ...

"Aang! Hua! Snap out of it!"

Abruptly Hua and Aang get shaken from their daze by a worried Katara.

"Huh?", both chorused intelligently.

"Who are they?", wants Katara to know.

"That's Avatar Roku, the Avatar before me."

"And she is Daimon Lixue, my predecessor."

Sokka joins them jokily stating: "Aang was a firebender? No wonder I didn't trust you when we first met."

"I think I heard about Lixue.", mubles Katara. "Just I can't remember all about her."

"She was from the Southern Water Tribe, no wonder you heard about her.", explains Hua.

"You were one of our tribesmen? Really?", say Sokka in disbelief. "Way to return back home and lead firebenders to us."

"Sokka!"

"What Katara?!"

"You know what I mean! Don't play dumb!"

Her brother just gave Katara a big grin.

The waterbender huffs, before she notices something.

"There's no writing. How do you know their names?"

Automatically the current Avatar and Daimon look at each other and shrug their shoulders.

"We just know.", they chorus.

"You two just couldn't get any weirder.", bemoans Sokka with crossed arms.

All this Avatar/Daimon mumbo-jumbo was so not his thing.

He liked a scientific explanation for the world.

The quartet and Jaiyi startle and stare with big eyes in front of them when they hear something.

They turn around.

A blue light on the floor comes in through the door. A long-eared shadow of another being that is approaching moves over it.

Hua hides with Jaiyi behind the statue of Lixue, as the others scatter to a hiding place.

She sees Sokka, who is holding his club ready for everything

The shadow is creeping closer.

"Firebender.", whisper Sokka. "Nobody makes a sound."

"You're making a sound!", grumbles Katara irritated.

For that, all shush her, even Jaiyi!

The shadow has reached the bases of the statues and reveals a small figure standing in the doorway; it chitters.

Eh, what?

Confused Hua and Jaiyi look around their statue, like Aang and Katara, while Sokka has still his club raised, but doesn't use it.

Before them sits a flying lemur.

The animal moves his large ear and blinks at them.

"Lemur!", shouts Aang excitedly.

"Dinner!", shouts Sokka hungrily.

"Don't listen to him. You're going to be my new pet."

"Not if I get him first!"

Sokka stretches his hand while he excitedly lunges himself at the animal from behind the statue.

Aang runs up at the lemur as well.

The lemur arcs his back in fright, his ears, hair and tail standing upright as the snatching hands of the boys draw closer. It startles, quickly turns around and makes a break for it.

The water tribe boy misses the animal and falls down, while Aang nimbly avoids tripping as well by using Sokka's head as a stepping stone. Quickly Sokka gets up and runs behind Aang and the lemur as they exit the sanctuary.

Now only the girls and the kyuubi remain.

Katara and Hua find each other eyes.

"Boys.", they both exclaim tired, as Jaiyi makes an agreeing sound.

"I'm not running after them.", makes Katara clear and steps to Hua and Jaiyi.

"Me neither. Shall we look around more, maybe we find something interesting."

"Sure."

So the girls and Jaiyi look around the room and the statues.

Only a few minutes pass, and as the girls and Jaiyi stand again before Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue Roku's eyes begin to shine!

"What the?!", shouts Hua surprised.

They look around the room and see how all Avatar statues light up.

"Spirits, this isn't good!"

"Hua, we need to find Aang!"

Immediately Hua lets Jaiyi down and the floor and commands: "Girl, find Aang, fast!"

The kyuubi doesn't need to be told and follow Aang's smell.

Behind her Hua and Katara follow her through the whole temple, as they see a large tornado.

"That must be Aang!", yells the Daimon.

Soon they reach the tornado that Aang has become and Sokka who is holding on to a rock.

"What happened?", yells Katra over the wind, trying to not get blown away.

"He found out firebenders killed Gyatso!", explains Sokka.

"Oh no! It's his Avatar Spirit. He must have triggered it! I'm going to try and calm him down!"

However, she can't even make a step forward as Hua's hand stops her.

"Hua, what?!"

Whatever Katara wants to say, she forgets it the moment she looks back at Hua.

The Daimon's eyes are shining in a burning orange as she speaks with a thousand voices: "Stay down. It's too dangerous. I will calm my other half."

So Hua has entered Daimon State, it was maybe better if she talked to Aang.

Sokka thinks the same and grips his sister and Jaiyi, holding them protective to his side.

"Well, do it! Before he blows us off the mountain!"

From the Daimon comes only a nod, as she makes her way over to the enraged Avatar.

With ease, she bends away the currents and flying debris.

When she reaches finally Aang she takes his hands in hers.

The Avatar looks full of anger and pain to the Daimon.

"My Yin, don't lose yourself in the pain. I know how you feel. I loved Gyatso and the other airbenders too. They became my family far from home. Your pain is mine. You are not alone. You have me, I will always be by your side!"

"Always, my Yang?", asks the Avatar also with a thousand voices in one.

"Till the last star in the universe dies out. This is our eternal promise."

"I remember."

"We have a family. Katara and Sokka are our family. The loved ones we lost, get reborn in new loved ones."

Finally, the winds calm down and the Avatar descends back to Earth. The two half embrace each other tight and kneel down on the ground.

Slowly their eyes return back to normal, however, they don't let go of each other.

Right now, only their other half can understand their pain and anguish.

The water tribe siblings and Jaiyi join them.

Katara embraces the two young children like a loving mother, while Jaiyi licks their cheeks and Sokka puts each a hand on their shoulder.

"You both are not alone, me and Sokka are your family now.", reassured Katara.

"Katara and I aren't going to let anything happen to you two. Promise.", swerves Sokka.

"I'm sorry.", sniffles Aang.

"It's okay. Don't worry.", mumbles Hua back, rubbing his back in comfort.

"It wasn't your fault.", adds Katara.

"But you girls were right. And if the firebenders found this temple, that means they found the other ones, too. I really am the last airbender."

"Don't forget me.", reminds him Hua gently. "I'm just a quarter airbender, but it still counts."

A little wet laugh escapes Aang and he buries his head deeper into the Daimon shoulder.

For now, the storm was over.

***

They, Aang and Hua, are back again in the sanctuary, looking one last time at Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue.

Katara joins them, saying: "Everything's packed. Are you two ready to go?"

"How are Roku and Lixue supposed to help us if we can't talk to them?", wonders Aang.

"No idea.", admins Hua, picking up Jaiyi, and cuddling her to her chest.

"Maybe you'll find a way.", stays Katara optimistic.

They glance at each other when they hear something behind them.

Turning around they see the flying lemur standing on its back legs in the middle of the doorway.

The animal reaches Sokka's feet and drops the load he is carrying: a variety of fruits.

The lemur quickly dashes away as Sokka sits down and starts to stuff his face with the fruit, taking large bites of two different pieces of fruit.

Amused Hua, Jaiyi, Aang and Katara smile at Sokka.

"Looks like you made a new friend Sokka!", tell him Aang smiling.

"Can't talk! Must eat!"

The flying lemur climbs onto Aang and hides behind his head, his tail curled around Aang's neck.

Seems like someone wants to go with them.

The group makes their way back to Appa, with their new lemur friend.

Aang has a hand on Appa, while the lemur is sitting on his arm, as they look back at the Southern Air Temple in the distance.

"You, me and Appa; we're all that's left of this place. We have to stick together.", tells them Aang, before he turns to the others. "Katara, Sokka, Hua and Jaiyi say hello to the newest member of our family."

"What are you going to name him?", asked Katara curious.

Sokka is about to take another bite of the peach he is eating when the lemur jumps to him, stealing the fruit and returning to Aang.

He starts to nibble it with gusto.

Well, this gives Aang an idea for a name.

"Momo!"

Sokka still stands there, mouth open and hand in front of his mouth, ready to take a bite, however, he has no peach anymore.

The others start to laugh upon seeing Sokka's expression.

After that, they mount Appa and fly away from the Southern Air Temple.

Dusk is settling as Aang looks with Momo at how his old home become tinier and tinier.

In silence, Hua with Jaiyi joins them.

The girl pats his shoulder, giving him a little smile, which he returns.

And so the Avatar and Daimon look together at how the Southern Air Temple vanishes behind clouds.

A silent sentinel of a chapter in their lives.

#own character #ocs #ao3 writer #fanfic writing #avatar the last airbender #aang #sokka #katara #toph beifong #zuko #suki #zutara #sukki #aang x oc

13 notes · View notes

oneatlatime · 6 months

Text

The Chase

Saving the commentary for next time. I haven't actually listened to any of the commentary tracks. Are they worth it?

Disney princess Aang.

There is no way the Air Nomads didn't have some sort of textile-based industry with that much shedding going on.

Sorry Katara, but Toph is much more Goblin than girl.

In a completely unsurprising move, the 12 year old formerly caged only child high on her first taste of freedom takes it too far.

The beat up Sokka quota is fulfilled! 3 minutes and ten seconds in might be a new record.

This is the kind of miscommunication I can get behind. Katara thinks they've had this whole fight complete with big issues, a falling out and a need to apologise. Toph has no idea that there are any issues.

Comfy.

What kind of cows are they expecting to meet to necessitate that!?!

How exactly is Toph supposed to help unload anyway? Unloading = throwing things down from a place she can't see. The last time anyone threw something to her from Appa she got beaned in the head. I get that she could help set up tents maybe, but unless Appa's saddle is made of stone she can't see it or anyone on it.

I get that they're all tired, but I'm with Toph on this one.

Sokka! Truly a man of wisdom. Sometimes all you should do is sit back and watch the fireworks.

Did Katara just insult Toph for being blind? Not cool.

Why would a tent made of stone have seams?

I love how when Sokka sticks his head under the covers his voice gets muffled.

Pushing Appa this hard has got to be borderline abusive. And how it keeps finding you? Maybe the trail of breadcrumbs maguffin you spent the first scene of the episode setting up? These poor kids are dumb when they're tired.

Zuko's so angry that his anger wins out as a descriptor over the whole 'half his face is missing' thing. That's impressive.

"Fun and Perky!" Honestly, no comment. Trying to put "FuN and PeRkY" in the same sentence as Sokka broke my brain.

"There's no way they could have possibly followed us" except for the giant carved pathway up to where you are?

These three. Hmm. Did not miss them.

Wow those ride on lizards sound annoying!

Since when can lightning demolish walls?

Pretty.

Siblings!

"We've been up all night with no sleep." LIES. FILTHY LIES.

That's sleep.

You have GOT to be kidding me.

I had not thought about the dangers of ten tonne sleep deprived flying animals.

Katara's really in full bitch mode this episode huh?

Sokka is the only person with sense this episode. Also love the toilet brush trees.

"We're all just trying to get used to each other." Actually, the only person who had a problem with Toph was Katara.

Sokka speaks truth and has his priorities in order. What else can I say? This guy rocks.

This guy can't catch a break.

I hope Appa was napping during that bath.

I take it back. They're not toilet brushes. They're moustaches.

And that's all you're getting for today folks because I just lost power!

edit: part 2 + wrap up is posted.

#atla #avatar: the last airbender #avatar the last airbender #the chase

37 notes · View notes

kanene-yaaay · 1 year

Text

A Method to De-Stress

Warning: None. Just a very silly tickle fic. Romantic pairing. Tickly kisses. Lee!Aang and Ler!Katara. Around 1000 words.

Kanene's notes: Found myself wanting to write a loving fic with Katara and Aang being the most PRECIOUS and SOFTEST w each other except for Katara having the need for blood laughter. I will post a title and organize everything better tomorrow abshyegebsjs I am sleepy.

[~*~]

Katara could swear she was feeling a vein on her forehead about to explode from the sheer amount of stress that only grew stronger with each line of the report she read about the reconstruction of the South Pole. Not for the first time she wished that Appa could fly quicker, not for the first time she hoped he wouldn’t.

Huffing a tired breath - she was supposed to be enjoying the little alone time she got with Aang, and instead… - she closed the paper with a decisive fluid movement, shoving it on her purse before looking at her boyfriend.

The Avatar was too focused on directing the flying bison to notice her stare, giving the waterbender plenty of time to watch at him with what her brother called ‘gooey eyes’ before a very specific smile grazed her lips.

The perfect idea of how de-stress just flicked on her mind.

“Aang, sweetie, can you come here, please?”

The other turned around with the same happy excitement he always had when Katara used the sweet petname, blinding smile and a loving gaze that got too unfocused for a few seconds before he managed to get his head out of the clouds painting his features.

“Alright!” He then turned to Appa, petting his head. “I will be right back, ok, buddy? Just keep flying forward and soon enough we'll take a break with plenty of berries for you to eat!”

Then, in a blink, he was jumping over the saddle and poppling himself in front of the girl, his entire body facing hers, faces close and attentive eyes clued on her, as if Katara was the wind in a good day for sail, guiding and pulling him close like a nature force that he couldn’t bother (nor want) to fight against.

That was perfect for her idea, of course, even if she wanted to laugh and coo about how easy the airbender was making this for her.

“What is it, KatarAH!”

She smiled, softly, innocently, as happy as a polar goose bear who just got their prey as she watched the other shout a loud, incessant laughter. The surprised sound filling and running across the entire atmosphere, chasing the birds in the air and jumping around the clouds as her hands - still attached to his sides no matter how much he squirmed and trashed - squeezed and tickled the spot freely, without a single worry in the world.

“BWAHAHAAIT! WAIT, WHYHIHIHI!” With a content and a tad questioning hum she gently lowered him to the floor when her fingers, skilled from years and years of tickle fights and surprise wiggle attacks with Sokka, wormed their way to the delightful, horribly ticklish base of Aang’s spine, prodding and poking incessantly at the spot as the younger’s his legs gave out under him.

“Why what, Aang? What is the matter? Did something happen for you to get so giggly out of sudden?”

“YEHEHES!” Tui and La, Katara almost forgot how cute his voice gets when she tickles his spine with tiny, careful pinches, each one of them pulling more and more squeaky shrieks. “Yohoho’re tihihIIIIH TIcklING mHEHEHE! Mwhehehe! Nohohohoho!”

“Tickling you?” Katara gasped, ignoring the avatar’s hands batting hers, the touch both too uncoordinated and too light to really diverge her from her objective, the tip of her fingers dancing upwards to scratch all the sensitive spots on his ribs, making his laugher much more high pitched and lost in hysterical giggles for him to do much more than nod non stop to answer her question. “But how so! I am simply resting my hands here, on your very ticklish ribs and there is no problem with me choosing to rest them here, is there? I spend the whooole morning working, they’re tired from writing so much. You won’t force your own girlfriend to take them away, will you, Aang, sweetie?”

“Mmmmhehehehee! Katara!!” He tried to squirm, cheeks involuntary getting hotter with both the nickname and how his muscles melted with the careful touch and silly teases. Still, the light, unbearable tickles kept following every little twist and wiggle of his torso with a determination that could rival Zuko’s when he wanted to capture him. “Ihihihit tickles sohohoh much!!”

“Please, Aang? Pleeeease.”

He made the horrible mistake of opening his eyes, only for them to be captured by the biggest, prettiest and bluest gaze he had ever seen in his life (and he had seen very beautiful things!), and suddenly every single muscle in his body gave up, all the fight flying away from his spirit in a single giddy breath. She indeed had worked so much these days…

Oh, he was done for, wasn’t he?

“Ohohohokay!”

“Really?” She beamed, and grey eyes watched the exact moment the innocent, pleading disappeared her gaze and was promptly overpowered by a hungry, predatory smirk. “Perfect.”

He felt as the hands that, before, were barely fluttering against his skin closed in fists, knuckles now resting on the tickle spot, and in a sudden hysterical piece of second he realized exactly what he just walked in.

“Katara!”

And then she attacked.

(...)

“Thank you, Aang!” Her words were playful and happy as she peppered a series of quick butterflies kisses on his red cheeks, little huffs of snickers painting her tone as the act only made the other’s tired giggles flow faster.

“Nooo,” his hands were clued on her shoulders, caught between the need to push Katara away before the moment grow into a second tickle attack and basking on how nice the lovely kisses felt. “Yohohou know thahat my cheeks are tihihihicklish!”

With a last chuckle, Katara laid a last kiss on his forehead, finally letting the boy snicker, titter and snigger his way out of the giddiness of the tickling and the adrenaline of the surprise attack. His arms let her go to hug his own torso, a couple of tired kicks being the materialization of the somersaults his stomach kept doing.

Both of them carried gigantic smiles on their faces (one a tad more adoring than the other, that is true) and a joyful wrinkle around their eyes, clothes being softly jolted by the wind as Appa calmly kept passing under the clouds.

Katara knew that there would be more problems and papers and responsibilities and choices waiting for her, no matter the place or time, that was just life.

Still, with Aang's laughter still ringing clear on her ears, Momo jumping on her shoulders to convince her to give him a snack and a grin still stretched on her face, suddenly none of this felt so overwhelming.

"I do." She chuckled and Aang's smile blossomed wider, probably already thinking about revenge and surprising attacks, she would have to be careful to not let him out of her vision field for the day. "That I do."

A wonderful method to de-stress, indeed.

#Originally I wanted to make each one of the Gaang tickling Aang to de-stress because it's fun and the boi really doesn't mind at all #but then I got real busy very quickly so hshsghevehveje but I still want to try to write it so let's see how that goes #I am craving atla content in a way that OH NY GOSH CALM DOOOOWNNN BRAIN CALM DOWN #Lee!Aang #Ticklish!Aang #Ler!Katara #Atla tickles #atla tickling #Kanene's fic #Kanene's fanfic #long boi post #sorrey beans read more ins't working on mobile today

23 notes · View notes

the-badger-mole · 1 year

Note

‘We can find Uncle,” he said after a moment. He shrugged his rucksack from his shoulders and rummaged through it until he came up with an old, smelly slipper.

“What is that?” Katara recoiled at the scent.

“It’s...it’s the only thing of my uncle’s I could find after we split up,” Zuko explained sheepishly. He handed it over to Jun, who held it with two fingers for Nyla to smell. The giant beast leapt to her feet and pointed west.

“Got him!” Jun declared. She passed the slipper back to Zuko and swung into the saddle on Nyla’s back. “Who’s riding with me?”

“You go,” Sokka told Zuko. “We’ll follow you on Appa.” Zuko nodded and clamored on to the saddle behind Jun. The bounty hunter spurred Nyla into a run, and the rest of the group hurried back to where Appa was waiting.

“Did you know he was hanging on to that thing?” Suki asked. Her nose scrunched distastefully. Katara shook her head.

“Not a clue,” she told Suki. “I’m choosing to find it endearing.”

"I'M CHOOSING TO FIND IT ENDEARING" 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I don't know why I find that line so funny, but I re-read it 20 times and I'm still cracking up!!!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

LOL! Thank you! I thought that line was really funny, too

#atla #zutara #when the smoke clears comments #out of yesterday's ashes comments #THE YEAR OF CONTENT!!!!

45 notes · View notes

bard-llama · 1 year

Text

WiP Wednesday: Dragon Mama Zuko

Okay, so I have this new ‘verse that I’ll start posting tomorrow (under a side account, but apparently I’m terrible at keeping things separate, so...)

Anyway, the premise of this series is that the Masters (Ran and Shaw) choose Zuko to help repopulate the dragon species. Zuko is not delighted about this, because he basically ends up pregnant with a dragon egg. Anyway, here are some of my favorite scenes because I’m still stuck on Ch 2, but am working on Ch 8, so... yeah. Set during/after The Firebending Masters. Also, this thing is at 20k, so there are a lot of scenes here oops.

TW: eggpreg, crack treated (moderately) seriously

Shaking himself, Sokka shouted for the others and headed towards the main landing they all gathered on. Appa would probably land there.

There were three odd things he noticed immediately.

One – Aang was standing in the saddle while Zuko was actually the one holding Appa’s reins.

Two – Aang’s voice was exasperated as he insisted, “your balance is still messed up, Zuko. You’re gonna fall. Just let me–”

“I’m not gonna fall!” Zuko snapped angrily, jumping down. He did manage to stick the landing, but like… barely. There was definitely some wobbling that Aang hurried to stabilize.

Three – Zuko looked… weird.

“Uh,” Sokka said. “Welcome back?” Was he supposed to ask about the whole weirdly big belly thing or–?

“Hey Twinkletoes, hey Sparky!” Toph called loudly, stomping into the area. Then she paused. “Uh, Sparky, why do you have two heartbeats?”

“What!?”

Well, if they were gonna acknowledge it…

“Better question,” Sokka said, “why do you look pregnant?”

Zuko flushed bright red and huffed out an irritated breath.

“Technically…” Aang started, and Zuko glared at him.

“Aang!” Katara raced to their sides, immediately pulling Aang into a hug – and not so subtly checking him over for any bruises or burns. She didn’t even notice the weirdness of Zuko’s whole look until she was satisfied that Aang was safe and turned to glare at her favorite person to hate.

Then she blinked.

“What the fuck!?” she blurted out, and Sokka and Toph both led out scandalized gasps.

“Watch your language, Sugar Queen!” Toph scolded, a grin tugging at her lips.

“Seriously, though,” Sokka waved emphatically to gesture to the weirdness of this, “why does Zuko look pregnant? Aang, did you knock the Fire Prince up?” he joked.

Both Zuko and Aang turned scarlet. “What!?” they yelped, oddly in sync. “No!”

Sokka paused. “Wow. That was very convincing. So I repeat my sister’s sentiment: what the fuck?”

“Sparky, are you really pregnant?” Toph demanded. “Where’s the other heartbeat coming from? It’s kinda… weird. Though I guess I haven’t sensed that many pregnant people’s heartbeats.” She frowned in consideration and Sokka suddenly saw an involuntary trip to find pregnant people in his future.

“...sort of?” Zuko said weakly. His face was so flushed that steam was literally starting to rise from his head, which was honestly kind of awesome and hilarious, but Sokka valiantly maintained a straight face.

“You said you were going to an abandoned island,” Katara said, an edge in her tone that was moderately menacing, even though Aang was fine and Zuko was the one somehow pregnant.

A year ago, Sokka never would’ve believed this could be his life.

Aang cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Yeah, so um. The abandoned island was not so abandoned. Also, turns out there are still dragons! Two of them, in fact. And um. No others. Yet. But there will be. Now. ‘Cause of Zuko.”

Zuko groaned, covering his face. His ears were still burning red.

“...what?”

“Hold on.” Toph had a look of horrified delight on her face. “Are you trying to say that Sparky got knocked up by dragons!?”

Aang shrugged and Zuko let out an annoyed sound, dragging his hands down his face and gritting out, “more or less.”

“What!?”

“Hey guys,” Haru’s voice from behind them made Sokka jump and he whirled around to see their three other companions. “Everything okay?”

“Um.” Was okay a word that could be applied to this situation? “Zuko is pregnant with a dragon,” he said blankly.

Zuko sighed.

“...I’m sorry, what!?”

Sokka could see the moment Haru, The Duke, and Teo got a good look at the Fire Prince, because their faces turned to a confused kind of fascination.

This time it was The Duke who swore. “What the fuck?”

Katara gasped. “Who taught him that word!?”

“Katara, you literally said it like half a minute ago,” Sokka pointed out. The answer was most definitely ‘Toph and Zuko’, because they swore like sailors and egged each other on, but there was no need to remind Katara of how much she hated Zuko.

She never really forgot.

“...weren’t you going to learn firebending or something?” Teo asked slowly.

Zuko huffed a breath, then answered. “Yeah. We went to the Sun Warriors temple – and apparently they didn’t die off thousands of years ago. They are also hiding the last dragons in existence.”

Sokka needed a moment to digest that, but Zuko went barrelling ahead.

“The Sun Warriors – who are dicks, by the way – claim the dragons chose me to help repopulate the species because fuck me, I guess and blah blah blah fate and destiny and bloodlines and shit. So, um. Yeah, I’m pregnant with a dragon’s egg. No, I do not want to talk about it.”

“I have… so many questions,” Sokka breathed.

“Too bad,” Zuko snapped. “Did you manage to hunt anything while we were gone?”

A little later:

Haru raised his hand. “Can we go back to the part where he’s pregnant?”

“With a dragon!?” Teo added.

“No.” Zuko’s voice was final. “Is anyone allergic to peanuts?”

Slightly later:

“Um. Okay? I’ll… go do that?” Zuko suggested awkwardly, more than aware that they preferred to keep him in sight.

Sokka glanced at the others. Yeah, they needed a moment alone with Aang. “Go ahead,” he encouraged and Zuko’s eyebrow arched slightly, but he didn’t question it, instead slipping away to get the supplies from his room and head to the kitchen.

Or – trying to slip away. Apparently Aang’s comment about his balance wasn’t unfounded because he ended up running directly into the wall.

Sokka tried very, very hard not to laugh as Zuko swore loudly and emphatically. And creatively, with several suggestions of what the Sun Warriors and the dragons could do with themselves. Was that even anatomically possible?

“Zuko!” Katara hissed, covering The Duke’s ears. The Duke wiggled out of her grasp, looking like he’d been gifted a present. Toph’s face was mildly impressed and highly amused.

“Ugh!” Zuko threw his hands up in as close to a temper tantrum as he’d thrown since joining them and stomped off down the hallway, grumbling about dragons under his breath.

They all watched him leave for a long moment, then turned back to Aang.

Sokka decided to be the one to start. “What – and I mean this with all my heart – the fuck, Aang?”

Over dinner:

That thought was extremely uncomfortable, so Sokka quickly sought to distract himself. Fortunately, there was a very distraction-worthy source sitting right across the fire from him, next to Aang (which, actually, was kind of interesting, because usually Aang chose to sit next to Katara, and she stayed as far away from Zuko as possible).

“Soooooo,” Sokka drawled, calling attention to himself. He held out his hands and counted on his fingers, “you can cook, you’re pregnant, you’ve got longish hair – are you sure you’re not a girl?”

“Sokka!” Katara snapped at him and oops, okay, he could maybe see why that question annoyed her.

“Actually,” Zuko started and everyone turned to stare at him. He blinked. “Um. No. I am definitely biologically male. But uh, clearly,” he gestured unnecessarily at his rounded stomach, “I’m gonna need a disguise.”

“...what does this have to do with being a girl?”

“Because that’s the disguise,” Zuko said. “Obviously.”

Sokka blinked. “Wait,” he said slowly, “are you saying you would voluntarily pretend to be a woman? Why!?”

Zuko just shrugged, looking remarkably unperturbed. “Why not?”

That just made Sokka sputter in response and Katara pressed her lips tightly together to keep from acknowledging that she was on Zuko’s side in this.

“The Fire Nation doesn’t really have gender roles in the same way the Water Tribes do,” Aang said. “They’re not as loosey duck-goosey as Air Nomads, but–”

“Loosey duck-goosey?” Zuko repeated disbelievingly. “Seriously?”

Aang laughed. “I mean, we are pretty casual about it. And we have over fifty different words for genders.”

Zuko frowned. “Fifty? I only remember like… thirty?”

“Oh yeah, there’s–” Aang started to describe the Air Nomad perspective on gender, but to be honest, Sokka kinda tuned it out, more focused on his food.

Later in the conversation:

“King Bumi?” Zuko asked. “Of Omashu?”

“Yeah! He became King later, though. Not really sure how?”

“Omashu’s King is chosen by tourney combat,” Zuko informed them. “The idea being that the victor is the strongest earthbender in the world.”

“Welp, I’m gonna have to become a King now,” Toph announced and Zuko chuckled.

“I think you actually have to do the job, unfortunately,” he told her.

“Eh, that’s what advisors are for,” Toph scoffed, and Zuko full out laughed at that.

Sokka suddenly realized that he’d never heard Zuko laugh with anything except bitterness before.

A serious moment in the same convo:

After a moment, Aang asked, “would Azula really hurt her? Aren’t they friends?”

Zuko sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “With Azula, familiarity actually makes it worse.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s…” Zuko paused, thinking about his words. “When she’s interested in you, she wants to see you react. If she doesn’t care about you, then as long as you don’t inconvenience her, you’re safe.”

“That’s not how siblings are supposed to be!” Aang burst out and Zuko scowled at him, but he turned to Sokka and Katara. “Tell him!”

Katara lips quirked into a mean little smile. “I dunno,” she said. “If he was my brother, I’d happily drown him.”

Sokka winced. He got that she hated Zuko, but jeez.

Zuko just nodded, though. “She tried once,” he said casually. “Usually she was more of a fan of smothering, but I’d told her how Father saved me from drowning when I was five or so and she got jealous.”

“Your sister tried to drown you!?” Haru asked shrilly.

“I was just glad we were on Ember Island and not at the palace,” Zuko said as if nothing was the matter. “By the time we got back, she lost interest in that, so the turtleducks were safe.”

“...turtleducks?” Sokka asked with great caution. Zuko was being way too casual about near death experiences.

“Oh, um,” Zuko flushed, clearing his throat. “There’s a turtleduck pond at the palace. I spent a lot of time there. But it can be dangerous if Azula knows you care about something.”

“Why do you care about someone like that?” Aang demanded. “All she does is hurt you!”

Zuko just stared back blankly. “She’s my sister.”

“And Ozai’s your father,” Sokka pointed out. “So what happens when we face him?”

Zuko froze, face unreadable. “Are you asking me to help murder my father?”

“No!” Aang cried out. “We can stop him without killing him!”

“Really?” Toph asked bluntly. “How?”

“I–” Aang faltered. “I don’t know. But we have to.”

“Why?” Katara said, voice level. “If anyone deserves to die, it’s him. Think about all the death he’s caused.”

Aang shook his head. “I can’t take a life. I can’t.”

Sokka noticed Zuko closing his eyes, looking pained. So he wasn’t wholly shocked when Zuko spoke, but somehow he still really was.

“You… might have to,” Zuko whispered.

“What?”

“He–” Zuko swallowed hard. “He’s my Father. I don’t want you to kill him. But he – he won’t stop. Not unless he’s stopped.”

“Then we find another way to stop him,” Aang said firmly. “I can’t kill him. I won’t. Air Nomads consider all life sacred. I can’t – I’m already all that’s left,” he said quietly, voice hoarse. “I can’t betray our teachings. I can’t.”

“Okay,” Sokka heard himself say before he knew he was going to. But fuck, it wasn’t like he could argue with that. “I’ll… try to think of something.”

Aang’s smile was watery, but genuine and it made the commitment worth it.

From a later chapter:

Zuko nodded. “If there were a lot of troops captured, I’m not sure where they’d keep them all. They might spread them out across different prisons. But the leaders – those they’ll keep at the Boiling Rock.”

“The what?”

“Boiling Rock,” Zuko repeated. “It’s the highest security prison in the Fire Nation and it’s located on an island in the middle of a boiling lake inside a volcano. It’s inescapable.”

“Oh,” Sokka said, voice small. He chewed on his lip, thinking about what to do next. He had to rescue his dad. He had to. The entire invasion place was his idea and he’d made the call to keep going, instead of retreating when everyone would’ve made it safely out. It was his fault. He had to be the one to fix it.

“I’m going with you,” Zuko said.

Sokka blinked. Could Zuko read minds? “What?”

Zuko sent him a flat lool. “You’re about to do something stupid,” he said, and before Sokka could deny it, he continued, “I recognize the signs. I’ve done a lot of stupid shit myself. But if you’re gonna do something stupid, be smart about it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I inspected the prison for my Father about a month before the eclipse,” Zuko murmured. “Breaking out of the prison is impossible. However… it could be possible to break in. But not alone.”

Sokka was quiet for a moment. “It might be a one-way trip,” he whispered.

“Not if we do it right,” Zuko countered. “So let’s make a plan. That’s your thing, right? I can tell you what I know about the prison and its layout.”

Biting his lip, Sokka glanced back at the fire-lit circle they’d left. ��I – I don’t want to tell anyone,” he said quietly.

Zuko tilted his head. “Why?”

“This was my fault. It’s my mistake and I have to fix it. I have to regain my honor.”

“That’s something I happen to know a bit about,” Zuko said with a wry smile. “And here’s the thing I learned about honor – it’s not something that you manage alone.”

Sokka frowned. “What does that mean?”

“Honor doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” Zuko said. “It comes from our actions and how those affect other people. And to treat those other people honorably, sometimes you have to ask for help.”

Scoffing, Sokka crossed his arms. “Sorry, are you seriously saying that?”

Zuko rolled his eyes, “I said it was something I’d learned, not something I figured out how to do yet. Anyway, the point is, don’t rule out the others’ skills and capabilities when thinking about how to do this. If you wanna keep it quiet, fine. But we should at least tell Toph.”

“What?” Sokka blinked. “Why?”

“Because she can help us build a miniature of the prison for you to use,” Zuko said. “But mostly because she’s already eavesdropping on us and will be pissed if we don’t.”

“Oh.”

A tongue clicked, “busted.” Toph laughed. “So, what can I do for you gentlemen?”

“Not sure Zuko counts as a gentleman,” Sokka muttered, covering his face. This was spiraling out of his control rapidly.

“Hey!” Zuko looked offended. “Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I’m not a man! I mean, I’m not, but like, there’s no correlation!”

“What’dya mean, ‘you’re not’?”

Zuko shrugged, “I thought I was for a long time, but turns out, I’m not.”

“So… what are you?” Sokka asked, and even Toph looked curious.

“I think only the Air Nomads have a word for it,” Zuko said, “but I’m some flavor of nonbinary. They have more specific words, but none really felt right.”

“Nonbinary,” Toph repeated. “What’s that mean?”

“Mm, it can mean a lot of things, but for me, it’s like something in between man and woman? But also like, not part of the spectrum at all? I dunno, it’s kinda hard to describe.”

“Hmm. I like it,” Toph decided.

“You should talk with Aang about how Air Nomads view gender,” Zuko advised. “I mean, like he mentioned, they have over fifty different words for very specific genders, so…”

“See, that much is just too overwhelming,” Sokka said.

“Yeah, that’s why I choose nonbinary,” Zuko nodded. “It can be an umbrella for a lot of things, but it’s also… simple. Er, I guess.”

“Cool cool,” Toph said. “By the way, you two sneaking off to talk looks super suspicious, so the others definitely think you’re up to something. Which you are, but we can’t let Sugar Queen ruin our fun.”

“...our?” Sokka asked with some measure of resignation.

“Yeah, I’m definitely coming,” Toph said. “You’re going to a big hunk of metal, right? So the world’s only metalbender might come in handy.”

“She’s not wrong,” Zuko pointed out.

The next day:

“What happened?” Aang asked, stepping further into the kitchen to stand between Katara and Zuko.

“I told him who gave me my scar,” Zuko said, something tired and resigned in his voice. Sokka was kind of surprised to discover that he didn’t like it. Zuko was many things, but defeated had never been one of them.

“Oh.” Aang’s face did something complicated, shadowed with horror, grief, and heartbreak.

“So… should we ask who?” Haru ventured uncertainly.

Zuko’s lips twisted. “They can tell you,” he said, waving at Aang and Sokka.

Then, literally in the span of seconds, he was suddenly gone. Sokka blinked, trying to figure out where he might’ve gone, brain lagging with fatigue.

Aang ran towards one of the huge open air windows that lit up the kitchen (sunrise had begun). “Zuko!” he shouted, something like panic in his voice.

There was an annoyed groan from somewhere above them. “I’m fine,” Zuko said, still sounding so utterly tired that it made Sokka’s body feel heavier in sympathy. “I’m going to meditate. You can skip today’s, but you’re doing extra sets. Find me when you’re done.”

Sokka listened hard, hoping he would be able to figure out where Zuko was, but once he finished speaking, there was no noise at all.

“How did he even do that?”

“Zuko’s a ninja,” Aang said seriously, slowing moving away from the window with a frown. “He did break into Pohuai, so he’s probably fine climbing around the temple. And he’s been here before…”

“Why does it sound like you’re trying to convince yourself?” Toph asked.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up.” Haru held up his hands. “He broke into Pohuai Stronghold!? When? How?”

“What even is Pohuai Stronghold?” Sokka asked.

This time it was Aang who sighed explosively. “Okay, so, it was just a couple of weeks after I first woke up. We flew through a really bad storm, and Katara and Sokka got sick.”

“You made us suck on frogs!” Sokka said accusingly.

“...what?” Haru looked completely lost.

“I found an herbalist nearby and she said that they had to suck on the frozen river frogs,” Aang explained. “So I went to go get some. But I was attacked and captured – by Zhao.”

Haru’s face showed no signs of recognizing the name.

“Admiral Sideburns,” Sokka provided.

“Ooooh,” both Toph and Haru said.

“At the time, Zuko and Zhao were both hunting me. But even then, I don’t think Zuko would’ve ever strung me up like that and threatened – well.” Aang cleared his throat. “Um, so I was captured by Zhao and I couldn’t move like at all, not really. I would not have been able to get out of there without help.”

“You said it was Zuko,” Sokka murmured, “who saved you.”

“To capture you for himself,” Katara corrected.

“Maybe,” Aang shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll ask him some time. But whatever his reason, he helped me and he committed treason to do it. And I think it cost him, too. Did you know Zhao blew up his ship?”

“Wait, seriously?”

Aang nodded. “Um, anyway, Zuko rescued me from Pohuai Stronghold. He managed to sneak in, cut off my restraints – oh yeah, did you know he has swords, too? – and we almost got out without incident just by sneaking. Zuko is like really good at sneaking. And I’ve seen him scale a building, so climbing up the temple shouldn’t be that hard.”

“...he literally walked into a wall yesterday,” Haru pointed out.

“Yeah, but that was because – oh monkeyfeathers! He’s still pregnant!” Aang slapped his hand to his face, then leaned out the window and called, “Zuko! Come back! You’re gonna fall!”

There was no response.

“Should we… look for him?” Sokka suggested slowly, not quite sure how worried he should be.

“Eh, he’s fine,” Katara sniffed.

“Relax, Twinkletoes, he really is fine,” Toph announced, wiggling her toes. “And honestly, if he’s already compensated this well for the new weight distribution and shit, then I wanna see what he’s like with swords.”

“You can’t see anything,” Sokka said, extremely proud of himself for catching the joke. But his amusement faded as he thought about it. “Neither can he. Er, I mean, not from that eye, anyway.”

“Oh.”

A little bit later in the same convo, but after Aang leaves:

Sokka sighed, catching Haru’s eye over his sister’s shoulder. He jerked his head slightly to the side and Haru nodded, quietly slipping away.

“Katara,” Sokka said. “Talk to me.”

“About what?” she asked, a mulish twist to her mouth that indicated she knew exactly what.

“I get being mad at Zuko. I get not liking him. But–”

“But you’re being a bitch,” Toph said bluntly.

“Excuse me!?” Katara screeched. “Have you forgotten what he’s done!?”

“I remember,” Sokka said. “I can also see that the Zuko who’s here with us now is miles different from the Zuko that crashed into our village. Which he even apologized for.”

Katara scoffed.

“You just learned that a kid had his face burned off by his father,” Toph said, “and your response was to call him stupid. Yeah, you’re being a bitch.”

Sokka held his hands up placatingly, “look, we’re not asking you to be friends. But could you maybe lighten up a little? Where’s the girl who faked Appa being sick just to help some Fire Nation villagers, huh? You said you’d never turn your back on anyone who needs you.”

“Zuko doesn’t need me,” Katara spat. “And I wouldn’t help him if he did!”

“We all know that’s a lie,” Toph said.

“No, it’s not! He’s – he’s – he deserves–”

“Don’t you dare finish that, Katara,” Sokka warned. “He told me he can’t really see or hear on his left side at all. He said he was used to it and that the dragons must’ve healed him because he isn’t in pain anymore. As in, he’s been in probably constant pain for three years, Katara. I don’t care what he’s done, you can’t wish that on anybody.”

Katara swallowed hard. “He’s the face of the Fire Nation. He’s everything I hate about them,” she whispered.

“Is he, though?” Toph asked, voice surprisingly gentle. “Or is that what you want him to be so that you can hate him?”

Katara didn’t answer.

Okay, I think that’s all for now lol. Hope you enjoyed!

#atla #dragon mama zuko #chronic pain zuko #wip wednesday #mpreg #technically

42 notes · View notes

paisholotus · 2 years

Text

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬

A/N this is a long chapter sorry in advance. But I hope y'all enjoy 😊🤎

Narrative

Aang whispering in a weak voice "I need to ask you something." Aang slowly asked Katara. "What is it?" She asked him, Aang still whispering "please come closer." He told her, Katara leaned closer to him, to hear him better.

Aang in a excited voice "Will you go penguin sledding with me?" He asked, with wide eyes.

"Uh...sure I guess." Katara said awkwardly.

Aang airbends himself to his feet as he starts to rub the back of his head.

Sokka yelled seeing aang standing in disbelief. "What's going on here?" Aang said with confusion. "You tell us! How'd you get in the ice?" Sokka yelled, poking Aang with his spear "And why aren't you frozen?" Sokka continued to interrogate aang. Aang batting the spear anway, absently "I'm not sure." He said lowly.

Aang gasps as a low, animal like noise is heard from behind him, begins to frantically climb back up the ruined iceberg. He jumps over the lip of what is in fact now a crater and lands on a huge furry animal.

"Appa! Are you all right? Wake up, buddy." Aang says in a worried tone.

He leans down and opens one of the beasts eyes. He closes it again. Aang hops down and tries to lift the animal's huge head, but without effect. Katara and Sokka come around the corner and their mouths drop in shock as the see the monster, whose mouth opens and licks the boy trying to wake him up.)

"Haha! You're okay!" Aang said cheerfully.

He then hugs Appa, Appa occupies most of the crater left by the explosion. He is a huge flying bison with six legs and horns like a steer. He gets up and shakes himself off a bit.

"What is that thing?" Sokka asked getting into attack stance. "This is Appa, my flying bison." Sokka rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Right. And this is Katara, my flying sister." He said sarcastically.

Aang is about to reply, but doesn't as Appa begins to sneeze. Aang ducks in time as Appa proceeds to sneeze all over Sokka.

"Ewww! Aahh!!!" Sokka shrieked, covered in snot, tries to get rid of it by rolling around on the ice and snow.

"Don't worry. It'll wash out." Aang said, causing Sokka to groan and mean mugg him. "So, do you guys live around here?" Aang curiously asked.

"Don't answer that! Did you see that crazy bolt of light? He was probably trying to signal the Fire Navy." Sokka pointed his spear at aang.

Katara scrunched up her face and looked back at sokka, "Oh, yeah, I'm sure he's a spy for the Fire Navy. You can tell by that evil look in his eye." She said rolling her eyes back at him.

Aang smiling so innocently with big wide eyes.

"The paranoid one is my brother, Sokka. You

never told us your name." Katara said, "I'm A... aaaahhhh... ahhhhhh.... aaah aaah aaah AAAAAAACHOOOO!" As Aang sneezes he zooms off the ground far into the air, and lands back onto the ground.

"I'm Aang." He sniffles and rubs his nose, sokka incredulous, "You just sneezed... and flew ten feet in the air." Sokka said shocked. "Really? It felt higher than that." Aang said smiling at sokka.

Katara gasping, "You're an airbender!" She said excitedly. "Sure am." Aang proudly said. "Giant light beams... flying bison... airbenders... I think I've got Midnight Sun Madness. I'm going home to where stuff makes sense." Sokka said walking away from the two.

but he stopped at the iceberg's edge. Nothing sea and ice. "Well, if you guys are stuck Appa and I can give you a lift.

Aang airbends himself onto Appa's head, then to the top of his back where rests an enormous saddle. Reigns are attached to both of Appa's great horns.

"We'd love a ride! Thanks!" She runs and gets on Appa, "Oh, no... I am not getting on that fluffy snot monster." Sokka protested, "Are you hoping some other kind of monster will come along and give you a ride home? You know... before you freeze to death?" She quizzically questioned him.

Sokka starts to say something and gives up before he does. He sighs. Katara and Sokka in the back part of the saddle. Katara looks excited. Sokka looks grumpy, arms folded across his chest.

"Okay. First time flyers, hold on tight! Appa, yip yip!' He yelled to Appa.

Aang shakes the reigns and Appa makes a low rumble, he flaps his huge beaver tail and then launches into the air. He spreads his legs wide, but then comes right back down into the water with a huge splash. He begins to swim them forward.

Aang shaking the reigns again, "come on, Appa. Yip yip." "Wow. That was truly amazing." Sokka mocked aang. "Appa's just tired. A little rest and he'll be soaring through the sky. You'll see." He said enthusiastically.

He makes a “soaring through the sky” motion with his hand, his eyes finally resting on Katara. He leaves them there, a smile on his face as he looks at her. "Why are you smiling at me like that?" She asked aang, "Oh... I was smiling?" Aang lowly asked, sokka let out an disgusted groan and they moved ahead.

Yanna's pov

My boat moved to the spot of the light, cracked ice everywhere and a huge broken in half iceberg, scattered over the ice bed. "What happened here?" I muttered to Han. He walked over to the berg, and turned back to me "what you think happened, Miss." I shook my head not knowing the answer. "I don't know, but whatever I was, it was big....very big." I turned around with Han following close by "ready the men and women. We're going to keep along this path, but stay hidden. We don't wanna draw attention."

Narrative

Katara pulls him off Appa and a small crowd has gathered to greet him. It is composed of women of various ages and children.

"Aang, this is the entire village. Entire village, Aang." Katara introducing him. Aang bows to them in a friendly manner, but the people pull back from him anyway.

"Uh... why are they all looking at me like that? Did Appa sneeze on me?" He nervously asked

An old woman walks up as Aang inspects his clothes for bison snot.

"Well, no one has seen an airbender in a hundred years. We thought they were extinct until my granddaughter and grandson found you." Gran Gran said. "'Extinct'?" Aang questioned. "Aang, this is my grandmother." Katara told him, "call me Gran Gran." She said with a smile. Sokka grabbing Aang's staff, "What is this, a weapon? You can't stab anything with this." Sokka remarked, "It's not for stabbing." He creates a jet of air that sucks the staff back into his hand. "It's for airbending." He told Sokka.

Aang opens the staff into a glider with red wings.

" Magic trick! Do it again!" The little girl cheered.

" Not magic, airbending. It lets me control the air currents around my glider and fly." He told her, "You know, last time I checked, humans can't fly." Sokka mocked him, "Check again!" Aang yelled.

Aang launches himself into the air with his glider. He soars through the air, doing loops as the villagers on the ground point to him in wonder. The Villagers awed at aang, "Whoa... he's flying... that's amazing!"

Aang looks down at Katara who smiles at him. He is so enthralled with her attention that slams right into Sokka's guard tower. He pulls his head out of the tower and falls to the ground with his glider.

Sokka gasping, "My watchtower!" Sokka screamed, "That was amazing." Katara said, rushing over to aang to hug him.

- Time Skip-

"PENGUIN!" Aang excitedly yelled. A penguin in distance, visible between Sokka and Katara. The penguin, aware that it has been spotted, makes an frighten noise and turns to waddle away. Aang uses his airbending to run at unbelievable speed toward the horizon where the penguin had just been. "He's kidding, right?" He asked Katara.

"Aang?" Katara giggled at him. Aang chasing some penguins, but unable to catch them as they waddle away. "Haha! Hey, come on little guy. Wanna go sledding?" He asked the waddling penguins. Aang lunges, but falls flat on his face. He gets back up as Katara approaches.

"Oof! Heh heh, I have a way with animals." He puts his arms out and waddles in imitation of the four flippered penguins. "Yarp! Yarp yarp! Yarp! Yarp yarp! Yarp!" He imitated the penguins.

Katara giggles, "Hahaha... Aang, I'll help you catch a penguin if you teach me waterbending."

"You got a deal! Just one little problem. I'm an airbender, not a waterbender. Isn't there someone in your tribe who can teach you?" He asked Katara.

Katara looking away in sadness, "No. You're looking at the only waterbender on the whole South Pole. She said looking down, "this isn't right. A waterbender needs to master water. What about the North Pole? There's another Water Tribe up there, right? Maybe they have waterbenders who could teach you." Aang suggested to Katara.

"Maybe. But we haven't had contact with our sister tribe in a long time. It's not exactly 'turn right at the second glacier.' It's on the other side of the world." She waving her hands in the air,

"But you forget: I have a flying bison. Appa and I can personally fly you to the North Pole. Katara, we're gonna find you a master!" Aang promised Katara.

Katara smiled happily, "That's...", then stopped feeling uncertain. "I mean, I don't know. I've never left home before. "Well, you think about it. But in the meantime, can you teach me to catch one of these penguins?" He asked her. Katara mocked teacherly tone, "Okay, listen closely my young pupil. Catching penguins is an ancient and sacred art. Observe."

She produces a little fish from her coat and tosses it at Aang. He is instantly surrounded by a horde of hungry penguins. It appears to be late afternoon. Suddenly, Katara and Aang rocket off the ice bank, each sitting atop a penguin. The land on the bank below and continue down at high speed on the penguin's belly. Aang and his penguin take a jump off a small ramp, eventually landing in front of Katara. She takes the jump and lands near him. They laugh and whoop happily.

"I haven't done this since I was a kid." Katara yelled happy. "You still are a kid." He smiled back at Katara.

-Time Skip-

Yanna's pov

My thoughts came to an end when I heard laughing of joy. Looking around I saw them, I pulled my mask up and hid behind the mountain so I couldn't be seen. It was katara on a penguin with a boy, I frowned at the boy. "Who is that?" I whispered to Han, "I don't know, never seen him before, Miss."

Walking in the snow walking closer and closer to the tribe I called my second home. It pains me being back here, haven't seen them since I was a little girl I'm 18 now, I lost touch with sokka and katara but I always checked on them but in secret. Being a moon warrior comes with sacrifice, not being able to keep contact with them for safety reasons. I felt guilt rise in me, I know katara and sokka must be mad at me, especially katara she was like a sister to me.

We followed them and I gasped when I saw the boy opened up his stick and flew in the air, I just stood there shocked then I turned to Han and he whispered "you....you don't think he- he's" then I looked back at the boy, he was wearing airbender clothing. Then realization hit me "the Avatar."

I couldn't believe it, it's been a 100 years and the Avatar comes and he's just a child? That's probably what that big light was, he's been hiding here, in that iceberg all this time. I looked back at katara she's grown to be so beautiful, her mother would be proud.

But my smile fell when I noticed they was going towards a abandoned ship, I tried to follow them but Han held me back. "No, we won't have anywhere to hide if we follow. They'll be ok." I hesitantly looked back and turned around going back the path I came.

Almost back to my boat a flare rose to the sky and my heart fell to my stomach. "Oh, no." I said rushing onto my boat and had the men and women get ready for whatever is about to happen.

Making our way towards the village we saw a ship holding the Avatar taking him away, telling Han get ready to follow them. We water bended a tight fog around us to give us cover, but before we could do anything we saw a giant flying bison land on the ship. "Hold on, wait just a minute." They stopped bending and we watched the Avatar fall overboard, I prepared to save him but he came out water swarming around him, with his tattoos glowing.

He washed all the soldiers away and floated back down, Katara and sokka grabbing him getting on the bison to leave. The men got ready to shoot the bison down, but the Avatar knocked the fire balls against the glacier causing it to crash the ship, having them get away safely.

Clearing the fog I make my presence known we water bended the ship in the air with large pieces of ice, we jumped onto the ship having them back away except one. "WHO ARE YOU?" The boy said getting into fight stance. I smirked through my mask, "hmm, prince zuko, what a surprise." He stared at me with a raised eyebrow, "how do you know me?" He grumbled. I raised the ship up high and had the waves crash around them, I channeled my energy and summoned him, raising the water up higher having it crash in circles around the ship.

The ship rocked back and fourth when the water began to bubble. He raised slowly out the water glaring at them, blaring his fangs and bent down cowering over the men on the ship.

I walked towards zuko with power in my eyes and pulled down my mask and menacingly stared at him. Still having the waves circle around the ship, speaking to him in a commanding voice, "DON'T YOU EVER COME BACK HERE! AND NEVER RETURN. IF I EVER SEE YOU BACK HERE AGAIN...HAVING YOUR HONOR WILL BE THE LEAST OF YOUR PROBLEMS. DO YOU I MAKE MYSELF EXTREMELY CLEAR." The older man quickly nodded. I walked away with the rest of my warriors and we got off the ship. I turned around and whistled for my serpent to go back in the water. And he snapped back into the water pushing the ship far away in the ocean.

I glared at the spot the ship once was and turned around to have us prepare to go back home. Then I smiled a little bit....so the Avatar has returned.

#black reader #black writers #black representation #poc reader #poc writer #avatar aang #atla sokka #suki atla #katara #zuko #atla iroh #atla #avatar the last airbender #toph atla #Avatar the last airbender x black reader #finding peace

17 notes · View notes

kittyotakunoir666 · 2 years

Text

Strength to my Soul

AO3

Masterlist

Strength To My Soul by electroniccollectiondonut

I was given permission to build upon electroniccollectiondonut fanfic.

The first few chapters will be world developing like the show before the whole being soulmates changes the plot.

~~~~~~

Snippet

CH 3 - Nightmares and Southern Air Temple

Zuko couldn’t breath

Dad's going to kill you! Really, he is.

He felt as though he was drowning and didn’t know how to find the surface.

You were lucky to be born

It burns

Zuko

It burns so much

Remember this, Zuko

He wanted it to stop

No matter how things may seem to change

He feels a horrible pressure in his chest

Never forget who you are

He needed to wake up

I love you my son

He wanted to wake up

Everything I've done, I've done to protect you

Why couldn’t he wake up

We’ll meet again, Zuko but until we do remember I will always…...

Someone help him wake up

~ ~ ~

Aang is sleeping on Appa's saddle while clouds build around and ahead of him. Lightning splits the sky and the rumble of the following thunder awakens him. Lightning splits the sky and the rumble of the following thunder awakens him. He shoots up and looks around. Aang notices that it’s raining and so he moves to sit on Appa’s head again, holding the reins and screaming at the top of his lungs in terror while they go down. Appa and Aang splash into the waters of the ocean. Appa resurfaces again, growls, but is quickly subdued by another wave. Both Aang and Appa sink unconscious into the water. As Aang releases the reins and drifts off, his eyes and tattoos suddenly start to glow brightly. He slams his fists together, creating a bluish-white sphere that encases Appa and himself. As the air sphere slowly solidifies into an icy globe, a voice permeates the dream. He goes to sleep as everything goes dark around him.

~ ~ ~

Zuko wakes up to someone touching his forehead

“You're burning up. You have an intense fever.” a soothing voice told him as a wet cloth is placed on his head. He opened his eyes and stared at worried amber eyes, it was his Uncle, “This will help cool you down.”

“Thirsty,” Zuko croaked as he tried to sit up but his Uncle was trying to lie him back down, “So thirsty.”

“Here's some clean water to drink,” Iroh said as he grabbed the pitcher of water and poured some into a cup. He helped Zuko sit up, “Stay under the blankets and sweat this out.”

Zuko drinks from the cup before tossing it aside and grabs the water pitcher and drinks from it. As he drank he was spilling water all over himself, he felt relief as the water hit his exposed skin. He tossed the water pitcher aside after finishing the water and then laid back down and went to sleep. Iroh pulls the covers more over him.

Iroh exits the room to check where they will be and notices that they still have a few hours before they arrive at a port where they can make repairs. He just hopes that Zuko will feel slightly better before they arrive.

~ ~ ~

Up for some bending my fellow Hotman

You know it

Hahaha

These fireballs are way too wimpy

Need a hand Hotman

FAME-E-O!

Aang, I'll always be with you

Aang woke startled and looked around his surroundings and saw Sokka and Katara still asleep, it was the middle of the night. He gets down from Appa’s head and goes to where the water is located. His hand instinctively went to his back where Zuko’s soul mark was located. He then moved his hand to where he knew Kuzon’s soul mark was and he shed a few tears. He then moved back up Appa’s head and decided to go back to sleep.

He woke up again at sunrise in a better mood and both he and Katara started getting ready to travel. Aang got some grass for Appa to eat while Katara started packing their supplies. Aang moves to sit on the bison's head to check the knots that tie the reins to Appa's horns. Katara is sitting on the saddle securing their luggage.

“Wait 'til you see it, Katara! The Air Temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world!” Aang exclaimed excitedly

“Aang, I know you're excited,” Katara told him cautiously as she turned to face him, “but it's been a hundred years since you've been home.”

“That's why I'm so excited!” Aang answered smiling broadly

“It's just that ... a lot can change in all that time,” Katara continued to speak with caution in her voice, aware of what she says

“I know, but I need to see it for myself,” Aang replied a little less happily remembering that his friend died in those hundred years

Aang jumps off Appa, landing softly due to his airbending. He walks over to a snoring Sokka who is in his sleeping bag.

“ Wake up, Sokka! Air Temple, here we come!” Aang sang cheerfully

Sokka woke up making groggy noises. He grunted sleepily at Aang, “Ugh! Sleep now. Temple later.”

Sokka turns around, showing his back to Aang, and falls back asleep, snoring as soon as his eyes close. Aang is surprised at how fast Sokka fell asleep before smiling mischievously.

Aang grabbed a small, thin stick and started moving it up and down the sleeping bag, only touching Sokka with the tip of it. He then shouted in an alarmed voice, “Sokka! Wake up! There's a prickled snake in your sleeping bag!”

“Ahh!” Sokka woke up again yelling out in horror. He quickly got up and started hopping around inside his sleeping bag still shouting in terror, “Get it off! Get it off! Ahhh”

Sokka then falls over slamming right on the ground. Katara was giggling at her brother’s antics but was trying to stiffen them. Sokka angrily grunted and huffed.

“Great! You're awake! Let's go!” Aang sang happily but at Sokka’s glare and spoke again to try and calm him, “You can continue to sleep in the saddle and We’ll make sure you don’t fall off.”

Sokka huffed and nodded at him. He started getting out of the sleeping bag and started to roll up his sleeping bag and take care of himself quickly. Once all of them were on Appa, Appa took off into the sky and started flying in the direction of where the Southern Air Temple was located.

Appa has been flying for at least an hour above the clouds in the Patola Mountain range. Aang and Katara were sitting atop Appa’s head with Sokka in the back on the saddle. Sokka took a quick nap but was woken up by his stomach growling. He started to look for food in the luggage and found the food bag empty.

“Hey! Who ate all of my blubbered Seal Jerky?!” Sokka called out accusingly to the two in front

“You did Sokka,” Katara reminded him, “I woke up in the middle of the night and saw you munching on it.”

“Oh….right,” Sokka grunted before whining and clutched his stomach

Appa races past and ascends up some mountains. They moved in closer to the center of the mountains.

“The inner Patola Mountain Range! We’re almost there!” Aang cheered basically jumping up and down

“Aang, before we get to the temple, I want to talk to you about the airbenders,” Katara started a bit uneasy not knowing how to actually start

“What about 'em?” Aang asked obviously

“Well, I just want you to be prepared for what you might see. The Fire Nation is ruthless,” Katara said sadly. Her hand moves to touch her necklace, “They killed my mother, and they could have done the same to your people.”

Aang stops smiling pondering what Katara told him but when he speaks he speaks with hope, “Just because no one has seen an airbender, doesn't mean the Fire Nation killed them all. They probably escaped!”

“I know it's hard to accept,” Katara comforted placing a hand on Aang’s shoulder

“You don't understand, Katara. The only way to get to an airbender temple is on a flying bison, and I doubt the Fire Nation has any flying bison!” Aang explained cheerfully as Katara moved her hand back to her side. He speaks again as he caresses Appa’s head, “Right, Appa?”

Appa grunts in response as he flies past some very high mountains. Appa flies up the mountains and through the clouds but then turns behind a certain mountain. Appa flies up and then turns to fly almost completely up. Aang holds onto the reins tightly as Appa rapidly ascends while Katara, whose eyes are closed, and Sokka hold on tight to Appa's fur and saddle respectively. Aang looks back for a moment to his passengers before turning back to the front. Appa flies over the rocks and into the sky again, he then flies over the last ridge that is covered with trees. The Southern Air Temple is revealed on top of the few highest mountains and both Appa and Aang cheer in happiness.

“There it is. The Southern Air Temple,” Aang breathed with a content smile on his face

“Aang, it's amazing!” Katara complemented in awe

Aang giggled excitedly and eyes wide before his eyes squinted in happiness, “ We're home, buddy! We're home.”

@whatsorryiwasntlistening @readingfanficismyhobby @superspecialsumer12 @storylover04

#avatar the last air bender #Atla #Katara #Aang #Sokka #Zuko #Suki #Soulmates #STMS #OC - Nyx

1 note · View note

muffinlance · 1 year

Note

Baby Zuko (13 year old) being babysat by the Gaang straight after rescue (kidnapping) off the Wani?

Going with “only Zuko is aged down” and, to avoid just writing Little Zuko v the World again, “instead of Uncle Iroh, he sails out under the auspices of Uncle Zhao <3”

- - -

Fire Nation jail cells were everything Sokka ever imagined, if by ‘imagined’ he meant ‘had nightmares of’. And it was really inappropriate, and not a thought he’d ever share with Katara, but the longer they were down here the more his thoughts kept roaming back around to I’m glad mom was never in one of these.

There was rust, but not in any strategically important, make-it-easier-to-break-out places. Water dripping, but not in his cell where he would have been getting really close to wanting to lick it off a wall. Guards, but at the far end of the cell block, where they refused to interact with his witty banter and/or attempts to lure them into grappling-through-the-bars range. The only one who ever got close enough to grab was the tiny semi-feverish child who, given the huge fresh sorta oozy burn wound over half his face, Sokka was going to go ahead and classify as not the best hostage material.

Unlike the son of Chief Hakoda, his waterbending daughter, and—

“How’s Appa?” Aang, who was another tiny child, who was the Avatar, who was arguably the reason Sokka and his little sister were in this mess but Sokka was still wrapping his head around the Avatar part, said. Said after wooshing towards the bars, and then wooshing again in a way that made him not hit the bars, and then he was holding them and leaning as far as he could through which was almost but not quite enough for him to slip through entirely.

“Fine,” the kid who’d gotten on the bad side of his own country croaked. Sokka did not get the impression he was allowed to talk much, outside of the prisoner block. The kid’s face was twisted into even more of a scowl than just the burned-on one. “He’s too fast for the catapult operators. Zhao said he’s going to keelhaul them if they keep missing, but when I yelled at him about it—”

The kid stopped mid-sentence in that sort of horrifying way he did sometimes. And then he set down his tray and gave them all their slop, which they got once a day, and which contained all the water they were getting, too. Something about Katara’s extremely ineffective waterbending had the big bad Fire Nation spooked.

“Thank you,” his little sister said, her own voice a rasp-croak that pained Sokka a lot more than the random Fire Nation brat’s.

The kid scowled harder, which was his general reaction to any gratitude from them.

“So,” Sokka croaked his own croak. “About helping us with that escape…”

“I’M NOT,” the kid shouted, and then the guards turned to look at them all, and then he hunched in on himself and re-evaluated his volume decisions. “I’m not helping you escape.”

“Why not?” asked Aang, bless him.

“Because,” the kid said, which is usually as much of a reply as they get before he stormed off. But today he added, even if it was really hard to hear: “Because I want to go home.”

“So,” Sokka said, “did you get that on the ship or at home?” And he waved at his own face, like the subtle genius he was.

Ah. There was the storming away.

“You forgot our bowls!” Sokka called after him.

“Keep them,” the kid shouted back, and left Sokka alone with a metal spoon and a Fire Nation lock.

- - -

The lock was a bad idea, actually. It would have taken way too long to file the spoon down against the floor so it would fit, not to mention made way too much noise. Also: Sokka did not actually know how to pick a lock.

The screw slots on the hinges, on the other hand…

- - -

“What?” the kid got out, all sleepy-confused, before Sokka was shoving a literal sock in his mouth and tossing him over a shoulder and running as quickly and quietly as he could with a very angry sack of potatoes bouncing on his back.

“Go go go go,” Sokka said, as he vaulted the rail into the saddle waiting below.

“Yip yip!” said Aang.

The catapult didn’t even come close to hitting them, in the darkness. Sokka kind of really felt bad for the operator team and their future date with the hull, but there was only so much saddle space, and there was an upper age limit on the Fire Nation soldiers he was willing to pardon no-questions-asked.

“Let me go!” shouted their squirmy new friend, as Katara held him around the middle, because otherwise he’d have thrown himself into the ocean an alarming number of times by now.

“Nu-huh,” Sokka said, patting the kid’s angry little head, right on its ridiculous little ponytail. Which was nothing at all like his own extremely masculine wolf tail. “You’re our prisoner. Relax, and enjoy the improved living conditions.”

“My father isn’t going to pay for me,” the kid said back, with a glower.

“...Please, please don’t tell me that Zhao guy was your dad.”

“What? No,” the kid said.

And then he opened his mouth again, and Sokka’s world got both way more complicated and way more simple.

#so to return to an earlier question #did you get that scar on the ship or at home?#I see I see #and you need the Avatar to go home #yes yes #so hypothetically speaking #I could put you and the Avatar at the head of a fleet #and we could just… sail into your nation’s capital?#noted #avatar the last airbender #atla #Zuko #ficlet

897 notes · View notes

beifongsss · 4 years

Text

the boiling rock [zuko]

Pairing: Zuko x reader

Disclaimer!: The reader is Sokka and Katara’s older sister!

Requested?: Yes! By @thegirlwholikestomanythings: “ Hi! I have a Zuko x reader request if you don't mind. Maybe something like the reader being Katara and Sokka's older sister and Zuko having a big crush on her after he joins in S3?”

Summary: Sokka goes to break Hakoda out of The Boiling Rock and is shocked to find you there as well. He’s even more shocked when he figures out that Zuko’s a simp for you.

this is based off of the boiling rock episodes but there are a few changed made! there’s also like a pov change halfway i’m sorry. TIS A LONG ONE!!

.masterlist.

When Zuko defeated Combustion Man, Aang didn’t let him join the group until he gained approval from all of his friends.

“Toph, you're the one that Zuko burned. What do you think?”

The blind earthbender smirked, a sinister look on her face as she pounded her fist into her palm. “Go ahead and let him join. It'll give me plenty of time to get back at him for burning my feet.”

Satisfied with her answer, Aang turned to the Water Tribe boy. “Sokka?”

“Hey, all I want is to defeat the Fire Lord. If you think this is the way to do it, then, I'm all for it,” he said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall near him.

“Katara?” Aang asked uncertainly, noticing the stony look on the Water Tribe girl’s face.

“I'll go along with whatever you think is right,” she replied, glaring at Zuko.

“Great!” Aang said, ignoring Katara’s reaction. “Then that’s settled. Welcome to the group Zuko!”

Zuko paused slightly, looking around as he noticed the absence of the other Water Tribe girl he had always seen with the Gaang.

“Not that I’m complaining,” the prince said, a questioning look in his eyes. “But isn’t there someone else you should be asking? Where’s the other Water Tribe girl?”

The group went silent at Zuko’s words as Katara’s face hardened and Sokka looked away, a sad expression making it’s way onto his face.

“She’s gone,” Sokka said roughly as he began to storm off.

Katara reached out for his arm, grabbing onto him as he passed her. “Sokka, it wasn’t your fault.”

“Not my fault?” Sokka roared, stray tears escaping his eyes as he faced Katara. “It was my invasion plan Katara! I should’ve taken the fall. Not her!”

He shrugged her hand off before walking off deeper into the Air Temple. Katara sent Zuko another glare before hurrying after her brother, leaving him alone with Aang and Toph. Zuko glanced at Aang uneasily, not wanting to ask about what had happened. With a sigh, Aang sat down looking at Zuko expectantly.

The prince sat down across from Aang as Toph sat to his left, the usually loud-mouthed girl abnormally quiet.

“The other Water Tribe girl that would travel with us is (Y/N),” Aang explained quietly. “She’s Sokka and Katara’s older sister.”

Zuko nodded in response before speaking. “W-What happened to her?”

“She got captured by the Fire Nation on the Day of Black Sun,” Aang replied, looking down at his lap. “You know about the invasion right?”

Zuko nodded once more.

“Well it was Sokka’s invasion plan,” Aang continued. Zuko’s eyebrows rose up in surprise, going unnoticed by Aang. “He came up with it and (Y/N) and Hakoda, that’s their dad, fine tuned it. They thought of everything that could possibly go wrong and when the day came, Sokka was the one leading it.”

Aang’s face suddenly turned into one full of guilt. “I-It was actually my fault that she got captured. If I hadn’t gotten distracted by Azula, we could’ve gotten away before the eclipse was over. Instead, they caught up to us before we could get back to the beach. Hakoda told us all to leave on Appa and to take the youngest members of the group but (Y/N) didn’t fit because we had Teo, Haru, and The Duke with us. So she decided to stay behind and take the blame for the invasion so that they wouldn’t go out and look for us. She said that they’d believe her because she was traveling with the Avatar and because she was the daughter of the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe and she had a reason to want to attack the Fire Nation.”

Aang couldn’t stop the tear that slipped out. “I guess she was right because we weren’t followed after we escaped.”

“C’mon Twinkletoes,” Toph said, leaning back on her hands. “(Y/N) knew what she was getting into. She’s not dumb. She’s strong, smart, and patient. In fact, I’m willing to bet she’s making those Fire Nation guard’s lives hell.”

Zuko observed Toph as she spoke about the missing Water Tribe girl. “How are you so sure?”

“Please,” Toph scoffed, cracking her knuckles. “She’s the only idiot here that can beat me in a fight. She’ll be fine.”

“Oh,” Zuko said, slightly surprised. “Is she a waterbender too?”

“Nope,” Toph said. “That’s how I know she’s okay. She can beat me in a fight, and I’m the greatest earthbender in the world! I invented metalbending.”

Zuko’s eyebrows shot up in surprise at Toph’s words. “She beat you without any bending?”

“She did,” Sokka’s voice rang out. The group (except Toph) turned around to find Sokka walking towards them. “Which is why we needed her here, not in prison. She shouldn’t be paying for my mistakes.”

Without another word Sokka climbed onto Appa, shooting Aang a look when the Air Nomad shot him a worried glance. “Don’t worry Aang. I’m just gonna clear my head. Yip yip.”

The conversation ended with Sokka’s departure and silently, Aang showed Zuko to his room.

“Hey, can I talk to you for a second?” Sokka asked, catching Zuko’s attention as he handed him a cup of tea. Zuko set down the tea and followed Sokka to where he was standing, softly petting Appa when he opened his eyes to look at them.

“So, what’s up?” Zuko asked, looking back over at the group before focusing on Sokka.

“If someone was captured by the Fire Nation, where would they be taken?” the Water Tribe boy asked, trying to look nonchalant. At Zuko’s suspicious look, he spoke again. “When the invasion plan failed, some of our troops were taken. I just want to know where they might be.”

“We both know this is about your sister, Sokka,” Zuko replied. “I can’t tell you.”

“What? Why not?” Sokka asked, mildly irritated.

“Trust me,” Zuko said, turning to leave. “Knowing will just make you feel worse.”

“It’s not just about (Y/N)!” Sokka hissed, causing Zuko to stop in his tracks. “It’s my dad. He was captured too. I need to know what I put them through.”

“It’s not good Sokka,” the prince replied, not meeting his eyes.

“Please.”

Sighing deeply, Zuko gave in. “My guess is, they were taken to The Boiling Rock.”

“What’s that?”

“The highest security prison in the Fire Nation,” Zuko ignored Sokka’s horrified look. “It's on an island in the middle of a boiling lake. It's inescapable.”

“So,” Sokka said, trying to appear indifferent. “Where is this place?”

“Why do you need to know?” Zuko asked, eyes narrowing. “What are you planning?”

“Nothing!” Sokka tried reassuring the prince. “Boy, you’re so paranoid.”

Zuko rolled his eyes before replying. “It's in the middle of a volcano between here and the Fire Nation. You guys actually flew right past it on your way here.”

“Thanks Zuko,” Sokka said before letting out a very fake yawn as he stretched. “Just knowing makes me feel better.”

“Sure it does,” Zuko scoffed, watching the Water Tribe boy walk away. Noticing that everyone was getting ready to go to bed, he stealthily climbed up onto Appa’s saddle, gently shushing the sky bison when he once again opened his eyes.

At this moment, Zuko sort of regretted joining Sokka on his journey. After having successfully convinced him to take his war balloon instead of Appa, the two boys found themselves existing in awkward silence.

“Pretty clouds,” Sokka spoke first, slightly startling Zuko.

“Yeah...fluffy,” the Fire Nation prince replied before focusing on the fire again. Sokka began whistling casually, drawing Zuko’s attention. “What?”

“What?” Sokka asked, the awkwardness between the two boys palpable. “Oh, I didn't say anything. You know, a friend of mine actually designed these war balloons.”

“No kidding,” Zuko said with slight surprise.

“Yep. A balloon...but for war,” came the other boy’s reply.

“If there's one thing my dad's good at, it's war.”

“Yeah, it seems to run in the family.”

“Hey, hold on,” Zuko said, slightly offended. “Not everyone in my family is like that.”

“I know, I know,” Sokka replied, hands raised in defense. “You’ve changed.”

“I meant my uncle. He was more of a father to me. And I really let him down.”

“I think your uncle would be proud of you,” Sokka said, looking at Zuko intently. “Leaving your home to come help us? That's hard.”

“It wasn’t that hard.”

“Really?” Sokka asked in disbelief. “You didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?”

“Well I did have a girlfriend,” Zuko replied, smiling slightly. “Mai.”

“That gloomy girl who sighs a lot?” Sokka asked, trying to hold back his smile.

“Yeah. Everyone in the Fire Nation thinks I'm a traitor. I couldn't drag her into it,” Zuko explained before hesitating slightly. “Besides, I didn’t truly like her. Trust me, I know that sounds bad. When we were kids we liked each other, but we’re not kids anymore and we’ve both changed and things just weren’t working out.”

Sokka nodded in understanding before crossing his arms. “My first girlfriend turned into the moon.”

Zuko paused for a few seconds, looking up at the moon and wondering if Sokka was being serious before turning to him. “That’s rough buddy.”

Silence ensued again, the scene almost relaxing if it weren’t for the fact that the two of them were heading for the most high-security prison in the Fire Nation.

“So,” Zuko broke the silence, looking at Sokka uncertainly. “What happens if we get there and (Y/N) isn’t there?

The question caught Sokka off guard, causing him to scowl. “She will be.”

“But,” Zuko pressed, trying to make the boy understand. “What if she isn’t?

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Sokka replied, crossing his arms and looking away as he tried not to think about Zuko’s words.

“Why don’t you just wait until after Aang defeats my father to set everyone free?” Zuko asked softly. “You’d have a much better chance then.”

“You just don’t get it!” Sokka yelled, looking back at Zuko. “See you and your sister might not get along very well but (Y/N) is the most important person in my life. She was the one who took care of me and Katara after our mom died. She was the one who basically led our tribe after the men went off to fight. She always knew what to say and what to do. We need her Zuko. I need her, Katara needs her, Aang definitely needs her, heck even Toph needs her!”

Zuko stayed silent as he focused on the fire, giving Sokka a few minutes to calm down.

“You’re right Sokka,” he finally said. “I don’t get along with Azula. We’ll find her.”

Sokka didn’t reply, instead choosing to look up at the moon, hoping that he had made the right choice.

Soon enough, they had reached The Boiling Rock. Zuko followed after Sokka, a bit disgruntled at the fact that his war balloon had been destroyed. They had somehow managed to get guard uniforms and sneak into the prison, a feat Zuko found impressive considering that Sokka didn’t have a fully thought-out plan.

“I hope these disguises work,” Zuko hissed, shoving Sokka softly with his shoulder.

“We just need to lay low and find (Y/N) and my dad as soon as possible,” Sokka quietly replied, rubbing his shoulder. “Ow!”

“Guards!” another guard ran past Sokka and Zuko, causing them to flinch. “There’s a scuffle in the yard. Come on!”

The two boys exchanged looks before running after the guard, eventually coming to an open space where a guard was harassing a prisoner. The rest of the guards were trying to keep the other prisoners away from the confrontation. Sokka subtly tilted his head, motioning for Zuko to join the other guards. They split up slightly, trying to keep the crowd in control.

“I didn’t do anything,” the prisoner in the middle of the platform stated, walking away from the guard. “I’m going back to my cell.”

“Stop right there Chit Sang,” the guard said, sending a fire whip towards him. “I’ve had it with your unruly behavior.”

One of the prisoners Zuko was trying to hold back began to slip past him and he reached out to grab them. His eyes widened when he made eye contact with the girl, who then promptly proceeded to shove him off of her and onto the ground. Zuko stared at the girl, his heart speeding up slightly and his stomach lurching as she shot him a glare and marched right up to the guard who had created the fire whip.

“Leave him alone!” she growled, stepping in front of Chit Sang. The guard simply laughed before stepping forwards.

“What are you gonna do Water Tribe scum?”

Zuko flinched as Sokka swatted him, tilting his head towards the girl. “That’s her! That’s (Y/N)!”

Sokka grasped Zuko’s arm tightly, knowing that he couldn’t jump to his sister’s defense. The two of them watched in anticipation as the guard shot out a blast of fire, aiming it at you. Zuko’s eyes widened at the sight. You weren’t a bender, you were going to get burned.

His jaw dropped as you gracefully slid underneath the blast before coming up and swatting the guard’s hand away. When the guard tried to aim at you again, you swept your leg in a graceful arc, knocking him down. You were amazing.

“Cuff her!” the guard barked, embarrassment clear on his face as all the other prisoners cheered. Two of the other guards grabbed you roughly, cuffing your hands behind your back and shoving you roughly in front of the guard you had knocked down.

“You think you’re tough, don’t you?” the guard asked. You didn’t look at him.

“Look at me when I speak to you!” the guard screamed. The yard went silent as everyone waited to see what you would do. Slowly, you lifted your head and met the guard’s eyes. His face held a smug expression, which was soon wiped off when you leaned forward and spit in his face.

The yard went wild again, the guards struggling to keep the prisoners under control. The bully guard lunged forwards, gripping your face tightly in his hand. He stared you down for a few seconds before tossing you to the ground. Scowling, he turned to Sokka and Zuko, who seemed to be the only guards not busy at the moment. “You two! Take her to her cell.”

Sokka picked you up and Zuko led them inside, stealing glances at you as you walked. At one point Sokka caught his gaze, giving him a confused look before his eyes widened in realization. He looked between you and Zuko before glaring at the prince and shaking his head furiously. Zuko avoided his gaze after that. They found your cell quickly enough and Sokka softly pushed you in before stepping inside and pulling Zuko with him.

He took off your cuffs easily enough and you stepped away from him, rubbing your wrists gently.

“What do you want?” you snarled, eyes shifting from one guard to another.

“(Y/N)!” one of them cried out, moving towards you. You sidestepped quickly, grabbing his arm and shoving him up against the wall. He groaned in pain as you pulled his arm back.

“What do you want?” you hissed, not taking your eyes off of the other guard.

“(Y/N/N),” the one you were holding squeaked. “It’s me!”

Your eyes widened at the voice and you stepped back, still keeping your hand on the guard’s arm. “Sokka?”

Sokka used his free hand to take off his helmet, a large grin on his face as he turned to look at you. “Yes! It’s m-”

His words were cut off when you yanked on his arm, pulling him close to you as you wrapped your arms around him in a tight hug. Sokka melted into the hug, wrapping his arms around you tightly as he held tears back.

“Spirits,” you whispered, pulling back and looking at your baby brother. “Sokka what are you doing here? How did you get here?”

“Uh, we took my war balloon,” the other guard replied. You froze slightly at the familiar voice, turning to find Prince Zuko standing there, waving awkwardly.

“You,” you snarled, stomping up to the prince and pushing him up against the wall. You held your forearm against his throat, staring him down. Zuko didn’t do anything in return, a dazed smile on his face as he stared back at you.

“(Y/N) what are you doing?” Sokka yelped, placing a hand on your shoulder. You looked away from Zuko, glancing at your brother in disbelief.

“What do you mean? Have you forgotten that he’s tracked us all over the world? Or that he’s tried to kill us? Multiple times!” you glanced at Zuko again, noticing that he was still smiling. “Why are you smiling at me? Sokka, why is he smiling at me?”

Sokka snorted softly, the scene in front of him reminding him of the first time Aang had met him and Katara. Shooting a tired look at Zuko, he gently pulled you away from the scarred prince. “I don’t know why he’s smiling at you but I do know that he’s part of the team now, so lay off okay?”

You looked at him in disbelief before whirling around and facing Sokka. “Alright but that still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”

“We’re here to break you out?” Sokka said, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned his gaze to the floor.

“Seriously?” you hissed, stepping closer to him and causing him to stumble back. “This couldn’t have waited until after Aang defeated Ozai?”

“I told you so,” Zuko mumbled, shooting a pointed look at Sokka.

“Stay out of this,” you whisper-yelled, pushing him back up against the wall with one hand. “You have to leave. Both of you.“

“Well you see,” Sokka said, chuckling slightly as he met your gaze. “We can’t exactly do that.”

“Yes you can,” you replied, grabbing Sokka and proceeding to push the two boys towards the door. “Just get back on your little war balloon and leave.”

Zuko and Sokka exchanged nervous glances at the mention of the war balloon, causing you to narrow your eyes at them.

“Don’t say it.”

“It popped!” Sokka squealed, bouncing away from you as he noticed your expression. “But we’ll get out of here, and you’re coming with us.”

You couldn’t help but facepalm at your brother’s words.

The guards had only released you from your cell when it was your turn to do the cleaning. You hadn’t heard from Sokka since he had left you, and you were worried that he had gotten caught. You were so distracted by your thoughts that you didn’t notice the other prisoner who was mopping, resulting in you bumping into them and falling down.

“I’m sorry,” the other prisoner said, extending a hand to help you up. You glanced up, making eye contact with Zuko. Your eyes widened almost comically and you grabbed his hand, simultaneously pulling yourself up and pulling him closer to you.

“Where is my brother?” you asked as you leaned in close, panic in your voice as you whispered in his ear. Zuko tried to ignore the blush on his cheeks as your close proximity, focusing on your question.

“He’s fine,” he whispered back. “It was just me who got caught.”

You let his hand go, stepping back and nodding subtly before going back to mopping. Zuko stayed close to you, pretending to be focused on his mopping as he stole glances at you. Feeling his gaze, you looked up and arched an eyebrow as you made eye contact. The prince flushed when he realized he had been caught, looking back down before speaking.

“I-I never introduced myself,” he spoke softly. “I’m Zuko.”

“I know,” you replied flatly, walking further away from him. Zuko stood awkwardly for a moment before inching closer to you again.

“So you’re (Y/N),” he spoke again. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

You snorted at his words, your eyes not leaving the ground. “Yeah I’m sure it is.”

“You’re a really good fighter,” Zuko continued, still trying to make conversation. “Even back when I was still hunting the Avatar you were the one that I was most worried about holding off.”

“Good to know,” you said drily, finally looking up at Zuko. “Look, Sokka may trust you but I don’t, okay? First of all, you haven’t really done anything but cause trouble for us. Second of all, you actually brought my brother here. I appreciate the sentiment but I’m not exactly thrilled at the idea of my baby brother breaking into a Fire Nation prison.”

Zuko swallowed harshly, looking away. “I’m sorry. But he was really adamant about rescuing you and your dad and-”

“Wait,” you interrupted Zuko. “I’m the only Water Tribe member here. My dad is still being held somewhere in the Fire Nation capital.”

Zuko’s eyes widened briefly before he composed himself. “Oh. Alright then I guess that means we can leave as soon as Sokka comes back to meet us.”

The two of you continued to mop in silence before someone suddenly grabbed your upper arm, causing you to stiffen and causing Zuko to get into a defensive stance.

“Calm down, it’s just me.”

“You really have to stop doing that Sokka,” you hissed, yanking your arm away from him. “Zuko told me about why you’re here. I hope you know we can leave now. Dad isn’t here.”

Sokka’s face fell briefly before he forced a smile onto his face. “He may not be but guess who is? Suki! Why didn’t you tell me she was here (Y/N)?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” you whispered. “Maybe because I was too busy freaking out about the fact that my kid brother and the Fire Nation prince broke into prison and don’t have a way to get out!”

“Shh!” Sokka hissed, putting his hand over your mouth. “Be quiet! And I’m not your ‘kid brother’, you’re only a year older than I am.”

Zuko stayed quiet as the two of you stared each other down before Sokka let out a yelp and took his hand off your mouth. “Did you just lick me?”

You didn’t reply, a smirk on your face as you crossed your arms. Zuko stifled a laugh at the scene in front of him, coughing quietly when you shot a look at him. The three of you stood still as a new voice interrupted.

“So, what’s the plan?” Suki stood near you, hiding in the shadows that the staircase provided. You exchanged a glance with Sokka, nodding in encouragement.

“So, listen, I think I have an escape plan,” Sokka began, a little nervous at being in charge of the escape plan. “I checked out the coolers again, and the point of them is to keep firebenders contained, right?”

“Yeah,” Zuko replied, unsure as to where this was going.

“So, they're completely insulated and sealed to keep the cold in. Well, to keep the cold in, it also has to keep the heat out, right?”

Zuko and Suki exchanged confused looks before looking over at you, only to see you smiling widely as you caught on.

“Just get to the point Sokka,” Suki said, glancing around nervously.

“It's a perfect boat for getting through the boiling water!” you said, eyes sparkling as you looked at Sokka proudly. Despite the situation, Zuko found himself smiling at the sight of your smile.

“Sokka,” you said, leaning in close to your brother while keeping your eyes on Zuko. “He’s doing it again.”

Sokka scowled and smacked Zuko’s head, causing the boy to straighten up and ignore Suki’s smirk. “The cooler as a boat? Are you sure?”

“I’m telling you, it’ll work,” Sokka said, giving them each a serious glance. “I walked around the perimeter. There's a blind spot between two guard towers. It's the perfect launching point. I already tested it out. We'll roll the cooler into the water and just float with the current. It'll take us straight across. As long as we don't make a sound, no one will notice. And bing-bang-boom, we're home free.”

“But how are you going to get the cooler out?” Suki asked, a worried frown on her face.

“Yeah. How are you gonna get the cooler out?”

The four of you turned as Chit Sang landed next to you, causing Sokka and Zuko to stutter as they tried to tell Chit Sang that they weren’t planning anything. You rolled your eyes, stepping closer to Chit Sang before speaking. “That’s easy, isn’t it? We just need to get a firebender into the cooler.”

Sokka and Zuko gaped at you, shocked that you had given them away.

“Calm down,” you scoffed, patting Chit Sang’s back. “Chit Sang and I go way back. He’s the one who made all the other firebenders leave me alone.”

Chit Sang nodded before turning back to the group. “Look I won’t tell the warden about your plan if you let me come along.”

Sokka stared at you intently, the two of you having a silent conversation before turning back to the group. “Fine! But we need to get someone into the cooler.”

Sokka handed Zuko a wrench. “Here. You’re going to unbolt the cooler, from the inside.”

Zuko looked back at Sokka, confused. “How am I going to get in there?”

You grinned widely, patting Zuko’s chest as you walked past him. “I got this. Follow my lead.”

You picked up your mop, motioning for Zuko to do the same. You began mopping, casually walking around as you kept Zuko in your periphery. The prince didn’t dare look at you so he was caught by surprise when you bumped into him from behind.

“Hey!” you snapped, turning around and glaring at him. “Watch where you’re going.”

Zuko froze for a split second before realizing this was your plan. “You’re the one who bumped into me. How about you watch where you’re going?”

A smile played at the corner of your lips as you stared each other down. Zuko noticed and felt his cheeks grow warm as he tried to hold back a smile of his own. The two of you stood there for a few seconds, staring at each other until Sokka coughed loudly.

Tearing your eyes away from the prince, you lunged at him. He easily dodged your swing before throwing a halfhearted punch back at you. You rolled your eyes as you kicked at him, losing your balance slightly as he swatted your leg away. You recovered quickly and threw another punch, a soft gasp leaving your mouth when he grasped your wrist and twirled you around, your back pressed against his chest as his arm held you tightly in place.

You struggled for a moment, sighing in defeat when you realized just how strong he was. You tilted your head back slightly, your lips brushing against his ear as you whispered into it. “You have to firebend at me Zuko.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he mumbled back, causing you to roll your eyes again.

“I’m a big girl. I can handle myself,” you replied. With a grunt, you elbowed him in the stomach. He let out a soft ‘oof’ and you took that chance to break out of his hold. You dropped down and spun, your leg outstretched as you tried to knock him down. He jumped over your leg easily before shooting out a blast of fire at you. He held his breath for a second, sighing in relief as he noticed you roll out of the way.

“No firebending!” a guard shouted, roughly grabbing Zuko from behind. You sent him a soft smile, receiving a smirk in return. As he was led away, Suki came up to you, a big smile on her face.

“So,” she said, her tone teasing. “What was that?”

“Yeah (Y/N),” Sokka said, crossing his arms as he came up to you. “What was that?”

You rolled your eyes before walking past the two of them. “It was a fight.”

“That’s not what it looked like from my point of view,” Suki called out after you, causing Sokka to send a glare at her. You simply chuckled at her words.

“(Y/N)?”

You stood up from the floor of your cell, looking at Sokka as he stood outside your cell. “Yeah?”

“It’s time.”

Sokka opened your cell and threw you a guard’s uniform before quickly closing the door and allowing you to change. When you were done, you knocked on the door three times, fixing your helmet as you waited for him to open the door.

Together, the two of you made your way towards the cooler, trying to avoid any guards on your way.

You opened the door to the cooler, a small frown making its way onto your face when you noticed that Zuko was shivering.

“I can take you back to your cell if you’ve learned your lesson,” Sokka said, looking way too smug. You rolled our eyes and focused on Zuko as he looked up at the two of you. His eyes met yours as he let out a breath of fire, his shivering stopping completely. He sent you a cocky smirk and you ignored the flopping you felt in your stomach at the sight of it. (A/N: y’all know what smirk i’m talkin bout)

“Yes I have,” he breathed, showing you both all the bolts and screws he had removed. “Completely.”

“I got Suki and Chit Sang out of their cells a few minutes ago,” Sokka whispered. “They'll be waiting for us at the shore.”

“Someone’s coming!” you whisper yelled, letting out a small yelp when you were pulled into the cooler. The three of you barely fit into the cooler but that didn’t make it any less cold. Even though you had grown up in the South Pole, you found yourself shivering at the temperature, your breath coming out in icy clouds.

Zuko glanced down at you, a frown appearing on his face as he noticed you shivering. He hesitantly wrapped his arms around you, bringing you in close as your expression changed into a bewildered one. You opened your mouth to say something, but quickly shut it when you realized just how warm he was. Sokka, unfortunately, didn’t stay quiet at the scene playing out in front of him.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he screeched quietly, trying to pry the two of you apart. You quickly pushed him away.

“Sokka, shut up,” you mumbled as you wrapped your arms around Zuko, your teeth still chattering. “He’s warm and I’m freezing.”

Sokka’s jaw dropped as you casually buried your face into Zuko’s chest, a content sigh escaping you as you got warmer by the second. Sokka stayed quiet as the voices outside got closer, instead miming a throat slitting motion as he stared Zuko down, causing the prince to swallow harshly.

“...Yeah. new arrivals coming in at dawn,” a male voice sounded, catching your attention.

“Anybody interesting?” a female voice asked in reply.

“Nah, just the usual. Some robbers, a couple traitors, some war prisoners,” you and Sokka exchanged a disbelieving look. “Though I did hear there might be a pirate.”

“No fooling!”

The voices faded as they walked away and you all took that chance to leave the cooler.

“War prisoners,” Zuko stated, his eyes not leaving Sokka’s. “Could be your father.”

“I know.”

“Well, what should we do?” Zuko asked. “Are we going ahead with the plan or are we waiting another night?”

“I don't know!” Sokka cried out, looking distraught. “Is it right for me to risk Suki and (Y/N)’s freedom, all of our freedom, on the slim chance that my dad is gonna show up?”

You stayed quiet, not knowing what to say.

“It’s your call Sokka,” Zuko finally said, trying to let the other boy know he was there for him.

Sokka thought about it for a moment, eyes focused on the ground. After a few seconds he looked up and scowled, crossing his arms as he glared at you. “You can let go of him now (Y/N).”

A bright blush erupted on your cheeks as you looked at Zuko, an embarrassed expression spreading across your face as you realized you were still holding onto each other. You stepped away from him quickly, clearing your throat as you did so.

The three of you had somehow managed to get the cooler down to the shore, not that it mattered considering the fact that Chit Sang had just taken your only means of escape. It wasn’t his fault really; it was you and Sokka who had been extremely hesitant to leave, not wanting to risk the chance of your dad being on the gondola the next morning.

Suki and Zuko had stayed behind with you, the four of you waiting in the blind spot for the gondola to arrive. It had almost been light out when alarms were set off, causing all of you to whip your heads to where the cooler had been floating off.

“The plan failed!” Sokka said sadly. “They got caught.”

“I guess it’s a good thing we didn’t go along with them huh?” you said, earning a dull look from your brother.

“The gondola's moving,” Sokka said suddenly, grasping your hand. “This is it. If my dad's not there, we've risked everything for nothing.”

“We had to,” you whispered back, squeezing his hand. The four of you now stood in the yard as you waited in anticipation, looking up as the gondola doors opened.

“Is that him?” Zuko asked as the first prisoner got out.

“My dad doesn’t have a nose ring!” both you and Sokka exclaimed, looking at the prince weirdly. More men came off the gondola, both you and Sokka shaking with anxiety as you kept an eye out for Hakoda.

“Where is he?” Sokka asked as the last man stepped off. “Is that it? That can’t be it.”

“I’m sorry,” Suki whispered, rubbing both of your backs.

“Hey you!” the guard called out, drawing your attention. “Get off the gondola.”

You waited with bated breath for the last person to emerge, your hand tightening around Sokka’s and causing him to wince. Your eyes widened as you watched the final prisoner get off, dark jaw-length hair surrounding a face that held tired blue eyes. You immediately turned to Sokka, tears threatening to spill.

“Sokka,” you whispered. “It’s dad.”

You had been pacing back and forth worriedly ever since Sokka had gone to join the other guards and quite frankly, both Suki and Zuko were tired of it.

“Please just stand still (Y/N),” Suki said, gently reaching out and grabbing you. “If something was wrong, we would’ve heard it already. Your brother isn’t exactly the quietest.”

You nodded in agreement and sat down, nervously biting your lip as you waited for Sokka to return. You barely flinched as Zuko sat next to you, Suki giving him a knowing glance as she wandered off slowly.

“Look,” he began, staring straight ahead. “I know you don’t like me, but I need to tell you this okay? As much as you can’t help but worry, you shouldn’t. Sokka’s smart and he knows what he’s doing...sort of.”

He chuckled at the halfhearted glare you directed at him. “I’m kidding. But really, Sokka’s smart and brave and he was so set on coming up here and breaking you out and I know he’s going to do it because he has heart. Plus he has you helping him out. So stop worrying so much okay? Also, never repeat any of what I just said to him”

You snorted at Zuko’s words before bumping his shoulder with your. “Thanks Zuko. You know what? Maybe you’re not as bad as I thought.”

The prince’s eyes widened in shock and he smiled down at you, blushing slightly when you smiled back. Your moment was ruined when Sokka came sprinting back, causing Suki to join you as well.

“(Y/N), c’mon! I found him,” Sokka exclaimed. Without another word, he grabbed your arm and dragged you away from the group. A wide smile was on his face and you felt yourself smile as well when you came to a stop in front of a cell.

Sokka slid the door open, looking around before ducking inside and draging you with him. “Thank goodness you’re okay!”

“Oh you’ll see just how ‘okay’ I am,” Hakoda replied, swinging at what he believed to be a guard. You stepped in front of Sokka before pushing Hakoda’s arm out of the way, ducking under it and pushing him softly before pulling Sokka out of the way.

Hakoda’s eyes widened at the familiar movements,searching the faces of the two guards standing before him. “Sokka? (Y/N)?”

"Dad!” you cried out in unison with Sokka, the two of you removing your masks as you smiled at Hakoda. His eyes filled with tears as he brought you into a hug and you couldn’t help but let a few tears slip as well.

“Where’s Katara? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine dad,” you said, tightening your hold on Hakoda. “She’s not here.”

“Where’s Bato?” Sokka asked, pulling away. “Where’s everyone else from the invasion?”

“The others are being held at a prison near the Fire Nation palace,” Hakoda replied. “They sent me here because I kept being difficult after they singled (Y/N) out as the leader and sent her here. But before I left, I met some young women who said they knew you. The...Oshinama Fighters? ”

“You mean the Kyoshi Warriors?” you asked.

“That’s right.”

“Their leader Suki is here,” Sokka said, a blush visible on his face. “She’s gonna escape with us too!”

“Good. We'll need all the help we can get.”

“And you know Prince Zuko?” Sokka asked, getting excited at the thought of finally leaving.

“The son of the Fire Lord?” Hakoda asked hesitantly. “I don't know him, but I know of him.”

"Well he’s here too!” Sokka exclaimed.

“That sounds like a major problem,” Hakoda replied, crossing his arms as his face hardened.

“Actually,” Sokka said, smiling nervously. “He’s on our side now.”

Hakoda shot him a disbelieving look, causing you to step in.

“I had the same reaction dad,” you said, putting a hand on Hakoda’s shoulder. “But he really has changed. He came here with Soka to break me out. He’s been a big help.”

Hakoda’s face softened at your words. You had always been a good judge of character, so if you approved of the prince, then he did too. “So, do you have a plan?”

“We had one,” Sokka said, looking down sadly. “But some of the other prisoners got involved and ruined it. I dunno if there's another way off this island.”

“Sokka, there's no prison in the world that can hold three Water Tribe geniuses.”

“Then I guess we’d better find two more to help me plan something,” you teased, making Hakoda laugh and earning a dull look from Sokka.

You sprinted towards the yard, having been distracted by another guard for a few minutes before all the prisoners had been let out. When you reached your dad, Suki, and Sokka, you were surprised to see Chit Sang speaking with them.

“Hey you! You're lucky I didn't rat you out,” Chit Sang said, staring Sokka down. “But my generosity comes with a price. I know you're planning another escape attempt, and I want in.”

You nodded at Sokka, telling him to go along with it. He sighed softly before facing Chit Sang. “Actually, we're trying to escape right now, but we need a riot. You wouldn't happen to know how to start one, would you?”

“You seriously couldn’t start a prison riot?” you asked in disbelief, looking at the three of them in disappointment. “C’mon Chit Sang, let’s show them how it’s done.”

The two of you stepped forwards, Chit Sang picking up another prisoner as you strutted up to one of them.

“Hey everybody!” you yelled, the yard going quiet as you spoke. Without hesitation, you punched the prisoner closest to you. “Riot!”

The yard exploded into chaos as people began fighting and throwing stuff around. You quickly fought off the prisoner that you had punched before returning to your friends.

“Impressive,” Hakoda said, looking around at all the chaos.

You turned and swung as you felt someone bump into you, the person letting out a loud grunt as your fist met their face. Your jaw dropped as your eyes met piercing gold ones, your hands coming up to your face in slight horror as you realized that you had just punched Zuko.

“Yep,” he said, clutching his face. “I probably deserved that after everything I’ve done to you.”

“I’m so sorry,” you choked out in between giggles, earning a smile from the prince.

“Zuko! Good, we’re all here,” Sokka said, drawing you all into a huddle. “Now all we need to do is grab the warden, and get to the gondolas!”

“And how do we do that?” Zuko asked.

Sokka hesitated for a few seconds. “I’m not sure.”

Zuko groaned, throwing his hands up in frustration. “I thought you thought this through!”

“I thought you told me it's okay not to think everything through”

“Maybe not everything, but this is kind of important!” Zuko cried out.

“Hey fella,” Chit Sang interrupted, tapping Zuko’s shoulder before pointing at you. “I think your girlfriend’s taking care of it.”

“You’re dating my daughter?” Hakoda asked, glaring at Zuko.

“W-What? No!” Zuko cried out, slightly fearful of the Water Tribe Chief.

“Damn right you’re not,“ Sokka said, crossing his arms before Chit Sang spun him around.

“Your girlfriend too buddy.”

All four males went silent as they observed both you and Suki. You swiftly made your way up the tower, effortlessly taking guards down as you inched towards the warden. Suki took a stance at the base of the tower, fighting off any other guards who attempted to rush to the warden’s rescue. She was a truly impressive sight, her training as a Kyoshi Warrior shining through as she took down every guard that came at her effortlessly. Sokka stood a few yards away, awestruck at the sight in front of him.

Meanwhile, you had successfully made your way up to the top of the tower. You made quick work of the remaining guards before finally facing the warden.

“You wouldn’t dare,” he snarled, getting into a defensive position.

“Watch me,” you quipped, lunging at him. You avoided his punch, grabbing his wrist and spinning him around before shoving him up against the railing. You grabbed his sash, tying his hands before knocking him down and making sure he was tied securely before smiling over at your dad. “You’re my prisoner now warden.”

Down in the yard, Hakoda, Zuko, and Chit Sang all stared at you in awe, Sokka still focused on Suki.

“That’s my girl,” Hakoda stated, a proud look on his face as he looked up at you.

“Do you think she’d want to be my girl?” Zuko muttered dazedly, unintentionally speaking louder than he meant to. When he realized what he had said, he looked up in embarrassment, being met with an amused glance from Chit Sang, a harsh scowl from Hakoda, and a sharp slap from Sokka.

“Shut up!” Sokka hissed before grabbing Zuko’s arm and rushing to join you and Suki.

You all ran to the gondola, making sure that the warden was still tied up as you dragged him with you.

“We’re almost there!” Suki cried out.

“Spoke too soon,” you groaned as a group of guards came across your path, immediately sending two blasts of fire at you. You yelped as Zuko pulled you out of the way before stepping in front of you and dissipating the blasts. He sent a series of blasts back at them before grabbing the warden from you.

“Back off! We've got the warden!“ he shouted, successfully stopping the guards. When they didn’t make any movements he grabbed your hand and tugged you along. “Let's go”

Suki was the first to make it to the gondola, holding the door open for everyone else. “Everyone in!”

You all clambered on and you glanced around, realizing that someone was missing.

“Zuko!” you yelled, looking back at the prince. He started the gondola and you felt yourself panic as the guards closed in on him. “What are you doing? Hurry up!”

“I’m making it so that they can’t stop us!” With a few kicks, Zuko managed to break the lever that controlled the gondola before sprinting towards you. You leaned out of the door slightly, watching him in anticipation.

“C’mon Zuko,” you whispered to yourself, biting your lip as the gondola left the platform, now hanging freely. Zuko sped up and jumped, his feet landing on the edge of the gondola. He wobbled for a bit before you grasped his arm, fully pulling him into the gondola and into your arms. Zuko looked at you in confusion before wrapping his arms around you as well.

“Are you sure they’re not dating?” Hakoda asked, his voice quiet as he addressed Sokka. Sokka sent Zuko a menacing glare, the scarred prince gulping and loosening his hold on you when he noticed.

“What were you thinking?” you cried out, finally pulling away from Zuko and slapping his head.

“Ow!” Zuko hissed, rubbing the spot you had hit. “I was thinking ‘let me get rid of this lever real quick so that they don’t catch us’.”

“You could’ve gotten captured!” you yelled at him, taking a step towards him.

“Way to think ahead,” Sokka commented, saving Zuko from another slap.

“We’re finally on our way.” Suki sighed, sharing a soft smile with Sokka.

“Wait,” Hakoda said, leaning out of the window. “Who’s that?”

You leaned out of the window on the other side of the gondola, resisting the urge to blush as you felt Zuko’s chest press up against your back as he tried to get a good look at the platform.

“That’s a problem,” Zuko groaned. “It’s my sister and her friend.”

“This is a rematch I’ve been waiting for,” Suki growled, cracking her knuckles.

“Get in line,” you scoffed, your eyes narrowing as you watched the princess approach. You climbed out of the gondola and onto the roof, being followed by Sokka, Suki, and Zuko.

Suki and Sokka turned to face Ty Lee as she landed onto the roof gracefully, quickly becoming preoccupied with the chi-blocker. You carefully observed Azula as she landed a few feet away from you, staring you down as she stalked closer.

“Well, well, well,” she spoke, her voice taunting. “If it isn’t the Water Tribe scum.”

“Don’t speak to her like that,” Zuko barked, stepping slightly in front of you.

“Aww, does Zuzu have a little crush?” Azula teased, pouting as she shifted her gaze to Zuko. “Snap out of it Zuko. We raided her village multiple times. She’ll never see you as anything other than a monster.”

“Still not over what your mother used to say about you huh?” you shot back, missing the hurt look in Azula’s eyes as she shot lightning at you. You swiftly dodged the blast and ran at her, sliding onto the ground when she let out another blast.

Zuko watched as you stood up, landing a solid hit on his sister before bouncing back and dodging the hit she sent your way. He tried to find an opening to attack Azula but eventually gave up for fear of hurting you. Instead he chose to jump into the fight and wipe out the blasts Azula kept sending at you, even if you were expertly dodging them.

Azula soon grew tired of the fight, and knowing that she couldn’t beat you in the moment decided to send a blast of fire at Zuko. She caught him off guard and although he managed to wipe out the blast, he ended up tumbling back and landing dangerously close to the gondola’s edge.

“Zuko!” you yelled, momentarily distracted from the fight. Azula took this chance to kick you down, punching you before kicking you once more when you tried to scramble to your feet. You were sent stumbling against the metal handle that attached the gondola to the cable, gasping in pain as you crashed against it. She grinned widely when your head hit the metal.

You blew your hair out of your face, wincing as you reached up to touch the sore spot on your head and sighing when you noticed the blood on your fingertips.

“You have nowhere to go,” Azula stated, stalking towards you. Blue fire danced at her fingertips, her eyes hungry with anticipation as you struggled to stand. “Such a shame, you could’ve been a great asset to me.”

“I would rather die than join you,” you shot back, finally managing to stand up.

“Fine,” Azula spat, the fire growing as she narrowed her eyes. “Have it your way.”

You closed your eyes and braced yourself, knowing that you were in no shape to block her attack. You felt the heat approaching before it disappeared. Opening your eyes, you gasped softly as you saw Zuko standing in front of you. He sent blasts of fire back at Azula before the gondola swung dangerously, sending them both stumbling.

“They’re about to cut the line!” Ty Lee shouted at Azula.

“Then it’s time to leave,” the princess smirked. “Goodbye Zuko.”

Azula blasted away as Ty Lee backflipped gracefully onto the other gondola. Zuko glared at Azula briefly before rushing to your side, reaching down and gently picking you up.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his face twisting with concern as you stumbled.

“Yeah,” you breathed. “Just peachy.”

You tried to walk on your own only to stumble once more and fall right into Zuko’s arms. You shook your head slightly, trying to walk off once more.

“(Y/N), stop,” Zuko said, scooping your legs up and fully carrying you.

“P-Put me down!” you yelled, drawing Sokka and Suki’s attention.

“Hey! Put her down,” Sokka cried, rushing over to your side. He was stopped when the gondola swayed again.

“Stop struggling,” Zuko hissed, tightening his grip on you. “You can’t walk without stumbling. You probably have a concussion.”

You pouted but stayed silent, knowing that the prince was right. Carefully, he made his way over to the edge of the gondola, noticing that Hakoda was leaning out of the window. Carefully, he handed you down to him, making sure that you were safely inside before swinging himself in as well. Sokka and Suki quickly followed.

“They’re cutting the line,” Zuko stated, exchanging glances with everyone else. “The gondola’s about to go!”

“I hope this thing floats,” Hakoda said, fussing over your head wound as you tried to push him away.

“Hey!” you suddenly cried as the gondola began to move. You glanced out the window. “Who’s that?”

“That’s Mai!” Zuko exclaimed, his eyebrows furrowing as he observed her fighting with the guards.

The gondola made it to the other side without any other mishaps. When you got there, Zuko carefully picked you up once again, making his way out of the gondola. Sokka kept his gaze on him, only looking away when he felt Suki grab his hand. She shook her head at him before looking at you and Zuko. “Calm down. There are worse people she could be with.”

Sokka rolled his eyes at her words before trailing after Zuko, a barely visible smile appearing on his face as he noticed how Zuko was fussing over you as well. Hakoda and Chit Sang tossed the warden back into the gondola before joining the group. They all walked for a while before Zuko paused, standing on the cliff that was overlooking the rest of the volcano.

“What’s wrong Zuko?” you asked quietly, your eyes not leaving his face as he scanned the landscape in front of him. At this point, everyone else had backtracked to where you were standing.

“My sister was on that island,” was his only response.

“Yeah, and she's probably right behind us, so let's not stop!” Sokka said, trying to convince Zuko to keep moving.

“What I mean is she must have come here somehow,” he replied, his eyes still looking around.

“There!” you exclaimed, pointing at a large airship. “That's our way out of here!“

The six of you all managed to make it to the airship quickly enough and Zuko quickly lit the fire and guided it away from The Boiling Rock. The atmosphere was lively as everyone tried to catch up with each other, the excitement from the day eventually leaving everyone as the sun began setting. One by one, everyone fell asleep until it was just you and Zuko awake.

You had been looking around the ship, smirking in victory when you found a first aid kit. Silently you wandered out to where Zuko was, trying not to startle him.

“Long night?” you asked, leaning on the wall next to him.

“Someone has to keep the fire going,” he retorted, a faint smile present on his handsome face.

“Can you help me?” you asked quietly, meeting his eyes as he turned to face you. He nodded and you handed him the first aid kit before sitting down in front of him. You flinched slightly as his hand grabbed your jaw, closing your eyes as you reveled in his touch, remaining oblivious to the way his heart was racing at the close proximity. His touch was feather light in comparison to the guard who had grasped your jaw in a similar way back at the Boiling Rock. You snorted softly as you recalled the incident that had taken place a mere day ago; it seemed like it had happened ages ago.

“I’m sorry,” Zuko whispered, tilting your head to get better access to the cut on your head.

“It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt,” you murmured back, eyes still closed.

“Not about that,” Zuko replied, cleaning the wound as best as he could with the supplies you had given him. You hissed softly as he tried to place the bandage on, breathing deeply to try and ignore the pain. “I’m sorry about everything. I’m sorry for hunting the Avatar down and chasing you all around the world. I’m sorry about your mother. I’m sorry for the raids that tore your village apart. I’m sorry that I kept causing you harm even when I had the chance to do good.”

You opened your eyes at his words, reaching up and gently grabbing his hand to bring his attention to you. He could’ve sworn his heart skipped a beat. You stared at him in silence, his golden eyes never leaving yours even as he fidgeted uncomfortably under your gaze. Your face softened as you realized just how full of guilt Zuko really was, your heart aching as you realized that you couldn’t spend any more time hating him. Not when he had already done so much to try and make up for his mistakes.

“No Zuko,” you finally spoke, guiding him to take a seat in front of you. “I’m sorry for being so harsh towards you. You did more than enough to prove that you aren’t the same bratty prince you were when we first met but I wasn’t willing to look past the fact that you were once our enemy. You left the Fire Nation to help Aang and I can’t imagine how hard that was-”

“Trust me,” Zuko interjected, laughing humorlessly. “It wasn’t that hard. My father and sister are horrible people.”

“Still,” you said, leaning in a bit. “They’re your family. Betraying your family isn’t easy, even if you don’t get along with them.”

Silence ensued as Zuko stood up and carefully finished bandaging your cut. He took his seat in front of you once more, watching the fire as you watched him.

“What?” Zuko asked, his cheeks heating up he realized that you were still staring at him.

“Thank you Zuko,” you stated, finally looking away from the golden-eyed boy.

“Don’t thank me,” Zuko replied. “It was Sokka’s idea to break you out.”

“I mean for saving me from Azula,” you whispered, looking back up at him. “She really had me backed into a corner.”

“I wasn’t going to let her hurt you,” Zuko stated, staring into your eyes. “Sokka would’ve killed me if we came all this way just to lose you to her.”

You giggled at his words, causing him to smirk in satisfaction as he realized that he had made you laugh. “He would’ve, wouldn’t he?”

There was another silence before you spoke up again. “In all seriousness, thank you. I never thought that I’d be calling Prince Zuko my hero.”

Zuko gulped as he realized just how close the two of you were. Neither of you made a move to back away and you flushed when you caught yourself glancing at the prince’s lips.

You blushed harder when you realized he had caught you in the act.

“Zuko,” you whispered, squeaking softly when said boy leaned forwards and connected his lips with yours. The kiss was soft and hesitant, with both of you holding your breath as you realized you were kissing each other.

Pulling away, Zuko’s eyes widened. “Oh spirits. I-I’m sorry. I can’t believe I just did th-”

You cut Zuko’s apology off with another kiss, this one a little less awkward. His hand came up and grabbed your waist, pulling you a little closer as his other hand cupped your cheek. Your hand came up to grab his forearm, your brain trying to comprehend the fact that you were kissing Zuko and wondering how in the world he was such a good kisser.

“I thought you said you weren’t dating my daughter.”

The two of you flew apart as you heard Hakoda’s voice.

“D-Dad!” you exclaimed. “We weren’t- I wasn’t-”

Hakoda held up a hand to stop your stuttering. “It doesn’t matter. He risked his life to help your brother break you out of prison which means he’s good in my books. Just please don’t kiss in front of me. And maybe don’t let Sokka find out about this just yet. Good night.”

You turned to Zuko in embarrassment as Hakoda walked away, making eye contact with him before the two of you dissolved into laughter.

“Well that’s one way to get the parent’s approval,” you muttered, smiling at Zuko as he wrapped his arm around your shoulder and pulled you into him.

The two of you spent the rest of the night awake, talking about everything and nothing, stargazing as Zuko kept the flame alive.

“You know, I used to know the moon spirit when she was alive,” you said smugly, glancing up at Zuko as he smiled widely at you.

“Oh really?”

“Yeah! In fact, she was Sokka’s first girlfriend.”

Zuko smiled and pressed another kiss to your lips, smiling softly when he felt your hand come up to his chest.

And in that moment, Zuko knew he had made the right decision by deciding to join the Avatar. After all, if he hadn’t then why would the universe have chosen to reward him with something as amazing as you.

taglist!

@musicalkeys, @mywigglybaby, @bubblebars, @iguessthefloorislava

7K notes · View notes

raewritez · 3 years

Text

promise

based on this request: hiiii can i request a zuko x earthbender!reader where they get along rlly well when he comes to the air temple and they slowly develop feelings and confess before the final battle? tyyyy ❤️

Silent tears streamed down your face as Katara held Aang tightly in her arms. You all sat upon Appa, the cool night breeze whipping your hair around as you grasped the sides of the saddle. Katara worked her magic on the lighting wound Azula had marked Aang with minutes ago while you and Sokka took Appa’s reins. You were so scared. You all were. Through her sobs, Katara had managed to explain what had just gone down; the Dai Li, Zuko siding with his sister, and Azula shooting Aang with lightning. You had never hated the Fire Nation Prince more than you did now, his actions filling you to the brim with loathing and animosity. You looked back at Katara’s tear-streaked face, Aang’s head pressed snugly into her neck. He’ll be ok, you assured yourself. He always is.

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

“Hello, Zuko here.”

You stared in disbelief at the figure in front of you, his hair falling over his face and his arm raised in an awkward hello.

“I heard you guys flying around down there, so, I just thought I'd wait for you here.”

If you weren't surprised before, you definitely were when Appa suddenly growled and opted to run his giant tongue along Zuko’s face. He explained why he was there, insisting he could teach Aang fire bending and that “he had changed”. You rolled your eyes at that, you’d heard that one before.

After disclosing that he had sent a literal assassin after all of you, he was sent away, mainly by Katara who possessed no shortage of threats that you had no doubt she would carry through with. Really, who did he think he was?! He had spent months chasing you, there was no way you could trust him. Was there?

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

A couple weeks had passed from the whole Combustion Man incident, and, much to you and Katara’s annoyance, Zuko had been accepted into the group. You spent the first couple days sending him piercing glares and cold shoulders, but as time passed you reluctantly found yourself warming up to him. He wasn’t at all like you had pegged him as, in fact he was probably the biggest dork you knew, and with Sokka as one of your best friends that was saying something. Zuko had embarked on a couple “life changing field trips”, as Toph put it, and in his most recent escapade he and Katara had confronted her mother’s killer. Now, you found yourself standing at the shores of Ember Island, and while you could tell that the place held some painful memories for Zuko, you couldn’t help but enjoy the scenery.

“Y/n” you heard.

You turned around to see Zuko wading out to your spot amongst the shallow waves.

“What are you doing?” He chuckled with a slight smile on his face, one that only you could seem to coax out of him.

“Just enjoying the sunset,” You shrugged. “It’s nice to take a break, Toph has been working me to the ground.” Zuko snickered at that, he had seen how Toph acted as your teacher: yelling and ordering and enjoying her authority much too much for it to be anything less than irritating for you. Although you were a skilled earth bender, Toph was attempting to teach you Metalbending, and all you had managed to do was flip a coin. You loved her dearly, but that girl was pulling at your last nerve.

Zuko placed himself next to you, gazing fondly at your profile before switching his attention to the sky streaked with oranges and reds. “Yeah,” he said. “It’s pretty.”

You nodded you head before turning slightly to look at him. He looked more relaxed than he had in days, reminding you of the whispered conversations you had shared by the firelight when everyone else was asleep, his face free of the worry lines and scowl that deepened over the course of the day. You silently admitted to yourself that he was beautiful, his raven locks sweeping across his forehead and the crimson skin of his scar blending in with the ochre gloaming. His expression suddenly changed, his eyebrows furrowing and his mouth pressed into a thin line.

“Aang isn’t taking this seriously,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “He wants to spend his time goofing off when there’s a war, when he has to fight my father in a few days!”

He sounded exasperated, and you couldn’t blame him. He had taken another load to his shoulders, the stress of the upcoming fight against the Fire Lord weighing heavily on him.

“Hey,” you said softly, nudging his side you your arm. “It’s going to be fine. Aang’s just a kid, but he has the biggest and bravest heart of anyone I know. He’s an amazing fire bender now! He’ll be ready.” Zuko didn’t look convinced, but he sighed and slumped his head. “You’re probably right.” He turned to you and nudged his head in the crook of your neck, a familiar position for the two of you for when he would wake up from night terrors under the light of the moon. He would silently crawl over to your sleeping bag and lay down near, a respectable amount of space between the two of you, only for you to find yourselves clinging to each other by morning.

You had told yourself he was just a friend, that he was the prince of the Fire Nation and you were only an Earth Kingdom peasant. But in moments like these, when he bared the most vulnerable side of himself to you, it was hard to believe that. You played with the hair at the nape of his neck, his arms tenderly wrapped around your waist.

“Come on,” you spoke, lifting his head with your hand. “Let’s go back to the others. I heard Katara is making soup again.”

He perked up at that.

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

It had all happened so fast: Aang went missing, you got help from a cool lady with a shirshu, and you met up with the Order of the White Lotus. You and your friends sat around a campfire making small talk, when you noticed Zuko pacing frantically in front of the entrance to a tent. You stood up and walked over to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder to stop him.

“Are you ok?” you asked softly.

“No, I'm not okay” he replied. “My uncle hates me, I know it. He loved and supported me in every way he could, and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?”

“Zuko, he loves you. And you’re sorry for what you did, right?” “More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life.”

“Then he’ll forgive you,” you assured him. “He will.”

He nodded softly, building up his confidence. He gazed into your eyes and opened his mouth as to say something, “Y/n, I...” he trailed off and you looked at him curiously as a blush rose to his face. “I...um...thank you.” He rose to his feet and pushed the curtains apart, sparing you once last glance.

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

You squirmed around in your sleeping bag, the confines of sleep seeming unbearable. Iroh had informed you all that you needed to split up, for each person to seek out their destiny. Your destiny lay with Sokka, Suki, and Toph; the four of you would depart to the skies at dawn to take down the Fire Nation airfleet. Zuko and Katara would fly to the palace, where Zuko would take down Azula to become Fire Lord. Fire Lord. Your Zuko.

You shut your eyes tightly, seeking sanctuary from the thoughts raging in your head. You snuggled deeper into your sleeping bag, only for your eyes to snap open when you felt a hand softly shaking you. You glanced up to see Zuko’s face, his expression laced with urgency and something else you couldn’t place.

“I need to talk to you, Y/n” he breathed out.

You nodded and followed him as he lead you away from your sleeping friends. Once you had reached a small clearing, he turned to you and opened his mouth to speak.

“Y/n,” he breathed your name out like a prayer. “I-”

You furrowed your brows. “Zuko?” you questioned, confused about his behavior. He examined your face with such intensity that you were tempted to turn away but his eyes, warm and amber as ever, locked you in place.

His mouth opened and closed like a fish, gaping at you in a way you were unfamiliar with.

“Zuko, what’s-” you were cut off as a warm pair of lips pressed against your own. His hands tangled desperately into your hair, and after recovering from your initial shock you quickly snaked your arms around his neck. He kissed you like a starving man, clinging to you like you were the only thing keeping him from floating away.

You reciprocated eagerly, his soft tresses gliding through your fingers as his lips molded with yours. You cupped his face so tenderly that it evoked a whimper from the back of his throat. Eventually you broke apart, thirsting for air, as he nuzzled his face farther into your palm. You glanced up at him, unsure for a moment before shy, soft smiles broke out across both your lips. He leaned forward once again and pressed a delicate kiss against you lips, conveying all the affection and adoration he held for you.

Katara found you the next morning, hand intertwined and relaxed expressions upon both your profiles. She hated to disturb the peace, but there were Fire Lords to make, destinies to actualize.

Later, between whispered goodbyes and tear-stained hugs, Zuko approached you again. He pressed his lips against your hair and leaned his forehead against yours. In his eyes gleamed a silent vow, a promise to return. As he and Katara rose up on Appa and you and your closest friends headed off to your futures, you knew it would be kept.

#zuko x reader #zuko x y/n #zuko x you #sokka x reader #avatar the last airbender #prince zuko #atla #legend of korra #aang x reader #the gaang #atla x y/n #atla x reader #avatar x reader #zuko #fire lord zuko #korra x reader #zukka #toph x reader #suki

584 notes · View notes

oneatlatime · 10 months

Text

The Fortuneteller

(A title which I am itching to divide into three words instead of two because boy does 'Fortuneteller' look stupid - seriously, stare at it for a bit and see how fast it starts looking like Fortun Eteller)

The last couple of episodes have had a contemplative character, so I'm rooting for this one to be a silly one. Also more Sokka please. Poor guy gets demoted to one liners in the B-plot whenever Aang is the main focus.

Episode Time!

We start this episode off with a potential love interest for Sokka.

I had completely forgotten that Katara used to have a necklace. I'd also completely forgotten that she'd lost it. When did she lose it?

Aang-o-vision has a pretty heavy rose-tinted filter - literally.

Told you it was a love interest.

The NOISE Sokka makes when the fish slaps him! I love it. Hang on I'm going to rewind and listen to it again.

Yep. Still as good the second time.

Oh wow! Aang just got Momo-zoned. Gotta say I'm not a fan of a romantic relationship between Aang and Katara at this point, so I'm all for some Momo-zonage.

Platypus bear! Finally some hybrid animals. I was beginning to wonder if that would ever come back.

Is this guy a martial arts master or an idiot?

I'm leaning towards idiot.

Friendly reminder of Appa's size. That's a lot of molars. No canines or incisors? Guess he's an obligate herbivore.

Is sniffing eggs something that people do? I get sniffing melons or other produce, but eggs?

Yep. Floppy hat guy is an idiot.

Aang buddy you might want to get that checked out.

And with a mighty squelch, the egg fulfills this episode's Beat Up Sokka quota.

Appa shakes!

Those are weird ducks.

I don't know a thing about anime, but that's the most anime-looking guy I've seen in this show. Is this show an anime?

Meng-o-vision is red-tinted. Probably doesn't bode well.

Also, Meng could give Zuko some lessons on how to style Pipi longstocking hair. Someone with more photoshop skills than me needs to make a Zuko with Meng hair.

"Don't be modest, they're huge!" Presented without comment. I'm not going to say a thing. But we all thought it.

Katara is totally the kind of girl who would fall for fortune telling. We've seen (multiple times) that she is gullible. Actually, now that I think about it, we've had multiple episodes where Katara gets swept up in something a healthy dose of skepticism would have guarded her from - Jet and The Great Divide come to mind. The writers are really hammering the 'Katara is susceptible to romantic nonsense and Sokka is a science-minded skeptic' message home. Is this going to play some bigger part in the show going forward? Why else would we be on version number (arguably) 3 of this same plot?

Aang and Sokka took off their shoes, but Katara didn't. Huh.

Pinky out. Classy.

I am not digging the Aang x Katara stuff in this episode. I'm with Sokka on this one - let's pretend it was a stellar bathroom break.

Aunt Wu is being unnecessarily antagonistic to Sokka. First he gets an egg on his head, then Momo steals his bean puffs, now Aunt Wu tells him his life's going to suck. I should have been more specific when I hoped for a Sokka episode. I didn't mean a beat up Sokka episode.

Aang. Priorities honey. Honestly, Aang casually dismissing his destiny after all that build up did get a laugh out of me.

A god-like figure coming to have his fortune read and only wanting to know about his love life would give me a headache too.

Add malicious signage to the Beating Up Sokka list.

"The fluffy bunny cloud forecasts doom and destruction." I bet that's the first time that sentence has appeared in the English language.

These people are stupid. Blazing Saddles style 'common clay of the New West' stupid. It would take, what, a day? to run a visual check on the volcano. But nope. Too much work. Listen to me I'm morphing into Sokka.

Katara giving off some serious fangirl vibes.

Katara is officially addicted to fortune telling.

Live footage of me watching these village idiots.

Add duck to the list of Things Which Assault Sokka. Gotta love those duck noises though.

Sokka is getting dangerously close to advising negging here. Also Meng deserves better. Her poor pigtails droop in disappointment. Girl has sentient hair - she deserves better.

Papaya? When you don't like papaya? Just because some old lady said so? Too far. That's not even teenage nonsense; that's tweenage nonsense. I kind of feel like sending Katara to her room. Actually it's just like that one line Log Man said in the Jet episode. Something like 'He tells us what to do and how to think and things all turn out right.' Outsourcing your decision-making. Which, by the way, is both nonsense and cult-like. Then again, the lost boys freedom fighters pretty much worshipped Jet the way this village worships Aunt Wu, so... parallels?

So if this guy got the panda lily himself, doesn't that mean that he recently went up the mountain? Couldn't he have had a peak inside while he was up there? Would have taken an extra 20 seconds.

"Flowers are fine once you're married" Somebody get this boy to Victorian times. If he ever sees an ankle he'll self-combust.

You have a flying bison. Why don't you fly up instead of climb?

This is totally live action fire copy-pasted in to the animation. There has got to be a more technical term for that than copy-pasted.

Raise your hand if you saw the twist with the volcano coming. (I did I swear. Blue spirit was an outlier).

Forget Appa, why didn't Aang just fly up?

"They just won't listen to reason." "But they will listen to Aunt Wu." So the mountain comes to Mohammed. I guess talking to people in a way they understand / will listen to is a good lesson for an avatar to learn. I thought he'd learned that one in The Great Divide though. Either way this episode is getting increasingly frustrating.

Can Meng get a hug? She seems astonishingly self-aware and emotionally mature for a kid. Also way too smart for this podunk town. I may rescind the hug in light of the stalking.

Well, it's not exactly subtle, but at least volcanic doom isn't a fluffy bunny.

Look at those yummy purples. Finally an episode where it's light enough to have a beautiful sky. My collection of wallpapers was suffering.

Digging a lava trench might work, if the volcano is going to put out a gallon or two of lava. This must be a baby volcano.

Nevermind.

The ashes effect feels oddly 3-D.

I guess to an avatar this kind of challenge is small potatoes.

Totally ignoring the Aang x Katara stuff for a minute, I'm with Sokka on this one too, because I also had forgotten that Aang is a superbender. He didn't even need to go glowy.

If I lived in this village that redesign would absolutely give me nightmares. Are those mega claws of doom structurally sound?

I am going to punch this man.

Aunt Wu's final speech to Aang makes me think that at least she's not indulging in her own product as it were. I suppose a con artist (whose services are free, so, just jerking around a village for shits and giggles?) is better than an actual believer?

MENG!!!

Final Thoughts

This episode has me thinking about stories. Part of the reason Katara wants to believe in nonsense like fortune telling is because she is someone inclined to listen to / believe in stories. I think the opening monologue of the first episode mentioned something about her grandmother's stories. Katara was raised on stories and very much took them to heart as more than just entertainment. And you can't blame her for believing the conceits of stories could be possible in their world, not after the events of episode one dumped the star of those stories in her lap. Just so long as she doesn't confuse a belief in stories with a belief in happy endings. There is a war going on in their world, and judging by the stuff that the show did not shy away from discussing or implying in episodes like The Southern Air Temple and The Storm, I am willing to bet good money that there will be a couple of unhappy endings ahead. Not permanently unhappy; this is a kids' cartoon. But there will probably be setbacks and disappointments.

Would Katara have astrology nonsense in her dating profile?

"The fluffy bunny cloud forecasts doom and destruction" is going to be incorporated into my daily vocabulary.

Platypus + bear are interesting choices for a hybrid animal, since a platypus is about 15 normal animals smashed together anyway. A platypus bear is the swiss army knife of animals. Or the Mr. Potato Head.

At first I thought that Aunt Wu was a benevolent meddler (see putting together the couple with the panda lily), but she also advised that one guy to never bathe, which doesn't benefit anyone in any way that I can see. So I've concluded that she's a Bumi level ("it's pretty fun messing with people") shit-stirrer instead. Her services may be free, but she manages to pay for a very big house, an assistant in Meng, and anime guy the bodyguard(?) so I guess grateful villagers give her donations? However she's doing it, she's got it made.

There was some sort of running theme with those large blue-billed ducks that lived in the village. If that was meant to have more meaning than just a running visual gag, I didn't pick up on it.

Meng had a surprising amount of depth and insight for what (I assume) is a one-episode character. Stalking aside, I liked her.

This episode's humourous look at the stupidity of the village (in fact the science denial of the village) is not as funny as it would have been in a pre-covid denial, pre-antivax, pre-"global warming is a hoax" world. A shallow viewing of this episode is still funny because the villagers are just SO dumb (except Meng), but the more you think about the villagers' actions and the conclusions they reach at the end of the episode (to not change AT ALL - at least the tribes made up in The Great Divide, a similarly idiot-filled episode), the more you morph into Sokka. These people have denied reality so hard that it's frustrating rather than funny to watch. Their head in the sand approach is not cute anymore.

I really wanted to like this episode. Like I said before, I wanted a goofy fun episode after the one-two punch of the last two episodes, but this one rapidly went from goofy to frustrating. I can't tell if it's because I'm not the target audience (i.e. too adult) or if it's because much of the world is currently drowning in various forms of misinformation and science denial. I know this episode isn't supposed to be deep - it's supposed to be setup for Aang & Katara as a (hopefully very distant) couple. That's all. And the message at the end about shaping your own destiny (i.e. taking an active part in your life) is a good message, and thematically relevant to the avatar, who presumably is at least somewhat responsible for shaping the whole world's destiny. But damn if this episode doesn't make my teeth itch.

Pros: Sokka had some great lines. Appa got to shake. There were pretty backgrounds. The noise Sokka made when he got slapped by the fish was a thing of beauty.

Cons: Aang and Katara are not allowed to date until they're 35. I will smack each villager individually upside the head with a science textbook. Meng deserved better.

Maybe I'm just not in the mood for this episode. I'll stick it on the rewatch list just for the Sokka fish noise.

#atla #avatar: the last airbender #the fortune teller #it should be THREE words fight me #avatar the last airbender

38 notes · View notes

sokkascroptop · 3 years

Text

traitor. (sokka x f!reader) pt 25

part 1 | part 24

A/N: she’s HERE!!! anyways, post and dip BYE

Y/N bit her bottom lip as she shook the dice around the wooden cup she was holding. She was losing–badly. Sho, a game that Aang had taught them a few days ago when Zuko had let up on their firebending training, was an Air Nomad game that the monks would play. Aang was a little confused on the rules, so they’d filled in the blanks where they needed to with their own.

And Sokka was good at it, way better than any of the rest of them. Which is probably why he’s suggested they’d start betting money.

“Just roll them!” Zuko growled from next to Y/N where he was laying on his stomach, head propped in his hands. Y/N gave him a sharp look and let the two dice fall from the cup onto the ground. Snake eyes. She’d only be able to move her pieces two spaces. Y/N let her head fall into her free hand with a resounding smack. She could hear the disappointed sighs from the rest of the gang around her. Sokka had already leeched them of their money, Y/N was their only hope, and now she was going to lose too.

Of course the money that they all had was shared amongst themselves, but it was purely the principle of the fact.

Sokka snatched the cup cleanly from Y/N’s left hand, dropping the dice into it before shaking it. Surely he couldn’t roll exactly a seven, there was no way– “Are you kidding me?!” Y/N shouted as Sokka laughed and grabbed what meager money Y/N had thrown into the pot and shoved into his now full pouch. “How did you roll a seven? How?!”

Sokka’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “I’ll never tell my secrets.”

Y/N pouted. “I feel like I was just swindled.” Well, at least she knew how those people in the Fire Nation felt when Toph stole all their money.

Sokka scooted closer to Y/N and threw an arm around her shoulder. She automatically leaned in. “Oh don’t be such a sore loser, I’ll buy you something nice in the next town we stop in.” He winked at her.

Butterflies fluttered in Y/N’s stomach in response. She rolled her eyes, fought off a smile and sent him a withering glare back which didn’t phase Sokka in the slightest. In fact, he looked more pleased with himself.

“Shut up, Sokka,” Toph said what everyone was thinking and Y/N felt herself giggle along with the rest of them.

“Aw, Toph we’re buds, you don’t really–”

“No, seriously! Everyone–shut up. I hear something off in the distance.” Toph stood up and turned her head so one of her ears was pointed in the direction of the canyon.

Y/N quickly pulled out of Sokka’s reach and scrambled to her bag where her sword lay, sheathed and untouched since she got back from Boiling Rock. There was a near imperceptible shake in her hands as she pulled the sheath off and dropped it to the side, adrenaline already coursing through her body. Everyone else was frozen, either staring at Toph or Y/N. Despite her asking for silence, Toph turned to Y/N. “Do you hear it too?”

Suki was standing too now. Something about the way Toph and Y/N acted had set her off too. “No,” she answered for both of them. “I don’t hear anything. Not even the birds.”

Truthfully, Y/N hadn’t even thought of that. The cave dwelling birds that lived in and around the temple were always chirping. It had become the background noise to their lives, but now it was silent.

Y/N let out a shaky breath. It was true, the stillness of the air was unnerving. It reminded her of the fights that happened in the yard at Boiling Rock. The ones where you could hear a pin drop before the brawl began, or the solitary click of boots down the halls in the middle of the night before some prisoner was pulled from their room with a piercing scream. It was the moonlight shining through the leaves in the forest that night before Kaito and his friend attacked. Too quiet was too quiet and it made her stomach roll with fear.

The first explosion rocked the very ground Y/N stood on. It felt like an earthquake, but Y/N knew better.

Three Fire Nation airships seemed to rise from the canyon itself. Over her shoulder, Y/N could hear bits of the Air Temple crumbling in on itself where the first bomb hit. In the 100 years since the Fire Nation was last here, their technology and weaponry had only gotten more advanced. The temple was old and unkept, it wouldn’t last long enough to protect them.

Aang broke away from the group and ran to his glider. With a powerful swing he was able to airbend yet another fireball heading for the roof, back in the direction it came from. It exploded next to the far left airship, sending it careening sideways, but it wasn’t enough to take it down. Another one smashed into the fountain sending stones and dust flying through the air. It stung her eyes and choked her throat. Y/N coughed and stumbled backwards, running right into someone. Hands gripped her arms, keeping her steady.

“We have to head to the back of the temple!” Sokka shouted into Y/N’s ear. It was a good thing too, another section of the roof came crashing down, much too close for comfort. She caught sight of Zuko and Katara diving to the side to avoid being crushed by the falling rocks.

Y/N nodded and the two of them ran towards the back of the temple to where Haru and Toph were bending a hole in the ground large enough to fit Appa. Suki was currently trying to help Aang wrangle Appa, who was having nothing with the thought of being pulled underground.

“Come on Appa, it’s okay!” Aang tried to reassure as he tugged on Appa’s reins. The sky bison bellowed loudly in response and dug his heels in.

Everyone else had started to make their way into the tunnel first, Chit Sang was helping Teo navigate his wheelchair over the bumpy rocks, The Duke close behind. All they had to do was get Appa to go too and they’d be safe. Well, safer than where they were now.

Sokka, Y/N and Katara joined Aang and Suki in trying to coax Appa into the tunnel. Y/N promised belly rubs and as many moonpeaches as Appa could eat if he just took a few more steps forward but he wasn’t budging.

They were really pushing it close now, with each explosion more of the temple fell away; half of the courtyard was already gone.

Y/N looked back to the ships, which looked larger than she’d ever seen before. Standing at the head of the middle ship, like it was her own personal army–which it probably was–was Azula.

And Zuko had caught sight of her too.

Y/N already knew what was going through his mind before he probably did. “Zuko! Get back here now!” she shouted.

“What are you doing?!” Aang chimed in, making a move towards stopping him.

Zuko barely even glanced back and through a pause in the explosions, Y/N could hear his voice loud and clear. “I’ll hold them off. I think this is a family visit.”

“Zuko!” Y/N and Aang both yelled simultaneously. Appa’s reins fell from Y/N’s hands and she reached back for her sword, ready to follow Zuko into battle.

But her hand paused, just as she touched the leather grip.

What was she supposed to do? Y/N had always, always been tailing after those two. Always soothing both sides after their fights, promising a better tomorrow if–

“–if you just please get along, for me.”

Y/N growled before grabbing Appa’s reins once again. She couldn’t be that person anymore. She couldn’t keep pretending that she was their nurse-maid, there to apologize for when one was mad at the other. This wasn’t about elementary school games in the palace gardens, this was a war; life and death. And as much as it hurt her to admit, Y/N might not be able to save them both.

Besides, she was sure that her presence would only cause more trouble, it always did.

“This isn’t working.” Sokka pushed his hair out of his face with frustration. “We’ve got to get out of here now.”

Aang shook his head. “Appa isn’t going to go into that tunnel!”

Appa seconded this statement with a roar.

“Aang, we can’t fly out of here!” Katara gestured wildly in front of them to the airships that were mostly blocking their only way out besides the tunnel.

A large shot of orange flames caught their attention. Even in the daylight it was blinding. Azula and Zuko were battling one another, but the airships hadn’t slowed their onslaught on the Air Temple.

“We’ll have to try.” Y/N could hear the determination in Aang’s voice but she kept her eyes on the ships, on the blue and orange flames that were dancing across the top of the centermost one.

Y/N turned her head over her shoulder. “They might not be expecting that. It’ll take a while to change their trajectory and we could slip away. If we’re fast enough.”

She locked eyes with Aang and an understanding passed between them.

“So we can’t take everyone...”

“No.”

Katara reached behind her absently in the direction of her father. “What do you mean we can’t take everyone?! We aren’t being separated again!”

“Appa can’t carry us all. We need to move fast if we have any chance of getting out of here.”

Sokka nodded in agreement. “We have to split up. They can still get away, Katara.” Sokka looked away from his sister to his father. “You can take the tunnel and get to the stolen airship.”

“No…” Katara’s voice broke and Y/N busied herself with climbing into Appa’s saddle.

“It won’t be forever,” Hakoda promised before pulling his two kids into his chest.

Y/N waved down to him sadly, as Suki and Toph piled in next to her. She sent up a silent message to whichever god or spirit that was listening to keep her new friends safe in their own escape.

“Which way?” Aang asked as he looked out to the canyon.

Y/N couched near Appa’s head and pointed directly at the airships. “Wait until there’s a break between the firebender’s hitting the temple, then go up as high as you can.”

Riding on Appa’s back on a good day made Y/N feel like she was floating; where her stomach was in her chest and her heart was in her throat and every gust of wind made her gasp.

So when Appa dove and rocked side to side avoiding the explosions aimed at him, it was safe to say Y/N was left queasy. The higher they climbed, the less fire reached them.

In a moment of clarity, where they drifted above the airships in the cloudline, Y/N was able to think about how much she hated where she was; about who she was.

As she peered over the edge of the saddle, trying to get her eyes on Azula and Zuko, she wished so badly that she would just wake up from this awful nightmare, back in her bed on Ember Island, ten years old and nothing to worry about. Before she met Azula; before her life became this.

And then she saw them. On top of the center airship, fighting one another like they were true enemies. And for once, it looked like Azula was evenly matched. The siblings simultaneously threw fire-packed punches at each other, and where they met in the middle blew up into an inferno of blue and orange flames, blowing both Azula and Zuko over the edges of the airship, plummeting to the bottom of the canyon.

Aang saw it first, diving Appa down before Y/N could even register what just happened.

“Oh my spirits. Aang?!” Y/N hung halfway out of the saddle as they dropped quickly through the smoke in the direction they last saw Zuko. Fear spiked through her body like a white hot knife. “Does anyone see them?”

Y/N was met with silence, just the wind whistling past her to fill her ears. She wasn’t sure if someone spoke up she’d be able to hear them anyways. Her nails dug into the soft leather under her hands, so deep half-moons were sure to be left behind long after she let go. Y/N stared into the clouds, dizzy and hyperventilating.

One breath in–

“There!” Sokka hollered, jumping to the edge next to her.

–and out.

It was by some divine force that Y/N was able to reach Zuko as he was falling. Even with Aang steering Appa in his direction, Y/N almost missed. It’s like she was moving in slow motion, their fingers dug into one another’s arms and the sudden weight of him pulling on her almost had Y/N tipping out of the saddle, shocking her back to reality.

The only thing that caught her was someone’s hands fisted in the back of her shirt. That was a good idea. Y/N reached around and grabbed the back collar of Zuko’s shirt, dragging him in roughly.

His hands were scorching hot from the recent firebending but he didn’t let go of her, instead his fingers tightened around her arm as the two of them stared back towards the cliffs. Their eyes were locked on the sight in front of them.

Like Zuko, Azula was falling too. But she didn’t have anyone to catch her.

Y/N hated the way she took a shaky breath in automatically. “She’s not going to make it.”

Y/N made a move towards the back edge of the saddle, as if somehow being closer meant that she could lean out and help. She wanted to look away; she didn’t want to see her best friend plummet to her death but she couldn’t turn away, she couldn’t break her eyes from the sight in front of her.

But in true Azula fashion, she persevered through all–she was just too stubborn to die yet. She firebent herself closer to the cliff face and caught herself on the rocks with her hair pin.

“She did make it.” Zuko’s voice was surprisingly full of relief.

Even from the distance, Y/N could feel the anger Azula emitted. But that wasn’t Y/N’s problem anymore, as much as she wanted it to be.

She sat down, facing away from the cliffs–away from Azula–and pulled her knees to her chest. Zuko sank down next to her, doing the same.

Momo, sensing some shift in her emotions, crawled into Y/N’s lap. She scratched absentmindedly behind his ears. She looked across her friends in wonder, all crammed together in the Appa’s saddle, in various states of shock. She wished they’d all met under better circumstances, but she was glad to have met them nonetheless. She would never be the person she was today without them. This was the life she was meant to have, even with how messed up it was.

They flew for as long as Appa could fly and then some more, needing to get the most distance between them and the Fire Nation airships as possible. They only landed, all fully exhausted, when Appa could go no farther and the sun was low in the sky.

----

Zuko and Y/N tasked themselves with setting up the tents while everyone else split off from the group and began to set up camp in a familiar daze; no words necessary.

“I get it now.” Zuko shook one of the tent canvas’ out over the grass, clearing off dust from the journey, doing everything in his power to avoid Y/N’s eyes.

She yawned as she pulled out the tent stakes and tossed them on the ground near his feet. “Get what?”

“I get, well–you now. It’s something Azula said when we were fighting.” Zuko mumbled. He began to thread the wooden supports through loops in the canvas without another word.

Y/N blinked wondering if she heard him correctly. “What did she say?”

Zuko seemed even more hesitant to speak now. Azula was a sore subject around camp before she’d just attacked them. The last thing they needed was someone to hear them talking about her. “Something about how she had to do it. The way she talked, I don’t even want to hear the garbage Father is filling her head with.”

Y/N cringed and with a pang of worry, she wondered how Ozai would take the loss of Aang once again. “You don’t think she’s too far gone, after what she did?”

Zuko chewed on his lip for a second. “She’s making it very hard to sympathize with her.”

“But?”

“No, I don’t.”

A sudden rush of hope filled Y/N. She wasn’t going to be alone in this quest for saving Azula. She and Zuko had just become allies in yet another way, and while it was never going to be easy, she would at least have a companion.

And it helped that it made Y/N feel a little less crazy about the whole thing. It was true; since her confession to the others Y/N couldn’t help but think that she might have been wrong all along. She’d rolled that thought around her brain until it became all she could think about when she was alone. With Zuko’s own admission, Y/N felt like the goal was much more attainable.

Y/N couldn’t help the grin that grew on her face. “That’s–”

“Zuko.”

Y/N’s lips zipped shut and she turned to look at Katara. She looked between the two of them with a sour expression on her face. “Sokka needs help carrying firewood. We need a lot of it, it’s going to be cold tonight.”

Y/N knew that tone of voice. It wasn’t a question of whether he wanted to go help, it was an order for Zuko to get up and leave Y/N alone.

“Uh, yeah. Okay.” Zuko handed Y/N the tent stakes and jogged off in the direction they’d seen Sokka go when they’d landed.

Y/N barely caught Katara leaving, walking away just quickly as she had come. Leaving it up to Y/N to get the rest of the tent set up before dinner.

Y/N really did try and give Katara the benefit of the doubt. She’d been through a lot, and Y/N felt like she had dragged her through more by admitting that she wanted to help Azula. But it was hard to ignore some of the outright hostility she showed Zuko–and Y/N too–if she was around him.

While at one time, she had encouraged Y/N to become friends with Zuko once again, now it seemed like that was the last thing Katara wanted anymore. The flip-flopping left Y/N confused and worried. Was her newly rekindled friendship with Zuko the same thing that was dousing the friendship between her and Katara?

----

Y/N didn’t know what was making her more queasy. What had happened at dinner with Katara, or the fact that she and Sokka were currently spreading out blankets in his tent, for both of them to sleep on. It was so...private.

“What do you think was going on with Katara at dinner? She was all–I don’t know–pouty. And then Zuko? Running after her?”

Y/N sat down and crossed her legs, fixing a corner of one of the blankets until it was perfectly straight, just hoping to give her hands something to do before giving a noncommittal shrug. “I’m not sure.”

Zuko had shared a look with Y/N before he got up to follow Katara to the coastline, like they were in on something together. However, she was completely in the dark. Mostly. Well, Y/N was smart enough to make a guess.

Sokka cocked his head to the side and sat down across from her. “I think you know more than you’re letting on.”

Y/N furrowed her brows. “Maybe. I’m just guessing.”

“Then what’s your guess?”

“Katara is mad about something.”

“Well yeah, obviously,” Sokka scoffed.

“But Zuko hasn’t done anything recently for her to be mad at. So it’s either a long held grudge from Zuko’s ‘hunting the Avatar’ days, or something new is making her mad.”

“Like what?”

Y/N looked away. “I think she’s mad at me.”

“You? For what?”

Y/N leaned back on her hands, fisting them in the blankets before letting them go. “Come on, you know what.”

“I thought we all were past that?”

“Maybe she’s not.”

Suddenly the opening of the tent was pushed aside and someone came barreling in, stepping on Y/N’s left hand in the process.

“Ow!”

“Sokka, I need to–” Zuko stopped and looked down. “Sorry, Y/N…?”

His voice trailed off as his eyes bounced from Y/N to Sokka to the blankets spread neatly across the spanse of the tent, all illuminated by one single lantern on the floor.

Zuko’s cheeks grew pink. “Sorry, I didn’t know... I didn’t mean to interrupt, I–”

Y/N felt her own cheeks heat up as she realized what Zuko was implying, the flush spreading all the way down her neck. “No! You weren’t interrupting anything!!”

“It’s just the way the blankets are all–”

Sokka let out a strangled noise. “Nothing was gonna happen!!”

“Okay!” Zuko crossed his arms across his chest tightly.

“Okay,” Y/N repeated. She folded her hands in her lap and stared at her thumbnails, unable to meet either boys’ eyes. All three of them were quiet, still cringing over the embarrassment that had just happened.

Sokka cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “So, Zuko, you needed something?”

“Uh, yeah.” He sat down next to Y/N. “It’s about your mom.”

Y/N’s head snapped up. What she knew about Sokka and Katara’s mom was little to none. She knew that she had been killed in a Fire Nation raid when both of them were younger, but that was the extent of Y/N’s knowledge. Neither sibling liked to talk about her in detail, and Y/N didn’t pry.

“Do you want me to…?” Y/N nodded her head towards the tent flaps, unsure whether this was a private conversation. She looked between the boys, waiting for an answer.

Sokka shook his head. “No, it’s okay.” Already his brows furrowed deeply. He chewed absently on his lip before saying, “What do you want to know?”

“Tell me about the day she died.”

Y/N glowered at Zuko, wanting to reach out and punch him in the arm for asking about something so sensitive.

“I don’t like to think about it,” Sokka’s eyes had a far away look in them, like he wasn’t seeing Y/N and Zuko in front of him, but was imagining the way the tundra looked on the day his mother died all those years ago. “I was nine, Katara was eight. We were out playing in the snow with Mom and Dad when the ash began to fall…”

----

Sokka’s story had lasted long into the night, and overall left Y/N with more questions than answers. Of course they were questions that no one could answer for her. No one could explain what was going through that man’s head when he decided that Kya’s life was worth less than his. No one could explain the greater complexities that were behind the Fire Nation’s decimation of other cultures, not in a satisfying way that would help Y/N ever understand. Because that was that; she would never understand–the fear factor, the sense of power that came from knocking one culture aside to make way for your own. (Why would you destroy when you could cultivate and grow and learn from each other? She had learned so much about that in the past few months.)

And all of those thoughts made it hard to sleep. There were too many things going through Y/N’s head as she watched Sokka’s chest move up and down with each rhythmic breath. Furthermore, she knew that Zuko wouldn’t have asked for the story if he didn’t already have plans made for what he was going to do about it, and that did not sit well with Y/N.

----

And she was proven right, the next morning after a few hours of sleep when Katara marched up to her, Aang and Sokka asking to borrow Appa.

“Why do you need to borrow Appa?” Aang asked with a smile. It slowly faded into a frown as he looked between Katara and Zuko. “What’s going on guys?”

Katara squared her shoulders, steeling herself like she was about to get into a fight. “Zuko knows who killed my mother.”

At that moment, Y/N’s ears started ringing. She frowned at Zuko, who just shook his head and frowned back at her. She should have known that any question he asked last night had an ulterior motive. This was his brilliant plan to make Katara like him??

Without warning, Katara stole Y/N’s attention back.

“Y/N, you’ll come with me won’t you?”

The older girl looked over and caught Katara’s gaze. “Huh?”

Katara looked down at Y/N hopefully. “I don’t care if Zuko comes, but I want you to. I need you.”

Y/N blinked at her. There were a lot of things that she wanted to say but the words just seemed to tangle around her mouth. She’d open her mouth to say one thing but snap it shut immediately for something else. Finally with a quick shake of her head she blurted out, “No.”

“What?”

“I’m not going to watch you hunt someone down and kill them.” The words left a bad taste in Y/N’s mouth. They were all too familiar to her. And the mere thought of doing that…

“I need this. I can’t just forget about him now that I know he’s still out there. I can’t just let it go!”

“I wouldn’t expect you to forget it,” Y/N replied slowly as she stared at Katara’s shaking hands.

“So help me.”

“No. And if you want me to be real honest, I don’t think that either of you should be going!” Y/N sent a very pointed look to Zuko. What is this really about? She wanted to ask him. “Revenge is not going to fix how you feel, Katara.”

“How would you know?”

“I just do.”

“Well you’re wrong. This man is a monster. He deserves it.”

“But you don’t need to be the one doing it.”

“Katara,” Y/N doesn’t have to look at Aang to know he’s sad. It comes through in his voice, clear like bells. “I understand how you–”

“Stop.” Katara’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “If you’re going to tell me not to go then you don’t understand either.”

“I do understand! How do you think I felt when the sandbenders took Appa, or when I woke up and found out what happened to my people?! Doing this out of revenge is not right and you know it.” Aang was standing now, a divot punctuating between his eyebrows as he frowned at Katara.

“You’re both wrong,” Zuko murmured. He was so quiet during the whole exchange, Y/N nearly forgot he was there. “This is about closure and justice.”

“Katara, please,” Sokka spoke up from behind Y/N. He too had stayed quiet for most of the conversation. Y/N wondered if he had an idea that this was going to happen after Zuko came to talk to him too. “She was my mother too, but this isn’t right.”

“Then you didn’t love her like I did.” It felt like a bucket of ice cold water had been splashed over Y/N’s body. She jerked at Katara’s words, even though they weren't aimed at her. In one foul swoop Y/N wanted to scream at Katara for saying something so hurtful to her brother and simultaneously pledge to do everything in her power to make the man who killed their mother pay for his crimes. However, Y/N didn’t have time to do either, because while she was still thinking of which was the better option, Katara spun around on her heel and stomped away, not unlike a child having a tantrum.

----

Y/N huddled between Sokka and Aang behind one of the large rocks surrounding their camp, watching as Katara and Zuko, dressed in black, loaded Appa with supplies. Her mind drifted to how cozy Toph and Suki probably were as they slept peacefully around the campfire. The wind bit through her clothes and Y/N shivered involuntarily. She knew that the point of staying up, waiting for Katara and Zuko to sneak away, was to once again try and convince Katara that this wasn’t the right thing to do. Aang thought that confronting them again would somehow bring Katara to her senses, except–this was Katara acting with her senses. As angry as she could get, she never forgot to plan, she wasn’t acting on a whim anymore.

Y/N didn’t know if she could say anything to convince Katara to stay that Aang and Sokka hadn’t already tried; Katara had shown her hand already and her mind was hard to change once it was set on something.

The three of them stepped out, just as Zuko and Katara were leaving. Y/N made a beeline to Katara.

“Please, Katara, listen to me.” Y/N kept her voice low, quiet enough that it was just for the two of them, and tugged on the girl’s sleeve childishly.

“No.” Katara didn’t have the same idea, her voice was strong and clear and it rang out loudly. Despite this, she still stopped and let Y/N reach to grip her wrist. She could feel Katara’s rapid pulse through her sweater.

Y/N shivered and crossed her arms across her chest, as if it would hide the gaping wound in between her ribs. The hurt that came from watching her friend choose the wrong path. It was a familiar pain.

“You told me once that you can’t just wish feelings away. You think by killing him it’s going to make things right. It won’t. You’ll feel better for a moment; a fraction of a second while his life is in your hands and then you’re going to regret it. The moment will pass and you’ll see what you’ve done. You’re strong but that’s not the kind of person you are, nor the kind of person you’ll ever be.

“Maybe that’s just you.”

The words stung. It wasn’t even meant to be a particularly hateful comment but Y/N couldn’t help but feel hurt over it.

She felt numb as she watched Katara climb onto Appa and fly away into the dark.

----

Something about the dark of camp and the unsettling feeling of having their group suddenly minus three made it hard for Y/N to find sleep. And when she did, it wasn’t peaceful. It had been a long time since Y/N had had a nightmare so realistic. She could still feel blood on her hands–

She sat straight up out of her sleep, kicking at the blankets that were tangled in a sweaty mess around her legs.

Her eyes took a moment to adjust as she looked around. Sokka’s tent was much darker than it was when they slept outside, the canvas blocking out the natural light from the moon and stars and a dying campfire–and it was warmer too–under all those blankets.

Then, Y/N realized a majority of the heat was radiating from Sokka next to her. His arm was still around her, knocked from her waist to the tops of her thighs when she sat up.

He was sleeping on his stomach, his face buried in his pillow–with one half open eye staring at her. “Lay down, is’okay.” He patted her leg with his hand and rolled to his side, both of his eyes closed now.

Y/N did lay down, even though her heart was pounding and everything within her told her she needed to run, to do something instead of staying here like a sitting duck.

She clutched her hands in fists, focusing on her breathing, which was still shaky. She stayed rigid, flat on her back–the easiest position to get up and defend from.

Despite this, Sokka snuggled closer, pressing his nose into her shoulder and wrapping his arm back to where it was across her waist, his hand splaying out across Y/N’s stomach comfortingly. Her shirt had shifted in the night, and his pinky brushed bare skin, leaving Y/N the feeling of butterflies, though she didn’t really mind.

She was falling asleep now, her tiredness overwhelming her sense of danger, and through that haze she could feel Sokka’s hand move, pulling her shirt further down and covering the bare skin he was once touching. And back was the warmth of his hand, resting protectively over her abdomen.

----

It had been Sokka’s idea to go out and have a picnic. Only after days of moping between the two of them did he come up with the thought. Though, it might have been spurred by the constant bickering between Y/N and Toph, usually only stopped by Katara’s sharp tongue. What usually started out by harmless banter ended with Y/N half-covered in mud and Toph dangerously close to what Y/N called an “impromptu haircut”.

It would have been a nice time for relaxation for both of them had they not been so worried for Zuko and Katara who were off Agni knows where, doing Agni knows what. Neither of them meant to, but their minds were in different places instead of here with one another. It had already been a few days since they had left, and their absence was being felt by everyone at camp.

Y/N dragged her hand through the cool grass and watched Sokka for a minute; wanting to lengthen their time out here, away from the chaos of their lives. She followed his gaze down to the town–their perch on the highest hill around had been strategic, but it provided a nice view too. Y/N noticed that Sokka wasn’t really looking at the houses and stores below, more like looking through them. He was off in his own world, worrying at the inside of his cheek with his teeth.

She didn’t always get the chance to stare so candidly at him while he was distracted. His hair had gotten longer on the sides but he never made any notion to shave it back down. Y/N kind of liked the scruffy look. Her gaze followed down his cheekbone to his eyes–which were still trained straight ahead. As he blinked, Y/N wrinkled her nose in jealousy; there was no need for him to have eyelashes so long and thick.

He could have been thinking about anything, a new invention, the slightly muggy air, the sour fruit—but if the pout on his lip was indication, Y/N knew what was on his mind.

She popped a quartered persimmon in her mouth before speaking. “Maybe we should try this again another day.”

Sokka grunted and didn’t look back. Y/N chuckled and pulled up a piece of grass, tickling Sokka’s cheek with it. “Did you hear me?”

He jumped and looked back at her guiltily. “Sorry, what?”

“We should try to have a picnic again on a different day,” Y/N smiled softly.

“That sounds like a good plan.”

On their way back to camp, they walked close, bumping shoulders every time their steps unsynced. They hadn’t strayed too far; their camp was just half a mile down the hill and to the coastline, but it was far enough so that they could be alone.

Y/N was happy to see that Sokka’s mood had changed for the better since moving off the hill. She reached down and linked her pinky with his. It was much too hot to be holding sweaty hands.

“Tell me–” Sokka started.

“Hmm?”

“–what happened back there at the temple? If you want...” Sokka quickly added, holding his free hand up to show he meant no harm.

Y/N had to think back, even though it was only a few days beforehand it seemed so distant in her memory. Maybe even a little hazy, like she wasn’t really present when she had done it. That might have been more than just an explanation, she barely remembered jumping up from the ground, just one minute she was sitting next to Sokka and the next she was holding her sword ready to fight. Y/N couldn’t recreate the exact feelings she was having either, but it made her fists clench involuntarily, like she was trying to push away whatever it would bring.

Finally after a moment of silence, she spoke, but it didn’t offer much of an answer to what Sokka was asking. “I don’t know. I just had a really bad feeling, is all. I heard Toph say that and I just acted.” Y/N chewed on her lip and shivered despite the sweltering heat. She felt worn out like her body had just had a massive adrenaline rush and she was fading now.

Sokka noticed this. “You didn’t have to tell me if thinking about it bothers you.”

Y/N looked at him and then snorted through her nose. “You asked me to be more open with my feelings.”

Sokka rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled slightly. “Yeah, but not if it distresses you. I just wanted you to know I’d be there for you.”

“It doesn’t distress me...that much.” she added when Sokka gave her a very pointed look. He didn’t say anything but he clearly didn’t believe her.

“So I’m a little bit on edge, that’s not a bad thing!” Y/N rolled her eyes.

“It is when you aren’t getting sleep.”

“I am getting just enough sleep to keep me going.”

“I’m not saying we need to be enjoying our life on the run, but you could act like you aren’t waiting for imminent danger every second of every day.”

“If I didn’t, then who would?” Y/N grumbled.

“We all protect one another.”

“Yeah..”

Sokka hummed and cocked his head, a wistful smile flitting across his face. “Sounds like you don’t really believe me.”

“I just… anytime we have time to breathe is when something bad happens. I am just anticipating it before it comes so it doesn’t catch me off guard. I’m doing that for all of us.”

“That is no way to live.”

“This—” Y/N gestured around herself wildly. “—is no way to live.”

“I know.”

“And Katara, don’t even get me started on that mess. I can’t protect her when she leaves.”

Sokka shook his head. “Katara doesn’t need protection.”

“Well obviously I know that. Neither do you or Zuko or anyone else, but it still makes me feel better if I was standing next to you if someone came after us.”

“You don’t...have to be self-sacrificing.”

Y/N bit her tongue to keep herself from replying. What would she say to him anyways? Maybe Y/N’s actions were more see-through than she thought.

It was disappointing to hear, probably just as much as it was for Sokka to say it. She didn’t think of herself like that, but that’s how she felt wasn’t it? Like her life meant a little bit less than everyone else’s because of her past crimes? That if she had it her way she’d do everything and anything in her power to make sure that no one else suffered, even at her own expense?

Protection. It felt like that was all she was good for. She wasn’t a planner, or a bender, or a leader, but she was tough and Y/N liked to think she was more than capable. A fighter was what she had to be, because there were no other slots that needed to be filled; she would just have to make her own.

Y/N was tired. And it was more than just physically. Sokka had been correct in saying that she hadn’t been getting enough sleep but it wasn’t like she could force herself to sleep when her brain never stopped screaming, Danger!

It was a relief to see a familiar shaggy beast at camp. It drew the conversation away from things she really didn’t feel like discussing.

“Look, they’re back.” Y/N nodded her head at Appa, who was munching on hay and receiving loving chin scratches from Aang.

Appa gave a lowly bellow when he saw Y/N and Sokka approaching, which called Aang’s attention to them.

Y/N was surprised to see a happy grin on his face. “Hey guys!”

“Hey, buddy,” Sokka murmured as he patted Appa’s snout.

Aang walked around Sokka and nudged Y/N’s elbow. “Katara is down by the water. You should go see her!”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “Sure.” She passed over the basket full of fruit and pastries that she and Sokka didn’t finish. “Go ahead and pass them out to everyone, yeah?”

As she passed by Sokka he gave her arm a reassuring squeeze, which she returned with a grateful smile.

----

Y/N found Katara sitting at the end of the boat dock, swinging her feet just inches above the water line. The wooden slats below her creaked with each step she took. She stood behind Katara, waiting for the other girl to acknowledge her presence.

“I didn’t realize that I was mad at you until you didn’t want to come with me.” Katara turned around and smiled sheepishly at Y/N.

“Can I sit next to you?”

Katara patted the wood next to her and stared back out to the water.

“I’m sorry for treating you so badly.”

Y/N nodded numbly. “It’s okay.”

“It wasn’t.”

“We’ve all said mean things to one another,” Y/N said with a shrug. “While you were gone I told Toph I’d cut off her feet if she tried to stick them in my lap again.”

Katara chuckled. “Seems like I missed a lot.”

Their talk faded into silence as they listened to the waves lap against the shoreline.

“I was worried you’d leave again.”

Y/N blinked at Katara. What did she just say?

Katara seemed to sense Y/N’s confusion and continued. “Whenever I saw you with Zuko, always whispering to yourselves like you were keeping secrets, I thought you two were going to leave us.”

“We would never do that,” Y/N said, incredulously.

“I know that now,” Katara looked away with a shy smile. “I might have interrogated Zuko about it to find that out though. I didn’t want you to become lost again.”

“Lost?”

Katara paused, weighing her words. “We’re the same. You let your heart rule your head. All logical reason leaves you when you want something done. So I know when you need someone to watch out for you.”

And for the first time ever, Y/N felt fire in her chest. This is how Firebenders must feel all the time, Y/N thought.

That fierce loyalty and protectiveness that Katara waved in the face of adversity, that was for Y/N too. Not that it was ever doubted, but now Y/N could see it; feel it. What Sokka said was true, they all looked after each other.

But Katara wasn’t even looking at the tears shining in Y/N’s eyes. “That’s all you were doing for me too.

Besides, it wasn’t all I blamed him for either. He was just the easiest target. And forgiving him; it was easier than I thought it would be. Once I realized that I was blaming him, and maybe you, for something you didn’t do.”

“Well,” Y/N kicked her legs. “I did do something. And you have every right to be mad over it.”

“But now I know why.”

Y/N gave her a quizzical look.

Katara picked at her wrist wraps, unwinding and winding them back as she thought of the right words to say. “My journey taught me some things along the way. Before.. I didn’t know what it was like to love someone so much that all reason leaves you. I can never understand why you did it, that’s between you and Azula. But I can empathize with you now.”

Y/N didn’t have the vocabulary to respond to that. She realized that’s all she needed from her friends. She didn’t need unconditional acceptance for her past mistakes, she just needed to know that they could still love her despite them. She couldn’t expect them to understand what Y/N couldn’t even understand.

“I didn’t do anything, so you know,” Katara muttered.

Y/N nodded, she could have guessed as much but she knew it was important for Katara to tell her that.

“I wanted to, so badly.” Katara’s cheeks flushed with what Y/N knew was embarrassment. “It would have been so easy, but... I couldn’t. You were right, I would have regretted it and resented myself for it. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

Y/N didn’t respond to that last part. She’d always suspected that Katara knew more than she’d led Y/N to believe. They probably all did.

“So many things happened while you were gone. You’ll have to tell me about them,” Y/N squared herself around to look Katara in the eyes. “When you’re ready.”

Katara held her gaze, “You can too.”

“I might take you up on that.” And Y/N was sure she would. Some day.

----

A/N: you guys should like,,, come in my ask box and tell me what you like about this because i’m feeling very self-conscious about my writing since it’s been so long.

taglist: @myexgirlfriendisthemoon @reclusive-chicken-nugget @astroninaaa @aangsupremacy @beifongsss @crownofcryptids @welovediaaxx @littlefluu @lozzybowe @thebluelcdy @fanficdepot @teenbiology @13-09-01 @riespage @davnwillcome @creation-magician @lunariasilver @francesciak @thia-aep @aphrcditeee @solarsuki @my--shitty--art @lovingcupcake51002 @loganrwebb @celia-not-cecilia @treestarrrrrrrr @izzieserra @salsasadd @nataliahaslosthershit @awkwardnesshabitat @lanie103 @im-the-galactic-starfish @charlotteisabella @alienmotel @smarshere @sugamonster22 @calumsfringe @whatsuphoesandbros @i-love-superhero @justasukisimp @grouchiest-hufflepuff @feverish-dove @catchingrhythm @euphoricmads @ivetoldamillionlies @fanficsformyperusal @mikxyu @someonekeepstakingmyusernames @earthtokace @justamessandahalf @perfectlyfadingmusic @atlafanforlife @iris-suoh @chilifrylizard2 @cheese-its-and-lies @writequickly-blog @living-on-kyoshi @brightcosmos @someoneovertherainboww @stale-sandcastle @justarandomhoman @itsametaphorbriansblog @llamaly @moon-spirit-yue @moistpotatobear @missmorosis @sunflowerr-mami @ladylizzieofdarbyshire @september-ctd @pumpkinbowl14 @yoyokzzz @peterparkour15 @mrskinneyposts @lizziel1410 @spacelesbianfanclub

tags that don’t work: @rockinearthbending-marauders @milk-n-cheese @mellisophilia @samsmultifandomblogs @zukostan221 @eyelash-curler @certifiedfreak7 @smolbitch2006 @maruchan77 @ohjustlookalive @vintagerose1014516 @bcifcng @sendnuwudes @humbleseame @velveteencurls @oddment-nitwit-blubber-tweak @crxsshatcht @starxtt @ask-kfc-siblings @zuko-and-sokkas-simp @naanlianid @simpingforafictionalcharacter @jasminedrgon @la3divine @maruchan77 @emogril @bison-whistle @p—e—a—c—h—e—s @ohjustlookalive @sugarmoongey @natsbelova

#atla #sokka x reader #sokka x female reader #atla fics #sokka x y/n #sokka fics #katara #the gaang #aang #zuko #toph #azula #ty lee #mai #suki #avatar the last airbender #avatar: the last airbender #avatar resurgence #avatar fic

216 notes · View notes

zuko-always-lies · 2 years

Text

Zuko Ordering Iroh Around

Book 1 Zuko does this a lot. Much more below.

“The Boy in the Iceberg”:

Iroh: No! Power in firebending comes from the breath. Not the muscles. The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire. (Iroh demonstrates, releasing a controlling plume of flame that bursts in front of Zuko, but does not hit him) Get it right this time. Zuko: Enough. I've been drilling this sequence all day. Teach me the next set. I'm more than ready. Iroh: No, you are impatient. You have yet to master your basics. (More forcefully) Drill it again! Zuko: Grrrr... huh! (He blasts one of the guards backwards with a gout of fire.) The sages tell us that the Avatar is the last airbender. He must be over a hundred years old by now. He's had a century to master the four elements. I'll need more than basic firebending to defeat him. You WILL teach me the advanced set! Iroh: Very well. But first I must finish my roast duck. (Begins eating) Num num... num...

“The Avatar Returns”:

Zuko: This staff will make an excellent gift for my father. I suppose you wouldn't know of fathers, being raised by monks. Take the Avatar to the prison hold. And (shoving the staff in Iroh's direction) take this to my quarters.

and

Iroh (rubbing his eyes): Huh? (Cut to Appa rapidly flying away from the ship, then to Iroh helping Zuko back up onto the ship.) Zuko: Shoot them down!

(As Appa gains altitude, Zuko and Iroh in unison launch a massive bolt of fire at Appa. Katara and Sokka look behind them in horror at the approaching fireball. Aang jumps to the back of the saddle and, using his staff like a baseball bat, airbends a gale that sends the fireball at a right angle away from Appa and into the ice cliff nearby. The fireball explodes, releasing a huge amount of ice from the cliff wall which falls into the narrow channel that Zuko's ship is navigating. Zuko gasps in horror as the bow of the ship and indeed the entire channel is blocked up under an avalanche of ice. Cut to Aang, Katara and Sokka laughing as they fly away. Cut back to Iroh and Zuko on the foredeck of the heavily damaged ship.)

“The Southern Air Temple”:

Zuko: Uncle, I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want to stay too long and risk losing his trail. Iroh: You mean the Avatar? Zuko: (turning on his uncle angrily) Don't mention his name on these docks! Once word gets out that he's alive every firebender will be out looking for him and I don't want anyone getting in the way. Zhao: (from offscreen) Getting in the way of what, Prince Zuko?

“The Warriors of Kyoshi”:

Zuko: (in a dangerously silky voice) The only reason you should be interrupting me is if you have news about the Avatar. Iroh: (enters cautiously carrying a map) Well, there is news, Prince Zuko, but you might not like it. Don't get too upset. Zuko: (calmly) Uncle, you taught me that keeping a level head is a sign of a great leader. Now whatever you have to say, I'm sure that I can take it. Iroh: Okay, then... we have no idea where he is. Zuko: (enraged) WHAT?! (The four candles flare to the ceiling with Zuko's wrath. He stands quickly and turns around to face his uncle, his anger evident on his face. Iroh turns away from the flames and raises his right arm to protect his face. As the flames subside, he pulls a fan out of his robes.) Iroh: (fanning himself) You really should open a window in here. Zuko: (snatching the map from Iroh's hand) Give me the map!

and more importantly:

Zuko: (standing up and speaking angrily) The Avatar's on Kyoshi Island? (Zuko walks out of the room while speaking to Iroh.) Uncle, ready the rhinos. He's not getting away from me this time.

“Winter Solstice, Part 1: The Spirit World”:

Iroh (happily)>: Over here. Zuko: Uncle? We need to move on, we're closing in on the Avatar's trail and I don't want to lose him! Iroh: You look tired, Prince Zuko. Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles. Zuko (angry): My troubles cannot be soaked away. It's time to go! Iroh: You should take your teacher's advice and relax a little. The temperature's just right. I heated it myself. (Iroh shifts position slightly, puts his hands together and breathes steam from his nostrils. Cut to Zuko, obscured by steam, who swats it away.) Zuko: Enough! We need to leave now! Get out of the water! Iroh (rising): Very well.

“Winter Solstice, Part 2: Avatar Roku”:

(Scene cuts back to Prince Zuko's ship. Smoke is still pouring out of the damaged rear engine. The camera pans to the back of the ship. Zuko has instructed the men to open the back hatch of the ship. A smaller vessel is being lowered into the ocean. Scene cuts to a close up of Prince Zuko. He is speaking to Iroh.) Zuko: Uncle, keep heading north. Zhao will follow the smoke trail while I use it as a cover.

It’s interesting how often Book 1 Zuko orders Iroh around and treats him as a subordinate, often in a very direct and unmasked manner, considering that Iroh is an esteemed general, royalty, Zuko’s elder, and Zuko’s sifu. But Zuko treats him like he’s Zuko’s natural inferior.

Azula very much engages in this sort of behavior toward her friends, especially when she’s on a mission, but she doesn’t tend to yell at them nearly as much, and, to be fair, under the Fire Nation’s social system, Mai and Ty Lee are clearly her inferiors and subordinates. It still has a negative effect on her friendships, of course.

#Zuko #Iroh #Azula #Mai #Ty Lee #Dangerous Ladies #the last three are only very briefly mentioned.

51 notes · View notes

babypandawrites · 3 years

Text

Secrets, Pt. 1

The Avatar State

Pairing: Sokka x F Reader Warnings: None Word Count: 4,334 Summary: After leaving the North Pole and parting wats with Master Pakku, Team Avatar meets with General Fong to be escorted to Omashu. Though as usual, things don't end up as planned and you make a few realizations along the way.

Note: Here we have it friends, the sequel to Allies! Though coming much later than planned, it's still here. I ended up taking an unplanned hiatus from tumblr, and writing in general because I was burned out quite a bit but we are back in business! Send me a message/ask or comment if you want to be added to or taken off of the taglist!

-Navigation- | -Allies Masterlist- | -Atla Masterlist- -Last Part- | -Secrets Masterlist- | -Next Part-

Taglist: @boomeraangin | @brokennerdalert | @ashley-running | @alisslahey

Stirring awake from a few nudges to the shoulder, Y/n grunted, twisting to the side. This time, her shoulder was grabbed onto and shaken softly.

“Come on Y/n, we’re about to leave.”

“About to leave?!” She sat up quickly, shaking her hammock a bit aggressively. Sokka reached out, steadying the hammock with one hand, and Y/n with the other. “Why did you wake me up sooner I have to get my stuff and-”

He cut her off. “Oh, don’t worry, your stuff is already taken care of. I got it packed up on Appa for you.”

“You.. you did?”

“Yeah, figured I’d let you sleep in for once. You can thank me later, we need to get going. Like… right now.” Without another word, he climbed up to the deck, leaving her somewhat dumbfounded.

Sokka let her sleep in and got her stuff ready for her? The first question that came to mind was what in spirit's name did he do- But, after a moment of consideration she shrugged it off and figured he just decided to be nice.

It wasn’t impossible.

Joining the others on the deck, Y/n watched as Pakku pulled an amulet from his bag, before handing it over to Katara.

“Katara, I want you to have this. This amulet contains water from the Spirit Oasis. The water has unique properties. Don’t lose it.”

She took the amulet. “Thank you, Master Pakku.” Quickly, she gave the man a hug, before going to climb up on Appa.

Aang stepped forward, as Pakku produced an intricately-decorated brown box. “Aang, these scrolls will help you master waterbending, but remember they’re no substitute for a real master.” He took the box, glancing over to Katara, soon joining her on Appa.

Sokka approached the man expectantly, and she could only assume he was looking forward to receiving something as well. “Sokka, take care son.” Pakku patted him on the arm, leaving him looking dejected and somewhat embarrassed.

“You take care as well, Y/n.”

Offering the man a small nod, she went to join the others on Appa so they could get moving. “Will do!”

“Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom base to the east of here. General Fong will provide you with an escort to Omashu. There you’ll be safe to begin your earthbending training with King Bumi.”

With Pakku finishing his address to the group, and everyone loaded up onto Appa with their things it was time to depart. “Appa, yip yip!” Pulling on the bison’s reins, Aang guided him off the boat.

Katara leaned over the side of Appa’s saddle, waving goodbye to Pakku and the others on the water tribe ship. “Say hi to Gran Gran for me!” She shouted, as they made their departure.

Leaning against the saddle, Y/n breathed out a soft sigh, deciding to work on sharpening her arrows. Some of them had gotten dull over her adventures, and really needed a good touch up. “I’m a little disappointed we couldn’t go with them.” She grumbled to herself, though still loud enough that the others heard. “I really wanted to see the Southern Tribe.”

The water tribe siblings looked at her with a saddened expression, as Katara reached out to rest a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You’ll see it eventually, we promise. It’s just… we need to focus on Aang getting his avatar training right now.”

“Aang is more important, I know. You two don’t need to look at me like that, you know, I’m not that upset about it.”

Sokka offered her a grin, throwing an arm around her shoulder. “Hey, maybe when all this war stuff is finally over, you can come live with me and Katara in the tribe. You’ll get to join in on everything you’ve been missing out on all these years!”

It sounded nice, living in the place she heard so many wonderful stories about from her grandmother as a kid but… if Zuko and Iroh were still standing after the war- She hoped they would be - she wasn’t sure if she could ditch them like that.

Again.

Smiling wearily, Y/n striked her sharpening stone against the end of one of her arrows. “Sounds good.”

Would they even want her around after all this, though? She left them, was fighting against them, helping the Avatar fight against everything their family had stood for for generations.

She was a traitor.

To them, to her brother, to her family name.

Living in the south pole was starting to sound better by the minute- until her thoughts caught up with her.

What if Aang, Katara and Sokka decided they didn’t want her around if they found out she was from the Fire Nation? What if they hated her? What if they hated her and Zuko decided he hated her. Then what would she do? Go back to that Earth Kingdom forest?

What once was a place of calamity, safety and solitude was now a place that she dreaded returning to.

At first living in the forest was hard, but she got used to it. Would she be able to get used to it again if everyone decided they didn’t want her?

Of course she could, but that didn’t mean she would want to.

Y/n’s gaze darted to Sokka, then Katara and then Aang. Appa then Momo.

She lost everything she had once already… She couldn’t let that happen again.

The duration of the trip continued like this, Y/n absentmindedly sharpening her arrows to points that were just a little too sharp, too caught up in her thoughts to tell. Next to her Sokka shifted, but she didn’t pay mind to him- Until he exclaimed. “There it is!” Turning, she looked over the side of the saddle, noting the walled tower ahead. They flew down, Appa landed inside the wall. A bearded man in a green cap and brown and green armour greeted them and the group got off the bison. Y/n stretched her arms out in front of her, cracking her neck.

“Welcome, Avatar Aang! I am General Fong. And welcome to all of you, great heros! Appa, Momo, Brave Sokka, The Mighty Katara, Strong Y/n.”

Katara was obviously pleased. “‘Might Katara’? I like that.”

Y/n was equally as pleased. “I am pretty strong.”

Fireworks started to go off behind them, causing the group to turn to look at them. A group of earthbenders lifted small green orbs from the ground and launched them into the air with their fist. The four watched the fireworks display, amazed.

“Not bad, not bad.” Sokka commented.

Once the display was finished, they were led inside of the base. The room was large, with green-lit columns on each side of a central walkway. A desk was at the far end of the space, a large banner with the Earth Kingdom insignia on it. Y/n, Aang, Katara and Sokka sat on a mat in the center of the room, while General Fong sat at the desk.

“Avatar Aang, we were all amazed at the stories of how you single-handedly wiped out an entire Fire Navy Fleet at the North Pole. I can’t imagine what it feels like to wield such devastating power. It’s an awesome responsibility.”

“I try not to think about it too much.” Aang said, humbly.

General Fong smiled happily. “Avatar… you’re ready to face the Fire Lord now.”

His words caught them all off guard. “What?! No I’m not!”

“Aang still needs to master all four elements.” Katara explained.

“Why?” General Fong started to get worked up, rising from his seat. “With the kind of power he possesses- power enough to destroy hundreds of battleships in a matter of minutes- he could defeat the Fire Lord now!”

Sokka raised his hand, somewhat timidly. “But, sir, the thing is Aang can only do those things when he’s in the Avatar State.”

“See, it’s this special state where-” Aang was interrupted by the general.

“I’m well aware. Your eyes and tattoos glow and you’re able to summon unbelievable power. Without you we’d be slaughtered before we even reach their shores. But with you leading the way as the ultimate weapon, we could cut a swath right through to the heart of the Fire Nation.” He pointed to a map of the world, drawing a line with his finger from the Earth Kingdom to the Fire Nation.

“Right… but I don't know how to get in or out of the Avatar State, much less what to do once I’m there.”

Nodding, General Fong turned to face them. “So it’s decided then. I’ll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar State, and then you’ll face your destiny.”

The four stood up, Aang and Sokka surprised, while Katara was angry and Y/n was just completely baffled.

“No, nothing’s decided. We already have a plan. Aang’s pursuing his destiny his way.” Katara spat out, irritated.

“Yeah, and, not to mention even when Aang can enter the Avatar State at will- It isn’t going to be a walk in the park to invade the Fire Nation like you're trying to make it sound.” Y/n added, extremely annoyed with the man.

“Well, while you take your time learning the elements, the war goes on. May I show you something?” General Fong led Aang over to a circular window. “That’s the infirmary, and those soldiers are the lucky ones. They came back. Every day the Fire Nation takes lives. People are dying, Aang! You could end it, now! Think about it.”

That night Aang had come back to the group's shared room, admitting that he agreed to General Fong’s plan- Much to Katara and Y/n’s anger.

“Aang, no. This is not the right way.”

Crossing her arms, Y/n nodded in agreement with Katara’s words. “She’s right. Not to mention this is a terrible idea.”

“How?” Sokka asked, lounging with his hands behind his head. “Remember when he took out the Fire Navy? He was incredible.”

Katara huffed. “There’s a right way to do this. Practice, study and discipline.”

“Or just glow it up and stop that Fire Lord.”

Getting up from her bed, she angrily approached the two. “If you two meatheads want to throw away everything we’ve worked for, fine. Go ahead and glow it up!” With that Katara stormed out of the room, Y/n had half a mind to follow her.

“Katara, I’m just being realistic. I don’t have time to do this the right way.” Aang tried to call after her, to no avail.

Sokka breathed out, looking over to Y/n. “I’m kinda surprised you're not on board with this idea- I mean glowing it up seems right up your alley.”

She rolled her eyes, rising from her bed. “For someone who is so smart you are really stupid at the same time, Sokka. How can you think this is a good idea?”

He shrugged. “Because it is one.”

Aang wearily glanced between the two. “Y/n, like I way saying I’m just being realistic about the situati-”

“No, you're not Aang.” She cut him off, stalking towards the door. “You think you're being realistic because General Fong manipulated you into thinking he was right. Storming the Fire Nation even with you being in the Avatar State is going to be a bloodbath. You have to get through the naval blockade, then you have to get through a good chunk of the nation to even reach the Fire Lord and by then he’ll probably already be aware of what’s going on and have planned accordingly.” Leaving to follow after Katara, Y/n slammed the door behind her.

The next day, General Fong tried several different methods to try and get Aang in the Avatar State. Chi-enhancing tea, scaring him, performing a probably made up ceremony that just covered Aang- and eventually everyone else -in mud. Nothing worked. While it annoyed General Fong, it was a relief to Y/n.

If it was hard getting out of the Fire Nation, it would be much much harder getting in and she was worried this stupid plan of his would end up getting them hurt or killed.

Leaving the others to their own devices, Y/n decided to take a walk, clear her mind. Her walk quickly turned into her finding a nice place to sit on the ground, staring up at the night sky.

“You were kind of harsh yesterday.” Sokka commented, taking a seat next to her. Just like that night on the boat, he sat close enough for their shoulders to press together. Even if his words implied he was upset, his actions defied the idea.

She breathed out a quiet sigh, running a hand through her hair. “I know.”

“You should apologize to Aang, you know.”

“I know.” She paused for a moment, tilting her head down to stare at the ground. “I will.”

He nodded, before looking up at the sky. “Do you really think it’s that terrible of an idea? You saw how powerful he was in the Avatar State didn’t you?”

“It doesn’t depend on the idea, it depends on the plan. You could have the worst idea in the world, but with a solid plan anything could work. General Fong’s plan is reckless, and he’s not going to want to expand on it. The moment he gets Aang to control the Avatar State- assuming it’s possible right now -he’s going to want to go. No planning, no preparation. If there was a better plan, and proper preparations maybe I’d be on board. But that’s not the case.”

Silence fell over them for a long moment, only being disturbed when Y/n stood up. “I’m going to head back.”

Sokka’s gaze flickered to her, before it quickly returned to the night sky. “I think I’ll stay out here for a little longer. Night.”

“Goodnight.”

Sokka and Katara were already gone when Y/n woke up the next morning, leaving only Aang in their room waiting for her to get up.

“I’m going to go tell General Fong I don’t want to do his plan anymore.” Sitting up from her bed, Y/n looked over at Aang with a raised brow. “You and Katara were right, it’s… not the right way of doing things. Sokka is going to come with me to tell him, you can too if you want.”

She offered a small nod, stretching her arms above her head. “Sure…”

He hopped up, eagerly heading to the door. “Let’s go then!”

“Wait-” He paused, turning to look at her with a questioning expression. “I wanted to say sorry for the other night, I know I was a little harsh. I just don’t want anything to happen to you guys.”

“It’s alright, I understand. I don’t want anything to happen to you or Katara or Sokka either, which is why I was so desperate to end the war… But you were right, I should have trusted your judgement better, Katara’s too.”

“Well, what’s done is done. Let's go put a stop to it before General Fong takes this too far.”

Aang offered a nod, and the pair left the room to meet up with Sokka. They met with General Fong in the base, Aang standing directly in front of the man’s desk to speak with him while Y/n and Sokka stood back- Just in case something happened.

“The thing is, I don’t think we’ll ever be able to trigger it on purpose. So, I guess that’s it.” Aang offered a small shrug as he spoke.

General Fong seemed disappointed by the Avatar’s choice. “Sure I can’t change your mind?”

He looked to the ground. “I’m sure. I can on;y reach the Avatar State when I’m in genuine danger.”

“I see. I was afraid you’d say that.” He looked away, taking a step from his desk, before sending it flying towards Aang.

The desk rammed into him, forcefully shoving him out a window. A couple of guards restrained Y/n and Sokka, keeping the pair from helping their friend- Two holding Sokka by his arms while one twisted Y/n’s arms behind her back.

“Men! Attack the Avatar!”

Struggling against the guard that held her back, Y/n breathed out a huff. She stopped onto his foot, before knocking her head back into the man’s chin. Through his pain his grip loosened on her arms, and she was able to get away from him, turning to send a kick at his stomach.

Maybe that was overkill, just a bit.

Sokka got free as well, and the two rushed over to the broken window Aang was shoved out of. Several sets of guards were attacking him, though he managed to dodge most of their attacks.

“We have to help him.”

Nodding in agreement with his words, she reached back to unhook her bow from where it hung on her quiver, grabbing a few of her arrows as well. “Go, I can probably knock a few guards unconscious from here.”

He hesitated, glancing back at the three guards writhing in pain not too far behind them. Three to one were not good odds if she were to stay here. “You sure?”

“Trust me, I can handle them.” She aimed one of her arrows at a guard, releasing it to where it hit against the side of his helmet turning it around his head, causing him to accidentally attack one of the other guards rather than Aang.

Offering a nod, though it went unseen to her, Sokka rushed out of the room to help Aang.

Y/n was able to shoot another arrow or two, before a chunk of rock hit her in the back, knocking her out of the base and down to where the fight was. She let out a yelp, bracing for the rough impact that was to follow when she hit the ground, but thanks to Aang using his bending to soften the landing it wasn’t that bad.

She didn’t have time to give him her thanks, before one of the guards started sending pieces of earth at her. While she dodged most of them, one did knock her in the shoulder pretty badly. Grimacing, she hooked her bow back into its place on her quiver before running at the guard. She took a dive at his legs once she was close enough, knocking him to the ground.

A different guard stepped onto the ground, rippling the earth to send Y/n up in the air. She landed on the ground with a grunt, rolling out of the way just in time to avoid another attack. She got to her feet, jumping over a small earth disk that was sent at her legs.

A few guards were closing in on her, though before they could send any more attacks her way something flew through the air and knocked them on the head in close succession, leaving them unconscious.

“You alright?” Sokka asked as he caught his boomerang, riding over to her on an ostrich horse.

She rubbed at her shoulder, nodding. “Yeah, thanks.”

He offered a hand to her, though she hesitating, raising an eyebrow at him. “Do you know how to ride that thing?”

“No clue.”

Y/n breathed out a sigh, but still grasped onto his hand, letting him help her up onto the ostrich horse. It was just big enough for two people, so she was able to settle onto it behind him comfortably, though close.

This was fine.

The sound of Katara screaming caught their attention, as General Fong used his bending to sink her into the ground.

“Katara! No!” Sokka directed the ostrich horse to go towards them, but they didn’t get far thanks to General Fong sinking one of the animals legs into the ground, sending them both flying.

Sokka landed in the hole of one of the large earth discs, while Y/n crashed into the side of it. She fell against the ground with a grunt, gritting her teeth at the ever growing pain in her shoulder. Pushing off the ground, she rushed to try and help Katara, only for one of the guards to- quite literally -pull the ground out from under her. After getting off the ground once again, she watched the guard with a glare. He took on an earthbending stance, looking at her with a smug expression, almost as if saying ‘come at me, you won’t win’.

Considering how much these earthbenders had been throwing her around, that was probably true, and while part of her wanted to challenge it she knew it would just be a waste of her time. Katara was in danger, she couldn’t indulge in petty fights with men who think it’s fine to beat up a bunch of kids! Haphazardly, Y/n pulled an arrow from her quiver and threw it at him, which was enough of an unexpected move to catch him off guard and give her the time to turn to help Katara- Only for her to find the water tribe girl was nowhere to be found, and that Aang was very angry and in the Avatar State.

Aang sent a strong gust of wind at General Fong, he was able to keep his footing, shielding himself with his arms. With another gust of wind, however, the general was sent flying back towards the base, landing on the ground. Lifting himself up with a vortex of dirt, Aang towered over the general.

“Avatar Aang, can you hear me?! Your friend is safe!” General Fong lifted his arm, bringing Katara up from where she’d been sunk into the ground. “It was just a trick to trigger the Avatar state, and it worked!”

His words didn’t seem to do anything to soothe Aang’s anger, the vortex holding him in the air suddenly collapsing, leaving him to slam into the ground. Y/n lifted her arms to shield herself from any incoming debris that was sent flying as a result of Aang slamming into the ground, luckily none seemed to hit her.

Dust and dirt obscured her vision, but once it fell it could be seen that the base was in ruins. Cracks broke the walls, chunks of the ground were missing or displaced and soldiers were sprawled across the ground in disarray. Y/n made her way over to Aang and Katara, just in time for General Fong to react to whatever they’d said.

“Hah! Are you joking? That was almost perfect! We just have to find a way to control you when you’re like that.”

Aang looked up at him, eyebrows furrowed together. “You’re out of your mind.”

He was ignored by the general, who kept rambling on about his ridiculous plan. “I guess we’ll figure that out on the way to the Fire Nation.”

Riding the ostrich horse from before, Sokka came up behind him and hit him on the head with his boomerang, knocking him out. “Anybody got a problem with that?”

The soldiers, now on their feet and having assembled together, shook their heads in unison. Sokka hopped off the animal, leaving it to run off, as one of the soldiers approached the four.

“Do you still want an escort to Omashu?”

Crossing her arms, Y/n raised an eyebrow at him. “After all this?”

“I think we’re all set.” Katara finished her thought.

As they started for Omashu, Sokka leaned against Appa’s saddle boredly, watching as Katara healed Y/n’s shoulder. “You need another weapon, Y/n, I don’t think the bow and arrow thing is cutting it.”

She rolled her shoulder back once Katara was done, muttering a thanks. “I mean, I have a sword. I’m just better with a bow.”

“You're pretty good with a sword, though.” Aang commented. “I remember you using one when Sokka and Katara were sick and that Zhao guy captured us.”

Sokka and Katara shared a look, before asking in unison, “When did you get a sword?”

“What do you mean? I’ve always had it. What else did you think that wrapped up sword shaped object was?” She jabbed her thumb in the direction of her things, that being her bag and said wrapped up sword shaped object. Scooting over, she picked it up and carefully unwrapped it, revealing a sword tucked into a sheath that secured around the waist. “I stole it off a soldier a while ago just in case, I just feel more comfortable using my bow so I don’t touch it much.” She paused for a moment, before clarifying. “A Fire Nation Soldier, I mean.”

She traced her fingertips across the seath. When she said she stole it, she was lying of course. The sword had been made just for her, a gift from her father when she was a child. It was too heavy for her at the time, but now she could hold and maneuver it with ease.

Why am I even lying..? She’d thought to herself, gaze locking onto the Fire Nation emblem that was etched into the seath. Because it’s obvious who made it, and they didn’t need to question why she had a sword made in the Fire Nation.

“Am I the only one here who thinks stealing is bad?!” Sokka exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

Y/n rewrapped the sword, putting it back in its place. “I think stealing is bad, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.” She said with a shrug.

He looked at her with a blank expression, before breathing out a sigh. “Mhhm… Anyways you should start carrying that on you. Having a close ranged weapon along with a long ranged one would be a good idea.”

“He’s right.” Katara agreed. “Even if you don’t use it much it’s not going to hurt to have it on you.”

“I know, I’ll start carrying it on me since everyone feels so strongly about the matter.”

Y/n decided she would only use it if necessary, knowing the added weight of her lies would make her movements with it sluggish.

She wasn’t sure when she deliberately started lying to them, and she could only hope it wouldn’t cause issues later on.

#avatar the last airbender #atla #avatar the last airbender x reader #atla x reader #reader insert #sokka x reader #sokka x y/n #sokka x you #team avatar #slowburn #book two secrets

69 notes · View notes