#atla zuko
Sokka was supposed to be in here too but I couldn’t find a good place to put him so I guess it’s just Suki being very appreciative of Zuko’s obsessive training regime
Maybe Sokka is off to the side painting them or something
Kofi link is on my page
Post link
Zutara requested on Twitter
Full collection of all my ATLA/LOK CGs. Will update as I go along. Includes Zutara, Korrasami, Korvira, Kuvira
Zutara Picnic CG
Korrasami Turf Wars CG
Korvira Action CG
Kuvira Ruins of the Empire CG
Kuvira Spirit World CG
Kuvira Soft CG
Betrothal
memories struck her before
she even realised the meaning.
it was different this time,
the necklace was her own,
fire and water flowing into one another,
like it was always meant to be
Imagine for a moment:
It would have been so nice to go back to the scene where Zuko holds Katara’s necklace in front of her like this back in Book 1, only this time it would be her own betrothal necklace.
I combined both the fire nation and water tribe symbols into a new design and I love how they merged into one another effortlessly. As if it was always meant to be ….
spring break✨
PREVIOUS(x)
Every child, on their tenth birthday, is given a soulmark.
Which is why on this one morning Zuko finally turns a year older, Ursa allows Ozai to go to their son with her. She might be indifferent to him but her son needs a father, and she will dry every ounce of his love for her to ensure he treats her children the way a father is supposed to.
And just like this, Zuko wakes to the face of both of his parents, to the soft caress of his mother’s hand on his face, to the almost tender look in his father’s eyes.
A wave of realization crashes on his shores, and Zuko jumps on his bed, accompanied by his sister’s excited shouts, looks at his arms, his legs, squeezes his cheeks with his small hands but he can’t find a single hint; takes off his shirt, searches for a soulmark on his stomach but his skin is as fair as the day before.
Zuko bites his lips, mortified. He must have one, somewhere, because everyone has a soulmark, his mother does, his father too, so he has to bear one.
Jumping off his bed, Zuko searches for a mirror yet freezes as soon as an astonished gasp escapes his sister’s mouth.
“Zuko’s soulmark is blue!” She shouts, turning to their parents. “Not red!”
Zuko turns around, trying to look past his shoulder but he can’t get a proper look so his mother kneels, kindly touches his lower back with the tip of her finger and instinctively Zuko’s hand joins hers, a relieved smile spreading on his lips.
He has a soulmate. There’s another part of his soul somewhere on this earth, waiting for him and only him and it overjoys him, brings warmth to his heart and glee to his soul, yet it all starts to fade and crumble the moment he meets his father’s eyes, so full of fury and contempt a soulmate each of them has yet to meet.
Ursa notices, turns around to face her husband, a cold voice hidden behind sweeter words,
“My love, aren’t you glad? Our son has a soulmate, he shall love and be loved, just like we were.” She says, knowing very well it sounds more like a curse than a blessing.
And the thing is, Ursa doesn’t mean it when she calls him ‘my love’. It sounds plain and forced because the last time she called him like this was when she begged for him to spare her lover’s life and Ozai knows but he’s weak, would conquer the whole world if it meant Ursa would give him crumbs of the old love they once shared, has already tried to.
So Ozai nods, his face rid of the anger he wielded before, even though a soulmate from the water tribe is weak and terrible and he expected so much more from the prince of the great Fire nation.
“Yes. Quite glad.”
Ursa knows he doesn’t mean it.
But Zuko is happy, so she will take it.
Zuko is thirteen when he turns to face his opponent in the Agni Kai and sees his father’s face instead of the general’s. He doesn’t want to face his father, because he is the Fire Lord of their nation and no one can win against him, him included, and Zuko doesn’t want to even if he could, because standing victorious over his father would force him to become the new Fire Lord while he’s not even an adult yet.
So Zuko pleads, pleads not to fight his father, but Ozai refuses to hear it, fights against him, his own son and burns his face, and it hurts, it hurts so damn much Zuko sees white and feels like vomiting in the middle of the arena, but his father’s words hurt more than a burn.
’Leave the nation.’ He says, exiles him, ‘You are shaming me, your father and lord by your lack of honor.’ and Zuko loves his father, admires him, but how dare he assume he stained his honor by refusing the fight.
And if what his father, no, if what Ozai wants from him is to fight so he can show his honor, then Zuko will gladly comply.
So Zuko stands, even if his whole body hurts and his palm is burning hot against his wounded eye. He stands, faces his father and loudly claims his refusal.
’If you want me to leave my home, then kill me.’ He shouts, because an honorable death is worth a thousand shameful lives.
And for a second, for a dreadful moment, Zuko is convinced Ozai will kill him, execute him before the country’s eyes and let Azula reign beside him as his heir, but Ozai doesn’t move and Zuko’s heart is still beating, once, twice, a hundredth times.
He’s still alive and it’s all Zuko needs to face the Fire Lord.
Fire bursts from Zuko’s palms and soles as he executes complex sequences, and of course iously Ozai avoids them all so Zuko stands firm on his feet, his valid eye burning holes in the Lord’s face, venomous words spit out of his bloody mouth.
’Kill me today father, kill your first son now or let me live and mark me as your Crown Prince.'
The next day, as a new dawn spreads on the palace, Zuko is here to welcome her; as the nation’s Crown Prince.
avatar girls ✨
who should be next? the atla boys or the fire nation girls vote on the poll on my instagram
the fallen prince
ALOT of Zuko content today…I’m just gonna say I am living for it
We got robbed at not watching more of this trip. Anyway, made this based on a scene(?? Of The Witcher (??, I never have seen it but saw a post about it, so ye lol
Pairing: Zuko x reader, Zuko x y/n
Tags: Enemies to lovers, slow burn
Summary: Raised mostly by yourself, you made a living for your youth years as a maid in one of the richest families in Ba sing se, Beifongs. There Toph, a blind young rich girl, taught you earth bending and also became your new family. Not that you would admit that to her. Together you escape Ba sing se on the back of a flying bison with the Avatar, in a mission to take back the world from the fire nation. But on the journey you didn’t plan to team up with the Fire prince himself, and you definitely did not plan to get butterflies around him. But you couldn’t possibly catch feelings for a fire bender right? They ruined your life and took everything of value from you. But you couldn’t lie to your burning heart.
Warnings: swearing, Sexual tension
The next morning Zuko and Aang were up early, excited to fire bend. I took a lie in. I was exhausted after a full night of brooding. But now I had forgotten all about last night and wanted to have a lesson together with Toph. While the others were fire bending on the other side of the temple me and Toph was placed on a protective platform. After months of complaining, toph finally agreed to teach me how to see without my eyes.
(BUT I GOTTA KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SELenEr.)- Authors note
With spread legs and deep breathing I tried the best I could. But I came to the conclusion that it was impossible. I was so used to the privilege of using my own eyes that the idea that I could create a vision from the sense around me was laughable. I kept myself busy the entire afternoon, sweat dripping down my forehead. Toph was laughing at me “wow! you suck”. I growled, annoyed at the lack of improvement “isn’t it your job to teach me? Is there not a way to make my feet open their eyes or whatever”. Toph threw a pebble at me “No. that’s the problem. You’ve got to stop thinking like a moron with working vision.There’s no different angle, no clever solution, no trickery-trick that’s going to make you see. it’s not actually eyes you dumbstruck bison, its feet and it’s always going to be feet “. I was growing a temper “well it’s kind of hard to see with my feet when i have perfectly working eyes unlike your blind ass”. Toph jumped down from the pillar so she stood in front of me. Still lifted with a rock beneath her she was a head shorter than me. “I’m glad you said something Jerk! We don’t need them”, before I could protest she blindfolded me “This way, you’ll actually have to sense the vibration of the earth around you”. I rolled my eyes forgetting she can’t see them because of the blindfold. And yeah right,also because she’s blind. “I still don’t actually have to sense my surroundings”, I muttered mostly to myself but somehow Toph caught it. “ You have to if you want to live”, I could hear the smirk in her voice. Finally catching up on words I struck my hands forward in a protective manner “No. No, Toph! We are not doing the bolder thing again”. She blatantly ignored me and laughed as an answer. I sighed, as I spread my feeting again. I tried to focus on how the ground felt under me. How hard the stone was, how my balance on the left foot was worse because a crack slit the ground open. I focused on the vibrations from Toph’s steps. Then with a deep sigh I let myself completely into my earth’s bending control. I imagined my surroundings, I could feel the wind move pebbles over my feet. And I could also feel the rumpling of something the doubled size of me. The boulder. And just then I understood what Toph meant. It wasn’t like looking with eyes at all. I couldn’t see colors or the direction of the sunlight. I couldn’t see details like leaves on the vines. But I still knew, I knew what was around me. I knew that the temple was on my left, Toph was on my right. And that the quick moving boulder was rushing in my direction from behind. So I threw myself to the side just when the vibration was next to me. I quickly eartbended a sharp piece of the cliff at the boulder so it broke into pieces. “Surprised that it took you that long!”Toph yelled at me in which I earth bended a pebble towards her in response.
“Okay..”, Toph began and I inhaled hopefully. “I’m getting a break?”, I interrupted her before she could continue her sentence. She snorted “as if you deserve a break, freak. What I was going to say was that I’m sending in someone you can spar with. Blindfold on of course”. Help? Since when did Toph need help. Before I could ask I felt the sudden vibration of a larger figure rushing towards me. I quickly moved out of the way. From the weight of the vibrations I was guessing Sokka since I knew Zuko was busy teaching Aang. “Missed me!”, I teased, as I felt the person rushing over to me again. With a smile I ducked what I guessed was the boomerang being thrown at me. But when I felt the familiar heat of fire above me my demeanor changed. “Toph I don’t even know how to feel fire with my feet!”I yelled, suddenly scared of what could happen if I hadn’t ducked. Toph shouted back happily without a care in the world “you just did!”. Angry that she was right, like usual, I quickly stood back in a defensive position. Zuko seemed to have changed his fighting technique since he wasn’t spurting at me anymore. He was waiting for me to attack. And I did. I moved gracefully as I raised my hands, feeling the good vibrations of my earth bending creating a rock to shoot at him. I could feel him jump to the side and I cursed myself for missing. And like that it continued, we spared in a circle like a prey and predator. Which one was which i didn’t know. I could feel his burning eyes on me the entire time. I tried not to think about how crazy I must look, hunting after him with a blind fold. My legs were exhausted from hours of training non stop. But instead of requesting a break like any sane person would, I used it in my advantage. I put on a fake show, dragging my feet a little extra or not attacking him as much. And when I felt him prepare a flame towards me I formed my plan. As it combusted towards me I made sure to jump just a tiny bit out of the way. I could feel the heat slicking up my arm, not close enough to burn my skin but close enough for me to react. I doubled over with a hiss, covering the skin with my hand so Zuko couldn’t see that it was completely unharmed. I immediately sensed his demeanor drop as he rushed over to me. His steps were no longer careful but rushed. ‘“I’m so sorry”, his voice was deep of guilt but i didn’t have time to feel bad. The second his fingers touched my hand I went for attack. He didn’t even have time to react when I tackled him to the ground. I threw my legs across the side of his body and nailed him to the ground with my entire weight shuffled to my hands. It was not until i could feel him grunt out a pust of air towards me when i realized the position i put him in. My backside was arched toward his lap. My exposed cleavage was hanging right in front of his face. But i knew if i moved i would most definitely lose. So instead I waited. I waited for him to react, to make a move. But he did neither. He was still as a rock. Annoyed that I could sense him but not see his reaction I shook my head so my blindfold slipped off my face. Little did I know that lack of sight was the only thing keeping me winning. The second Zuko is exposed to my eyes beneath me I drop the defensive act. His eyes are soft, sweet as honey. His lips parted and i didnt miss his tongue swiping across them. His chest raised with short breaths brushes against my cleavage and I feel his pounding heart and I know he can feel mine. The two front pieces of my hair fall down, shielding our faces from the rest of the world. And there, right there, I forget about the war. I forget about the fire nation. Right there, there is only Zukos and our breaths tempo starts to match. There was only the smell of his manly musk and new poured rain. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was calm at heart. I didn’t worry about the outcome of the war, hell I didn’t even care. His eyes roam over me, as if it’s the first time he sees me. Uncomfortable from his intense gaze I shifted my position only to feel…
Both faces are immediately lit up in matching blushes as I feel something hard pressing against the inside of my thigh. My pounding heart didn’t know what to do. What was best, to move or to avoid it. Too caught up in the heat of the moment I didn’t notice how his fingers slipped up my hand. It’s not until he had fully grasped my wrists and rolled me over that I was brought back to reality. He had done a “Y/n” and attacked in a weak moment. Nice. But this position made his hard problem much more noticable. The entire length was pressed against my crotch and it made a yearn start to pound. One I desperately needed to hide. His hair hung down in my face next to my wrist he had nailed to the ground. I needed to immediately distract myself from the contact between us “Deja vu huh?”. I was referring to how he had me pinned to a tree the first day we met. He smirks as he leans down to my ear and whispers in my hair “i have exactly where i want you”. I knew he meant that he was winning but it didn’t fail to send a shiver down my spine. “Ummm, okay guys i think zuko won!”, We both push each other off at once as we both remember Toph is there. Not only Toph but Sokka. They both look horrified. “He cheated!”I burst out, anything to break the silence. Zuko tips his head towards me angry “You cheated first”. I rolled my eyes even though he was right “you should be happy I don’t know fire bending because I would beat you in Agni Kai”. Zuko snorted as he stood up and brushed off his pants “you have no near the amount of self control Agni Kai demands”. I smile with a raised eyebrow, god he makes it so easy. “And what?”, I look down to his crouch before meeting his eyes “you do?”. His face becomes more red than a tomato as I brush past Toph and leave the scene. The second I’m out of sight, I finally let go of the breath I didn’t know I was holding. I lost control today. I almost let the attraction I clearly have for Zuko show. The same one I need to hide, to dig down, do destroy. But more interesting, Zuko did the same thing. I cringed at the entire thing, praying to god that everybody would forget this by dinner.
Neither Zuko or I spoke at dinner. We’re deeply concentrated on our food and both ignore the conversations playing out around us. That’s until Toph shoves an elbow into my side. I make a groan from the sharp pain “what was that for?”. I didn’t need to look at Top to know she was smirking “I was right”. I had no idea what she was referring to “yes you were, now what exactly are you talking about”. Toph was very often right, it was like the blindness had given her a third eye so she just knew things. Toph nods to the other side of the circle and I follow her eyes to.. Zuko. Whatever was going to come out of her mouth was probably not good. “I’ve felt your pulse raise every time you’ve looked at Zuko so i knew i had to put it to the test”. I should’ve known Toph didn’t need help from Zuko. I shook my head “Whatever you think you’re right about, you’re wrong. End of conversation”. Toph fell quiet against her will but i knew that she was going to go off and mock me for having the hots for a fire bender. Zuko at that. Sokka, who had been eavesdropping the entire time, sneaked next to me “so what’s up between you and Sifu Hotman”. I wanted to punch that grin off his face. “I dont know”, I glanced threateningly at him “what was up between you and Azula when you fought at the eclipse?”. I was referring to how he pushed her up the wall and how she just let him. He was clearly done talking about me and Sifu hotman, because like the pull of a lever he shut up. That’s what I thought.
The next morning Zuko and Sokka were gone. They had apparently gone fishing, as if any of us was going to believe that. So there were multiple reasons I was grumpy that morning. First, I didn’t like how they kept me out of things like that. Second, once again I caught myself worrying for both of them. Worrying for Zuko. This was not going to end well.
Taglist: @eridanuswave , @Whalerus, @keiko0, @emogril , @theblueslytherin , @bbecc-a , @riespage , @mochminnie , @mangoberry43, @riespage
Burning Heart: Pt 3
Pairing: Zuko x reader, Zuko x y/n
Tags: Enemies to lovers, slow burn
Summary: Raised mostly by yourself, you made a living for your youth years as a maid in one of the richest families in Ba sing se, Beifongs. There Toph, a blind young rich girl, taught you earth bending and also became your new family. Not that you would admit that to her. Together you escape Ba sing se on the back of a flying bison with the Avatar, in a mission to take back the world from the fire nation. But on the journey you didn’t plan to team up with the Fire prince himself, and you definitely did not plan to get butterflies around him. But you couldn’t possibly catch feelings for a fire bender right? They ruined your life and took everything of value from you. But you couldn’t lie to your burning heart.
Warnings: swearing
I thought that since Toph was actually blind now, feet burned beyond recognition, that she would go easy on me today. I was clearly wrong. She was quickly up on her feet again (pun intended). Toph had been teaching me earth bending in secret since i was a maid to her family so her tough teaching techniques were no surprise. She had me and Aang working to the bone before we finally, covered in sweat, got a break. Or more like I got a break while Aang had his next bending lesson. Fire. His first. I couldn’t help my curiosity as I stood leaned against the closest wall watching Zuko in his professor role. The balcony of the upside down pagoda in the temple was hot. Sweat was climbing up my back as I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. Zuko seemed to catch Aang’s hyper demaoner “I know you’re nervous, but remember, firebending in it of itself is not something to fear.” Aang didn’t meet his eyes but sighed deeply instead “Okay. Not something to fear”.Zuko nodded as he closed his fists. “But if you don’t respect it”, he raised his voice so it echoed through the temple “it’ll chew you up and spit you out like an angry komodo rhino!”. I held back the laugh threatening at the picture of Zuko with tensed eyes and a yelping Aang. Zuko clearly picked the “bad cop” technique when it came to teaching, just like Toph. He crossed his arms over his strong chest and took a step backwards “Now show me what you’ve got. Any amount of fire you can make”. Aang inhales nervously as he hesitates and moves out his arms. I can see fear in his eyes as they focus on the palm of his hand. A small, almost impossible to catch, cloud of smoke appears. But as fast as it comes it dissipates to nothing. The look on Aang was a blend of disappointment and relief.
Aang looked up hopefully “Maybe i need a little more instruction. Perhaps a demonstration?”. Zuko raised an eyebrow “Good idea, You might wanna take a couple steps back”. Even if he wasn’t talking to me I obliged and moved further back. I hadn’t seen him in action up close yet. I was unsure what to expect but that was definitely not it. With a grunt Zuko opens his tightly closed fist to let out…. a flame smaller than the palm of my hand. Aang, supportive as he was, applauded at this disappointing display. Me? i bursted out laughing, finally alerting them of my presence. They both sharply turned to me, who was doubled over in laughter. “You might wanna take a couple steps back?”I wiped away fake tears “What was that? That was the worst firebending I’ve ever seen!”. Zuko did not take that mockery ease as he pursed his lips hard enough to break his jaw. Aang interrupted Zuko before he could yell at me “I thought it was…nice”. He smiled slightly and shrugged which made it even harder to hold back my smile.
Zuko, annoyed at my amused face, tried to prove me wrong. He let out a loud grunt, which made a wave of excitement go through my stomach. But I pretended I didn’t even notice it. His next three attempts resulted in very very small flames similar to the first. Defeated he glares frustrated down at his palms “what is happening”. Aang rubbed his head, trying to comfort Zuko “maybe it’s the altitude”.I left my safe spot to move my way to them “Or maybe you can’t firebend anymore, which is like the only reason we took you in”. Zuko’s burning eyes just lit my amusement more “oh oh! i call dibs on Zuko’s room when we throw him out”. Aang stretches his smaller hand out to stop me from upsetting anybody further. Zuko scrowls as he turns his back at me with clearly better self control than I thought he had. Time passes and Zuko keeps pushing himself with no improvement. Aang was sitting beside me on a broken pillar as we watched Zuko deliver a pointless blast after another. “that one kind of felt hot”, Aang bursted out as he got on his feet. I snickered at his comment, as I swung my legs against the pillar. But Zuko got angry, angrier than he had ever become after any of my comments. “Don’t patronize me! You know what it’s supposed to look like!”. He was right, I had seen many fire benders but no one was as worthless as Zuko at the moment. “He didn’t need to patronize you, you do that very well on your own”. Zuko aimed a flame at me that was even worse than his previous ones “Shut up!”. Aang held up his hands in defense “ Sorry, Sifu Hotman”. I bursted out laughing so hard it hurt the depths of my stomach. Zuko raises his arms above his head and throws them back with a shout of frustration. Aang gringes at his sudden outburst. “And stop calling me that!”, Zuko yells which makes me laugh possibly even harder.
Night creeps up on us as everyone is getting settled for dinner. Even Appa has a mouthful of hay as he rests next to the fountain. Everyone is busy calming their rouring stomachs, everyone except Zuko. He’s leaning on a column with his arms crossed, looking down the cracked ground under him. He looks deep in thought with his wrinkled forehead, but no one seems to notice. No one except me of course. Suddenly he turns his head to the campfire as he makes his way over to where we’re sitting. “Listen everybody, I’ve got some pretty bad news. I’ve lost my stuff”, He looks below dejectedly. Toph, used to being accused of stealing by now, raises her hands above her head. “Don’t look at me!”, she folded her arms “i didn’t touch your stuff”. I giggle at her outburst and enjoy the view of Zuko’s ashamed face. He looks down again “I’m talking about my firebending. It’s gone”. I cross my arms and throw my legs up on a pillar “as if you even had it in the first place”. Everybody around the fireplace sits up, different emotions painted on their faces. Sokka is the only one giving me a reaction as he pretends to fire bends with an annoyed face like Zuko had been doing the entire day. It brought a quiet shaking laugh from me. But my laugh quieted down as a clearer brighter laughter took place. Katara had her head bent backwards as her body shook from the laugh. Was Katara… mocking Zuko. It was the only time Katara had done anything remotely funny, but it still deep down struck a nerve that she was making fun of him. It was my job. But I couldn’t possibly be petty over such a small pointless thing. Everyone had turned their attention towards her, including Zuko, who had an annoyed expression twisting his handsome face. She held her hands up, hiding her face “I’m sorry. I’m just laughing at the irony. You know, how it would’ve been nice for us if you lost your firebending a long time ago”. Zuko gringed “Well, it’s not lost. It’s just … weaker for some reason”. Katara held up her bowl and glared at Zuko over the brim “Maybe you’re not as good as you think you are”. Both me and Toph, alike as we are, Made a hissing noise at the same time and met each other’s eyes “ouch”. Zuko ignored Toph’s sarcastic smile as he brightened up with an idea “I bet it’s because I changed sides”. Katara gave him another glare as she brought the bowl to her lips “That’s ridiculous”. It was the first time I had seen Aang disagree with Katara “I don’t know. Maybe it isn’t. Maybe your firebending comes from rage and you just don’t have enough anger to fuel it the way you used to”.
“Zuko has not been angry? then what have i been doing all day”, i smirked over at Sokka who returned the facial expression. He leans towards zuko and points a finger above “Easy enough”. He pokes Zuko with his shining swords hilt in the head and waist several times. Toph and I cling onto each other to not fall over from laughing. Zuko growles behind closed teeth “okay cut it out!”. Sokka’s sword slips from his hands and is thrown above before falling on his head. Zuko sighs and rubs his nose “look, even if you’re right. I don’t want to rely on hate and anger anymore. There has to be another way”.
Sokka rubs his head in pain from the burst with the sword but no one seems to pay him any care. Toph takes a big bite from her food “You’re gonna need to learn to draw your firebending from a different source. I recommend the original source”.I furrowed my eyebrows “I thought that fire bending’s original source was pain, rage and suffering”. I didn’t miss the way Zuko pursed his lips and looked down in something similar to shame. Sokka seemed to forget his head injury as he excitedly looked up “How’s he supposed to do that? By jumping into a volcano?”.Toph shook her head and wiggles her feet “No. Zuko needs to go back to whatever the original source of firebending is”. Sokka’s dreams of Zuko diving into a volcano is crushed “So, is it jumping into a volcano?”.
“I don’t know”, Toph puts her bowl down beside her “For earthbending, the original benders were badgermoles’’. I remembered the many times Toph had brought me to the tunnels and showed me where she met the Badgermoles. That seemed like forever ago. “Isn’t the original fire benders Dragons? Where the fuck are we going to find a dragon just chilling?”, I looked up at Zuko who sighed deeply. “we are not going to, Dragons are extinct”. Aang shook his head “What do you mean? Roku had a dragon, and there were plenty of dragons when I was a kid”. Zuko’s face twists up, as if he knows something we don’t. “Well, they aren’t around anymore, okay?”. I feel bad for Aang because he yelps at Zuko’s harsh tone. “Okay, okay!”,he moved his arms in an appeasing manner “I’m sorry”. Zuko moves on his long slender legs to the fountain. “But maybe there’s another way”, he looks away in deep thought “The first people to learn from the dragon were the ancient Sun warriors”.Aang who always seemed to think he knew the most since he was technically 100 years older than the rest walks towards Zuko. “Sun warriors? Well I know they weren’t around when i was a kid”, Aang stood beside Zuko now. “No, they died off thousands of years ago. But their civilization wasn’t too far from where we are now”, Zuko tilts his head toward Aang “Maybe we can learn something by poking around their ruins’’. Sokka mirrors my suspicions “So what? Maybe you’ll pick up some super old sun warrior energy just by standing where they stood a thousand years ago?”. He backs up his question by flaring his hands around in a weird motion which makes me hit my forehead with my hand. Zuko shifted his weight forward. “More or less. Either I find a new way to firebend “, he turns his head towards Aang ”or the Avatar has to find a new teacher”.
When Zuko left with the Avatar, the temple seemed to become much more quiet. Haru, the Duke and Teo were on yet another exploration mission. Katara was worrying for Aang, while she cooked the same meal we had been eating for days. Toph, Sokka and I laid spread out, floating over the water in the fountain. The heat had been getting worse and it was the only way to cool down. Sokka threw a worried look at her sister.“What do you think Sifu hotman and smaller bald Kyoshi is doing right now?”, I asked as I sat up in the fountain. My soaked hair was dripping down my back. Sokka smiled half way “Zuko is probably pissed because his worthless Sun warrior plan is not working out and Aang is probably playing peacemaker and trying to calm him down”. Toph smirked and splashed some water with her feet. Katara sneered at us and I wondered if it was because she didn’t like that we were talking about Aang or if she was jealous that we were bonding better then she had done with any of us. I was guessing on the latter. “If you could have any original animal from any bend type, which one would you have?”, Sokka asked to change the conversation subject. Toph didn’t even need to think for a second “obviously the badgermoles”. Sokka looked offended “really? You would pick a blind disgusting rat over a flying bison?”. I inhaled dramatically “Blind disgusting rat?! That’s my best friend you’re talking about!”. Sokka burst out in laughter and Toph rolled her eyes ironically “ha ha ha”. I looked forward, deep in thought “I hate the fire nation but honestly the dragon is the most badass”. Sokka lifted an eyebrow surprised “they’re extinct, remember?”. Katara moved a spoon through the home made meal as she mumbled “i wish that the entire fire nation was extinct”. We all fell silent, like we mostly did everytime Katara opened her mouth. I thought about how different my life would have been if the fire nation didn’t exist. I would still have my mom. I would have grown up with a present and loving father. If my mom had gotten good care while giving birth, instead of hiding in a barn from the fire nation, she wouldn’t have died in childbirth. And if my mom hadn’t died, my dad wouldn’t have blamed me for her death. He wouldn’t have been slaughtered by the fire nation when they invaded my home years later on the look for something we didn’t even have. But I would never have met Toph. I would never have gotten so good at earth bending. I wouldn’t have met the avatar gang. But I still closed my eyes and imagined a world without the fire nation for just another second.
by the look of Aangs and Zuos excited faces when they returned, I guessed it was a successful mission. I can’t help but feel relieved that they’re okay, and to my surprise I’m relieved for both of them. A sense of calm fills me when I see that they’re BOTH unharmed, but I would never admit that to anybody. They’re quick to get into positions to start demonstrating what the sun warriors taught them. They moved gracefully, every motion mirrored between them as yin and yan. Fire licked the sides of their bodys without hurting them, as if the fire and their bodies were one. I had grown up with the view of fire as a plot of destruction, a tool for suffering and power play. But now, in the upside-down pagodas in the Western Air Temple, the fire looked nothing like that. It wasn’t violent. It was beautiful, I could see shades of blue and green. I could see all the colors of the rainbow within the flames, similar to the reflection of water. Or the sharpened glass in the depths of the earth. Or how air bent sunlight on a hot day. I could see all elements moving from the palms of their hands in the shape of combustions of flames. Deep deep down within my bones I could feel a yearn for the fighting of flames. A longing for the feel of the heat against my hands, that I quickly pushed down. Fire was dangerous, it was not beautiful. It was difficult to convince myself when I left the hole of lament in my heart. The rest of the avatar gang interrupted my thoughts with applause as the two got into their final postures. “Yeah, that’s a great dance you two learned there”, Sokka bursted out playfully. Normally i would join him with a remark myself but i wasn’t in the mood. My feelings were conflicted and I couldn’t focus on anything else. Zuko seemed offended. “It’s not a dance. It’s a firebending form”. Sokka moves his fingers in a dancing manner “We’ll just tap-dance our way to victory over the Fire Lord”.
Zuko makes his way over to Sokka with a threatening glimpse in his eyes “It’s a sacred form that happens to be a thousand years old!”. Katara crosses her arms “Oh yeah? What is your little form called?”. Zuko’s eyes met the ground embarrassed “The dancing Dragon”. The gang erupted in loud laughter as Zujo gringes in embarrassment. I stand quiet, not paying attention to how Zuko turns to me. “You haven’t said any mocking remark about our form”, he bent down to my level to try to catch my attention. “You mean your dance?”I ask and raise an eyebrow. He mimics my expression “Really? is that it?”. I didn’t even catch his bait as I waved him away “I’m not in the mood”. As I moved away I felt Zuko’s burning eyes on the plate of my back. “Since when is she not in the mood”, Zuko mumbled to himself, confused. I was busy thinking about how I had longed to touch fire. The thing that destroyed my life.
Taglist: @eridanuswave , @Whalerus, @keiko0, @emogril , @theblueslytherin , @bbecc-a
Pairing: Zuko x reader, Zuko x y/n
Tags: Enemies to lovers, slow burn
Summary: Raised mostly by yourself, you made a living for your youth years as a maid in one of the richest families in Ba sing se, Beifongs. There Toph, a blind young rich girl, taught you earth bending and also became your new family. Not that you would admit that to her. Together you escape Ba sing se on the back of a flying bison with the Avatar, in a mission to take back the world from the fire nation. But on the journey you didn’t plan to team up with the Fire prince himself, and you definitely did not plan to get butterflies around him. But you couldn’t possibly catch feelings for a fire bender right? They ruined your life and took everything of value from you. But you couldn’t lie to your burning heart.
Warnings: swearing
The Western Air temple
The forest was darker than I thought it be. At these hours I assumed that the sun would be swallowing the green moss but the trees prevented most streaks. I didn’t even realize I was running until the trees got more scattered, allowing the sun to peek through. I had no real plan how to find him, I hadn’t looked for footprints or broken branches. I was like an impulsive idiot. I just rushed into a forest alone. But I had to find him. I had to confront him. I had to kill him. He opposes a threat to the gang, to Toph. I had underestimated him before, I would not do it again. I gave myself a few seconds to take a breath. I had been running for a good while and was out of breath and covered in sweat. Stupid idiot. As I bent forward to allow air into my lungs I detected something. A sting of smoke sipped through my lungs and burned my throat. A fire. He was close. Now more collected and controlled I sneaked forward. With every step i took i made sure to bend the ground under me so moss swallowed any possible noise my shoe could make. The only thing hearable was the chirping of cardinal birds and the drilling of woodpeckers. The scent of burning wood got closer and closer and I quickened my steps in response. Finally it was so strong I suspected it must be in earth bending distance. I peeked behind the tree in front of me to find a camp. The bonfire was put out but still fervor and the ash was still warm. And Zuko.
He looked exactly the same as yesterday but it still made me halt in my steps. The streaks of suns fighting through the thick branches reached across his face glistening in sweat. His hair still had the morning ruff and his scar seemed even more red than yesterday. Every little killing method I imagined in my head on the way here was completely gone. Now when he stood in front of me, it was different. But I had to keep reminding myself of the image of Toph’s scorched feet. “Zuko”, I growled and he turned abruptly. He was startled by my presence, but scared of the look in my eyes. In a second of boiling blood and red vision I bend the earth around him to drag him towards me so we’re face to face. This close the details of his sharp features were prettier. He was pretty this close. The two or three freckles across the bridge of his nose. The pink tint of his lip. The softness of his hair. I shook the thought away as I lifted my hand to grasp his throat. Not to stop him breathing, but to make him feel threatened. He didn’t seem that threatened by his bored look but I could feel the lump he swallowed vibrate against my palm. “I didn’t believe the shit they said about you until what you did to Toph”, I clicked my tongue in denial “burning a little blind girl? that’s low, even for you Prince”. He strained against my grip with a scowl “Don’t call me that”. I raised an eyebrow “What? Prince? Oh right! I forgot. Banished huh? Why do you think the Avatar would want you when even your own family doesn't”. That seemed to be a soft spot since he somehow with pure body strength broke himself free from the stone cuffs around his feet to push me backwards. I lost my footing but luckily didn’t trip all too embarrassing. But the shame made me furious as I attacked him. I was just about to bend the ground under him when he moved like a panther against me. I groaned loudly in pain when my back rasped against the rough bark of a tree. Both my wrists were locked in a hard grip by his much larger hands. His body heat radiated over to mine as he pushed up against me, preventing me from moving. “Calm down”, his voice was in my hair, forcing a shiver down my spine. I swallowed thickly, unsure what to do. “Look”, he leaned back to look into my eyes, which was somehow worse. Against my will I met his honey pool eyes. “It was an accident, she came in the middle of the night and startled me. It was self defense. I had no idea it was her”. I stayed quiet, trying my best to escape his grip. It was too much, his rough palms against my sensitive skin, his hot breath in my face. Just the knowledge that he was so close set my body on fire. If i stayed here any longer i would do something i would surely regret. “Get off me”, my voice came out chapped and raspy. Instead of it sounding like an order it came out like a plea. His thumb swiped across the side of my palm swiftly before letting go. It was a small motion, but I noticed. It made my heart pound furiously, I bet he could feel it. the rumpling deep in my chest. I licked my dry lips, finally taking a step away from his. It felt like the world lifted off my shoulder when I finally got out of his intoxicating aura. I was happy I didn’t faint. I pointed at him “If you ever, and i mean ever, touch Toph again. I will hunt you down, Prince”. I spit the last part and happily noticed he scrunched up his face. Then I turned around and left with my heart still beating twice the normal pace.
Returning to the Air temples i was relieved that no one noticed i left. It would be too embarrassing and shameful to explain. Explain how Zuko, The fire prince, pushed me up against a tree and gave me butterflies. Butterflies! Ridiculous. I spent the next hour pounding, trying to understand why Zuko even affected me in the way he did. I mean yes, he was obviously attractive, but… he was a fire bender! A person I’ve been taught to hate since the moment of my birth. The thought about my childhood made anxiety grow like a rock in the depths of my stomach so I decided to make myself busy. I couldn’t keep puzzling about this. My thoughts got cut off by loud rumbling followed by ear crushing noises, so loud the ground vibrated. Someone shot something at the temple, and by the looks of it, it was aiming for the gang. On instinct I sprinted in their direction as I saw Aang and Sokka lifting up Toph from the fountain.”Stop!”,I froze at the familiar voice.
I turned my head so fast it made my neck burn. Up on a cliff a bit away was a huge figure next to…. Zuko. “I don’t want you hurting the Avatar anymore!”. Aang groaned as he tried his best to carry Toph away from the scene. “The mission is off. I’m ordering you to stop”, Zuko struck his hands in front of the man. He was crazy, the much larger man could snap him in half. the Combustion Man. The man couldn’t care less as he with ease shoved zuko out of the way and charged his eye. Another explosion, now much closer, made the entire place threaten to fall apart. If it wasn’t for the small stone wall I bent over my friends, we would have been crushed by stone.
“If you keep attacking, I won’t pay you!”,Zuko cupped his hands so fire was aiming against the large man. The combustion man was starting to get annoyed as he easily docked the fire and grabbed onto Zuko’s smaller body. “Okay i’ll pay you double to stop!”.
I looked over at Aang “we should move”. He nodded in agreement, peaking over the stone wall. “Okay”, he looked back with frightened eyes. “Zuko seems to be keeping him busy, move now”. My legs almost gave up under me as I stood up with Toph’s body over my shoulder. I gasped as I saw Zuko get thrown off the cliff. There were so many feelings in my body it confused me. There is no way he could survive a fall like that. Worry for his life was the feeling finally taking over as I swallowed down the lump rising. But in the last second it seemed, he grasped onto a vine hanging down the cliff. “Go”, Aang yelled and I nodded swiftly. I didn’t look back but I could hear the familiar woosh of Aangs air bending behind me. Before I even had time to move Toph we got thrown by a sudden explosion behind us. Lucky us, I bent the ground under us so we didn’t fall. “Stay here”, I mumbled to Toph as I placed her behind a wall. She crossed her arms annoyed and nodded to her brunt feet “it’s not like I have much of a choice”. As I turned around I saw the rest of our gang run towards me. They had just enough time to jump next to us before the next explosion ruined the temple. “he’s going to blast this whole place right off the cliff side!”, Toph yelled, eyes blown wide exposing her grey glazed irises. Katara took a deep breath before peeking behind the wall only to see another incoming blast. She looked back at us with pursed lips “I can’t step out to waterbend at him without being blown up and I can’t get a good enough angle on him from down here”. At the world angle Sokka’s entire face brightened up. I swore I could see a lightbulb over his head. “I know how to get an angle on him!”, he shouted. I looked him up and down “really? well do tell”. Sokka fumbles with his belt before taking out his boomerang. After another blast, he sneaks his head out, but has to hide from yet another shot. With his tongue out, clearly in deep concentration, he projects Combustion Man’s angle with his boomerang. He takes a deep breath “all right buddy, don’t fail me now”. With a tensed arm he aims the boomerang and then uses his whole upper body strength to send it flying. In surprise the boomerang hits the assassin in the head where his third eye tattoo is, causing him to hit the ground. Sokka’s face is priceless as he catches the boomerang “yeah boomerang!”. But then the silence is broken by the assassin’s heavy body getting up, clearly a bit shaken. Sokka’s face fell “Awwww, boomerang…”. this is how we die huh? There was no way a few children could take on a trained assassin. But he seemed to take care of that job himself because his next aim is completely off. He misses, his next blast hits the ground around him. The ground shakes a few times under his feet before it gives up under him, causing him to fall. As I help Toph up the best I can Zuko appears. Aang looks hesitant at him “i can’t believe i’m saying this, but….thanks, zuko”. Sokka clearly took it personally as he turned to Aang “hey! What about me? I did the boomerang thing.” I rolled my eyes at his child’s demeanor.
Zuko looked down before meeting Aang’s eyes “Listen, I know I didn’t explain myself very well yesterday, I’ve been through a lot in the last few years, and it’s been hard. But I’m realizing that I had to go through all those things to learn the truth. I thought I had lost my honor, and that somehow my father could return it to me. But I know now that no one can give you your honor. It’s something you earn for yourself, by choosing to do what’s right. All I want to do now is play my part in ending this war, and I know my destiny is to help you restore balance to the world”.
No one was ready for his speech, especially not me. This was a needed side of him I hadn’t seen. I recognized myself in his words and I had to turn my head to clear my mind.
Zuko turned to Toph with shame in his eyes. “ I’m sorry for what I did to you”, he bows in her direction “It was an accident. Fire can be dangerous and wild, so as a firebender, I need to be more careful and control my bending, so I don’t hurt people unintentionally”. I didn’t know what to do with myself. Everything he said made sense, felt sincere. But it went against everything I had been taught. Every word, scolding, from my father. Everything he had told me. I rarely agreed with my father but when it came to the fire nation we used to be on the same page. Aang opened his mouth to speak but closed it almost immediately. He looks in thought as if he tries to be careful with his words. He finally collected himself “I think you are supposed to be my firebending teacher. When I first tried to learn firebending, I burned Katara, and after that, I never wanted to firebend again. But now I know you understand how easy it is to hurt the people you love. I’d like you to teach me”. He then slowly bent forward, bowing respectfully to Zuko. I could see how hard he tried to keep that smile back as he bowes back “Thank you. i’m so happy you’ve accepted me into your group”. Aang stopped him in his words “Not so fast. I still have to ask my friends if it’s okay with them.”. He turns to Toph with kind eyes “Toph, you’re the one that Zuko burned. What do you think?”. Toph shrugs her shoulders. “Go ahead and let him join”, She pounds her fist into her palm jokingly “it’ll give me plenty of time to get back at him for burning my feet”. I meet zuko’s eyes and mumbles under my breath “that makes two of us”. Aang turns to Sokka. Sokka shrugs in response “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”. A part of me was excited to see what Katara would say. She clearly loved Aang and trusted him with her life, but she also hated Zuko with all her spirit. Aang slowly approached Katara. She looked Zuko up and down. Her glare is so hot I could feel Zuko’s nervousness. I swore I could see sweat climbing down his forehead. Finally she drops her walls “ I’ll go along with whatever you think is right”. Relieved Aang smiles at her. He gives me a look but I understand the question. All my feelings are conflicted, but this was not my place to speak “Fine”. I look up my eyelashes “On one condition?”. Zuko noods with stiff movement. I smirk sideways “If i can joke about your scar”. The expression on Zuko’s face was hard to read. Either he was extremely offended or thought it was amusing. He gave me a sideways nod which I took as a yes.
The gang for some reason gave me the job to show him to his room. Probably because they thought I had the least history with him. Little do they know. The walk towards the room was awkward, both of us trying to keep our distance. “Um here we are”, I nodded towards the door and he walked into the room. I glanced toward him “Um, I think it’s lunch soon. So, um unpack. um”. He looks up on me and gives me a weak smile. “And”, i weightened forwards and backwards on my feet “And well, keep an eye out. Either eye works, but for you i guess the choice is pretty obvious”. He snorted “is that the best you can do?”. I was already down the hallway “trust me Prince pretty, i’m only getting started”.
Taglist: @eridanuswave , @Whalerus, @keiko0
NORMAL MASTERLIST
Raised mostly by yourself, you made a living for your youth years as a maid in one of the richest families in Ba sing se, Beifongs. There Toph, a blind young rich girl, taught you earth bending and also became your new family. Not that you would admit that to her. Together you escape Ba sing se on the back of a flying bison with the Avatar, in a mission to take back the world from the fire nation. But on the journey you didn’t plan to team up with the Fire prince himself, and you definitely did not plan to get butterflies around him. But you couldn’t possibly catch feelings for a fire bender right? They ruined your life and took everything of value from you. But you couldn’t lie to your burning heart.
