#Kya from the tea shop

[demaparbat-hp]

Lee wasn't made for customer service and it infuriates Kya to no end.

#atla #avatar the last airbender #zuko #zutara #katara #Lee And Kya From The Tea Shop AU #Lee and Kya from the Tea Shop #atla art #atla fanart #zuko fanart #prince zuko #zuko art #katara of the southern water tribe #katara art #katara fanart #zuko x katara #lee from the tea shop #zuko as lee #Katara as Kya #Kya from the tea shop #atla zuko #atla katara #zutara fanart #zutara art #ba sing se #zutara au #Short hair zutara cause they rule #I didn't really put much effort into this. It's just something simple and sweet and I thought I'd share. #Zuko really wasn't made for this but he'll try (she's just so cute when she pretends to be mad at him tho) #It's not like she doesn't splash rude customers with their tea every now and then anyway

[zukosdualdao]

through all of the shadowy corners of me

zutara month, day three: (re)meet ugly/meet cute. @zutaramonth

summary: as katara's plans on the anniversay of her mother's murder fall apart, she ducks into a teashop to wait out the storm and finds herself familiar with the rude tea server she comes face to face with and promptly bursts into tears. because of-fucking-course.

warnings: grief, nightmares, references to kya's murder (and ursa's disappearance, though that is less explicit), and references to ableism wrt facial differences. also, just, some lightly gratuitous swearing, on behalf of katara's no good very bad day. she deserves it.

other notes: title taken from landon piggs’ falling in love at a coffeeteashop. because i am basic in that way.

Katara’s pretty sure the universe is conspiring against her.

First, it was the fucking felt-tip markers being all dried up—damn it Sokka—she needed for the posters for the protest she was supposed to head.

(She tries not to think about how really, first, it was the dream she woke up from, that she wakes up from often, but especially on this day, the dream with fearful eyes and the ominous drip of blood and the feeling of too late too late too late. The dream that is also a memory.)

Someone had to make the posters—because seriously, why was the school shutting down the campus food bank when a third of the student population was food-insecure?— so she missed her first class of the day to get new ones from the closest craft store, over half an hour way with traffic. There was supposed to be a quiz, too, and the professor is notoriously stubborn about absences and make-ups. 

And then there was this huge storm, so they couldn’t even have the protest today like they’d planned.

Now, as Katara ducks out of the rain and into the tiny little hole-in-the-wall ambient tea shop—The Jasmine Dragon, the sign had said—which is all warm lighting and soft ringing laughter from the bare few patrons inside, she figures she can at least get a cup of something hot to drink. It’s been a truly horrible day, and she can’t wait to get back home, sleep for ten hours straight, and wipe it from the record of her memory, but right now, this is her one saving grace.

So, when she gets to the second place in line, very patiently waiting as the server at the front snipes at the man in front of her, part of her wants to reel up to confront him. Sure, she knows customer service can be a day-in, day-out nightmare—she didn’t spend her first two semesters waiting tables because it was fun—but really, he could at least try to be a little nicer. The man wasn’t doing anything wrong, as far as she could see.

When she gets to the front, Katara opens her mouth to say—something, she doesn’t know what—and is caught off-guard to find that she recognizes him faintly. With his eyes the color of amber, swoopy, dark hair, and a shiny, painful-looking burn scar set against the left side of his face, on her right—yes, he was a boy who was in Sokka’s class back in high school. And he was a total jerk, barely speaking a word to anyone except to get into arguments, whether with teachers or other kids. She didn’t know him all that well herself, but she’d never liked him from the stories Sokka told or for the way he seemed to bristle at everyone and everything as she watched from a morbidly curious distance.

Zuko. Yes, she remembers him.

“Can I help you?” he asks, his voice almost a snarl when she spends a beat too long taking in his features, though he’s not looking at her, instead glancing down at his scratchpad. “I’m supposed to tell all of the customers we’re out of the oolong,” he adds in a rough voice, without looking up.

Katara wants to rage, wants to scream, why does he think he gets to treat people like that, god, at least have the decency to look me in the eye and treat me like a person when you’re being a dick—but instead, she bursts into tears. 

Very loud, messy tears. It’s been a long day.

And, well. He certainly looks up then. 

“Um,” Zuko says in lieu of an actual reaction, his right eye wide. His expression has softened considerably, his mouth shaped in surprise, his browline furrowed. “We have jasmine?” he tries.

Well, she thinks as he stands there stiffly, the perfect image of a deer in headlights, before reaching over the counter to push the napkin dispenser toward her, this is humiliating.

At least it’s not terribly busy in here. There’s no one standing beside her, and she only feels one or two worried glances from the tables, the shop mostly empty.

“Sorry,” Katara says through her tears. “God, I’m sorry. I just—I’m having awful day,” she says, motioning to her face as a way of explanation before yanking a napkin out from the dispenser to dry her face.

Zuko’s lip curls in what she thinks might be sympathy. 

“Me, too,” he admits on a sigh. “Sorry. What can I get for you?”

“Um,” she says, shaking her head and smiling through still teary eyes. God. “A cup of jasmine tea would actually be nice.”

“Sure.” 

She pays quickly and tries to ignore his eyes as they follow her over to the tiny round table she chooses in the corner. One cup, she thinks. She’ll drink one cup of tea and be out of here quicker than even the lightning flaring outside, before anyone can say anything about it, and then head back to her apartment and think through every turn in life that got her there, sobbing in line at a tea shop as a mean boy she knew from high school tried not to call her on it.

But he has other plans, because when he brings her order to her, he doesn’t just leave like he’s supposed to, standing there for several awkward moments that feel as though they’re spanning lifetimes.

Yeah. The universe is definitely conspiring against her.

“So… you’re… good now?”

Katara stares at him blankly for a moment, feeling her jaw grow a little slack.

“Are you… checking on me?”

A beat. “I’m just very committed to customer service,” Zuko deadpans, and Katara can’t help but laugh.

“Right,” she says. “Yeah. I’m… good. Thank you.” He nods—just once, a rigid jerk of his head—and starts to turn on his heel to leave.

But for some reason, she suddenly doesn’t want that. He’s being… almost kind of sweet, and it’s so incongruous with the memory she has of him that it kindles a new kind of curiosity.  “We went to school together, you know,” she says quickly, before he can fully turn around. He pauses in his tracks. “You probably don’t remember, but—”

“I remember you,” Zuko says before she can even finish. She frowns, intrigued. “You always wore your hair up in a braid and those loops. And once, even though we barely knew each other,” he adds with the faint traces of a smile, “you told off that kid when he was… uh…” The smile fades.

Katara remembers suddenly. It was an overcast day, not unlike the way this one had started, and Zuko had been sitting alone in the courtyard, not bothering anyone (for once) as Katara made her way to lunch when she saw some other kid go up to him to start needling him, saying horrible things about his scar. Very loudly.

Katara hadn’t liked that, so she’d marched right over and told the kid so. Also very loudly.

She’s pretty sure that’s the only time she and Zuko even tangentially interacted, and even then, they hadn’t spoken any actual words to each other. Everything else she knew about him came from stories and distant observation.

“When he was being a dick,” she finishes for him.

“Yeah,” Zuko says. Peering through his eyelashes, he adds more quietly, “I’ve always remembered that.”

“Really?”

A shrug of his shoulders. “You didn’t have to do that, but you did anyway.”

“I don’t like cruel people.” He nods, hands in his pockets, eyes suddenly downcast and looking almost a little ashamed. It makes her sort of sad. “Do you have time to sit?” Katara asks suddenly.

He looks surprised as he glances back at up her. “What?”

“I mean, I know you’re working, so don’t worry about it if not,” she adds in a hurry, tripping over he words. “I just thought maybe…”

“My shift’s actually over,” he answers, and suddenly, there’s a soft, sort-of-shy smile playing on his lips. “I—I could sit.”

He pulls the chair out and sits while Katara sips at her tea. It really is quite good.

“This is almost making up for the rest of my day,” she laughs, and his face scrunches up, maybe almost amused.

But then, the expression morphs. “Why was your day so bad, Katara?”

She’s surprised to find he ever knew her name, let alone remembers it now. He really is full of surprises. 

She could tell him the simple version, the actual events without the why she was taking it so hard, without divulging what it was really about… but, well…

He seems sincere enough in asking, at any rate.

“I just… I lost my mother when I was really young,” she begins to explain, feeling sort of choked-up and tight in her chest again, but no tears threaten to fall right now.

“I’m sorry,” he says softly, and she looks up to meet his gaze, swimming with undeniable sympathy. “That’s something we have in common.”

She looks at him for a long moment, surprised. This is something they share, then. Something they can understand about each other. “I’m sorry, too. It’s awful. And… today is the anniversary. I usually just try to keep busy, but…”

“But everything went wrong?”

Katara hums.

“That’s the fucking worst,” he says bluntly, and Katara laughs then. He has very little tact, it seems, but also, yeah. It is. And it’s nice for someone to be able to… just say it. To feel it with her.

“It is the fucking worst,” she agrees. “But… I really am doing better now.”

“I’m glad,” he says, but he frowns, staring down at his hands, which are splayed on the table. “I really shouldn’t keep you from your day."

“I mean… the rest of my plans for the day have sort of fallen apart, and I should probably wait out the rain anyway, so I might, uh,” she says, feeling suddenly shy and hesitant. “I might stick around for a while. Get one more of these,” she nods down to her cup, warm and solid in her hands. “You know.” She takes another sip.

His smile glints, but it’s soft, too, definitely as shy as she feels. “I could do with a cup.”

Katara’s own smile grows wider.

The kindly older man who runs the shop—Zuko's uncle, Katara learns quickly—brings them out another round of jasmine, two cups this time, and Zuko slowly raises his in a cheers motions motion, a little awkward and a lot funny.

“To awful days?” he says with a raise of his brow.

“And to perfect storms,” she adds in agreement, laughter bubbling in her chest.

They clink their teacups together.

#zutaramonth2024 #zutara #zutara month #my fic #me internally: idk how i feel about writing a modern au i don't feel like i can get into their headspaces the right way #also me: writes almost 2000 words about it #atla #zuko #katara #trigger: grief. #trigger: nightmares. #trigger: murder. #jic #trigger: ableism.

[empressofthesunwriter]

Change the Narrative

If people knew the truth, they would call her a selfish monster.

But Katara had sacrificed anything for the world, for an ungrateful husband!

This time she would always choose herself first!

Here is a little one-shot of my anger about what happened to Katara in canon.

I want to give her the end she deserves, so I hope you enjoy it!

Katara knew it was time for her to die.

She felt it in her old bones.

Alone she lay in her bed at the South Pole and watched how the snow was falling.

At least she would die seeing the beauty of her homeland.

It was a good death.

The old woman blinked tears away and tried to be positive about her nearing death.

She would see Sokka, her father, her mother and Gran-Gran again.

It was good.

She had lived a long happy life.

Something burning and unsettling spread through her chest as she thought this.

Was it a happy life?

How often did she and Aang argue over simple things?

How often did she beg him not to play favourites with Tenzin? Yes, their youngest was an airbender, but what about Bumi and Kya? They were his children too.

But no!

The Air Nomad legacy was more important than their two oldest children and their pain.

Once upon a time when she was a young girl and fantasized about the man and family one day she would have, she never would have guessed how she became the kind of mother, who didn't fight for her children.

Who didn't call out her husband for his wrongdoings?

However, she had so with Aang. Since she had met him, she always had mothered him, shielded him from things which didn't fit his narrative.

He was the Avatar, the only hope to end the war, with a track record of running away.

They couldn't lose him, so she had protected him the best she could.

And she did so to her children.

No wonder Bumi and Kya didn't even visit her and Tenzin didn't have much of a relationship with her.

Where did she go wrong in her life?

When did she become a shadow of herself in the name of love?

Why did she even choose Aang?

Was it because of Aunt Wu's prediction, she would marry a powerful bender or because she had a feeling Aang...deserved her?

He loved her and had ended the war.

Was it so bad to give him a chance?

Sadly after sacrificing her best years for him and being rewarded to die alone without her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around her, it may have been the most stupid decision she ever made.

Spirits, was she a bad person to think that?

She loved her family, really she did, but deep down she had to admit...she wouldn't do it a second time.

Katara wouldn't sacrifice herself, her ideals, and her dreams for Aang's dream.

She had her whole life given and given and was now at the end of it rewarded with nothing.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, as she slowly closed her eyes.

Soon she would join her loved ones...

Just...

If she could...

If the spirits were so kind...

If dear Yue heard her...

She wanted a second chance.

She wanted to live a life for herself and herself alone.

Katara had given in this life all and more...was it so bad that she wished for a second chance to get it this time right?

Was she selfish?

Maybe.

Surely.

But anyone had a point in their life where they had to put themselves first.

Her only regret was that she did not realise it sooner.

Katara closed her eyes and felt the last beats of her heart.

Never noting how the moon was shining brightly down at her...

***

She felt pain in her head.

Katara hissed and touched her forehead.

Why did she get a headache?

Where was she?

She blinked to banish the shadows before her eyes.

Slowly she could see.

Ah yes.

She was outside General Iroh's tea shop in Ba Sing Se.

The waterbender had seen Aang walk out and wanted to join him.

It was high time that she gave Aang her answer about them being a couple.

She had been unsure a few days ago, but now with the war over...why shouldn't she give him a chance?

He was standing at the balustrade watching the setting sun, it was the perfect moment.

As the waterbender made her first step towards him, an avalanche of emotions and vision filled her whole being.

Katara gasped quietly, trying to make sense of this.

It was too fast and also too slow...however, she felt it in her bones...whatever she had planned kissing Aang and getting together with him...it would be the worst decision of her life!

No, she didn't want what she had seen.

How could she sell herself, her principals, and her honour for a guy?!

How could she be together with someone who would play favourites with their children?!

No, absolutely not!

Whether this was a vision from the future to save her from this faith Katara didn't know, but what she knew she wouldn't make the same mistakes twice!

So angry she walked up to Aang and tapped his shoulder.

The Avatar turned smiling towards her. He seemed so happy and hopeful and looked at her like she had hung the stars and the moon.

For a second she flatter, which only made the vision come forth again and made her anger tenfold.

Oh no!

Not with her!

"Aang.", she began. "I don't love you and I never will! Stop pestering me about us being a couple! If you don't accept my feelings I will waterwhip you do your next incarnation, do you understand me?!"

To say he was shocked was the understatement of the century. She could formally see the heartbreak in his eyes and how he tried to speak up, maybe to guilt trip her, however, she wasn't having anything of it.

"Nothing you will say and do will ever change my mind! So don't even try. I will go back with Sokka to the South Pole and rebuild my home. That's where I belong!"

Dramatically she turned around and entered the tea shop again.

The others tried their hardest to seem like they hadn't listened in, yet Katara saw through them.

She sends them all an annoyed look.

"What?!"

No one said anything for a few seconds before Toph snickered: "Oh sugar queen, I hoped you had it in you."

This makes Katara smile.

***

The next months of her life Katara rebuilt with her father and Sokka their home. 

The Nothern Watertribe had tried to turn the South into a second North, except Katara was having none of it.

As a war hero, master waterbender and daughter of the chief she used all her power to stop this chances.

She was a force of nature!

No one had a chance against her.

Her family was so proud of her and she was satisfied with herself.

Yes, this was where she belonged.

Helping people and not being the soulless, passionless arm candy of Aang!

Katara was happy.

A voice inside her told her how she deserved it.

***

A year later found Katara as ambassador for her people at the first peace summit.

She was happy seeing Zuko again, they had written to each other, yet seeing each other in person was much better.

He had become her best friend.

And her wall against Aang.

As Avatar he was at the peace summit too. Of course, he tried to talk with her. Tried to sway her, saying he missed her and wanted to be friends again.

She saw right through him. Aang still wanted her.

Thank the spirits for Zuko having her back and distracting Aang.

When they enjoyed together a cup of tea in General Iroh's tea shop she thanked him for his help.

Awkwardly he waved it away.

It was nothing.

He and Mai had broken up and the black-haired girl wasn't happy about it.

Even if she and Aang weren't exes, Zuko knew how frustrating it was to have a person follow you like a shadow and demand to be together again.

In comfort, she petted Zuko's hand and told him he did the right thing to end things with Mai.

If she couldn't accept a no was she a good girlfriend?

A little crooked smile formed on Zuko's lips, and her heart stopped for a second, as he thanked her for her words and friendships.

Then he asked her to join him in the search for his mother.

***

Being with Zuko on a life-changing field trip again was... exciting.

They still worked flawlessly together, like when they had hunted down the murder of her mother, but now they were friends.

It changed a lot of interactions.

They were playful with each other.

Zuko was the only one who ever laughed at her jokes.

They were there for each other.

In the long days when they hunted down one clue after another and Zuko seemed to lose hope, Katara reminded him to never give up.

They shared the workload.

It was amazing not mothering someone and having someone help her around camp.

They were getting closer to each other.

They shared things they never told anyone.

Zuko told her how he got his scar and Katara hugged him, wishing Aang had killed Ozai.

Wishing Ozai was before her and making him pay for hurting her best friend!

Sometimes they just stared at the stars, inventing constellations, their hands inching closer.

Something new was born between them.

Katara didn't know what it was, but she would enjoy it.

It made her feel good.

After weeks on the road, they finally found Ursa.

And also a society of hiding airbenders.

Katara couldn't help but laugh in utter glee.

***

Was it really that surprising that Katara and Zuko fell in love with each other after their journey?

When she kissed Zuko for the first time, it was like coming home. 

Warm, welcome, familair, intim.

It was the best sensation in the world.

Something inside her told her this was how it was supposed to be.

After two years of dating and being the ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe in the Fire Nation, they married.

All their friends and half of the world were invited.

Yes, even Aang.

Aang was so grateful to Katara and Zuko for having found his people and was busy with the air nomads to rebuild their society, and seemed to finally let go of Katara.

Now they really could be friends.

***

Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, master bender, war hero and Fire Lady became a living legend.

Not only the people in the Fire Nation adored her, but she used the power she wielded to make the whole world a better place.

She was the one who came up with the idea of Republic City, a place where all nations could live in harmony.

She revolutionized the art of healing with her bloodbending.

She installed fountains and aqueducts everywhere she could, so people had clean water.

Statues were built and universities, streets even neighbourhoods were named in her honour.

Katara taught new generations of waterbenders like her daughter Kya and people formally fought over to learn from the Fire Lady.

When their oldest daughter Izumi became Fire Lady, Katara and Zuko retired to Ember Island to live out their twilight years in peace.

They often had visits from their friends and families.

Their son Lu Ten, a nonbender, had married a waterbender named Mizuki and had with her five children.

So the proud grandparents helped their son and daughter-in-law raise the rascals.

It was fulfilling.

As Aang then died and was reborn as Korra from the Southern Water Tribe Katara and Zuko moved to the South to teach the new Avatar.

Korra loved Katara and Zuko like grandparents and loved hearing about their adventures.

After Korra goes to Republic City to learn airbending from one of Aang's sons he had with one of the hiding airbenders, the pair returns to Ember Island.

Zuko died a few months before her.

Katara followed him after the birth of their third great-grandchild.

Both died surrounded by their big and bustling family.

As Katara died, her oldest great-granddaughter, who was named after her held her hand, she couldn't help but feel happy.

She had lived a long and wonderful life.

Soon she would be together again with her beloved husband and her family.

And so the greatest and most beloved Fire Lady died in peace with no regrets in her heart, her story being told for thousands of years to come.

***

The Legend of Katara became a tale which young girls loved.

From a simple waterbender to a master, war hero and ruler over a nation, who changed the world only a few ever could.

It showed all girls, that they could do anything they wanted.

They could reach their goals and go even beyond.

This was Katara's legacy.

As it should have been.

If you liked this one-shot and want more Zutara, a badass OC, personal growth for Aang and the Gaang being amazing check out Yin and Yang! 

Click on my profile and leave a comment.

I hope you liked this little One-Shot!

Let’s now scream together in the comment section how Katara deserved better and if it’s not canon we will give it to her in fanon! :D

#katara #atla katara #avatar the last airbender #atla #zuko #atla zuko #prince zuko #atla zutara #zutara #zutarian #katara deserved better #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #zutara fanfiction #zutara fic #zutara forever #anti bryke #anti kataang #anti maiko #bryke critical

[the-desilittle-bird]

Hey dear! I saw that your requests are open and I was wondering if I could get a imagine/oneshot Daemon x wife!poc fem Reader (dornish maybe?) inspired by "jhute ilzaam" by Umrao jaan, please? (with happy ending) feel free to ignore.

AN- I loved it! Thanks for the ask sweetie. Hope you find it as per your liking.

Thank you and Enjoy your reading

False Accusations

Daemon Targaryen x Martell!Reader

Summary- And sometimes false accusations end with a beautiful evening...

Tag List- @minaxcarter, @eliseline, @blackhoodlea, @little-moonbeam-666, @neenieweenie, @omgsuperstarg, @avalyaaa, @shopping, @bbgmonsay, @michelle-26, @krokietinio, @hc-geralt-23, @chevelledahuman, @thekayarlene, @narcy, @helloitsshitzulover, @muushwrites, @daringboba, @bi2simps, @issybee0611, @yariany02, @agathe, @5moremin, @candypurplebutterfly, @saraelizabeth26, @moon-light1415, @targaryenmoony, @stargaryenx, @instabul, @shine101, @hyacinthus007, @mcam623, @eudximoniakr, @carissa_griffin7777, @marvelescvpe, @severewobblerlightdragon, @deltamoon666, @thatgirlthatreadswattpad, @ultrav0lence, @savagemickey03, @sunmoon-01, @literishdegree99, @watercolorskyy, @Lady-Juliettes, @cherryaemond, @chaotic-fangirl-blog, @nats-whore

Warnings- Tooth-rooting fluff and it gets steamy at a point. Implied smut.

GIF Credits to @thelekhikawrites

Kaun kisko yaha bhala samajha

Humne kya samajha tumne kya samajha

"Do what I hear is right?" The Dornish princess asked, her fingers combing through her dark tresses. Her dark eyes gazed accusingly at her husband who seemed not fazed by her statement, casual as always.

Instead, the Rogue Prince drew closer to her, like a moth to burning fire. His long fingers caressed the dusky skin of her shoulder; the thread of her heavy necklace sat sternly on the bare skin, barely grazing the rough padding of his digits.

"And what do you hear, my little sun?" He called dearly, fingers running down to the thread which held her translucent nightwear together. "Now, that you are here, make some work on the threads of the necklace."

With a roll of his eyes, Daemon started to carefully undo the knots holding one of the symbolic representation of the riches of House Martell of Dorne. But whilst his pursues, he observed the little frown shadowing over her face.

"What has stolen the smile of your face, beloved?" He asked, once all the knots were undone and the jewelry was placed carefully on her vanity. His fingers massaging the muscles of her tensed shoulder.

"Queen Alicent had decided to enlighten me upon a particular... interest of yours," she said, her teeth sinking into her lower lip while her hands slapped his hands off.

"Which one?" Daemon asked with a frown tugging over his eyebrows. His hands crossed over his chest; eyes skimming over his lady wife; his little sun; his Dornish princess.

"Were you in an intimate relation with Rhaenyra?"

The prince was left in a deep silence; his eyes boring deep into her brown irises which resembled the drenched soil after the arrival of first rain; the earthen warmth they held were lost as tears welled up in them.

"Were you, Daemon?"

Of course he was. How could the prince forget it. But that was before (Y/N) came in his life; dancing and singing like one of the angels from the heaven, with hair so dark that they could challenge the Maiden herself.

Her smile which brightened up his entire life; making him forget about the misery of his life and drown in the rain of love she showered over him.

"I was."

"And does the relationship still exist?"

The hope in her eyes resembled the flame of a burning candle; little but bright. Her pink lips resembled the petals of the softest rose. Her skin like gold; or the beautiful colour of tea she makes when he couldn't sleep.

"No."

"And how shall I accept that it isn't a lie?"

Daemon chuckled, his hands guiding her to stand up. Forcing her to face him, to look into his violet eyes with her dark ones. In her eyes, he saw in them the childlike stubbornness and with them was love.

"What can I do to make you believe it?"

Meri aankho me jo achhe nahi lagte aansu

Toh jalaya na karo mujhko sataya na karo

"I hate it when you cry," he whispers, cupping her cheek as his fingertip massaged the muscles beneath her eyes, softly with great care. "Then don't make me cry then," she replied in an equally low voice, the stubbornness leaking through her voice.

"Apologies, my love," he says, leaning down to place a soft kiss on the corner of her lips. The sharp intake of breath pleased the prince as he retracted his face only a few inches.

"Apologize better," (Y/N) argued, turning around with her arms folded in front of her. Her eyes focused over the reflection of herself and her now smirking husband, who only stepped closer to her, towering over her petite stature.

"I. Hate. Tears. In. Your. Beautiful. And. Erotic. Eyes."

Each word was accentuated by a kiss, starting from her shoulder to her neck. The shiver which ran down her spine excited him.

"Stop the seduction," she hissed, eyes widening as she took a few steps away from her prideful husband, unconsciously moving towards the bed she shared with her lord husband.

Daemon only huffed a laugh, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he stepped closer to her; like a predator hunting it's prey in the quiet of a dense forest.

"Those are just another false accusations, ñuha byka vēzos," (My little sun) Daemon said, his fingers slowly crawling over the expanse of his broad chest, undoing the ties which hold the black tunic together, slow as a turtle.

"It hurts me, Daemon," she whispers with a bite on her lower lip, blinking her lashes to prevent the fall of her tears.

Jhute iljaam meri jaan lagaya na karo

Dil hai najuk ise tum aise dukhaya na karo

"These false accusations hurts my weak heart as well, my lady love," Daemon admits, exposing his lean chest to the hungry eyes of his wife. His tunic was left abandoned on the floor, while his finger grazed the covered skin of her side, just below her bossom.

"My lord, I was just... scared to lose you."

"You would never lose me, my sunshine."

His lips touched the smooth skin of her collarbone, a small hum of pleasure leaving the throat of the exotic beauty he was fortunate enough to marry. The little moan had him growling; his teeth biting the skin below her ear softly.

"Daemon, please."

The smirk on his face grew, his fingers finding home on her waist. Her dark brown locks touching his rough fingers, a soft touch like a mother's to her little child.

"Lets remove the false accusations from your mind."

#house targaryen #hotd imagine #house of the dragon #daemon targaryen x reader #daemon x reader #daemon x you #daemon targeryan #daemon au #hotd daemon #daemon targaryen #daemon x y/n #daemon x fem!reader

[midnightanxietytm]

Between the walls of Ba Sing Se

Contents: Role-swap AU, verbal fights (on Zuko's part at least), Katara angst, lots of introspection, tension so thick you could cut it, mentions of the Painted Lady, Pre-relationship Zutara, Katara is mid-redemption arc, She's working in a teashop with her gran-gran.

A/N: This is an extra set in the same universe of this fic, I wanted to explore the characters more before making the decision of actually writing zutara into the fic. I appreciate constructive criticism, you can send me an ask if you want to discuss anything abt this fic.

“Playing pretend, Princess?” It hurts because he's saying it, because they both know it has truth to it, because somehow, he knows her.

Word count: 881

It's a long long way

To Ba Sing Se

But the girls in the city

They look so pretty

It’s weirdly peaceful, cathartic even, or at least as peaceful as customer service can get. Still, Katara finds herself content with this existence, this life she and her grandmother had made for themselves. She likes the tea, likes their house, likes the pai-sho, and if she ever needs a little more adrenaline, she has The Painted Lady.

But then he comes along, rattles her peace, shakes her to her very core; that ruthless reminder of her every mistake.

And she’s so unlucky, because out of all the Avatar's friends, Zuko is the one who isn’t afraid to go toe to toe with her. Sure, his sister had the raw power, but he had the technique, the balance, and the knowledge of… well her. 

“Playing pretend, Princess?” It hurts because he's saying it, because they both know it has truth to it, because somehow, he knows her. And she doesn’t know how to answer, not anymore. She looks away, outside the alleyway behind the shop, upwards towards the sky, anywhere but his amber eyes.

“I'm not a princess anymore.” She says, only because she realizes he's waiting for her answer, sizing her up, determining If she’s a threat to be dealt with. She glances at the Dao on his back and wishes she had the courage to learn something like that, she wonders where he did.

“Oh? What are you, then?” There’s so much venom in his words, so much hatred, and she’s just starting to realize that she does deserve that, she has caused him nothing but suffering… And once again she can’t answer him, because of his hate, or was it her own hate? It poisons her veins, clogs her throat. And because she doesn’t know it just yet. Who is she if not Princess Katara of the Southern Tribe? Who was she then? Who is she now?

She leans further into the shadows of the alley, hoping they engulf her, wanting to run, but unable to run from his burning embers. “I don’t know…” She admits in a whisper, hoping he doesn’t hear it, hoping he leaves.

“Really? Because I could have sworn someone called you by Kya today, is that a new trick of yours?” And that she can’t stand. She steps forward, fists curling and posture changing so fast that Zuko, despite himself, is taken aback, and raises a hand to his sword hilt.

“Don’t say that name like that!” She bites. “You can spit my name with as much poison as you want, but not that one! Don’t come again. Leave me alone!” She’s back inside the teashop, fast as a tidal wave.

Zuko stands there, hand firmly gripping his dao, for a good few seconds before his body finally allows itself to relax; he exhales slowly and leaves the alleyway, and he ignores his shaky hands, ignores how the girl he’s used to focus all his hate on had looked so… fragile.

He can handle her being a threat, he can handle all the scars and scratches she’s given him, that he’s given her, but he can’t handle the hurt in her eyes, he can’t afford to let his empathy get the best of him, not during war. He can’t let his guard down.

And yet… Once he finds his way back to the upper ring he finds himself slipping into the brooding and introspective manners he often does whenever he's shaken by something. 

So he trains.

This is a newer habit, one that came after they started their journey. Now he trains every time he has a particularly harsh dilemma, and during those training sessions he makes sure that the moon is his only companion. In this particular situation though, the moonlight distracts him, because it also reminds him of her.

She’s stronger under the veil of the night, every waterbender is, but she especially is a fearsome thing to behold. He wondered how long it’s been since she could bend in the open, he wondered how it would feel to have to hide such an integral part of oneself. 

Zuko has always been a little jealous of her when it came to bending; she had training, experience, she was a fully realized master. All he had was the partial teachings of his uncle, who was often busy running their village and a week of class back when they stayed with Hama, everything else was him improvising, adapting, and pushing forward because he had to. His bending was solely for survival, hers was for fighting, that he had managed to hold his own against her so many times before was a miracle.

And to see such foe so utterly lost, it moved something deep within him, something he couldn’t quite place. He echoed her confusion with each fiery punch and kick of his own, then with each swing of his swords.

Zuko trained until his muscles were sore and his mind was somewhat clear. It was well past one in the morning when he finally sat down near a water fountain, breathing heavily. He didn’t really have a conclusion for his dilemmas.

But he thought he could really go for some tea in the morning.

#asks open #fanfic writing #zutara #atla #midnight writes #zutara au #zutara fanfiction #atla reversed roles #ba sing se #ba sing se zutara #the painted lady #zuko x katara #redemption arc #katara angst #character study #katara #zuko #multishipper

[ghanjrho]

How A:tLA should have ended, Pt. 2

Part 1 is here

I promised you Fire Family and Steambabies, have your Fire Family and Steambabies. We'll start with oldest and move down in age, as of roughly AG 115. For timeline purposes, the royal wedding was in AG 105, when Zuko was 21 and Katara 19.

Uncle Iroh: Iroh retires from his role as Regent the day Zuko and Katara have their Fire Nation wedding. Now he moves back to Ba Sing Se and his tea shop, though he still makes it back to Caldera for a couple weeks a year. It's a good system, obviously removing the Dragon of the West from the levers of power, while also putting enough physical separation between him and Zuko that a coup is unlikely to target both at once. The Steambabies call him Grampa Iroh.

Ozai: Is dead. Handed over to the Earth Kingdom a year or so after the war ended, an international tribunal called for his execution. In desperation, he offered up all the information he had on Ursa. All it bought him was being executed like a member of the Fire Lord's family, as opposed to a peasant. Aang refuses to vote for death on principle, but has grown enough to understand that not everyone can live by his personal code of ethics.

Ursa: Was found. The basic arc of The Search is maintained, with the exception that Ursa didn't lose her memories. Why didn't she go back? She was going to. But Ursa was Noriko now, and Noriko was going to have to work hard to convince her son that she was his mother; at the time she didn't know that the Mother of Faces could undo a gift and make her Ursa again. Not to mention that at the time of The Search, the family simply didn't have the money to travel to the Capitol and stay there for the amount of time it would take for her to get access to Zuko without running afoul of her banishment.

Zuko: Is the Fire Lord, and a devoted father. He thinks the second is more important. Had some serious nerves about parenthood, but bowed to the reality of needing an heir and a spare. Winds up having more than that.

Katara: Is the Fire Lady, and a handful of other titles besides. Her travels through the Fire Nation hinterlands give her a surprising wealth of connections to the Fire Nation's peasantry, which she freely uses to keep abreast of what's going on in her adopted land. She and Zuko are that married couple that can't keep there hands off each other.

Azula: Instead of letting Azula be a crutch villain, Azula gets better. Ursa's return and Zuko's persistent attention helped her unwind a lot of the emotional abuse that Ozai inflicted on her. Not all the way better, she has a medicated tea that she takes daily, and her moral compass is still worryingly external. That said, Zuko is her frame of reference instead of Ozai, so everyone is willing to call it good enough. On her 18th birthday, Zuko (and Iroh) named her the Hand of Fire, making her the Fire Lord's go-to problem solver.

Kiyi: is adorable. Yes, Mommy looks different now, but Kiyi has cool older siblings now! Azula had very complicated feelings about "her replacement" for a while. A lot of talks with Ursa helped; finding out Zuzu would fold in the face of Kiyi's pout did too. Early morning Fire Sibling meditation is essential bonding time. For Kiyi's age, I'm putting her 10 years younger than Azula, or 12 years younger than Zuko; in AG 115 she's 19 and a skilled firebender.

Izumi: Steambaby the first. Izumi was born on her parents' first anniversary, almost to the hour. Like her aunt, she's an extremely talented firebender, using blue fire and learning lightning generation. Unlike her aunt, her mother isn't trying to protect a more vulnerable sibling, and her father isn't emotionally abusing her to turn her into a living weapon/vessel for his will.

Kya: Steambaby the second. Followed her older sister by a year and a half, being born in mid-winter. Like her mother, she's a waterbender with the healing gift.

Lu Ten/Noriko: Twins that followed Kya by 3 years and a bit; spring birth. Neither has shown signs of bending yet, but there's still time.

Rei/Kallik: Boys, newborn.

Bonus:

Sokka/Suki: The brother-in-law and co-sister-in-law of the Fire Lord. Have 3 of their own and are working on a fourth. Suki and Azula are in a low-key competition to be the favorite aunt. Their work mainly keeps them in the new United Republic's territory,

#atla #zutara #steambabies #azula redemption #atla azula #ursa atla #zuko #katara #ozai screwed up azula a lot #probably including the my mother called me a monster line #azula takes her medication #what meds? who knows #there's more steambabies to come #i meant it when i said zutara cant their hands off each other #zukos long term plan of revenge against ozai is to have a bunch of kids #and raise them to be mentally stable and love their siblings

[attackfish]

Is there an AU for Avatar Ursa?

I am appalled I tell you, appalled, that you would so doubt me. Of course I have an Avatar Ursa AU. And just for that, I say those Ursa left behind in the Northern Water Tribe deserve some attention. Continued from: [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], and [Link].

1. Kya wakes to cold blankets beside her. She thinks, she assumes, that Ursa just got up earlier. Ursa has always been an early riser. She once told her that firebenders rise with the sun. But Ursa is nowhere to be found. She doesn't come to take Katara to waterbending lessons, she doesn't come for lunch, and Kya frets. When she isn't back for dinner, Kanna nods at her empty place at the table, and says, "Ah, so Ursa has left at last." Kya's head whips around. What does Kanna mean by that? Only that Ursa has clearly been planning a journey by boat, for which she needs children's clothing, for several months. Oh dear, Kya hadn't noticed? Well maybe Kanna just knew what to look for, having once made a similar journey herself.

2. They put the children to bed. They're full of questions and don't want to go to sleep, and are too old to be sent to bed and tucked in anyway, but Kya and Kanna just shush them as best they can and climb up to the roof of the guest house they have been given. As soon as they are settled, Kya hisses that Kanna might have said something, and Kanna says no, that would have just given Kya time to try to talk Ursa out of going, and Ursa was never going to listen. They didn't need to fight about this. She shouldn't have gone, Kya insists. It's too dangerous. and Kanna shakes her head and asks if Kya wouldn't have done the same for her children. And Kya would. Of course she would, but she just lost her husband, and she loves Ursa so much, and she's so afraid, and can't Kanna understand that? (And didn't Hakoda die protecting their children?)

3. And Kanna does. Kanna is a widow who lost her only child. She understands all right. But Kya, even after Ursa get's back, she's still the Avatar. She has a duty to the world, and she's going to fight a war. Kya is going to have to get used to Ursa leaving to do very dangerous things. She can't stop her, and she shouldn't try. It will only bring them both pain. She can't hold everybody she cares about tight to her chest and keep them safe so that she won't be hurt again. And Kya does know that. She does. It's just...

4. The next morning, before Katara goes to waterbending lessons, Kya and Kanna sit her and her brother down and tell them where Ursa went, and how in just a little while, she will be back with her children, and Katara and Sokka need to be ready.

5. After a few months of hide and seek with his brother's forces, Iroh goes to ground. He's done what he needs to, and Ozai will be looking for him, not Ursa. He picks a nice little town in the southern Earth Kingdom, not far from Omashu. It's a pleasant, sleepy place, where the wealthier citizens try to mimic the high culture of Ba Sing Se, and he sets up a tea shop that becomes profitable in almost no time. The problem is, now that he isn't running anymore, now that he isn't tweeking his brother's nose, and with only the teashop to occupy his time, the depresssion and loss that almost swallowed him whole back in the Fire Nation returns full force. His son is dead, and his quiet retirement in Gaoling will always taste just a little like dust and ashes.

#avatar the last airbender #atla kya #atla kanna #atla ursa #uncle iroh #posts i created #do you want to ask a question it doesn't have to be a question #five headcanons #(not) the last waterbender at the south pole #mother bear ursa #i ship iroh/tea

[nyamadermont]

Setting the Stage

#FFF184 Set the Stage

@flashfictionfridayofficial

Avatar: The Legend of Korra

901 words

[Image ID: A rectangle with vertical red stripes like a stage curtain, with the text “#FFF184 Set the Stage” centered in white.]

Today’s the day.

Kya’s mind was already racing before her eyes opened. She took stock of the sunlight and shadows outside, and gave herself about six hours.

The hospital was aware that calling her in had best be for a very short list of very serious reasons, at least three of which were not physically possible (to her knowledge). She knew Opal and Jinora were serious about their boyfriends, but none of them were becoming parents any time soon. Lin was out of town, so should not be in any danger whatsoever of winding up on a surgical table. And her mother was safely at the South Pole, under Senna’s watchful eye.

She wriggled under the sheets, greedily stretching out in all directions. She contracted her stomach to sit upright and stretch with a playful groan.

The cool breeze from the window thrilled her skin, and spread a smile across her face.

Time to get busy!

With unaccustomed speed, she cleaned up, got dressed, and ate a decent breakfast.

The whole time, she was nearly dancing with excitement.

Her list was ready. Her money was ready. Her (ok, Lin’s) sato was ready. Now, for everything else.

The pickup at the dress shop? Too much fun to rush. Done.

Swinging in at the tailor’s? Can’t turn down the offer of tea. That would be rude. But soon enough, done.

A stop by the florist? Done in minutes.

A last pass through the grocery store? Took about ten minutes too long, but done.

Everything collected, Kya struck out for the park.

She pulled into the lot and parked. The cart she brought wasn’t quite big enough for everything, so suddenly, she had a bit of a problem. One hand on her hip, she glared at her car, thinking hard.

“Hey, Kya!”

The voice carried from far across the parking area. She turned to see Korra and Asami, hand in hand, walking over in her direction. She watched them, clearly happy to see her, but still quite focused on each other. She felt about four different smiles cross her face before the pair made it close enough for hugs.

Asami took a step back, and gave her predicament a professional appraisal. “Could you use a couple of hands carrying a few things?” Kya could see the narrowed eyes, the tightly restrained smirk.

I think she’s on to me.

“Hands? Who needs hands? You have the Avatar at your service!”

With that, Korra swirled her hands, and lifted the cart on a tightly spun wheel of air. Kya and Asami laughed, but pulled out the final few items. They wandered through the park until they came up to a small pavilion with a low stone table.

In just a moment, the girls had set up a small tent, hanging the two garment bags inside. Korra’s airbending came in handy as she strung lights and a few red curtains in strategic locations around the pavilion's eaves.

Asami took charge of the food and flowers, laying out a luscious display on the table and setting the cushions just as Kya would have. When she stepped back, she noticed Korra was settling back to the ground. Kya’s back was turned and Asami waved to attract Korra’s attention. With some vigorous eyebrow wiggles and wide-eyed encouragement, she finally got through Korra’s obliviousness.

Korra gasped.

Kya snapped up straight. “Korra? What’s wrong?”

Korra’s face lit up. “You’re just setting the stage, aren’t you?” She clasped her hands close to her chest. “Can we watch from over,” she whirled around and saw a far too-small bush just below the foot of the bridge. “There! That’s the same bush I hid in my first day in Republic City!”

She turned her eager face back to Kya, whose bemused grin gave Asami all the clue she needed to get the Avatar as far away as possible.

“Korra, dear, you promised Meelo.”

Korra looked confused. “Promised him what?”

Asami rolled her eyes dramatically before giving Kya a sideways glance. “Someone has to look out for them, right?”

Kya just laughed and hugged them both. “Thank you. I have a lot more time because of your help. I think we’ll see you later tonight.”

Asami was still laughing when Kya couldn’t see them anymore.

She picked up the basket of peonies and walked back to the car. Retracing her steps one more time, she laid them in an obvious path to the pavilion, leading right up to the tent. She ducked inside, and a few minutes later, emerged from the other side.

She settled onto her cushion to wait.

Lin said the two words she was asked to, then nothing again for several minutes.

Kya stood in her fitted blue suit, the setting sun lighting her from behind.

Lin emerged from the tent in the long-sleeved, deep-cut, high-slit emerald dress, her feet bare on the grass.

Kya stepped forward with a cup of tea.

Lin stared at her as Kya placed the cup in her hands and gently pushed her to drink. Lin held her gaze and drank.

She blinked and lowered the cup. She blinked rapidly several times before waving her hand above it.

A small gold ring floated up into her hand. She looked at Kya.

“You want me?”

Kya just nodded, her eyes bright.

Lin clenched the ring in her hand and leaned forward for a kiss.

“Yes,” they said in unison.

#fff184 #set the stage #kyalin #kya ii #lin beifong #nyama’s short fics

[playbazaar-blog]

black online games - Play Bazaar

Some games that emphasize diversity and feature characters from various backgrounds include:

Watch Dogs 2 (2016): The game features a diverse cast of characters, including the main protagonist, Marcus Holloway, who is African American. The storyline addresses issues related to hacking and surveillance.

Cyberpunk 2077 (2020): This game allows you to create a customizable character, and you can choose various appearances, including a darker skin tone. The game explores a dystopian future with a diverse cast of characters.

Mafia III (2016): Set in the 1960s, Mafia III follows Lincoln Clay, an African American protagonist seeking revenge in a fictional New Orleans. The game addresses racial issues and organized crime.

Assassin's Creed series: Various games in the Assassin's Creed series, such as Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry (2013) and Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017), include diverse characters and explore historical settings with cultural richness.

The Walking Dead series (Telltale Games): The character Lee Everett in the first season of this episodic series is African American. The game focuses on narrative and player choices in a zombie apocalypse.

Remember that representation in games is an evolving aspect of the industry, and developers are increasingly recognizing the importance of diverse characters and storylines. Newer games may offer even more diverse and inclusive experiences. play bazaar satta

play bazaar app download

play bazaar 786

play bazaar online

play bazaar satta king shri ganesh

play bazaar leak number

play bazaar sg

play bazaar shri ganesh

play bazaar hack

play bazaar leak number 2023

play bazaar all chart

play bazaar agra

play bazaar aa

play bazaar aligarh bazar

play bazaar all game result

play bazaar aaj ka result

play bazaar all gali

play bazaar agra result

play bazaar april 2023

a playbill

a bazaar

a play button

a bazaar of bad dreams

play bazaar black satta

play bazaar black satta king

play bazaar delhi bazar chart 2023

play bazaar play bazaar chart

bihar play bazaar

play all bazaar delhi bazar

mumbai bazaar play bazaar

play bazaar number

play bazaar timing

b play

b play shopping cart

b play baby activity table

play bazaar chart

play bazaar chandigarh

play bazaar charminar

play bazaar chotu taj

play bazaar chart shri ganesh

play bazaar chart 2018

play bazaar chart 2021

play bazaar chart 2013

play bazaar chart july 2023

play bazaar chart january 2023

play bazaar delhi

play bazaar dubai king

play bazaar december 2023

play bazaar dl night

play bazaar december 2022

play bazaar delhi photos

play bazaar delhi noon

play bazaar december 2023 chart

play bazaar ds chart

d l play bazaar

english play bazaar

play bazaar live result

e play app

e play clothing

e-play band

play bazaar faridabad

play bazaar faridabad result

play bazaar fd

play bazaar february 2023

play bazaar february 2022

play bazaar new faridabad

play all bazaar faridabad result

play bazaar satta king fast

play bazaar leak number 786 free

fbplayhouse

play bazaar games

play bazaar gali

play bazaar gali chart 2023

play bazaar gujarat market

play all bazaar gali

play bazaar shree ganesh

play all bazaar gali 786

play all bazaar game result

play all bazaar ghaziabad result

play bazaar g

play bazaar gali result

play bazaar harup

play bazaar hack app

play bazaar hr

help play bazaar

haryana play bazaar

holi play bazaar

play bazaar mein kya hai

how to play bazaar card game

how to play bazaar tea party

h player

how to play bazaar

play bazaar ind

play bazaar

playin magic bazar

i play bazaar

play bazaar game result

play bazaar jd durga

play bazaar january 2023

[atla-adult-au]

‘There’s Something About Mai’

<My vision of a Maitara>

2 gorgeous besties

This hc was inspired by the possibility of them being good friends from sadladybug’s fan fic Clothe Me in Seasons. But I ramped it a bit more to explore their sensual side.

In most cases, they would meet for occasional shoptalk where both would give glowing compliments to each other and sometimes talk about life in the palace that are not highly classified. In their extra, they would have tea, go to a spa, dine out, or watch a play. Mai would advise Katara on culture, tips on protocol, and the art of persuasion without ever having to raise her voice. Katara then would influence Mai to get out more and meet the people she was meant to rule.

In a way, they were more friends than lovers as they only have sparse encounters which gives them less chances of getting caught. Sometimes, encounters don’t mean all the way. It could be a quick canoodling or as simple as a smack or a deep kiss. They are secure enough to know where they stand and what they mean to each other where they dont make unnecessary demands from the other. Their clandestine meetings would be brief as they try their darnedest to sneak and squeeze at least 5 minutes of quick dallying.

They would send each other gifts and letters of how their day went, and how they’d miss each other. Katara bought diamond crusted barrettes for Mai she found at a high end shop she thought would look good on Mai. Mai wore it with pride on the right side just below her bun.

Mai had a custom made water heart and fire pin which Katara fastens near her breast. To many, this seemed like a tribute to her ancestry and current status as the lady of the fire nation which could also be the case. But in reality, this is a symbol of the special relationship she has with Mai.

Katara would have Mai’s measurements and send her a box of a beautiful but a tad too revealing dress in Mai’s signature black color and tells Mai she should show more skin.

Mai in turn would also send her a red dress with golden accents and tells Katara she should wear red and gold more because it goes great with her complexion.

Remembering that Zuko is allergic to cats, Mai gifted Katara with a hunting dog to her sons’ delight. Katara has three sons by this time at 25. The eldest and firebending heir Lu Ten who is 7 years old and 5 year old twins Kenji-a non bender, and Kaneo (Kah-Neh-Yo), a water bender. The children named the dog Zhen Zhen (precious).

Katara purchased what looked like a black Persian from a souk at the outskirts of the Si Wong dessert. Mai was so ecstatic that she squealed with joy when she removed the soft tarp to discover the golden eyed Persian temporarily housed within the gilded cage. She ironically named the cat Yuki (Snow) and hardly left her arm.

At one point, both women were pregnant at the same time. Katara’s fourth child to Mai’s first. Katara turned out to be carrying a baby girl she named Kya (who turns out to be another firebender). She was helping Mai in one of her terrible morning sickness which earned her the honor of being the godmother to Princess Shui (Shway) whose name means ‘water’ out of her gratitude (love) for Katara.

When they’re in a royal family gathering with their young children, Katara would dote on Shui while Mai would pour her love on Katara’s sons. She would make sure they keep their manners and give a listening ear to their mis-adventures. The boys’ stories would make Mai laugh so hard. Her favorite tales would be from Kaneo which turned out to be a little Sokka.

The only thing they didn’t do together yet was spar as there were memories they’d rather forget for fear of hurting the other. Mai was also very secretive of her techniques at first. Nevertheless, Katara gushes about Mai’s knife skills as a nonbender and Mai worships Katara’s ability to bloodbend. With Zuko’s encouragement, the two would practice their joust in a form of a dance. The queens even gave a surprise performance on King Kuei’s birthday which astonished the crowds.

Katara is openly vocal to Mai about Mai’s beauty, grace, and class. This in turn makes Mai smile when she gets compliments from Katara. The Earth Kingdom Palace staff noticed that Mai is shown to smile a lot more when Katara’s around. Katara’s wit, her nurturing personality, openness, and ability to please which Mai never felt with Jun was so endearing to her. Also, Mai is proud for having a badass lover that she never expected more than anything Katara is able to give. Mai knew from the beginning that Katara can only love Zuko and that was enough. The Earth King has his suspicions of what lies beneath but Zuko knows and is permissive of their relationship as long as Katara doesn’t neglect her duties. Mai even assists Katara on some of her tasks by being there for her to give her moral support on some of her charitable endeavors and would at times act as proxy if needed.

Mai even accompanied Katara to the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Water Tribe to oversee reconstruction projects sponsored by the Earth Kingdom. This was when Mai asked Katara why Zuko never asked to heal his facial scar. Katara replied that both of them decided not to. That Zuko has learned to live with it and that his scar helps him to recognize that he has come a long way. The scar in a way also makes him not to look like his father, as he says. Katara respected his wishes and and even supported Zuko because she sees his scar as a badge of honor for standing up to his tryant father and his father’s general. Katara also said that she got so used to the scar that she hardly even notices it anymore. What she can’t stand was, and asked Zuko not to repeat it again, was that wolf tail pony he used to sport when he was younger. Both Katara and Mai laughed and agreed that this wasn’t his best look. Mai’s visits to the colder regions only happened once as Katara understood that Mai couldn’t stand the cold.

They also worked as partners in bringing down their enemies-For the Earth Kingdom it was the Dai Li. For the Fire Nation it was The Red Lotus (after the New Ozai was disbanded following his father’s assassination in prison.) Zuko would help from time to time and they would all work disguised as ‘The Blue Spirit’, ‘The Painted Lady’ and ‘The Blade Queen’, also pegged as ‘the Dark Triad’.

In the span of seven years that they were together, they were lovers only on very rare moons and would spend a three way liaison only three times. One time on each of their birthdays. They all would plan ahead to meet a few days shy or a week after so nobody can put two and two together.

In every ‘session’, either between Katara and Mae, or all three of them, they have to be extremely cautious to avoid even a whiff of tongue wagging. They would form elaborate plans to meet from sending coded messages, stealthily snucking out of the palace dressed as regular folk, to renting barely furnished inns. This didn’t hamper their duties to their nation or to their families as this was rarely done. When they do meet on normal circumstances, they would act like the best of friends that they are.

On very rare instances of a three way, it was always Katara who calls the shots. The first time was a surprise for Zuko’s birthday. Despite having Mai there to enjoy them both, Zuko only made love to Katara that night as the risk of also impregnating the Earth Kingdom queen may start another war. The second time was on Katara’s birthday two years later. Katara relented to Mae serving Zuko but he still made love only to Katara that day. However on Mai’s 33rd birthday, Katara offered her husband to please Mai to Zuko’s reluctance. The feeling of compersion from all three of them was so immense (For Katara to give Mae the pleasure of what her husband gives her, for Katara to give Zuko the experience of an exciting and dangerous interlude, and for Mae and Zuko to satisfy Katara on her whimsical fantasy), that Katara even encouraged Zuko to sire a child with Mai likely as an effect of post coital passion. Both Zuko and Mai were relieved that Mai had her period two weeks after. Both of them swore never to indulge Katara in her whims as it is not worth it for them to risk their kingdom and reputation so the triad tryst never happened again. As a sign of mea culpa, Zuko and Katara gifted Mai with a promise ring of friendship on her birthday party held at the grand hall of the earth kingdom palace.

Still the gossips were bound to form, some wildly exaggerated than others (as if the actual events were not already wild in itself) but was never confirmed by any of them, nor were they discovered. But some stories cannot be kept hidden and will be revealed in its own time. Even Sokka and Suki dropped hints to which the three of them just ignored (or avoided).

None of the nobles on any kingdoms dare ask about their close-knit friendship for fear that they may share the same fate of the unfortunate nobleman more than a decade ago.

[gemgirl28]

A prompt:

An AU where Katara has severe prosopagnosia (face blindness)

It's incredibly frustrating because she can't recognize her own family members and has to use other little markers to help identify them.

And then one day, Katara enters the recently opened tea shop and the tea server's face is so wonderfully distinctive.

She can't help but stare...but not for the reasons Zuko might think.

Hello anon! Thanks for the prompt!

Not gonna lie, I've SUPER struggled with this because I, like my father, have a memory for faces. Names? No. Faces? Haunt me. So this might be a bit rough.

Katara didn't understand why she couldn't remember faces, but from the time she was a young child, she struggled to remember the face of anyone she met. She spilled enough frustrated tears to drown Ba Sing Se over the course of her short life.

Once they realized what was wrong, Hakoda and Kya did everything they could to work with Katara. It's why her father started keeping his braids in the same place, on the sides of his face. It helped that Kya already wore the same necklace everyday. Hakoda made Sokka a whalebone necklace, so she could recognize him, too.

When they met Aang, it was easy to remember his tattoos. Toph was identifiable by the headband she wore that didn't keep her bangs from falling in her face. That, and the distinct layer of dirt she kept over her skin.

So when Katara walked into a new tea shop in the Upper Ring, she never expected to recognize someone.

But the second she laid eyes on him, she was overwhelmed with the feeling that she knew who he was.

She just couldn't remember how they knew each other.

The tea server looked nervous as he approached her table. His eyes kept darting between her and Momo, his hands wringing on the notepad.

Katara studied his face, willing any memory to remind her who he was. His gold eyes, still shifting about, looked warm. His skin was pale and his complexion clear, except for the angry scar over his eye. Katara felt herself frowning. Whoever he was, he'd been through a lot of pain.

"Good afternoon," said, drawing her from her study of him. "Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon. What can I get for you today?"

Katara tilted her head, trying in vain once more to recall who he was. "I'm sorry, but I can't help but feel like we know each other," she said.

He blinked, stunned by her statement. "You... you don't recognize me?"

Katara shook her head. "I'm sorry, it's a- a curse I have, I can't remember faces. Yours feels so familiar, but I can't place it."

He stood very still, as if frozen from the inside out, an awkward tension growing between them. Finally he said, "We did know each other."

"Did?"

He nodded. "Back when I was- when I was chasing after something I shouldn't have been. But I'm different now. I've changed. I'm trying to be better for my uncle."

Katara smiled warmly. "What's your name?"

"Lee."

"Well, Lee, I think I'd like a cup of jasmine tea." He nodded, jotting down her order. "And- and if it's ok, I'd like to try and get to know who you are now."

His eyes widened, a small blush dusting his unmarred cheek. After a moment he cleared his throat, ducking his head but she thought she saw a smile forming on his lips.

"I'd like that," he whispered. Meeting her gaze, his eyes were burning. "I'll get your order right in."

Katara grinned at him. "Thank you, Lee."

#atla #zutara #zuko x katara #zutara ficlet #I hope you enjoy anon! #thanks for the prompt #anon ask

[demaparbat-hp]

And I can scarce believe what I'm believing in

Could this be how every day begins?

—Hozier, First Light

#atla #zuko #katara #zutara #avatar the last airbender #atla art #atla fanart #atla zuko #zuko art #zuko fanart #zuko x katara #atla katara #katara art #katara fanart #prince zuko #katara of the southern water tribe #Zuko as Lee #lee from the tea shop #Kya from the tea shop #ba sing se #Oh look! #It's the AU I promised you!!! #Lee and Kya From The Tea Shop #Lee and Kya From The Tea Shop AU #Katara as Kya #avatar #zutara art #zutara fanart #Short hair zutara is something I never knew I needed until this #The sheer badassery omg

[julchenawesome]

Encanto AU but in ATLA: Bumi is like Mirabel.

(Yep. I think I'm not the first one to think that the plot of Encanto would fit in the Gaang Family)

Like the title said, Bumi is Mirabel, because both of them had no bending/gift.

It would be when Bumi is young, still the oldest bro.

Aang and Abuela had some things in common, because both lose important people in a traumatic event, and both the world/village trust that they can resolve their problems and put what the people's need first of theirself. But, when Bumi didn't show any talent on bending, he feels worried. When Kya is born and grow up to be a waterbender, and then Tenzin...well, he focus in this two, specially Tenzin and the duties they had as the last airbenders.

Katara and Julieta are both healers, and in the AU Katara would try to make Bumi feel that he is part of the family even if he doesn't had a bending.

Kya and Tenzin are like Luisa and Isabela. Kya feels the pressure of help everybody for her waterbending (but still close to Bumi). Tenzin is the "perfect golden child", and with Bumi had a hard relationship. Aang would love that Tenzin and Lin would be a couple, and their "love story" is more like an arranged marriage since their childhood.

Pepa and Felix: I would said it, are Zuko and Sokka. Just because I imagine Zuko trying to be the FireLord and not showing clearly emotions and had to act like he is so calm, and not stressed. And Sokka, well, he is close to Bumi, and after getting married with the FireLord, is the person who accepts Zuko with his awkwardness. They had their daughter (thanks Mai), a shy Izumi, who is so invisible in her ways and after learning the abilities from Piandao and Papa Zuko (as the Blue Spirit), she hears everything about everyone. So, she is like Dolores.

But also Toph is like Dolores. Because she knows when someone is lying, and also she finds out about "that". She had Lin and Suyin, and is "close" to Suki. Suyin is a trouble child with her metalbending, a little bit mischievous, and Lin has the weight of being the future wife of Tenzin (Kya is in love with her, Toph knows that), but also wants to learn about kyoshi warrior's fight style.

And there is someone we didn't talk yet. It isn't Mai, neither Ty Lee. We are talking about SHH SHHH...

Wedon'ttalkaboutAzulaNoNoNoWE DON'T TALK ABOUT AZULA!

(A clue: she is with Iroh in House Arreste in his tea shop. Or is what the Gaang thinks she is)

Azula would not had visions, but follow Iroh in trip to the Spirit World (idk how they will do, but is Iroh...) and maybe she is less crazy. Maybe she cared about the child who is, in a certain way, as her brother. But with a better sense of humor.

So this is what I had in my mind. I want to draw and more things.

Just imagine the songs:

The Familia Madrigal---The Avatar's Family.

Waiting for a Miracle---Bumi singing about his wishes.

Surface Pressure---Kya/Lin being honest about herself.

We Don't Talk about Bruno---We don't talk about Azula, with Zukka(PepaxFelix), Suyin(Camilo), Tenzin(Isabela), Kya and Izumi(Dolores), and obviously Bumi.

What else can I do?----It would be with Tenzin, but...i think it would fit with Lin. (I almost forgot this song xd )

All of you---The entire Gaang and family.

That's the post :)

Tell me what you think about it.

#atla #avatar au #atla au #bumi ii #tenzin #kya ii #aang #katara #sokka #zuko #toph #suki #lin beifong #suyin beifong #izumi avatar #encanto au #au #kataang #tenzin x lin #kya x lin #zukka #toph x suki #please #Bumi is Mirabel in atlaverse

[burst-of-iridescent]

I ALSO LOVE AMBASSADOR KATARA AND FIRELORD ZUKO FICS SO MUCH. i’ve read so much fics about zutara to the point i’ve felt burnt out but your post makes me obsessed all over again 😭 i’ve also read too many fics of the same premise!! do you have any other hcs of them??? it could be married or family life too!!

hi anon! (i think you're the same one who sent me the first ask before so if you are, hi again! hope you're doing well :) i'm glad my post rekindled your zutara obsession but just remember that it's perfectly okay to take some time away from zk and fandom if you need to! it doesn't mean you love them any less, you just need a break for a little bit to refresh yourself. burnout is no fun for anyone!

i always like to go for modern zutara fics if i'm getting a little overwhelmed, because it feels so light and easy. nothing like reading about two fools falling in love in a tea shop to rejuvenate the heart <3

i've already talked a bit about my other zk headcanons here but i literally never shut up about them so if you want married/family zutara, i'm more than happy to deliver:

- when they get married, they agree to dress in red and blue for their respective nations, but secretly plan to surprise the other by turning up in their color. katara gets a dress in beautiful crimson and accented silver and zuko gets robes of sea blue with gold edges, and when they finally see each other on their wedding day all they can do for a full second is stare in awe. when the astonishment wears off, they're instantly in each other's arms, somewhere between smiling and crying and whispers of you didn't have to - / i wanted to.

- speaking of their wedding day, neither of them stop smiling through all of it. sokka and toph eventually vow to stop looking at either of their faces because it's far too disgusting (sparky, i can literally feel your lovesick grin all the way over here)

- katara starts a number of healthcare and education initiatives in the fire nation. she establishes the first waterbending school, and soon expands to schools of all the bending disciplines. together, she and zuko also begin mixed-bending schools, where students from any background can study bending techniques from all four nations. it's from this initiative that the idea of republic city first originates

- the entire gaang makes it a point to meet at ember island at least once a year. it's during one of these reunions, four years after they begin dating, that zuko proposes to katara on the beach where he first gained her forgiveness

- zuko doesn't propose with a different betrothal necklace. i don't think he would ever want her to take hers off, so he either gets her a second pendant to attach below her mother's, or goes with something altogether different (i kinda like the thought of matching armbands or daggers)

- the turtleduck pond becomes their go-to place after a long day. they both plop down on the grass and feed the turtleducks, and it usually ends up with one of them having their head in the other's lap

- one of their first priorities is the orphanages in the capital, severely overwhelmed and under-funded after the hundreds of fathers and mothers lost to the war. the fire lord and lady come to know every child there by name, and the royal palace is always open to them when they need it. the long, empty hallways ring with the sound of laughter and so it happens that, long before they ever have their biological children, zuko and katara become parents

- zuko loves doing izumi and kya’s hair. they alternate between fire nation and water tribe hairstyles and he asks katara to teach him swt styles so he can make sure to do their hair loopies just the way they like them. it soon becomes a common occurrence to see the fire lord with one of his daughters in his lap during a meeting, braiding while he talks 

- zuko is afraid that his children might see him as a monster because of his scar. he ends up crying in katara’s arms the day kya fits her tiny palm to her father’s cheek, the way her mother did all those years ago, and calls him pretty. when their parents finally sit them down to tell them the truth behind the scar, the entire family ends up squeezed in one another’s arms on the floor

- the day izumi first bends blue fire, zuko and katara don't sleep all night. their dreams are haunted with manic laughter and broken screams, and as much as they know sweet, happy izumi, loved all her life and raised in peace, will never be driven to where azula was - they can't help but worry. katara's fingers trace the scar on zuko’s chest until dawn

- they train their children together, teaching them both firebending and waterbending forms to adapt to their own disciplines. neither of them are prepared when izumi finally asks about lightning and it's azula, of all people - a softer, healthier azula, fiercely protective of her nieces - who helps. it's the day izumi asks her for a demonstration that princess azula bends lightning for the first time since the agni kai

- their third child is a surprise, coming nearly seven years after izumi and kya. iroh turns out to be a non-bender, but after extensive training with the blue spirit, aunt mai, aunt ty lee, aunt suki and uncle sokka, he can't be anything less than lethal - even more so than his sisters. his parents often thank the spirits that he inherited his namesake's even temper and jovial nature

- it becomes rumored that the fire lord and fire lady are blessed by the spirits. what other explanation could there be, after all, for the multiple sightings of the blue spirit and painted lady in various villages and towns across the fire nation, always coinciding with royal visits? (the avatar strongly agrees, having claimed to converse with said spirits themselves)

- when zuko and katara retire it is with one of the most successful reigns in fire nation history, having established the golden era of peace and love zuko promised in his very first speech as fire lord. they leave behind a legacy as the most beloved fire lord and fire lady in hundreds of years

#zutara #zutara headcanons #zutara asks

[zukkas]

sapphic-asami's fic masterlist

zukka:

still not katara - rated T - complete

Sokka meant to call Katara to get him out of this horrible blind date she'd set him up on, but he accidentally dialled the wrong number. And then it happened again. Also, there's this really hot guy at this tea shop.

body talk - rated T - complete

Zuko noticed it. Noticed the way Sokka was distancing himself. He was nodding to what Zuko was saying, but his eyes betrayed that he wasn’t actually listening to what Zuko was saying, Sokka’s gaze lingering somewhere on the wall rather than in Zuko’s eyes, the love that was once in them replaced with something Zuko couldn’t quite decipher. It wasn’t hatred, it just seemed to be… indifference. He wasn’t exactly sure which was worse.

two kisses - rated T - in progress

Zuko couldn’t say that he was surprised by Ozai’s reaction to him coming out. He had expected him to not approve, he knew how he felt about gay people and the LGBT community overall, but he thought it might at least make him feel a bit less scared to be around him. It didn’t.

So Zuko’s mouth opened before he could actually think about what he was going to say.

“Actually, I have a boyfriend.”

Zuko did not, in fact, have a boyfriend.

or, Zuko has to scramble to find someone willing to be his boyfriend for his dad's birthday party. Thank God for Mai and her weird internet habits.

chapters: 1 // 2

korrasami:

why i think glass doors are dangerous, a thread - rated T - complete

Korra wasn't having a great morning, which culminated in her walking into a glass door. She made a seemingly inconsequential tweet about it, but it ended up garnering some attention when Asami Sato, whom Korra definitely didn't have a crush on, quote tweeted it. Maybe the morning wasn't quite as bad as she'd initially thought.

distracted - rated G - complete

Asami is being a workaholic. Enter Korra, caring girlfriend, here to help take her mind off work for a while.

bakoda:

hold me close - rated T - complete

But the most challenging part of his time in the abbey had been, without a shadow of a doubt, being separated from Hakoda. Hakoda, his best friend for as long as Bato can remember, the Chief of The Southern Water Tribe, the bravest warrior he’d ever known, and the man he’d been in love with probably since they were both mischievous teenagers. He’d only come to this realisation during their separation, but the feeling had always been there. He’d merely buried it deep down, imperceptible even to himself. He’d always felt quite odd about his initial aversion to Kya and Hakoda’s relationship, but now he finally understood why. And while it was quite relieving to finally be able to put a name to those feelings, just that name, that word, was overwhelming in itself. Love.

#my fics #fic masterlist #zukka #korrasami #bakoda #atla #tlok

[gimmezutara]

Drabble that came to me earlier when reading hc’s about the steam babies:

Kya whirled around the kitchen grabbing various tea leaves. She expertly arranged the tray and swept past the counter to serve another customer.

She loved working at her Grandpa’s tea shop. It was refreshing and so different from the palace she was used to spending her days in. This place was absolutely bustling with activity and here she had more freedom than she ever did back in the Fire Nation. Here, she wasn’t Kya, Crown Princess of the Fire Nation, she could just be… Kya.

Iroh smiled as he watched her work. He loved the summers he got to spend with his granddaughter. She was always so keen to help out and was a ray of sunshine to his days.

She rushed past him again pulling a funny face and Iroh laughed.

She put her dirty tray down and bumped into Ran at the sink. “Hey, watch it Ky!” he complained as the bump knocked his arm straight into the sink.

“Are you a waterbender or aren’t you?” she teased, reaching for her notepad and pen.

“Yeah, but doesn’t mean I like being soaked,” he replied sulkily. “How come you get to serve and I’m stuck doing the washing up?”

“Wanna swap? There’s plenty of people who’d love to chat with the Prince of the Fire Nation out there,” she said, offering the pen and notebook with a knowing smile.

Ran rolled his eyes and tipped his head back with a weary sigh. “Why did Mum and Dad send us to work here again? You know I could’ve been at Ember Island with Shomo and Raoko right?”

“Doing really productive things I’m sure,” Kya said sarcastically.

Ran huffed, his fringe flying away from his face as he went back to his reluctant cleaning.

Kya bent under the counter to pick up a dish rag.

“Excuse me?” came a voice from above.

“Just a second,” she said, before she tossed the rag back in the sink behind her (feeling satisfied at the groan from her brother) and turned back to see the most gorgeous face she had ever seen in her life. She didn’t know eyes could be that green! He must be an earthbender, surely.

She suddenly realised she’d been gawping at him completely silent.

“Uh, what can I do for you?” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear and tugging the ends nervously, a habit she seemed to have picked up from her mother.

“Can I get a ginger tea please?” he asked.

“Oh yeah sure!” she said a tad too loudly. “You sit down and I’ll be right with you!”

She hastily made her way to the kitchen to make the tea, knocking the whole pot over in the process. “Shit…” she muttered to herself.

“Are you alright, Kya?”

She jumped at Iroh’s voice. “Yep, absolutely fine!” she said a little too quickly.

She prepped the tray, steeled herself and made her way out into the seated area. She caught his eyes and felt herself smile. Then she tripped over the green rug in the middle of the floor. With lightning reflexes she managed to right herself just as a tan hand appeared to steady the tray. “Are you ok?” the boy asked.

Kya’s eyes widened. She laughed awkwardly. “I’m fine, just fine,” she said, feeling the tips of her ears burn with a blush as she took the tray from his hands and placed it on the table. “Sorry, I spilled your tea a bit,” she said, “I can get you another-”

“No no, it’s alright,” the boy said with a kind smile.

“Ok, um, great,” Kya said. She nodded her head at him and made her way back to the kitchen as fast as possible.

***

The next few days the boy returned every day. One afternoon Kya was leaning on the countertop lost in her imagination.

Iroh watched from his usual seat. He followed her gaze to the handsome Earth Kingdom boy sitting by the window and chuckled to himself.

He rose from his seat and joined his granddaughter at the counter. “It appears we have a new regular!” he said.

Kya was startled from her daydreaming. “Oh, uh, yes. I mean… who?”

Iroh gestured. “He is a handsome boy is he not?”

Kya blushed. “I… wouldn’t know. I guess,” she said, winning the award for worst nonchalant answer in the world.

“Shame he always sits by himself,” Iroh said. “I would have thought he would have a girlfriend.”

“Do you think he does?” Kya asked a little too quickly.

Iroh laughed to himself but kept his features neutral. “I shouldn’t think so,” he said.

Kya’s face melted with relief. “Ok. That’s good. I mean… that’s fine. Why would I care?”

They stood in silence for a while. “I’ll take over for a while my dear, you could do with a rest,” Iroh said. “Why don’t you go and accompany our new patron?”

“What?” Kya said, instinctively clutching the notebook and pen to her. “No no no, I couldn’t do that, I couldn’t possibly-”

“Make polite conversation with our new, generous customer?”

Kya paused, stumped for a response. “Uh- no-”

“Great! You have a rest,” Iroh said, taking the notebook and pen from her gently but firmly and shooing her away from the counter.

Kya stood frozen, wrestling with herself for a bit.

She turned to face the table. She sighed and drew herself up straighter and made her way over.

“Uh, hi,” she said. The boy looked up at her and smiled.

“Hi,” he said.

“It’s- uh- nice to see you again. Here. You’re a- um- good customer,” she said. Her brain screamed at her.

The boys lips quirked up into an unfairly gorgeous smile. “Uh, thanks,” he said. “Are you… still working?”

“Me? Oh, um, my Gra….boss just said- it-it’s my break,” she managed.

The boys face lit up. “Oh well, please feel free to join me,” he said, gesturing to the chair opposite.

“Ok, thanks,” she said, managing to get through at least one sentence without stumbling over her words. Short as it was, she’d count it as a victory.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before,” the boy said.

“Oh yeah, I’m just here for the summer,” she replied.

“Where are you from?” he asked.

“The Fire Nation,” she said.

“Ah, I thought so. I mean, I didn’t want to assume, but-”

“Golden eyes gave it away huh?” she said. It was a pretty dead giveaway, even if her lightly tan skin and curly hair gave away her Water Tribe heritage.

The boy nodded, smiling a bit sheepishly. “Firebender?” he asked.

She nodded. “Earthbender?” she asked.

He smiled and nodded too.

***

Kya readied herself for her night out.

“You tell anyone I went out, you’re dead,” she threatened her brother.

“Sheesh, calm down, I’m not telling on anyone,” he said from his position lying on the couch. “Just… be careful Kya ok?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “I’ll be fine,” she said.

“Oh and you better not bring him back here, ok? I’m not sharing an apartment with you and your new lover.”

She threw a pillow at him. “Same to you and your new fancy lady!” she retorted.

Ran’s face fell. “I- what?”

“Don’t think I didn’t notice you sneaking out last week!”

“I didn’t- she’s not-” Ran began before his face fell into a scowl and he growled in frustration. “Real nice, blackmail from the future Fire Lady, that’s comforting.”

“Shut up,” she retorted with a smile. She took one last glance in the mirror before she set off.

***

Later that night she crept back into the tea shop, a soft flame burning in her palm to light the way. She could hear her brother’s loud snores from outside the room. She carefully put her pack on the side and went to grab some water from the sink.

Suddenly a loud snore from the sofa made her jump and almost drop the cup. She quickly caught it and snapped her head round. She silently made her way to the sofa and peeked her head over it.

Iroh was fast asleep on the couch.

She breathed a sigh of relief and carefully crept back to the kitchen, putting the cup back in its place before quietly going back to her room.

The door closed with a soft click.

The snoring from the sofa ceased and Iroh carefully lifted his head to glance around the room. Then he chuckled to himself.

***

“Ah, you are both here!” Iroh said, greeting the Fire Lord and Lady enthusiastically. “We have had the most wonderful time! Ran’s been working hard in my shop and Kya has been wonderful as always. She’s even made some new friends,” he said. He glanced over at Katara with a twinkle in his eye.

Katara caught his look. She knew that look. Her gaze flicked over to her husband who, as usual, hadn’t noticed his Uncle’s tell tale signs of having some juicy gossip.

“Sit down, you must tell me all about your trip over,” Iroh said, shooing them into seats around the table.

Just then the door opened and Kya walked through, lost in a world of her own.

“Kya!” Zuko said excitedly. Kya jumped, startled at the sudden presence of her parents.

“Dad! Hi!” she said, her startled face melting into a smile.

“How’s my little sunbeam?” Zuko asked, coming over to give her a hug.

“Great, Dad,” Kya said as he squeezed her tight. She made her way over to Katara giving her a hug too.

“Had fun with Grandpa?” Zuko asked.

Kya beamed. “Of course! I actually said I’d look after the kitchen this morning though so…” she said, backing towards the door.

Zuko smiled. “Of course, I’ll come and help get heaters going.”

“Dad, I’m a firebender, you haven’t had to help me with that since I was like three,” she complained.

“Let your Dad be of assistance if he wants,” Katara said, with a patronising pat on Zuko’s shoulder. He arched an eyebrow at her and she nudged him playfully before turning back to his daughter.

Katara eyed Iroh suspiciously over the rim of her cup as Zuko and Kya left the room. Iroh’s face was impassive, as always, but Katara knew he was dying to tell her something.

“Iroh…” she said.

“Yes?” he asked.

“What do you know?”

Iroh looked around conspiratorially and leaned in. “Kya’s got a boyfriend,” he said excitedly.

Katara laughed. “Who?” she asked.

“There’s a handsome boy who comes to the tea shop, you should see her, she’s been daydreaming about him all day every day since she first laid eyes on him!”

“Oh spirits,” Katara said in mock despair.

“Reminds me of a Water Tribe girl I once had working here who could barely make the right orders because she was too distracted by the other server.”

Katara’s face suddenly became amusingly affronted. “I did not make the wrong orders! And I was not ogling Zuko!” she said.

Iroh laughed. “I believe I said ‘distracted’, my dear,” he said.

Katara blushed, as if the idea of being attracted to her husband of twenty years was still embarrassing, making Iroh laugh even more.

“What’s this boy like?” Katara said, a hint of concern in her voice. She knew her daughter could handle herself but she was all too familiar with how vulnerable feelings for someone could make you, and how much it could hurt when it didn’t go well.

“He’s very kind,” Iroh said reassuringly. “You know the day she met him she tripped over, spilled his tea everywhere!”

Katara laughed. “Oh spirits, I’d hoped she wouldn’t take after her father in this respect…”

Iroh laughed too.

Zuko walked back in and the two quickly fell quiet and went back to sipping their tea.

Zuko paused by the table. He regarded them both suspiciously.

“What did I miss?” he said, his tone heavy with suspicion.

“Nothing, my son,” Iroh said dismissively. “I was just telling Lady Katara here that it is important to spice up a marriage after such a long time together.”

Katara choked on her tea.

#Zutara #steambabies #grandpa iroh