#may i offer you this zutara kiss | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

empressofthesunslittlecorner · 20 days

Text

Let's talk about Zutara

WARNING NOT KATAANG AND MAIKO FRIENDLY

CONTINUE WITH PRECAUTION

I thought I should finally use this second blog of mine for the reason I made it.

To scream into the void and find mutals.

So let's talk about one Ship which people to this day fight over.

The fanon ship (at it pains me to write this) made out of Zuko and Katara from Avatar the Last Airbender aka. Zutara.

I read a lot of analyses, arguments and so on about this ship.

It probably all has been said about Zutara, but since I'm writing an AangXOC story which will include Zutara, I felt like I should give my stance on it.

Back when Avatar first aired in the country I lived in the time I was like 11-12 years old.

I had an instant crush on Aang since he was so funny, kind and gentle.

I never saw Aang's crush on Katara as a problem, because it always seemed to me, till season 3, that Katara was just motherly to Aang.

Giving a friend a cheek kiss in thanks doesn't automatically mean that you like-like them.

At this time I only really shipped Sokka and Yue and cried my eyes out how it ended.

And then the famous scene from book 2 in the crystal catacombs under Ba Sing Se happened.

Short recap, in that season Zuko goes through a lot of chances and I root for, wishing him the best.

Now back to the scene, I said.

The scene turned me into a Zutara shipper in one instant.

Zuko and Katara opening up to each other, sharing their traumas and feelings about the Fire Nation, Katara offering to heal his scare...it was poetic cinema.

I was shivering all over and was like kiss, kiss, kiss!

Let's not forget that before this scene I didn't even see them as a potential couple...but this scene, this beautiful moment they shared with each other, opened my eyes.

I was like, yeah this is it, this is something one should want from a partner. Mutual understanding.

Then Zuko decided to betray Katara for a chance to go home and I cried right there with our favourite waterbender.

I felt also betrayed.

The scene they shared made me feel things, which I experienced as a young girl for the first time, I felt the connection between Zuko and Katara like it was my own.

I was Katara at this moment and couldn't believe that the boy who opened up to me, who understood what it was like to have their mother taken away from the Fire Nation, who said that he wanted to change, that he turned his back on me.

Didn't I/Katara mean nothing to him?

Didn't he feel how special our/their moment was?

I was devasted.

When Zuko then joined the Gaang in the middle of season 3 I could understand Katara's anger towards him.

Katara and I trusted him first and he betrayed our trust.

We had a right to be angry.

As the Southern Raiders came on, as I saw how flawlessly they worked as a team, I felt my own heart heal.

I swerve to this day, that I thought they would kiss at the end of the episode, but we got a hug.

However, this hug, made me feel all giddy and mushy inside.

I felt it was something special.

Maybe even more than a kiss.

It was a huge of forgiveness and the start of a new bond.

And then the last episode comes on.

Zuko sacrificed himself to save Katara from Azula lighting, she healed him then...I thought, yes this is it, now comes the kiss...but nothing.

Then suddenly Zuko is back together with Mai and I was like WTF?!

And Aang and Katara share this really intense kiss at the end.

I was literally like:

youtube

It came out of nowhere for me.

That Aang wasn't over his crush on Katara we all know, but when did Katara decide she liked Aang?

When did this realisation happen, when in the Ember Island Player, which was like a few days before Sozin's Comet Katara made clear that she didn't want to have a romance or get kissed by Aang, which he didn't respect.

Did he ever actually apologise for the unwanted kiss? I don't think so.

Remember I had a crush on Aang, but through the seasons I became a Zutara Shipper and literally felt all their moments like they were my own.

I was Katara and Aang wasn't on my radar anymore.

I really doubted my interpretation skill, did all these lovely, mushy, heartful moments have been really romantic or did I project?

I felt like Zuko and Katara had broken up with me.

Yeah, so much inpact had their "friendly" moments at me!

To this day, the hug Katara and Zuko shared on the Southern Raiders is one of the most lovely moments of any of my ships.

Not even kissing made me feel, what this hug made me feel.

Think about how powerful this is!

If Zutara had kissed, I would have probably passed out or cried like a baby in happiness.

I don't know and I will never know since it's a fanon ship.

Uurgh.

Anyway, years passed and as I mention before I read a lot of analysis and so on.

What shocked me most was that Byrke originally planned to have Zuko and Katara together but then changed their minds.

It did reassure me, how I wasn't imagining things between them, however reading then how the Souther Raider Episode changed a lot of times because Bryke found it too shippy, tells you a lot.

They wanted to make Kataang canon and better, than the natural flow Zutara had going on.

I want to repeat again, a HUG was MORE ROMANTIC and INTENSE than the crappy kiss Kataang shared.

Like what?!

How is this possible?

Well, yeah, if you don't force things and actually make people interact in a wholesome way it can be.

Zuko and Katara felt never forced because they just clicked. They were different, but the same in many things, that it was so natural to understand the other.

Aang and Katara felt always more like a mother-and-son duo, than real lovers.

And Maiko was kinda lame too.

Sorry.

I have this theory they just wanted to pair Zuko with a Fire Nation girl and be done with it.

I don't know why they chose Mai when it could have been worked with Ty Lee too, if it was only to pair Zuko with someone who doesn't understand him or doesn't want to try.

Excuse me, maybe Ty Lee would have been better since she seemed to care for her friends, in contrast to Mai who just tried her hardest to be goth and hate everything.

Sorry.

What I'm trying to say with this rant?

I think, as someone who had liked Aang and then felt more connected to Zuko and Katara, I can clearly say that if Katara had been a real girl and not a fictional character controlled by men, she would be together with Zuko.

Why would I/Katara choose someone who I need to mother, who is younger than me, who can't relate to me, if there is an older handsome boy who is kinda dorky and awkward and tries his best, understands my feelings and helps me to parent the Gaang?

Yeah, no, Katara would have smooched Zuko if she had been a real girl.

Now, who of you who knows me, can say, but Empress some of your OCs are older than their canon partner, how can you say that Kataang can't work if you do this in your stories?!

I want to make clear I don't have general a problem if the girl is older than the guy or taller.

It's just that their supposed age gap is when they are together makes it creepy.

Look at an example.

My parents have a three-year age gap.

Nothing much.

They are both in their 60, mid 60, so it's not weird.

They are in the same mature stage in life and understand the struggles of the other.

Now think if my parents meet at 12 and 15.

My dad is the older one.

Are you going to say with a straight face that it wouldn't have been creepy if my parents started to date at this age?

What does a teenager want with a pre-puperty child?

Also, they live in completely different worlds, how can they relate to each other?

The same goes for Katara and Aang, what does a 14-year-old want from a 12-year-old?

I bet if it was the other way around, we would all give Aang shit for preying on a 12-year-old girl.

The gender shouldn't decide if we find a couple creepy or not, even if it's so sadly.

What I want to say, Kataang would have worked better if let's say season 3 ended with no pairing, just all being friends and happy and then in the comics when they age, when Katara is 22 and Aang is 20 they got together.

They would have matured, been on the same level, probably dated other people and had experience.

It would have been okay.

Even if I still think Zutara is superior in anything.

Anyway, I hope I could explain myself and no hate to the canon ships and their shippers.

Ship and let ship.

I just wanted to explain my reason why I will be always a Zutara Shipper and don't reconsider the ending of Avatar as the end and Legend of Korra.

I will forever be Team-Season-Four-Where-Aang-Finds-Hiding-Airbenders-And-Falls-in-Love-With-A-Airbender Girl-His-Age-And-Zuko-And-Katara-Marry-Eachother-And-Katara-Becomes-The-Most-Beloved-And-Badass-Fire Lady-In-History!

And they find also Zuko mom ^^

So for now this is it for me.

If you want my take on an Aang and OC story, where Zutara will be canon, go to my other Tumblr profile empressofthesunwriter and read Yin and Yang.

Here is the link to the Index

I wish you all a nice day/night!

Till next time!

#avatar the last airbender #atla #zutara #zutarian #zuko #prince zuko #atla zuko #katara #atla katara #atla zutara #zuko x katara #katara x zuko #Youtube #alta zutara

81 notes · View notes

quillthrillswriting · 1 month

Text

this one's for all the kataang shippers that got a little sad every time they saw absolute husband aang slander in a zutara fanfic.

OR: the common zutara trope of "zuko helps katara escape an unhealthy relationship with aang" is flipped entirely and completely on its head.

...

The liveliness of this mountaintop temple was nothing like the cold quiet that she had felt in Zuko’s castle these last few years. After she and her friends had saved the world, ending the Fire Lord’s reign, Katara had found herself at a crossroads. Although it made the most sense, she couldn’t bring herself to return back home, to the Southern Water Tribe. The memories were… too much.

Sokka had extended an offer for her to join him at the Northern Water Tribe, where he planned to find a teacher to aid him in mastering the traditional non-bending fighting styles of their people, but Katara just couldn’t bring herself to go back there, either. Toph and Aang were both headed to reconstruct important cultural monuments destroyed during the war, including the Air temples. She had considered coming with them, she really had, but ultimately… she made a different choice.

...

So she had stayed with Zuko.

Through his breakup with Mai, she had been the one he came to.

Through his first year as the Fire Lord, she was at his side. Attended every meeting, talked through his ideas, dragged him out to social events when he felt so in over his head that he would sit paralyzed in his room. That closeness had turned into something else the first night that he had kissed her.

...

And after what felt like years of quiet complacency and mild agreement, Katara felt her temper awaken, flicker. She calmed herself, reasoned that she didn’t know what he was doing with them. He could be checking for threats on her life, for poison sealed into an envelope. She held fast onto that tiny scrap of belief that he was still the man she had married, trusted, loved and been loved by.

Until that last thread of hope and trust was pulled taunt and then snapped entirely when Katara slipped into his office and found them.

There were entire drawers of letters with her name on them.

...

Her attention drifted to the bottom of the bag. To Aang's scrolls. The ones she still hadn’t let herself read.

...

Katara,

How’s the fire palace? Started any underground dance clubs yet? I guess they’d be pretty tricky to start right under the nose of the new Fire Lord. Is Zuko adjusting well? I’m a bit worried about the burden of dismantling an entire empire falling squarely on his shoulders. Do you think I should head back, stick around for some peacekeeping? Give me any reason to come to be with you help, and I will.

Yours, Aang.

...

(Fire Lady) Katara,

I heard by word of mouth from a few Fire Nation travellers that passed through the Western Air Temple that you and Zuko had gotten married. Congratulations are in order, of course, but… Sokka, Toph, your dad and I never got our invitations. Was it a Fire-Nation-only event, or something? Your dad is pretty broken up about it. Sokka and I tried to console him, but he’s fairly upset, and honestly? I’m worried about you, Katara. This doesn't seem like you. You don’t sound like yourself.

Yours, always, Aang

...

She selected a third scroll, dated only a month before.

Katara,

I can’t deny that I’m concerned about how you’re doing. Especially considering that the Katara I know would never shut down every single opportunity to see her friends. We don’t mean to be overbearing, but we love you. So much. If all the new duties that come with being wife to the Fire Lord are too much, please, please, talk to any of us. Talk to me. I care about you, Katara, I always have, and I miss my best friend.

Forever yours, Aang.

Katara slid the scroll closed before her tears could drop onto it, and she quietly packed the papers away. She reached up, rubbing those tears away furiously the way she did as a child whenever Sokka called her a crybaby. The attempt to hold the tsunami of emotion back was fruitless. She doubled over, shoulders shaking with sobs.

She knew where she would go once the cargo ship reached the land.

♥ the rest of the (completed) fic can be found here!! ->

youtube

42 notes · View notes

broadwaybalogna · 15 days

Text

Final Zutara ff I’ve written so far. If you have any prompts you’d like to read! Let me know!

[Zutara] oneshot! Modern AU in which Katara and Zuko are going to prom❤️

TW: body dysmorphia

Katara knew she was pretty.

The words of past friends and family stuck with her over the years. Gawks from people telling her how beautiful she is and how lucky her boyfriend must be.

Katara understood that she was objectively pretty.

So why didn’t she feel like it?

Katara looked at herself in the mirror. Her long dress fell to the ground around her shoes and she studied herself. The dress itself was flawless. It was a long burgundy dress with a long slit on her left leg. It was a one shoulder dress with that flared the dramatics once it reached her chest. The dress had a separate piece of fabric that ruffled and formed into an abstract rose shape.

Zuko had chosen it.

She sized herself up, adding some finishing touches to her hair that was in a loose bun. She looked at herself again and turned to her side.

She self-consciously held her open arm over her chest. Over the years she’s spent in high school, her chest hadn’t grown any more than a B cup. She held a piece of the dresses fabric in her hand and scrunched it. She hated doing this to herself, constantly criticizing her looks. But she couldn’t stop, the endless criticisms toward herself never seemed to end.

Her stomach seemed to bulge out of the dress. It wasn’t completely flat in the dress unless she sucked in her stomach and held it. That, however, was beyond exhausting. She stood straight in the mirror and looked forward again. The small curves in her body felt overemphasized in the dress. She hugged herself as she stared, unmoving.

A knock on her bedroom door finally unfroze her.

”Come on, perfectionist! We’re gonna be late!” Sokka yelled at her, only half joking.

”Got it,” Katara replied, rolling her eyes.

Katara picked at her hair again, messing with the few loose strands to make sure they were perfect. She grabbed her clutch that was laying on her bed before staring at herself in the mirror again. She let her head fall and rubbed the back of the neck (an anxious habit she had picked up over the years).

Another knock at her door.

”Sokka, Jesus, I’m-“ she was interrupted by the door opening to reveal Zuko.

He was wearing a fitted black suit with blue accents (she chose it for him). His hair wasn’t as messy as he usually left it, but it was still maintained. Katara couldn’t help but smile at his appearance.

”I thought you were waiting downstairs?” Katara questioned, feeling a bit more guilty about her tardiness than before.

”I wanted to see you before everyone else,” he spoke, walking up to her and giving her a quick kiss on the lips.

”Mmm-“ she pulled away, “lipstick”.

”Right,” he rolled his eyes. He lowered her head to press another kiss on the crown of her head. When Katara looked back up, Zuko’s face had contorted into a look of confusion.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

”Yeah, why?”

”The back of your neck is red,” he explained.

”Oh,” Katara distantly replied, slightly turning her head from him.

”What’s bothering you?” He led her to the foot of her bed where they both sat down. He took Katara’s hand in his own and she squeezed back.

”I don’t know. I guess I just…” she struggled to find the words to explain her feelings, “for lack of a better term, wish I liked my body more?” She offered an awkward smile. Although she phrased the statement as a question, Katara still felt tears begin to well up in her eyes.

Zuko nodded and let out a hum.

”I think there are parts of ourselves that we all fail to understand and accept,” he finally began after a long pause. “I mean, look at me. I have a huge scar on my face but you sit next to me and tell me how beautiful it makes me.”

”Well, your face would be boring without it.” Katara lightly joked.

”The same goes for you.” At this, Katara’s smile faded. “Whatever you may dislike about yourself, I know I love it more than you could imagine.”

Katara let out a sigh. “Yeah.”

”Seriously, Kat! I mean, I love women for their personalities more than their bodies one hundred percent, don’t forget that— but literally everything about you is beautiful in my eyes. I mean, it might actually be a problem how rose tinted my glasses are when looking at you.”

Katara laughed.

”We all have things we’re insecure about, yeah. But I think the opinions that matter most are those closest to us and can best shape us to love ourselves the most. If that even makes sense.”

”it was perfectly worded.”

”Good. Now, can I please share a kiss with you on the lips?”

Katara pretended to think for a moment before pressing her lips against his own.

”Oh my god, lovebirds, hurry up. He have a reservation!” Sokka called from downstairs Katara’s bedroom.

”Right, we’re going to prom,” Zuko smiled.

“Can’t we stay here instead?” Katara complained, only slightly serious.

”We could… but the tickets were eighty dollars,” he argued.

Katara smiled and stood up. Zuko followed suit and once again, took her hand in his.

”Ready?” He asked.

”As long as you are.”

#angst #atla katara #katara #zuko #atla zuko #zutara #oneshot #fanfiction #writing prompt

20 notes · View notes

kataraslove · 6 months

Text

let’s talk about live action and kataang because i see a lot of anti kataangs using the age gap between aang and katara’s actors to their leverage.

“if they go the kataang route, there can at most be an implied endgame.”

do anti kataang/zutara shippers not realize how much that argument works against them?

if they go an implied route, there will be no ember island players non-consensual kiss. they can no longer call aang a rapist/predator/etc because that scene will simply not exist.

same for the day of black sun kiss. they can no longer state that aang had sexually harassed katara because again, that kiss will not exist.

same for “baby, you’re my forever girl.” they can no longer refer to that scene as a male gaze fantasy (even though it’s not) because that scene will not canonically exist.

same with the ending of the fortuneteller. they can no longer make the claim that katara was under some fortunetelling spell (figuratively) to convince herself that aang would be the one that she’ll end up with.

personally i think the live action will keep scenes like the implied kiss in the cave of two lovers or the dance scene in the headband. aang’s internal conflict in the guru may be when he starts to realize that he cares about katara a little bit differently than he cares about the others.

the teaser trailer demonstrates that aang and katara’s relationship (platonic for now) will be central to the series, just as it was in the original. that’s why we get the shot of the two of them sitting side by side with each other and smiling together.

by the time that they get to books 2, 3, and maybe if they do a book 4 - aang’s actor would have already hit a growth spurt. he’ll be 17 around the time of book 3’s filming and will already be taller than katara. have you seen the kid now? he’s grown quite a bit since he’s done the filming of book 1.

if instead of getting scenes like the ember island players, we get more scenes of aang standing up to sexists for disrespecting katara (“if you won’t teach katara, then I won’t learn from you!”) aang and katara learning waterbending together, aang praising katara, katara and aang connecting together as genocide survivors - I fail to see how kataang shippers lose?

aren’t anti kataangs the ones who state that the ship is extremely sexist towards katara? that aang was possessive and territorial over her the entire time? that the romantic moments were either out of character on her end or one-sided on his? that they would at least support the ship if those moments were removed? but now, when there’s the possibility that those moments could be, suddenly it’s “there’s no way live action kataang will be canon and endgame.”

there’s an opportunity for kataang to be written in a way that antis might refer to as “organic,” an established or implied endgame that will take the course of several years to build, with an emphasis on their friendship first. romance will come much, much later, if it even happens. anti kataangs operate on the assumption that if we remove their romantic moments but keep the same writing as is, that no one will ship them. that everyone will interpret it as a platonic relationship (the way they believe it was meant to be).

which does not work in their favour for several reasons:

the moments in which they claim has fundamentally destroyed katara and aang from ever becoming romantic equals, will be removed. that’s right. get your eip metas out right now, because that scene won’t exist in a few years, baby!

in lieu of some of these moments, we could get more of an emphasis on moments that strengthen and enhance katara and aang’s dynamic, that offer the promise that they will be good partners someday.

assuming that aang’s crush and feelings on katara will be a gradual transition, the arguments of one-sidedness lessens.

by the time we get to the third season, aang will be taller than katara, in addition to having grown older. this feeds the fandom’s heteronormative obsession.

again, i fail to see how this is a negative thing for kataang, especially since it’s so early with nothing but a trailer to make predictions off of. so many of you are always complaining about how you want to see a version of aang and katara’s relationship that’s “organic, without the creepy romance, with an endgame that actually feels deserved.” now that we are possibly getting that version you want so dearly, you cry and preach that it’s the end of kataang shipping once and for all? going off of nothing but their noticeable height and age gap in book 1 (where romance doesn’t even happen)?

it becomes apparent more than ever that it’s never been a matter of kataang’s writing in the series or about katara deserving better, but the general existence of kataang that continues to unnerve you.

#kataang #atla netlix

48 notes · View notes

monsieur-kazzle-dazzle · 8 months

Note

For the Zutara prompt:

Riding a rollercoaster for the first time.

“Come on, Zuko, it’ll be fun!” she called after him, running towards the machine. He hesitated.

“I don’t know Katara, are you sure it's safe?” he eyed the strange contraption suspiciously. Katara rested a hand on his arm.

“Don’t feel any pressure to go. You can always wait here and watch our things if you really don’t want to go on it. But I’m sure it's safe, or they wouldn’t be allowed to put it up.” he opened his mouth to answer, when he was nearly knocked over by Aang and Sokka who were wasting no time getting in line.

“This’ll be just like Omashu!” They could hear Sokka exclaiming excitedly as they hurried to get a good seat. Toph sauntered up, making a show of looking between the two of them in mock curiosity.

“Sparky, don’t tell me you’re scared?” Zuko sighed.

“I’m not scared, I just-” Toph cut him off, lowering her voice to an oddly accurate imitation of his voice.

“Oh I forgot,” she rasped. “Dying on a whatchamacallit,”

“A rollercoaster?” Katara offered, quirking her lip in that way that always made him soften. Toph nodded.

“Yeah that thing.” She resumed her Zuko impression. “Dying on a rollercoaster has no honour! I must die with honour!”

“Very funny.” Zuko shook his head, smiling. “I’ll go on it, but we’re sitting as close to Aang as possible.” Katara chuckled slightly, squeezing the hand he’d slipped into hers. They began walking towards the coaster.

“Aren't you coming, Toph?” Katara asked, turning to see the younger girl kicking it back in what was practically a throne made of earth.

“Nah, are you crazy? I don’t wanna die! Even with my metalbending, I’m staying right here, where I can see.” Zuko facepalmed, and Katara laughed gently.

“C’mon guys! It's about to start!” Aang called from the front of the coaster where he and Sokka were sitting, eagerly awaiting the start of the ride. Grumbling loudly, Zuko allowed himself to be dragged by the hand to the last two available seats, right in the middle. As the ride began, Katara slipped her hand into his, and he squeezed it gratefully, scowling down at where Toph and Momo relaxed in identical stone thrones. The ride unexpectedly jolted into action, causing Zuko to let out an involuntary gasp. Katara giggled as the coaster began its climb.

“You’re adorable.” she laughed, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek. “If we fall, I have enough water to ice-slide us back down to the ground. And who knows? Maybe Toph would catch us.” She seemed to notice his worried face, and hastily added “Not that I think we’re going to fall. Listen, Zuko. I’m so sure this is safe that if we do fall or something goes wrong I’ll eat an entire pouch of your fire flakes. That's how sure I am.” Zuko laughed, clutching her hand even tighter as the roller coaster neared the top of the track.

“You and your weak little taste buds,” he teased, and she laughed.

“It's not my fault you hotheads over in the fire nation like to put so much spice in your food that smoke comes out of your ears!” she retorted, nudging him in the side. He opened his mouth to respond, when all of a sudden the coaster reached the top of the hill and began speeding up and down the track with what Zuko considered not enough regard to gravity. He swore, gripping Katara’s hand so hard he could hear the waterbender beside him gasp slightly. He loosened his grip, mumbling an apology as the ride began its slow ascent to the second and final loop of the ride. She squeezed his hand back, pressing another kiss to his cheek. “That bad?” she asked, peering over at him with a slightly guilty look in her eye. He shook his head.

“No, I think I may have overreacted slightly.” he admitted sheepishly. “It really isn't much different from riding Appa when he’s tired.” Katara laughed, and Zuko felt a familiar fluttering in his stomach, which was quickly replaced by a large swooping feeling as they hurtled down the track. Zuko forced himself to open his eyes, allowing himself to appreciate the view. The rest of the festivities in the surrounding town, Toph and Momo surrounded by small children, Sokka and Aang up at the front with their arms in the air, and finally, Katara beside him, her hair billowing behind them as she whooped. He enjoyed the second loop much better, once he’d gotten over his initial skepticism. That didn’t stop his legs from shaking as he stepped off the ride, or the rush of relief he felt as his feet made contact with the ground. “That was actually kind of fun.” he admitted to Katara as they made their way towards Toph and the small crowd she’d somehow drawn.

“Does that mean you wanna go again?” Katara laughed, as he shook his head firmly.

“Absolutely not. Never again.” Zuko chuckled, leaning down to steal a quick kiss.

#zutara #zuko #katara #zuko x katara #avatar the last airbender #atla #avatar #zutara fanfiction #rollercoaster #fanfiction #fanfics #fic #toph beifong #sokka #momo atla #aang #hope you enjoyed!

44 notes · View notes

heinzpilsner · 3 months

Text

I'm a zutarian megabrain now

Hey guys, do you remember how I said I found the answers to most of my questions in tSR?

Well, just now I finally put my finger on another fascinating problem with zutara in this episode! Yay!

Yes, I've been told I'm a terrifying person, thank you

Spoiler: Aang and Zuko are not so different after all. Surprise?

(It's not such bad news for zutara as a ship though! Just a thing to consider.)

The thing is, there are two separate planes in Zuko and Katara's relationship this episode highlights:

1) The similarity of their values, personalities, mutual gravitation (doesn't matter here romantic or platonic), mr. and mrs. smith synchronicity, etc.;

2) Zuko's bad (yes, bad) feeling of boundaries in his communication with Katara.

(I'm gonna prove it soon enough, don't worry).

And what I state here is that zutara works so well on the basis of point 1 it manages to work even in spite of the highly problematic point 2.

And that's where the potential problems in their relationship lie. Good news though is that Zuko, as well as Aang, can always grow as a person!

Not in a bryke canon though

(Aang can't really do much about his fundamental values and previous experiences though, so here lies Zuko's advantage. Hurray?)

Anyway, to finally prove my words, let's first look at Zuko's wording when he offers their revenge trip to Katara:

"I know who killed your mother and I'm going to help you find him".

What's wrong with this sentence from a purely communicative point of view?

It wasn't just "I know who killed your mother (end of the sentence, waiting for Katara's answer)". And while it may seem as a very minor, harmless thing, in reallity the difference is crucial.

Because it implies two things:

1) Zuko just assumes that finding Yon Rha (for whatever reason) is something what Katara wants. Without asking her first. Although all he knows about the situation right now is that a) Katara's mother was murdered by a Fire Nation soldier and b) Katara is still sad and angry because of it.

2) This trip is something what Zuko himself is definitely interested in though: either because he's desperate to make peace with Katara or because he cares about her (or because of his traumatic projections) - it doesn't really matter. What's important here is that so far he has no way of knowing if Katara wants the same, which applies to both assumptions:

- she wants to face her mother's murderer;

- she wants to make piece with Zuko.

Hence, he doesn't really see the difference between his own desires and Katara's desires, doesn't feel where his boundaries end and Katara's start. In a way, he sees her as a part of himself.

And while it may sound romantic to some weird people, in reality it could be a big problem.

Also, ironically enough, it's the exact same thing people keep roasting poor Aang for!

Meanwhile, on a fundamental level, Zuko's desperate attempt of reconciliation after Katara basically said she isn't really interested ("Well dude, we can make up if you resurrect my mum from the dead!" is not exactly an encouraging message at least in atla universe) is an analogue of Aang's intrusive kiss in the Ember Island Players.

Except... Zuko guessed Katara's true wishes correctly.

Aang didn't.

And it's not the only instance in tSR - Zuko keeps speaking on Katara's behalf in her presence first to Aang ("she needs this, it's about closure"), and then to an assumed murderer of Katara's mother during the episode. And it wouldn't be an okay thing to do even if he were her husband, let alone whatever is the status of their relationship now!

The only reason Katara is okay with this is because her boundaries are ridiculously open for him at this point - she let him in so closely that she also sees him as a part of herself now.

It's not a thing to celebrate though, fellow zutarians: the moment their illusory unity would be broken by the first serious difference would feel like another betrayal for her (Or at least that's what my life experience tells me).

So, basically, Zuko just got lucky in his interactions with Katara in tSR.

He was lucky he understands Katara's pain and values so well.

He was lucky they have a similar moral code.

He was lucky Katara didn't really hate him at this point. He was lucky they work together so well.

He was lucky Katara wasn't competent enough psychologically to realise the problem with his behaviour.

(And he was extremely lucky her mother's murderer had something useful to say. This encounter could have ended much worse for Katara if Yon Rha's story or behavior were different.)

The conclusion: Zuko may be a good partner for Katara personally in the specific interactions, but he wouldn't be an equally good partner in general at this point (at least if we judge him by his communication in tSR only).

I have no way of proving this statement though, because a) I need to rewatch different episodes for this yet and b) the only person Zuko romantically interacts with in canon is Mai, and... Well, let's just say it's a kind of disaster I don't wanna touch with a stick right now, lol.

So... Take it all with a grain of salt, as usual.

Not gonna pretend though - I'm still ridiculously proud of my big stupid zutarian brain, lol.

Like, it's a really interesting discovery if I may say so myself.

Annnnd I'm still ignoring my notifications in case you forgot.

#atla #zutara #zuko #katara #aang

17 notes · View notes

zvtara-was-never-canon · 7 months

Note

Some ZK- oh sorry "i never said i was zk" stated that the author's intentions in a story apparently do not matter and the writers 'accidently' created zutara as a good romance.

WHAT ROMANCE??????

Zutarians take EVERYTHING as evidence of Zutara.

Zuko leaving the Fire Nation? Proof of his feelings for Katara, even though she had nothing to do with him making this decision.

Katara, the HEALER, offering to heal Zuko during a ceasefire? Romance! No way this is just about showing Katara's kindness.

Zuko cuddling with Mai for an entire episode, then getting upset that his father seems to not want him around? Proof that MAI is making him sad and that he wishes he was with Katara instead.

Katara and AANG finding out about the Cave Of Two Lovers, kissing, and having the same musical theme as Oma and Shu? Totally foreshadowing her future relationship with Zuko, that will TOTALLY happen, trust me.

EVERYTHING is proof of Zutara when you twist all that happens in the show to force it into becoming Zutara shapped.

#anti zutara

18 notes · View notes

cobraonthecob · 2 years

Note

Hi,

This is actually regarding the Last Airbender. I have read some of your thoughts regarding the ship wars. I may not be interested in ships, but I have to say that if the writers were upset that people love a non canon ship more than the canon ones, the solution is to write the canon ships in a good way. Regarding Aang and Katara, if they showed Aang reciprocating the support Katara offered and letting go of that attachment, plus they got together later in life, Kataang would not be as hated as it it.

Also, rather than dissing Zutara, it could have been more handled in a more respectful way, and the book 4 video, while I was indifferent to it, I will say that now I feel it was uncalled for.

All I think is that one ship had good writing handling it, the other did not. Your thoughts?

Oh absolutely! While I am a die-hard Zutara fan, the writers can do whatever they want (I very much practice 'canon is a suggestion and i do what i want' lol), and I think if they developed kataa.ng where 1) Katara showed interest in A.ang rather than mothering him 2) had Aa.ng be more mature or let go of his love of Katara/thought about how he loved her and didn't use her as a love for his people 3) not have the EIP kiss (and especially not their last 1-on-1 interaction before the finale eps) and 4) having Aan.g support Katara (i.e. asking about Kya, not acting the way he did in TSR, etc.) would've left me neutral towards them.

But even if Kataa.ng was developed nicely*, I think I still would've shipped Zutara since Zutara fit the theme of the series and raises a lot more questions about what would happen should they get together. Like sure, Katara and A.ang get together and...what? That's it? Sure, there might be questions asked on how two of the last benders of their respective people would bring up their family and whether or not their relationship could survive the massive culture clash of the SWT relying primarily on meat and the Air Nomads being vegetarian, along with the SWT being very family-oriented and the AN are more 'it takes the temple to raise the kids, and there are mentors to train the airbenders'

But Zutara unleashes a flood of questions: Would it be okay for someone from the SWT to marry the Fire Lord, especially one as prominent as Katara (who is one of two SWT benders alive canonically)? How would the Fire Nation accept her? How much legwork is Zuko going to do to get the Fire Nation to accept a Fire Consort who isn't Fire Nation? What is Katara going to do prior to her marriage with Zuko? What would the SWT think about their only waterbender going to marry the leader of the nation who nearly destroyed theirs?

A video I'd like to suggest is SneezyReviews's 30 minute vid about the dynamics between the two ships and what draws people to them, which has been on my mind for the past few days lol. A zutara fic I'd like to rec is such selfish prayers by andromeda3116 (4 chapters, nearly 50,000 words) and the sequel and love, the shoreline, where you and i meet (12.5k words)

*What's funny is that I almost didn't watch ATLA due to Kataa.ng lol. I watched the first ep, saw Aan.g open his eyes and see Katara and my literal reaction was 'if they get together at the end of the series i'm not watching this show' everyone say thank you to that one kid in my dad's church school class for loaning us the ATLA DVDs.

Thank you very much for your ask! for those who just skipped to the end, my thoughts are 1) KA could've been written better with katara reciprocating the romance and aa.ng reciprocating the emotional labor and 2) creators should not make fun of the fandom, especially when they shipbaited them and stagnated their own ship lol

#nightfalcon answers #nigtfalcon responds #anti kataang #zutara

83 notes · View notes

linnoya-writes · 3 years

Text

Zutara- teenage butterflies and slowburn intimacy

One of the biggest reasons why I adore Zutara so much is that you get to see these two most mature kids in the show finally experience the awkwardness of being teenagers with tiny butterflies in their stomachs as they get to know each other as friends, finding themselves becoming more attracted to the other.

Of course, there’s all that emotional baggage from their previous encounters in Book 1 and Book 2, being on opposing sides, but if we imagine Zuko and Katara after “The Southern Raiders,” after they hug (tightly!) and are able to comfortably hang out and poke fun at each other’s quirks... and also teaming up as the roles of “mom and dad” to the group... the gradual shift between two friends’ innocent teasing to downright flirtation would be so beautifully valid and credible.

Considering Zuko is the more guarded one of the two, and isn’t as vocal about his feelings or physically affectionate as Katara, the development of their intimate moments before Sozin’s Comet would be such a “slowburn” but so ridiculously heartwarming.

Examples:

-Zuko “rises with the sun” and is already in the kitchen preparing tea when Katara shows up to prepare breakfast. It’s his way of saying that he wants to help her in all the tasks she usually does as the “mom” of the team.

-Zuko helps hang up laundry every morning, but does a poor job at it (as he’s not used to chores). Katara lets her hands brush over his while she shows him how to properly clip the fabrics onto the lining.

-Katara asks Zuko if he could train her in dao swords, as she feels it would be useful to learn non-bending combat. Zuko gives her his swords to practice with, and hesitates as his body stands close behind her to demonstrate the proper stance.

-When everyone decides to have a beach party on Ember Island, Zuko plays the serious adult who doesn’t have time for fun. When Katara approaches him, Zuko admits he feels self-conscious about removing clothes, as he is only used to it in front of his sister/Mai/TyLee or for bending/training purposes. Katara encourages him to join the fun, and it’s only when he sees her swimming and laughing that Zuko feels compelled to jump into the water.

-Sokka and Suki encourage Zuko and Katara to get the groceries in the town center for once, rather than work around the beach house. They get the food supplies pretty quickly and spend a good amount of the afternoon walking around the market, Zuko talking about typical FN cuisine and memories of Ember Island... even extending an arm to Katara (as if they were a couple) to hold off any suspicious eyes from people around them.

-Zuko meditates in the evenings on the beach house roof and Katara is compelled to finally learn to meditate and sits right next to him... so as to have some peace and quiet before the group meets together dinner.

-Katara waterbends out in the water late into the evening, and Zuko, despite always feeling ready to call it a night after dinner... can’t help but stick around to watch her bend. One night he is bold enough to approach her and ask if she would like to spar, and this becomes their evening, after-dinner ritual.

-As he goes on a morning walk before breakfast, Zuko finds a seashell on the beach. He hesitates but picks it up, and hands it to Katara when they meet to prepare breakfast. She smiles and thanks him for the lovely gift. Zuko blinks, and his face softens. He ends up finding a few other seashells for her on his morning walks, and she decoratively places them along the railing of the beach house balcony.

-One day, while Aang is being trained by Toph, and Zuko is practicing his fire bending alone, Katara goes on a short hike with Sokka and Suki to talk about the Comet Battle plan and see the surrounding areas of the beach house. They stumble on some golden hibiscus flowers, and Sokka has no problem picking a few of them for Suki. While they have a moment, Katara picks one for herself, placing it on her left ear as an accessory. By the time they all return to the beach house, she brings the flower over to Zuko... saying she found this pretty flower that matched his eyes. When she hands it to him, Zuko sweetly says “typically, it’s the guy who gives flowers to the girl,” and Katara shrugs, saying “well, we don’t really see flowers in the SWT, so I wouldn’t have known.” She offers it to him again, and Zuko receives it gently, and when she kisses him on the cheek, he carefully leans into it.

-On the last few days leading up to the Comet, they find themselves going on morning walks along the beach, or afternoon hikes after lunch, or doing chores together without necessarily having to do them together (but things get done faster with two people). They talk more and more about things unrelated to the Comet Battle-- their favorite foods, embarrassing childhood stories, things they’ve seen from their world-travelling... things they’re hoping to see in the world once the war is over. There’s a slight heaviness in the air, though, because it’s become clear that whatever they’ve started to feel is strange, and good, and beautiful, and yet dangerous in the context of the battle they’re preparing for. Quietly, they choose to maintain their boundaries, but their eyes remain soft to one another.

-At some point in these little moments, they find their hands brushing at the fingers as they walk, and the butterflies in their stomach begin to flutter. Whenever they part, Katara places a hand on his shoulder, but it gradually moves down to his upper arm. Zuko doesn’t flinch, despite the nerves being there, and finally... one night, he finds the courage to lift a hand to bring one of Katara’s hair loops behind her ear. And the butterflies take flight. And it’s hard to pinpoint when exactly the hand-holding begins, but it does. It just does. And it practically becomes a second-nature to them... something they don’t even realize they’re doing until Suki notices them returning from a walk together one night, and they quickly break apart. They blush, and Katara starts blabbering something like the cold night giving her cold hands... but Suki just grins and says nothing (for the sake of privacy).

-When Aang storms off from the group regarding the killing of the Fire Lord, Katara is compelled to go after him, but she is held back by Zuko, like “dad” telling “mom” that this kid is old enough to sort this inner conflict on his own. It’s after that moment when they finally stand in front of the balcony railing (all the seashells still on there) and talk about Aang like he’s their son, choosing to worry about him and be afraid for him together. Katara finds herself leaning towards Zuko’s frame as they look at the ocean, and Zuko boldly brings a hand to Katara’s shoulder. Katara finds his other hand at the railing, and their fingers entwine as they stand there, Zuko caressing her shoulder at some point, lightly kissing her hair for comfort. They hold each other close for the dreadful morning that’s to come with the Comet’s arrival.

#zutara #zutara headcanon #Avatar The Last Airbender #prince zuko #katara of the southern water tribe #enemies to friends to lovers #Zuko #katara

355 notes · View notes

pink-bird-30 · 2 years

Text

Zutara Month Day 30: Denial

This month has been a wild ride and I would like to thank everyone that took the time to read my few entries for Zutara month. I know I wasn’t here much but I am happy with what I did produce.

Today just so happens to be my Birthday, my 26th to be exact. I was introduced to the Zutara fandom over 2 years ago due to the pandemic and working from home. I never watched Avatar as a kid because it was always on instead of Spongebob and I was always annoyed by that and never took a chance to watch it. But I’m glad I did and discovered this group of people that have a deep appreciation for two characters that deserve a happy ending.

So today is my final submission to Zutara Month 2022.

(As always, you can read my completed stories here on my FF.net)

(@zutaramonth)

As always, Happy Reading!

“Ah, Miss Katara! Fancy seeing you here at the tea shop!” Katara spent the last few months with Aang flying all over the Earth Kingdom in hopes of finding people who needed assistance after the war. At first everything seemed to be going great until Katara realized she missed a certain shaggy haired Fire Lord back in the Fire Nation. She knew the decision she made to go with Aang would be a burden she would have to carry. But after being called ‘The Avatar’s girl’ for the tenth time that day, she finally had enough.

Katara told Aang it was best if she traveled on her own back to the Fire Nation, hoping she could still take Zuko up on his offer to be the Water Tribe Ambassador. She knew her father would be over joyed by the news and Sokka would be more than happy to step down and return to Kyoshi Island with Suki. Aang at first did not understand how his ‘forever girl’ no longer wanted to be with him. Truth be told Katara wasn’t sure why she chose to kiss Aang on that balcony after the war. She was told she’d be with a powerful bender and there he was, the Avatar himself.

But it didn’t feel right.

And it didn’t feel right when she packed up her room next to Zuko’s to follow Aang around the world either. It didn’t feel right when people ignored her war efforts and reduced her back down to a Water tribe healer. Not a war hero who saved their newly crowned Fire Lord, but a weak woman.

“Uncle Iroh, I need your advice. I think I made a mistake.” These were the words that fueled the fire to where Katara’s life would change forever.

---------

“Here.” Uncle Iroh hands Katara a cup of chamomile tea and a moon cake. He sits down across from her and lets his hands rest on his stomach.

“Now, what seems to be the problem?”

Katara takes a sip of her tea and sighs, “I think I chose wrong, Uncle.”

The old man nods in understanding, “And what is it you believe you chose wrong in, Katara?”

Katara shifts under his golden gaze. She wasn’t sure how to approach the subject of: Hi, I think I’m in love with your nephew but totally screwed it up by leaving with Aang. But instead she collects her thoughts and speaks freely.

“Since Ember Island, I’ve been trying to deny myself of feeling a certain way about someone I care for very much…”

“Go on.” Iroh encourages. He smiles gently at the young woman before him.

Katara fidgets with the tea cup in her hands before continuing, “But I thought I missed my chance with this person because they already had someone else waiting for them.”

“I see.” Iroh pours himself a cup of tea, the steam rising from his perfectly gold crafted cup. He takes a gentle sip and places the cup back on its matching plate. “From my understanding the person whom you speak of is no longer with that person.”

Katara’s blue eyes widen in shock. She knows Zuko and Mai were seen together at his coronation and therefore after. Even the day Katara left with Aang she can recall Mai being at the palace.

But what if it was a lie?

“The last time I spoke to my nephew, the Fire Sages were concerned for his lack of companionship.” His pale fingers trace the lip of his cup before continuing. “But he has mentioned Lady Mai has been preoccupied with a certain chi blocking expert.”

The news of Mai’s new relationship with Ty Lee was news to Katara. She knew she wasn’t up to date with everything going on in her friends’ lives, but this seemed to be an important shift.

“Wait so Ty Lee and Mai are…”

Iroh’s chest rumbles in laughter, “My, Miss Katara. The Fire Nation is welcome to all types of unions. We are not as barbaric as our ancestors have made us seem.”

Katara can feel her face flush at the notion. There were not many same sex couples in the Southern Water Tribe. Only gossip from around the fire when she was a child. But most of the woman in her tribe were already married to men who went off to war. But love is love and Katara has no place to judge.

Iroh studies the young woman before him. Over the year he has seen her grow from an amateur bender to a master bender in months. She carries the title of the last Southern Tribe Waterbender with pride, and he couldn’t be happier for her as if she were his own niece. Which he hopes she will be one day.

But being forced to fight in a war started long before she was born was unfair. She missed out on crucial life moments that she can never have back, and Iroh will forever be resentful towards his ancestors for starting such a horrendous genocide against the world. And his own brother for falling into the deep depths of hate and violence.

But today he can make a difference for two young people that are so clearly lost in the world.

“Miss Katara, are you busy later?”

---------

Katara wasn’t sure why Iroh asked her to leave the tea shop and come back in the evening. He showed her to a nice hotel down the block where he knew the owner fairly well. An older woman by the name Ali and her husband Mo. She settled in a room that looks fairly too nice just to be hers alone. It reminded her of the room she had back at the palace. The bed fit for a king and a bathroom big enough to be as large as her hut back home. She settles in and prepared herself for dinner.

Iroh said to wear her best dress because he was going to take her out on the town. She agreed to the older gentlemen’s plans because she truly did feel lost at the moment and truly did miss her own father. But a trip to her home would make it far too difficult to leave it again.

Checking herself one last time in the mirror, wearing her favorite blue embroidered dress Zuko had made special for her after his coronation. He said it was a thank you for saving his life. The stitching reminded her of how Fire Nation gowns were made, but instead of gold hand stitching, it was a beautiful silver that glittered in the light perfectly.

Walking down the stoned path towards the tea shop, Katara had this unsettling feeling that Iroh was up to something. As she approached the shop, she noticed the ‘closed’ sigh hung on the door. Katara knocked on the door gently, waiting for Iroh. But after a few moments she grew impatient and decided to enter the tea shop uninvited.

Katara stops in her tracks when she takes in the inside of the tea shop. The usually tan walls were decorated with red silks of the Fire Nation. Dozens of lanterns are dimly lit throughout the room creating a soft glow, and a calm and relaxed atmosphere. A table sits in the middle of the room decorated with an array of fire lilies and two tall lit candles.

Confusion settles upon Katara.

“Iroh?” she calls out. She walks towards the table and looks down at the hot meals waiting to be eaten.

“I think my Uncle set us up.” A familiar scruffy voice says from behind her. Katara quickly turns around to see Zuko standing there in a dressed down version of his Fire Lord robes. She stands there in shock, not sure how this is happening.

She notices his hair has grown a little longer in the past few months, and Katara hated to admit it, but it looks good. He has a more confident air about him, but she can tell he’s just as nervous as she is. She also notices his crown is nowhere in sight.

This was just Zuko. Her Zuko.

“I don’t understand…” Katara gestures to everything around them. Zuko takes a step closer to her. He runs a hand through his hair, a nervous tick she’s noticed from him. “I didn’t even know you were here. When did you get here?”

Zuko looks away, “I uh…Things have been difficult since you left and I needed to see someone familiar.” he looks back over to her, seeing she’s wearing the dress he gifted her and smiles. “You’re wearing the dress.” Katara looks down at herself and blushes.

“Iroh did say to dress my best.” Her eyes twinkle in delight. “And I wanted a reason to wear it.”

Zuko chuckles, “Hot date with my Uncle?” he takes a step closer to her. Close enough she has to look up to meet his eyes. He reaches out and takes her hand in his, “I can leave and get Uncle if you’d like.” He jokingly turns to go, but Katara is quick to grab his arm and pull him back to her.

“As much as I appreciate your Uncle’s company, I rather spend my time with you.” She says honestly for the first time. Katara was done denying herself the one thing she wanted for the longest time. “As long as you’ll have me?” She questions. She knows how she feels about her friend, but it is not wise to assume his feelings.

Zuko gently pulls free from her grasp and wraps Katara in his arm, pulling her close to his chest. “I will always have time for you, Katara.” She relaxes against him, taking in the smokey scent that is undeniably Zuko. He brushes a soft kiss against her forehead and leans down to whisper in her ear, “I’ve missed you. More than you’ll ever know.”

Katara can feel her heart beat out of her chest. Finally she hears the words she’s been missing these past few months.

Finally she was home.

She pulls back to look up into his golden eyes, “I think I do.”

The rest of the evening they talked about everything and anything. Zuko opens up about his break up with Mai and how happy he is for her and Ty Lee. Katara tells Zuko of the hardships she faced as Aang’s companion for the last few months. She could see the anger radiate off of him, but she reassured him that it wasn’t entirely Aang’s fault, but she feels better now that she is no longer with him.

At some point in the evening they found themselves by a pond feeding a few turtle ducks who’ve migrated from the Fire Nation after the war.

“Can I ask you something?” Zuko says to Katara. She was slowly bending the water the turtle ducks were swimming in, creating little waves for them to jump over and splash around in.

Katara looks over at him, the moon light making her blue eyes glow. Zuko felt his heart skip at her beauty. He’s never let himself think about Katara more than his friend and confidant. He respected Aang too much and his unresolved relations with Mai prevented him from ever thinking more. But after tonight he is unsure he can deny the bond he has with Katara. His Uncle always spoke of soulmates and finding your other half. Like the spirit oasis, Tui and La. But Zuko never had time for such notions. He was sent to find the Avatar and restore his honor. But Zuko learned along the way love is an important key to survival. Whether it is friendly love or love of a relative. And the love you share with another person.

The kind of love that drives you from your palace to seek assistance from your Uncle.

“What is it?” She leans into his side, feeling his warmth through her fine silk dress.

Zuko wraps his arm around her shoulders holding her close, “I-I” he shakes his head before continuing. “Katara, I think I’m in love with you. And I understand if you aren’t with me. I know you just left Aang and I don’t want to-“ Katara brushes her finger across his lips to stop his jumbled words.

“Zuko, can I say something?” he nods his head as she rests her hand against his burnt cheek. She gently strokes the skin there and smiles at him. “I left Aang for many reasons, but the most important was because I knew I did not love him the way he loves me.” Zuko nods in understanding. “But I need you to know…” her other hand rests against his heart. “It’s been you. It’s always been you.” The words were enough for Zuko to cup her cheek and place a gentle kiss upon her lips.

From this moment on is the beginning of the endless possibilities and bright future they no longer have to deny themselves.

#zutara month 2022 #zutara #zutara month 2022 day 30: denial #zuko x katara #zuko #katara #fanfic

20 notes · View notes

zelzenik · 2 years

Note

Hey Zel! I know you don't write too much Zutara anymore and your requests aren't open or anything, but could you write a small thing? Your Zutara writing is some of my favorite

sure anon :) i know a big majority of the ppl still following me are mostly in it for the zk, lol. thank u for the compliment, and i hope u enjoy this short lil thing </3

Zuko set the coffee down in front of her, liquid sloshing uncontrollably against the lid.

A peace offering.

Reluctantly, Katara reached out, curling her fingers around the warm cup. There was a part of her that wanted to push it away, but there was another that longed for the caffeine. So, as heat seeped into her veins and she took a sip from the cup, she met his gaze as steadily as she could from over the brim.

"I'm sorry, Katara."

Sorry for what?

Sorry for the way he teased her during their middle school years. Sorry for the way he dated Mai during high school. Sorry for the way he kissed her at prom, and then again after graduation. Sorry for the way he ignored her all throughout college, until his final year. Sorry for the way he never dated her. Sorry for the way he still loved her, even after all these years.

Even while knowing his apology was sincere, Katara mused over it for a bit, raking her mind through different memories, losing herself to all the different ways he'd made her feel over the years.

The silence was killing Zuko, she knew, yet she chose to prolong breaking it. For the amount of years they'd been dancing around each other, a few more moments couldn't hurt, could it?

"I know."

Zuko looked up after she'd spoken, golden eyes softening with relief. "Do you forgive me?"

After another sip of her coffee, Katara nodded, even as her lips tugged into a kind smile. "Yeah." Then, she set the drink aside, leaning over the table slightly. "I do."

Her thumb traced down his jawline as her fingers cupped his face gently. He breathed in sharply as she continued to caress him.

"Can I kiss you?" The question came flying from her lips before she could stop it, and he nodded in reply, reaching out to touch her too.

And so, they kissed in that crowded coffee shop that day, and all she could feel was relief that, after all these years, they'd finally reconciled.

#zel writes #zutara #zuko #katara #thanks anon!!#zel answers

25 notes · View notes

zutaralesbian · 2 years

Note

a kiss in which, ''we're late for work but let's be later'' Zutara please!

“You’re going to be late to the council meeting,” Katara murmured, even as she made no effort to actually remove herself from where she currently was; sitting on the edge of Zuko’s bed with Zuko standing in front of her, her legs wrapped around his waist as their mouths fused together.

This kind of thing has been going on between them for almost a year now. The two of them having secret rendezvous in the comforting privacy of Zuko’s bedroom in the royal palace. At first, they’d both agreed that it was merely a physical thing. But as the months went by they could no longer deny what was really going on between them.

And thus, Katara now found herself secretly dating the Fire Lord.

Neither of them were thrilled about it being a secret. They felt bad keeping it from their friends especially. But Katara hadn’t been sure if she was ready to make it publicly known they were together…and that she could potentially be the future Fire Lady.

Secretly though, she wasn’t entirely positive she could keep the ruse up for much longer. Now that it was known Zuko’s relationship with Mai was over, it was clear that the nobles and members of the council were already pushing their daughters towards Zuko as possible suitors. And while Katara was secure in the fact that Zuko would never take them up on the offers, it still bothered her.

The kiss broke and Zuko sighed, visibly exasperated. “I don’t care.”

“Yes you do,” Katara urged gently. “It’s the first one in a while. I think it’ll be important.”

She felt for her boyfriend. She knew it wasn’t easy…running a nation so soon after the end of the far. There was a lot to do and tensions were high. But that was exactly why they needed to take the meetings seriously.

“Not really,” Zuko glowered. “It was requested by the nobles. Probably so they can complain about things.”

Or as a chance to try to push their daughters on you again, Katara thought darkly.

Suddenly, Zuko being on time for that meeting didn’t seem as important.

“Well, if you really don’t care,” she said, wrapping her arms around him again, “let’s just make you even more late.”

Before Zuko could say anything in reply, Katara pulled him into another kiss, this one more passionate and bruising than the ones before, causing him to gasp into her mouth before he reciprocated.

Katara took the opportunity to pull him into the bed with her. If Zuko was going to be up in front of those noble families all day, she was at least going to leave her mark.

“Are you going to tell me what that was about?”

“What?” Katara asked from her place beside him, her head on his chest where they lied on the bed.

She couldn’t help but look at him, pleased at herself for what she saw. His lips were swollen and there was a prominent mark on the ride side of his neck.

That should do the trick in telling those noble women that he was taken.

Zuko suddenly looked amused. “You were telling me that I couldn’t miss the meeting. And then….that happened.”

Katara raised her brows. “Are you saying you didn’t like it?”

Zuko flushed. “Never said that. It just caught me off guard.”

She supposed she could understand that. She let out a sigh. “Ever since you and Mai broke up, a lot of women from those noble families have they been pushing themselves at you.”

“They have?”

Katara rolled her eyes. “Zuko, you’re honestly telling me that you never noticed?” She knew he could be oblivious at times but…

Zuko hesitated before reaching up to awkwardly scratch at the top of his head. “I have heard a comment or two.”

That was one way of putting it. Like appearing to be single and being the Fire Lord didn’t make him the most desirable man in the Fire Nation at the present time.

“I guess it just bothers me a little,” Katara eventually admitted. She flipped onto her stomach so she could look him in the eyes, irritation flaring. “No one knows that we’re together. Of course they’re all fawning over you.”

Zuko bristled defensively. “You’re the one that wanted it that way. Besides…don’t act like it doesn’t also happen the other way around.”

It was an argument they had before. After the war, Haru had also become an ambassador for the Earth Kingdom, which meant that the two of them tended to spend a lot of time together. Zuko wasn’t always thrilled about it, since it was very apparent Haru harbored a crush on her. That only became more obvious after her own breakup with Aang.

She could feel her defensiveness go down and she let out another sigh. “No, you’re right. I’m sorry.”

A brief silence passed between them.

Zuko cleared his throat. “You know…you don’t have to worry. I don’t even notice those other women. Not when I’m with you.”

That was so indescribably sweet. Katara had to milk it a little. Fighting a smile she replied. “Oh really? Why is that?”

“I love you,” Zuko blurted, looking as if he was speaking without thinking. “Gods Katara…you’re stubborn, beautiful, smart, kind…no one else compares to you.”

Katara froze. Everything he said was of course unbelievably sweet but she was stuck on what he said at the beginning. Neither of them had said the word before.

Zuko’s face burned red. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I…”

Katara cut him off with another kiss to the lips, this one shorter but sweet. “I love you too, Zuko.”

Zuko gaped at her. Katara wasn’t sure if he was more shocked at what she said or at being reminded of what he said. Maybe a mixture of both. But eventually he pulled her into a warm embrace.

“And you don’t have to worry either,” Katara said, not removing herself from Zuko’s arms. “I don’t feel that way about Haru. I only want you. You know that right?”

To her relief, Zuko answered without hesitation. “I do.”

Katara reached up to run a finger gently down Zuko’s scarred cheek. “I think we should tell everyone.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am. I’m ready.”

There would no doubt be challenges. Not everyone in the Fire Nation would be thrilled about the Fire Lord ‘courting’ someone from outside the nation. But Katara felt confident they could get through it together.

“That is…as long as you’re ready…”

“Katara,” Zuko said, taking her hand reassuringly. “I’ve been ready.”

They decided to tell their friends before they told everyone else. Katara had already made plans to tell Sokka in the next letter she sent him. She had the sinking feeling that most of them knew already, but it would be nice to finally be able to say it.

That meant that this would be the last council meeting Zuko would have to sit through with everyone believing he was single.

Luckily, being the southern water tribe ambassador, Katara at least had access to the meeting.

They entered the room together. No one seemed to think anything about it except Azula, who rolled her eyes from her place at the back of the room.

“Sorry we’re late everyone,” Katara said as she and Zuko took their places next to Azula.

As the nobles immediately began their chatter, Azula glanced over at them and gestured at the mark on Zuko’s neck that Katara had left earlier.

“Nice neck decoration, Zuzu.”

Zuko flushed red and glared at her while Katara held back a smirk, pleased that it was visible.

He was hers.

#Zutara #my fic #long post /

44 notes · View notes

thinkingisadangerouspastime · 3 years

Note

Hi, first off I ship Zutara and I come in peace. I was pointed your way by a friend when I asked for people who ship kataang who are nevertheless willing to hear different views. I have lurked on blog a week and finally got up my nerve to ask how you or any other Kataang can deny that the last part of book 3 was completely Zutara but then stopped abruptly with no buildup? You can finesse tone on text so I'm not being sarcastic or bitchy, it is a serious question (1/5)

In The Southern Raiders, Katara realizes she has been wrong about Zuko. In Ember Island Players, she realizes Aang is not as mature as she thought he was, and in the finale, Katara does not care a whit that Aang is gone. I am serious and as someone who is no Aang stan but likes him, I’m actually annoyed by how little anyone cared about his disappearance. It went from “Aang’s gone!” to “Okay whatever, let’s find Iroh so he can kill Ozai.” (2/5)

Katara was all over Zuko (honestly, again not being a jerk) in the finale until for whatever reason, she wasn’t. She was giving him a pep talk about Iroh, she was going with him to Azula, she was healing him and saying he saved her not the other way around. I genuinely don’t get why this isn’t seen as romantic. I will grant you that Zuko would not have allowed Azula to kill anyone but I feel the point here was Zuko realizing his life was pointless if Katara was killed. (4/5)

And then literally at the end, Mai shows up after Zuko not talking about her at all for six episodes and declares herself Zuko’s girlfriend. And Katara kisses Aang after being annoyed with and by him arguably since The Southern Raiders. I get that Kataang “won” and I’ve made peace with that, but ... I can’t understand why Kataang shippers are okay with such a crap story. I swear on my gmom [sic] if they’d done this for [Zvtara], I’d be mad as hell. So I don’t understand, I really don’t. (5/5)

As always, I shall begin with a disclaimer: anon, you do not have to agree with this post. No one has to agree with this post, as it is strictly my own thoughts on the subject matter raised here! As per usual, I will not be putting this in the main tags - much less the Zvtara tag! - because I have basic fandom decency, lmao. If you (the general you, not anon specifically) do disagree with this post, that is totally fine, I simply ask that you are polite in expressing your disagreement (if you choose to do so at all! no one is expected to, lmao. i promise).

Alright. Formalities are out of the way!

I’ll admit I giggled a little bit when you say you lurked on my blog for a week, because I’ve actually talked about this subject numerous times in the past! I just found it funny you hadn’t stumbled across any posts about it yet, lol. So, as a heads up, know that I will be providing several links in this post since - again - this subject and related subjects have been analyzed a multitude of times before. I highly recommend reading them all! Mostly because I don’t intend to spend forever restating what’s been said over and over and over lmaooo. I will provide the resources, but it is up to each individual to take advantage of them.

To begin: your ask actually contains a few logical fallacies, anon! I do not mean this as shade or to belittle you - I fall victim to this issue all the time myself. Anyone who writes analyses or participates in debates does! Humans are imperfect and often like to cut corners to reach a conclusion. It is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about because - as the existence of your ask in inbox indicates - you are willing to learn more. So kudos to you, my friend!

Alright. So what logical fallacies am I talking about here? (For the record: specific definitions of logical fallacies were taken from here.)

1. Hasty Generalization.

“A hasty generalization is a general statement without sufficient evidence to support it.” Numerous claims are made in this ask that I have absolutely no doubt you believe to be true, anon, but there really isn’t any concrete evidence to support it! I will go into more detail later, of course, but let’s quickly look at one example:

“In Ember Island Players, [Katara] realizes Aang is not as mature as she thought he was…”

For the time being, I will ask but one question: from the show itself, not fanon, how do you know this?

2. Causal Fallacy

Ah, this guy. My own worst enemy, tbh! “A causal fallacy is any logical breakdown when identifying a cause,” of which there are several types. “One causal fallacy is the false cause or non causa pro causa (‘not the-cause for a cause’) fallacy, which is when you conclude about a cause without enough evidence to do so.” In your ask, you claim:

“I will grant you that Zuko would not have allowed Azula to kill anyone but I feel the point here was Zuko realizing his life was pointless if Katara was killed.”

Again, for the time being, I will ask only one question: from the show itself, not fanon, what led you to believe this statement?

“Another kind of causal fallacy is the correlational fallacy also known as cum hoc ergo propter hoc (Lat., ‘with this therefore because of this’). This fallacy happens when you mistakenly interpret two things found together as being causally related.” In your ask, you claim:

“Katara was all over Zuko (honestly, again not being a jerk) in the finale until for whatever reason, she wasn’t. She was giving him a pep talk about Iroh, she was going with him to Azula, she was healing him and saying he saved her not the other way around. I genuinely don’t get why this isn’t seen as romantic.”

I will ask one question: from the show itself, not fanon, why would you believe these are indicative of romance? (Consider the context the show is situated in, too - e.g. the war, Katara being Azula’s only available match in skill, etc.)

The reason I bring up the issue of logical fallacies is again not at all to make you feel bad, anon!! You were simply trying to express your point to me and I greatly appreciate you taking the time to do so. See, your ask actually presents a larger fandom trend:

Misconstruing fanon as canon.

What you have offered to me, anon, are fanon conclusions. To clarify: there is absolutely nothing wrong with fanon. I adore fanon interpretations (an example I have used in the past is Kuzaang - like, I don’t care that there’s no canon basis! I do what I want lmao!), but a line has to be drawn between exploring fanon interpretations and expecting everyone to take that fanon as canon. Again, anon, this is not your fault! It is not any one person’s fault, lmao. It is an issue of fandom as a whole, and all of us fall victim to it.

With that in mind, I will break down the different components of your ask. I will also do my best to be brief - as aforementioned, I and others have analyzed this issue numerous times before, lmao. To avoid confusion, it would be best to read through each or at least most links as they are provided!

Firstly, there are two posts I have made in the past that almost directly answer your overarching question here in this ask. Please read them prior to continuing, as I will occasionally reference them:

This post explains how Zvtara was not built up from TSR/EIP-onwards, and how their supposed “canon enemies to lovers arc” is a completely fanon construction.

This post explains the issue of the “canon Zvtara” rhetoric from rabid zkers (and you, anon, are absolutely NOT one, in case you were worried).

Alrighty. With that out the way, let’s get into it!

“In The Southern Raiders, Katara realizes she has been wrong about Zuko.”

Gotta start by saying that TSR is not about Zuko. TSR is, first and foremost, about Katara. Katara does not realize she was wrong about Zuko, because here’s the truth - she wasn’t wrong about him. Zuko did horrible things to the Gaang. Katara was not wrong to hold him accountable for that. What Katara does realize is that holding such rage so close to her chest is bad for her. This rage was not solely anger against Zuko, either; it was of course about Yon Rha, too, but it was also anger towards Kya and Katara herself. Essentially, TSR is where Katara realizes she has to forgive herself. Zuko is only one part of her journey (similar to Aang’s role in the episode, if a different end of the spectrum).

This post explains how TSR was fundamentally about Katara.

Additional resources about TSR:

This post explains Aang’s comments to Katara in TSR and how Katara herself recognized their validity.

This post explains why both Aang and Zuko were important to Katara in TSR.

This post is an extensive breakdown of Aang and Katara’s relationship within TSR.

“In Ember Island Players, [Katara] realizes Aang is not as mature as she thought he was…”

You provide no context for this claim, so I’m going to work with the assumption this is about their reactions to the play itself and the infamous kiss!

There is something important we must keep in mind when discussing EIP: the play they watch is literally imperialist propaganda. It is meant to demean the entire Gaang, and indeed it does exactly that. You mention Katara and Aang specifically, so I will recap what I have explained before about their depictions in EIP: Katara, an indigenous woman, is hypersexualized and portrayed as overly emotional (and thus “irrational”). This reinforces the Fire Nation sentiment that women of the Water Tribes are less intelligent and less suited for “responsibility” than Fire Nation women. Aang, a pacifist and the sole survivor of genocide who is also canonly the male character most comfortable with femininity and spirituality, is portrayed as a flighty, airheaded woman (this is a well-known imperialist tactic meant to emasculate the target, seeing as masculinity was often equated with power in fascist regimes; thus, they effectively belittled Aang before the FN audience). This reinforces the Fire Nation sentiment that the Air Nomads were foolish, weak people who deserved to die.

In other words, of course Aang and Katara were upset about how they portrayed in the play. It is understandable that tensions would be running high and consequently that mistakes (we all know the one) would be made.

This post explains how EIP belittles each member of the Gaang (and why the play is not indicative of Zvtara).

This post talks specifically about EIP and their portrayal of Aang and Katara.

Now onto the kiss. As everyone knows and no one has ever disagreed with, Aang was wrong to kiss Katara. Point blank!

But what people do misunderstand is Katara and Aang’s feelings regarding the kiss. Given your above quote, I assume you believe Aang kissing Katara supposedly made her realize that Aang wasn’t as mature as she once thought. On the surface, this seems like a logical conclusion! But digging deeper reveals… well, there’s nothing that indicates this conclusion at all. Even jumping ahead to the finale, when Zuko has doubts over Aang’s return, Katara demonstrates her faith in Aang (although of course she’s nervous - I won’t deny the obvious, lmao) as she says, “Aang won’t lose. He’s gonna come back. He has to.”

In other words, nothing in canon suggests that Katara believes Aang is immature because of what happened in EIP. She still trusts in his return, as she did even before she knew him (and arguably is more confident in him now, given the 60~ episodes of them growing closer). Furthermore, when Aang does disappear, Katara doesn’t have an outburst about how “immature” it was for him to “run away again.” The viewers know Aang didn’t run away, of course (fans who insist he did are not worth arguing with, anon - they don’t understand the show, rip), but that is a luxury the rest of the Gaang is not afforded. And yet even though Aang has vanished off the face of the planet, Katara still believes he will save the world. If anything, that signifies the utmost confidence in his skill and maturity!

To go back to the kiss itself, this post explains the true source of Katara’s conflict in turning down Aang (hint: she says it herself in the episode! you know, the whole war going on) and why the EIP kiss did not sink Kataang’s relationship.

Additional sources about EIP:

This post explains how the EIP kiss was resolved through narrative parallels.

This post explains how the EIP kiss is so often blown out of proportion.

“… and in the finale, Katara does not care a whit that Aang is gone. I am serious and as someone who is no Aang stan but likes him, I’m actually annoyed by how little anyone cared about his disappearance. It went from ‘Aang’s gone!’ to ‘Okay whatever, let’s find Iroh so he can kill Ozai.’”

As I already touched upon, Katara didn’t need a soliloquy to emphasize her connection to Aang once he disappeared. She trusts that he will return. She says so herself. I guess I just don’t understand how you got from Point A, Katara has consistent faith in Aang, to Point B, Katara and the rest of the Gaang didn’t care about Aang’s disappearance. It’s honestly a bit more like Point A to Point Z, lmao! If you would like to expand on your logic here, I would love to hear more!!

There are a few specific aspects I want to note about your rationale, though. You argue the Gaang moves from ‘Aang disappeared’ to ‘let’s find Iroh,’ but the Gaang actually went from:

1. Aang disappeared!

2. They search the entire island for him.

3. Okay, they couldn’t find him, so they track down June and have her try to find Aang.

4. June says to them, “No, I mean he’s gone gone. He doesn’t exist.” (And she clarifies to Sokka that she doesn’t mean dead, either - she means Aang has totally blinked out of their world.)

5. Only after all of this do they decide to track down Iroh.

The Gaang cares immensely about the fact that Aang is gone, and you could actually argue they waste time by trying to track him down. They don’t give up until June essentially tells them that some Spirit World shenanigans were involved. Even if you don’t think they reached that specific conclusion, I have to ask: What else were they supposed to do? They were told Aang didn’t exist! How are they supposed to fix that?

Well, they can’t. So they do the next best thing: they find Iroh, the man who knows Ozai better than anyone and is also one of the most talented firebenders in the world. In my opinion, that’s a very logical step to take.

I’ll be blunt here, lol: in my opinion, nothing of what you listed in your ask is inherently romantic.

Okay. I am going to assume you’ve read the first two posts I linked earlier (“Zvtara did not have an E-L arc” and “the ‘canon’ Zvtara of rabid zkers has issues”), because I do not intend to rehash everything they contain, lol. Consequently, I presume you realize by now that there was no canon romantic interest between Zuko and Katara.

And as I always say, just because there wasn’t a canon romance doesn’t mean people can’t take fanon routes! Of course they can! That’s the entire point of fanon! But fanon is not canon, and I am strictly referring to canon in my discussions.

You claim Katara was all over Zuko, which in itself I don’t think is an accurate assessment, because she doesn’t really do anything with Zuko outside the three points you bring up (other than the June gag, which I addressed in one of the aforementioned linked posts). So I’ll go ahead and break down each instance you provide!

1. “[Katara] was giving [Zuko] a pep talk about Iroh”

Katara asked Zuko if he was okay. She asked him if he was genuinely sorry. She reassures him that Iroh will forgive him. That’s… all. Not to diminish the significance of this conversation, but it’s not exactly an intimate, romantically-charged discussion (unless fanon-ized). But on that note, let’s tackle the canon significance of this moment!

Katara knows firsthand the challenge of forgiving Zuko. And she knows that Zuko understands how hard it was for her to forgive him (note: Katara’s anger was totally justified, and anyone who disagrees is probably a rabid Zuko stan lmao). She also recognizes that Zuko is terrified it will take Iroh the same struggle to forgive him that Katara went through. This scene is not related to romance at all. It’s about compassion. It’s about Katara and Zuko’s friendship having progressed, slowly but surely, to the point where she’s not afraid to extend empathy to him anymore (seeing as the first time, beneath Ba Sing Se, did not go so well; you know - Aang died and all). It’s about Zuko recognizing his own fallibility (and the audience recognizing how much he’s grown). He questions how he can even face his uncle after all he’s done to the man, which is a far cry from his entitled attitude in TSR, where he demanded to know why Katara didn’t trust him when everyone else had forgiven him.

To make this moment, this moment about Zuko’s relationship with his uncle who is all but a literal father to him, this moment of vulnerability, of guilt, of remorse, of growth, to claim this powerful moment is about a nonexistent romantic relationship? In my opinion, that is incredibly reductive to what this scene is supposed to signify. And again, there is nothing wrong with people exploring such a possibility in fanon, but in canon? Nah. It doesn’t track.

2. “[Katara] was going with [Zuko] to Azula”

Don’t forget that at first, Zuko planned to take on Azula alone. He doesn’t request Katara to accompany him until Iroh tells him that he’ll need help. As such, Zuko’s immediate agreement with Iroh is reflective of his personal growth (Book 1 and 2 Zuko would have argued and insisted he didn’t need any help). It also demonstrates, however, that Katara was not obsessively on Zuko’s mind. He doesn’t choose Katara until Iroh points out that Zuko will need assistance in taking Azula down. This means that Zuko’s choice of Katara to join him is a tactical decision, not an emotional one. And by all accounts, it’s a damn good decision! Zuko witnessed firsthand beneath Ba Sing Se a) how powerful Katara was (e.g. that wave after Aang died) and b) how Katara was the only one who could take on Azula*.

Of course, besides the fact that Katara was the only match for Azula, who else was Zuko going to choose? Sokka and Suki, while talented in their own right, were no competition for Azula. Toph, while the greatest earthbender in the world, was needed to metalbend the airships. Katara was the only (and the best!) option.

Also, on their trip to face Azula, the only thing they talk about within their three lines of canon conversation are Azula and Aang. Not exactly a romantic flight, lmao.

*Zuko never saw Aang fight Azula on the drill.

3. “[Katara] was healing [Zuko] and saying he saved her not the other way around”

Actually, this is what the transcript says:

Zuko: Thank you, Katara.

Katara: I think I’m the one who should be thanking you.

You’re right about how their lines refer to them saving each other, but you posit it as a romantic moment, when the lines are actually pretty straightforward. Zuko thanks Katara as she heals him from the partially-redirected lightning strike, and Katara thanks him for trying to redirect the lightning away from her and in doing so saving her life. In terms of canon, there’s nothing romantic about this, lol! (Which I talked about extensively in the E-L post, if you need to reference it again.) The reason being is that you have to take the show itself into context when you do analysis. If there was no canon romantic buildup between Zuko and Katara, why would these lines in canon (not fanon! fanon is free rein, lmao) be interpreted through a romantic lens?

Well, they wouldn’t be interpreted as such. Plain and simple.

“I genuinely don’t get why this isn’t seen as romantic.”

Because looking through a canon lens, they aren’t romantic. That’s all. You are of course welcome to view them as such through a fanon lens!! It’s just about recognizing the line between canon and fanon.

“I will grant you that Zuko would not have allowed Azula to kill anyone but I feel the point here was Zuko realizing his life was pointless if Katara was killed.”

I asked earlier what content in the show itself led you to believe. I have wracked my own mind, and I cannot think of anything that would point to this conclusion. Zuko was in Katara’s good graces for 5 episodes. That’s 8% of the show. Not exactly a lot of time for Zuko to start believing his life would be pointless if Katara was killed, is it?

This post explains the improbability of Zuko having a crush on Katara within canon.

This post explains how Zuko’s racism towards the Air Nomads in TSR and the finale is, well, exactly that - racism (and not a sign of a crush on Katara).

And, of course, as has been said a million times, Zuko taking the lightning for Katara out of romantic interest would completely undermine his redemption arc. Since it has been said over and over and over, I will be brief: Zuko taking the lightning is significant because it is a selfless act (one of his only in the series), and it directly parallels his selfish act of choosing not to intervene when Azula killed Aang with lightning beneath Ba Sing Se. This moment demonstrates Zuko’s growth, how he has learned to accept unconditional love from Iroh and the Gaang and Mai and even Ty Lee and sure, even from Appa and Momo, too. To make this moment of pure selflessness about a nonexistent romance? To force a fanon romance in replacement of canon redemption and canon platonic significance?

Such a decision speaks wonders about a person’s priorities, in my opinion, as well as how amatonormativity impacts them.

Furthermore, Zuko’s choice cements Katara’s position as his surrogate sibling, as she is Azula’s primary foil. Zuko chooses the sister who heals over the sister who harms. I won’t go too much into it here, because it has already been talked about extensively before! Thus, I offer you this post that explains how Zuko and Katara - in canon - are positioned as surrogate siblings as well as Azula’s role in this matter. I also offer this post that lays out through screencaps how Zuko and Katara - in canon - treat each other like family.

Additional sources about the final Agni Kai:

This post in part discusses fanon misinterpretation of the final Agni Kai and why such a lens is not true to canon relationships.

This post explains why the final Agni Kai is not intended to be romantic.

This post explains how the final Agni Kai is primarily about Azula and how reducing it to be a big Zvtara moment is detrimental to both her and to Zuko and Katara themselves.

“And then literally at the end, Mai shows up after Zuko not talking about her at all for six episodes and declares herself Zuko’s girlfriend.”

This point could probably get a post of its own, lol, but fortunately I and others have already written a few! I will link them below - first, however, I question your choice of “declares.” Technically, yes, Mai does say outright that it doesn’t hurt how the new Fire Lord is her boyfriend, but your phrasing implies Zuko resisted her proclamation. When… he doesn’t. In fact, he embraces it, asking if that means she doesn’t hate him anymore (read: he asks if they’re back on good terms again). Zuko clearly doesn’t have a problem with the girl he loves wanting to be with him again - so why do some parts of fandom so adamantly insist he does? (Not you, anon - I am referring to the rabid fanoners, lol.)

Also, regarding how Zuko hasn’t talked about Mai for six episodes, we’ve gotta be realistic with this assessment in terms of canon:

1. It was the crux of the war. They were either going to live or die. There was no time for romance at this point! Sokka and Suki weren’t professing their love on the battlefield, lmao, so it’s not exactly strange that Zuko didn’t bust into a monologue about how he missed Mai. I think they were just a little bit distracted by the possible end of the world, lol, and all that jazz.

2. Zuko probably thought Mai was dead. He knows what Azula is like. He knows his sister doesn’t have time for people who get in her way (Aang can testify to this, lmao). So can you blame him for not wanting to think about how the girl he loved had died (to his knowledge) to save him?

You gotta cut the kid some slack, lol. Anyways! Additional sources about Maiko:

This post breaks down the notion of Maiko and “deserve.”

This post rationalizes through a canon lens why Mai’s arrival at the palace surprised Zuko.

This post is the mother of Maiko metas, explaining in tremendous detail why their relationships works, is relevant to canon, and was well-implemented for what its role was.

“And Katara kisses Aang after being annoyed with and by him arguably since The Southern Raiders.”

What in canon has led you to the conclusion that Katara was annoyed with Aang? What specific moments from TSR to the finale made you think Katara was annoyed with Aang and remained annoyed with Aang? Are there any, or are you thinking about fanon interpretation? (Canon vs fanon strikes again!)

In TSR, Katara explicitly thanks Aang for understanding her perspective. Nothing there is indicative of annoyance (and as in the links provided earlier, she was not angry at Aang/Zuko/etc. so much as she was at herself. well, she was a little bit angry with Zuko, lmao). In EIP, Katara is understandably angry at Aang’s decision to kiss her, but Aang completely backs off, and we see in the part 1 of the finale that there are no hard feelings or weird tension between them. Katara in fact actively expresses concern for Aang after Zuko sporadically attacked him when she demands of the firebender, “What’s wrong with you? You could have hurt Aang!” Even when Aang and Katara do butt heads later in the episode as Aang tries to think of a way to defeat Ozai without killing him, Katara doesn’t stay frustrated. Like I said - when she and Zuko are flying to Azula, she demonstrates her unwavering faith in Aang through her belief that he will return. So… where is the annoyance that you feel was present?

With all this mind, i.e. looking strictly at canon, Katara wasn’t annoyed with Aang during this time. Thus, Katara kisses Aang because she loved him. Because he backed off and gave her the space she needed to make a decision about if she wanted to be with him (hence Katara being the one to initiate the kiss). Because the issue was never about if she reciprocated his feelings (they both knew they loved each other) but rather it had to do with the war. At the end of the finale, the war is over, and there is nothing that prevents them from being together. Simple.

This post explains how Katara’s feelings for Aang develop throughout the series (and were not neglected, as rabid zkers like to claim, for some reason? again - you are not one of them, anon).

This post also covers Katara’s interest in Aang throughout the series.

“I can’t understand why Kataang shippers are okay with such a crap story.”

I mean, you definitely don’t have to ship Kataang. It may not be your cup of tea, and that’s totally okay! But as the above links demonstrate, Kataang was a fantastic story. It was well-implemented into the narrative from Day 1. The soulmateism is unparalleled!

Also, it’s worth noting that A:TLA itself was essentially pre-written. The writers knew how the story would end from the get-go, including that the show would end with Kataang. A few Zvtara gags were thrown in to add a sense of “who will Katara choose?” drama as the show aired, but Zuko and Katara were never planned to end up together. One reason so many newer fans are fine with Kataang from the start is that there’s no tension of waiting a week for a new episode when you can watch all 61 episodes straight through on Netflix, lmao. It’s even more obvious now than when A:TLA was airing that Aang and Katara will end up together, if that makes sense. (Although I talked about this in the E-L post linked earlier, so you probably understand this point already, as it was explained in detail there!)

All of this is to say that Kataang is not a “crap story” in terms of writing (again, personal taste is a different matter) because it was woven in from the beginning and had powerful narrative significance! (Kataang represented numerous complementary components of the series, such as yin and yang, push and pull, air and water, Oma and Shu, etc.)

Now. If you really and truly want to understand why Kataang shippers like Kataang, anon, consider reading some Kataang fanfics or exploring some Kataang headcanons. I read fics involving Zvtara more regularly than you might think, lol, because… well, it’s just a ship. I understand the appeal of romantic Zvtara and I can actually appreciate it when it’s well-written! I’m sure if you’re willing to put in just a little legwork (you don’t need to go the whole mile, lmao - ‘tis just fandom), you’ll realize why people like Kataang, even if it isn’t exactly your thing. You have the range, anon!! You got this!

I hope I managed to answer your questions, my friend! As always, you do not have to agree with anything I have said here. It is totally fine if you and anyone else disagrees! Everything above is simply my own perspective on the matter. Thank you for taking the time to read my response and all the different links I provided! I hope it has expanded your understanding of the subject at hand!

#i spent all day writing this lmaooo #TWO WHOLE HOURS SPENT COMPILING LINKS #amy answers #anon #amy analyzes

234 notes · View notes