#zuko protective

[blacknailsandheartbreak]

Another Zuko x FemReader fic :o

So I’ve been away for a bit and saw quite a few likes on my past Zuko fics so ok yeah, Another Zuko fic for y’all. Found this one was kinda longer but one of my better ones :)

This one kinda plays off a previous plot of one of my past ones but just hang in there. This one will for sure tickle your feels, especially for the protective grump boy and innocent sweet girl trope we all love.

Here we go: 1500+ word count, Zuko is 19, girl is like 17, feel like they would be aged up in this scenario, not really following plot, stanning the long Zuko hair. 

TW: Nothing really, kinda weird gross men sexually talking and broken bone and burns but thats about it. 

OK HERE WE GO, IMAGINE THIS.....

So Zuko and Iroh are out at sea in the lower quarters mapping out their next route. Zuko is over the map and Iroh is sitting comfortably drinking his tea. They hear scrambling and shouts on the main deck of the boat. Zuko shoots up and a guard swings open the door, panting, he alerts them of a ship wreck. Zuko and Iroh move to the upper deck and look out into the water, where there was a demolished sinking ship a few yards away. Out of nowhere, crew members collectively called out and pointed to a person clinging to a broken piece of board. Zuko commanded to bring the survivor aboard. The crew lowered a paddle boat down to the water and hauled aboard the lone figure, they hardly moved. While this happened, upon the main deck, Zuko and Iroh discussed what could’ve happened to the ship and concluded pirates. They turn around and head towards the paddle boat being hoisted up, the crew members empty out and carry the individual on board and onto the ground. Zuko approached and knelt down, it was a girl, soaking wet, her clothing was tattered, ripped, her breathing was ragged and shallow. He ordered a crew member to take her below deck, leave her in his chamber for the night and to bring her water, a robe and a blanket. Zuko spoke with Iroh, staying above deck that night and agreed it would be good to get some information. He could take on whatever came his way but being prepared never hurt anyone.

Zuko made his way below deck the next morning and ordered the guards to leave as he entered his chamber with some tea and rice for the girl. He opened the door and saw her with a blanket around her shoulders. She was in a red robe, holding her empty water cup standing in front of a mural on the wall. Her head spun quickly towards him and he motioned his hands upward carefully and told her he meant no harm. She kept her eyes trained on him and he walked over, sat down at the table and asked her to join him. She wearily took a seat as he handed her the tea and rice, then asked her about what happened. She was very quiet and quick to the point but confirmed his suspicions about pirates. She seemed quite rattled, he could imagine what she had seen and endured, but he could respect someone who knows how to keep their wits afterwards too. She didn’t tell Zuko much about herself when he’d asked, staying very silent, shy, almost, innocent. He told her he would let her go at the closest town, he explained they shouldn't carry passengers on this boat, only prisoners, so they had to find something fast. Quickly cutting off their conversation, the boat came to a halt that stumbles both of them. Zuko tells the girl to stay down in the chamber while he goes and checks what caused the sudden stop.

Zuko emerges from the lower quarters onto the main deck to see a Fire Nation ship boarding his own. As he walks over to his uncle, General Zhao comes into view. Zuko grits his teeth and asks what's the meaning of the hold up, Zhao smugly informs him that all passing ships need inspection and that this boat was no exception. Iroh plays neutral and excuses Zuko's mannerism, inviting him for some tea, hoping to get him talking and forgetting about this “routine” check. The men sit and talk for some time. A while ago Zhao had asked for something stronger than tea, so out came an old ginger liqueur. The three men drank away, Zhao going to town, Iroh only having a couple drinks, while Zuko had none, all thrown over his shoulder. With the bottle almost gone and the conversation dying, Zuko was ready to get this man off his ship.

They all get up and prepare to escort General Zhao off the ship, with many thanks and happy gestures leading them towards the other ship, the man laughs and says, not so fast, and insists on continuing his inspection. Zuko clenched his fists, tries to keep cool. but that's out the window as he watches him make his way down the stairs to the lower deck. He follows down hastily and catches him poking at crates in the hallway, Iroh is quickly behind him.

Zuko catches up with Zhao and impatiently insists he is wasting everyone's time. Zhao turns a lazy head to Zuko, heavy eyelids and slurred speech explaining he’s almost done, turns his eyes towards Zuko's quarters, and only takes one step before Zuko is in front of him, chest to chest blocking his way. Stone cold face, he says there’s nothing for him to inspect, that is his private quarter where nobody is to enter. General Zhao stops for a second and laughs. But Zuko doesn’t laugh. The laugh turns into a chuckle and dies quickly, Zhao asks if Zuko is hiding anything, but there is no response. His face was flat, no emotion. General Zhao lights up and accuses him of hiding something, or someone. Zuko stared at him as a warning. Zhao took a small step back, looking down the hall at his shut door, asking if it was a girl. Maybe someone he picked up to play with or to keep entertained from a local city. Zhao groaned in a repulsive manner, Zuko felt his rage turning over inside him.

Meanwhile, down the hallway on the other side of the door, the girl sat on the floor, tea in hand, alone, scared, huddled in the blanket, awaiting word from the boy who had spoken to her earlier, who gave her a bit of ease.

General Zhao pushed at Zuko, Asking if she was just hiding back there to keep his bed warm. Zuko's eyes could set towns on fire with the amount of burning hatred for this man. Zhao told him if he ain’t leaving her with some bruises or tears then he ain’t doing it right. Zuko stared at him wide eyed, like a dragon ready to rip apart its next prey, when Zhao put a hand on Zuko's shoulder, then leaned in close and asked zuko to give him a share of the girl back there, that he’d be quick with her. He snapped, and Iroh saw it, but before he could do anything Zuko was quick and grabbed General Zhao around the wrist and elbow and began to burn the spots he held, Zhao screamed and Iroh yelled for Zuko to stop, but everything was just a blurb of sound until the crack of General Zhao forearm snapping over Zuko's knee brought him back. Stunned silence fell for only a second. Zuko released the man and he fell to the ground with a loud wail, his arm broken, flopping about covered in blood and burns. Guards began running and flooding down the steps.

The girl shot up, hearing the screaming coming from close outside the door and running above head, she began to panic. She couldn’t do another sinking ship, but this ship wasn’t sinking, it wasn’t hit. She was told to stay put but was torn, risking seeing what was going on or staying hidden.

Few of General Zhao’s men came down as well as Zukos, Zuko said he was much too intoxicated and had fallen, commanding them to take the waist of a man off his ship. As they did, Iroh stood by his side, eyes closed, not one word. Zuko was quiet, but said it was nothing a basic water tribe healer couldn’t fix. flexing his hands and calming his breath, they heard the creek of the door open behind them, Iroh and Zuko carefully turned around, the girl stood half in the doorway. She looked so vulnerable, so small and defenceless. Zuko's heart fell a bit, he couldn’t stop the thought of if Zhao's ship had found her first, he balled his fist at the thought, the things he was saying to him mere minutes before, spirits, his face contorted for a second with anger, wanting to break his other arm. The girl said nothing, Zuko slowly walked towards the girl and motioned Iroh to go on the main deck and man for a while.

The girl and Zuko went back into his quarters, keeping the door open, he explained to her what the plan was, he tried to make it so clear that it was safer for her below deck but she was free to do as she pleased, so she may roam the main deck for a short time if she wished. He told her he would bring her some food and water whenever she wanted, and he had offered to be her personal escort into the first nearby town to buy her some clothes. Zuko wasn’t going to tell her what had happened in the hallway or what things were said. But, he did offer for her to remain on his ship if she pleases, he had made a promise to keep her safe, and that was exactly what he was going to do.

#prince zuko #zuko fanfic #zuko x reader #atla #atla fanfic #grumpy x sunshine #protective #fire nation #super protective #protective fluff #Zuko #zuko fan #avatar zuko #fluff #zuko fluff #zuko protective #imagine #oneshot

[mugentakeda]

better safe than sorry

#katara is so shifty eyed and protective of all her friends i think its really cute......... #i was thinking about the way zukos face shifted when iroh yoinked him and made myself sad #also PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEE dont tag as zu///tara ... #i mean i guess you could interpret this as that but anytime i post katara zuko things assume zuko is a gayboy. Idk #but yeah!!!! quick little comic of an idea i had hahaha.... #she reminds me of luffy in the way that as soon as she sees you as a friend she would kill and die for you #beyond limits comprehensible by the feeble human mind. #katara #zuko #iroh #avatar the last airbender #atla #alicias art

[yvainart]

cw blood

the theory that sokka died protecting korra from red lotus (cover me in roses holden laurence starts playing in the background)

#and maybe protecting zuko too #zukka #zukka fanart #zuko x sokka #avatar zukka #zuko #sokka #avatar zuko #avatar sokka #my art #sokka avatar the last airbender #atla sokka #atla zuko

[istehlurvz]

jet attack, sokka protect

#atla #avatar the last airbender #jet #jet atla #sokka #sokka atla #zuko #firelord zuko #atla grown up #jetko #zukka #ambassador sokkas no good very bad day protecting the firelord #jets just happy to get a couple hits in before being promptly reminded that zukos a REAL GOOD FIREBENDER #a real good firebender with an ounce of restraint so #lucky him lol

[posalis]

Do you ever think about Zuko acting as a human shield for Sokka? Because I do. A lot. (x)

#atla #avatar the last airbender #sokka #zuko #sokka gif #zuko gif #zukka #zukka gif #gifset #collecting zukka crumbs #the first 4 gifs is why azula knew zuko would protect katara at all cost bc i said so #protective zuko is my favorite thing ever if you didn't know #azula #and sokka instinctly going right behind him #the trust and the care of it all!! #they also work so well together but that's another post

[sufferingsokkatash]

idiot in love!zuko would subtly make the nightly campfire bigger if he thought sokka seemed cold, hoping he might notice and somehow figure out that zuko liked him.

idiot in love!sokka would notice one night and then run into the woods screaming because he thinks it’s nini’s ghost come to warm herself by the fire.

#zukka #poetic justice is zuko running after him to protect him from himself and getting stuck in a hole #silly little fluff post

[multifandombullshitbabes]

have we ever thought abt the fact that zuko is literally azula's older brother. like she's his little sister. that's his little sister. throughout a big, big part of atla plot, he was actively running away, scared of his little sister killing him because he KNEW she would/could. can you imagine that? your little sibling, wanting more your father's approval than your companionship to the point of death? every time they fought, zuko was fighting his baby sister. azula was fighting her big brother. this is making me so sick. they were 16 and 14 years old.

#avatar the last airbender #atla #atla zuko #atla azula #zuko #azula #hey look i posted a thing #the absolute maddening grief of it all. like what do u mean??? thats his lil baby sister!!! what the fuck!!! #when she was a bby he was probably so protective and they were so small n they must have loved each other then #before the responsibilities ozai put on them. before all that. they were siblings. they loved each other. #until they were taught that did not matter. zuko learned that it did again #despite all the pain of it #azula actively ran away from learning it from feeling that pain #because she would rather be hated and feared and powerful than to ever be weak ever #this is so heartbreaking #i think this hits especially hard cuz me n my sis are like 2/3 years apart in age. like. i could not imagine having to fight her to the dea #i just couldnt. i rly rly couldnt

[transboysokka]

I’ve been thinking about this for a couple days and the original ending of the show is great and perfect and it Had to Be That Way with Aang sparing Ozai’s life

But I really want Sokka to kill Ozai

I want him to one day find out exactly how bad he messed Zuko (and Azula) up and I want him not to be able to take it anymore and I want him to just snap and go to Ozai and kill him

And I want Zuko to see it and I want him to see the blood dripping from Sokka’s hands and I want him to smile and feel such intense relief that the man who’s always held so much power over him is finally gone but the I want him to be overwhelmed by a Terrible sense of Guilt that Sokka felt like he had to do that for him

And I want Sokka, King of Repression, to look up over Ozai’s corpse, soaked with the man’s blood, and smile. Because now Zuko is safe. And Sokka will never have a single regret.

#I have a LOT OF FEELINGS ABOUT THIS #don’t tell me Sokka wouldn’t do it bc he’s selfless to a FAULT #that protective instinct he’s know his whole life… #and this would KILL Zuko #AHHHHH I LOVE THIS I MIGHT JUST HAVE TO WRITE IT #atla #text #zukka #greatest hits #100

[muffinlance]

Prompt: Aang didn't know Zuko was raising a baby dragon

Aang tilts his head. He doesn’t lower his staff, because—because Zuko, but he doesn’t try hitting him again, either. At least, not anywhere near his chestplate, which the other boy is very suddenly defending like there’s a second Avatar inside.

“Do you… have something in there?” Aang asks.

“NO!” shouts Zuko, who definitely has something inside his armor. It makes a kind of scrabbly-paws-on-metal sound and then—

“Do you have a dragon in there?” Aang squeals. 

And maybe in retrospect he should have thought more before bouncing towards the fiery teenager, but in Aang’s defense there is the cutest, tiniest, fluffiest little maned dragon head he’s ever seen trying to peek out of Zuko’s neckline. And anyway, the other boy is way too busy backpedaling and trying to push the dragon’s snout back inside to Capture the Avatar, so. So Aang absolutely shoves a hand at the dragon’s nose for it to smell him, because that’s how you greet them—

—Or is that praying mantis-dogs?—

And then there is a Fire Prince squawking and shoving him away, which is definitely not a bending move, but not before a little lizard tongue tickles Aang’s hand which is so cute.

“Uh,” says Sokka, lowering his club. “I. I am not actually sure how I’m supposed to be reacting, here.”

“We’re fighting,” snarls Zuko, who is cupping protective hands over the dragon, and definitely not fighting. The dragon has wormed one stubby little leg and an adorably oversized wing out, and seems enthusiastically set on more. 

Which is the point where Zuko’s uncle finally catches up to them, at his usual leisurely pace. If he wasn’t with Zuko, Aang would maybe think that the older man wasn’t all that invested in catching him.

“Nephew, do you…” And then he catches sight of the dragon.

Zuko pales.

“Hello, Uncle Backup,” says Sokka, grabbing Aang and Katara’s arms. “And that’s our cue to go go go.”

Zuko chases them. Because he’s Zuko.

Zuko… gets ahead of them. Which is not very chase-y?

Zuko vaults into Appa’s saddle ahead of them and holds his hands up as Katara threatens him with a hovering stream of water. He… doesn’t seem to be leaving, or attacking, and his uncle is running after them way faster than Aang is used to, so. Yip-yip?

Katara and Sokka sit down, once Zuko’s uncle looks very small under them. Zuko keeps his hands up. The baby dragon is flapping its free wing appreciatively in the rushing air. And chirruping really cutely.

“So,” says Sokka, slowly. “You… needed a ride?”

“I don’t—” Zuko starts to shout, before lowering his volume, even if his tone is exactly the same. “I don’t need a ride.”

“Uh-huh,” says Sokka, even more slowly. 

Zuko continues to keep his hands up. His dragon is trying to squirm the rest of the way free, and has decided that gnawing at his chest plate is the way to do this. It’s making pretty good progress against the black and red paint. The metal, not so much.

Aang keeps glancing back from Appa’s head. “You, um,” he says, suddenly realizing that You seemed scared will probably just lead to more shouting. And fire. Which there has been a really noticeable lack of, and Aang kind of wants to encourage that. 

“Did your uncle not know about the dragon?” he asks, instead.

“Uncle is the Dragon of the West,” Zuko says, more quietly than Aang has ever heard him say anything. And also like it’s a full explanation. But judging by the equally confused looks on Katara and Sokka’s faces, this isn’t just another thing he’s missed during the past hundred years. 

The baby dragon huffs at its lack of progress. And flops, like an over-cooked and very dejected noodle, against Zuko’s chest. 

Zuko swallows. And stops glaring at any of them, because he’s no longer meeting their eyes. He lowers his hands, slowly, and works a shoulder strap free. It’s enough for the dragon to puddle limply down into his lap, where it curls into a very alert spring. 

“Do you know how someone gets the title dragon?” Zuko says. “By killing a dragon. Uncle thought he killed the last two. And father was—he was so mad, not that uncle killed the last, but that he killed two. That he didn’t leave some glory for the rest of our family.”

Sokka clears his throat, after the obligatory awkward silence. “Your family is… kind of messed up, huh?” 

“What was your first clue,” says the Fire Prince, his scarred face deadpan.

His very prominently scarred face.

Oh. 

Katara crosses her arms. Which makes her look grumpier, but she’s not able to bend as quickly like that, so Aang knows she’s feeling less going-to-waterwhip-you grumpy and more prove-me-wrong grumpy. 

“If killing it would be so glorious,” she asks, “why haven’t you?”

“It— She— She’s just a child. It wouldn’t be honorable,” Zuko says, straightening his back.

“Uh-huh,” says Sokka.

But Aang. Aang grins. “Hey! I’m a child, too!”

The Fire Prince groans, and drops his face into his knees. His dragon climbs up onto his head and, using his ponytail approximately like a tree branch, stretches both her wings out, and lifts her little nose to the wind.

(You can also read this and other prompts on AO3.)

#Sokka: no but really why are you in this saddle #what is the plan here #Zuko: groaning intensifies #the AU where Zuko joins the Gaang early because he needs to put his dragon into Avatar-protected daycare #also the AU where Uncle keeps trying to get close enough to explain but Zuko is Really Good at hustling the Gaang into the saddle #they make GREAT time to the North Pole #Uncle: I JUST WANT TO TALK #Toph: COME BACK WITH A WARRANT #did she join the Gaang early too? #who knows! not me! #Avatar The Last Airbender #atla #Zuko #Aang #Sokka #Katara #Iroh #ficlet

[a-todd-illustration]

I will literally never get over the kids™ + Zuko, I’m devouring these crumbs of content (yes I did just spend half an hour scrolling through your account)

Then have some more! Protective Zuko fighting off a thief in the night

#myart #fanart #avatar the last airbender #atla #avatar #avatar au #atla au #zuko #protective zuko #dadko #caregiver!zuko #firebender #angry #aang #sokka #katara #toph #tiny gaang

[fuckyouozai]

the storm is such a great episode for many reasons but i always come back to iroh telling the soldiers directly that he looked away when zuko was burned. zuko screams! iroh looks away and zuko screams, letting us imagine the horror of the scene before him

i think when he says that to the crew, it’s not about literally the fact that he closed his eyes and turned away (tho it is), it’s an admission of guilt. it’s saying i did nothing. at any point along this whole scenario unfolding, iroh could’ve stepped in to try and do damage control. he’s the dragon of the west! he’s the fire lord’s older brother! are we supposed to believe there was nothing he could do to protect zuko?

it’s another proof, in my opinion, that lu ten’s death didn’t change iroh as much as we like to think. he still submitted to the authority and supremacy of the fire lord and the fire nation, even at the cost of a 13 year old boy. he carries that shame with him, and it’s one of the things that propels him into his OWN growth in book 2, when he starts to realize that zuko is growing into a man who deserves a life outside of the hate and fear and paranoia of their family

iroh looked away last time zuko was hurt and he KNOWS that if zuko returns, he will be hurt again. at the end of book 2 this time he refuses to stand down and look away. and zuko makes the “wrong choice” but zuko is 16 and abused by his father! iroh is a full grown ass man and he still needed this teenager to show him the truth of the lie he’s been fed his entire life.

anyway that’s one of the reasons zuko begging for iroh’s forgiveness in sozin’s comet is so insanely painful. zuko did it all by himself, and in doing so, he redeemed IROH. not the other way around! how could be possibly have been angry! he was so sad and he was so afraid because HE felt like he failed zuko! 

#iroh #zuko #say it with me #if iroh returned to the fire nation to protect zuko WHY! DIDNT! HE PROTECT ZUKO!

[pizzaboat]

I really do wanna know what happened after Zuko revealed that Azula lied about the Aang's death

I don't believe Azula got off with no consequences. If Ozai will snap at her for annoying him, he won't be merciful after finding out she deceived him and brought Zuko back into the Palace against his orders just "because"

And Ozai asking why Azula would lie about Zuko killing Aang and the best he can come up with is "because the Avatar isn't dead. He's alive."

Which doesn't actually address Azula's motivation at all because she wouldn't have known that a bolt of lightning wouldn't kill Aang.

I don't think Zuko knew why she'd help him, so he skipped ahead to the cynical section of her motivations which she revealed to him after he made it clear he wasn't sure if Aang was dead or not

Zuko dumped Azula in it, and Ozai is an asshole so I'm curious about how that confrontation went down between Azula and Ozai

#the only thing protecting her was her being his only heir at that point #Azula #Zuko #Ozai #azula deserved better

[eponastory]

I know you most likely already realized this, but I was just thinking about Aang as a father in LOK, and realized something. If Katara ended up with Zuko and eventually had children together, Zuko would likely end up being a better father than Aang. Aang never even met his parents, and only had instructors as parental figures. They're like parents but mostly just in the way that a school teacher would be. But Zuko understands what good parents and what bad parents look like because he knows what his own parents are like. His memories of Ursa and Iroh would be his guide to what you SHOULD do for a child, and Ozai is an example of what you should NOT do. Zuko doesn't have the pressure of repopulating firebenders because firebenders aren't virtually extinct, so there wouldn't be as much (if any) pressure to pay unfairly extra attention to one child over the other. Zuko knows what it's like to be neglected by a parent that's supposed to love because of something you can't control. Aang clearly doesn't, hence why he neglected Bumi and Kya II in the first place. Zuko also has experience with Azula, and would know to recognize any bad signs of sibling jealousy and/or hatred, and put an end to it because he knows what bad sibling dynamics look like.

I feel like he would also be a better husband to Katara. He's not as naive as Aang when it comes to marriage; Zuko has the experience of growing up with two married parents, and would know what not to do. Katara would relax better because the distribution over who watches the kids would be more fair, as Zuko would give them ALL attention. While Aang made Katara jealous from always being around the Air Acolytes (in the comics), I feel like Zuko would not give polite attention to women who are rude to Katara/flirting with him because in the show, Zuko knows exactly how hurtful it feels for a romantic partner to flirt with/give polite attention to people who are obviously pursuers. Imagine being in an alternate dimension where Zutara was the main endgame couple, and we get to see their parental dynamics in LoK. There would probably be a flashback of Katara getting worked up about one of their children, and Zuko would ease her into calming down because he sees a solution that she didn't.

Aang's issues are more than he doesn't know. He is selfish by nature. Selfish parents aren't good parents. I know this for a fact. It's an endless cycle of 'It's your fault' or 'what about how I feel' every time you try to say something. It's not fun, and it's damaging. I can totally see Aang using this behavior as a way to get what he wants. As far as him being naive... yes. He is very naive and doesn't take anything seriously.

Like the war, for instance. He was only there for the last year of it. He wasn't born into the war like Zuko, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Suki. They aren't naive. They know what war is like. Toph is the same age as Aang, and she is much more mature than he is. He's got this idea that killing anyone is bad, but he is responsible for a lot of deaths. Honestly, he has a kill count from the Fire Nation attack on the NWT, and a lot of people overlook that for some reason. Actually, the show overlooks it because Aang is the Hero, and it's okay if he killed people. So, when all is said and done, all of the things that he does afterward is overlooked too. It's a huge writing flaw with the show. So how does this translate to him as a parent?

It makes him a hypocrite.

Plain and simple.

He's so focused on reviving the Air Nomads that he has little knowledge on what they actually believed. What we are given is a few Taoist, Hindu, and Buddhist proverbs to go off of. Then, it's completely disregarded (disrespected as well) for 'Love'. This 'Love' is actually deep infatuation fueled by jealousy and possessive behavior. Which is actually frowned upon by the three religions mentioned above. It is a 'poison' to the spirit. And disconnects you from being enlightened (I think that is what the proverbs/scriptures are eluding too, if I'm wrong, please do not hesitate to explain, I'm super interested in cultures and eastern religions) or granted a place in Heaven (or their version of it). Letting go of all earthly possessions is common place in most religions. Aang does not do this. But I digress.

So, while there is the Nature vs Nurture aspect of parenting... where Katara does most of the Nurturing because that is how her character is written post-war and LoK. Notice how is said Written. Written by two misogynistic men who stripped her of a lot of her characteristics from the original run of the show. This is the problem. And it's the same with Aang. I can't take him seriously because he doesn't take any of it seriously. Especially with his children. He's not a serious character. He acts like he's serious, but he never really left the 12 year old boy behind to mature. Probably because in his fictional relationship with Katara, she enables him to keep doing what he always does. Which is to not grow. Relationships grow sour when the two people in them do not grow. It's not really about who grew up with parents at that point because it's the current parents that are the ones that should be to blame.

Now on to Headcanon space...

Zutara is a Headcanon ship. Did it almost happen? Oh yes I believe it did because the writing supports it heavily and Bryke's actions post show also scream 'lairs'. Sorry, but I have a pretty good Bullshit metor and Bryke set it off big time by their immature behavior.

But I digress.

Zuko grew up with a Narcissistic Sociopath as a Father and a Mother who was caught in the middle of a choice she was essentially forced to make. Ursa was also forced to forget her own parents never existed after she married Ozai. This is all canon, by the way. Her life before her marriage was great, but then it was taken away so she had nothing left but her morals and beliefs. However, while she loved both of her children, her influence on Zuko is essentially what made him who he is. Ursa didn't get to influence Azula like she did Zuko. Why? Because of Ozai.

Ozai pit his children against each other. This was apparently a Fire Nation Royal Family tradition because it sounds like Azulon did this with Iroh and Ozai as well. This kind of parenting style is abusive to its core. What Ozai did to Zuko isn't neglect... it's straightforward abuse and control. How do you make a child do what you want? You hurt them, or you take something away from them. Ozai both hurt Zuko and took away his home by banishing him. If Zuko wants to go back home, he has to find and capture the Avatar. It's that simple, but at the same time, it's also near impossible.

Flash forward to Canon Zuko and we see he has one child and he is a very loving father. Actually, he's the best father in the show. His experiences with growing up as the not so favorite child has made his choice to have one child easy. Probably because he and his spouse had a less than perfect relationship. This also may have influenced him to be protective of Izumi (as we can see he's still protective over her even at 90 years old) because of the loveless relationship his parents had. It was enough to damage him deeply when it came to relationships. This is likely also why he had trouble with Mai as well.

Headcanon space now...

Zuko loving Katara is what makes the difference here. Love is giving your partner the freedom to make their own choices and support them. As long as there is good communication, trust, and honesty. Something Maiko does not have, by the way. So it stands to reason that even with Nature Vs Nurture in the way of parenting, both win here. I'll tell you why Zuko's relationship with his parents here have no effect on why he would choose to have more children with Katara.

Because if written well, it's a very good relationship between them. We already know they work well as a team. The show gives us this. We know that Zuko absolutely cares about Katara. The show also gives us that. We also know they become lifelong friends. So why do they make great parents?

Because they rely on each other.

It has nothing to do with how they were raised individually, but everything to do with how they support each other narritively. They trust each other to make good decisions together. They rely on being honest with each other. They also communicate with each other. This by itself is the building blocks for a healthy and stable relationship. With that in mind, parenting is easier. There is no need to be afraid of becoming a bad parent because they hold each other accountable. It's a deep relationship. Having multiple children is easier because it is a loving relationship. There's no conflict besides the silly little arguments over simple things that happen all the time. It's just an overall healthy dynamic.

And that is what appeals to Zutarians.

While it was almost canon, I'm glad it isn't because Bryke would definitely not get it right. They tried to make Korra and Mako happen out of spite because they believe Zutara is toxic. It's not. Their children would turn out absolutely fine because Zuko would not change a thing about Katara. It's in the show. He doesn't try to change her because that's not his job. His job in TSR is to let her find closure. He offers it to her because he cares about her. Bottom line.

Anyway, I probably forgot what you said at this point because I just tend to go on and on, but I tried my best to stay on topic... ADHD is both a blessing and a curse.

#parenting is not about the past as long as you have a good partner #a bad relationship will force a parent to make decisions to protect their child. #if Zuko was like his father his partner would be the one making the hard decisions to protect their child. #if mai is Zuko's wife then it was not a good relationship. #zutara #relationships #parenting #anti bryke #anti aang

[ehliena]

Headcanon that Ozai has been using that letter from Ursa (the one from The Search) to manipulate Azula for years. He knows it's a lie, but Azula didn't know that, and Azula was a kid and believed that everything Ozai said was the truth.

He probably told her something like: don't tell anyone I told you because this information is only for grown ups but you get to know because you're special. And ofc she'd believe him, he's her dad.

Azula could see how Ozai was treating Zuko and she could understand that he did it because Zuko was not his son. Similarly, she could think that her mother didn't love her because Ursa didn't love Ozai.

Azula was an impressionable child and was raised by Ozai to be a war machine, she had no one else.

#headcanon #azula #ozai #ursa #fire family #zuko #avatar last airbender #avatar: the last airbender #protect Azula

[seawitchkaraoke]

I still have so many emotions about Azula, specifically 11 year old Azula, who gets left behind by her brother and her uncle and is then, for the next three years, entirely alone in the palace with her father.

Like sure, the servants are there and she has Ty Lee and mai (though both of them must have left at some point in those three years, we don't know when), but that's not what I'm talking about. She is entirely, entirely without any protection from her father - not that she ever had all that much.

Here's the thing: Imagine you are Azula. You grow up and you know your mother loves your brother more than you (''my own mother thought I was a monster''). You know she cares about Zuko, she will comfort Zuko, she might even protect Zuko. You are certain she will not protect you (is Azula right about this assessment? It doesn't matter. Ursa's actual intentions aren't relevant in the face of what Azula perceives as true).

Your uncle isn't there and in his letters and gifts he shows that he too, does not care about or understand you. He sends Zuko a knife and a thoughtful message. He sends you a doll, that you burn.

Your father is ambitious and cruel and will not accept less than perfection. Luckily, you are a prodigy. Luckily, your brother is not. In contrast to him you can shine, you can burn so bright, you are safe as long as Zuko falls behind you. You are two years younger but you have to be better, you can never allow yourself to make a mistake where your father can see. It's okay though. Zuko is really bad at bending and even worse at lying. He should hide his mistakes if he can't stop making them. He's an idiot,, so he doesn't. You convince yourself you are happy about this.

Your father miscalculates and your grandfather orders your brother killed. You could let this happen. But if you do, you'll lose your shield against your father plus you like seeing him mess up. You pretend that's the only reason you warn him. It's not like you actually care about him.

Your mother does Something and the next day she is gone, your grandfather is dead and your father is on the throne. It's fine. She was useless anyway. She killed Azulon to protect your brother. You try not to wonder if she would have done the same thing for you. You are 9 years old.

Iroh comes back and does nothing. You continue to be perfect and Zuko continues not to be. It's going great. You are a prodigy and your father loves you. As long as you don't mess up.

Zuko is an idiot. Iroh is a worse idiot. Your uncle let's your brother into a war meeting and of course Zuko can't keep his mouth shut.

When your father burns your brother's face, your uncle looks away. Your brother, who is kind and thoughtful and liked by the servants and loved by his uncle gets half his face burned off and no one steps in.

Your uncle looks away, but you can't afford that kind of weakness. You look and you smile. This is good. You want the throne. With your brother disgraced, no one will stand in your way.

Your brother gets banished and with him goes your only protection against your father. Your uncle leaves too, but it hardly matters. He didn't care enough to protect Zuko, he wouldn't have protected you anyway. You'll just have to be even more perfect to make your father proud of you.

You are 11 years old and you are alone.

#avatar #atla #a:tla #azula #there is also the popular headcanon that azulon actually ordered ozai to kill azula #and she lied and said it was zuko bc she didn't think her mother would try to save her #so. if you wanna make this even worse.... #essentially though what i am saying here is #azula saw that being liked and being loved did nothing to protect zuko #so she became feared instead #my heart just breaks for her

[hanadoesstuffwrong]

Wait, what do you mean Zuko and Katara don't get married and usher in a Golden Age???

You mean to tell me they didn't just win back THEIR kingdom together?!?!?

Excuse me sir that is his Queen!

#Zuko: Katara won the Agni Kai so technically she should also sit on the throne #Fire sages: Well actually- #Katara sitting on his lap: Did he stutter? #sorry but was 'the king sacrificed himself to protect the queen so she in turn brought their enemies to their knees before reviving him' #too metal for ur show abt magic martial arts?? #watching the last agni kai like hey which hozier song is this?? #zutara #zukoxkatara #my posts #zuko #katara #atla