zuko is a baby, change my mind

[amixiifish]

ao3 to tumblr

Hey guys! Amixii and Fish here. We decided that we would start up a tumblr for teasers, ficlets and other things. This will be dedicated to A:TLA- we have other accounts for our other fandoms. This is our author account, but we have personal accounts, too- @amiciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii and @dafishi.  

Our ao3 accs: 

amixii10

DaFishi 

Miraculous Ladybug tumblr: @miraculous-ladybug-bitches

Hamilton tumblr: @queen-eliza-schuyler

[amixiifish]

Hey! i recently started reading your fic and was wondering if its on ao3 or any other fanfic website??? im new to tumblr and navigating it to find the next chapter is a little tiresome but i'll gladly suffer though that for your amazing content :)

Because I forgot whether I answered you or not, yes we have ao3 accounts. We go by DaFishi and amixii10

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 66:

Zuko starts to rush forward but stands still when he realizes what had happened.

“Uncle, I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me. But I want you to know, I am so, so, sorry, Uncle. I am so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don't know how I can ever make it up to you. I left you and betrayed you. But I'll-”

Zuko was sobbing at this point and feels them get harsher as Iroh pulls him close and hugs him tight, a few tears slipping from his eyes too.

“How can you forgive me so easily? I thought you would be furious with me,” Zuko says, choking on his tears.

Iroh clutches him tighter. “I was never angry with you. I was sad because I was afraid you might lose your way with me gone.”

Zuko looks off to the side for a moment. “I didn’t lose my way but that’s only because I had friends.”

Iroh lets him go to look him in the eye. “Friends can only help, Zuko. You did it on your own. And you did it by yourself. And I am so happy you found your way here.

Zuko lets out a wet laugh. “It wasn't that hard, Uncle. You have a pretty strong scent.”

Iroh grins. “Like the scent those boys left on you, no?”

Zuko flushes. “Uncle, please no.”

Iroh laughs. “Just know if those boys ever hurt you, they will know why I am known as the Dragon of the West.”

Zuko smiles. “I would expect nothing less.”

***

A squirrel runs along a branch before cutting to an aerial view of the rock formation. 

Birds fly past as Momo and Aang sleep on the rock formation. 

Aang slowly wakes up and yawns. 

He drowsily sits up and notices something.

Aang squints at something in the distance. “Wait. Is it just me, or are those mountains getting bigger?”

Momo chitters, grabbing a berry to eat it. 

Aang bends down and uses airbending to launch himself up. 

A tall tree that Aang lands on is his support to gaze across the vast forest. 

As he looks forward, Momo flies around and lands on his shoulder. 

Aang turns around to show a wake behind the ‘island’.

Aang jumps off the tree, panicking on his face. “They're not getting larger, They're getting closer! The whole island is moving!”

Aang leaps out from the brush and jumps into the water. 

Aang dives down as Momo lands on a branch looking down at where Aang entered the water and chitters. 

Aang swims down to inspect the ‘island’. 

Suddenly, a giant paw moves past him. 

Aang hovers for a moment in shock before swimming up to the surface. 

Aang emerges, gasping for breath, and Momo lands nearby.

“It's amazing, Momo! The biggest animal in the world! I've gotta to swim around and find its face,” Aang gushes.

Momo flies above Aang, who is swimming in the water below. 

***

Zuko sighs. “I hate to say this but Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord.”

Toph frowns. “You mean the Fire Lord.”

Zuko huffs. “That's what I just said!”

Iroh gives him a look before thinking. “Hmmm….”

“We need you to come with us!” Zuko insists.

Iroh puts down his tea cup. “No, Zuko, it won't turn out well.”

Zuko continues to speak. “You can beat him! And we'll be there to help.”

Iroh sighs heavily. “Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could, it would be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord.”

Zuko thinks for a minute. “And then….then you would come and take your rightful place on the throne?”

Iroh smiles at him. “No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko.”

Zuko briefly looks away. “Unquestionable honor? But I've made so many mistakes.”

Iroh nods. “Yes, you have. You've struggled; you've suffered, but you have always followed your own path. You restored your own honor, and only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation.”

Zuko looks down. “I'll try, Uncle.’

“Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?” Toph inquires.

Iroh purses his lips. “Sozin's Comet is arriving, and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord. When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation, so the Earth Kingdom can be free again.”

Realization dawns on Suki’s face. “That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus.”

Iroh smiles. “Yes. Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation, so that when the Fire Lord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there, waiting for you.

Zuko huffs. “I can handle Azula.”

Iroh shakes his head. “Not alone. You'll need help.”

Zuko nods. “You're right. Katara, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?”

Katara grins maliciously. “It would be my pleasure.”

Sokka interrupts them. “What about us? What is our destiny today?”

Iroh looks at him, knowing glint in his eyes. “What do you think it is?”

Sokka ponders it for a second. “I think that, even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet.”

Toph nods. “And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us.”

Jet grins. “We’ll kick some Melon Lord butt.”

Toph and Jet fist bump and the heavy mood lessens slightly.

Toph and Suki board an eel hound, careful not to make it angry. 

Jet, Sokka and Piandao are on the ground beside it.

Piandao pats the Eel Hounds side before handing Jet a map. “Nothing runs faster over land or swims quicker than a giant eel hound. The air ship base is on a small island just off the Earth Kingdom shore. You should be able to intercept the fleet within a day's journey.”

Sokka bows. “Thank you, Master.”

Jet salutes lazily before jumping on the eel hound.

Sokka hugs Piandao tightly. 

Zuko watches from on top of Appa, next to Katara.

He was terrified.

What is he never saw these people again?

“Wait!” Zuko yells.

He jumps off Appa and goes to the eel hound.

He goes to Toph first.

He holds the young girl tightly in his arms.

“Please don’t die,” Zuko whispers. “I’ve always wanted a good younger sister.”

Toph smiles, but there are tears in her eyes. “Thanks for being such a good big brother.”

Suki grabs Zuko tightly. “I’m gonna miss you, princess.”

Zuko laughs wetly into her neck. “I’m gonna miss you too, Suki.”

And finally came the hard part.

He goes up to Jet and Sokka. 

Sokka looks at him with one look and surges forward to kiss him. “We’re going to make it.”

“You better,” Zuko responds.

Jet hugs him and presses his lips to the top of his head. “We’re going to win, sweetheart. I know it.”

Zuko nods shakily, unable to say anything.

Piandao smiles at him gently as the rest get on the eel hound again.

Zuko walks over to Iroh after hugging Piandao.

Zuko clears his throat. “So if I'm going to be Fire Lord after the war is over, what are you going to do?”

Iroh looks wistfully into the sky. “After I re-conquer Ba Sing Se, I'm going to re-conquer my tea shop, and I'm going to play Pai Sho every day.”

He flips a pai sho piece into Zuko’s hand.

Zuko hugs Iroh close. “Good. You deserve it.”

Zuko gets back on Appa.

The two groups nod at each other, ready for what’s about to come.

Katara smiles gratefully down at Iroh. “Goodbye, General Iroh.”

Iroh smiles at all the children looking at him and feels his heart shatter.

Because they were all children in the end.

Orphaned, abused, neglected, and oppressed kids.

“Goodbye, everyone. Today, destiny is our friend. I know it,” Iroh whispers.

The eel hound sets off followed soon after by Appa. 

The White Lotus wave the kids goodbye.

“They’ll make it,” Piandao says to Iroh.

Iroh smiles.

“I know they will. They must.”

[amixiifish]

I like ur omega zuko fics a lot :)

I like you a lot!

[amixiifish]

Hey everyone!

So today I was doing my shit, checking mail for archive comments when I get one very sad one.

On my fic ‘Trees’ by DaFish (that’s me) this was the comment.

Anon wrote:

Will you PLEASE stop flodding the Omega!Zuko tag with your crappy short stories!!? They’re not even that good and your just clogging up the tag and burying other stories that are decent enough to read!

So that was kind of upsetting.

Guys, please don’t spread hate.

If you don’t like someone’s fic, then don’t read them.

Just don’t ruin their day by insulting their fic they spent TIME and EFFORT making.

Thanks for coming to my TedTalk.

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 65: Reconcile

The moon shone brightly overhead the group as they got closer to the White Lotus campsite.

Bumi lowers a rock wall to allow entrance to the camp.

Bumi steps in and claps his hands. “Well, here we are. Welcome to Old People Camp.”

Zuko swallows thickly. “Where….where is he?”

Piandao looks at him before pointing to a lone tent on the other side of camp. “Your uncle's in there, Prince Zuko.”

Zuko immediately becomes worried at his actual title being used before walking toward the tent. 

Zuko was about to open the tent when he hesitated.

Katara steps forward.

She thinks for a moment before deciding to go simpler. “Are you okay?”

Zuko frowns as he sits. “No, I'm not okay. My uncle hates me, I know it. He loved and supported me in every way he could, and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?”

Katar sits next to him. “Zuko, you're sorry for what you did, right?”

Zuko looks at her, honesty shining in gold eyes. “More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life.”

Katara smiles softly. “Then he'll forgive you. He will.”

Zuko stands up. 

He exhales deeply, a small lick of fire leaving his mouth.

He enters the tent, head held low in respect for his uncle.

“Uncle?” Zuko asks tentatively.

Zuko frowns as he hears snoring. 

Zuko stood at the entrance, a stupid smile forming on his face as he sees a sight he didn’t realize he missed. 

Iroh lay there, deep asleep, snores leaving the old firebender.

Zuko sits next to him, feeling slightly better about seeing his uncle.

He presses a gentle kiss to the old beta’s forehead.

***

Aang flops down. “All these past Avatars. They keep telling me I'm gonna have to do it. They don't get it.”

Momo chitters.

Aang sits up. “You're right. Maybe an Air Nomad Avatar will understand where I'm coming from. I know you can't really talk. Pretending you can just helps me think.”

Momo chitters again.

Aang scowls. “I'm going to pretend I didn't pretend to hear that.”

Aang strats meditating one last time for luck.

The spirit of Avatar Yangchen, a female Air Nomad Avatar, appears before him. 

Yangchen smiles warmly at Aang. “I am Avatar Yangchen, young airbender.”

Aang bows slightly. “Avatar Yangchen, the monks always taught me that all life is sacred. Even the life of the tiniest spider-fly caught in its own web.”

Yangchen nods thoughtfully. “Yes. All life is sacred.”

Aang smiles. “I know, I'm even a vegetarian. I've always tried to solve my problems by being quick or clever. And I've only had to use violence for necessary defense. And I've certainly never used it to take a life.”

Yangchen sighs. “Avatar Aang, I know that you're a gentle spirit, and the monks have taught you well, but this isn't about you. This is about the world.”

Aang feels panic rise slightly. “But the monks taught me that I had to detach myself from the world so my spirit could be free.”

Yangchen looks at him wearily. “Many great and wise Air Nomads have detached themselves and achieved spiritual enlightenment, but the Avatar can never do it. Because your sole duty is to the world. Here is my wisdom for you: Selfless duty calls you to sacrifice your own spiritual needs, and do whatever it takes to protect the world.”

Yangchen vanishes.

Aang feels an oncoming panic attack when Momo jumps into his lap for comfort.

Aang pets him for a moment before collecting himself. “I guess I don't have a choice, Momo. I have to kill the Fire Lord.”

***

Zuko blinks awake when he feels eyes looking at him.

When he finally awakens, he sees Iroh looking him dead in the eye with not a single expression on his face.

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 64: Advice

Aang continues to meditate.

“Avatar Kyoshi. I need your wisdom,” Aang calls.

Momo runs off. 

Kyoshi appears before him, eyes closed.

Kyoshi’s eyes open as she begins to speak, “In my day, Chin the Conqueror threatened to throw the world out of balance. I stopped him. And the world entered a great era of peace.”

Aang eyebrows furrowed. “You didn't really kill Chin. Technically, he fell to his own doom because he was too stubborn to get out of the way.”

Kyoshi’s eyes were calculating. “Personally, I don't really see the difference, but I assure you, I would have done whatever it took to stop Chin. I offer you this wisdom, Aang: Only justice will bring peace.”

Aang groans. “I knew I shouldn't have asked Kyoshi.”

***

Sokka slides up next to Bumi as they all walk around the White Lotus Camp. “So, Bumi….how did you end up escaping your imprisonment in Omashu?”

Bumi snorts. “Escape? I didn't escape. Everybody else escaped. There I was back in Omashu, waiting for just the right moment. I didn't know what or when, but I knew I'd know it when I knew it. An eclipse. That'll do it.”

Flashback to Bumi’s escape

A random Firebender takes firebending stance in front of Bumi when he breaks out of his metal box. “What do you think you're doing?”

The firebenders attempt to blast Bumi, but are powerless due to the eclipse. 

They look at Bumi in horror. 

Bumi cackles. “I’m taking back my city! You've got no firepower. And it's payback time!”

Bumi launches himself forward. 

He lands to use earthbending to lift a large piece of earth up. 

Buildings were being separated by the pillar of earth. 

Bumi easily moves the building with the use of the pillar. 

Firebenders run away, afraid of Bumi. 

Entire buildings begin to move. 

Bumi runs left and stops to earthbend again sending more buildings flying. 

Fire Nation soldiers flee Omashu, terrified of the Earth King.

Bumi turns and looks back to see a giant statue of Fire Lord Ozai. 

Bumi uses earthbending to stop oncoming Fire Nation soldiers. 

He sends small pieces of earth flying forward. 

Two small pillars become embedded in the eyes of the Fire Lord’s statue. 

Two more smaller ones go into the nostrils and large chunks go in the mouth and cheeks. 

Slowly, the base of the statue as it begins to shift and rise. 

Bumi, who was struggling to lift the statue, still did it out of pure spite.

The statue slides down the city as it toppled down. 

The statue falls over the side of the city and breaks the bridge before falling in to the canyon below. 

Bumi looking down at his handiwork and he begins to laugh. 

He starts eating a piece of jennamite in victory.

Current Day

Suki looked amazed by the stort. “Wow! You took back your whole city all by yourself!”

Bumi grins maniacally. “So what about you guys? Did you do anything interesting on the day of the eclipse?”

Jet and Sokka share a look.

Jet looks at his nails. “Nah.”

Sokka shrugs nonchalantly. “No, not really.”

***

Aang was now growing irritated. “I need to look deep inside myself.”

A male Avatar from the Northern Water Tribe, appears before him.

Kuruk looks at him with a grim expression on his face. “I am Avatar Kuruk. When I was young, I was always a go-with-the-flow kind of Avatar. People seemed to work out their own problems, and there was peace and good times in the world. But then, I lost the woman I loved to Koh, the Face Stealer. It was my fault. If I had been more attentive and more active, I could've saved her. Aang, you must actively shape your own destiny and the destiny of the world.”

Aang feels fear bang drums in his chest.

What was he going to do?

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 63: Meditation

Aang continues to meditate.

“Avatar Kyoshi. I need your wisdom,” Aang calls.

Momo runs off. 

Kyoshi appears before him, eyes closed.

Kyoshi’s eyes open as she begins to speak, “In my day, Chin the Conqueror threatened to throw the world out of balance. I stopped him. And the world entered a great era of peace.”

Aang eyebrows furrowed. “You didn't really kill Chin. Technically, he fell to his own doom because he was too stubborn to get out of the way.”

Kyoshi’s eyes were calculating. “Personally, I don't really see the difference, but I assure you, I would have done whatever it took to stop Chin. I offer you this wisdom, Aang: Only justice will bring peace.”

Aang groans. “I knew I shouldn't have asked Kyoshi.”

***

Sokka slides up next to Bumi as they all walk around the White Lotus Camp. “So, Bumi….how did you end up escaping your imprisonment in Omashu?”

Bumi snorts. “Escape? I didn't escape. Everybody else escaped. There I was back in Omashu, waiting for just the right moment. I didn't know what or when, but I knew I'd know it when I knew it. An eclipse. That'll do it.”

Flashback to Bumi’s escape

A random Firebender takes firebending stance in front of Bumi when he breaks out of his metal box. “What do you think you're doing?”

The firebenders attempt to blast Bumi, but are powerless due to the eclipse. 

They look at Bumi in horror. 

Bumi cackles. “I’m taking back my city! You've got no firepower. And it's payback time!”

Bumi launches himself forward. 

Bumi launches himself off the platform. 

Bumi as he lands to use earthbending to lift a large piece of earth up. 

Buildings were being separated by the pillar of earth. 

Bumi easily moves the building with the use of the pillar. 

Firebenders run away, afraid of Bumi. 

Entire buildings begin to move. 

Bumi runs left and stops to earthbend again sending more buildings flying. 

Fire Nation soldiers flee Omashu, terrified of the Earth King.

Bumi turns and looks back to see a giant statue of Fire Lord Ozai. 

Bumi uses earthbending to stop oncoming Fire Nation soldiers. 

He sends small pieces of earth flying forward. 

Two small pillars become embedded in the eyes of the Fire Lord’s statue. 

Two more smaller ones go into the nostrils and large chunks go in the mouth and cheeks. 

Slowly, the base of the statue as it begins to shift and rise. 

Bumi, who was struggling to lift the statue, still did it out of pure spite.

The statue slides down the city as it toppled down. 

The statue falls over the side of the city and breaks the bridge before falling in to the canyon below. 

Bumi looking down at his handiwork and he begins to laugh. 

He starts eating a piece of jennamite in victory.

Current Day

Suki looked amazed by the stort. “Wow! You took back your whole city all by yourself!”

Bumi grins maniacally. “So what about you guys? Did you do anything interesting on the day of the eclipse?”

Jet and Sokka share a look.

Jet looks at his nails. “Nah.”

Sokka shrugs nonchalantly. “No, not really.”

***

Aang was now growing irritated. “I need to look deep inside myself.”

A male Avatar from the Northern Water Tribe, appears before him.

Kuruk looks at him with a grim expression on his face. “I am Avatar Kuruk. When I was young, I was always a go-with-the-flow kind of Avatar. People seemed to work out their own problems, and there was peace and good times in the world. But then, I lost the woman I loved to Koh, the Face Stealer. It was my fault. If I had been more attentive and more active, I could've saved her. Aang, you must actively shape your own destiny and the destiny of the world.”

Aang feels fear bang drums in his chest.

What was he going to do?

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 63: Found

Aang and Momo approach a strange, flat rock-formation. 

Aang carefully examines the rock-formation. 

Aang cautiously enters the clearing.

Aang’s curiosity gets the best of him as he steps into the hexagon. “It's a hexagon. It doesn't seem like normal rock.”

He tries to earthbend but can’t. “It's not made of earth. This is so strange. I wish I had some help right now. I wish I had Roku. I do have Roku! 

Aang takes a deep breath before straying to meditate.

A woosh of wind and Avatar Roku appears in front of Aang. 

Avatar Roku nods, smiling. “You're right, Aang. All the past Avatars, all their experience and wisdom, is available to you if you look deep inside yourself.”

Aang looks around. “So where am I, Roku? What is this place?”

Avatar Roku blinks in surprise. “I….don't know, Aang. But I see you are lost in more ways than one right now.”

Aang sighs. “I am. I need to figure out what to do once I face the Fire Lord.”

***

Zuko, Katara, Suki, Jet and Sokka were sound asleep on Appa's legs and tail. 

Toph, decided to sleep in an earth tent.

Toph suddenly senses something and wakes up. 

“Guys, heads-” Toph yells but is interrupted when a wall of fire surrounds the group.

Zuko immediately takes a firebending stance as Katara draws water.

Jet fosses Suki a knife as he pulls out is his hook swords.

Sokka was about to pull out his sword but holds wine shapes become visible past the fire.

From behind the flames, Piandao, Jeong Jeong, Pakku, and Bumi emerge. 

Bumi grins. “Well, look who's here!”

Zuko runs forward to hug Piandao as Katara and Sokka greet the rest, the others following uncertainly.

Jeong Jeong raises an eyebrow when Piandao hugs Zuko back.

“He is like my child, ok,” Piandao snaps.

Piandao suddenly blanches when he scents Zuko.

“You two scented him without my permission?” Piandao questions Sokka and Jet.

Before they can answer, Katara cuts them off.

“They went through me,” Katara said.

Piandao scowls but nods.

Zuko laughs as Sokka and Jet look like they had just been saved from imminent death.

Honestly though, they probably had.

***

Aang puts his head in his hands. “Everyone expects me to take the Fire Lord's life, but I just don't know if I can do that.”

Avatar Roku looks at Aang with sympathy. “In my life, I tried to be disciplined and show restraint, but it backfired when Fire Lord Sozin took advantage of my restraint and mercy. If I had been more decisive and acted sooner, I could have stopped Sozin and stopped the war before it started. I was weak and didn’t kill him just because he was my alpha. I offer you this wisdom, Aang: You must be decisive.”

Aang groans as Roku disappears.

If Roku was regretting not killing his lover, how can he be so unable to take Ozai’s life?

***

Toph feels the ground, confused. “What's going on? We're surrounded by old people. Shit, are they after us? Zuko, get away from that guy!”

Katara bows to Pakku, “Not just any old people. These are great masters and friends of ours. Pakku.”

Pakku bows back. “It is respectful to bow to an old master, but how about a hug for your new grandfather?”

Katara absolutely squeals with joy. “That's so exciting! You and Gran-Gran must be so happy to have found each other again!”

Katara hugs Pakku so tight, Zuko swears he heard bones crack.

But Pakku was unfazed. 

Pakku laughs warmly. “I made her a new betrothal necklace and everything.”

Sokka runs up to hug Pakku. “Welcome to the family, Gramp-Gramp!”

Pakku gently pushes Sokka away, slightly annoyed. “You can still just call me Pakku.”

“How about Grand-Pakku?” Sokka suggests.

Pakku was not amused. “No.”

Katara introduces Jeong Jeong when Zuko turns to bow to him. “And this was Aang's first firebending teacher.”

Jeong Jeong bows back to Zuko. “Jeong Jeong.”

Sokka bows to Piandao. “Master Piandao.”

Jet quickly follows in greeting. 

Piandao looks at him, still slightly irritated by the fact he was not consulted before Zuko was scent marked, “Hello, Sokka. Jet.”

Suki rubs her temples. “So wait. How do you all know each other?”

Bumi laughs. “All old people know each other. Don't you know that?”

Piandao nods. “We're all part of the same ancient secret society. A group that transcends the divisions of the four nations.”

Zuko puts the pieces together. “The Order of the White Lotus.”

Bumi smiles, happy that Zuko recognized it’s. “That's the one.”

Jeong Jeong clasps his hands behind his back, “The White Lotus has always been about philosophy and beauty and truth. But about a month ago, a call went out that we were needed for something important.”

Pakku looks at Zuko. “It came from a Grand Lotus: your uncle, Iroh of the Fire Nation.”

Toph grins. “Well, that's who we're looking for.”

Piandao nods. “I assumed so. Then we'll take you to him.”

Bumi suddenly pushes everyone out of the way. “Wait! Someone's missing from your group. Someone very important. Where's Momo?”

Zuko chokes on something between a laugh and sob as Suki snickers.

Jet looks appalled and Katara looked seconds away from bashing her head on a rock that Toph would happily provide.

Sokka purses his lips. “He's gone. And so is Aang.”

Bumi pats Sokka’s shoulder, causing him to almost fall. “Oh well. So long as they have each other, I'm sure we have nothing to worry about. Let's go!”

Bumi tears across the landscape with the rest, using his earth bending to make it faster for them all to travel.

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 62: Lost

Sokka snaps his fingers. “Hey, I remember her! She helped you attack us!”

Zuko nods. “Yup. Back in the good old days.”

June hums and spins Zuko around, hands resting on his waist and chin on his shoulder. “Oh great. Where's your creepy grandpa?”

Zuko shrugs off her arm. “He's my uncle. And he's not here.”

June squints at Katara. “Oh. Now I know why you aren’t having any fun. I see you worked things out with your alpha.”

Katara snorts and Zuko starts to flush.

“I'm not his alpha,” Katara says dryly.

“She's not my alpha!” Zuko shrieks.

“He’s ours,” Jet snaps.

June backs off slightly. “Okay, okay. Sheesh. I was only teasing. So what do you want?”

Zuko looks at her seriously. “I need your help finding the Avatar.”

June sips her tea. “Hm. Doesn't sound too fun.”

Zuko locks eyes with her and relaxes a breath of white hot fire, the flames licking June’s face. “Does the end of the world sound like more fun?”

***

Appa and Nyla growl at each other playfully before playing a little tag.

Appa licks Nyla, and they lay down to rest. 

They both stand up attentively as the gang and June walk towards them. 

June holds up a piece of meat for Nyla.

June throws the meat to Nyla before approaching him to pet him. “Nyla. Who's my little, hmm, Snuffly-Wuffly?”

June barely dodges his tongue when he tries to lick her from joy. “Whoa! Careful there. Okay. So who's got something with the Avatar's scent on it?”

Katara jumps onto Appa's back to grab Aang’s glider. “I have Aang's staff.”

June approaches Nyla and holds the staff out in front of him. 

He sniffs it. 

Nyla starts pacing in circles, nose on the ground to pick up a scent.

He keeps walking till he comes back to June.

He lays down and covers his nose.

Zuko looks speculatively at Nyla. “Well, what does that mean?”

June pets Nyla again. “Means your friend's gone.”

Topj rolls her eyes. “We know he's gone. That's why we're trying to find him. Are you actually dumb as shit?”

Zuko hits her in the back of her head and June snickers.

June turns to look at them. “No, I mean he's gone gone. He doesn't exist.”

Zuko’s eyes widen and Toph’s jaw drops.

Concern is etched on both Suki and Katara’s face and Sokka and Jet share a look of worry.

***

Momo chases a squirrel creature in a tree, wringing when it goes out of reach.

Momo chases the squirrel after it comes down and Aang walks around, not understanding what is happening around him.

Aang ponders what’s happening. “Where are we, Momo? Maybe I'm in the Spirit World? But wait. You can see me. We could both be in the Spirit World.”

Aang bends a short gust of wind. “Nope. My bending works. Maybe if we climb to the top of the island, we can figure out where we are.”

***

Sokka rubs his temples. “What do you mean Aang doesn't exist? Do you mean he's….you know, dead?”

June climbs onto Nyla. “Nope. We could find him if he were dead. Wow, it's a real head-scratcher. See ya. “

“Helpful. Real fucking helpful,” Toph says sarcastically.

Zuko stops June. “Wait. I have another idea. There's only one other person in this world who can help us face the Fire Lord. I'll be right back with a smell sample.”

Zuko comes back with a small bag in his hands.

Sokka looks at it, fascinated. “What’s that?”

Zuko looks at it sadly. “It’s my uncles tea bag. Had all kinds of tea and tea pots. It was his favorite thing in the world. I guess I couldn’t let it go after figuring out Uncle escaped.”

Jet snaps to attention. “Wait, he escaped?”

Suki nods. “We saw bounty posters of him when me and Zuko went to throw pies at nobles.”

Toph smiles. “I think it's sweet you kept it but why didn’t you incite me for some of that pie action?”

Nyla jumps forward. 

He carefully examines the bag and sniffs it.

June determinedly pulls on Nyla’s reins. “Let's do this.”

“Hey! Wait up!” Zuko yells.

June quickly grabs a surprised Zuko and puts him on Nyla’s back.

The rest quickly get on Appa. 

Appa’s tail hits the ground with a loud smack as he takes off in the same direction. 

Nyla tears up a hill as Appa flies behind. 

The shirshu jumps over a cliff edge. 

Zuko shrieks I surprise and grabs June’s waist.

“Kinda trying to drive, sweetheart,” June muses.

Zuko glares at her.

Appa and Nyla slowly approach the destroyed Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se. 

Nyla jumps over the muddy field before the rubble.

The Gaang look confused at the rubble. 

Appa lands and Nyla starts digging at the wreckage.

Zuko looks at the wall, confused. “We're going to Ba Sing Se?”

June watches as Nyla starts scratching the wall for a little before coming back to her. “Your uncle's somewhere beyond the wall. Nyla's getting twitchy so he can't be too far. Good luck.”

Zuko turns to join the gaang when June calls, “What, no goodbye kiss?”

Sokka and Jet look slightly irritated but Zuko goes up to June smiling sweetly.

He presses a big love filled kiss onto June’s cheek, stunning the alpha into silence.

Toph snorts as Suki and Katara chuckles.

Sokka nods. “Zuko’s kisses just do that to you.”

Zuko laughs as June manages to control Nyla and run off. “It's been a long day. Let's camp and start our search again at dawn.”

Jet stretches, almost falling off of Appa.

“Sounds good to me.”

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 61: Tavern

Katara, Suki, and Toph turn to stare at Zuko expectantly.

Sokka was sitting and tried to rid himself of bison saliva while Jet gave him a towel from a distance with a disgusted look. 

Zuko sighs. “I don't know. Why are you all looking at me?”

Katara winces. “Well, you are kind of the expert on tracking Aang.”

Toph nods. “Yeah, if anyone's got experience hunting the Avatar….it's you. Sorry, Sparky.”

Sokka tries standing up, but falls back down.

Zuko nods thoughtfully. 

He snaps his fingers. “I know what we’re going to do.”

***

Appa flying along the coast, led by Zuko.

Sokka sighs. “Zuko, I don't wanna tell you how to do your job, but why are we heading towards the Earth Kingdom? There's no way Aang's there.”

Zuko looks more determined than before. “Just trust me.”

Meanwhile, at the Fire Nation

Ozai and Azula travel in palanquins to a ship.

“Come on slowpokes! Faster!” Azula snaps at her palanquin bearers.

Ozai walks out of his palanquin and up the stairs. 

Azula runs behind him and gets on one knee to bow.

Azula pants from running. “Sorry I'm late, father. Good palanquin bearers are so hard to come by these days. So, is everything ready for our departure?”

Ozai faces the ship. “There has been a change of plans, Azula.”

Azula looks slightly worried at her father.  “What?”

Ozai gazed contemplating at the airships. “I've decided to lead the fleet of airships to Ba Sing Se alone. You will remain here in the Fire Nation.”

Azula blanches. “But I thought we were going to do this together.”

Ozai gives her a warning look. “My decision is final.”

Azula rises, anger on her face. “You….you can't treat me like this! You can't treat me like Zuko! Like a filthy omega whore!”

Ozai turns on Azula. “Azula, silence yourself.”

“But it was my idea to burn everything to the ground! I deserve to be by your side!” Azula snaps.

“Azula!” Ozai snarls. She immediately bows her head in respect. 

“Listen to me. I need you here to watch over the homeland. It's a very important job that I can only entrust to you,” Ozai continued.

Azula blinks in surprise. “Really?”

Ozai nods. “And for your loyalty, I've decided to declare you the new Fire Lord.”

Azula lets out a breath of pleased shock. “Fire Lord Azula? It does seem appropriate, but what about you?”

Ozai turns, smirking at the airships while Three Fire Sages put on Ozai’s new royal garments.  

“Fire Lord Ozai is no more. Just as the world will be reborn in fire, I shall be reborn as the supreme ruler of the world. From this moment on, I will be known as the Phoenix King.”

Servants pull up the phoenix emblem behind Ozai.

Soldiers raise the phoenix flags beside the Fire Nation flags. 

Two more soldiers firebend into the base of the flag pole, causing fire to shoot out at the sides. 

The crowd bows before their new king. 

Ozai smirks at the crowd.

At a tavern with Team Avatar

Team Avatar approaches the tavern. 

Inside the tavern, lively music plays. Zuko enters, followed by Katara, Sokka, Jet, Suki, and Toph.

Katara glares at Zuko. “And the reason you've brought us to a seedy Earth Kingdom tavern is what now?”

Zuko points to the bar. “June.”

June is holding a drink. 

A thug tries to attack her, but she makes him fall down and uses him as a footrest. 

Another thug tries to punch her, but she dodges every punch, still holding her drink.

Sokka lights up with recognition. “Oh yeah, that weird bounty hunter with the giant mole.”

Suki frowns. “Mole? Her skin is flawless.”

Sokka shakes his head. “No, she has this giant mole creature she rides around on.”

Zuko nods. “The shirshu. It's the only animal that can track Aang's scent anywhere in the world. It's the one shot we have of finding him.”

The second thug continues punching June. 

She throws her drink into the air, throws the thug at a table, catches her drink, and takes a sip.

Toph steps forward and grins. “I don't know who this June lady is, but I like her.”

Jun seems to notice them and approaches them.

She smirks and leans over to Zuko, lips ghosting his.

“Hi, Zuzu,” she coos. “Decided you want some more fun?”

Sokka and Jet bristle while Katara and Suki bare their teeth.

“Damn, Sparky got some,” Toph cackled.

Zuko flushed as June snickers.

***

Aang wakes up when Momo licks his cheek.

Aang wakes up drowsily, petting Momo’s ears. “Hey, Momo. I just had the strangest dream. Wait.”

Aang squints at his surroundings. “Where are we?”

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 60: Fire Lord

Aang meditates at the beach house porch in front of four candles, some berries, a plate of fruit, and a small cup of water. Momo flies in front of Aang.

Aang strokes Momo’s head. “Hey, Momo. I don't suppose you know what I should do.”

Momo squawks.

Aang sighs. “I didn't think so.”

Aang looks from the beach house to an island.

Momo lays down to rest, and soon Aang falls asleep too after the candles have burnt out.

Aang jolts awake to chanting and walks toward the mysterious island, barely awake with Momo following him.

Aang starts swimming when he reaches the water.

The next morning, Sokka and Jet throw the last of the stuff onto Appa.

Jet dusts off his hands. “Okay, that's everything.”

Toph shakes her head. “No, it's not. Where's Aang?”

Team Avatar runs to the beach house.

“Aang? Aang!” Zuko cried out, panicking from the loss of the boy he considered as pack.

Toph stomps around, throwing open doors. “Come on, lazyass, let's go.”

Suki and Katara run to check one side of the beach house.

Sokka, Jet, and Toph run to check the other side.

Zuko opens a door, but does not find Aang.

Toph shrugs to show Zuko she hasn’t found him either.

Zuko checks the porch, feeling the beginnings of a panic attack.

Jet gently holds him.

He spots Aang's staff as Katara and Suki follow him.

Sokka picks up the staff, “He left his staff. That's so strange.”

Zuko walks onto the porch with Jet. “Aang's not in the house. Let's check the beach.”

The group walks onto the beach.

Sokka points to some footprints. “Look, there's his footprints. The trail ends here.”

Suki folds her arms over her chest. “So, he went for a midnight swim and never came back?”

Katara looks around with concern. “Maybe he was captured.”

Jet examines the footprints. “I don't think so. There's no sign of a struggle.”

Toph snaps her fingers. “I bet he ran away again.”

Sokka shakes his head. “Uh-uh. He left behind his glider and Appa.”

Toph rolls her eyes. “Then what do you think happened to him, oh sleuthy one?”

Sokka puffs up with pride. “It’s pretty obvious. Aang mysteriously disappears before an important battle? He's definitely on a Spirit World journey.”

Zuko frowns. “But if he was, wouldn't his body still be here?”

Sokka deflates. “Oh, yeah. Forgot about that.”

Toph shakes her head. “Dumbass,” she mutters.

“Then he's got to be somewhere on Ember Island. Let's split up and look for him,” Katara said determinedly.

Toph latches onto Zuko's arm.

“I'm going with Zuko! What?! Everyone else went on a life-changing field trip with Zuko. Now it's my turn,” Toph said defensively.

Zuko flushes but laughs anyway.

Sokka and Jet ride on Appa, searching the shores for Aang.

In Harbor City, Suki and Katara approach a group of people gathered in a circle.

“Aang! Aang! Aang!” the crowd cheers.

Shocked, Katara and Suki glance at each other and simultaneously run into the circle.

Actress Aang stood in the center as Actor Toph hoists her onto his shoulders. “Avatar State! Yip-yip!”

The crowd cheers.

Suki and Katara become frustrated by the false lead.

Toph and Zuko weren’t doing any better walking along the beach.

“And then when I was nine, I ran away again,” Toph droned on.

Zuko nods, partially paying attention. “Uh-huh.”

Toph kicks a rock. “I know I shouldn't complain. My parents gave me everything I ever asked for, but they never gave me the one thing I really wanted, their love. You know what I mean?”

Zuko nods. “I do. I know you had a really rough childhood and I can relate more than anyone here. I want to rant about Ozai being a dick later, but right now, let’s really focus on finding Aang.”

Toph grins. “I can’t wait, Sparky.”

Later, back at the beach house, Toph, Zuko, Suki, and Katara sit on the beach house stairs.

Sokka and Jet land Appa below the stairs.

Sokka jumps off Appa after Jet. “Judging by the looks on your faces, I'm guessing you guys didn't find Aang, either.”

Zuko shakes his head. “No. It's like he just….disappeared.”

Jet suddenly looks around. “Hey, wait a minute. Has anyone noticed that Momo is missing, too?”

Sokka turns to Appa. “Oh no! I knew it was only a matter of time! Appa ate Momo!”

Sokka opens Appa’s mouth. “Momo, I'm coming for you, buddy.”

Katara rolls her eyes. “Sokka, Appa didn't eat Momo. He's probably with Aang.”

“That's just what Appa wants you to think,” Sokka hisses, climbing into Appa’s mouth.

Zuko grabs the collar of Sokka’s shirt and pulls him out of Appa’s mouth. “Get out of the bison's mouth, Sokka. We have a real problem here. Aang is nowhere to be found and the comet is only two days away.”

Katara turns to Zuko, eyes frustrated.

“Zuko. What are we gonna do?”

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 59: Melon Lord

The Gaang stands on some rocky cliffs near the beach.

Sokka clasps his hands together. “Gather round, Team Avatar.”

He puts a carved melon on top of a draped mannequin.

“In order to take out the Fire Lord - or in this case, the Melon Lord - our timing has to be perfect,” Sokka explains.

He kneels down on the ground and uses a stick to draw a line heading toward the Melon Lord symbol.

“First, Suki, Jet, and I will draw his fire. Then, Katara and Zuko charge in with some liquidy hot offense, and while the Melon Lord is distracted, Aang swoops in and bam! He delivers the final blow.”

Toph raises a hand, “Uh ... what about me?”

“For now, you're the Melon Lord's forces,” Sokka says.

Toph ponders it for a moment. “So I get to chuck flaming rocks at all of you?”

Sokka shrugs. “Whatever makes the training feel more realistic.”

Toph grins. “Sweetness.”

After a few moments, Toph was surrounded by boulders coated in grease with small bowls of fire set out in front of each boulder.

Toph flails her fists, casting the rocks to move. “Mwah-ha-ha-ha!”

Katara and Sokka look at Aang and Momo who look at Suki and Jet.

Sokka signals to the others to start moving.

Sokka, Jet, and Suki run toward the Melon Lord, but become confronted by stone Fire Nation soldiers, who suddenly rise out of the ground.

Sokka cuts one stone soldier in half and Suki kicks down another one while Jet decapitates the third.

They keep running, but a large burning rock boulder falls out of the sky in front of them.

Suki jumps over the boulder while Jet skillfully manages to slide under before it hits the ground.

Sokka finds himself fallen down just a few inches away from the flaming boulder and jumps up.

“Watch it, Toph!” Sokka yells.

“I am not Toph. I am Melon Lord! Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!” Toph cackles, lighting up more boulders.

Toph lights a second boulder on fire and sends it through the air at Zuko and Katara.

They run around the boulder and become surrounded by a circle of stone Fire Nation soldiers, which they quickly destroy.

The two flash each other a grin before continuing.

“Now, Aang!” Sokka calls.

Aang jumps, preparing to strike the Melon Lord with his glider staff.

Aang looks at the Melon Lord and changes expressions from anger to uncertainty.

When he lands, Aang stops his attack just before smashing the Melon Lord.

He slowly backs away.

Zuko gawks at him. “What are you waiting for? Take him out!”

Aang shakes his head. “I can't.”

Sokka walks up to Aang. “What's wrong with you? If this was the real deal, you'd be shot full of lightning right now.”

Aang bites his lip. “I'm sorry, but it just didn't feel right. I didn't feel like myself.”

Sokka takes out his sword and slices the melon in half.

Aang winces as he hears squishing sounds.

Sokka sheaths his sword. “There, that's how it's done.”

A piece of melon falls on the ground near the Melon Lord.

Momo slurps some melon juice out of the piece.

Aang's face shows horror at the scene.

Later that night, Team Avatar shares a meal outside.

Aang faces away from the rest of the group.

Katara runs out of the house, a scroll in her hands. “I have a surprise for everyone!”

Toph points at her with a grin. “I knew it! You did have a secret thing with Haru!”

Jet, Sokka, Zuko, and Suki look at her weird.

Katara looks at her unamused. “Uh, no. I was looking for cooking pots in the attic, and I found this!”

She unravels the scroll, showing a painting of a happy dark-haired baby playing at the beach.

“Look at baby Zuko. Isn't he cute?” Katara coos.

Everybody except Zuko laughs.

“Oh, lighten up. I'm just teasing,” Katara says, poking Zuko’s side playfully.

Zuko shakes his head, lips pursed. “That's not me. It's my father.”

Katara rolls up the scroll as everyone goes quiet.

Suki looked appalled. “But he looks so sweet and innocent.”

Zuko sighs. “Well, that sweet little kid grew up to be a monster, and the worst father in the history of fathers.”

“But he's still a human being,” Aang blurts out.

Zuko looks shocked before he looks furious. “You're going to defend him?”

Aang raises his hands in mock surrender while standing up. “No, I agree with you. Fire Lord Ozai is a horrible person, and the world would probably be better off without him, but there's got to be another way.”

Zuko narrows his eyes. “Like what?”

Aang perks up. “I don't know but maybe we can make some big pots of glue, and then I can use gluebending to stick his arms and legs together so he can't bend anymore!”

“Yeah, then you can show him his baby pictures, and all those happy memories will make him good again,” Zuko said sarcastically.

Jet and Sokka laugh.

Aang looks at Zuko excitedly. “Do you really think that would work?”

“No,” Zuko says bluntly.

Aang sighs before pacing back and forth. “This goes against everything I learned from the monks. I can't just go around wiping out people I don't like.”

“Sure you can. You're the Avatar. If it's in the name of keeping balance, I'm pretty sure the universe will forgive you,” Sokka said.

Aang turns to Sokka, anger clear on his face. “This isn't a joke, Sokka! None of you understand the position I'm in.”

“Aang, we do understand. It's just-” Katara consoles

“Just what, Katara? What?” Aang snaps.

Katara reels back. “We're trying to help!”

“Then, when you figure out a way for me to beat the Fire Lord without taking his life, I'd love to hear it!” Aang yells, walking away.

Katara walks towards Aang. “Aang, don't walk away from this.”

Zuko puts a hand on Katara’s shoulder. “Let him go. He needs time to sort it out by himself.”

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 58: Training

Zuko blasts at Aang with firebending.

Aang jumps over the sand replica of Ba Sing Se and Zuko destroys the carefully built sand city.

Aang hides behind his Appa sand sculpture.

Aang peeks out from behind the sculpture. “What are you doing?”

Zuko rolls his eyes. “Teaching you a lesson! We didn’t finish training, genius.”

Zuko destroys Aang's Appa sculpture with a fire blast.

Aang jumps back up to the house.

Zuko goes after him, continually firing blasts at him. “Aang, I’m not gonna kill you!”

“No! I’m not training!” Aang calls back petulantly.

Katara comes up from under the water once she stopped laughing and assesses the damage.

“What happened?” Katara question.

Sokka attempts to rebuild his structure. “Zuko's trying to make Aang train. I made a sand sculpture of Zuko and he destroyed it!”

Katara, Toph, Jet, and Suki run after them, the latter dragging Sokka.

Zuko chases Aang onto a tree and sends another fire blast at him, forcing him to jump onto the roof of the beach house.

Zuko subsequently climbs onto the roof with him.

Aang pouts. “Get a grip before I blast you off this roof!”

Zuko facepalms. “Aang, it's just training and I’d like to see you try.”

Zuko blasts fire at him when Aang sticks his tongue out.

Aang slides down the roof and into the house.

He hides behind a dresser.

Zuko breaks the roof with firebending and drops into the room.

He takes a fighting stance and looks around for Aang.

Aang kicks the dresser at him, but Zuko destroys it with ease.

Aang runs into the hall.

Zuko augments fire into the hallway.

Aang clears his part of the hallway from the fire using airbending.

“Enough!” Aang declares.

Aang airbends Zuko out of the house.

Everyone approaches Zuko.

Katara worriedly picks up Zuko, while chiding Aang. “What's wrong with you? You could have hurt Zuko, Aang!”

Aang balks. “What's wrong with me? Nothing!”

Zuko huffs. “Seriously? How can you sit around having beach parties when Sozin's Comet is only three days away? Why are you all looking at me like I'm crazy?”

Aang shifts uncomfortably. “About Sozin's Comet….I was actually gonna wait to fight the Fire Lord until after it came.”

Zuko turns around to look at everyone.

No one would meet his gaze.

“After?” Zuko questions.

Aang nods. “I'm not ready. I need more time to master firebending.”

“And frankly, your earthbending could still use some work too,” Toph agrees.

Aang grimaces.

Zuko folds his arms over his chest. “So, you all knew Aang was going to wait?”

Jet puts a hand on Zuko’s shoulder. “Honestly, if Aang tries to fight the Fire Lord now, he's going to lose. No offense.”

Katara sighs. “The whole point of fighting the Fire Lord before the Comet was to stop the Fire Nation from winning the war, but they pretty much won the war when they took Ba Sing Se. Things can't get any worse.”

Zuko shakes his head. “You're wrong. It's about to get worse than you can even imagine.”

Night Zuko got burned Ozai sits in front of Zuko. “Zuko, what do you know about Fire Lord Sozin?”

Zuko didn’t respond, his eye hurting far too much to form coherent thoughts.

Ozai continued. “When the comet last came, my grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, used it to wipe out the Air Nomads. In a few years, I will use its power to end the Earth Kingdom permanently. We will build a device from which we will rain fire over their lands, a fire that will destroy everything; and out of the ashes, a new world will be born, a world in which all the lands are Fire Nation and I am the supreme ruler of everything!”

Current day Zuko hung his head. “I wanted to speak out against this horrifying plan, but I'm ashamed to say I passed out. Guess the pain became too much.”

Katara sinks to her knees. “I can't believe this.”

Sokka rubbed his temples. “I always knew the Fire Lord was a dick, but his plan is just pure evil.”

Aang looks at Zuko despairingly. “What am I gonna do?”

Jet rubs comforting circles into Aang’s back.

Zuko sighs. “I know you're scared, and I know you're not ready to save the world, but if you don't defeat the Fire Lord before the comet comes, there won't be a world to save anymore.”

“Why didn't you tell me about your dad's crazy plan sooner?” Aang snaps.

Zuko glares at him. “To be honest, I had forgotten about it till now. Besides, I didn't think I had to. I assumed you were still going to fight him before the comet. No one told me you decided to wait.”

Everyone winces at the blatant accusation.

Aang sinks to his knees, his head in his hand. “This is bad. This is really, really bad.”

Katara kneels next to him. “Aang, you don't have to do this alone.”

Toph, Zuko, Sokka, Jet and Suki stand next to Katara.

Toph nods. “Yeah, if we all fight the Fire Lord together, we got a shot at taking him down.” Sokka pumps his fists in the air. “All right! Team Avatar is back! Air. Water. Earth. Fire. Fan. Hooks and sword!”

Aang looks up and assesses everyone. “Fighting the Fire Lord is going to be the hardest thing we've ever done together, but I wouldn't want to do it any other way.”

Everyone hugs each other till they’re in a really big group hug.

“Let’s do this,” Suki cheers.

***

The Beach House Courtyard was hosting another lesson between Aang and Zuko.

Under the pavilion, Katara watches with Momo at her side.

Zuko looks Aang dead in the eye. “There's one technique you need to know before facing my father - how to redirect lightning. If you let the energy in your body flow, the lightning will follow it. You turn your opponents' energy against them.”

Zuko demonstrates the movement.

Aang watches before joining. “That's like waterbending.”

Zuko nods, clearly satisfied with Aang’s response. “Exactly. My uncle invented this technique himself by studying waterbenders.”

Aang watches Zuko’s movement and follows, albeit clumsily. “Is this what you did to your dad?”

Zuko gives him a look. “Yeah.”

Aang watches, awestruck. “What did it feel like?”

Zuko stops practicing and thinks. “Exhilarating….but terrifying. You feel so powerful holding that much energy in your body, but you know if you make the wrong move, it's over.”

Aang chuckles nervously. “Well, not over over. I mean there's always Katara and a little Spirit Water action, am I right?”

Katara clears her throat awkwardly. “Actually, I used it all up after Azula shot you.”

Aang lets out a disappointed, “Oh.”

Zuko winces, feeling and for the young Avatar. “You'll have to take the Fire Lord's life before he takes yours.”

“Yeah, I'll just do that,” Aang mutters.

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 57: Beach Day

Zuko pokes Aang’s side. “More ferocious! Imagine striking through your opponent's heart!”

“I'm trying,” Aang growls, irritation clear on his face.

Zuko flails his arms. “Now let me hear you roar like a tigerdillo!”

Aang gives a light roar as fire bursts come out of his hands and mouth.

He lets out an embarrassed grin.

Zuko scowled. “That sounded pathetic! I said roar!”

Aang roars even louder, as three bursts of fire come out of his hands and mouth.

Momo runs and hides behind Zuko's leg in fear.

Zuko nods approvingly.

Katara holds up two watermelons. “Who wants a nice cool glass of watermelon juice?”

“Katara!” Zuko groans.

Aang on the other hand brightens up and runs to Katara. “Ooh, ooh! Me, me, me!”

Zuko grabs Aang’s shirt as the monk feebly tries to escape. “Hey! Your lesson's not over yet! Get back here!”

Suki was lounging on a chair with Sokka. “Come on, Zuko. Just take a break. What's the big deal?”

Zuko lets Aang go. “Fine! If you want to lounge around like a bunch of snail sloths all day, then go ahead!”

He walks away.

Jet frowns in Zuko’s direction. “Maybe Zuko's right. Sitting around the house has made us pretty lazy.”

Sokka jumps up. “I know just the thing to change all that. Beach party!”

***

Sokka surfaces from the water with seaweed on his head and he blows water from his mouth. He grins goofily.

Katara uses waterbending to create an ice surfboard and surfs on the water.

Jet watches amused as Sokka grabs some seaweed and brings it to an area.

Sokka takes two buckets and fills them with water.

Aang sticks the last piece of wood on a life-sized sand sculpture of Appa, finishing the last horn.

Aang grins. “Check out my Appa sand sculpture.”

Appa roars at the structure.

Zuko pats his head from where he was lying on the floor.

Toph cracks her fingers. “Not bad, baldy, but I've been working on my sandbending. You're gonna love this.

Toph then proceeds to use sandbending to create a sand replica of the city of Ba Sing Se.

Aang peers down at the replica's details.

Aang was amazed. “Whoa! Wow, you've even made a little Earth King and Bosco!”

Sokka looks over and works harder on his sculpture . Toph blows hair out of her face. “Try and top that, Sokka.”

Sokka moves from his sculpture to reveal a grotesque looking sculpture with seaweed for hair, a starfish for a nose, and rocks and shells for eyes and mouth. “Ta-da!”

Aang squints at it. “Is that a blubbering blob monster?”

Sokka huffs. “No, it's Zuko!”

Aang looks at him with shock and surprise until he and Toph both start to laugh hysterically.

Jet falls off his hammock the same time Katara falls off her surfboard, both dying of laughter.

“Zuko, we'll all understand if you break up with him over this,” Toph wheezed.

Zuko sits up from next to a cackling Suki. “I think it's sweet. Kind of.”

Sokka grins and leans down very low to kiss the tip of Zuko’s nose.

“Watch this,” Zuko whispers in Suki’s ear.

Aang frowns and gazes at the structure, “But it doesn't even look like- Aah!”

He is cut off by a fire blast that destroys the sculpture.

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 56: Apologies

Zuko woke up in the morning, enveloped in the comforting scent of alphas.

“Toph?” Zuko asks blearily.

“Hm?” The earthbender responds.

“You’re breaking my hip.”

“Deal with it, Sparky.”

Zuko just laughs.

He pulls Toph closer to him, rousing Katara from her sleep.

“What?” The disoriented water bender murmurs.

“Morning, Sugar Queen,” Suki teases from the other side.

Katara huffs, and rolls onto her side.

“We should get up,” Zuko said, stretching on the bed.

“I agre- watch it!” Toph exclaims when Zuko hits her face.

Zuko immediately grabs her chin and analyzes her face to check whether she was going to bruise or not.

“I’m fine, really,” Toph grumbles.

Suki and Katara get up first, Zuko and Toph quickly follow.

By the time they made it to the kitchen, there was breakfast in the kitchen but no boys in sight.

“I’ll check the beach,” Zuko says.

“Me and Suki will go into town. We need groceries. I’ll grab Aang and Toph to go,” Katara said.

Suki’s eyebrows furrowed. “I thought you and Aang…”

Katara shook her head. “That can’t get between our friendship.”

Toph slaps the counter. “Let’s go, people, don’t got all day. I want to go sightseeing.”

Zuko rolls his eyes. “Hilarious, Toph. Real classy.”

Zuko leaves and walks around the beach for a while.

He finds Jet and Sokka on a rock by the shore, their faces unreadable.

Zuko climbs up and sits next to them.

They don’t react.

Zuko bites his lip unsure of what to say.

“Look, I wanted to-” all three say at the same time.

Zuko shakes his head. “No. Me first. I wanted to apologize. I reacted badly. You guys were just trying to make me feel good and I fucked up. I’m sorry and I realized I have to spend as much time with you as possible in case….”

Jet quickly grabs him and pulls him into his lap. “Sweetheart, no, we’re sorry. We messed up badly too. We should have taken you because we love you not for some stupid memory.”

Sokka presses a kiss to Zuko’s temple. “And nothing’s gonna happen. We’ll all make it and celebrate when Fire Lord Jerkbender goes down.”

That pulls a laugh from Zuko.

The three sit like that for a while, basking in the sun.

That is until Aang came barreling into them, shrieking about a snake Toph threw at him.

No one was able to stop laughing then, even Suki and Katara were from the other side of the beach who probably knew what Aang was talking about.

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 55: Take A Break

Zuko was wearing through the market when four hands grabbed him from behind and pulled him into an alley.

Zuko yelps and almost firebends but is stopped by Jet’s smug look.

“Took you long enough,” Sokka teases.

Zuko gives him a flat look. “The marketplace is fucking gigantic. I don’t know why you decided to get up so early and thought that I would be capable of finding you.”

“We believed in you, love,” Jet said dramatically.

Zuko snorts in amusement. “So, what did you make me come here for?”

Sokka grins. “Just you wait.”

***

Zuko was laughing with Jet and Sokka behind him as they raced down to the beach.

Sokka drops onto the sand, and Jet leans on his knees, fighting to catch his breath.

Zuko leans against a rock, laughter dying down.

They had just run from a cabbage merchant whose cart they had accidentally knocked over.

The whole day consisted of buying casual clothes and food, and they had ended it with colossal ice creams.

All in all, it had been a good day.

Zuko snuggles between Jet and Oskka as they watch the last embers of the sun finally peaked over the horizon and set.

“So, was there a reason for today?” Zuko asks.

Jet and Sokka stiffen around him.

Zuko feels slightly panicked. “Jet? Sokka? Why-”

Sokka was quick to comfort him. “No, it’s fine, we just wanted to have at least one real date before….”

Zuko feels dread curl in his stomach. “Before what?”

Jet purses his lips. “Before we face the Fire Lord. We wanted to have a good memory with you in case we don’t make it.”

Zuko pulls away from the two. “How could you say that?”

Sokka shushes him, attempting to lull him close, but Zuko is having none of their shit. “After all the shit we went through together, the only reason you wanted to spend time with me is so that you don’t die knowing we never had an ideal relationship? Do you know how fucked up that is?”

“Zuko, it’s not like that,” Jet tries to say. “The Fire Lord is powerful, and we might not make it against his entire army, you know?”

“We would never try to leave you. You know that. We just wanted to make sure if we died, we died knowing we could give you a semblance of normalcy,” Sokka reasons.

Zuko shakes his head, tears blurring his vision. “No. I chose you two. I followed you to a rapist prison, fought by your side against the whole Fire Nation during the eclipse where even I lost my bending and faced my sister for you. Don’t you get it? Life or death, I. Choose. You. We die together, and we live together, got it?”

Sokka was appalled. “Zuko, you don’t have to die, we would give our lives to you a hundred times.”

Zuko shakes his head. “That’s not how this works. I’m not a damsel in distress, goddamn it! I’m your equal. You don’t need to give your lives for me.”

Jet tried to reach for him, but Zuko pulled away. “Zuko, I know it's hard to understand, but we might not make it back alive, and we want you to be ok. We love you and want what’s best for you.”

Zuko looks to the sky, standing up and turning to leave. “No. You don’t love me if you don’t understand that we do this together. Apparently, all those times we were facing danger together didn’t mean anything to you.”

Zuko turns and walks into the house to his and Katara’s room.

Katara looks at him, irritated. “What the hell took you all day?”

Zuko finally let the tears fall as he heard his Guardian Alpha’s voice.

He knew it wasn’t her most soothing one, but she cared about him and she as concerned and god fucking damn it, he just wanted Katara to fucking hold him and-

Zuko feels warm arms envelop him from behind, and his crying becomes worse.

Suki whispers soft reassurances as she lays herself and Zuko next to Katara.

Hazily, Zuko hears Suki explain the situation to Katara as he is held between the two alphas.

He just closes his eyes and wants the day to be over.

“I’m sorry, Zuko,” Katara whispered into his hair, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I’m also having some trouble.”

“With who?” Suki asks.

Zuko wants to say something, but the words get stuck to the roof of his mouth and won’t leave the tip of his tongue.

“Aang,” Katara says tiredly. “I think I might like him, but is it that way? Is it not? I don’t know, and he just keeps bringing up a romantic relationship, and I don’t know if that’s what I want. We kissed during the invasion, and he tried to kiss me during the play, but I pushed him away because I don’t really know what’s happening right now.”

Suki nods in understanding.

Zuko just clings tighter and buries his face in Katara’s scent gland.

Her overwhelming scent of icy ocean air with hints of some warm spice that most likely was used in the Water Tribe overtook Zuko’s senses.

Underneath her overpowering scent was Suki’s.

Fresh, wet soil underlined with the smell of the crisp morning air.

Zuko allowed these mellowing scents to lull him to near sleep.

Vaguely, he feels a smaller body worm it’s way into his arms.

The soft, silky hair tells Zuko it’s Toph.

He hugs the alpha girl tighter.

Her scent consisted of the freshly cut grass, sparkling with morning dew.

It had a strong undertone of a metallic substance Zuko couldn’t quite put a finger on.

“Can I stay here tonight? It’s my mother’s birthday,” Toph whispers.

Katara doesn’t answer, she just presses a kiss to Toph’s forehead.

“Let’s give the boys some space for a while. They might need it,” Suki says quietly.

It’s the last thing Zuko hears before the blissful cloud of dream-free sleep overtakes him.