ATLA Rare Pair Big Bang

The Official Blog of the ATLA Rare Pair Big Bang! Guidelines . The Mods . Schedule . Excluded Pairings

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ATLA Rare Pair Big Bang Guidelines

1. What exactly is a Big Bang?

A Big Bang is an event where writers are teamed up with at least one beta and one artist and work together throughout the event. The end result is a beta'd story to post alongside at least one art piece!

2. What pairings are allowed?

Rare pairs can be hard to define, so for the sake of this event, we have a list of pairings that we are excluding to make it easier for participants. You can find that list here. Also, while our title is "ATLA Rare Pair Big Bang", LOK pairings are also allowed in this event.

3. Is NSFW content allowed?

Yes! NSFW content is allowed, and because of this we are making this event 18+ only. All NSFW content in story submissions (and when posted) must be clearly tagged. This includes all kinks, the rating (M or E), and the amount of NSFW in the fic. This will allow artists and betas to fully understand what they are getting into when bidding on your fic.

4. What about Non-Con?

We have decided to allow Non-Con in the event AS LONG AS it does NOT occur between the romantic pairing you are writing and is clearly marked in your story submission (including who it occurs between). Any fics that depict it between the romantic pairing they are about will be rejected. We will also not be allowing art to be made of the non-con scenes.

5. What is the timeline for the event?

Great question! You can find our event schedule here.

6. Are the writers going to be anonymous at first?

Yes. We are going to have a 2-week period in which the authors of the fics will remain anonymous before revealing the Ao3 collection. Any authors wishing to remain anonymous forever (or for a longer period) must add their work to another anonymous collection (there are several) in addition to the event collection.

7. Is a Discord account required?

Yes. In order for the mods to properly run the event, all participants will be required to join our event server (link will be sent out to participants upon sign-ups closing). Regular check-ins will also be required, and participants who do not complete check-ins or who are otherwise inactive in the server may be dropped from the event.

8. What are the story requirements for this Big Bang?

All stories should be centered around a rare pair relationship.

Oneshots should meet a minimum word count of 4,000 words when completed, and multichapters should meet a minimum word count of 7,000 words before the end of the event.

Stories can be any rating.

Big Bang fics must be new, standalone works. No continuations of existing series or published WIPs are allowed.

Story ideas should be secret before the start of the event to allow for fair, anonymous project bidding.

9. Other Information

All participants are required to be active in our event Discord server. Work space within the event server will be provided for every team, and separate servers for individual projects are not allowed. This is so mods can monitor progress and address any issues more easily.

Members who become inactive for too long or who fail to meet certain requirements may end up dropped from the event.

Members are welcome to announce their participation in the Big Bang, but should not discuss specifics about their project(s) publicly until after posting begins (or for writers, after the reveal date).

The event schedule can be found HERE.

Excluded pairings can be found HERE.

Interest check and mod applications are now CLOSED.

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Please reach out to us if you have any questions!

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bigbang this year?

We're so excited you asked! For a variety of reasons we are not planning a Rare Pair Big Bang in 2024, but we're not ruling out bringing it back in some form in the future so watch this space. :-)

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Today I learned because of this blog is ship Azula and Yue

For the first time in forever I feel that itch that says I should write the fic that is now unfolding before me

And I shall

And we can't wait to read it!!

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With the event officially over, we wanted to extend a huge thank you to all of our participants in the first ever ATLA Rare Pair Big Bang! This event quite literally could not have happened without you and all your hard work. Your projects are all amazing and we're so happy to see them completed!

In the same vein, a super special thank you to our mod team! Running an event like this is challenging and we couldn't have done it without all of our awesome mods. So much happens behind the scenes that no one else is ever even aware of, and our responsibility and work extends beyond the official event schedule, from planning to recruiting participants to assigning project teams. The mods are responsible for making that magic happen, and we are very lucky to have had such a fantastic, hardworking team to build this event from the ground up.

And thank you to all our followers and supporters! The rare pair community is small but mighty, and it has been wonderful to see the interest from folks outside the event.

Thank You!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Zhao/Zuko (Avatar), Mai/Zuko (Avatar), Sokka/Suki (Avatar), Suki/Mai Characters: Zhao (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Sokka (Avatar), The Gaang (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Iroh (Avatar), Chit Sang (Avatar), Ty Lee (Avatar), Azula (Avatar), Ozai (Avatar), Hakoda (Avatar) Summary:

What if Zhao took Zuko’s hand that night? Would it lead to a series of events that would change Zhao for the better?

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This fic was written by @valtiels-darkness with beta @crookedmouth-mountainbones!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork also by @crookedmouth-mountainbones!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/3 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Katara/Suki (Avatar), Aang/Sokka (Avatar), previous Aang/Katara - Relationship Characters: Katara (Avatar), Suki (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Sokka (Avatar), Bumi II (Avatar), Kya II (Avatar), Tenzin (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Appa (Avatar), Momo (Avatar) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Post-Divorce, Rare Pairings, Slow-ish burn, Hurt/Comfort, Baby Tenzin - Freeform, Everyone is Queer Summary:

Katara has always been a little petty, though she has been making an active effort to change this fact about herself. But sometimes, on bad days, she can feel the burn under her skin to just be mean.

It was one of those days.

It wasn’t unreasonable to move in with Suki– it probably would have been the best choice anyway– but she couldn’t lie to herself that the deciding factor had been knowing it would upset Sokka.

A tiny part of Katara felt guilty being motivated by Sokka’s pain, but a bigger part of her was just pissed because he stole her fucking husband.

Or How Katara relearns how to be single, how to love, and how to be in love with the help of food, friends, and therapy.

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This fic was written by @cephalad with beta @fandom-addicted-3182!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork by @it-is-sooz-again!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/8 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Ty Lee/Zuko (Avatar), Azula & Mai & Ty Lee & Zuko (Avatar) Characters: Zuko (Avatar), Ty Lee (Avatar), Azula (Avatar), Mai (Avatar) Additional Tags: Zuko-centric (Avatar), Ty Lee-centric (Avatar), For Want of a Nail, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Not Compliant with Avatar Comics, Not Canon Compliant - The Legend of Korra, Child Abuse, Racism, Classism, Self-Loathing, Unreliable Narrator, POV Multiple, Mean Girl!Ty Lee, Introspection, ATLA Rare Pair BB Summary:

Without a second trail Ty Lee and Mai follow Azula along during The Chase. Inadvertently making to fire kids fight each other a season early. As a consequence all four of them are forced reconsider their relationships with each other and the Fire Nation at large. ~Ty Luko

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This fic was written by @browseret with betas @badlucksav and @orangepanic!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork by @neva-borne!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 2/3 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: Legend of Korra Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Katara/Yakone (Avatar) Characters: Katara (Avatar), Yakone (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Air Acolytes (Avatar) Additional Tags: Violence, Blood, Bloodbending (Avatar), Origin Story, Cranefish Town, Republic City (Avatar), Good Intentions with Horrible Endings, Yakone’s Early Days as a Crime Lord, Cultural Differences, Homesickness, Obsession, Age Difference, Regret, Emotional Infidelity, Manipulation, Animal Death, Crimes & Criminals, background kataang, relationship difficulties, Experimental Style Summary:

Yakone remembers the Siege of the North – but what he remembers most is the girl, the fierce Southerner. It’s a shameful kind of remembrance, one that becomes entwined with his dreams of red. After the war he makes his way to Cranefish Town, where he and Katara reunite and begin a treacherous journey into the abyss of blood, bending, and possibility.

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This fic was written by @crookedmouth-mountainbones with beta @orangepanic!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork by @monochromeswirl!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 4/4 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Major Character Death Relationships: Azula/Hama (Avatar) Characters: Azula (Avatar), Hama (Avatar), Azulon (Avatar), Kanna (Avatar), Original Characters, Katara (Avatar), Yagoda (Avatar) Additional Tags: Time Travel, Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, Assassination Plot(s), Spirits, POV Azula (Avatar), POV Hama (Avatar), Azula (Avatar) Redemption, once again redemption is SUCH a reductive word, Azula Needs Therapy (Avatar), Azula Needs a Hug (Avatar), also there are NO Hama tags?, Fire Nation Royal Family, Assassination Lesbians, Mutual Pining, Homoerotic Sparring, Bloodbending (Avatar), Firebending & Firebenders Summary:

“How did you find me?”

“A spirit,” the woman named Azula replied, scrutinizing her with her piercing eyes. “You?”

  The exact same.

 (Written for the 2023 ATLA Rare Pair Big Bang)

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This fic was written by @balsa-margarita with beta @crookedmouth-mountainbones!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork by @monochromeswirl!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/6 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Mai/Sokka (Avatar), Mai & Zuko (Avatar) Characters: Mai (Avatar), Sokka (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Yue (Avatar), Azula (Avatar) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, ATLA Rare Pair BB Summary:

Mai, in a fit of panic, voluntarily joined Prince Zuko in his exile, before Iroh could consider making the same offer himself. Three years later, she regrets this decision.

“So…” he said, suddenly, stretching for casual and not quite reaching it, “what’s your guys deal? No offence but I wouldn’t have guessed you guys were Fire Nation based on your, you know.” He gestured all-encompassingly, but was kind enough not to point out specifics.

Mai shrugged. “His dad told him to go find the Avatar.”

Sokka blinked. “Okay? Why you two specifically, though? I mean your whole army is-”

“His dad told him to go find the Avatar three years ago.”

Sokka said nothing, but his expression was loud enough. After a long, complicated moment, he shook his head in something like amazement.

“And he found him? I mean, we got there first, but still.”

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This fic was written by @thingsareswinging with beta @zukoisgayforsokka!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork by @moneneki!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Avatar: Legend of Korra Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lin Beifong/Lightning Bolt Zolt Characters: Lin Beifong, Lightning Bolt Zolt (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Kya II (Avatar), Izumi (Avatar), Agni Kai Triad (Avatar) Additional Tags: Romance, Flirting, Strangers to Lovers, Lovers to enemies to lovers, Explicit Sexual Content, Organized Crime Summary:

Right after she graduates from the police academy, Kya and Izumi take a reluctant Lin Beifong out to experience the Republic City nightlife, and she meets someone. Then on her first day as an officer, Lin learns a shocking fact about the person she hooked up with.

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This fic was written by @wishingforatypewriter with beta @chiefbeifongcanrailme!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork by @it-is-sooz-again!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Toph Beifong/Zuko, Toph Beifong & Mai (Avatar), Mai/Zuko (Avatar), Mai & Zuko (Avatar) Characters: Mai (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Zuko (Avatar) Additional Tags: Love Triangles, Female Friendship, Angst with a Happy Ending, Marriage Proposal, Break Up, Flashbacks, Past Mai/Zuko (Avatar), Endgame Toph Beifong/Zuko, Knives, Bounty Hunters, Aged-Up Character(s), Post-Canon, Not Canon Compliant - The Legend of Korra, ATLA Rare Pair BB Summary:

Mai has seen heartbroken idiots before. (For that matter, she’s been a heartbroken idiot before.) But there’s something different about Zuko and Toph, and she’s going to get it through Toph’s thick head if it’s the last thing she does. But that may mean admitting some hard truths she’s never quite been willing to face.

Toph has watched her friends’ relationships fall apart before, and never wanted to make the same mistakes. Yet, somehow, she finds herself repeating them anyway, and has found herself stepping into the shoes of the woman she swore she’d never be like, breaking the heart of the only man she’s ever really loved. But what other choice does she have?

Zuko has loved and lost and had to let go before. But he’s not about to lose Toph the same way he lost Mai. This time, he’s going to do whatever it takes to get the woman he loves back– even if it means confronting the woman he never wanted to see again.

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This fic was written by @ljf613 with beta @moneneki !

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Bato/Hakoda/Zuko (Avatar), Hakoda/Zuko (Avatar), Bato/Hakoda (Avatar), Bato/Zuko (Avatar), 41st Division Members & Zuko (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar) & Original Character(s) Characters: Zuko (Avatar), 41st Division Members (Avatar), Original Fire Nation Characters(s) (Avatar), Hakoda (Avatar), Bato (Avatar), Sokka (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Kanna (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Iroh (Avatar), Azula (Avatar) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Arranged Marriage, Zuko is a Fire Nation Soldier, aang is still in the iceberg, Southern Water Tribe (Avatar), Water Tribe Culture (Avatar), Age Difference, Cross-Generation Relationship, Polyamory, Threesome - M/M/M, Fake Marriage (Sort of), Courtship Summary:

After 5 years of leading the 41st division on the front lines, Zuko’s father has found a new use for him: as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Southern Water Tribe. Zuko has no idea what to expect from this arrangement, but if the treaty can stop even one Fire Nation citizen from being killed, he’s willing to play his part. Hakoda never wanted to bring an ashmaker into his home, but he knows his duty is to his tribe, even before his children or husband. He only hopes the prince will share his sense of duty and be willing to make the arrangement work. He never could have planned for Zuko. Bato had his doubts, and Hakoda asking him at the last minute to change the wedding into a clan adoption didn’t put his mind at ease. But Zuko and his friends aren’t the invaders Bato privately feared. As they settle in and learn the ways of the Southern Water Tribe, both he and Hakoda come to respect Zuko for his kindness, honesty, and bravery. Which is all well and good, until Zuko admits to having feelings for both of them, and they have to decide if they want to pursue a real relationship with Hakoda’s young, fake husband. Also, Zuko’s lightningbending may have inadvertently returned the Avatar to the world, too.

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This fic was written by @blackat-t7t with beta @fandom-addicted-3182!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/21 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Azula/Cupholder Girl (Avatar: The Beach), Azula/Seicho - Relationship Characters: Azula (Avatar), Cupholder Girl (Avatar: The Beach) Additional Tags: Rare Pairings, Rare Characters, Suicidal Thoughts, Drug Use, Poverty, Losing everything, Romance, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Depression, Bullying, Classism Summary:

After Ozai is arrested for tax fraud, the family loses everything including their home. Zuko finds a home with Iroh and Ursa. Azula is taken in by an unexpected friend who has had a crush on her since they were children.

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This fic was written by @bellatrixobsessed1 with betas @badlucksav and @orangepanic!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork by @thebxghag!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/7 Fandom: Avatar: Legend of Korra Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Iroh II/Korra/Asami Sato, Korra/Asami Sato, Iroh II/Asami Sato, Baatar Jr./Prince Wu (Avatar), Mako/Opal (Avatar), Huan/Bolin (Avatar), Minor or Background Relationship(s) Characters: Iroh II (Avatar), Asami Sato, Korra (Avatar), Mako (Avatar), Huan (Avatar), Opal (Avatar), Baatar Jr. (Avatar), Prince Wu (Avatar), Bolin (Avatar), Lin Beifong Additional Tags: Polyamory Negotiations, Established Relationship, Developing Relationship, Past Relationship(s), Complicated Relationships, Relationship Negotiation, this whole fic is about relationship discussions, Relationship Discussions, Hurt/Comfort, Misunderstandings, Confusion, Possibly Unrequited Love, Light Angst, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Open to Interpretation Summary:

The gang in a modern AU trying to figure out their relationships, ft. Mako/Opal, Wu/Baatar Jr, Korra/Iroh/Asami and Bolin/Huan

Posting schedule: Chapter 2 - 11th August Chapter 3 - 16th August Chapter 4 - 21st August

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This fic was written by @rasnak2 with beta @crookedmouth-mountainbones!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork by @it-is-sooz-again!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Avatar: Legend of Korra Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lin Beifong/Lightning Bolt Zolt, Lin Beifong & Tenzin, Lin Beifong & Bumi, Lin Beifong & Mako Characters: Lin Beifong, Tenzin (Avatar), Lightning Bolt Zolt (Avatar), Bumi II (Avatar), Mako (Avatar), Korra (Avatar), Asami Sato, Meelo (Avatar), Jinora (Avatar), Rohan (Avatar), Ikki (Avatar), oogie, Spirit, Ghost, Bolin (Avatar), Suyin Beifong, Varrick (Avatar), Zhu Li Moon, Toph Beifong, Kanto (Avatar) Additional Tags: Ghosts, Weddings, Spiritual Connections, Time Travel, Lin Beifong faces and conquers her fears of commitment Summary:

The sun finally set on the wrong side when Chief of Police, Lin Beifong found herself attending the wedding of a convicted criminal. While a wedding is hardly the place to make an arrest, Lin finds herself arrested by the spirit of weddings. Now it’s up to her to help this spirit maintain the balance in the universe employing a deep dive into her very well veiled personal life, details of which, Lin herself had suppressed in order to keep her true feelings at bay.

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This fic was written by @chiefbeifongcanrailme with beta @crookedmouth-mountainbones!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork by @badlucksav!

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Azula/Yue (Avatar) Characters: Yue (Avatar), Azula (Avatar), Mai (Avatar), Ty Lee (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Arnook (Avatar), Iroh (Avatar) Additional Tags: Pre-Relationship, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Minor Mai/Zuko (Avatar), Culture Shock, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Pining, Useless Lesbians, Jealousy, Hurt/Comfort, Self Confidence Issues, Holding Hands, Sparring as Flirting Summary:

When Yue joins her father on a diplomatic trip to the Fire Nation to attend the future Fire Lord’s weddings, she does not expect much aside from feasts, stuffy talks with nobles and insufferable heat. Things change drastically for her when she catches the eye of the Princess Azula.

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Our Place in the Family of Things was written by @catnerys with beta @zukoisgayforsokka!

Be sure to check out the companion artwork by @circlique!