Zukaang idea based on this art from Aang's back 🌬️🔥
Art by eriimyon1 on X (link below)
(While I was writing this, this song was playing: LET THE WORLD BURN [remix])
*
Zuko left the bathroom, trying to make as little noise as possible. He wore only his fine silk robe, the colors of the Fire Nation unfurled in the front, his long, black hair loose.
He glanced toward his large bed in the center of the room, where, in the dim light, the sky-blue tattoos stood out against the red and gold that covered everything.
He walked silently, his gaze fixed on the young man who slept soundly face down in the center of his bed, naked, covered only by the sheets from the hips down.
The image was so pleasurable that he made sure to commit it to memory for when he was alone. What he saw wasn't something he could appreciate every night (unfortunately), in fact, it was quite the opposite.
Aang, his best friend and now his lover (if he wanted to put a name to whatever was happening between them), was the Avatar. The most important and powerful man in the entire world, and even though they were in a time of complete peace and harmony, he was still the Avatar. Everyone needed him in one way or another, and that included Fire Lord Zuko.
Although Zuko didn't need him as the Avatar, a supreme and sacred being in every sense, but rather the earthly part of him, the person who contained that great power: Aang.
He approached the edge of the bed and sat carefully beside the warm body that still rested peacefully in the world of dreams. He smiled, observing his firm, toned back, comparing it to that of the scrawny dwarf he had known when he was only twelve, that insufferable brat he had chased across the world to deliver to his father and, finally, redeem himself. And now he slept naked, in none other than the Fire Lord's bed.
Aang had completely changed Zuko's life. From being a tormented, furious, and lonely teenager who had lost everything in the Fire Nation, he became the Avatar's ally in defeating his own father, and thanks to him, he was able to reclaim his title, his purpose, and his honor.
How could he not fall in love with him?
Of course, it wasn't immediate. At that time, Aang was just a child, and he was a teenager assuming a throne that had been consumed by war and his father's atrocious decisions. He had to focus on rebuilding what remained of his nation, and Aang became his best friend and his support in achieving that.
It was impossible for feelings not to develop over time. He owed him so much, in every sense. He had completely turned Zuko's world upside down.
And what had initially been blind gratitude intensified over the years into a profound admiration and then into boundless devotion.
And Aang didn't make it easy for him. The most annoying parts of Aang that he had known in his childhood, the parts that had driven Zuko crazy as a teenager, were now the fire that fueled his heart. His joy, optimism, kindness, and compassion now shone with a different light in Zuko's eyes. What he had considered a weakness when they first met was now what he loved most about Aang.
The physical changes Aang underwent in his teens didn't help either. Zuko thought he remembered that when Aang turned 17, he was already taller than everyone else on the Team Avatar, and that's when he truly saw him. After months apart (maybe a year), when they reunited, Zuko was so impressed by his best friend's transformation that he was speechless when Aang unexpectedly hugged him. Aang had left his childhood behind and had become a tall, handsome young man with a deep voice who whispered in his ear, "Flaming Hotman, it's been so long!"
Aang was everything he had ever wanted to be: someone incorruptible, who put his ideals above all else, who believed in the goodness of others, even in Zuko himself, who had lost all hope when he was burned by his father as a child.
Each time he saw him again, Zuko's heart slowly warmed.
He was a light in all his darkness. He still was today.
Whatever it was, however much he had to share with the world, he didn't have to share this. At least not for a few nights. Only for a few nights did Aang belong to him completely, and Zuko grew more greedy with each encounter.
*
That's all, just a drabble I couldn't get out of my head. Maybe someday I'll turn it into fanfiction, maybe.
(This picture perfectly represents how Zoro sees Luffy: happy, sunlit, and warm ☼)
I love OPLA and I loved Zolu, so I decided to write this fanfic from Zoro's perspective in the live-action version. It's the same situations and dialogue as in the series, but through Zolu's thoughts, so we get to read what he thinks, feels, and even imagines as things unfold. Basically, I'm projecting my personal crush on Luffy OPLA through moss head's perspective, lmao
Don't expect too much, I'm quite inconsistent and I only have 3 1/2 written… but I hope you enjoy what I have. Thanks for reading ♡
All the GIFs were edited by me.
*
Chapter 1: Join my crew
The heat was unbearable under the Shells Town sun. I felt the top of my green hair burn, but that was nothing compared to my arms tied to the cross, which were numb with pain.
And there was also hunger and thirst.
'It's only 7 days.' I repeated it in my mind in my waking moments, trying to maintain my low energy for when I gave the biggest beating of his life to that idiot Marine's son.
The bastard had come with my Wado Ichimonji in his filthy hands, saying that his father would let me die here.
In the end, I was the idiot, apparently, believing that Morgan would have honor and keep his word. And what could I do now? I am too weak to free myself from this cross. I can only hope that the idiot only wanted to threaten me in revenge for the beating I gave him in the bar, and that Morgan keeps his word.
I was thinking that, between unconsciousness and the frustration of my situation, when I heard a metallic noise coming from the ground.
Sweat dripped from my forehead as I opened my eyes heavily, thinking that bastard was coming back to bother me.
It wasn't like that.
That was the first time I saw him.
He suddenly appeared in front of me, out of nowhere. I didn't know him, and at that moment I didn't care. I was too tired for this strange guy, with brown skin, bright colors and a childish face, to give me any concern.
“Oh hey. You're the guy from the bar.” He greeted friendly with a voice that made me think he was younger than he already looked.
“Get lost.” I grunted, shaking my head and closing my eyes in annoyance.
He continued talking, despite me.
“…hey, I saw the way you fight. How did they even arrest you?" he said, half astonished and confused.
“They didn't. I gave myself up.” I said it almost as a provocation so that he would dare to tell me something more about my pathetic situation.
“Interesting choice.” I heard him say and couldn't help but look up to confirm that he was serious. “I’m sure you had your reasons.”
That did bother me. Who does this brat think he is, talking to me like that?
“You don't know anything about me.”
“I know that you protected that little girl from those Marines last night. You're a good guy. ” He said with that goofy smile that wouldn't escape his lips.
“I'm Roronoa Zoro , the pirate hunter.” I spoke in the most threatening tone I could give, tied up as I was at that moment.
"Well, I'm Monkey D. Luffy and I will be the king of the pirates…" He continued smiling, with a hint of pride in his words. “…and I think you should join my crew. ”
I couldn't help but laugh, despite my pathetic situation. At the time, I didn't even realize that it was the first time I had laughed in months, maybe years.
“What makes you think I’d wanna play pirates with you?” I stared at him, trying to read in that face the lies and deceptions of the pirates I killed.
“You are a great fighter. I’d say that together, we'd would make a pretty good team.” He said with complete sincerity.
This teen was really serious. He was stupid?
“I kill your kind for a living." I pointed out exasperatedly. “Pirate…hunter.”
"You keep saying that, but is that all you are?” He continued, and as soon as he said that, I couldn't help but think of Kuina. “Is that all you want?”
Perhaps it was because of my physical weakness at that moment, or that this guy had unintentionally reached my reason for being, but I responded to him with the same sincerity that he had with me.
“I made a promise to someone a long time ago.” I murmured, remembering my best friend's blue hair, our training together, her death… “To become the world’s greatest swordsman.”
“Impressive.” He said with admiration shining in his brown eyes.
Who was this guy?
He smiled one last time and walked straight towards me, then went around and began to untie the ropes.
“You can untie me, but I’m still not gonna join your crew.” I warned him.
“Okay.” He let go lightly while continuing to untangle the knots.
“I mean it. I don't owe you anything.” I growled, starting to get annoyed again.
“I just think it’s a waste of time for you to be hanging out here.” He said, without stopping. I looked at him over my shoulder, confused. “When there’s something you want out there.” And he smiled that way again, looking towards the horizon, as if he saw it too.
Suddenly, that smile seemed much more bright and dreamy than silly.
Both my arms were freed, but I didn't give it any importance, even thinking about his words.
“Good luck on the sword thing.” He said and started walking away. Even without understanding what was happening, I released the ropes from my waist, continuing to follow him with my eyes.
“Hey, can you close this behind me?” He said when he arrived in front of the hole where he had come out, into which he descended again.
I watched him disappear into the ground, still in disbelief of what was happening, when he suddenly stuck his head out to shout: “Thanks!!”
When I was finally able to react that I had actually been freed by that guy with the straw hat, I still couldn't understand what all that had been.
'Well, I'm Monkey D. Luffy and I will be the king of the pirates…' I repeated in my mind, remembering the confidence with which he had said all that. He meant it, he truly believed every word that came out of his mouth.
I shook my head. His rantings weren't my problem. I had to get my swords back and make that Marine captain's son pay.
I started to move, still sore from all the time I spent on that cross. My arms were heavy, and I still felt my skin burning from the heat; however, my mind returned again and again to the guy.
'Is that all you want?'
I had been at this for so long… I had left my village looking to become the best swordsman in the world, but along the way I had gone astray to survive. Capturing and killing pirates for their reward allowed me to have enough to eat and drink, and not lose practice of drawing my swords.
Although almost always the pirates I encountered did not represent a challenge and I ended up killing them without effort.
He had been the third person who had asked me to join their crew this week. First it had been number 7 of the Baroques, then Morgan and finally him… but unlike the first two who had taken my refusal by trying to kill or punish me, this guy had freed me.
Why?
He did, even though I told him I wouldn't join him. Selflessly, he let go of my ropes, without expecting anything in return, and walked away.
'I just think it’s a waste of time for you to be hanging out here.'
No one besides Kuina had ever helped me without expecting anything in return. All the pirates, Marines, and bandits wanted me to use me as a weapon, but he... Luffy, was different.
*
Getting my swords back was very satisfying.
Although at first, I got lost inside the Navy barracks, somehow or another he ends up in Helmeppo's room, Morgan's useless son.
Once I gave him a horrible haircut, I just wanted to get out of there and forget about Marines and Shells Town for a while.
I needed to find a place to sleep and, of course, a good drink. Although I really didn't know how I would achieve that without being able to collect rewards after escaping Morgan's punishment and what I did to her son's spawn.
I was thinking about that when I heard a huge commotion happening at one of the exits. I followed the sound until I got outside, where I could better see what happened.
The Marines, a bunch of them against an orange-haired girl and the thin, curly-haired guy with the straw hat.
I kept walking. It was easy to be ignored while the fight was going on I could see a completely open exit towards the city, without marine guard, a few steps from where I was located.
But when I got there, I stopped and couldn't help but turn around to look at what was happening.
They were outnumbered 10 to 1 or more, and although both the girl and him were resisting as much as they could. I saw how she received a nasty kick from the side that destabilized her, and he was thrown to the dirt floor.
I don't know what made me make that decision, but before I even knew it, I was drawing my swords to go help him.
I ran to meet him, completely forgetting the accumulated fatigue of being under the sun of Shells Town without food or water. My legs and arms didn't hesitate as I attacked those closest to him. A row of sailors succumbed to my swords, falling badly wounded or unconscious after me.
That was easy, as always.
I didn't need to help him anymore, he freed himself from the rest and rolled on the floor until he was standing next to me.
He didn't say or ask anything. It was strange, that way of being his, but I was getting used to it.
He smiled at me as if it were the most obvious thing in the world that I was there, helping him. Fighting at his side.
And I didn't realize it at the time, but that's how it would be from now on.
“Aren't you that drunk from the bar?” The girl said, approaching too. That made me smile.
“Glad I made an impression.” I said with a half smile before Morgan appeared in front of us
“The impostor, the pirate hunter and the prisoner. Fancy that. The three of you working together.”
Luffy took advantage of the moment and took a step forward with a smile crossing his face.
“Yeah! We’re a crew!” He stated so sure of himself.
“Nope, not a crew.” I said immediately, and the girl also denied on her side. Luffy looked at me for a second without stopping, smiling, amused by the situation.
I avoided his gaze. As much as I was helping him right now, that didn't mean I was joining his crew by any means.
I was just repaying his help from before and also, I had the opportunity to get revenge on the man who tied me to a cross as punishment.
Nothing else.
Morgan continued talking as he prepared to attack us. We were 3 against 1, but he seemed invincible.
I was the first to attack, knowing that this would be more complex than I thought. He was an unstoppable giant, and the 3 of us had no experience or coordination to fight together.
The girl took care of the Marines around us, while the guy and I attacked Morgan. I soon realized that this wouldn't work so well, when Luffy was caught by the fist, and he was thrown at me.
Despite how skinny he looked, his body hit me squarely, knocking me to the ground as well.
But that didn't stop me, I stood up again and attacked Morgan, until Luffy managed to land a punch that made him retreat.
This made the straw hat guy confident, who smiled and began to walk towards the captain, but I stopped him by raising my sword. I needed him to stay still for a moment (no matter how impossible it seemed) so I could try to attack him head on and without interruptions. He looked at me with confusion, but I was ready to go against Morgan.
I attack without hesitation; However, Luffy couldn't resist the urge to intervene and in the process of launching himself at the marine he also hit me, knocking me to the ground on my back. I looked at him in annoyance from where I was and it was then that I felt Morgan's ax rise above me.
Luckily, Luffy reacted quickly and grabbed my ankles with the extension of his rubber arms, dragging me across the ground until I was out of the way of the ax blade. When I reached his feet, he helped me up.
“It's not only the axe. Every part of his body's a weapon.” I said, looking at Morgan who stood menacingly in front of us as he removed his gun from the ground.
“I’ll go high. You go low.” Luffy then said, and I looked at him upon hearing that, making our eyes meet. He looked so confident and his sun-golden face was serious, focused on his plan of attack.
His words had something on me, as I took a step forward and prepared to attack with everything, unsheathing my last sword, the most important.
When I put the handle of Wado Ichimonji in my mouth, Luffy's smile returned.
“Ah. So that's where it goes.” I heard him say excitedly.
That pleased me. An impulse to show him what I was capable of was born in me.
I wanted him to see me.
I attacked Morgan until I made him fall to the ground. Then, knowing what was coming, I crouched low enough for Luffy to push off from my back and land a hit on him as well.
We continued attacking until I immobilized the captain with my 3 sword technique and Luffy finished him off, shouting:
"Gum Gum Whip." Stretching out his leg and slamming it against Morgan's face, he fell unconscious to the dirt floor.
"Wohooooo." Luffy then celebrated happily, raising his arms towards the sky victoriously and laughing out loud. He seemed very happy for his victory.
"Gum Gum Whip?” I repeated, standing up, still exhausted from the recent fight and everything that had happened since I arrived at this marine base.
“Yeah!" he said, walking towards me smiling. "All the great fighters call out their finishing moves.”
“No, they don't.” I replied while putting away my swords.
“Hate to break this beautiful moment.” The orange-haired girl then said. “But we need to get this safe out of here…"
I looked at them without knowing what they were talking about, and then I saw a big safe lying on the ground. I walked up to them thinking that, since I was involved in all this, carrying that thing for them was a given.
I took it by the handles and threw it over my shoulder, heading towards the exit. I was heavy, but I usually did exercises with weights, and in those moments I would do anything to get out of that damned marine base.
The girl ran towards the port and towards a specific ship, and I followed her without asking. When I arrived, I dropped the heavy load that was already bothering my shoulder.
“Careful with that!” Scolded me as she pulled a rope.
“Whatever you say.” I said barely, arranging the heavy safe better. “Oh wait…" It was then that I thought angrily who the hell did she think she was giving me orders. "I don't work for you.”
Luffy, who was watching everything, then said:
“I’m sensing a little bit of tension amongst the crew.”
“Not a crew!” We said at the same time with the girl, annoyed.
Luffy then turned around worriedly, looking towards the port, he seemed to be looking for something or someone.
“I can't leave without my friend” he said then.
“Can't wait. The Marines will be here.” I told.
“The Marines are here already.” Morgan's son then announced himself, with his ridiculous yellow hair, appearing with guns in his hands and pointing towards where we were. “You’re under arrest.”
As soon as Luffy saw him appear, he started laughing, pointing a finger at him. His laugh was contagious because I immediately felt the corner of my lips point upward in a smile.
“What’s wrong with his hair?” He said between bubbling laughter.
“Yeah, I might’ve done that.” I told him proudly, looking at the horrible cut he had left in revenge for taking my precious swords.
As soon as Helmeppo heard that, he shot towards where I was, hitting the wood of the ship next to my face. The smile faded from my lips.
“I won't let you make a joke of me. I’m taking you in and handing you over to my father. I'll be the hero. I might even get a medal of something…”
But he couldn't finish when a boy with pink hair and big glasses slammed his fist into his face, leaving him unconscious.
“Koby!” Luffy shouted excitedly, running to meet him. He seemed very happy to see him. This must be the friend he was waiting for. “No time to explain, but we gotta go. This whole island is trying to kill us.” He said hurriedly, taking the boy by the shoulders and leading him to the ship with us.
“I'm not coming with you.” Then said the pink-haired one, stopping suddenly. Luffy, who already had one foot on the ship and one hand holding the ropes, stopped as well.
I could see from the front how various emotions passed through Luffy's face: first the joy of seeing his friend again, the surprise, the double blink of confusion and finally the understanding.
A small smile accompanied him when he turned to face the pink-haired boy.
"You sure?” He asked.
“Before we met, every choice was made for me.” This Koby answered him. His trembling voice denoted the effort it took to face his friend. “But now I’m gonna do what I want to do…"
While they were talking, I stopped, like the girl, to listen to what they were saying. The boy with glasses was saying that he would abandon Luffy to be a sailor.
I was intrigued by that, knowing that Luffy is a pirate. First he asked me, a pirate hunter, to join his crew and now his friend wanted to be a marine. Didn't this guy care who he surrounded himself with? It was as if he saw beyond everything, beyond the titles and aspirations that could separate him from the rest. He could see through people.
“Next time we meet, we might be enemies.” Koby told him sadly, looking into the eyes of the pirate in front of him.
“But for now, we’re friends.” Luffy responded with the evening sun, illuminating his face with soft features and an understanding smile. His eyes shone with the reflections of the sea, full of joy and sincerity.
I couldn't stop looking at him. There was something about this boy that magnetically attracted everyone who crossed paths with him.
I had used Wado Ichimonji to defend him. I had carried a safe for him. And now I was on the ship he was going to get on.
What kept me here? I could simply escape to another direction, but I was following the girl's orders to prepare the ship for Luffy.
Luffy gave Koby a little goodbye push, smiled and jumped onto the ship. His long, thin figure moved between the ropes, and I could see how he raised a hand and said goodbye to his Marine friend.
an au where Gyatso was frozen in the iceberg with Aang and now he gets to babysit his grandkids. tumblr used to say all the time that he and Iroh would be friends :3
