A/N: This was a charity commission for Laughs for Lives by @ultimatelee19! These commissions are still open, and the money will all be going to four causes (more information in the linked post). Please support if you can!
I locked tf in oml. I have so much to do and I currently have racked up quite the attack roster. I did 2 sketches!!!!! yay. Bro this fic was in the middle of my assessments UGHHHH WHATTTTATATA
Return of the 2021 alitteration titles is crazy work. ATLA ogs who remembers
Aang gets playfully punished for challenging Katara and messing around in the campsite. Toph wants to get in on the chaos.
One teensy dollop of flirty Kataang vibes, but can be counted as genfic. Lee!Aang, ler!Katara, and later, ler!Toph
Only having one hunter in the group meant that most of Team Avatar would have to wait a while to recieve sustenance. On the outskirts of a riverbank, Sokka concentrated on spearing enough fish to provide for the (meat eating) members of the team, and naturally, everyone was impatient.
Toph picked at the inside of her nails and Katara tried to tide herself over with leftover mantou they purchased the other day. Aang, having already filled up on hearty vegeterian leftovers, decided to meditate…
…well, not for very long. He arbitrarily flitted around the dusty campsite on an air-scooter, causing a deluge of sandy dirt and hair to fly into the girls' faces. Katara sputtered, spitting an umber looped lock out of her face.
"Aang!" she exclaimed. "Aren't you supposed to be training right now?"
"I can't focus when I'm hungry!" he whined, an audible grumble enunciating his discomfort. "When is Sokka gonna be baaaack?"
"Suffer on your own like the rest of us, lily-liver!" Toph spat, continuing to pick at the perpetual layer of dirt on her skin. "I'm trying to concentrate- HEY!" She yelled, as the dust-storm Aang created grew larger with each quick burst of air.
"Alright, that's it!" Mid-air, Katara grabbed the young Avatar by the collar. "Enough goofing around!"
"Sorry…" He blushed, scratching the back of his tattooed head. Katara relinquished her grip, causing him to thud down onto the soft soil below. "But I'm hungry!"
As Aang pouted and continued to flit around Katara, she controlled water from a nearby stream to reign him in. A gust of wind blew her to her feet, urging her to stand up and drag him down with her bending. The Avatar instantaneously lunged at her, holding her arms in a vice.
"See?" Aang chirped. "I'm pretty strong. I think I won't need training for now- Oof!"
Katara's deft fingers drew a water whip from upstream which damply struck against his cheek, hitting him hard enough to startle and thud onto the ground.
"Will you?" Katara taunted, looking down on him.
Aang swallowed for a second before making more mischief. He flicked a globule of bent water at Katara's forehead, much to her ire.
"Nope." he claimed.
"Well in that case, I'm pretty strong too." Katara knelt down, pushing Aang's head down as she straddled his waist. He writhed, laughing heartily while overpowered by the heavy gripping on his legs.
"I still think I'm- Woah, hey, hey, hey, you're crushing me!" he complained, laughing throughout. Registering his playful tone, Katara felt it was neccesary to tease the poor boy some more.
"And what's funny about that? I'll give you something to laugh about!" Her fingers climbed up and down the sides of Aang's tunic-covered torso. He writhed hysterically at the tickling, bucking up and down like an unruly ostrich horse. Bound by the fact that he was the Avatar, she desperately tried not to kill him with her careful strokes and teasing pokes.
"Wahahaha, nothing, nothing! I- I'm stihihill strohonger than you!" He blew as hard as he could, flicking a pellet of condensed air at the waterbender's forehead.
In response, she grumbled, then quickly shifted into a plotting smirk. "Are you challenging me?" she taunted. Oh no. That intonation- the same way she'd suggest to Sokka that his death wouldn't be a honourable way for a warrior to go down, but humiliation at the ruthless exploitation of his ticklish weakness- raspberries.
Aang gulped, swallowing as Katara inhaled and responded to his witty comment with a loud rumbly one to his belly.
"EEEAAHhahhaha-heehee-hee-hee!! Nohohoho!"
"Oh, really? It sounded like you were, pupil." An anticipatory pause, and then came another to his left rib- then once more on his right. It was clear she was a seasoned professional who delighted in eliciting such whiny laughter. Despite the unbearable tingling sensation she caused, Aang had to admit that this side of his crush teacher friend was nice to see.
"Well -ahaha- Monkey feathers Hehey, you're tickling!!" he exclaimed as Katara inched closer up his torso, switching her position to face his legs. With her back turned away, it was impossible to calculate her next move- and when it would come- and-
Raspberries to both his sides interupted Aang's train of thought. His legs bucked upward, locking onto Katara's shoulders. No response- just pure tact in holding his calves up, squeezing them ticklishly while she mercilessly delivered a deluge of devastatingly ticklish raspberry blows on his stomach, a hiccupy wheeze of laughter escaping him with each one.
-PFFT- "EEheeheee it's too much I'mnotstrongerthan" -PFFFT- "KatarAAAAA!!! Heheheeheehee!! I'm sorry-EEhee-" -PFFFFFFFFFFFT.
Jovial laughter accompanied Katara's every adept move -- it was as if she was controlling concentrated enthusiasm like water, ebbing and flowing with each bassy tremble of her lips.
Aang sprang upwards with every squeal, laugh and begging gesture, and Katara couldn't help but to smile sweetly between increasingly intense blows, causing a riotous ruckus, which would have been all fun and games if it wasn't for a scrappy, seismic-sensitive someone.
Disgruntled, Toph stomped out of her tent. "Alright, what's the big fuss about?" She yelled in a way that could command the room. "Splashing around like a couple of pansies can't be this-"
Aang's pleading interrupted her rant.
"Tohohoph, help! She's tihihickling me! Lehehet go-hehehe!" He flailed, as a constant stream of merciless raspberries locked in on the middle of his stomach, creating a concentrated buzz of sensation.
The Earthbender felt Katara's playful tact under her feet- and with each frantic motion, she seismically sensed an opportunity.
"Awesome! The stuck up water witch's actually having fun!" she quipped, cracking her knuckles to push Katara out of the way. "Step aside, Sugar Queen!"
Aang gasped in exhillaration. "Tohohoph! Toph, nohow- hehehe- please! Quihick, sahahave me then yourself- ahahahaha!"
"Save you?" she retorted. "Boring." Straddling his arms while Katara took his stomach, both girls began to tickle vigorously.
"Trahahaitor! Yohou two are so bad!"
"Oh, no! What a villain I am for punishing you after wooshing around on your little twinkle toes and laughing louder than Sokka snores!" Toph dryly suggested.
"We were having fun here! Who says anyone's punishing anyone?" Katara argued back mid-tickle, ignoring the adorably giggly Avatar below them.
"Well? Didn't it start that way?" Toph sassed, her hands focusing on scribbling over Aang's armpits. Centering her focus on the area earned her pitchy squeals and back-and-forth shaking of his arrow-clad head.
"Did not! We were just playing-" Katara said, squeezing his sides with tingly pressure. Toph's behavior elicited irritation expressed on Aang, the sensitive scapegoat.
"Blehhh! Did too!" Toph replied, leaning over to raspberry both of Aang's ribs.
"Did not!" The competitive nature made Katara predisposed to up the ante. She gently scribbled up and down the sides of his tunic and finished with three quick raspberries. Drawing from her waterskin, she procured a cool, feathery stroke of water and slid it across his neck. The sporadic, alternating movements caused him to throw his head back in silly laughter, squealing as his face flushed in exhilaration.
"Aheeheehee! Gihihirls!"
"Did too!" Toph yelled, agressively poking at his ribs and armpits, Aang laughed harder at the playful motions, attempting to roll to his other side while slightly out of breath. Both benders had their focus set on specific spots while butting heads with one another, while a cacophony of bright giggling and bickering clouded the air.
"HEE-heehaha!! Stohop fighting!"
"Did NOT!" Katara retorted, blowing another loud raspberry which made his voice go up an octave. Fortunately, both girls turned as they heard familliar footsteps, halting their movements and allowing Aang to breathe.
"Did what?" asked Sokka, as he walked into the campsite gripping a gaggle of freshly hunted moose trout in a vice. As he shrugged at the strange scene, Katara and Toph surrounded the non-bender in hunger, waiting to feast on his haul.
Aang was left on the floor to hold his stomach, patting away the tickly embers which remained.
Whew. Never in his life was Aang more grateful to see meat.
A/N: This was a charity commission for Laughs for Lives by @ultimatelee19!
He paid to finish a late request that was rotting in my drafts- I cooked. It's not my best characteriusation and work but like still ghevwshdavh its something idk. YAYYYYY donate guys
Mako is dragged to Air Temple Island. Korra and the girls want to play a game.
(as seen in the title, this is a spiritual successor to Tribe Tradition, an oldie but still a favorite....)
Makorra fic- lee!Mako, ler!Korra. Ikki and Jinora appear briefly as lers.
This fic contains prominent mentions & display of burping + armpits, raspberry focus, and tickling that is implied to be "ruthless"
"I can't believe I scored the Avatar."
Mako smiled. Thinking back, "scored" wasn't the best way to word it. It was just what Bolin said. But the firebender couldn't help but feel that way. She was as amazing as she constantly boasted she was, and had a fighting spirit to boot. What a woman.
"Right. But did you really want to come with me to Air Temple Island today? Might be a little boring for you." Korra retorted, holding onto Mako's hand. Still, she couldn't deny the joy she felt from those idle moments where they'd go places together just because. He didn't have to attend any trivial Avatar events, but he did anyway. For her. The duo sat inside an idyllic gazebo, just slightly dappled by the sunlight while a cool island breeze blew in.
"Air Temple Island is not boring!" Ikki, Tenzin's youngest airbending daughter pouted in her shrill voice– as she did.
"Yeah! It's nice here, you know... You could go inside and have some tea! Or hang out with the little guys. Just spitballing here." defended Jinora, who allowed a couple of flying lemur to perch up to her as she immersed herself in the rest of the book she was reading.
Mako smiled. "I'm just going to hang back while Korra practices airbending. Those pro-bending matches can really take a toll on you."
For some reason, Ikki couldn't help but to refute this claim. Boring? He wouldn't dare. Deciding that Mako needed to be convinced, the devilish smirk on her cherubic face showed that she had an idea.
"Let's play a game!"
"Sounds nice. But I'd hate to leave Korra out of it." Mako lied, wanting a bit of time to himself. "Maybe tomorrow, girls."
"Pleeaaaaaase?" Ikki pleaded.
"I mean... Alright." he hesitated, letting them have their way.
"Yayyy! Jinora! Tell Daddy to tell Korra to play with us!"
"It's something Daddy's daddy used to play on his birthday!" Ikki chimed.
Jinora walked over, hearing tell of the conversation. "A tickling game."
Mako froze. Tickling and Korra were a lethal combination. Sure, he had briefly experienced her wrath through spontaneous raspberries to the stomach and sneak-attacks where she'd pin him down, but an entire game was something entirely new. The firebender knew that Ikki and Jinora had no idea they had just let an evil spirit into the physical world.
The older Airbender girl continued her explanation with a slight devious inflection to her voice.
"The rules are simple. Your age determines the minutes you have. It's either a couple minutes of this…" Jinora plunged her hands into Mako's sides, manouvering her fingers up and down his grey tunic. His sharply edged eyebrows softened as he laughed, clutching his torso as uncharacteristic pitchy wheezing escaped him.
"Or this!" Ikki ran over to Mako's stomach and blew a raspberry above the fabric of his clothing, enough to cause him to cover his stomach and almost double over, but nothing lethal. "Since it isn't your birthday, we'll just do how old you are now. How old are you, anyway? Thirty? Fifty? A bajillion?"
"I'm eighteen… Alright. I'll take this challenge." he gristled. The kids were fine. Their small scribbles were something he could easily shrug off. But Korra? That was an entirely different obstacle. He knew her touch. Rough yet calculated, as a result of extensive bending training from both masters and pro-benders. Being good with her hands wasn't only limited to her combat, but also rough-housing- including tickling.
Usually she'd let up after a while, but Ikki and Jinora gave her incentive. Incentive to destroy him. Immediately, he regretted his descision in entrusting his most ticklish areas to his strong, capable Avatar girlfriend.
At least he got to pick how he'd be going down. Both options did not sound appealing.
"Sounds fun." Korra smirked, an evil the two younglings couldn't register present in her statement. "So, handsome, what's your pick?"
Mako froze. He stared coldly at his girlfriend, overwhelmed by the power of a choice that would soon take hold of him. "Both sound just as-"
"Both!?" Ikki lit up.
"Oh, you know what this means." Jinora replied smugly. Korra felt excitement at the vaguely vicious response.
"I don't know. What does it mean?" suggested Korra. "Surely not that he wants both?" Approaching Mako while smiling sweetly yet smugly at him, she pinned him down onto the floor before the girls could officially start the game by holding his arms up.
Almost carnally, she undid his waistband to reveal his torso, gripping his wrists in a vice with one hand, and rotating her finger around in his belly button with another. Korra laughed along with Mako, who helplessly wheezed and whined in her grip.
"Kgh-Korraaa! Hahahah-haha thahahahat's not faiiiiIIIEEER!!" He protested as his face turned away- he couldn't face her despite her intent on looking him directly in the eye.
"Hey! That's not how you start!" Ikki whined.
"Deal with it!" Korra taunted, continuing her eighteen-minute mischief. Her left pointer finger drew teasing patterns around Mako's abdominals, before dipping back into his navel and expanding into a spiderlike claw. Her actions were unrelenting, unable to be stopped by even the organisers of the game.
Mako couldn't take the feeling- it was like the sensation had taken hold of his body by force. He shook and pleaded- begging through chopped-up "pleases" as she ruthlessly dipped in and out. The sight was slightly scary to the young Airbenders, who fled in intimidation to partake in another game- perhaps something calmer with less shrieking, like feeding the sky bison, and much to Mako's chagrin, the game went on without them.
"No-no-nonononoget ouhout of there PLEASEEEheheHEEHEEE!!" he whimpered, his voice cracking at the last bargaining word. Korra nodded, raising her singular finger away from his stomach to earn him a millisecond of temporary relief. Her hands were full tying his arms together with his waistband while she used both of her hands to tickle Mako's armpits.
"You ready?" taunted Korra.
"Why do you insist on torturing me like this." he managed to quip amidst the lingering tingles.
"Too bad! I'm ready." Korra stated, sadistically scratching away at the hollows, causing Mako to shrivel up and struggle to escape the situation (which would be against the rules- but Korra's actions were absoultely unfair). He moved his body away from her in a failed attempt to guard himself which was met by a ruffling of his swooped-up hair in a noogie.
"Do I?" The Avatar jokingly shoved her armpit into his face. Mako turned away, but that resulted in her getting much more persistent than before. Moving her arm alongside his face, she made sure to exact every drop of revenge from that offhand comment. "Do I now?"
"Yeahah, I saihaid it, so there! Gehehet out! Get ohohohout-heheheheHAHAH!!" The pleading intensified with the techniques on his armpits, and the annoying chokeholds and incessantly proud display of Korra's sweat made the tickling harder to bear. He could do it, though. For the love of the game, and for his girlfriend. Despite suffering for it, it was quite invigorating to see her strength translate into such matters as tickling him. It certainly didn't feel invigorating in any sense, though. If anything it was more like she was toying with his senses by breaking down his walls of stoicity.
Korra's technique seemed to be especially effective on him, as she could poke and play at his armpits, switching the pressure on them with one hand, while the other would be teasing him through pushing down on his head or tickling slightly at his neck or again, shoving her armpit into his face. He seemed to be about to break, and this was even before the dreaded eighteen raspberries.
The minutes were excruciatingly long for Mako, yet far too short for Korra. She seized them in every way she could, such as by threateningly wiggling her fingers above her boyfriend's stomach then having them land on his ribs, which she then counted very, very slowly ("One… two… three… Recount! One…"). There was not a spot on his upper body that was left untouched, including his sides, which her fingers climbed up and down, eliciting giggles when lightly glided over and loud, wailing laughter when pressed on. She even switched her position from straddling his waist to straddling his arms, letting her hollows dangle over him while she worked over his shoulderblades and ribs, before switching back and lightly tickling over his hipbones.
"HahahHAHAHA-heh-AAAh-HAAHAHA-HauGH!- Ghh- How long until you're done, you-"
"Only ten seconds." Korra answered, and a sigh of relief escaped Mako. "Ten…"
Korra began to count down. With each number, she savored a new spot before the imminent delivery of raspberries she had been saving her breath for.
"Nine…" She squeezed Mako's lower sides, tauntingly maintaining eye contact at him while he writhed and wiggled away to shake her off.
"Nnngh- Gghah! HaahahaKOHOHORRAAAAA!!!"
"Eiiiight…" she stated smugly, spidering across his entire torso, briefly dipping her hands into his armpits before continuing to release a barrage of nimble fingers across the surface. "Having fun down there, cool guy?"
"You're hahaving more fun than me- Ahahaha, stooooop!" He struggled to avoid her quick movements in his precarious position, where he was unable to take hold of her hands and get revenge as usual.
"Seven…" Korra focused her attention on diving her hands into his shirt, tickling his stomach and ribs. Her fingers were seen wriggling quickly just below the fabric. Mako tried to bite and bump them away with his head while she only laughed at his attempt.
"Ahahaha- Hhah- you jehhe-just like my body that much, huh-HEEEEEK! KorranotAGAIN!!--" His banter was immediately interrupted by a tiny tornado which situated itself in his belly button, created through the Avatar's airbending. Her smug grin persisted as she used her free hand to tickle his stomach in a claw-like motion.
"Six… Five… Four…" She continued to bend gusts of wind that slid under the crevice of his shirt, causing his back to arch upwards. The silky feeling packed a surprising punch, and Korra knew. She gazed directly into his eyes, her control expertly evil. Wind feathered under his arms and across his abs, causing Mako to choke out in strained laughter.
"Ahahairbending is- eee! It's ehehevil!" he squealed uncharacteristically.
"Three…" Korra ceased her bending to focus both hands on scribbling her fingers roughly on his upper thighs and knees.
"Two…" She wiggled her fingers above him to build anticipation, then jammed the digits into his sides.
"One!" Her fingers stalled, leaving Mako laying on the floor, unable to rub the lingering sensations away from his skin. However she remained sitting squarely on his legs.
"So, d-do you stop now? Please tell me you're not doing-"
No reply-- only a devious snicker. Without warning, Korra quickly craned her face down onto Mako's stomach, preparing a gusty inhale which then manifested in a rapturous raspberry. Mako squealed loudly, his knees knocking Korra in the head.
"NAAAAAHahahah, HHA-HiiIhonestlydon'tknowwhatIexpected- HNGHHHHAAAh!" Mako screamed as the next raspberry hit his stomach. He could feel the vigorous pulsation of her cheeks from her lips, and could only watch as she drew in yet another massive inhale using her fairly impressive lung capacity.
"Only two out of eighteen and you're howling like an owl wolf. Oh, wait- make that three." Another raspberry came, this one deliberately drawn out just to show off the fact that she could.
Korra's hubristic acts continued. "Four, five…"
Long, loud raspberries were unleashed on Mako's sides. His laughter grew silent, bouts of wheezing occasionally audible. Raspberries number six, seven and eight climbed up his torso, as the Avatar's attacks reached up from his lower ribs to his upper ribs, just near his armpits. Mako managed to whine her name accross her bouts of mischief.
Nine, ten, and eleven lingered on his armpits. They were an area that was rarely explored, but the wealth of loud laughter that came from them showed Korra that her focus on the spot was well-rewarded. Twelve came crashing down on his left armpit, drawn out thanks to her ability to control the air she released.
"HAHhahhKorra! Korra, please-"
"Thirteen…" Korra drew her face agonizingly slowly towards Mako's stomach.
"Just do it, why don't you?"
Mako's prayers were unfortunately answered, as the long buildup to the unlucky thirteenth raspberry had paid off massively. The fourteenth which came after that provided him no reprieve. His laughter grew fully silent, as Korra decided to unfortunately up the ante by kneading into his sides.
"Fifteen!" She blew another raspberry, dodged by Mako's swift wriggle away. That didn't stop sixteen, an unavoidable quick burst amidst his ribs, and seventeen, a long burst on the side of his neck. Eighteen was yet to come, and Korra made it obvious and dramatic by dangling her fingers deviously above his face.
"Ready, birthday boy?" Korra teased. Mako gulped. Clearly he wasn't, evident by his shaky grin. The Avatar took this as an incentive to dive down, eyes shut and lips pursed to deliver the final blow. It was catastrophic. The raspberry erupted and echoed acroiss the gazebo while Mako struggled away from her, tears showing through peals of exhausted laughter. Giggles and wheezes kept spilling out of him even when she let go.
"Eighteen." Korra stated, looking into his exhausted, flushed face in a manner that apperead both loving and triumphant. "You holding up okay down there?"
"Not after all that… You're a horrible Avat-" Korra shut him up with a long kiss.
"Consider it a birthday present." she said, smiling slightly at her sensitive lover.
"I think I like this more than the last thing. Thank goodness it's over." Instead of appreciating the sentiment, Korra decided to burp directly in his face in mock dismissance.
"Hey! What the-"
"And this is for calling me a horrible Avatar." She stood up, looking down at him with a smirk while he was collapsed onto the ground from exhaustion.
Prompt 52 - “What about (them), (are they) ticklish?” “Huh? What - me?!”
A/N: I love the gaaaaaang aww, here’s something set in the season 1 episodic adventures
…
“Why is it always me?!” Sokka wailed, running from his playfully smirking sister.
“What are you talking about?!” Katara yelled after him. “Get back here!”
“No! I don’t deserve to be the victim every time!” Sokka asserted, spinning on his heels and pointing. “What about Aang, is he ticklish?”
“Huh? What - me?!” Aang brought a hand up to the back of his neck, smiling bashfully where he stood on the sidelines of the siblings’ tickle fight. “Oh. Well, I-”
“That sounds like a yes to me!” Sokka declared, leaping toward him with a whooping laugh.
Aang quickly veered out of his path, only to be splashed hard as he tried to take to the air. The water drenched him with a chill. “Katara!” He whined, shivering.
“You don’t get to run away from us! Sokka’s right!” She laughed, bringing up another torrent of water threateningly. “Come on, we’ll warm you up!” She waved him toward them.
Aang released the air ball he had begun to form as a means of escape, and with a triumphant cry, Sokka jumped forward and closed the distance between them.
“Wahahahait guhuhuys! Behehehe nice I’m reheheheally ticklish!” Aang laughed, flailing as he went down.
“No kidding! I haven’t even started tickling yet!” Sokka laughed.
Katara joined them a moment later, leaning down to laugh at the two boys. “Need some help?”
“Yehehehehes! Plehehease!” Aang cried. Sokka started prodding and poking for spots, all of which seemed to tickle. Aang swiftly followed his movements, significantly blocking and inhibiting some.
Katara laughed, then clarified. “Need some help, Sokka?”
“Of course! Here, help me hold him! He’s flailing around like a Jellynemone on a hook!” Sokka instructed, laughing along.
The sound of the water tribe sibling’s glee harmonized well with Aang’s squealing laughter for the next several minutes as they sought out the most ticklish spots on the avatar.
34? With zuko as the lee maybe? Or even sokka? Just atla
(warmup prompts are now closed so i can start work on tickletober soon! Askbox has been closed temporarily so i don't get any more while I catch up!)
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of course of course!!! Feels a little ooc to me because i havent written with this boys in a hot second, but i hope you enjoy!!
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Roundabout
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Ship(s): Gen (or ship if you want!)
Characters (lee/ler): Ler!Sokka, Lee!Zuko
Word Count: 272 words
Summary: Sokka never fights back against tickle attacks, and Zuko wonders if he might like it. Sokka, of course, is more than willing to turn the question against him.
[ao3 link]
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Zuko nudged Sokka with his foot, suppressing a smile when Sokka jumped away from the touch. “I don’t get why you never fight back.”
Sokka lifted a hand from where he sprawled lazily across the grass, gesturing in the general direction Katara had gone in after tickling the snot out of him. “Are you kidding me? She’s got magic water powers, it’s easier to just take it.”
Zuko sat down next to Sokka, raising an eyebrow.
“Fine.” Sokka rolled his eyes. “Maybe I don’t entirely mind it. It’s not totally awful to let loose like that every once in a while.”
Zuko leaned back on his hands. “Is that not just a roundabout way of saying ‘I like it?’”
A blush rose to Sokka’s cheeks so fast that Zuko couldn’t help but wonder if he got a headrush. “Well– it’s not like you ever fight back either! You just curl up into a little ball and let everyone tickle you!”
Heat flooded Zuko’s own cheeks and he looked away with a scowl. “That’s not the same.”
“Oh yeah?” Sokka’s clothing rustled, but Zuko refused to look back to see what he was doing. “Maybe we should test that.”
Zuko startled, automatically hunching into a defensive position at the change in Sokka’s tone. “What?”
Sokka grinned at him. “All you have to say is ‘stop.’”
“Sokka, wait–!”
Zuko tried to scramble to his feet, but he was too late. Sokka easily tackled him, his tickle attack starting before they even hit the ground. Zuko burst into laughter, curling up tight to try and hide his weak points.
56 for lee!zuko and ler!sokka?? love ur blog sm, i get so excited when u make a new prompt list like this!!!
Prompt 56 - "I never would've pegged you as the ticklish type."
A/N: this is such a sweet message and I’m so happy ahhh! thank you so much <3 also YES avatar prompt avatar prompt and ticklish zuko at that????? Yes?????!!!!!!!!?????
…
“Y’know, I never would’ve pegged you as the ticklish type.” Sokka said, cheerful as ever as he sat by a panting Zuko on the ground beside him.
Zuko just groaned, pulling his hands in to cover his face.
Sokka grinned as Zuko unknowingly opened himself up for further attack. He took the opportunity and dove in for another round of sporadic pokes to Zuko’s stomach and ribs.
“Nah-HA hahaha- nohohoho!” Zuko absolutely howled, laughing and scrambling onto his side as his arms flailed down.
“Mm see. I feel like it destroys the whole image of you that we had for months. Chasing us. Trying to capture Aang. Meanwhile your tickle-laugh sounds like this.” Sokka cooed.
A/N : AAAHHH!!!! fixating hard y’all. it's impossible for me to be normal about anything ever. this one's got more story than the last one but i hope u enjoy anyway lolll
Summary : a day off at the abandoned vacation home and zuko has a lot to think about. though, it’s kinda hard to think about your place in the world when your friends are being annoying (and u still love them for that)
Word Count : 5106
hope u enjoy!!
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Being back at his family’s old beach house was remarkably strange. Zuko kept getting flashes of bittersweet nostalgia, images of his mother building castles out of sand with him, just for Azula to knock them all down. Running through the halls in shrieks of laughter, getting chased by the tickle monster (his mother always had the perfect balance between her calm and nurturing nature, and her more silly and playful side. Feeling okay with play was something that ended almost immediately after she left his life), always before being interrupted by a stark glare from his father.
Zuko’s father was usually absent in these beach house memories, but that’s because even when he was there during their vacations (which honestly wasn’t often, he was usually off tending to the business of being an up-and-coming Firelord), he always stood with a glare that Zuko could still see in his head clear as day. Looking back on it, he was glad that Ozai was usually preoccupied during those old vacations so he at least has a few good memories left of this place.
Zuko pondered on it alone in the house.
The rest of the group were off at the beach, doing their own things. If he had to guess, Toph was probably practicing her sandbending right now. Maybe she’s teaching Aang, or maybe Aang was practicing some moves Zuko taught him earlier in the week. Zuko felt weirdly proud at the idea. He imagined Katara was probably soaking in the ocean, bending and feeling one with the water. And Sokka…Agni knows what Sokka’s up to right now. Maybe he’s fishing.
All he knows is that they’re probably keeping themselves preoccupied right now, taking the day off to do whatever they pleased. The group needed to keep their minds sharp, but not overworked.
Zuko could sort of relate to that, trying to keep occupied. It was at a much lower scale, sure, but when he wasn’t training Aang, he took to wandering the grounds of this place that felt distantly familiar to him.
Zuko still feels a little uncomfortable with the thought of hanging near everyone during an off day like this. He knows they don’t hate him anymore, but guilt and shame have become chronic pains he hasn’t learned to aid yet. He’s happy to help them, but hanging out on a casual level is something he’s still getting used to.
As he walked through the abandoned home, he couldn’t help but gaze at old photos, taking some out of the frame to burn in his hand. For some reason, watching the memory physically char and fall to ashes from his fire felt like a medicinal release in his system. He sat on beds that had been dressed by old maids years ago, untouched for so long and yet the sheets still had a smell that burned into his sinuses like a forgotten memory.
It was so quiet in the house. Every footstep seemed to echo. It was dark, too. Each flame he set gave light to the entire room and the hall with it. It felt right that this place had been abandoned for so long. Justified. It deserved to lay dormant with the rest of any happy memories his childhood had to offer. That part of his life was laid to rest some time ago, but revisiting it lit something in him he hadn’t expected.
When he suggested they settle here for a while, Zuko hadn’t thought too hard on what it would be like to revisit this place. It was obvious this house, these grounds, the beach itself, would bring back memories he used to try hard not to think about. That was only logical.
What Zuko hadn’t anticipated was the way it would make him feel about the new people he’s surrounded himself with. The last time he was on a beach with people he thought were his friend group, it was a disaster. Fights and arguments, insecurities thrown around like weapons of war. That used to be normal to him. That was just what a vacation was.
But everyone here was having a good time. Yes, stress was definitely high and in the air, everyone was still keeping their guard up for what they knew was to come after they left. But that didn’t mean good times came to an end altogether. Zuko saw how they still played and teased each other, telling stories at dinner and laughing when they trained. Stress was high, but spirits might’ve been even higher.
Walking through this empty house, he realized that’s what this place was actually for. It wasn’t just a house you stayed in away from your home. It was a place built for bringing people closer together.
And here he was standing in it, alone in the dark.
Zuko sighed, dragging a hand down his face. He knew he should probably go out there. They trusted him now, what was he waiting on? He’s allowed…fun. That sounds so gross. But it also sounds like something Uncle would be telling him right now. If Zuko was any good at impressions, he’d give himself a famous Iroh Special about the balance of work and life, the importance of close friends in times like these. But Zuko sorta sucks at impressions, so he’ll just have to imagine how good some advice like that would sound and suck it up.
He should probably go join them on the beach now. Ugh.
As Zuko walked out of the dimly lit house, the sun felt really good on his skin, warm and filling for his soul. He took a deep breath, in and out, as he made his way toward the beach. The sounds of splashing water and shrieking laughter filled his ears as he got closer, his bare feet now warming in the sand.
“Zuko’s back,” he heard Toph announce from her self-made throne of sand, a little umbrella over the top for shade and flavor.
Zuko made his way next to Toph, watching the other three play in the ocean. Sokka had Aang in some kind of hold with his arms behind his back, while Katara stood in front, doing something with the water that seemed to have Aang in stitches. Zuko was utterly confused.
“What are they doing?” he puzzled, sitting down criss-crossed next to Toph.
“Why, do you want in?” Toph teased with a grin, making Zuko blush and nearly start defending himself (for what, he wasn’t sure) before she interrupted his clear stammering, “Katara figured out how to tickle with her water. She can be a little ruthless sometimes, and I really like that side of her.”
Zuko just nodded, really not sure what to say right now. He felt so awkward, maybe this was a bad idea after all. He’d be better off alone back in the house, it was probably good for him to think about his past the way he was before. Maybe he should just turn back, Toph will notice but none of the others have even acknowledged he came back yet so it’s not like–
“Hey!” Sokka called out, “My arms are getting tired! One of you come hold him for me!”
“Nohoho! Just lemme gohoho!” Aang cackled, kicking the water but not doing anything to actually stop them.
Zuko sighed, regretting saying anything before the words even left his mouth. “Aang, just bend the water!” he yelled their way, “Did you forget you’re the Avatar?!”
Aang just kept laughing for a moment like he hadn’t heard a thing, and Zuko nearly smiled at the boy’s blatant silliness. But in a blink, Katara was suddenly lifted and thrown about ten feet away by a small but powerful wave, Sokka getting launched not long after in the opposite direction.
Aang shot a thumbs up Zuko’s way, so Zuko gave him a quick nod back. Real smooth.
“Wooo, that’s right Twinkle Toes! Show ‘em who’s boss!” Toph cheered like she was watching a wrestling match, throwing an excited punch to Zuko’s shoulder. He winced and shot a hand up to comfort the ache, but otherwise said nothing about it.
He watched as Aang launched a tickle attack of his own against the siblings, Katara squealing and using her own water to try and counter or block any of the water she could. Sokka threw his head back in loud laughter, having no way to defend himself and pretty much succumbing to his fate, screaming with his head above water.
Zuko felt weird just spectating like this, so he started fidgeting with the sand in front of him. He thought for a moment on building a castle like he had with his mother so many years ago, but that was so far from who he was now that he chose to keep it to himself. That can just stay a happy memory for the time being.
He looked up to Toph, who seemed content on bending miscellaneous sand shapes in her hand while she listened to them play.
“Why aren’t you out there with them?” he couldn’t help but ask. Zuko didn’t feel as weird around Toph as he did the others. He still felt awkward at times, but not weird. She was the first person here to really trust him, vouch for him even. She was strong and resilient and damn was she stubborn. Zuko really liked that about her, and even though she loved to tease, he felt comfortable having a conversation with her. That was just who she was.
“Eh, water’s not really my thing. I can’t see jack when I’m in the water. Well, I kind of can, if my feet are still touching the ground. But it’s sorta foggy that way and it freaks me out. I like knowing where I am, and in there I just feel all over the place,” she cringed, forming a little sand sea lion in her palm. “Why aren’t you in there with them? Is it a firebender thing to hate the water?”
Of course she’d turn the question onto him, why didn’t he think of that? Ugh, this was not something he felt like getting into right now. “Yeah, sure. Something like that.”
“You are such a bad liar,” she chuckled, chucking her sea lion at his head playfully. He grunted at the impact and dusted the sand from his hair while she grabbed another chunk to fidget with. “I don’t even need my feet to figure that out.”
Zuko sighed, bringing his knees to his chest to lay his arms down and make a makeshift headrest. “I don’t know how to just…play, like that. That’s not natural for me, it would just be weird. It’s better if I just stay up here,” he said, suddenly feeling very weirdly insecure and unsure of his words, “If, like, y’know–if that’s okay with you.”
She laughed openly at his hesitance. “Sparky, it would mean the world. I like your company! You’re funny to talk to,” she said, and her choice of words made him squint.
“‘Funny to talk to?’” Zuko questioned.
“Yeah, you’re always so uptight. And awkward. It’s really funny,” she chuckled, making him deflate a little. He knew she probably meant the best by it, but her bluntness will always take a little blow to his already fragile ego.
“Is that really the only reason you talk to me?” Zuko huffed, not even looking for an answer if not to just air out his insecurities a little.
“No, you dingbat. You’re really different from the others, it’s a nice change of pace. You’re stiff, and your heart rate might be faster than anyone I've ever met which can get pretty annoying. But you’re very real, and I like that in a person. If you have something you need to say, then you say it,” she paused. “Well, most of the time.”
Zuko sat in that for a moment. He’s pretty sure she was…complimenting him? Maybe? It’s hard to tell with Toph, it’s rare she ever gets sweet with her words. But he’s pretty sure that whatever she meant by that, it was supposed to be a good thing. So he’ll take it.
“Thanks…I think.”
“I know it’s hard but…they can be fun if you try,” she shrugged, forming a little sand-Zuko in her palm and handing it to him. He took it gently, worried it would crumble in his hand. But it didn’t. It stayed sturdy and solid, like a real doll. Zuko turned it in his hand, getting a good look at his mini-me.
“How do you…”
“Know what you look like?” she finished for him. “The others described you to me a while back. It’s probably not perfect, but–”
“No, no. It’s…” Zuko stared at the thing in his hand. It was small, pretty much the size of his palm. His scar was there, but that’s not what he was looking at. Zuko couldn’t stop looking at the smile on its face. On his face. How natural and meant to be there it looked. “It’s really good. You captured my essence,” he remarked playfully, sliding the doll into his pocket. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it, Sparky,” she smiled. “Seriously. Don’t.” Zuko couldn’t help but chuckle at that, looking up to see Sokka dragging himself out of the water towards them.
“Teaching Aang waterbending was a mistake,” Sokka groaned, leaving puddles of water in his wake as he plopped in the sand next to Zuko. Zuko flinched, some water from Sokka’s clothes splashing on him when he sat down with so much force.
“Watch it, you’re getting water all over me,” Zuko complained, wiping droplets from his face with the back of his hand.
“Oh I’m sorry, were you the one that just got nearly tickled to death by the ocean?! No, I didn’t think so!” Sokka exclaimed, every big movement he made just splashing more water on a frowning Zuko. “I could’ve drowned!”
“Well that wasn’t my fault, so keep the water to yourself,” Zuko rolled his eyes at Sokka’s dramatics.
“You’re such a baby, Sokka,” Toph chuckled. “Aang took it like a champ. You don’t hear him complaining about a couple of tickles,” Toph cooed in a mocking baby voice, making Sokka squint in contempt.
Sokka pointed a finger toward Toph over Zuko, “I don’t wanna hear it from you. You don’t get attacked like I do!”
“Yeah, cause I set boundaries,” Toph grinned, tossing a foot over her knee. “You guys don’t tickle me cause you know if you even try it you’ll never have use of your fingers again.”
Zuko’s brow shot up at that, and he nearly smiled, but made no comment.
Sokka had no smart comeback to give, instead bringing his hand back in to cross his arms over his chest, pouting. They sat in silence for a moment before it seemed like a light went off over Sokka’s head, the boy perking up quickly and whipping his head toward–
“Zuko,” Sokka started with a grin. “You should help me get back at Aang.”
Zuko’s brow really shot up at that, “What?!”
“Yeah, he’d never expect it from you!” Sokka said, his smile wide and excited.
Zuko stared incredulously, “Did that water hit you over the head or something? I am not doing that,” he scoffed, refusing to look at Sokka right now. He is so stupid, what makes him think Zuko would ever do something so childish?
“Oh c’mooon, you said you were here to help us, right? Well…this would be helping me,” Sokka smiled a toothy grin, really hoping to win him over.
“Just ask Toph, don’t involve me in this. I’m sure she can do some…earthbendy thing and help way better than I could,” Zuko said, looking toward Toph for help.
Toph shook her head, “Nope. This is all you, Sparky,” Zuko could see her smile beneath the shade. He growled in frustration, peeking over toward Sokka.
“You can do it yourself then. Figure it out,” Zuko said, staring back off into the ocean. Aang and Katara were bending and splashing water at each other, their laughs and happy voices blending with the sounds of the ocean waves pushing and pulling against itself.
Sokka grumbled, falling onto his back in the sand. “Was just trying to see if you wanted to have some fun before we get serious again tomorrow,” he mumbled, picking at the sand with his fingers.
Zuko tried to ignore him, but felt a poke to his shoulder on his left. He looked to Toph and saw her just staring at him with this look, like she was disappointed. Or, maybe not disappointed. More like she was saying with her eyes, “Didn’t we just have a heart-to-heart about this two seconds ago?” He felt the doll in his pocket jab into his thigh.
Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose like he often did when utterly frustrated. “If I help you, you have to do something for me in return.”
Sokka shot up, his eyes wide like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Yeah! Anything!” he paused, “Or, I mean, almost anything.”
Zuko clicked his tongue, he cannot believe he is doing this. “There’s some spices left over in the kitchen cabinet. They haven’t gone bad, I checked,” he peeked over to Sokka. “For dinner tonight, we are using those spices. No offense, but I’m tired of eating bland stew every night. If you grab those from the house…” he sighed, saying the words like they crawled from the pit of his stomach, “I will help you get back at Aang.”
“Say no more!” Sokka shot up from the sand and strut toward the house with his head held high. He was obviously very proud of himself for convincing Zuko to do something silly for once, and honestly, Zuko couldn’t blame him. He was surprised himself.
Toph dropped her throne back to the ground, the force of it shaking the ground under them as she stuck her toes in the sand. “You really gonna do it, Sparky?”
Zuko dropped his face into his hands. “I think I just dug myself into a hole.”
That made Toph cackle, and Zuko couldn’t help smiling into his palms.
–
The fish stew Katara was cooking smelled amazing. Zuko had forgotten just how much he missed the smell of real, seasoned food until he found those spices in the cabinet earlier today. At least he was getting something good out of this mess he’s got himself into.
In the living room of the beach house, Toph was proudly showing off all the sand dolls she made today. It was mainly weird shapes or animals she was familiar with, but everyone got a kick out of it.
“Oh, oh, can you do me?!” Aang practically bounced on his heels, clutching the Appa doll to his chest.
“Remind me when we go back to the beach, Twinkletoes,” Toph smiled, tossing a solid ball of sand to the ceiling, up, then down. “I made Sparky one, since he didn’t abandon me on the beach like some people.”
Aang deflated in guilt, “I thought you said you didn’t care…”
“I didn’t care, I’m just messing with you,” she grinned, throwing the ball at a quiet Zuko’s head.
“Ow! Hey, watch it–!”
“Show ‘em your doll, Sparks!” Toph said, the ball launching itself back into her palm. Zuko frowned, feeling weirdly embarrassed by it. He just sat there for a second with everyone staring at him, waiting.
“I thought you said not to mention it?”
“Well if Aang’s making commissions, he should probably see what he’s buying,” Toph said, clearly just proud the others were liking her art so much.
A little shy, Zuko reached into his pocket and pulled out the doll, holding it up for everyone to see. Aang immediately rushed over, not taking it from his hand but still looking at it really close.
“Woah, little Sifu Hotman! Toph, this is so cool!” Aang poked at the doll’s face, “Aww, she even made him smile!”
Katara barked a laugh from the kitchen close by, “Really taking some artistic liberties with that one, Toph.”
Everyone snickered at that, and Zuko couldn’t help but frown (unfortunately proving their case). “I can smile,” he said, shoving the doll back in his pocket. “Maybe I just don’t find you guys that funny.”
Sokka gasped, “What, do we not amuse you enough, Your Highness?” He said in a mockingly fancy tone.
Zuko knows he’s just teasing, but Sokka can really be annoying sometimes.
“That’s not it,” Zuko glared. “I don’t know, maybe we just have different senses of humor. But I can smile.”
He saw Aang glance over his shoulder to Sokka, who was lying comfortably on a pile of pillows. There was a weird, silent exchange happening between them that Zuko couldn’t pinpoint, but he was smart enough to know something was up.
Sokka sat up and looked at Zuko, trying a little too hard to look casual. “So…what does make you smile, then?”
Zuko raised a brow. Kind of a loaded question, if you ask him. “I mean, I don’t know. That’s sorta vague.”
“On purpose,” Sokka corrected. “I can think of a ton of things that make me smile off the top of my head. Like, uh…shopping!”
“Cartwheels,” Aang butt in.
“Sea prunes!” Katara called from the kitchen.
“Feeling the enemy crumble to the ground,” Toph said, way too casually.
Zuko felt a little cornered. This was hard for him, okay? Thinking of something like this off the top of his head was difficult when he’s spent the last three years with a resting frowny face. “Um…” he started, really digging into his brain for an answer. “My…Uncle was really good at telling jokes? They got annoying sometimes, but some of them made me laugh. If that counts.”
Aang really smiled at that, moving to sit next to Zuko on the ground. “That definitely counts,” he said, before shooting another look toward Sokka. Hm…
Sokka got up and sat next to Zuko on his other side, throwing an arm over his shoulder way too casually, “I think that’s a wonderful answer. But there’s just one problem…”
Zuko shot him a confused side-eye, almost shrinking away from Sokka’s touch. “Uh, okay?”
“I don’t think we’ve ever made you smile,” said Sokka, giving a small jostle to Zuko’s shoulder.
Toph snorted across the room, getting everyone’s attention. “You can be real smart sometimes, Sparky. I don’t know how you haven’t figured out what they’re up to.”
Zuko shook Sokka’s arm off his shoulder with a furrowed brow, “What are you talking about?”
She grinned, feeling through the floor how both Aang and Sokka were slowly inching closer to Zuko on either side. “I think they’re gonna tickle you.”
Without a second more to think about escaping, Sokka shoved his hands under Zuko’s arms, followed by Aang throwing himself over Zuko’s lap to wrap his waist in a ticklish hug.
Zuko shrieked, the sensation throwing him off guard so hard he nearly toppled over onto the ground. He would have toppled over, if Aang didn’t have such a strong grip on his waist, not to mention those fingers digging into his sides with a terrible, gentle accuracy. He was a cackling, giggling mess immediately.
“Nohoho-! Wahahait! Waitwaitwaitwaitwahahait-!” Zuko cackled, his eyes scrunched up and his smile wider than it had been in some time. He had forgotten just how ticklish he was until those fingers wouldn’t leave him alone, the digging into his armpits and the scribbling at his sides, it was all so…ugh, it was so ticklish.
“Tried to warn you!” Toph smiled, hearing Katara enter the room to watch while the stew finished cooking.
“Woowww, didn’t know you guys had it in you,” Katara remarked as she leaned against the door frame, watching with a grin. She pointed at the scuffle with her spoon, “I really expected you two to wuss out!”
Aang scoffed with a grin, having to use a lot of his strength to hold the very squirmy Zuko in his arms. “He’s not scary anymore, Katara. I mean, just watch this,” he said, before pinching at Zuko’s hips and making the boy squeal.
“Guhuhuys! Ahaha–wahahait! Hold ohohon!” Zuko twisted in his laughter, his arms sealed at his sides to no avail. If Sokka didn’t get his stupid fingers out of his armpits right now he was pretty sure he was gonna keel over and die any second now. From laughter or embarrassment, he wasn’t really sure which.
“Wait, wuss out?” Toph questioned. “Did you guys plan this?”
Sokka snickered, switching to just using one finger under each arm at a time, and somehow that was even worse. “Yeeeeah, I might’ve pulled a fast one at the beach. Sorry buddy!” he said, before, “Well, not too sorry. This is pretty funny.”
Zuko’s face felt so hot he was almost worried it was gonna catch on fire. Quite literally. “I’m gonna kihihill you twohohoo!” he cackled, finally gathering enough strength to push Aang off him, kicking his feet to make sure Aang kept his distance. But Sokka was unrelenting. “Sokka! Cuhut it out!”
“Ohhhh fine,” Sokka pulled his hands out, bringing one up to scruff Zuko’s hair for good measure. “Before you get mad, we only did it cause you looked a little left out on the beach today.”
Zuko wished so badly that Toph would let the floor swallow him up whole right now. “So your solution was to—do that!?”
“Well, yeah,” Aang smiled a little shyly, “It looked like you felt left out when we were playing earlier. I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong…sorry if that was too much.”
Katara had slipped back to the kitchen for just a moment during their conversation, coming back now with a tray of bowls. She handed Zuko his bowl first, which he took while still glaring at Sokka and Aang. (Well, mainly Sokka. He could tell Aang felt bad, and Zuko’s not like, actually mad. Just so utterly embarrassed and shy that he doesn’t know how to express himself right now.)
Katara gave him a sympathetic smile. “They really like you. They just don’t know how to…express it with you, sometimes.”
“Don’t put this on me, it was Aang’s idea!” Sokka looked a little embarrassed himself, like he’d been caught saying something he didn’t want Zuko to hear. He took his bowl from Katara but wouldn’t look her in the eye.
Aang took what Katara said with stride. She always had a way of putting exactly how he felt into words. “Yeah, it was my idea. You’re really cool, Sifu Hotman! But, I don’t know…I never wanna make you mad, but I still want you to feel included, yknow?”
With a mouthful of stew, Sokka chimed in, “Wha’ he said.”
Zuko wasn’t sure what to say right now. He still felt warm up his neck, and all the eyes on him right now weren't helping. But…he also felt really appreciated? These people certainly had a weird way of showing their affection, but they were trying. For him.
Ugh. They’re so sweet it’s almost sickening.
“We won’t ever do it again. Just…know we meant well,” Aang gave a sad little smile before taking a bite of his stew. Well now Zuko had to say something.
“No, it’s okay,” he stared into his bowl. “Affection, and I guess play, are…sorta new to me. I don’t hate it. I don’t…mind,” Zuko cringed at his own phrasing. Telling them that he actually sorta kinda had a little bit of fun just now felt impossible. He sighed, “What I’m saying is, I won’t get mad if you ever do it again. I know you’re not being mean. And it doesn’t bother me. So. Y’know…yeah.”
Sokka squinted toward Zuko over his spoon. “So, you didn’t hate it…” he shot a grin, “...which, in Zuko Speak, means you had fun right?”
Zuko sincerely wanted to singe the brows right off Sokka's face. Because, unfortunately, he was right. Zuko bit the inside of his cheek, “If I say yes will you drop it?”
“Actually, if you say yes you’re just giving me permission to turn that frown upside-down whenever I want,” Sokka wiggled his eyebrows, making Aang laugh beside him.
Zuko could only roll his eyes and take another spoonful in response, which they all knew in Zuko Speak was a definite yes.
“Ahem,” Toph turned the attention back toward her from across the room. “Now that that’s over, can we please go back to talking about how awesome my new sandbending tricks are? I’ll be generous and take free commissions for the next five minutes, but after that you suckers are gonna have to start paying up.”
Aang shot his hand up immediately, “I call a tiny hat for Momo!”
“Ok, but how about a tiny sword for Momo?” said Sokka.
Katara giggled, “We could give him little sand boots.”
Toph hummed with a nod, drawing up plans in her head before pointing toward Zuko. “Sparky? Any suggestions?”
Zuko looked around the room, everyone’s eyes on him once again. It wasn’t a bad feeling, though. They liked hearing what he had to say, even if it was just for a silly game. Zuko was allowed in on the conversation; actually, more than allowed. Encouraged.
“Um…he could use some sand shades. Really bright outside, y’know.”
There was a small beat of silence, and for a second Zuko almost regretted joining in, before everyone burst into giggles.
“Momo’s gotta be beach ready!” Aang laughed, poking the lemur in the belly. “Toph, he needs sandals. He needs them!”
Zuko couldn’t help but smile along as they kept throwing insane suggestions Toph’s way, his cheeks almost hurting by the end of it. Every once in a while, he’d catch himself glancing around the room, taking in how different it looks full of good company. It was somehow brighter, obviously louder, and the air didn’t feel as tight. Even when they circled back to Zuko’s newfound ticklishness later in the conversation, he felt comfortable to tease back about how weak they all were against the spices he had Katara throw in their stew.
Sokka’s threat of future tickles his way kept creeping its way to the forefront of his mind every once and a while. And he wasn’t…not excited about it. It’s not the tickling he’s looking forward to, exactly. Although, every time he pictures that future attack, he feels the ghost of fingers digging into him again and feels a weird smile pulling at his lips. Zuko puts it back to normal immediately when he catches himself, but it was there, and he knows that. But no, no it’s definitely not the tickling. It’s not just the tickling.
Zuko’s glad they’re not scared of him. They aren’t scared to touch him the way they do the others. It’s different for him, and he knows he’ll have to get used to all this newfound affection. But that’s something he’s willing (happy) to do.
When the night was finished and he found himself in that old familiar smelling bed, Zuko pulled the doll out of his pocket. He traced its details with his thumb under the light of fire he lit in his other palm. Sand took another shape with his friend’s help, and made him smile.
At that moment he decided, that’s what he’ll do with this house. It doesn’t have to feel so dark and alone. Zuko can reshape it.
-
pls consider reblogging if u enjoyed!! love yall, smooches
