#cloudfamily

[survivalove]

kataang/cloudfamily concept art for a scrapped atla book posted by an artist with blessing from avatar studios:

kya born in the SWT, aang keeping a locket of katara and the cloudbabies, kataang legendary love story in atla verse

i’m considering this all canon now 🤭

artist’s ig & twitter handle: medertaab

[beifong-brainrot]

Thinking about this panel of comics in tandem with the fact that Aang's Avatar duties kept him away from his family.

Like for all we talk about Aang being absent from his family due to his duties as the Avatar and the last Airbender, the discussion centers mainly whether or not he "failed" as a husband to Katara and as a father to his children. And while there certainly is nuance here, and I've discussed the "deadbeat dad Aang" theory in the past, I wanna focus on how Aang's role as the Avatar affected him internally.

Aang had the luck, unlike Korra, of having a mentor that protected him from his title as Avatar and gave him a carefree childhood.

Gyatso: Aang needs to have freedom and fun. He needs to grow up as a normal boy. Tashi: You cannot keep protecting him from his destiny. Pasang: Gyatso, I know you mean well, but you are letting your affection for the boy cloud your judgment. Gyatso: All I want is what is best for him. Pasang : But what we need is what's best for the world. You and Aang must be separated! The Avatar will be sent away to the Eastern Air Temple to complete his training.

And this was a blessing for Aang, as he got to be a normal child, as we see how damaging the lack of this is with Korra, who was raised to be Avatar first, a perskn second. Aang got to grow up as himself, not the Avatar. However, the moment his identity as the Avatar is revealed, he immediately becomes isolated from his peers and treated as other.

Air Nomad boy #1 : Now that you're the Avatar, it's kind of an unfair advantage for whichever team you're on. Aang: But I'm still the same! Nothing's changed! So, what? I can't play? Air Nomad boy #1 : That's the only fair way. Aang: Oh, okay. Air Nomad boy #2: Sorry, Aang.

This isolation is already tough, and its something we see almost all Avatars suffer with, some more, some less. Of course, it is that much harder on Aang, and, as he is just a scared child, being stripped of his identity and othered by his community, he runs away.

The fact that Aang will never know that Gyatso was not going to let him be sent away is my roman empire he will never know how much his parental figure and friend in two lives loved him and im tearing up oh my god

And when he wakes, he is the last airbender, his people, friends, family, dead for a hundred years. And that is a magnitude of loss hard to comprehend, especially from Aang's perspective, where it is both instantaneous and long past.

And yes, while Aang has Katara, Appa and the Gaang, they cannot replace a whole nation. Especially in the Avatar universe, where nationality is so tied to ones identity via bending.

And Aang isn't just the last member of a completely obliverated nation, he's still the Avatar, responsible for the other, still existing nations. Its his responsibility, and it is clearly taking a huge toll on his mental state. Because he is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation. Yes he will have his friends help, but it is his responsibility. Mind you, he is still 12 and currently mourning a whole nation. And we see how he struggles to balance his own comfort with this responsibility to the world.

Aang: I'm really glad you told me that. But I still need to do this. Katara : I don't understand. Aang: No, you don't. Every day, more and more people die. I'm already one hundred years late. Defeating the Fire Lord is the only way to stop this war. I have to try it!

And, yes, while defeating Ozai took a load off his shoulders, the nations still need guidance and peacekeeping. And Aang is expected to handle that too. Alongside trying to rebuild his nation, and resurrect its culture ans traditions. I know many people are upset by Aang hanging out with his fangirls and frankly, it hurt my soul to see Katara go through that. But I also understand Aang's joy at finding a community that embraces his culture and also eagerly participates in it, if not for the most noble of reasons.

Mind you, I absolutely don't think Katara was in the wrong for being upset. I do, however, believe she can empathise with Aang's joy, as she remembers her excitement and possessiveness over the waterbending scroll, her desire to learn waterbending, her immediate bond with Hama and how Aang supported her through these attempts to reconnect with her also damaged culture. And, of course, the Air Nomads cultural heritage, artifacts and community are in an even sorrier state. Because the Southern Water Tribe still has some elders to pass down traditions, and their connection with their sister tribes. Not perfect, by far, and much has been lost. But the Air Nomads only have Aang and whoever volunteers their interest.

And later, Tenzin.

Now, I'll keep this short, because I sound like a broken record at this point. Aang was not a deadbeat. He wasn't a perfect father, but he was a loving one. While Bumi and Kya may have certainly already felt isolated for not being airbenders, we see they struggled with aspects of the culture as well, while excelling at others, both being naturally spiritual and free spirits.

Tenzin, I believe, felt more pressure to conform to his Air Nomad heritage, due to being an airbender himself. How much of this pressure came from Aang, I'm not sure. We see him comfprt Tenzin over "failing his duty" and it is also an appartion of him that convinces Tenzin to embrace his own identity. So I would reckon a good chunk of this pressure was not from Aang, but from their surroundings, and perhaps even from Katara, who also cares deeply about preserving culture.

I do like that comic, but white man Aang scares me who is that man with the piercing sky blue eyes and the brown english teacher beard he looks like belethor from skyrim but bald

And of course Aang would want to support his son as he grows into the leader of a nation that has undergone such hardships. So, he would make sure Tenzin at least had fun during that period. Ergo, Bumi and Kya feeling like they're missing out. This, combined with Aang having to leave on Avatar duties would naturally have Aang more absent than he clearly would've wanted. But I also find it interesting that Kya and Bumi's resentment seemed to lie mainly with Tenzin, rather than Aang himself. Based bcs Tenzin can be a bit of a dick.

But we see Kya and Bumi acknowledge multiple times that Aang was a loving, supportive father with a lot on his plate.

I just can't help but find Aang an inherently lonely and tragic character. One that, frankly, had every right to turn bitter, angsty and hateful but remained so filled with love and care, who met the world with open arms. The Avatars all experinece some level of isolation and "othering", perhaps because they are not entirely human. But Aang, of course, had his home and family torn from him, in an instant in his eyes, and he spent the rest of his life trying to rebuild it. Yet he also had to manage the rest of the world's problems. And yet he loved. His friends, his wife, his children. He loved them but he will always be, to some degree apart from them. And it just fucking hurts to think about.

[f0xfordcomma]

dawns

The first time, it was past midnight and he rushed around their house frenzied while she labored. Suki and Sokka came rubbing sleep from their eyes and sat him down by her side with tea and reassurances that everything was ready.

The second time, it was 6 am and the sun was starting to rise when her wails first pierced the world. Her grip around his finger was fierce, she had her mother’s eyes.

The third time, it was 3 am. Her breathing was ragged, he squeezed her hand, kissed her sweaty forehead. The children came in with bed-heads, smiling.

prompt: 3 am

words: 100

flavor: cloud-family fluff

ao3

@kataang-100

[thekataang-fanfiction-archive]

Take My Hand

Author: Unoriginalpoet

Rating: G

Summary: "I can't change what happened, you're right, but there's nothing to say I can't change how tonight ends. And, I just figured.. it would be a shame to let the most beautiful woman I've ever seen go to bed without at least one dance tonight." A small look into a simple moment between Katara and Aang where he asks her to take his hand once more, just like when they were kids.

Read the story here!

[the-last-cuddlebender]

Since I don't really enjoy character death fics (I'm an absolute crying mess after reading them😂😭) I request a fluffy fic where, a few months after bumi is born, the gaang get together and they all want to carry bumi after not seeing him for so long😂🤷‍♀️

Character death fics chip away my soul I stg (tho I might just make that fic a coming-home fix since I left Aang’s death kindof dubious👀)

This prompt was a lot more fun than I anticipated lol. I’m still a tad loopy from my fever, so grammar may or may not be optional😅. I hope you enjoy my hot mess madness tho!

(Bestuncle!Sokka? Bestuncle!Sokka😤)

Words: 1,023

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“Sokka.”

“No.”

“Sokka...”

“No.”

“Sokka—!”

“You just had him! It’s my turn! Besides, I’m his favorite.” Sokka bumped his nose with Bumi’s and tickled his tummy with his fingers. Bumi was hardly as big as a loaf of bread, but his laugh was as loud as Appa’s happy-groan-growl. “Isn’t that right, Boom-erang? Yes, it is. Yes, it is~ Ow!”

Bumi didn’t let go of Sokka’s finger even as Sokka stomped his foot and bit his lip to hold back a curse that would have given Katara more than enough reason to end him. Bumi may not have any teeth, but, Spirits, did the kid have some jaw strength.

“That, Snoozles, is called karma.” Toph simultaneously scooped Bumi from under his arms and bumped her hip to Sokka’s; and though the touch seemed light, the Water Tribe warrior left a dent in the wall as he flew from the blow.

(Zuko winced and probed Sokka’s drooling, almost-broken form. Sokka clung to life...but just barely.)

Maternity suited Toph just as beautifully as Katara, and Bumi smiled a supernova when she cradled him in her arms. His grasping hands reached for her face and patted her cheeks to feel the curve of her smile.

“Awwww, look at you, little warrior,” Suki cooed. She offered her fingers for Bumi to latch onto, and his giggle reached crescendo as she wiggled his little fists. “You are absolutely adorable. You’ve grown so much!”

“He’s heavier, too.” Toph frowned. “And a little cold. Hey, Flames-for-Brains—”

Zuko was a shadow at Suki’s shoulder and already curling his hands under Bumi’s bum and back. It had taken him a while to learn how to hold Bumi just right, but now Zuko accepted the transfer with ease.

Bumi froze, looked shocked, and then turned to bury his face in the little sun holding him.

Suki cooed some more. “Looks like you’ve got some best-uncle competition, Sokka.”

Sokka was on his feet in the next second. He looked at Suki like she just grew a third head. “What?!” he cried, his voice cracking like when they were kids. 

They all laughed, Sokka sulked, and none of them thought anything of Sokka’s (or their own) volume until Bumi flinched and sniffled.

Then he started to cry.

And Sokka looked ready to throw himself on a pyre to save his nephew from even one more tear.

“Sokka!” Suki hissed. Zuko looked as ticked as she sounded.

“Oh, nononono, it’s okay Boom-erang. It’s okay. I’m sorry.” Sokka tripped over himself to offer his hands to the babe in a small sign of apology. “It’s okay. Uncle Sokka was just being silly.”

Bumi’s tears thinned to small streams...

...but not before the Avatar tore through the temple to save his crying little world. 

Aang turned the corner at such a high speed and at such a sharp angle that he slid, parallel to the ground, into the adjacent wall. He was shirtless, shoeless, and so flushed with panic that he rearranged his facial anatomy with how wide he made his eyes.

“Bumi?” He fell twice before standing. “Guys, where—What’s Bumi—?”

“Calm down, Twinkletoes. Bumi is fine. Sokka is just a moron.”

“It was an accident!” Sokka pleaded in a whisper.

Aang teleported to Zuko’s side. Bumi turned to his father like a sunflower did to the sun—knowing where he was and grasping for him even though his eyes were closed. 

Once Aang had little Bumi safe in his arms, his world stopped tilting all crooked. His baby boy’s cry was broken by a comforted sound—content—that muted his next whine into a dull whimper. Smacking his lips, Bumi cuddled into the warm safety that held him, but he squirmed when he found no robe to hold onto.

“Shhh, shhh, shhh...It’s okay, Boom-Boom. Daddy’s here. Shhh…” Aang held Bumi high enough so one of his hands could anchor onto his prayer beads. Bumi’s other hand flailed until it found the fingers of Aang’s free hand, and Bumi finally—finally, bless the Spirits—calmed. He almost looked on the verge of sleep. He curled into his father’s chest, bodily hugged Aang’s hand, and gently gnawed his fingers.

Then it was quiet.

Then Toph smacked the back of Sokka’s head.

Then Suki did, too.

“Ow! What was that for?”

They said nothing, but their glares said everything. Zuko walked up, pinched the bridge of his nose, and flicked between Sokka’s eyes.

“Seriously?!”

“Hehe!”

They all looked over at father and son. Bumi giggled again and held Aang’s finger a little bit tighter.

“There’s that smile,” Aang said. He kissed Bumi’s head and blew a small raspberry that made his son giggle even louder and squirm even more.

Then Aang stopped. 

And Bumi looked at Sokka expectantly.

Then Bumi started to cry.

Suki turned on Sokka. “What did you do?!” she demanded in a whisper that shook the room like a shout.

“I didn’t do anything!”

“Sokka!”

“I swear, Zuko! I swear!”

Toph smacked the back of Sokka’s head again.

And Bumi…Bumi giggled.

Toph smiled something evil. “I think Bumi thought that was funny.”

Zuko pinched between his eyes and mumbled a dozen different prayers to a dozen different deities. Sokka backed up like he wanted to do the same, especially when Bumi cried again.

“Now, now, come on, guys, let’s not—Come on, Suki, I know at least you can’t…u-um…”

Katara rounded the corner so fast that a wind like a bite-sized hurricane chased in her wake. The way she slid into her brother should have sent Sokka through the wall, but the Spirits Zuko had prayed to cushioned Sokka’s travel through the air by catapulting him among the sacks of flour and grain.

Bumi laughed like he was born to do nothing else but smile. Katara melted, weighed down by a relieved grin, as she vanished and reappeared at Aang’s side.

She kissed her husband and son, gave Bumi one extra just because, and turned to the others like she was a spirit that demanded a blood sacrifice if she were to remain benevolent.

Katara looked to Suki for an answer. Suki shrugged and pointed to Sokka.

...Toph grinned something even more evil than evil.

...Zuko sighed again but with passion and sulked into a corner to alert the mortal coil that everything was about to go to shit.

Sokka paused his struggle of getting free of the grain bags, shivered from the sudden cold rippling through the weave of the universe, and pulled himself out with a plea at the ready.

“Katara, listen, I don’t know what they said, but it’s not—”

The universe was merciful and Katara was all-knowing, but Sokka didn’t know what to think when his sister dragged him by his scruff to an awaiting Aang and a fitful Bumi. 

Then Bumi looked at Sokka expectantly.

And Aang put his baby boy into Sokka’s arms.

Sokka still didn’t know what to do even as Bumi smiled and squirmed, his hands reaching for something.

“I’m sorry, Boom-erang. Uncle Sokka didn’t mean to scare you. He promises not to—Ow!”

Bumi smiled around Sokka’s finger. Spirits, the kid had some jaw strength. 

The world got a little lighter as Sokka’s once impending doom retreated back into the form of his sister. Katara was shoulder-to-shoulder with him and making Bumi smile even wider when she brushed the fine hairs on his head.

“...You’re lucky you’re his favorite,” she whispered. 

Now it was Sokka’s turn to smile, and he couldn’t care less when Bumi gnawed a little harder.

“That’s my little Boom-erang~” he cooed. “I knew you would come back around.”

*******************************************

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I’m still trying to get a knack for writing Sokka. He’s the member of the Gaang I struggle the most with idk why. I would have thought he’d be the easiest for me, but nope

(And, yes, that was a shameless Ice Age reference in there lol)

(Also! I’m trying to do these prompts in order (IM NOT IGNORING ANY OF THEM I SWEAR I LOVE AND APPRECIATE THEM ALL DEARLY), so up next: kataang pilot AU!)

[foxy-knowledgeseeker]

Sure, LoK has its flaws, but listen...Jinora is not one of them.

look at her. just look.

[thecaroliner]

how old are the kataang babies supposed to be in that family photo?

There’s nothing official about their ages, but to me it looked like Tenzin was maybe 6 months-1 year old, Kya around 4-5, and Bumi maybe 11-13?

Which would mean (if I’m correct) Aang was anywhere from 19-21 when Bumi was born….so young aha

[survivalove]

baby bumi must have given katara so much cuteness aggression like look at this faaaace

i’m actually obsessed with him looking like the baby tenzin prototype