pants are an illusion, and so is death

Katara: BOY???? HOT BOY?????? HOT TEENAGE BOY?????????

Zuko: *speaks*

Brushing Appa of course. Zuko would be pretty decent at that, but would come back to Aang absolutely covered in slobber and bison hair. “Awww! He likes you! <3″

Then it’d be calming meditation and slowing Zuko’s breathing (”But I am calm!”), tracking an elusive and nigh legendary animal so they can ride it, teaching patience by baking the perfect cake ”You just slapped the frosting on! It looks awful! *airbends it into the horizon* “Again!”

When Zuko finally gets it right, he almost smiles at Aang saying: “Excellent work, my student.” Then to Zuko’s consternation and horror Aang flings it at the head of the Fire Nation Governor during a political function. “And now we run!”

Pranks would be absolutely the thing that would bluescreen Zuko. Here’s an airbending master, over a century old, witnessed the genocide of his people, and he’s juggling, doing dances and tricks with Momo for the village kids, and plaguing the local aristocrats and military officers with flying cakes and whoopie cushions.

“How am I supposed to beat the Firelord with whoopie cushions?!”

And then, perfectly serious for the first time since Zuko had met him: “You don’t. The Avatar is about restoring balance. This training isn’t so you can fight the Firelord - it’s so you can stop a war.”

It takes a long time for Zuko to understand this. But the weird thing is: the townsfolk actually like Aang. Sure the aristocrats and crooked merchants and the officers don’t, but even the common Fire Nation infantry hide their chuckles with a cough when they see their commander’s fancy armor get covered in honey and feathers by “Crazy Aang,” again.

And Zuko realizes, at that moment, that he’s been having fun.

So, waking early, with no prompting from Aang, Zuko feeds Momo, brushes Appa, washes off the slobber, brews Aang his morning tea -perfectly cooled- and then proceeds to make a new, beautiful cake with no explanation.

“That looks wonderful, my student. Your best yet! Who were you planning to-”

Then Zuko smashes it in Aang’s face.

the avatar: will be 35 years old and still have a pavlovian response to sokka saying “all right everyone, time for bed!” 

the firelord: so ride or die it’s honestly concerning

the earth king: owes to sokka his newfound knowledge of basic critical thinking skills

chief of the northern water tribe: his daughter seemed to think he was pretty dope before she turned into the moon

chief of the southern water tribe: thinks her brother is an idiot but has good ideas sometimes, and appreciates the fact that he doesn’t care whether or not he gets credit for them as long as they’re implemented 

not to mention that toph is basically a one-woman weapon of mass destruction who does not listen to anyone—with the crucial exception of one person—and guess who that is!

and he’s basically an honorary member of the white lotus???

Aang: I recall yes

Sokka: can I have it

Aang: …what?

Sokka: can I have his firebending. just for like ten minutes

Aang: what no

Sokka: why not I wanna prank zuko

Aang:

Aang:

Aang: Zuko definitely know’s Aang’s name. This is because Katara has a habit of yelling it when he’s in danger, and also because once we get to S2 Aang’s been involved in enough antics that his name and appearance seem to be generally well-known within both the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. He says “the avatar” when he first joins because even though he knows Aang’s name he doesn’t feel like they’re on that basis yet and he’s trying to be polite. No mystery here.

Katara: Zuko sort of vaguely maybe knows Katara’s name. He definitely knows who she is, having fought her enough times. He could recognize her on sight and if you asked him “hey, what’s the deal with that water tribe girl who travels with the avatar?” he could give you a reasonable summation of her bending ability (scary) and her personality (hates him, dead mom, weirdly nice sometimes). But her name? God, give him a minute. He’s definitely heard it before. 90% sure it starts with a C.

Sokka: Zuko knows there’s a water tribe guy who travels with the avatar and doesn’t seem to be a bender. Could not tell you his name if you put a gun to his head.