#atlafic

"Lady Katara," The man bowed deeply in reverence. "I've arrived a bit early, is it possible we could conduct our meeting now, if you're free?"

Katara froze, panic gripping her. She'd completely forgotten about the meeting with the minister. She was woefully unprepared for it. She hadn't organized any notes, hadn't done her proper research. How could she make a good impression if she was a total buffoon at this meeting?

She was the new Fire Lady of these people- she had to make a good impression. She couldn't afford not to. Zuko couldn't afford it either.

Katara hesitated, her mind searching for some reason to turn the minister down.

"I'm sorry, Minister Fao. But I've scheduled a long lunch date with my beautiful bride. Could I offer you a tour through the capital meanwhile?"

Katara tried not to show her shoulders sagging with relief at Zuko's voice. Nice save. She discreetly squeezed his hand in appreciation as he stood next to her.

Minister Fao bowed deeply. "How very kind of you, Fire Lord. Please, don't let me intrude on a newly married couple." He grinned at them.

"Lin." Zuko called, and an assistant appeared seemingly from thin air. "Get Minister Fao a carriage to tour the city, feel free to stop anywhere you'd like for lunch, on me of course." Zuko smiled kindly. "Lin will retrieve you from the foyer when the carriage is ready, please, go enjoy some tea and relax from your travels."

The minister smiled again, thanking Zuko as he left.

"Lin, take the longest tour. Keep him out for two hours minimum. And cancel my next meeting. Blame it on me, that I'd like to spend some quality time with my lovely wife."

Katara flushed slightly, smiling at him. She loved when he said such nice things about her to everyone and anyone, unashamed to show how much he cherished his wife. And how he would always take the fall for her.

Once the assistant had left them, Katara let out a huge breath of relief. "Oh, thank you."

Zuko chuckled, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I could tell from the look on your face that you were panicking. Not ready?"

Katara whined, thumping her forehead on his chest. "I forgot all about it!

"Well then, let's grab some food and go to the library. I'll help you prepare."

She raised on her tiptoes to kiss his scarred cheek. "You're the best husband ever, did I tell you that yet?"

He smirked, his arm wrapping possessively around her thin waist. "Feel free to tell me as much as you'd like."

"Or better yet I could show you." Katara whispered suggestively in his ear.

Zuko pushed her shoulders back reluctantly, "As very tempting as that sounds, we're preparing your presentation first. We can only buy so much time."

Katara winked at him, "You're right... Later then, hot stuff."

update of “cranberry tea: the liability of lake laogai”, a modern zutara au

chapter three: hometown

“the memories feel like they belong to someone else, someone that Katara wishes to be.”

Here we are, Chapter 5 of my Tokka compilation thingy... I literally cannot believe I’m already on Chapter 5 but STILL can’t get my ass up and make myself go to the store. I’m a lazy adult.  This one is spicyyyyyy... but also not. Short and sweet.

“Not that you’re not- uh, I mean,” Zuko fumbled.

This was a mistake. How had he not seen that this was a mistake. He’d been too distracted by the flow of Katara, dancing with the water under the full moon. His mouth had betrayed him. Again.

“You’re beautiful!” he finally blurted. “I just wanted to, ah, say. That.” Unable to look at her face, he watched silvery ripples echo around her legs.

“Thank you, Zuko.” His gaze snapped up.

Was she blushing? He couldn’t tell.

“Okay. Uh, good night, then.” He fled, missing the soft smile growing on her face.

2020 was rough, and I kind of had taken a step back from publishing even though I still was writing. (I only published ONE story in all of 2019! My bad!) I decided to start again about midway through 2020. And this year I had a new fandom to write about: Avatar the Last Airbender. I’ve always been in love with the show ATLA since it aired, and for some reason never delved into the fanfiction until recently. Maybe one day I’ll write for LOK as well. Voltron: Legendary Defenders of the Universe, and Miraculous Ladybug were old obsessions (or should I say ongoing obsessions) but I did post a couple there too. Anyways, here’s my list of posted works for 2020:

Zutara Week 2020- As the title suggests, this is seven picked prompts for the ship Zuko x Katara in ATLA. A non-canon ship that many people adore. Posted 7/24/20

Love Is Blind- This fluffy piece is also for ATLA but focuses more on the non-canon ship Toph x Aang. Posted 8/17/20

Colorful- A fluffy excerpt from the story above featuring Taang. Posted 9/24/20

Cause and Effect- A drama Voltron fic featuring the non-canon ship Lance x Keith. I’m still heartbroken they weren’t together in the end. Posted 9/24/20

The Cat’s Out of the Bag- A comedic take on Adrien accidentally revealing his superhero identity to the Dupain-Cheng family. Typical reveal fic for MLB. Posted 9/24/20 (as you can see I cleaned up some fics and cleared them out on this day 😂)

Almost Lovers- An ongoing angsty fic showcasing the breakup of Aang and Katara as Zuko unknowingly comes between them. Posted 9/28/20

Accidental Rendezvous- (M) a total smut fest featuring Zutara and drunk accidents. Posted 9/28/20

Fantasy Land- An almost crack-like fic of Aang traveling to his future and finding out his wife is Toph. Posted 10/21/20

Requited Love- An absolutely adorable drama fic of Toph and Aang pining for each other. Bonus of parental teasing. Posted 11/9/20

Taang Week 2020- Again, as the title suggests, this is a collection of given prompts featuring Taang. Overall very fluffy. Posted 11/11/20

The Universe is Unkind- A terribly sad fic featuring the non-canon (as far as we know) ship Toph x Sokka. Yes I am a multishiper. TW character deaths. This was one of the saddest things I’ve ever written. Posted 11/21/20

Prospects- A delightful collection of prompts featuring Zutara. (Some M) Includes the 2020 December Drabbles Challenge prompts. May possibly be posting more in the future. Posted 12/4/20

On The Precipice- An ongoing Taang story of the fluffiest fluff you have ever read. Gag worthy sweetness and pining. Posted 12/13/20

Katara wrung her hands together, hesitating before gently knocking on his door.

"Come in."

She slowly peeked her head in.

"Katara." He smiled gently at her. "I'm glad you're here- can you help me put this on?"

"Of course." She walked over to lift the robe on his shoulders. She smoothed out the lapels, lost in thought as she stared at the bandages covering his torso, protecting the scarred skin that he got for saving her.

Zuko raised his good eyebrow, "You alright there?"

"I think I'm in love with you."

Katara gasped and covered her mouth. Sure, she had come here to say that but not so suddenly.

The recovering fire bender was speechless, simply gaping at her in shock.

Katara cringed at the look on his face. "Sorry I just! Um. Wanted to tell you how I felt and I can see now it was just me, I just thought that you- because of the lightning- but you would have done that for anyone not just me of course, obviously, so um. I'll just... go."

She turned, wanting to bolt from the room and ask Toph to bury her alive.

Zuko's hand on her wrist stopped her. "Wait Katara- please! Just... stay?" His firm grip eased, giving her the option to still run away.

She bit her lip, still turned away from him. She didn't want to look at his face as he rejected her feelings.

"Please look at me."

Katara slowly turned, reluctantly facing him. He reached out and gently lifted her chin, making her meet his eyes.

"It's not just you." He whispered.

Keep Me Warm

It was best to visit the South Pole during the summertime. There was more daylight and less blizzards- though still very cold. It was also nice to escape from the relentless heat of the Fire Nation, in Katara’s opinion. (Zuko highly disagreed with her.)

Katara sighed as she watched her friends ice skate without her. Toph was clinging to her fiance’s arm- it was a wonder Aang had even convinced her to get on the ice she detested so much. And Sokka and Suki were holding little Kya’s hands as the small family skated in circles. Kya was nearing two years old, but she took to the ice easily. Sokka boasted at her skills already- she’d be a mighty Water Tribe warrior like him.

“Oh stop pouting so much. You’re making me feel bad.” Zuko complained, knocking her head gently with his fist.

Katara pushed her lower lip out even further.

The Fire Lord groaned, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Katara! Stop making that face!”

She giggled at her husband, “If you can’t stand firm against my pouty face, how on earth will you ever say no to our child’s?”

Zuko sighed, resting his hand on her swollen belly. “I have no idea. I’m gonna be such a sucker for her.”

“She’ll literally be a spoiled princess.” Katara teased.

He rolled her eyes at her, mumbling that he already dealt with a spoiled princess of a wife. That got him an elbow to the stomach.

“Hey sis!” Sokka called, skating up to them with Kya in his arms. “Suk and I wanna skate more but Kya needs a nap. Can you take her? Pleeeeaaseeee?”

Katara sighed at her whiny brother. It’s not like Zuko was going to let her skate (It is way too dangerous! What if you fell?!) so she might as well let the others enjoy themselves. Zuko helped her to stand up from the snowy bank. Kya buried her head in her father’s neck, not wanting to part from him.

“Come on, baby girl. Auntie Kat will sing to you.” Katara bargained, trying to coax the girl into going with them.

The young toddler relented, reaching out for her Uncle Zuko. He was the warmest; she often wanted him to hold her.

Sokka skated away, hollering his thanks as Katara untied the skates from Kya’s small feet. Zuko wouldn’t even let her carry those (What if you cut yourself?!).

“Make sure her feet don’t get too cold.” Katara warned him.

“Yes, dear.” He teased mockingly.

She tucked her arm in his as they slowly walked back to the Chief’s hut in the center of town. With her large stomach, she couldn’t walk as fast or as far. It would only get harder to walk in the last ten weeks of her pregnancy.

Kya had fallen asleep on the walk by the time they entered the house. Hakoda looked up from his chair by the fire and smiled at them. “Back so soon?”

“Kya needed to be put down for her nap. We got roped into it, of course.” Katara rolled her eyes. Zuko went to lay the toddler down.

She rubbed her stomach- seems the little princess was wanting attention.

“Is she kicking?” Hakoda’s eyes lit up.

Katara nodded, peeling her coat off. She walked over to her father. “Wanna feel?”

He laid his hand over her stomach gently, beaming as he felt the light kicks beneath his palm. “Hi, Princess! It’s Grandpa!”

She giggled, gripping his hand. “Don’t rile her up even more. She might kick my ribs out.” Katara winced at a particularly rough kick. “Actually I think I’ll go lay down too, my back’s killing me.”

Hakoda squeezed her hand. “Get some rest, sweetie.” She slid her hand out of his as she went to find Zuko and take her own nap.

Katara found him in the baby’s room, looking out the window and rocking Kya in his arms still.

“You were supposed to lay her down to sleep, babe.” She teased, leaning against the doorframe. Zuko turned to her and smiled softly.

“She’s just so cute and cuddly. And I can’t help but think about how our daughter will be just like her.”

Kya certainly looked Water Tribe- perfect for her namesake. Her skin was barely a shade lighter, and her blue eyes a bit darker- but otherwise a spitting image of Sokka. It would be interesting to see if her own child would also look exactly like her.

Katara smiled, strolling over to kiss Zuko’s scarred cheek. “What if she looks more like you?”

Zuko shrugged. “I guess that’s okay too. She can come out looking like Azula and I would still be thrilled.”

She laughed at that, shaking her head. Azula may have slowly but surely redeemed herself, but even still, Katara didn’t want her baby to have too much likeness to her biological aunt. Yikes.

“Let’s take a nap.” Katara tugged on his sleeve after he finally set Kya down on her small cot.

Zuko frowned. “I’m not sleepy. The sun’s still up- you know I can’t nap during noon.”

Katara pouted. “But I’m sleepy, and I need you to keep me warm.”

“What am I, your personal heater?”

“Well yeah, that’s why I married you.”

Her husband groaned at her as she dragged him to her old childhood bedroom that they were staying in for their visit. He complained the whole time as they settled into the bed and under the covers. She steadily ignored him.

But as she cuddled up to him and closed her eyes, he kissed her forehead and caressed her pregnant belly.

He’d always keep her warm.