So recently I found out about the photosynthesizing!Zuko AU (via a muffinlance fic, yes I'm late to the party) and that got me thinking about lightbender!Zuko. I mean why not? Firebenders can bend lightning, why not light?
Zuko, lacking his sister's power, focusing on precision instead. He can't make blue flames or throw lightning like Azula can but he learns to shape fire into little animals. A parlor trick for small children. Just something to entertain himself with when Azula gets special training and he's left behind. Then, after he's banished, he pulls the heat out of his little animal friends, so they can't burn him, leaving only the light behind. Eventually he learns to bend light directly. Illusionist!Zuko turning invisible as he bends light around him, disguising himself in the Earth kingdom, hiding his scar. He's even better at sneaking around than canon!Zuko. A much bigger threat in fights since he can hide and misdirect, every attack turning into a surprise attack
Then he meets Toph.
