Challenge #167 'Eagles' Songs - Avatar - Mai/Ty Lee, Katara/Suki, Zuko/Aang, Sozin/Roku, Toph/Katara
Avatar drabble/ficlet post of DOOM! Five stories, each with ascending word counts. I had fun with this. Let me know if this would be better off in more than one post, I just figured it would be better condensed. Enjoy!
Title: Do Something
Prompt: #167 - 'Eagles' Song Titles
Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Mai/Ty Lee
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 100
"I'm so bored! When is Azula going to be back?"
Mai glanced over at Ty Lee, who was barely able to keep still.
"I don't know any more than you. Who knows what she's even up to? We'll just wait here like she said."
The young acrobat groaned, flopping onto her friend's shoulder.
"But I want to do something. I hate waiting!"
Mai sighed heavily.
"Well if you think of something to do that involves us waiting here and you shutting up, please do it. I hate hearing your whining."
Ty Lee giggled.
"Okay! Look at me!"
Doing so, Mai realized her mistake as Ty Lee's lips found hers.
Title: I Can't Tell You Why
Prompt: #167 - 'Eagles' Song Titles
Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Katara/Suki
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Possible spoilers for The Boiling Rock.
Word Count: 200
"I missed you, Sokka," she whispers to him well after the sun was set. If he said something back to his girlfriend, Katara wasn't really sure what it was. She sighed heavily and moved closer to the fire.
"Katara? Is something wrong?"
The waterbender turned to see Aang standing not far behind her. He was always paying a lot of attention to her, and most of the time she didn't mind it, but she didn't really want him around right now.
"I'm fine, just a little cold," she lies, bringing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
Aang doesn't necessarily believe her. She was watching Sokka and Suki before this, but he couldn't discern any reason why that would upset her.
Taking a shot in the dark, he puts a hand on her shoulder. "You won't lose him. He's your big brother, he'll always want to hang around." He gives her his best smile before running off with his glider, launching himself for nightly patrol.
Katara really appreciates Aang's attempts to comfort her, but the poor kid didn't know the half of it. Like the airbender's orders to let go of his earthly ties, she had to forget the Kyoshi warrior.
Title: I Dreamed There Was No War
Prompt: #167 - 'Eagles' Song Titles
Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Zuko/Aang
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Spoilers for The Western Air Temple and beyond.
Word Count: 300
Sometimes, I wake up forgetting where I am. The strange surroundings spark a near-panic as I try to understand the strange architecture outside my window. "The Western Air Temple," I'll finally whisper, and my recent past will come back to me.
This morning, however, I awake in perfect clarity. The girls are talking in the hallway, voices echoing off bare walls, and perhaps that's why I've woken up. Katara's secret agenda.
The near-panic sets in late, not stemming from my reality but my dream. In my subconscious the Fire Nation had never started a war. The word was at peace. It was a good dream; my father and Azula were human beings, the Fire Lord was Uncle Iroh, my mother and Lu Ten were still alive. I was just Zuko, not a banished prince, and everything was less complicated.
At first glance it was great; certainly more pleasant than the true history of the Fire Nation. But I wouldn't be here. I probably wouldn't know any of these people. Why would the Fire Lord's nephew know a blind earthbender or some Southern Water Tribe kids?
And Aang... He would be dead by now. Famous as a past Avatar, yes, but that's all he'd be known as. Not the last of his people, not the world's only hope against the ruthless Fire Nation. His life would have been better. He wouldn't have had to lose everything he'd ever known.
But I wouldn't have know him. All of my earthly faith wouldn't have been in him. I wouldn't have been his Sifu Zuko, all my firebending education wouldn't have been ultimately for his sake.
As proof that I'm still a bad guy, I'm glad Sozin started the war. I'd rather a life with Aang in it, and I don't think it's just because he gives my life purpose.
Title: Frail Grasp on the Big Picture
Prompt: #167 - 'Eagles' Song Titles
Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Roku/Sozin
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 400
The air between them was thick, and Roku felt like he couldn't breathe. Sozin was looking at him expectantly, a giant smile across his young features. When the Avatar didn't respond, the prince continued on.
"Isn't it a brilliant plan? You will help me, right? We will work side by side. As the Avatar and the Fire Lord, nobody could possibly stop us. We'd rule the world. We'd make it even better."
Roku swallowed, a nervous smile on his face. "I don't know, Sozin... All the nations do well on their own. The balance is what we need. A balance between the elements is what makes the world keep going. The spirits wouldn't be happy if the Fire Nation took over everything."
Sozin laughed, putting his arm around his fellow firebender. "Of course. I should have known you'd take some convincing. As the Avatar, you're supposed to be all focused on the balance of all elements. But tell me, how balanced is it actually right now? Look at the Earth Kingdom. Why is it that they get a larger nation? And the Water Tribe, separated at the poles... I don't think the higher powers are as crazy about balance as you think they are."
Roku sighed, running his hand along his forehead. He had no idea how to talk the prince down from this, but he knew that he must.
"If the Fire Nation was meant to rule everyone, that is how it would be. We mustn't think we can command everyone. Each nation has a different ruling system that works for them. How would you rule the Air Nomads? How would you even reach their temples, if you could find them all? Things are as they're supposed to be. You would just cause mass chaos."
Sozin's good mood had not yet gone away, but he was now smiling out of amusement. "Chaos is half the fun, my dear Roku. You put too much faith in the higher powers. What if they have no idea what they're doing? Don't fear them. And if they made things the way they ought to be, then they made me like that too. Then that means I'm supposed to be doing this."
This would not be a fight the Avatar would win, at least not tonight. "I have to disagree." He brought his hands to Sozin's face and kissed him softly before turning to leave, giving his prince an apologetic smile.
Title: Twenty-One
Prompt: #167 - 'Eagles' Song Titles
Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Toph/Katara
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 500
You sent the letter months ago. You knew someone else would be reading it, so you kept it as simple as you could. You stated that you missed her and wanted to see her, and you'd be at Ru Mei's Inn in Ba Sing Se on your birthday if she was interested in catching up. It was nearly impossible that she hadn't gotten it by now, so if she didn't show up she was either busy or just wasn't interested in seeing you after all these years.
It was almost dusk when there was a knock on your door, and you'd already given up hope. The sudden noise made you bolt up from your chair, and you opened as quickly as you could.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted anything, Miss Katara," the messenger said, "You have a visitor downstairs. She asked if I would bring you down to her."
Your face brightened entirely and you nearly ran down the hall to the stairs, leaving the boy shocked. When you landed at the bottom with a thud of your feet, she shifted and cocked her head. "Katara?"
Time has etched away at her once-young features. Her jaw is now sharp and strong, angles made prominent by her short haircut. Her arms are well-muscled, and her simple shirt and pants hang loosely on shockingly feminine curves. Her bare toes are curled into the dirt floor, trying to feel for your movements.
She stiffens when you are suddenly wordlessly embracing her, but when you pull back she cracks a smile. "It's been awhile, Sugar Queen."
"Time has treated you well," you admit, the first words you speak to her. Your mouth feels dry and no more words will come.
"I'd return the favor if I could." She gives you a lopsided grin and waves her hand in front of her face. "Shall we go to your room, then? I didn't want anyone leading me like a complete invalid."
"Of course," you respond, gently brushing your hand against her wrist as you turn and head towards the stairs. She takes the cue and follows closely behind you, and it's like her body heat is seeping into you because you're suddenly too warm.
The messenger is gone now, and you latch the door quietly once you're both inside. You make a lot of noise as you sit down on the bed, and she finds her way next to you.
You're sitting in a silence bordering on awkward when she shifts to face you and reaches out. Her left hand finds your shoulder, and her right makes its way up your neck and to your face. Slowly, she traces every angle and curve of your face with her fingers as you had done to her with your eyes. You wonder if she can feel the blood rushing to your cheeks as she sees you for the first time since you were young.
"How old are you today?"
"Twenty-one."
"No proposal from Aang?"
"He doesn't know what he wants."
"You're beautiful, as always."
Her train of thought is odd, but you don't mind.
Title: Do Something
Prompt: #167 - 'Eagles' Song Titles
Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Mai/Ty Lee
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 100
"I'm so bored! When is Azula going to be back?"
Mai glanced over at Ty Lee, who was barely able to keep still.
"I don't know any more than you. Who knows what she's even up to? We'll just wait here like she said."
The young acrobat groaned, flopping onto her friend's shoulder.
"But I want to do something. I hate waiting!"
Mai sighed heavily.
"Well if you think of something to do that involves us waiting here and you shutting up, please do it. I hate hearing your whining."
Ty Lee giggled.
"Okay! Look at me!"
Doing so, Mai realized her mistake as Ty Lee's lips found hers.
Title: I Can't Tell You Why
Prompt: #167 - 'Eagles' Song Titles
Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Katara/Suki
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Possible spoilers for The Boiling Rock.
Word Count: 200
"I missed you, Sokka," she whispers to him well after the sun was set. If he said something back to his girlfriend, Katara wasn't really sure what it was. She sighed heavily and moved closer to the fire.
"Katara? Is something wrong?"
The waterbender turned to see Aang standing not far behind her. He was always paying a lot of attention to her, and most of the time she didn't mind it, but she didn't really want him around right now.
"I'm fine, just a little cold," she lies, bringing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
Aang doesn't necessarily believe her. She was watching Sokka and Suki before this, but he couldn't discern any reason why that would upset her.
Taking a shot in the dark, he puts a hand on her shoulder. "You won't lose him. He's your big brother, he'll always want to hang around." He gives her his best smile before running off with his glider, launching himself for nightly patrol.
Katara really appreciates Aang's attempts to comfort her, but the poor kid didn't know the half of it. Like the airbender's orders to let go of his earthly ties, she had to forget the Kyoshi warrior.
Title: I Dreamed There Was No War
Prompt: #167 - 'Eagles' Song Titles
Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Zuko/Aang
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Spoilers for The Western Air Temple and beyond.
Word Count: 300
Sometimes, I wake up forgetting where I am. The strange surroundings spark a near-panic as I try to understand the strange architecture outside my window. "The Western Air Temple," I'll finally whisper, and my recent past will come back to me.
This morning, however, I awake in perfect clarity. The girls are talking in the hallway, voices echoing off bare walls, and perhaps that's why I've woken up. Katara's secret agenda.
The near-panic sets in late, not stemming from my reality but my dream. In my subconscious the Fire Nation had never started a war. The word was at peace. It was a good dream; my father and Azula were human beings, the Fire Lord was Uncle Iroh, my mother and Lu Ten were still alive. I was just Zuko, not a banished prince, and everything was less complicated.
At first glance it was great; certainly more pleasant than the true history of the Fire Nation. But I wouldn't be here. I probably wouldn't know any of these people. Why would the Fire Lord's nephew know a blind earthbender or some Southern Water Tribe kids?
And Aang... He would be dead by now. Famous as a past Avatar, yes, but that's all he'd be known as. Not the last of his people, not the world's only hope against the ruthless Fire Nation. His life would have been better. He wouldn't have had to lose everything he'd ever known.
But I wouldn't have know him. All of my earthly faith wouldn't have been in him. I wouldn't have been his Sifu Zuko, all my firebending education wouldn't have been ultimately for his sake.
As proof that I'm still a bad guy, I'm glad Sozin started the war. I'd rather a life with Aang in it, and I don't think it's just because he gives my life purpose.
Title: Frail Grasp on the Big Picture
Prompt: #167 - 'Eagles' Song Titles
Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Roku/Sozin
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 400
The air between them was thick, and Roku felt like he couldn't breathe. Sozin was looking at him expectantly, a giant smile across his young features. When the Avatar didn't respond, the prince continued on.
"Isn't it a brilliant plan? You will help me, right? We will work side by side. As the Avatar and the Fire Lord, nobody could possibly stop us. We'd rule the world. We'd make it even better."
Roku swallowed, a nervous smile on his face. "I don't know, Sozin... All the nations do well on their own. The balance is what we need. A balance between the elements is what makes the world keep going. The spirits wouldn't be happy if the Fire Nation took over everything."
Sozin laughed, putting his arm around his fellow firebender. "Of course. I should have known you'd take some convincing. As the Avatar, you're supposed to be all focused on the balance of all elements. But tell me, how balanced is it actually right now? Look at the Earth Kingdom. Why is it that they get a larger nation? And the Water Tribe, separated at the poles... I don't think the higher powers are as crazy about balance as you think they are."
Roku sighed, running his hand along his forehead. He had no idea how to talk the prince down from this, but he knew that he must.
"If the Fire Nation was meant to rule everyone, that is how it would be. We mustn't think we can command everyone. Each nation has a different ruling system that works for them. How would you rule the Air Nomads? How would you even reach their temples, if you could find them all? Things are as they're supposed to be. You would just cause mass chaos."
Sozin's good mood had not yet gone away, but he was now smiling out of amusement. "Chaos is half the fun, my dear Roku. You put too much faith in the higher powers. What if they have no idea what they're doing? Don't fear them. And if they made things the way they ought to be, then they made me like that too. Then that means I'm supposed to be doing this."
This would not be a fight the Avatar would win, at least not tonight. "I have to disagree." He brought his hands to Sozin's face and kissed him softly before turning to leave, giving his prince an apologetic smile.
Title: Twenty-One
Prompt: #167 - 'Eagles' Song Titles
Fandom: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Pairing: Toph/Katara
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 500
You sent the letter months ago. You knew someone else would be reading it, so you kept it as simple as you could. You stated that you missed her and wanted to see her, and you'd be at Ru Mei's Inn in Ba Sing Se on your birthday if she was interested in catching up. It was nearly impossible that she hadn't gotten it by now, so if she didn't show up she was either busy or just wasn't interested in seeing you after all these years.
It was almost dusk when there was a knock on your door, and you'd already given up hope. The sudden noise made you bolt up from your chair, and you opened as quickly as you could.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted anything, Miss Katara," the messenger said, "You have a visitor downstairs. She asked if I would bring you down to her."
Your face brightened entirely and you nearly ran down the hall to the stairs, leaving the boy shocked. When you landed at the bottom with a thud of your feet, she shifted and cocked her head. "Katara?"
Time has etched away at her once-young features. Her jaw is now sharp and strong, angles made prominent by her short haircut. Her arms are well-muscled, and her simple shirt and pants hang loosely on shockingly feminine curves. Her bare toes are curled into the dirt floor, trying to feel for your movements.
She stiffens when you are suddenly wordlessly embracing her, but when you pull back she cracks a smile. "It's been awhile, Sugar Queen."
"Time has treated you well," you admit, the first words you speak to her. Your mouth feels dry and no more words will come.
"I'd return the favor if I could." She gives you a lopsided grin and waves her hand in front of her face. "Shall we go to your room, then? I didn't want anyone leading me like a complete invalid."
"Of course," you respond, gently brushing your hand against her wrist as you turn and head towards the stairs. She takes the cue and follows closely behind you, and it's like her body heat is seeping into you because you're suddenly too warm.
The messenger is gone now, and you latch the door quietly once you're both inside. You make a lot of noise as you sit down on the bed, and she finds her way next to you.
You're sitting in a silence bordering on awkward when she shifts to face you and reaches out. Her left hand finds your shoulder, and her right makes its way up your neck and to your face. Slowly, she traces every angle and curve of your face with her fingers as you had done to her with your eyes. You wonder if she can feel the blood rushing to your cheeks as she sees you for the first time since you were young.
"How old are you today?"
"Twenty-one."
"No proposal from Aang?"
"He doesn't know what he wants."
"You're beautiful, as always."
Her train of thought is odd, but you don't mind.