Atla Headcanons - Tumblr Posts

So….I’ve just realized….that probably half, if not, all of the main characters in ATLA could lift Thor’s hammer.

Meaning Toph could use Thor’s hammer, and this idea absolutely terrifying purple bc she would use it to be even more of an absolute chaotic gremlin and I’m scared to she what she would do with it.

The Bad Batch as Benders 🏔️

Hunter is either a firebender or an earthbender, I really can’t decide but I just feel like he’d be both. He’s strong, determined, & coolheaded. But he’s also very caring & tight knit with his squad.

Wrecker is an earthbender all the way!! You can’t look at this guy & tell me he isn’t an earthbender! He’s probably the strongest anyone’s ever seen, but he’s really a big old softie under all that rock-hard muscle.

Echo I had a tough time with as well, but I feel he’d be either a water bender or a nonbender! I feel he’d be good as a nonbender considering his experience with combat, as well as his prosthetics helping him out a bit. I also think it would be cool if Fives has Echo’s polar opposite for bending.

Tech would be a water bender for sure! I feel he’d also be a plant bender too considering it’s very helpful. But also because I feel he’d want to learn more about waterbending!

Omega is definitely an airbender! Or better yet, I feel she’d be a great Avatar! She’s like the cutest & most fun loving person ever, but I’m not sure he’d be as skilled as Aang, since he was a prodigy. But she is very smart! Plus, the Bad Batch can be both her teachers & her version of the Gaang!

I’m sorry this was so short but this was really fun! Consider it in honor of the Live Action ATLA, which was awesome!! 🪨🔥🌊🍃

Ty Lee becoming a kyoshi warrior made no sense to me. If anything it feels like a regression. Don't get me wrong I think she'd fit in well with them and I love suki/ty lee but realistically at the start of the season we hear Ty Lee proclaim that her trauma of growing up with six identical sisters is what drove her to the circus and it was kind of dismissed. and then we never really get any closure on this the time we see her she betrays Azula and is imprisoned and then after that the last time we see her she is part of the group in full garb after befriending them off screen.

she joined the one group where a huge recruitment is looking like everyone else. Why?

And the thing is this totally could have worked her coming to terms with her identity even tho she looks like everyone else she is still Ty Lee and she has a lot to contribute by simply being her (and also like how she taught them chi blocking) and so the idea of becoming another "faceless" girl doesn't scare her as much because she knows that to the people that matter they know who she is.

But like the way its done just feels like they needed a nice little fun way to wrap up ty lee's story but it also makes it feel like Ty Lee is incapable of standing on her own, if its not the circus its azula and mai if not them the kyoshi warriors. She's never just on her own being Ty lee she is always playing fidde to some group.

I think it would have been better if the ending had ty lee instead of having already joined the kyoshi warriors had instead been separated from mai and anyone she knew in prison and had had to for the first time get by on her own merits as a person not what she could do for other people. (a bit like what Suki does in Suki alone) and then a little moment between her and Suki where they reconcile Ty Lee tells her how she wants to help rebuild the word after the devastation of the fire nation and Suki's like "it's not exactly rebuilding the word but maybe you can teach me and my girls that chi blocking you do, it's impressive." and Ty lee could smile and agree. Not exactly an invitation to join but a way for her to carve out her own niche and make a mark in a safe space. It could also tie into the chi blockers that we see in LoK of Ty lee decides she likes teaching and decides to teach more non-benders how to protect themselves since the Kyoshi Warriors is pretty sacred and has traditions that not everybody can adhere too.

I just think making her a kyoshi warrior came out of nowhere and not that ut couldn't work at all but it would have needed more time to breathe. I would say have Suki introduce the fact that the kyoshi warriors are going to stay as Zuko's security detail for a while and Ty Lee's knowledge of the palace and Chi blocking skills would be an amazing hep to them so she starts of working with them and maybe int he comiucs we can see that she joined them (but I doubt they had decided this little plot line when the series actually ended)

hello hello hello!!! how are u? i saw u do hc for avatar and i (after fangirling a little) i was asking if u could some hc for zuko with a s/o that doesn't control any of the elements but belongs to the fire nation... idk if that makes sense, sorry if dont, if so maybe you could do some hc for him in a relationship in general, please, idk if i have explained myself well but hope i have & that u can do them!!! thank u!

Sorry that this one took so long. I was so happy to see a request from Avatar, and I couldn't wait to get to this one. I always knew that Zuko is a very complex character, but as I started thinking about this request on a deeper level, I realized it will be harder than I thought. Actually, it depends a lot on when you meet him on his life path.

But!! I love it, so don't worry, it felt so good to work on something... I don't know, heavier, I hope it makes sense! Every possibility is different and I feel like it would be hard for me to focus on every aspect of his character development, but I will just say this: the later you two meet, the greater the chance to break the ice. I would rather speak about him and you in a general way, but if you want something more specific, let me know!

So, here it is anon, I hope I did you justice! 💝

And, with this final request, my inbox is open again!!

Zuko relationship headcanons with a nonbender s/o

He is not an easy one to date. At least, at the beginning.

He is very self-conscious,  not just because of his scar, but his whole place in the universe. His childhood trauma left some huge holes in his heart, and he is not comfortable with himself, at all.

After he finally saw the bigger picture, the impact that the Fire Nation left on the whole world, it just made it worse for a while. He felt anger, guilt, and shame before he could make peace with himself.

So, on top of that, having a crush on someone can be incredibly difficult. For both you and him.

In the beginning, you have to be very patient with him. He needs time to notice his feelings and to even just think about the possibility to get into a relationship.

Zuko won't rush things. He needs to be 100% convinced about the fact that you two really click together or not. You need to earn his trust, and even after, he needs time to open up to you.

Just be by his side. Listen to him, ask his opinion on even just little nothings, he would appreciate it.

Early in the relationship, he is uncomfortable with PDA. He wants to touch you, of course, and he would love to feel your soft hands on his skin, but... He is awkward.

From time to time, he will reach out to you, of course, and after a while, he will more comfortable with it, but he won't be a huge fan of it. Holding hands, throwing his arm around your shoulders are absolutely fine tho.

And as he trusts you more and more every day, he becomes more affectionate. First, it happens mostly when it's just the two of you. He would lean closer to you when you sit down next to each other, then he would love to hold you, even if his close friends are nearby. Step by step, he will get used to it, and he will even love to touch you, wherever you two are.

The fact that from the Fire Nation as well, doesn't really change things for him. He feels a little closer to you, as you share the same culture, and you might be more familiar with the nature of your nation, and it makes things a little easier. There will be things that only you could understand about him clearly.

Being a nonbender is a similar situation. He doesn't think much about it, but he would be definitely more protective of you, especially if you don't possess any kind of fighting skill. And if you do, he would try his best to trust you with it, but he would always keep an eye on you, just in case.

He can be very hot-headed and moody, but he would be extra careful not to hurt you, or at least he would try his best. Most of the time, he is very gentle and caring. He would listen to you every time, doesn't matter if you are passionate or sad about something, he would be there for you.

I think Zuko is not really great with gifts, but he would always come up with something unique. With an advisor like Iroh or Katara, I would be surprised if he wouldn't.

He's very into classic romantic gestures, like dinner dates, picnics, giving you flowers occasionally, and in general, just go out and spend some time together.

OH MY!!! i loved your zuko + s/o hc so, i saw that your requests are open & i came by to ask some more of him, please skskskd how will it be if, at first, she didn't know how to fight but, with time, she started to train herself and become a great fighter buut she put herself on danger in one of the fights (she actually gets injured), how would zuko react? i need some angst, please. hope you can do them & that you're having a great day!!!

Well a little late but here we are!

Zuko when his s/o gets injured

So, he would support your training and learning how to defend yourself, but honestly

He didn't think about the fact that you would actually need to use this knowledge. Like, he would love the fact that you're not helpless and he doesn't have to worry over you all the time (he would totally do that anyway, but that's another topic), but he would try his best to avoid the possibility of you getting into a fight.

If you choose to let him train you, he would be a very strict and prudent master, much like he was with Aang.

And when it comes to that anyway, he is a wreck. You wouldn't see it at first, but he is so worried. It doesn't matter how many times you fight beside him before, he would always keep an eye on you, making sure you doing okay.

But this fight was different. He wanted to protect you, but the enemy outnumbered you. It was not THAT serious, he knew you two could beat them eventually, but it was not an easy one for sure.

He heard you scream, and he immediately turned his gaze to you, but you seemed alright, still fighting. So for a short time, he only focused on the enemies, and he managed to make them flee at least.

In a minute, he was by your side. You managed to smile at him, but that quickly faded as you felt a sharp pain in your left side. Zuko was horrified, and he instantly blamed himself.

It was him who got distracted, he should have protected you, and even reconsider how you two got into a fight in the first place - he should have been able to find a way to avoid it, but he was too careless and he did a big mistake because of that.

And then he felt a growing fire inside him. He wanted to go after them so badly. To teach them a lesson that no one should hurt his s/o without consequences.

But you were wounded and you needed him, and he would never leave you like that, especially not in this state.

He took you somewhere safe and did everything he could. If Katara was nearby, he would beg her to heal you. And if that's not an option, he would try his best to recall what would his uncle do in this situation.

So, eventually, you got better, but he would still feel so much self hate for a long time.

Hi! Can you write zuko with his s/o headcanons?

Of course Anon! Thank you for your request!

For Zuko, finding a special someone he can trust and love, it's not really a quest to find anyone who would be willing to share their life with him. He needs someone he can connect to on a deeper level, this is one of those rare cases when he is more idealistic about something. He needs that special bond, something that's pure and real. That being said, he has a hard time finding that special someone.

Well, had, because finally, you are in his life now.

No matter how did you end up together, he took his time to get to know you, even if there was an obvious attraction between you two. He doesn't need to know every little detail about you before getting into the relationship ships, there's some stuff he would prefer to find out about you while you're dating. But he needs to know where you stand: what motivates you? What makes you happy? How well can you understand each other? Is it hard to talk to you? Will you accept him with his past?

Zuko knows relationships are not just fairytales, they had their challenges, and no one is perfect, including him, and he is not afraid to put effort into it if he thinks he found the one.

He will accept you as you are, but would be more than happy to help you grow and achieve your goals.

He is really supportive. He has his slight mood swings sometimes, and with that, it is not easy for him to be affectionate in every situation, but Zuko is not afraid to express his love to you. He does this with little gestures and touches, like helping you with your daily tasks and just giving you hugs and squeezing your hand when you need him.

He is not against PDA, but mostly he will just hold your hands around others, not just because he loves it, but he is a bit possessive and can be very jealous, so everyone needs to see that you are HIS s/o.

He gets really snappy and sassy when he is jealous, be patient with him and try to reassure him that you wouldn't just leave him for someone else, that will make calm him faster, and he will apologize for being snarky.

But other than that, he tries his best to not get into any arguments. He is very stubborn and devoted to his own ideas and beliefs, so there would be definitely some tension if you are very much different than him, but that doesn't mean it would be a deal-breaker. Zuko will do everything to get to know you better, and once he does, he will know exactly which buttons he should and shouldn't push.

But because of that, it can happen that he will keep his problems about the relationship for himself, trying to avoid conflict, and that's sometimes can cause some issues, be persistent but understanding if you might know that he is hiding something like that.

You need to remind him that he can open up to you and that you are there for him, no matter what.

When it's just the two of you, he is more affectionate and touchy.

Zuko loves cuddles, especially when you two are on a date or it's just the end of a long day. He doesn't mind the position: being the big or the small spoon, you sitting in his lap, laying down and putting his head onto your lap, or just sit between his leg while he embraces you from behind. He loves it all and would be just generally happy to have some physical contact with you.

His daily kisses are usually short pecks, or slow, long makeout sessions, and honestly, he prefers the latter. He likes taking his time and exploring your sweet spots with little touches here and there.

But he can very passionate, especially when he is jealous, or when you are teasing him enough~

If you communicate openly, and willing to put effort and care into the relationship, there's nothing that could stop you two. He will put his whole heart into it, and if you do the same, your love will last forever.

Requests are open!

It was a long time, phew, but I'm finally finished all of your requests, it was 20 in total I think, thank you everyone!

With that, I'm open for requests again!

I have a Prompt List, and if you like my work, you can support me on Ko-Fi!~ I'm open for commissions here too!

But there's something we have to talk about.

From these 20 requests, there was at least 3 or 4 that arrived after I closed my box. Since this was the first time when I received requests after closing my box, I did them, but in the future, I won't.

From your phone, you can see the status of the box on the top of the page, under my profile picture, and from PC, you can see it two places, on the left side under the picture again, and on the top of the page too.

Please, pay attention to this next time! I'm not angry or anything, so don't worry about it! 💖

Also, I updated my rules for more options, please check them out!~

Send me anything babies, take care and have a good day/night,

xoxo, Chantal

Ive seen so many ppl in this fandom ship zuko with every single character in atla that ive decided that yk what?

Aroace Zuko is top tier

pass it on.

Maiko Headcanon

The “I don’t hate you” “I don’t hate you too” exchange we see in “The Headband” is a relationship in-joke for Zuko and Mai. It starts because they’re both severely emotionally repressed and aren’t sure they’re ready to verbalize their feelings in such a weighted, concrete way as saying “I love you”. Then they find humour in it, aware that they’re both percieved as not really loving anything. It quickly becomes a game between them to find new ways to not-confess: “I don’t particularly dislike you”; “I’m not sick of you yet”; “You’re the least annoying person I know”; “I can stand you”; “You’re my most tolerable friend”. Dancing around it, stepping closer each time. Zuko is habitually active and Mai is habitually quiet; for them, actions have always spoken louder than words. They don’t need to say those three. They both know it, what more would stating it aloud accomplish? That’s what they tell themselves, anyway. 

After Zuko leaves, Mai uses this to try to convince herself it wasn’t a real relationship. That he’d never cared about her that much. It was all just wishful thinking. Right?

When she looks Azula straight in the eye and proudly declares, “I love Zuko more than I fear you”, it’s the first time either of them has ever said that they love the other. It’s possibly the first time she’s said that she loves anything or anyone. And it sounds so right, so perfect. That was the moment they both knew that this was far more than a teenage fling. 

Mai headcanon time.

I think Mai knows about the asylum Azula went to. Not necessarily the details, but enough to know that it is a very bad place. Ukano and Michi probably told her that's where she would get sent if she acted up. After all, they're the reasons she bottled up all of her emotions and was unable to express herself. So it's not that big of a stretch if the place's reputation for troubled Fire Nation girls is well known to people like Azula.

All the more reason for Mai to clam up and be as stoic as she is. After all, being quiet and sitting still is good behavior. And Azula in the Spirit Temple is pretty blatant about what happens to girls that don't show good behavior...

Hello! I just want to tell you that I love your content, you are a great writer! I was wondering if you have some hc of Izumi doing a Zuko special in front of the council? (Speaking out of place, just like Zuko did to Ozai when he was a kid) I think it would be interesting to see our fire lord's reaction, maybe a little angst?

Thank you!!!

There is nothing but silence in the hall, the last of Izumi's voice finishing it's reverberations off the walls.

The world is still. The Firelord regards his heir, their identical gold eyes locked together. Fire meeting fire.

Advisors hold their breath. The last time this happened someone got burned.

He stands there now, the evidence of his similar disrespect now a permanent fixture on his skin. And he stares at his daughter, processes the harsh words she spat across the table.

Izumi stares back. She knows better, she really does. Though she is young, she knows the rules of Court. The rules of her father.

And to speak out of turn as she did, to snap as she did, to disrespect him so completely in front of his entire council.

It was a mistake. But not one she regrets. Because she couldn't let him send those men to their deaths. That wasn't the type of king she knew her father to be. And to keep quiet wasn't the type of daughter he knew her to be.

In front of her, Zuko's heart is breaking. It is silent as it crumbles, watching as his daughter's face falls with the revelation of what she had done.

There is fear in her eyes, mixed with resilience and the firm set of her jaw she had inherited from him.

What had he done to cultivate that? To give her a reason to fear him? Had he stepped too far, pushed too hard, became his father in ways he couldn't notice?

He never wanted Izumi to fear him. Whether as a father or a lord.

"I am not infallible. My daughter reminds me of that. And I thank you, Princess Izumi. You are correct, if not harsh. Though you'd do best to mind your tone, it's in the interests of our people for me to heed you. So I will. " He says finally, before turning to another scroll and continuing the meeting.

Izumi is quiet for the rest of the time, watching her father carefully. When he dismisses them, he asks her to stay back.

He pours her tea. The hall is too big for the two of them. Izumi feels small. There's a precedent that Zuko is ignoring. Would he really push aside his pride, his honour, so easily?

She takes the tea with shaky hands. Zuko pauses for a moment before placing his hands over hers.

"Zu, look at me." He says. It is not the command of a king, but the request of a father.

She raises her face and he is smiling. It is a sad smile, and she finds herself staring at how it pulls at the scar on his face. A scar he had gained from insolence so much like hers.

He touches the side of her face. "I've always known, that with my temper and Mai's stubbornness, I would not have a child that held her tongue."

Izumi holds his wrist. "I was out of place, disrespectful, i-"

"You cared enough to speak out. I won't punish you for caring. No one should be punished for caring."

That night Zuko lays beside his wife. He is contemplative, more quiet than he usually is. Her touch is a question when she reaches for his hand.

His eyes pull away from the window.

From the moment he had felt Izumi's heartbeat he had feared so much. Feared that he was his father's child, that his blood ran too red.

Zuko had forgotten that he could choose to be something else. Choose to see a child for a child, passion for passion.

That he could choose to dampen the fire.

That he could choose to love.

"I think I did it. I think I broke it. What my father passed down, what he was given. I don't think Izumi will ever hold it. I won't give her a chance to burn."

👩‍🍳future fic plans + humbly asking for maikozumi family prompts 🤲

my finals are at the end of the month, so I'd have more time to write about my favorite Fire Nation emo teens when June comes and nothing else gets in the way :D

first off, I'm planning to extend crowning glory into a Mai-centric oneshot series about Fire Nation girlhood, touching up on her thoughts about (1) childbirth and (2) filial piety over the years.

there's also a modern fake dating AU brewing in my head (and sitting on my 27-page Google doc of maiko fic ideas), but I'll still see where inspiration takes me.

lastly, I'd really like to write some good ol' Fire Nation Royal Family domestic fluff! plspls if you have any maikozumi headcanons and/or prompts you'd like to see in a fic, don't hesitate to send me an ask or reply to this post! 🙏

Hey... If Mai were a bender, do you think she would be great at lightning bending? Would like to hear your thoughts 🖤

Yessss!! I’ve thought about this before. Thank you so much for the ask <3 

I think that Mai would be a great lightning-bender. To quote the Avatar wiki page for lightning generation: “The technique is extremely precise and deadly and is referred to by some as the ‘cold blooded fire’.” Cold blooded fire?! Precise and deadly?! I’m sorry, if that’s not Mai-coded then I don’t know what is.

Let’s break it down in perhaps an obnoxious amount of detail:

Precision. Mai canonically is a knife-thrower with the ability to pin a target’s clothing without drawing blood. She even strikes moving targets. I would argue that Azula, Mai, Ty Lee are a team built on precision. That’s why Azula chose them after all. Ty Lee hits very specific pressure points, Mai hits very specific targets, and Azula executes the most precise and complex firebending moves. It naturally follows that if Mai were a firebender, she would also employ precision based attacks rather than shooting fire willy-nilly like Zhao, for example.

Distance. One notable difference between Mai and Ty Lee’s preferred fighting styles is range. For chi blocking, you have to be engaging in hand to hand combat, or you have to find a way to get close enough to make contact with your target. Mai demonstrates proficiency in close quarters combat, but knife throwing is more effective from a distance. Similarly, the wiki also points out that lightning-bending is shown with varying degrees of build up. Ideally, the lightning wielder has enough time to go through the movements and can strike at their opponent from a safe distance. Since this is Mai’s canonical inclination, I can only assume firebender Mai is the same. 

Emotional regulation. When Zuko attempts lightning-bending, he fails at his attempt because his emotions get in the way. Again, according to the Wiki, “If one attempts to conjure lightning without the required emotional discipline, it can instead result in a huge explosion of fire.” Mai is the epitome of one who can keep their emotions in check. She– perhaps more than anyone– has the focus required to split the positive and negative energies to create the bolt.

Truthfully, I don’t think fire is Mai’s primary element. In the episode “The Firebending Masters,” we learn that fire is actually life energy. I don’t think that young firebender Mai would be able to understand this or feel it intuitively the way a firebending Ty Lee might. For this reason, I think she would struggle at first, and be considered weak. I think she would still choose to learn knife-throwing, and this choice would lead her down the path of discovering lightning bending. One day, while she’s practicing, she tries to hone in on her firebending chi while throwing her knives, to see if she can figure out some sort of combination attack. She’s really just playing around, but she manages to split the positive and negative energy. When she lets go of her knife, a bolt of lightning arcs through the air and strikes her target in the exact same spot. That was the first time Mai truly felt her chi. 

After that day, she would hone her skill in secret. Assuming the Hundred Year War is still happening, Mai wouldn’t dare tell Azula. Despite her aloof exterior, Mai does not want to kill anyone, and she fears what the princess would want her to do. I think she would use lightning only in her greatest hour of need. Perhaps at the Boiling Rock she and Azula fire lightning simultaneously, causing an explosion. Everyone is astonished, still thinking Mai was a weak bender… 

And that’s all I got. That was probably a way more detailed headcanon than you were looking for. I lowkey wanna write an AU like this now, but we’ll see where the inspiration strikes (hehe). 

Thank you again for the ask! I hope you have a lovely day :)

Maiko Headcanon

The “I don’t hate you” “I don’t hate you too” exchange we see in “The Headband” is a relationship in-joke for Zuko and Mai. It starts because they’re both severely emotionally repressed and aren’t sure they’re ready to verbalize their feelings in such a weighted, concrete way as saying “I love you”. Then they find humour in it, aware that they’re both percieved as not really loving anything. It quickly becomes a game between them to find new ways to not-confess: “I don’t particularly dislike you”; “I’m not sick of you yet”; “You’re the least annoying person I know”; “I can stand you”; “You’re my most tolerable friend”. Dancing around it, stepping closer each time. Zuko is habitually active and Mai is habitually quiet; for them, actions have always spoken louder than words. They don’t need to say those three. They both know it, what more would stating it aloud accomplish? That’s what they tell themselves, anyway. 

After Zuko leaves, Mai uses this to try to convince herself it wasn’t a real relationship. That he’d never cared about her that much. It was all just wishful thinking. Right?

When she looks Azula straight in the eye and proudly declares, “I love Zuko more than I fear you”, it’s the first time either of them has ever said that they love the other. It’s possibly the first time she’s said that she loves anything or anyone. And it sounds so right, so perfect. That was the moment they both knew that this was far more than a teenage fling. 

Michi and Ukano headcanons

Yes, you've read that correctly lol. I guess this doubles as a sneak peek for the new fic I'm working on?

I tried making up a background story for Mai's family (by pinpointing the source of their generational wealth). Because you don't really get to enter the Princess and Prince's inner circle and grow up with them if your family isn't powerful, yeah?

Michi:

According to the ATLA cookbook, nurturing the Fire Nation chili plants is a revered practice. I imagine that her family owns huge chili plantations. (Aunt Mura expanded the business by adding flowers to the mix)

I like to think that Mai being good at weapon-wielding came from her side of the family. It's a recurring theme in fanfics that her uncle (the Boiling Rock Warden, Michi's brother) was the one who first supported her interest in knives.

So aside from being the leading supplier of an important crop in Fire Nation culture, they're also a famous clan of nonbenders/weapons experts. (This is something I mentioned in passing in my Maiko childhood sparring partners fic)

Ukano:

Before he got into politics, his family was already pretty prominent. Their most famous ancestor is a key figure in history who strengthened the nation's maritime trade network.

But when the Hundred Year War raged on, their clan shifted their focus on manufacturing warships.

headcanon: Kiyi and Tom-Tom help Maiko get back together after Smoke and Shadow

(this post doubles as sort of a director's commentary on my latest fic that literally no one asked for, but I thought it would be fun to do! LOL)

So we all know that Mai and Zuko broke up in the comics... but their last panel together in Smoke and Shadow Part 3 is them holding their younger siblings, which we can argue leaves things on a pretty hopeful note

(and if we REALLY want to push the Maiko agenda, dare I say it's a foreshadowing of some sorts?)

Additionally, at Emerald City Comic Con 2017 (timestamp 17:52), Gene Luen Yang implied that the breakup is only temporary.

Anyway, shipping aside, I love this part in Smoke and Shadow where Zuko worries about Tom-Tom losing his innocence after getting kidnapped by the 'Kemurikage'. We also find out that him and Mai babysat Tom-Tom on one of their picnic dates.

Going off of this, I have a headcanon that the abducted kids would occasionally gather at the palace after the Kemurikage incident to essentially have group therapy sessions (an initiative by the Fire Lord, because he's worried that the kids might be traumatized). This is how Tom-Tom and Kiyi became friends.

One day, they heard that Mai and Zuko are 'boyfriend-girlfriend'. Here's how it went down on my fic:

“You know, I heard from Dad who heard from other guards who heard from the kitchen ladies that the Fire Lord and Tom-Tom’s sis are boyfriend-girlfriend.”  Hearing Guri, Constable Sung’s son, join in on the conversation made Tom-Tom hyper-aware that he probably shouldn’t say anything bad about Zuko, especially now after knowing that he’s the Fire Lord.

Between the events of the ATLA finale and The Promise Part 2 (which is where Mai breaks up with Zuko in the throne room), I think it's safe to say that Mai would be at the palace for a considerable amount of time. I think it would be funny if the news of their breakup didn't reach ALL of the palace employees---so Kiyi and Tom-Tom took it upon themselves to have their siblings spend more time together.

Another thing I had so much fun writing is this interaction between Mai and Kiyi:

“We already met before. That night in the graveyard,” Mai stated matter-of-factly, causing Kiyi to whip her head up with stuffed cheeks, noodle broth dribbling down her chin. She felt her previously strained smile give way to something more genuine, imagining her younger self.     Instead of scolding her for poor table manners like what her own mother would have done, Mai took out a handkerchief. And, driven by instinct, she wiped the girl’s face—the movements gentle and unhurried.  

Meanwhile, here's my favorite exchange between Zuko and Tom-Tom:

“Do you like my sister, Mister Fire Lord?”  The question took him by great surprise, the fact that Tom-Tom still refused to drop his title never even registered. But despite the unprompted nature of the question, it was one that he could give an answer to at any time of day—and at any stage of his life. “I like your sister very much,” he declared, staring straight into Tom-Tom’s eyes. It was a truth that he has stood by since he was twelve, deeply rooted in the fiber of his being. It was an innate warmth that he believed he would carry forever—one that beats in tandem with his inner fire.  

Near the end of the fic, Mai and Zuko also have a conversation about Azula, and how their messed-up nation didn't give her a normal childhood, while Kiyi and Tom-Tom happily chase glow moths in the background:

“Do you ever look at Kiyi and wonder whether Azula would have been as happy if this country wasn't so messed up?” Mai asked, her gaze curious.  “Every day,” he replied, and generations of siblings being pitted against each other flashed through his mind. “That's why I'm doing my best to give her a normal childhood—with a country that hopefully isn't as messed up.”  “I’m glad that kids today can at least have that much.” She looked at Kiyi and Tom-Tom who were laughing as they continued to chase glow moths, then turned to Zuko with a smirk. “Era of love and peace and all.”

If you've read my rambling all the way to the end, thank you! Here's the link to the fic if you wanna read (please give it some love)

Do you ever think about how Zuko spent a significant amount of his teen years at sea chasing traces of the Avatar and eventually on the run as a fugitive when he should have been studying how to run a country—so being crowned Fire Lord at 16 would probably take him a bit of time to adjust?

Plus, he wears his heart on his sleeve, so the more subtle aspects of ruling, string-pulling, and political mind games might be lost on him at first.

But Mai, on the other hand, as a high-ranking noblewoman and a politician's daughter who grew up in court... 👀

What are your personal headcanons for Maiko and/or Izumi?

I had to think really hard about this one and come up with some 😅

I actually kinda didn't have any until this point?

So, like, the comics don't happen maybe? That's my headcanon definitely, I don't see maiko breaking up again... Primarily because they pulled through the war, they'll pull through the rest of it. And Zuko's not the kind of person who goes “I didn't want to bother you” he would definitely bother both Iroh and Mai and they wouldn't have it any other way.

(the comics regressed his character so much I wanted to pick him up and toss him out a window. I never felt that way even towards season 1 Zuko and that's saying something)

About Izumi... I'd really like it if she were adopted and if Mai was the one who bonded with her first. Idk, something about thwarting the bloodline thing-y. But she's literally a carbon copy of Mai’s mother so yeah, she's definitely biological.

And uh, maiko are really clingy but I think they don't even think about sex for a long time after they get together. Like, they're both touch-starved of course and the other person feels like the only safe one so they're catching up. And they gross everyone out with their PDA but they just have so much going on they don't think about.

It's like, everyone who sees them individually doesn't expect them to be level 3 clingers, but they are—and then you get adjusted to the fact that they are and you think they must be very sexually active. And. They aren't. (Idk I just like contrast) But that's young maiko. Old maiko who's been together for years at any point, they definitely fuck like rabbits. They're in love like the Addamses.

(I also think maiko would be femdom. Like, really kinky. I don't take criticism).

Mai initiates most of the time.

Sokka and Zuko are high on cactus juice and obviously Sokka's spouting wisdom and he says something “you know a woman's into you when she initiates. And often at that.”

And Zuko just turns into mush.

They both wanted only one kid. Because Ozai ruined Azula and Zuko's relationship and Mai flat out refuses to believe that parents can love equally. So she just goes “there won't be a need for it.”

Mai initially doesn't participate in court politics, she's on the implementation/military side of things, like a good soldier. Then she takes a particular dislike to some politician and starts participating just to spite that person. And then she realises she's good at it; enjoys it even.

Old Mai as a queen mother is a riot. Her dry humour gets drier the older she gets. Izumi's so fucking proud of her mum. She's always showing off to everyone: “Ya won't believe my mama—[insert whatever]”

do you have any maiko headcanons? i love your artstyle btw <3

Thank you so much I'm glad you like it!

Here's some maiko headcanons

- Once everything is all settled (fire nation is stable, no threat to the throne) they can finally relax and be more open freely towards each other, that includes more kisses in hallways, laying near the pond and the occasional quick makeouts etc.

- They understand each other very well like the silent communication type. They also learn from their mistakes and get better at expressing their feelings as they grow older

- Zuko has the dopiest grin looking at Mai and she melts inside every time

- He’s the only one who knows that Mai is quite an affectionate person when they’re in private

- Mai reveals her pregnancy at the fountain (since izumi means fountain) and Zuko stops breathing and falls into it

- Even though they get better at communicating and expressing their emotions as they mature, their main love language is always touch

- Mai does Zuko’s hair in the mornings but sometimes Zuko offers to do her hair too and he’s pretty good at it!

- Mai is NOT am early riser. She also steals pillows

- And blankets

- Zuko loves cuddles. He would be very happy if Mai’s the one who initiates the cuddle (she’s the more timid of the two)

- Zuko thinks he got every sigh of her figured out but then he completely misread it, obliviously making things worse. Their relationship has bumps and it’s not always perfect, but they always make up for it

- Being firelord keeps Zuko up late at night, Mai lets him work until she thinks that he needs to rest that she forcefully drags him to bed

- Sometimes Mai falls back into her old habits and completely shuts off, but Zuko always gets through to her

- They’re the happiest with each other. She is his anchor and he is her world

- Shortly after Izumi was born, Zuko entertained the idea of having another kid. Mai gave him one look and Zuko went ‘Yep. 1 is enough.”

I like them in a specific way that's hard for me to describe into words but here's the light stuff! Sorry if these are cheesy, thanks for the ask!

if i was in zuko’s place in ATLA i would be so scared of fire like he got half his face burned but also by his father i would imagine that the first few months or years he’s hunting down aang he doesn’t even use his bending power because of his fear.

and like imagine if he physically couldn’t use the most fundamental part of himself and iroh had to like reteach him how to fire bend.