attackfish | Avatar: The Last Airbender Darkfic Comment Meme

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Avatar: The Last Airbender Darkfic Comment Meme

So I just finished writing something so impossibly sweet that I swear all my teeth just rotted in my head from it. And since I have to write floranna's fic for

help_haiti (and her request is full of lovely angst) I need to get myself in a darker writing groove. To further this goal, I’m watching Criminal Minds, and I’m asking you guys to send me your darkest, most angst producing prompts for Avatar: The Last Airbender. Comment with up to five, and I’ll guarantee you at least one commentfic. I’ll probably answer with more, knowing me.

weirdlet and

floranna get seven requests and a guarantee of two fics, because I spawned a wild AU in

weirdlet ’s head, that she has been writing delightfully twisted installments for, and because I delayed writing

floranna’s promised fic to work on my novel.

Please no rape or sexually explicit requests. I’m a big believer that there needs to be more gen darkfic in fandom.

Ganked from

avocado_love .

Meme Closed and Finished

Despite the fact that I asked for no requests involving rape or sexually explicit requests, my brain decided to take me there all on its own in two instances. I've done my best to warn as accurately as I can in both in a way that the warnings themselves are non-triggery. I'd also like to put up a blanket warning for violence.

Fics:

for

floranna

help_haiti :
Azula's lightning strike on Zuko has some far more serious consequences
Zuko hurt his leg on the run and it won’t heal: Part One l Part Two l Part Three l Part Four l Part Five l Part Six l Part Seven
*Warning for heavily implied Rape by Coercion and Sexually Abusive Dialogue* Bonus: AU of “Sun Child”, Zura’s pregnant with Zhao’s child continued from Zhao: Wedded and bedded (AU of Sun Child), both of which are AUs of

weirdlet 's Sun Child AU

for[Bad username or site: � animikii @ livejournal.com] :
Suki’s just as calmly insane as Azula is. She just hides it better

for

weirdlet :
Zhao: Wedded and bedded (AU of Sun Child) continued in Bonus: AU of “Sun Child”, Zura’s pregnant with Zhao’s child, (*Warning for heavily implied Rape by Coercion and Sexually Abusive Dialogue*) both of which are AUs of

weirdlet 's Sun Child AU
Koh's eggs
Eric Bogle’s “And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda”
I sometimes imagine Jet's hiding a set of stripes under his shirt- how'd he come to experience such a flogging?

for

blue_lacquer :
Zhao helps his chances of being promoted by getting rid of his competition
What Chit Sang did to end up in the Boiling Rock
Zhao destroying part of Wan Shi Tong’s library
The Omashu Earth Kingdom resistance succeeds in killing Mai’s family (but not her)

for

avocado_love :
Why exactly the turtle-ducks fear Azula so much
Lao Bei Fong will do anything to keep his daughter safe, even from herself
Zuko: Directly after the Agni Kai
Bonus: some fluffy Toph/Zuko, all grown up (not dark)

for

clockwerkchaos :
At the North Pole something goes wrong with La, and the Fire Nation sinks beneath the sea

for

yma2 :
The story of Lu Ten’s death
Zuko finds his mother (or more accurately, Ursa finds him)
Aang isn’t rescued by the Blue Spirit and is imprisoned for a long time Part One l Part Two

for

beboots :
S2, Iroh dies, leaving Zuko without his influence continued in Zuko breaks down in front of the Gaang and further continued in The Gaang in Ba Sing Se
Jet decides NOT to gather proof that Mushi and Lee are firebenders before he acts

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"ZUKO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THIS AND IT JUST FREAKS THE HELL OUT OF HIM." ZUKO NEEDS TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK TOPH'S LANGUAGE. Except that he probably would never actually hit a girl (unless she's Katara, in his way, or Azula, who is an insane psychopath). I mean, I don't think he'd find it honourable to hit girls he actually likes. Probably.

"They're probably going to dig the full story out of him later, but right now, Zuko doesn't even realize he's only barely coherent. Iroh's his stability, and right now, things aren't really computing." ;_; Well-said. He's just spiralling out of control inside, isn't he?

Hey, perhaps Toph will become his new ROCK! :D Not that Iroh can be replaced, but Toph's pretty solid, being from the Earth Kingdom and all. Plus, she doesn't seem like the time to put up with his whining, within reason.

Oh oblivious Sokka. :)

And yep, I suppose I am a horrible person. D: Really, it's the hurt-comfort I like, you know? And you can't really have meaningful "comfort" without first having the "hurt", so...

He tries to learn, really he does, but he can't make himself really hit her, and she just laughs at him. "You call that love tap a punch, Sparky? Stop it, that tickles."

You, you you! You're making me want to write more, like when Zuko gets to Ba Sing Se and votes for hightailing it out of there (and thereby earns Toph's eternal devotion), and the ramifications of the Fire Prince being there, and and and...

Do it do it do it! Follow your inspiration! (I have no selfish motives whatsoever! ;) ) Seriously, you can't have enough Toph & Broken!Zuko (or regular Zuko) bonding. Perhaps you could still get Zuko in an apron! I do so love Ba Sing Se. You could also theoretically have an angstful moment when it finally hits Zuko that he has arrived in Ba Sing Se - gotten beyond the wall that his uncle tried so hard to get through... the city that claimed his cousin's life.

My thoroughly bleak sense of humor, let me show you it!

~*~

Zuko watched the Fire Nation forces retreating from the broken down drill, and his sister and her companions slipping away from the army. “Where’s the memorial for the Fire Nation troops who died in the siege?”

The Earth Kingdom general twisted around to him, startled. “The one the Fire Nation soldiers built?”

Zuko nodded, not looking at him.

“We, we demolished it as soon as they left!” the general exclaimed, and then glanced at him suspiciously. “Why? Did you want to visit it? Such a dutiful son of the Fire Nation.”

Whirling around on his heel, Zuko leveled him with a black look. “I had something for it.”

“His uncle’s the Dragon of the West.” Toph grinned, tapping her foot and making the stones all along the top of the wall tremble.

The general swallowed. “What did you bring?”

“My uncle’s ashes,” he responded flatly.

“The Dragon of the West is dead?” the general gaped.

Zuko looked away.

~*~

“I can’t believe I never knew.” the Earth King breathed. As the rest of the Avatar’s companions clustered near him, gazing down at the drill, Zuko found himself apart, at the very inner edge of the wall, staring back down at the city.

Zuko shifted, careful of the wall’s edge as Long Feng arrived, his hands in fists, waiting. “I can explain this, Your Majesty,” he smiled, moving closer to the king, gesturing down. “This is nothing more than… a construction project.”

“Really?” Katara jeered. “Then perhaps you can explain why there’s a Fire Nation insignia on your construction project.” She waved her hand down at it, smugly.

“Well, it’s imported of course. You know you can’t trust domestic machinery.” His obsequious little smile faltered. “Surely you don’t believe these children, instead of your most loyal attendant!” he whined. His king looked to the Avatar and his companions, staring earnestly back at him, and then to his chief adviser, thoughts hidden. When no one glanced his way, Zuko did everything he could not to sigh with relief. He wasn’t supposed to be relieved.

“Dai Li, arrest Long Feng.” The Earth King sounded decisive in their presence for the first time since they had barged in on him. “I want him to stand trial for crimes against the Earth Kingdom.”

At his words, the pair of agents exchanged a significant look before rushing forward and shackling the head of the Dai Li’s wrists behind his back. From his perch on the edge of the wall, Zuko eyed them dubiously, and one of them paused to shrug at him.

As they dragged him away, Long Feng wouldn’t shut up. “You can’t arrest me. You all need me more than you know!”

“Looks like Long Feng is long gone!” Sokka taunted, flicking a tear out of his eye. “Ha… Oh, yeah, I’ve been waiting to use that one.”

“Wait,” the Earth King glanced at Zuko, his expression inscrutable. “If the Earth Kingdom is at war with the Fire Nation, what are you doing here?”

Zuko rolled his eyes. “I hate this city.”

~*~

Aang lay unconscious in Katara’s arms and the Earth King sat morosely in the back of the saddle. Zuko shifted, unable to sleep as they flew over the wall. Blinking sleepily, Toph sat up next to him, and grimaced. His hand reached into his pack and pulled out the saddlebag he had stored the ashes in. His fingers tangled in the laces, pulling loose the knots until they came free and the bag opened. The ashes spilled out onto the wind, sparkling in the starlight.

“Saying goodbye?” Toph asked, eyes fluttering closed.

“I wanted to wait until we’d gotten outside the wall,” he whispered, watching them blow away. “I don’t... I don’t think he would’ve liked it there.”

“They wouldn’t have liked him much there either.” She punched him in the leg.

“Yeah.” He let his arm wrap around her.

Huzzah! Thank you so much for continuing this!

I think that it's very likely that whatever the Fire Nation left behind the Earth Kingdom troops destroyed. I mean, it's like, mocking them, leaving behind a memorial, right? I do like that Zuko wanted to honour his uncle in this way, though. Also, the surprise that the Earth Kingdom general felt about learning that the Dragon of the West was dead! I mean, Iroh is such a larger than life figure, if you've never met him or only seen him from afar... it's hard to imagine him growing old and dying, you know?

“Wait,” the Earth King glanced at Zuko, his expression inscrutable. “If the Earth Kingdom is at war with the Fire Nation, what are you doing here?” A very valid and perceptive question, your majesty!

And that little exchange between Toph and Zuko at the end, with the ashes being scattered? Very nice. :) THIS Iroh didn't have a tea shop in Ba Sing Se - no fond memories of the city at all.

My pleasure!

The memorial's on Earth Kingdom land. The Fire Nation didn't conquer it. What do you think you're doing building memorials on our land?!? And that means nothing to Zuko. Now he has no idea where his cousin's ashes are. Yeah, to the Earth Kingdom, it's like being told the boogyman died. and then being confronted by his grief stricken very human nephew... How odd for them.

Ahahahah! I know, and there goes Zuko saying exactly the worst thing. XD

Also, Zuko has to deal with the Joo Dees and the Dai Li in this. Iroh would hate them, lol. Poor kid, I have a not very nice sense of irony. I think Toph needs to hug him again, don't you?

Upon meeting the Dai Li, Zuko's like "I can't believe you actually mind that the Fire Nation's trying to conquer this place."
Sokka goes "Yeah, and your daddy and sister would get rid of the Dai Li and the brainwashing and all that?"
"You make a compelling point."

I'm not going to write it, but I like to think Zuko took it upon himself to give Kuei some practical advice on how to be a royal traveling incognito. "And for Agni's sake, don't tell anyone who you are!"

Oh hey, it just occurred to me that Zuko really DIDN'T meet the Joo Dees in canon. Maybe just peripherally, right?

And YES Zuko needs Toph hugs. :) Zuko needs hugs, period. Well, hugs from non-creepy people.

"Yeah, and your daddy and sister would get rid of the Dai Li and the brainwashing and all that?"
"You make a compelling point." SO TRUE. If it's advantageous, well... Azula's not going to fix what ain't broken, if you know what I mean.

You know, I've only read a handful of fics in which Zuko actually interacts with Kuei. It's sad in this case ZUKO is actually more worldly than someone. (It doesn't happen often.) I always liked the idea of Zuko actually being capable of giving good advice on, well, politics or living as royal or whatever (to ANYONE). I mean, he had Iroh force-feeding him wisdom for at least three years - he had to have picked up something, right? If only through osmosis. ;)

No, he didn't. He saw the Dai Li take Jet away, but that's it.

So no hugs from Azula?

Or what's broken to their advantage? No, that would be... inconvenient.

Zuko would spend most of his time running after Kuei going "NO! Bad idea, don't do that, put that down!" Makes him feel very wise and knowledgeable. And incredibly sympathetic towards his uncle. Kuei could use a little over-dramatic anxious Zuko dose.

I think that Azula, in her natural state in seasons two and three, is sort of beyond hugs. I think that she may have been redeemable as a child if she had more, you know, friendly contact with her mother and brother at least. I won't rule out possible therapeutic benefit of hugs for Crazula, though.

Speaking of which... I really do enjoy reading sibling or familial fics, you know? But it's SO HARD to find an Azula who can put any sort of feelings of familial devotion to her brother above her devotion to her ambition. What I would love to see is a fic in which Azula actually shows, y'know, concern for her brother. Even if it's just because the Dai Li have beaten him up, and, well, the Fire Nation must stand together against Earth Kingdom barbarians or something. Patriotic-like.

Regardless... Oh man, I would love to read more Kuei and Zuko interactions, as royals on the run. TOGETHER THEY FIGHT CRIME. (Or, rather, Zuko does all the work.) But you've already said you won't write it... ;)

No, I was just teasing about Azula's hugs as therapeutic for Zuko.

Speaking as the former childhood friend of a sociopath, they don't feel concern. They don't see familial devotion as valuable except when it's devotion they can use. They scorn you for it, even as they manipulate it. Azula's a sociopath. And given how old my former friend was when she started playing her games, she was born that way. I don't think I'm capable of writing her as anything else and have it be believable.

Zuko fights crime, Kuei lets the prisoners loose because they promised to behave. And Zuko... *whimper*

Of course! Azula's hugs for Zuko are so full of sincere LOVE and CONCERN.

(I don't imagine that Azula is a very comfy hug - I mean, she's pretty angular, and would probably squeeze too tightly. Plus, armor = not good hugging outfit. Ty Lee, on the other hand, looks comfy. ;) )

Fair enough - don't write it if it's not in-character. D: Azula was crazy long before she went Crazula.

"Zuko fights crime, Kuei lets the prisoners loose because they promised to behave."
XD
Kuei: "But they PROMISED!"
Zuko: *facepalm*

She didn't look that angular out of her armor in "The Awakening" but methinks any hug from Azula without the armor would be creepywrong and drive Zuko to take a shower. Badtouch!

Ty Lee: Hi! *cling*
Zuko: Aieeee! Get it off!

Ty Lee: Hi! *cling*
Azula: Grrrrrr.

Ty Lee: Hi! *cling*
Mai: *patpat* Remember when we talked about people needing to breathe?

and of course after the war...

Ty Lee: Hi! *cling*
Aang: Ty Le! *clings back*

There's some Azula trying in her very clumsy, threatening, manipulative way to try to mother Zuko (or Sokka in Zuko's body, but she doesn't know that) in the later part of Avocado_love's In His Shoes (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4302297/1/In_His_Shoes)

Hmm, I think Zuko should dump Kuei on Bummi. Might make him learn something. And also it would be a riot, true. No, that's not my modivation, how could you say that?

Man, Aang and Ty Lee would be just an overload of cute. Their glee would FEED off of each other...

Oh yes, In His Shoes! <3

Confronting ANYBODY with King Bumi is hilarious. (Heck, dumping ZUKO on him would be hilarious.) Bumi is a funny guy. Badass, kind of crazy (in the good way) before he even became senile... I've always thought that Bumi and Toph would get along famously, but you don't see them really talk to each other in canon. And the world is worse off for it. ;_;

The rest make sure to keep them strictly separated, or else the world would end. In fluffy rainbows.

There's a set of canon comics from nick magazine http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/Eternal_Light55/Bumi%20Vs%20Toph%20Comic/ about Bumi and Toph challenging each other to an earthbending rumble in the Order of the White Lotus camp. Zuko and Katara basically send them to bed without dinner.

Ooh! I've been trying to find copies of the Nickelodeon comics for a while!! (Well, I obviously haven't been trying very hard, because I am an inherently lazy person, but thank you for the link regardless!)

you're welcome! Who's the greatest earthbender in the world? Who?

Well, I'm going to be cynical and say that Bumi won't be competition for much longer - he's Toph's only serious competition, and, well, he's old as dirt. *rimshot* He's gotta go sometime, and then Toph has an uncontested title. :P In short: Bumi, but not for very long!

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Avatar: The Last Airbender Darkfic Comment Meme

Re: Continuation: Zuko breaks down in front of the Gaang

Re: Continuation: Zuko breaks down in front of the Gaang

Re: Continuation: Zuko breaks down in front of the Gaang

Further Continuation: The Gaang in Ba Sing Se

Re: Further Continuation: The Gaang in Ba Sing Se

Re: Further Continuation: The Gaang in Ba Sing Se

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Re: Further Continuation: The Gaang in Ba Sing Se

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Re: Further Continuation: The Gaang in Ba Sing Se

Re: Further Continuation: The Gaang in Ba Sing Se

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Re: Further Continuation: The Gaang in Ba Sing Se

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Re: Further Continuation: The Gaang in Ba Sing Se