@devilangel657 / devilangel657.tumblr.com
Hello to everyone except @muffinlance who has forcibly dragged me into obsessing about yet another of their Atla Au’s.
Anyway overprotective surrogate Chaos Spirit dad trying and failing not to fall for his son’s human vessel’s charm and utterly failing is the dynamic that I live for.
@muffinlance I hope you're happy, I couldn't stop thinking about Chaos Avatar Zuko. So I stayed up on Christmas Eve ( technically Christmas at that point) and plotted this.
I might come back and properly write this?
Merry Christmas I guess.
---
His father had summoned him. It was about the spirit. Father said that he had a way to get rid of it.
Zuko still didn't understand why father and Uncle wanted the spirit gone. Vaatu was actually quite nice.
Zuko entered the room, this room was dedicated to the Angi. As such it had a number of pots and offerings along the walls with a beautiful shrine at the back.
(Past this point is just basic plotting)
Zuko is sitting seiza While Ozai is standing over him.
Ozai: You understand that everything I do is for the good of the Fire Nation.
Zuko, so much trust: Of course, you're the Fire Lord.
Ozai caressing Zuko's left cheek: Since all other exorcisms have failed, that leaves one option left. You must be cleansed by fire.
Zuko confused: What?
Ozai burns Zuko.
Zuko SCREAMS.
Vaatu: No!
Zuko's eyes glow, he's Vaatu now.
Vaatu grabs Ozia's stupid goatee with his right hand and yanks it down into the left hand swinging a puntch.
Zuko's left arm brushes against Ozia's still hot hand and gets burnt too.
Vaatu and Ozai fight. Vaatu only knows firebending, but has picked up a bit more than Zuko, and has more powered behind his blasts. Vaatu's flames have flicks of blue in them.
It's around this point that Ozai realises that he's done fucked up.
He can't fight this thing. It's too small and moves too fast. It's fire is hot and-
How the FUCK did it dodge lightning?!
Did it just climb up into the rafters? Fuck where did it go?!
Vaatu goes absolutely feral. He drops down and clings to Ozai, yanking hair, jabbing the jugular.
Vaatu is on Ozia's back and says in a voice that is Wrong!NotRight! And far too deep to be coming out of Zuko's mouth: You are a despicable genetic donor. You treat your own spawn like this?!
Maybe I should do to you what you have done to him.
Vaatu's left hand glows, fire licking the skin but never burning it. Vaatu's hand descends towards Ozia's face.
Ozai has so much fear.
The doors burst open and guards rush in along with Iroh. They can all see what Vasto was about to do, but they freeze at the sight of the ugly blistering burns that stretched from Zuko's left wrist to the left side of Zuko's face.
Iroh, somewhat regains his composure: Zuko, please don't do this! I know you're in there!
Vaatu: You, round human. You have always been kind to larva. You would let genetic donor do this?!
Iroh: I never knew what he was planning! I heard the commotion and ran here. Please spirit, let my nephew go. Don't do this, if you do the reproductions for Zuko will be far worse than this.
Vaatu hissed: Did you not hear how larva screamed?! That deserves vengeance. This pathetic human must pay in blood,
Vaatu looks at Ozai, the burnt side of Zuko's face in clear view to Iroh and the guards: or skin.
For Christmas, I get burnt Zukos and goatee pulls. I wouldn't have it any other way. <3
I'm curious as to what Zuko and Iroh's relationship would be like in Chaos Avatar!Zuko AU. I feel like he'd definitely hold a lot more guilt over Zuko getting burned here than he does in canon just because his burn is so much *worse* and he can't help but blame himself for opening his mouth to Ozai in the first place. On the other hand, his nephew is still Definitely Possessed so...
So of course, Iroh needs to hunt the real Avatar, the only one who stands a chance of freeing his dear sweet nephew.
His Dear Sweet Nephew: UNCLE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, I am so sorry random... airbending... child. Holy shit, Wan? You got short. And bald. Oh my god man, your head is perfect elbow-resting height, just stand right there that's perfect.
Sokka: I am not seeing the world-ending evil, Prince Iroh. Can you please stop politely kidnapping us now--
*explosion in the not-so-distance. Zuko takes his elbow off Aang's head*
Zuko: So, it was great seeing you again Wan, Uncle, infinitely replaceable peasants, but I'd better get going--
*shouting guards clearly coming this way*
Sokka: Okay seeing it now
Imagine if avatar wan showed up ala avatar roku on solstice? But not on solstice. Kind of like kyoshi.
Wan saying that vaatu got an emotional support child.
I’m trying to picture what Chaos Avatar Zuko would look like from an outsider perspective before anyone figures out exactly what that is and my mind just keeps jumping to like Poltergeist or Paranormal Activity. Like the Fire Sages attempting an exorcism at some point because obviously this is the world of a mega spirit curse and an ancient spirit who promises destruction is not an acceptable imaginary friend.
There are two starting points I'm deciding from for this story: pre-banishment or post. Currently leaning towards pre-banishment because they are legit going to think he's straight up possessed by the worst evil spirit on record and they won't be wrong.
Uncle, having tea party with his nephew and only paying half-attention because he's still on Grief Mode: Ah, and what is your imaginary friend's name?
bb!Zuko: HE'S NOT IMAGINARY! His name is Vaatu and he says we'll be great together and that he'll never leave me, and he's always there even in the middle of the night when I--he just. He's always there. He's my best friend and he's real.
Uncle: Mmmhmm, mmmhmm, mmm--*chokes on tea as his brain catches up to "Vaatu"* I... see. Does your friend tell you to do things, sometimes?
bb!Zuko, so excited that Uncle believes him because only Azula ever has and she pretends not to: All the time! He has really good advice, like how to make my fire bigger and how to make Captain Zhao stay away from me, you should have seen his face--
And so begins Uncle's frantic research and attempts to exorcise his nephew.
Ozai is more than happy to listen to his brother's solemn counsel that something with Zuko is not right. He has a much more direct way of solving the problem, however.
All he does, he does for the Fire Nation. You understand, right son? Kneel right here and Father will help you--
(Vaatu is not letting some prissy dude with a stupid smirk burn HIS new Fire Son, no sir.)
(Also he grabs the girl on his way out. She's fun and great at causing some quality chaos, and he's sure they can train the weird anger and defensive sadism into something productive!! She's so cute!!)
So is this Chaos Avatar Zuko is going to be a Vaatu adopts Zuko?
Look, he isn't adopting the human larva, he didn't even know what the word adoption meant until five seconds ago. But actions taken by the larva's genetic donor (oh do not even get Vaatu started on the filth that is human procreation, can't they form children from the endless space of concepts like civilized creatures?), ahem, Fire Lord Genetic Donor is actively weakening his vessel in flesh and spirit, even when not present, and Vaatu refuses to allow this to continue. Fire Larva, you WILL feel better this instant, Vaatu COMMANDS you.
bb!Zuko hiding in a garden until his sniffling won't be a disgrace to Father: ...That isn't how feelings work, Voice, but thank you for trying. I'll practice extra hard at bending tomorrow, and the next day, and one day Father will be proud--
Ancient Spirit of Chaos and Destruction: One day this place will burn to the ground.
Zuko: ...What?
Vaatu: Nothing, Larva. Keep generating salt water.
