AU where Zuko realises very early into his banishment that he’s been sent on a hopeless goose chase and, actually, he doesn’t want to return to the oppressive Fire Nation and his abusive father. And he sticks with this decision even after Aang wakes up from the iceberg
Except then Aang meets Zuko - probably when Zuko jumps in to save someone, because his sense of justice is too strong to just sit back while someone is hurt, even if he is trying to remain apolitical - and his brain goes “!!!!” Because that’s a good firebender. They do exist. And now Aang knows someone who can teach him firebending without trying to kill him
Except Zuko wants nothing to do with the Avatar. He especially doesn’t want to get entangled with his father’s war. So the rest of the season is about Zuko running from the Avatar, and Aang and co trying to capture the reluctant ex-Prince of the Fire Nation so he can be Aang’s firebending teacher
#oh how the tables have turned #ok but the thought of aang chasing zuko around like ‘pls teach me fire bender sifu!!! you’re so talented!!! teach me your wayyyyys!’ #while zuko does his best to avoid this overpowered puppy and his friends #is both hilarious and adorable #my posts#avatar #atla #atla headcanons #idk where iroh is in this AU #but he was probably a key component in helping zuko get to that point of acceptance #maybe he and zuko have a travelling tea shop
The obvious solution: Zuko’s naval vessel has been converted into a traveling tea shop.
They convert their naval ship into a floating tea shop oh my god