Chapter Text
When Kya died, Hakoda had been angry.
Angry at the Fire Nation, angry at the war… angry at himself.
He knew what it was well enough to recognize it.
He was angry at the Firelord for what he had done, angry at General Iroh for what he hadn’t done… but he was also angry at himself.
Angry because he knew he was being selfish. He knew part of this hatred was rooted in the knowledge that this uncle of Zuko’s had failed him, and still might take Zuko away. It wasn’t a righteous anger… it was a jealous one.
He dug his whittling knife deeper into the piece of bone, like it was the cause of all his problems. Like they would just go away if he carved deep enough.
It was late… or maybe early. The stars hung above him as a cloud or two drifted lazily by. He was in a secluded part of the village, just outside the eastern gate, away enough from the guards.
He was hoping to catch a bit of peace, but his spinning thoughts refused him even that.
And then he heard footsteps.
He flew to his feet when he saw who it was, shoulders tense, brow furrowed. The guard behind the approaching General shrugged helplessly, withering under Hakoda’s frown.
Iroh didn’t bother smiling, he only bowed. “Chief Hakoda. May I speak with you.”
Hakoda stood, glaring down at the man, hands clenched. He waved the guard away.
“… You can speak. But I won’t promise to listen,” he grunted, crossing his arms. He felt like a petulant child, but couldn’t bring himself to feel sorry.
Iroh nodded, looking grateful, and sat, ignoring the snow. Hakoda paused then followed suit, taught as a bowstring. He went back to his whittling, ignoring the man next to him.
General Iroh didn’t speak for a long moment, eyes trained on the horizon… then he sighed.
“If you would, Chief Hakoda, I would like you to imagine something.”
Hakoda didn’t respond, slicing away small chips of bone.
“This… Bato. You trust him, yes?”
Hakoda’s eyes didn’t stray from his work, but after a second, he gave a sharp nod.
“Imagine Bato… he challenges your son to spar. You might think it odd, but you say nothing… because you trust him.”
Something cold settled in Hakoda’s stomach.
“And then, in the duel… it all happens so fast, you see it coming, but you do nothing. Because you can not believe it for what it is. A brutal and vicious attack.”
Hakoda’s mouth was dry with anger. How dare he bring Sokka into this? It wasn’t the same at all.
“After the fact, you want nothing more then to exact revenge. To take him down. But you can’t. You have your daughter. If he was capable of hurting your son, would he not also hurt her as well?”
Hakoda’s hands stilled their movements. He had forgotten… Zuko had a sister.
Iroh’s eyes were tired but determined, “I knew my brother to be cruel, I did not know him to be violent. Now I do, and I can not take any action that might put Princess Azula in harm’s way. She is only a child.”
When he looked at Hakoda, he didn’t look like a friendly old man… he looked like a General who was fighting a war.
“I tell you this not to excuse my actions, only to explain them.”
“Where is the girl now? Is she safe?” Hakoda asked despite himself.
“She is not. I am working to get her out of her father’s reach, but it is a delicate operation, it can not be rushed. I have not informed Zuko of this plan in case it fails.”
Hakoda swore and rubbed his face.
The stars looked down, and a soft breeze blew past, carrying the scent of the ocean.
Hakoda couldn’t help it… he had to ask.
“What are your intentions with Zuko?” He turned a cold gaze to Iroh, voice harsh but steady, “Do you want to take him with you?”
Iroh didn’t speak for a long moment, eyes distant.
“… I want what is best for him. Whatever he chooses, I will support.”
Hakoda was selfish. Would he do the same? If Zuko chose to leave, would he support that decision? Could he?
Did he have a choice?
When he spoke, he didn’t bother keeping his tone civil.
“I expect you and your crew to be gone by tomorrow.”
Later he found his way back to his tent, shoulders slumped tiredly. It was quiet when he entered, which he was thankful for. All of his anger had left him exhausted.
He made his way to his room, trying to keep his footsteps light.
It hardly mattered though. When he got to there, Zuko was awake, sitting in his cot, hands running over something in his lap. Bato was no where to be seen.
He looked up when Hakoda entered, breaking out in a smile. It sent a stab of guilt through him.
“Are you still mad?” The boy asked excitedly.
Hakoda hesitated, then forced himself to let out a breath, “…No… no I’m not mad.”
“Good, come look at this!”
Hakoda’s mouth twitched at his tone, it was more happy and carefree than he had heard in a long time. He went and sat on the edge of the bed, Zuko scrambling to sit next to him.
“My uncle brought me some scrolls! This one’s a brand new play, it’s kind of stupid, but Uncle says the sets are fantastic, and the part at the end uses Firebenders instead of just colored silks. And this one’s my favorite, love amongst dragons, look! He even brought the mask from it, this is the blue spirit,”
Every word made Hakoda’s heart swell and ache.
Zuko sounded like a child. For the first time since he had known him, he was actually acting his age. In the light, you almost couldn’t see the scar, it was easy to pretend it wasn’t there.
To pretend everything was ok.
He shook his head, trying to shove those thoughts down. Zuko was happy, he didn’t want to ruin that.
“The blue spirit huh?” He said, inspecting the mask. It was so… Fire Nation, but Zuko was grinning.
“Yeah, he’s this evil water spirit who curses the Dragon Emperor. The fight in act three is the best part. Have you ever seen a play?”
Hakoda shook his head, smiling, “No, I haven’t.”
“Well you can read it if you want, but nothing’s like seeing it first thing. There’s a theater troupe back home who’s amazing, but the one on Ember Island sucks.”
“I’ll remember that next time I’m on Ember Island.”
Zuko laughed then, and Hakoda chuckled, less so at the joke, and more so at Zuko’s reaction.
He really did seem happier.
Maybe… Maybe his uncle was good for him.
“Uncle Iroh brought so many things with him… So many things from home, like fire flakes, I gave some to Sokka but he thought they were too hot.”
Hakoda hummed thoughtfully, turning the mask over in his hands.
There was an odd sort of peace settling inside him. Maybe he could do this. Not be selfish… give Zuko the choice. If it meant him being happy, being at home…
“And my knife from Ba-Sing-Se, and my Dual swords, but he said I’d have to ask you first before he gave them back. I’ll get them tomorrow.”
“… You’re Uncle’s leaving tomorrow, kuluk,” Hakoda said, voice soft. Maybe he felt a little guilty about it, but he didn’t regret it. The general may not be pure evil, but he still wanted him gone.
It did hurt though, when Zuko’s face fell.
“What?”
It really hurt, that look of disappointment, of confusion.
“I asked him to leave,” he couldn’t lie, not about this.
Zuko was still for a moment.
The light of the moon seeped in through the animal hide walls, the fire in the other room coming through the door and highlighting the edge of Zuko’s face.
“Why?”
Why.
“I don’t… I don’t want him here.”
Zuko’s gaze was harsh, angry and worried all at the same time.
“… Because he’s Fire nation?”
“Tui and La, Zuko, no, no of course not. Because… because he let you get hurt, because he didn’t help you.”
Zuko frowned, shifting away from him, “Why would you make him leave because of that?! He’s here now, isn’t he? He’s trying to help now!”
“Zuko…”
“No, no you want him gone cause you hate him, right? It’s obvious, he’s the Firelord’s brother, he’s your enemy, he’s-he’s- you hate him!”
“Zuko!” Hakoda grabbed the boy by the shoulders, rubbing his arms gently, “Zuko, it’s ok, I don’t hate anyone, just breathe.”
Zuko’s breath had turned short and raggedy, and he pushed against Hakoda’s grip, but it stayed in place.
“You-you hate him cause he’s Fire nation, cause he’s a Prince,” he choked out, half angry, half panicked.
“That’s not it all, kuluk, I don’t hate him, I promise.”
“Then why are you making him leave!” Zuko was near hysterical now, breathing harsh and short, trembling with anger, squirming to get away.
Hakoda didn’t know what to say.
Everything was wrong, everything was falling apart. He was ruining it all.
Why would Zuko want to stay? He had his uncle and sister waiting, his homeland, his culture, his own people.
What was here for him? A foreign village? A people who looked at him with suspicion? A man so wrapped up in not losing another person that he wouldn’t even let a boy go back to his own family?
He knew then… Zuko would leave… and he would have to let him go.
Spirits damn it all.
He couldn’t help it, he pulled Zuko in, wrapping his arms around him, and holding on tight. Zuko froze, chest hitching, before slowly relaxing into it, letting his head fall against Hakoda’s parka.
Hakoda just sat there, holding on, praying to Tui and La, that wherever Zuko went, they would watch over him.
Then, in a very quiet and small voice, Zuko spoke.
“Do you hate Uncle Iroh because he’s a Fire nation Prince?”
“No.”
Even quieter and smaller, “Do you hate me because I’m a Fire nation Prince.”
Fuck… Hakoda had really screwed up, hadn’t he?
“No, no of course not,” he choked, letting his chin rest on Zuko’s head. “No Zuko, I would never hate you.”
“Then why-“
“You’re Uncle wants to take you with him…”
In the other room, the Fire crackled and spat, waving gently in the darkness.
“He-he does?” Zuko asked breathily.
Hakoda closed his eyes. “He does. And… and if that’s what you want… you can go.”
It broke his heart to say it, but he meant every word. He could go.
Zuko pulled away to look at him.
Hakoda saw him then… still just a boy, sitting in his bed, surrounded by little trinkets and memories of his old life, a mark like a hand stretched across his face.
Sokka and Katara would miss him, Bato and Kanna would miss him. Hakoda would miss him. But that shouldn’t hold him back.
He was a Prince, he deserved more than a ramshackle little village in the ice. He deserved more than anything they could give him.
He would be better off without them, he would-
His thoughts were cut short.
A small face, pressed against his cheek, two sharp and short breaths.
The most hesitant and unsure kunik he had ever received.
…A gesture between family.
“I want to stay.”
He wanted to stay.
Hakoda hugged him again.
Iroh didn’t leave the next morning, he stayed for another week. He and Hakoda reached a hesitant truce. Hakoda wasn’t sure he could ever fully forgive the man, but the way Zuko’s face lit up when talking with him was a step in the right direction.
Zuko was happier than Hakoda had ever seen him, he talked nearly nonstop about his plays, and turtleducks, and his swords. He dragged Iroh all over the village showing him every nook and cranny.
Over all, everyone seemed happier… lighter.
When Iroh left, it was with many hugs and promises of returning, and bringing more scrolls and spices for the food.
Zuko stood down by the shore, watching as the boat sailed off, the sun just beginning to peak above the horizon. The wind coming off of the ocean was cold, but the waves were gentle.
He stood there until Sokka called for him and he ran off to join him and Katara. Bato and Hakoda watched after them with a smile.
Far away there was a war.
And a Firelord.
And a boy trapped in the ice.
But for now there was only Agni.
And Agni was no longer angry.