Chapter Text
Fire Lord Zuko.
Wasn’t that a bold statement of its own.
Hakoda smiled as he watched the boy get his well-deserved title up on stage. He looked so serious and determined, he knew just how much of a great leader he was already going to be.
Tears rushed unprompted to his eyes as everyone cheered for the Avatar and the Fire Lord. He could see several people crying other than him. One old man had his beard already soaked wet.
He deserves it, Hakoda thought as he looked on. All of his life, he spent chasing the impossible love of one, now he gets the hopeful love of thousands. He deserves it.
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“That was quite a speech there,” Hakoda commented as he approached the new Fire Lord.
“Chief Hakoda!” Zuko’s face brightened up when he saw him. “It’s good to have you here at the coronation after-party.” He offered a hand.
“It’s good to be here,” Hakoda said as he clasped his hand and gave a Water Tribe shake.
“I hope you’re enjoying the celebrations,” Zuko spoke, turning to face the large crowd in the wide hallway. “Because, I’m not gonna lie, I’m starting to get a little sick of them.”
Hakoda laughed, a full one spilling from his belly. It would certainly be hard to get used to facing crowds after being so antisocial for the better part of three years. “You’re doing great.”
Zuko smiled. “You look well,” he commented.
“Thanks to you kids, and your orders to have ceasefires and to release the war prisoners immediately. You must have been busy.”
“I have. And it’s never been more important.”
“That’s good to hear.” His eyes landed on his chest. “How are you?” His tone changed, turning more serious and genuine.
Zuko shifted uncomfortably a little. “I’m okay, thanks to Katara.” He lightly touched his chest. “Gonna scar though.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, I mean…” He looked up, a soft smile on his lips. “This one, I wear it with more pride. I knew what I was doing when I got this one, and I knew that I was completely in the right. I’m never going to regret saving Katara from that blast.”
At the mention, Hakoda’s pit of dread when he had heard about the close call acted up. His eyes turned moist and his heart clenched at the very big looming what if. “Zuko,” he said solemnly, fully facing him and putting his hands on his shoulders. “Thank you, for what you did. You never should have had to do it and I’m so sorry for all the pain you must be going through but—” Hakoda let out a breath, squeezing his shoulders. “Thank you.”
Zuko’s smile widened. “Always.”
“You really must try this masala tea, Fire Lord Zuko!” a voice interrupted them. An old man with kindly auburn eyes and white hair tied in a topknot appeared, carrying two teacups. “It’s excellent! I almost forgot how unique of a taste the palace kitchen staff have.”
“Uncle, I already know what it tastes like,” Zuko laughed. “I had it when I came back from Ba Sing Se.”
“Ah, but I haven’t seen you eat even once since the coronation. And that was hours ago! You need to take a break.” The man waved a cup in his face.
Zuko smiled, accepting it. “Thanks, Uncle.”
Hakoda cleared his throat.
“Oh!” Zuko gasped. “Uncle, this is Chief Hakoda. He really helped me out while I was at the Western Air Temple,” he introduced. “Chief Hakoda, this is my Uncle Iroh.”
‘Uncle Iroh’ gave him a bow, Earth Kingdom style. Hakoda returned it, albeit more hesitantly.
“It is good to finally put a face to your name, General Iroh. I have heard quite a lot about you.”
“Oh really?” Iroh flitted his eyes to his nephew who turned pink. “Good things, I hope.”
“Well,” Hakoda said carefully. “Your nephew clearly admires you, that’s for sure.”
Iroh hummed. Zuko’s flush darkened. “Um— um, yes.” He gave a small cough. “You should get back to the festivities, please,” he directed both of them, gesturing to the room. “They’re going to go on for quite a while and I’m sure you have other people to meet.”
“It would be nice to catch up with some long forgotten friends,” Iroh agreed.
“I’m going to see about having a conversation with the Northern Tribe.” Hakoda gave a nod to both of them. “Fire Lord Zuko. General Iroh.”
He parted from the small group, walking towards the nearest people in blue clothing. As he walked though, he could feel a hard stare on his back. He didn’t need to turn to know that it was Iroh’s.
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It was well into the evening, the festivities having lasted from morning. The entire hall had entered a relaxed and more casual atmosphere compared to when the party had started, people laughed and enjoyed the beginning hours of an entirely new era of peace.
Hakoda had valiantly held himself away from the alcohol, wanting to be fully present in the moment with his children (official and unofficial). Sokka and Suki’s hands never left each other’s, Aang and Toph were hiding under tables to escape from boring old people who wanted to get something from them, Katara was teaching the men of the Southern Water Tribe who were present a lesson in sexism and misogyny with her waterbending skills while Zuko egged her on with whispered snarky remarks from the side, and a girl called Mai was happily providing all the ways she knew to gut a man to a small crowd of other Southern Water Tribe men.
Hakoda and Bato were lounging near the back, taking a break after an intense conversation with the Chief of the Northern Water Tribe about the reconstruction of their people’s unity.
“This…” Bato said, waving a hand around the hall filled with green, blue and red. “This is what it should have always been like, and this is our future.”
“Yes.” Hakoda leaned against the wall. “The kids have done well. They shouldn't have had to, but they’ve done it.”
“There’s no point in reminiscing over the “should’ve”s and “what if”s, Hakoda. It’s about what is happening right now, and what we can learn from the past and use in the future.”
“Wise words, guru Bato.” Hakoda smirked and nudged his side.
“I’ve always been the one with the better brains.”
Hakoda snorted. Just then, another figure caught his eye, dressed in red with a cup of tea in his hands.
“I see someone I want to talk to, I’ll catch up with you later.” He pushed off the wall, waving an absent-minded goodbye to Bato.
General Iroh was pouring another cup of tea when he noticed his approach. “Ah, hello.”
“General Iroh.” Hakoda gave a nod.
“Retired general, Chief Hakoda,” Iroh corrected. “Would you care for a cup of tea? I was just about to try some Oolong.”
“No thank you,” Hakoda politely declined. He glanced at the used pile of tea steepers. “You care a lot for tea, I see.”
“Very,” Iroh replied. “Though not in so much quantity, however, I know that the only reason why there is an entire table dedicated to different blends of tea is because the Fire Lord has ordered it for my pleasure. My nephew denies it, but I know his true intentions.” He tapped his nose.
Hakoda smiled tightly. “Your nephew is very fond of you.”
“And I am even more fond of him.”
“Right.” For first impressions, Iroh played the perfect character of a slightly senile and poor old man. But there were certain tics that betrayed the fact that it was a cover. No eyes that inquisitive could be innocent.
He heard magnanimous tales of the feared Dragon of the West. How he laid siege to a city for six hundred days, how he took down seven men with his hands tied by breathing fire, how he ruthlessly cut down anyone who came in his way as the Crown Prince—eldest son of Fire Lord Azulon, then elder brother of Fire Lord Ozai. Now, uncle of Fire Lord Zuko. But he never held the title himself, despite the clear superiority of his names and achievements to more than make up for the throne.
What kind of man turned down a request for such power?
Not a gullible one as Iroh wanted everyone to see him as, that was for sure.
Hakoda didn’t know what game he was playing, guising himself as a fool, but he wasn’t going to let him hurt Zuko like how he had hurt all those men in war. He might be advocating for peace, but no one knew what he was like behind closed doors. The boy had been hurt enough, if the frequent wincing that had his girlfriend and Katara glancing at him worriedly throughout the party was any indicator.
“Zuko told me about you,” Hakoda scrupulously picked his words. “Back at the Western Air Temple. He said you were his only guardian for the three years he was banished.”
“Indeed, I was.” Iroh sipped his tea.
“You chose to go along with him willingly?”
“Of course. One can’t let a hurt child go off alone.”
Unless they wanted to manipulate them.
Hakoda made the mistake of not looking out for his kids enough, he wasn’t going to repeat it.
“One might also ask how is it that in the three years, the hurt child hadn’t realized the truth about his sticky situation. Certainly it would have been in the best interests for the cater-fly to have help untangling itself from the spider-lizard’s web.”
At that, Iroh paused. He lowered the teacup from his lips. He turned to properly face Hakoda. “Of course… However, I’m not sure you understand the tough journey the cater-fly has to undergo to metamorphosize into a flutter-fly. You see, Chief Hakoda…”
Iroh put the teacup down on the table, withdrawing his hands into his sleeves.
“Zuko told me about you too.”
Hakoda raised an eyebrow. That was news.
“You spent quite the time hovering over my nephew at the Temple.”
“Merely looking out for a vulnerable and confused child.”
“Yes… You did more than lookout though, didn’t you?” Iroh smiled, and this was the expression Hakoda could see under the layers of false guile. The smirking, leering smile that held malice and promises threat. Too bad, Hakoda wasn’t going to back down.
“Of course I did. I just carried my vat of responsibilities. Zuko was alone in that Temple. He needed someone to look out for him.”
Iroh’s eyes darkened.
“Oh, there you are!”
The voice broke them out of the intimidating staring competition they were unintentionally participating in.
“Uncle, I forgot to tell you about the time when Aang and I—” Zuko stopped when he saw both of them. “Is… everything alright?”
“Why wouldn’t it be, nephew?” Iroh said immediately, sending him a bright smile.
Zuko flicked his eyes between the two of them, puzzled.
“Say, Zuko,” Hakoda stepped forward, clasping his shoulder. “I was hoping you could visit the Southern Water Tribe for real sometime. Rather than just the outskirt of the village. There’s more to it than just huts, I could show you the sky lights, the penguin-otter hub, take you to some cultural activities.”
“What kind of cultural activities?” Iroh asked, standing closely by Zuko’s side.
“Just some Southern Water Tribe classics,” Hakoda said dismissively. “Seal-penguin hunting, mass fish net-slides, maybe even penguin-sledding…”
“Ice dodging?”
Hakoda snapped to Iroh in surprise.
Iroh gave him a fake smile, a hidden knowing look in his eyes.
So he knew.
Well. Operation: Adopt the baby Fire Lord just turned harder.
“It’s good for the Fire Lord to reconnect with foreign cultures if he is to help rebuild and recompense them,” Hakoda treaded carefully.
“If not for the fact that his own nation will undoubtedly keep him too busy and exhausted.”
“Exactly why a good break with familiar faces will do him good.”
“I agree. Somewhere that doesn’t take him too far away from his responsibilities.”
“Unless the adults around him have suddenly turned too incompetent and neglectful to take over for a mere couple months.”
Hakoda hadn’t even realized that he and the general had stepped into each other’s personal spaces, attempting to pierce the others’ eyes with fierce glares.
“Um…” Zuko stood in front of them awkwardly.
They both turned to him. “Zuko, what do you think?” Hakoda asked.
“I… I’d be happy to come visit the Southern Water Tribe.” The boy rubbed the back of his neck. “I was planning on making journeys to all the other nations anyway, after things have calmed down in the Fire Nation.”
Hakoda smirked in victory.
“You must pace yourself, nephew. You’ve been journeying constantly for three years, it is time for you to firmly plant your feet in one place.” Iroh patted his back.
“Yes, you’re right, Uncle.”
Iroh beamed at Hakoda in victory.
“I’ll be heading over to visit Katara, Sokka and Aang sometime though. After a while, like you said.”
That was better than nothing, so he took it with a shrug. “We will be glad to host you, Zuko.” He resisted the urge to ruffle his hair, but Iroh caught the aborted movement with narrowed eyes.
“Thank you, Chief Hakoda.”
“Just Hakoda please.”
Zuko smiled. “Okay… Hakoda.” He turned to Iroh. “Uncle, Aang and I have something to tell you. It’s… going to be a surprise, and might sound unbelievable.”
“Nephew, I’ve looked after you for the past three and a bit years. Anything you do is always surprising and unbelievable.”
Zuko laughed at that, leading his uncle away.
Hakoda watched them go, eyes lingering on the old man.
General Iroh didn’t like him. It seemed he didn’t trust Zuko with him either.
Hakoda didn’t care. The feeling was mutual.
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The coronation and party had taken place only a few days after the defeat of Fire Lord Ozai.
Zuko wanted the world to know about the changes as soon as possible. Avatar Aang had written personal letters to all the rulers and high-ranking leaders of the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes to alert them of the changes and to avoid attacking any Fire Nation troops and citizens unless provoked. Masters Sokka and Katara had aided him. Fire Lord Zuko spent hours in back-to-back meetings, visits, interviews, report signings, law and order changes and letter writings calling for the entire Fire Nation and its colonies for a ceasefire and accompanying commands. Troops were to return home immediately.
He and several Fire Nation leaders, when not arguing or being fired from the council and their positions, were discussing compensations and programs for the Fire Nation’s affected families as well as the families and citizens of the people they had attacked. Master Sokka was particularly insightful in providing solutions while Master Toph was particularly helpful in shutting down stupid arguments and insults towards the Fire Lord and Avatar as well as detecting lies, much to the council’s horror.
Suki of the Kyoshi Warriors had forced the Fire Lord to appoint her to be in charge of security and guards while they took care of that. Master Toph also aided her in unhesitantly throwing people and rocks if anyone dared to go against her and the Fire Lord and Avatar’s orders. People soon learned to listen.
It was only after Hakoda had arrived that he learned of how much work the kids had done even after the fight of their lives.
Now that he was here though, he wasn’t going to let that continue. The kids had done more than enough. It was time for the adults to step in and take their responsibilities.
“But dad! We haven’t even started constructing the new order for the amenities of war prisoners and Zuko and I need—”
“To rest,” Hakoda finished for him, pushing his son into his assigned guest room. “Zuko, you and all of you other kids need to rest.”
Sokka stomped a foot with a pout, just like his 7-year-old self. “But—”
“No buts,” Hakoda told him off.
His son crossed his arms furiously. “Fine! But at least let me sleep with the others. I still get nightmares,” he mumbled the last bit.
Hakoda’s heart squeezed. “I’ll ask them to accompany you.”
Sokka crossed his arms. “Fine. But who’s gonna look after all the stuff that’s needed to be done?!”
“Since some of the world leaders are here for the coronation, I’m sure we can handle it.”
“Great. We’re leaving the world in the hands of the same idiots who caused it to be this way.” Sokka groaned and flopped on the lush bed. “Can you at least ask someone to send in some snacks? Meat ones? And some vegetarian ones too for Aang.”
“Will do.” Hakoda smiled. “Rest up well, son!”
He shut the door behind him and sighed. Spirits, it was like forcing a penguin-otter to dance—incredibly vexing, but doable nonetheless.
Hakoda made his way to the healing room where he knew Katara would be, physically tying down Zuko if needed to heal him.
And sure enough, as he was nearing the rooms, he could hear the muffled argument echo across the hallway.
“Katara! For the last time, I. Am. Fine!”
“Oh yeah? I caught you wincing in pain when you tried to bow to that Earth Kingdom General earlier!”
“Not every small sprain needs your magic healing water! I’m getting smothered!”
“Not enough! Honestly! How does one even attempt to say they’re “fine” after getting blasted by lightning?”
“Because they’ve spent three hours every day being nagged on by the worst mother hen in the world!”
Hakoda opened the door just in time to catch his daughter freezing Zuko to the bed. “You are so annoying!”
“Then leave me alone!” Zuko breathed fire and melted the ice around him. He sat up and popped a flame in his hand in retaliation to the water Katara had hovering in the air.
Hakoda was just about to step in, when someone else beat him to it instead.
“Perhaps we should all just take a breath.” General Iroh appeared between them. Hakoda immediately frowned.
“Uncle, you can’t be taking her side!”
“And why not?” Katara put her hands on her hips with a glare. “I’m doing this for your good.”
“You’ve already done enough!”
If his daughter could turn any angrier after that statement, Hakoda would be very surprised.
“Why you—”
“What my nephew means,” Iroh faced her with placating hands, “is that he is very thankful for your help, and just worried that you might be overworking yourself with your healing. He also feels a bit suffocated with the constant hovering around his injury.”
Katara lowered the blob of water slightly. “But I—”
“This is not the first time he has been burnt, Master Katara,” Iroh said solemnly. “Some things might serve as an unwelcome reminder.”
Katara’s expression transformed into guilty shock just as Zuko turned away with shame, a dark shadow crossing his face.
“Oh… I’m sorry, Zuko. I didn’t consider that you could be triggered by… I’m sorry.”
Zuko clenched his fists, sitting stiffly on the bed. “It’s fine. I— I know you’re trying to help. And you have.” He looked up, his eyes softening. “I didn’t mean what I said. You’re a good friend, Katara. And I am thankful for saving my life.”
“Maybe it would be best to resist the fear of his lack of self-preservation skills taking over, even though it may not look like it, my nephew does have some semblance of them.”
“Hey!”
Iroh smiled. “I looked after him for a long while. I can say from experience that Zuko will come around eventually to ask for your help when he does need it.”
Zuko scoffed, folding his arms. But it made Katara smile and nod in agreement. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, Iroh.”
Hakoda cleared his throat from the door.
All three faces whipped to him in surprise, just noticing him there.
“Dad!” Katara rushed to hug him. “Why are you here?”
“To force you kids into taking a break and sleeping for once. I just managed to drag Sokka into a room with a bed instead of a meeting table for once.” Katara broke apart from the hug.
“Oh, uh, I’d love to rest but I’ve got a lot of stuff I still need to do.” Katara moved back, smiling sheepishly.
Hakoda raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me I don’t have to drag you like I did with Sokka. I thought you’d be the one to agree, considering how long you spend trailing after Zuko and your brother, egging them to rest.”
“Yeah, Katara,” Zuko snickered.
Katara scowled at him. “Fine!” she snapped, sounding way too much like Sokka. “I wanted to check up on Sokka anyway.”
Hakoda pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just make sure you’re also resting while you’re doing that.”
“Will do, dad.” She turned to Zuko. “That means you too, Zuko!”
“I think I’ll sleep here instead,” he replied. “I don’t want to disturb any of you in case…” He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
Katara looked upset. “You won’t disturb us, Zuko. Remember how sleeping together helped with your nightmares?”
Zuko turned away. “Not at Ember Island, it didn’t.”
Katara chewed on her bottom lip.
“I will be staying with him, Katara,” Iroh assured, patting her shoulder. “Go and have your well-deserved relaxation time.”
She gave in with a concerned shrug. “Thanks, Iroh. Bye, Zuko. I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow morning.”
Zuko waved goodbye as Hakoda led Katara away with a hand to her back.
“Are Toph, Suki and Aang already there?” Katara asked.
“They should be. I sent Bato and a couple others after them.”
Katara nodded. She fiddled with her braid as she walked. “I’m worried about Zuko,” she admitted. “I know we won the war but… there is just so much to do. And Zuko’s the one getting the brunt of the work.”
“Now that General Iroh is here, I am sure he’ll be taking over.”
“Not really…”
Hakoda’s eyes flashed in anger. “What?”
Katara sighed. “Iroh is a retired General. He doesn’t have much, if any, power over commands and law changes. He has some sway in persuading people, but not signing any official documents. It’s… it’s really all just up to Zuko.”
That… that made sense but he couldn’t just leave a sixteen-year-old to rule an entire nation while fixing other kingdoms and tribes! Iroh was definitely a danger card in Hakoda’s book. After he made sure his kids were okay, he was going right back to Zuko and making sure he was safe in his uncle’s presence.
“He’s under a lot of pressure from everyone’s watchful eyes,” Katara continued, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor as she walked. “He said that he has to be careful about every single move he makes because one small mistake can cause a major blowout. The stress is really delaying his injury healing and it’s why I’ve just been extra naggy. I’m trying to fix it, but with the amount of pressure and work he has been left to deal with, it’s deteriorating his health, I—” Katara clenched her fists, brows scrunched in fury. “Dad, how could he do that to him? How could he do that to his own son?!”
Hakoda stopped and Katara stopped with him. There was pent-up frustration in her eyes.
“Dad,” his daughter looked up. “He burned him,” she whispered. “He burned him and banished him and none of us knew until we arrived and Zuko accidentally let slip that his dad tried to kill him. More than once! And now he left his own son to solve so much of his mess and— and it’s not fair!”
Katara raved and Hakoda didn’t know how to respond to that. Because she was right. There was no sugar-coating any of what she said.
“How is it that someone can be so horrible as to hate their own children? How is it that the Fire Lord gets away with torturing kids—his own kids—for so long and no one says anything!”
With the last word, the water in the flower pot behind her reacted and exploded the vase, the flowers fluttering to the ground in a soggy pile.
His daughter seemed too riled up in her emotions to notice. “I hated him for so long, and now I just feel so sorry for him. I want him to have a better family because— because he’s one of us now. And— and I know we’re his family now, but that doesn’t erase what his old family did to him.” She sniffed quietly. “No wonder he had been so angry all the time. I would be too.” Her fingers brushed her necklace. “I have been too.”
Hakoda drew her into an embrace. He held her tight, letting her calm down in his arms, just like she used to as a child and when she scraped her knee. “I’m sorry,” he said. “There isn’t anything we can do about the past. I know it hurts, but it’s out of our control.”
He held her in front of him, wiping a tear with his thumb. “You have such a kind heart, Katara. You feel so much for people. Zuko already knows that his past sucks, what he doesn’t know is how his present and future are going to be. We can shape that. And we can avoid the people who have hurt him to keep hurting him by being there.”
Katara sniffed again, but she nodded.
He smiled. “I love you, Katara. I’m so proud to call you my daughter.”
Katara tightened her arms around him. “I’m proud to call you my dad too.”
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Hakoda knocked before entering Zuko’s room.
Iroh sat beside Zuko’s bed, studying a scroll from the pile of scrolls resting on the table. He looked up when Hakoda arrived, and his expression darkened. “Chief Hakoda,” he said in a low voice so as not to disturb Zuko.
“General Iroh,” Hakoda acknowledged, matching his volume. He closed the door behind him and flitted his gaze to Zuko.
The boy was fast asleep on his side, his scarred side up. His features looked slightly troubled, but he was breathing deeply with soft snores nonetheless. The thin summer blanket was pulled up to his middle, and a candle flickered gently on his bedside table. Must be a firebender thing.
“How is he?” Hakoda asked Iroh gruffly.
“Well, though I am curious as to why you would want to know.”
Hakoda scowled at him. “Can’t I inquire after a child’s wellbeing?”
“Sure. I’m looking after him though. He’s fine.” Iroh replied evenly.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Hakoda muttered to himself. He neared Zuko’s bed and pulled the covers up to his shoulders.
Iroh bristled. “What brings you here, Chief Hakoda?”
Hakoda sat on a vacant chair on Zuko’s other side, opposite to Iroh. “Just checking on all the kids.”
Iroh clearly had an objection, but held his tongue, turning back to his scroll with a crinkle of his nose.
Hakoda tried catching the words of what Iroh was reading without looking too suspicious, but the words were too small to make out from the distance. He internally sighed and slumped in his chair.
With nothing else to do, he poured himself a glass of water.
The trickle of the drink rang out across the empty room, pairing with Zuko’s soft breathing and the rustle of Iroh’s scrolls. Hakoda set down the jug a little too hard and elicited an annoyed exhale from Iroh.
“Is there another reason why you are here, Chief Hakoda?”
Hakoda squared up, straightening his spine. “Actually, yes. I think it is clear that we do not trust each other, General. I find it a little hard considering who your brother and father is and the titles that you hold.”
Iroh narrowed his eyes. “You’re right. I do hold some mistrust. You will have to forgive me, seeing as you are a complete stranger to my nephew.”
“I was there with him at the Western Air Temple for a considerable amount of time. I would not call myself a stranger.”
“Regardless, I am his uncle and I find your suspicion an insult.”
“I am a father, your mistrust is insulting in more than one way.”
Just like before, neither Hakoda nor Iroh knew when they had set down their glass of water and scroll to stand up with fists tightened next to their sides. They stared off over the bed, glaring daggers and lightning at each other.
Suddenly, Zuko whimpered in his sleep.
The two adults’ eyes shot to him in surprise.
Zuko shifted to lie on his back, his face scrunched in distress.
“Zuko?” Hakoda and Iroh whispered at the same time.
Zuko groaned, shifting in his sleep.
“He’s having a nightmare,” Hakoda said to Iroh with worry. “He had a couple bad ones at the Air Temple too. He managed to self-regulate when we woke him up.”
“I appreciate you trying,” Iroh said grimly, “But I know how to handle my nephew, and I do not require your help.”
Just then, Zuko screamed.
He thrashed around in bed, like he was fighting someone off. “No!” he pleaded.
“Zuko!” Hakoda put a hand on his shoulder, feeling just as lost as he had at the temple.
“No,” Zuko hiccuped, sweat starting to line his forehead. “P— please.”
Iroh knelt next to him, examining him with a grave eye.
“I—” Zuko fought Hakoda’s hand, forcing him to remove it. “Father,” he yelled hoarsely, “Stop.”
Hakoda’s heart thudded in his chest, crumbling at the cries. He watched as Iroh put a hand on Zuko’s head, ignoring his efforts to remove it.
“Zuko,” he said gently. “It’s just a nightmare, nephew. Wake up.”
Zuko didn’t wake up. He whined in pain.
“I’m here, Zuko,” Iroh said soothingly, gently moving his hand through his hair.
Zuko sobbed, gripping the sheets tightly. “‘M sorry,” he said hoarsely. “Dad.”
Iroh’s eyes flashed in anger at that, and he raised a hand with red flames.
Hakoda jumped forward to block it from hitting Zuko, but he wasn’t fast enough.
The warm hand landed on Zuko’s chest, the flames dissipating and leaving only heat. Zuko went still.
“You were dreaming, nephew,” Iroh said. “It’s just a dream.”
Zuko struggled against the hand a little, his eyes fluttering open and shut.
Iroh sent another wave of warmth. “You’re not hurt, I won’t let them hurt you.” He sent another wave of warm air while pressing down on Zuko’s chest. “Feel the warmth in your chest. You’re not with your father. You’re here. With me. You’re safe, Zuko.”
Zuko sobbed, his head tilting towards his uncle.
Iroh rubbed his chest in light strokes with the warmth still radiating from his hand. “You’re safe,” he whispered.
Zuko opened his eyes with tears. He sobbed again and drew closer to Iroh, nestling against him. Iroh kept massaging his chest, using his other hand to hold him in a comforting embrace. Zuko responded and leaned into his uncle, letting himself softly cry.
“For— for a moment,” he hiccuped. “I thought it was Azula.”
“I’m sorry.” Iroh said softly. “We’ll find another strategy that will help. You’re okay now, my nephew. You’re okay.”
That was when it struck Hakoda—this had been done before.
Multiple times.
The movements and words coming from Iroh sounded heavy and worn with practice. The way Zuko instinctively sought Iroh, the way he calmed down way faster than he did at the Temple with his uncle’s presence, the way Iroh held him so tight and protective, the way they both comfortably slid into each other’s arms. Hakoda watched, feeling the misplaced suspicion crumble away.
Everything Zuko had said was true. Iroh had done nothing but support and love Zuko and keep him safe. Just like he was now.
The way the old man was bent over his nephew, rubbing his chest to help him breathe and whispering loving words of comfort in response to Zuko’s murmurs… no one could see this and doubt the bond between the two.
Hakoda had been a fool.
Iroh looked up briefly, making eye contact with Hakoda. He didn’t say anything or move, lest he disturbed his panicked charge.
Hakoda tore his gaze away from the two, shame coloring his face. He silently moved away and out the door. As soon as it shut behind him, he leaned against the wall and groaned softly to himself, rubbing his face in frustration.
He never should have doubted Zuko when he said his uncle was the (previous) Fire Lord’s brother and the Dragon of the West. The evidence was right there in the tone of the boy’s voice and the happy crinkles around his eyes whenever he talked about him, and he just ignored it, too prejudiced to even consider the truth.
He was worried, yes, but he never should have doubted a father’s love. He was a father himself! He should have known.
He sank to the floor, covering his face with his hands, trying to ignore the butter-churn of guilt making waves in his stomach. He was such an idiot.
He had to apologize to Iroh and take back all the words he said. Iroh was a good man, he could see that now. He wasn’t going to run away from restoring the man’s honor as a caretaker to someone as special as Zuko.
Hakoda waited for the general to come out. He didn’t know how long, but he was seriously starting to consider just knocking and entering instead. Iroh wouldn’t leave his nephew again after that now, would he?
Just as he was debating on what to do, the door opened.
Hakoda stood up immediately, facing Iroh. He frowned in confusion. “Were you waiting out here?” he asked.
“General Iroh,” Hakoda said tentatively. “I just wanted to say…” Don’t dilly-dally it, a voice sounding annoyingly like his mother’s appeared in his head, Hurry it up.
Sighing again, he cleared his throat and lifted his head up seriously. “I shouldn’t have tried to take your boy away from you,” he apologized. “Spirits know I wouldn’t be able to control myself as much as you if someone tried taking my Sokka and Katara away. I’m sorry, I am ashamed of myself.” He bowed his head.
Iroh didn’t reply for a long moment. Hakoda waited, feeling that churning in his stomach rise.
He heard a sharp exhale and then, “Please do not feel ashamed, Chief Hakoda. If you do, I’m afraid I won’t survive the guilt bubbling in my stomach like a kettle.”
Hakoda’s head darted up in surprise. He caught the way Iroh winced, looking every bit as guilty as he felt. “Why should you feel guilty?”
“I overreacted.”
“I’d say it was an underreaction.”
Iroh chuckled. “If it was anyone other than you, I would agree. But it isn’t. You are a father, Chief Hakoda. A good one.” He made eye contact, holding it as he uttered the words, to communicate his earnesty, “It is natural for a father as good and caring as you to worry about another child. I took the sign of your goodness as competition and resented that you were there to help my nephew out at a time when he needed someone kind the most, instead of me.”
He bowed his head to him this time, in respect and unfounded shame.
“I am an old man, meant to be wiser with time. My behaviour towards you was anything but. For that, I humbly apologize.” he bent his back, a fist clasped under an open palm with four fingers—a fire nation bow.
“General Iroh,” he gripped the man’s shoulders and forced him to straighten up. “Please.” He shook his head. “I can’t accept your apology, I am in shame as well.”
Iroh considered this, his brows knitted together.
Then, he smiled. “Let us accept each others’ unnecessary apologies and move on. We are both men of wisdom and experience. Although,” he laughed lightly, “I am a retired general. Please, call me Iroh.”
“Then you must call me Hakoda. Drop the ‘Chief’.”
Iroh grinned. “Very well. Thank you for looking out for my nephew while I was absent. I deeply appreciate it.”
“It is my pleasure. You have a brilliant boy under your care, Iroh.”
Iroh looked at the figure on the bed in the medical room through the open door. “Yes,” he said fondly. “He is.”
Hakoda watched as Zuko shifted in his second slumber, and Iroh tensed slightly, before he settled down and Iroh followed him. “I don’t think you need to resent the time spent away from your nephew.”
Iroh sighed. “I know. I needed to gather the White Lotus to help with the war. It pained me to leave Zuko, but it had to be done.”
“I don’t think you need to be pained for it at all.”
Iroh raised an eyebrow in question.
“Zuko and I had a conversation about you,” Hakoda explained. “He told me about how you were always there for him and personally looked after his needs and wants after he was banished. He told me about how you always guided him, but gave him enough autonomy to pave his own path. He made the decisions he did on his own thanks to your previous guidance. He is a bright boy, Iroh. You need not worry for him all the time. You showed the way to pave his own path and the right path, and that is exactly what he managed to do.”
He put a warm hand on his shoulder.
“You should be proud.”
Iroh glanced down, his eyes closed in distress. He opened them after a beat and smiled. His expression showed genuine gratitude. “Thank you. And I am.”
Hakoda squeezed his shoulder once before letting go.
“No wonder your children are such beautiful, strong individuals. They have you as a father.”
And Kya as their mother, he finished the thought. “Thank you, Ge— Iroh.”
Iroh tapped his chin. “Do you have a liking towards tea?”
“I’m more of a beer and cider man myself, but I’m willing to try.”
“Excellent!” The retired general lightened up. “I shall have you taste one of my unique blends. It is quite special, you see. I discovered it when my nephew accidentally mixed two unmixable leaves together. Fortunately, no one drank it before I could catch it, or we would have had a case of a very high on-duty crew.”
Hakoda laughed deeply, following the Fire Lord’s uncle out of the hall.
He had been hurt so much by the Fire Nation and its destructive actions that wiped out more than half of his tribe, but despite a lot of them being monsters, he discovered that they could be humans too.
The war taught many people many wrong things.
Now, with it being over, perhaps they could finally embrace their humanity and ability to love. Just like their Fire Lord and retired general.