Laughter echoed through the Fire Nation palace corridors. It was a peculiar sound and not one that usually graced the otherwise solemn residence that happened to house a succession of the most brutal rulers the world had ever seen. Where raging and scheming Fire Lords once tread the darkened hallways, the newest and youngest of them now followed the source of the sound, wearing his own characteristic scowl. He nodded to a guard who shared an equally grim expression before pushing through large ebony doors etched with decorative flames.

"Aang, just what do you think you're doing?" Zuko crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.

"This room is ah-mazing! Just look at the size of this bed!" a bald, bright-eyed boy said in between bounces.

The teenage Fire Lord blanched. A memory of jumping on that very same bed surfaced, but his own smiles had disappeared quickly when the face of his father appeared in the doorway. That may have been the last time laughter was heard in this room.

He shook his head, hoping to shake the memory with it. "I know, Aang. This was my room as a kid."

"Wow, I had to share a room with ten other kids! You were so luh—" The word, lucky, died in Aang's throat. They both knew it wasn't true. Being born into this particular royal family came with a price.

"Hey! Come jump with me!"

Zuko scoffed. "Seriously? My eighteenth birthday is tomorrow. I think I'm a little old for… you know…"

He might have joined the Avatar anyway after the pathetic polar dog eyes the other boy made at him, but a blur of blue brushed past him, almost knocking him off balance.

"Pillow fight!" Sokka whooped before careening into Aang, landing both boys in a pile of lanky limbs and crimson cushions.

Zuko laughed at the sight of his friends in their frenzy. Good, someone else can entertain Aang. He knew he should probably go check on party preparations or receive some other guests, but for some reason, he stayed rooted to the spot. He realized his mistake too late when a pillow came flying with unusual force toward his face. That had to be an airbending trick, he guessed, and suddenly he couldn't resist the urge to join the fight anymore.

Zuko never knew that his pillows were filled with gater-goose feathers until the entire room was covered in them. And even though his face was hot from exertion and his throat was raw from laughing, he felt good… happy… content… alive. But not completely free… because when he looked at the mess, his stomach flipped as if he expected a scolding parent to burst through the door at any second. As if my father were simply the scolding type…

It wasn't a parent who found them, but it might as well have been.

"What are you doing!?" Katara couldn't have looked more motherly at that moment with her hands on her hips and her toe furiously tapping the ground.

Sokka pointed at Aang. "He started it." The Avatar just smiled. Zuko scowled.

"That's real mature, Sokka," Katara chided her brother. "I might have expected this from Aang, but you?" Zuko felt her eyes on him. His stomach fluttered again, but this time, it wasn't from fear. A little bit from nerves, maybe, but more from affection. She is even beautiful when she is mad. And she'll make a great mother someday.

"I'll clean it up, Katara," Aang said. With a sweep of his hand followed by a large gust of air, all of the feathers fell neatly into a pile at her feet.

"Hmph," she grumbled, but her facade softened as soon as she met Zuko's eyes. They were warm and wanting, his overall body language conveyed relief and submission. Then it was her stomach that was turning somersaults. She wondered if she could somehow convince Sokka and Aang to leave them alone.


Zuko didn't know if these formal dinners of diplomatic nature had seating assignments or not. He always knew that his place was at the head of the table, and his uncle usually took care of the rest. It surprised him, though, when the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe took the seat next to him. Nerves shot through him again, like he was a child caught jumping on the bed. Well, there had been a bed… and this man's daughter… he gulped.

"G-g-ood evening, Sir Hakoda—err, I mean, Chief Hakoda, sir." Zuko quickly took a sip of wine since his mouth had suddenly gone dry.

"Hakoda is fine." The man reached for his own wine glass. "Or Chief Hakoda if you need to keep up appearances in such settings." He tilted his glass toward the table full of visiting dignitaries from all over the world.

"Rrrright, um…" Zuko fidgeted. "So, how are things in the South Pole?"

"Cold," the Water Tribesman said automatically.

"Heh heh," Zuko chuckled, trying to force himself to relax.

"We celebrate the Winter Solstice, too," Hakoda continued. "But in a much different way."

"Sorry to take you away from your traditions, sir," Zuko said softly.

"Oh, no! I didn't mean it like that! It's a little less celebratory and more, shall we say, ritualistic? We make offerings to the sun and moon spirits to aid us through the impending winter. I think I'd much rather… be here… for your birthday." Hakoda smiled widely, and Zuko found a little comfort in those familiar blue eyes.

"You guys pay homage to… the sun spirit? Like Agni?"

"That's the one," Hakoda replied.

"Huh. I never knew. I guess I just thought—"

"That we are so different? The nations may be separate, but the spirit world transcends them all. I have this theory that we all lived together in harmony once, spirits and humans alike."

"Hmm. I guess I've never been very spiritual myself."

"Well, I used to think the spirits had forsaken the Fire Nation. And maybe they had, I don't know. Forsaken, perhaps, but not forgotten. Hope came in the form of a new leader when the Fire Nation needed redemption the most."

Zuko blushed, then nodded. He hardly believed in himself. He did believe in the spirits, though. His uncle had traveled to the spirit world. He was even friends with the Avatar. He just didn't know what they could—or should—mean to him personally. And he certainly didn't know how to redeem his country.

"We're not meant to journey alone, Fire Lord. My spiritual beliefs are deeply rooted in my people. You are finding new people it seems… you'll figure out what you believe sooner or later. And it's OK to let someone else show you the way."

Zuko sighed. If he could barely trust himself, how could he trust others? He was trying, though…

"Thanks, sir. I, uh, appreciate your wisdom," Zuko said to a still-smiling Hakoda. He thought maybe this man had smiled at him more in the last fifteen minutes than his father had his whole life.

"Ha! That'll change! You'll probably get tired of it soon enough!" The chief clapped a hand on the Fire Lord's back, effectively earning him a glare from Katara who was sitting further down the table. Zuko met her eyes and shrugged.

Hakoda leaned in toward the younger boy. "If she's anything like her mother, her bark is worse than her bite. Like a tiger seal, we say down south."

The tribesman laughed at Zuko's dumbfound expression. "Tiger seals seem scary because of the stripes, like a tiger, you know?" Hakoda explained. "And they bark at you really loud which can make you jump right out of your parka. But they don't have any teeth. They just swallow fish whole, so…"

"I think what you're trying to tell me is that if I get on Katara's bad side, she's going to swallow me whole?"

Hakoda roared with laughter then, causing a few sets of raised eyebrows to turn their way. "Ha, good one there, son! Or perhaps the moral of the story is to keep your parka tightly fastened at all times."

The man gave him a wink, but the laughter was gone and so was his smile. Zuko wasn't sure if his brain felt muddled from the conversation or the wine, but he knew that the color of his face matched that of his drink.

It wasn't the first time during Zuko's series of birthday festivities that the Fire Lord wished he could simply slip away and disappear.


"What was my dad talking about at dinner?"

Zuko wondered why his girlfriend would ask such a question during the middle of a heavy make-out session.

"S-s-seals," he said breathily while her kisses teased at the tender skin on his neck. "I mean, uh—s-s-spirits."

Katara pushed herself up on her elbows so she could see him better. "So, what was it? Seals or spirits? Or was it… the seal spirit?"

"Is there such a thing?" Zuko's alcohol-addled mind told him to stop talking. Usually he opted for their anticipated activity over talking anyway. What is wrong with me?

"Oh, it's a Southern Water Tribe legend." Katara stroked his ear in the way that drove him crazy. "But if my dad already told you, then I'm sure you don't want to hear it again."

"Can we please stop talking about your dad?" Zuko cupped her cheek intent on kissing those soft lips when there was a knock at the door.

"The birthday boy is popular tonight," Katara sighed as she rolled off the bed. It had only been the third interruption. She yawned. "I'll see you tomorrow, Zuko."

As she slipped away through a secret passageway, he knew she'd come back later. Even still, he begrudgingly answered the door.

"Sir, there's a Chief Hakoda who would like to speak with you," the guard informed him.

Of course.

"Show him to my office. I will meet him there," Zuko replied gruffly.

If it weren't for the broader shoulders and thicker hair, Zuko might have mistaken Hakoda for Sokka. The younger had been in the exact same position not three weeks prior, inspecting the contents of the liquor cabinet, when the Fire Lord found him in his office.

"This is quite a collection you have here," Hakoda said without turning to face him.

"Err, thanks. It's my—um, nevermind." Zuko wondered if his father's possessions would ever actually feel like his.

"Well, I brought something you can add to it, although it's not as exotic as the rest." The Water Tribesman revealed a dark green glass bottle and set it down on the desk. The color reminded Zuko of seaweed, and when he saw the emblem with two koi fish circling each other, he knew what it was.

"Tui and La," he said.

"So, you've heard of it?" Hakoda raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. But I thought it was for weddings." At the mentioning of the word in the presence of his girlfriend's father, Zuko felt his pulse quicken. Then when he considered the possible implication of Hakoda giving him a bottle, his face flushed.

"It's a special occasion drink, son. I brought it for your birthday."

Zuko closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Son. Hakoda said the word in such a casual—almost endearing—way. Like he means something by it, wedding drink aside.

He jumped when Hakoda placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Listen, Zuko. I think you're a good kid. You don't have to be nervous around me."

Zuko nodded, although still uncertain. He eyed the bottle on his desk, figuring he was supposed to offer the man a drink. He knew he didn't like the stuff, though. Maybe Hakoda was testing him like Sokka had…

He made the decision before he really knew what he was doing. Zuko picked up the Tui and La bottle, briefly admired the craftsmanship of the label, and then deposited it on a shelf in the liquor cabinet. Next, he procured an amber-colored bottle and held it out for the other man to see.

"I only have a little bit of this left, but it's my favorite," Zuko said. "I was wondering if you would do me the honor of sharing the last of it."

"Zuko, this is extremely rare! They don't even make this in the Swamp Tribe anymore!" Hakoda's crystal blue eyes were alight. Zuko noticed they looked more like ice than the ocean, like Katara's. He retrieved two shot glasses and poured.

"To family," Zuko said for the toast. It just seemed like the thing to say.

"And the future," Hakoda added.

"Mmmmmm," they both said in unison after tasting the sweet earthiness of the whiskey.

"You know why they stopped using the banyan tree for barreling?" Hakoda asked after a few sips of his drink.

"Mmm, no. But if you have the same interest and knowledge of these things as your son, I'm sure you'll tell me."

"Sokka knows about… liquor?"

Zuko coughed when he took a larger sip than he intended. "Um, yeah. He knows some. Not all the intended purposes for Tui and La, I guess."

"Heh. Well, that's a drink to symbolize harmony. It makes the most sense for weddings. Perhaps it was a stretch for one's birthday…"

"If you were testing me to see what I would do when I drank it, I've had it before, and I think it's awful. But I am able to stomach it… and even smile afterward." Zuko felt grateful that the whiskey had helped him relax some. He decided that alcohol should be present at all such conversations between young men and their potential fathers-in-law. But not too much drinking… lest he say something he should regret.

Hakoda laughed. It was deep and hearty. Zuko liked the sound of it. He found it comforting, and he realized that lately there had been a lot of laughter surrounding him. It felt good.

"That means you're a good diplomat, son," Hakoda said after collecting himself. "You do well under pressure, you can see through the other man's tricks, yet still wear a smile when things have left a bitter taste in your mouth."

Zuko nodded. He wasn't used to receiving compliments, but it meant a great deal to hear kind words from the Water Tribe Chief, father of his girlfriend or not.

"Oh! I almost forgot! I actually got you a real present." Hakoda handed over a small bundle of cloth and twine. Zuko carefully unwrapped it and held up the Water Tribe weapon with a look of awe. He recognized the blade as something Sokka had, a versatile tool for hunting that was also apparently useful for… what was it? Shaving?

"It's made from the jawbone and teeth of an arctic wolf," Hakoda explained. "It's used primarily for hunting, but can be very utilitarian." Zuko noticed the man was stroking his chin and assumed that yes, this blade was akin to a straight razor.

"Thank you, sir. The craftsmanship is exquisite." Zuko turned it over in his hand, wondering if the chief had made it himself.

"Admittedly when I heard about the attack here—" Hakoda cleared his throat, "—on your mother… I thought you might be able to use something small and easy to conceal… for protection. Sorry if that sounds, I don't know—"

"No. It's great—I mean, thanks. One can never be too careful." Zuko ran his thumb across the jagged edge of the blade, noting the indentations of what definitely used to be a wolf's teeth.

"The jaw blade is significant in that when a warrior kills a wolf, it is only out of self-defense. They can be aggressive creatures, yes, but it is usually because they are so protective of each other. They travel in packs, so when you make your weapon, it is expected that you leave the first kill you make with it behind for the wolf's family."

"Did you—was it you that—"

"Yes. I killed the wolf, but it was long ago. Two jaw bones… one for my son, although he was very little at the time. The other… well, I never expected Katara to carry a weapon. But I knew she'd find someone special… someday."

"I…uhh…" Zuko gaped at the chief. Before he had a chance to say anything further—not that adequate words were coming to mind—he found himself wrapped up in Hakoda's hug. The older man then whispered, "Just remember, wolves travel in packs. They look out for each other. Family is important."

The rest was left unspoken, but Zuko felt it. You are important. You are family.


A/N: Welcome to Rising Tide, sequel to Darkness Before Dawn. Here we have some Hakoda love because honestly, I think Zuko needs all the love and support he can get. I wrote this chapter while I was editing something from DBD and was getting really mad at Ozai, you know, about as mad as one can get at a fictitious character. I didn't anticipate that this first chapter would mirror the last chapter with Iroh so nicely, but the point is that Zuko can have positive father figures in his life and eventually leave all this Ozai madness behind him... eventually.

If this scene seems a bit random with Hakoda (like how well does he know Zuko? how often do they see each other, etc?) then perhaps it is, a little. I don't present much backstory, but Hakoda knows how much Katara and Zuko love each other, and he's seen enough evidence that Zuko is a good man who cares deeply for his daughter. I also imagine that Hakoda shows up a week or so before the Solstice Festival, so they've had some time to spend together recently.

Hakoda will play more of a role in the third installment of the trilogy, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. This is just the beginning of the second part, so thanks for hanging with me for round two, and without further ado...