Disclaimer: I own nothing you might recognise from the series.
Notes: Crayon's Pink wanted some Hakoda/Sokka PoV, so here's some from Hakoda. Not so much with the talk of Zuko, but I couldn't really wedge it in. To everyone still reading despite the way-too-long gaps between updates, thank you.
Hakoda sat by the fire, staring past it into the night. He was worried about Katara, his little girl and the baby of the family, running around in the middle of a war with no adults to protect her. He was worried about his son, turning into a leader and a man to be proud of, but still so lacking in experience and patience. He was worried about Toph, the little girl who put on such a tough front while still looking so delicate and hiding her fears and lack of confidence in brash behaviour. He worried about Suki, the young warrior woman that his son was involved with and had such a good influence on Sokka. He worried about the Avatar, who was such an innocent and cheerful little boy and who was still learning to accept his role.
He was even worried about Prince Zuko. He'd been wary of the young man after all the children had told him about the Fire Prince turning on them, but Zuko had proven himself; and despite the fact that it was fairly clear he and Katara had some sort of something going on, the boy was also hurting and scared and had a sister Hakoda wouldn't wish on anyone.
Well, maybe on the Fire Lord, but really, since the girl being like that was probably mostly the Fire Lord's fault to begin with, the man deserved her.
Next to him, he heard a sigh as someone sat beside him. When he glanced up he saw that it was the boy, Haru, who had taken over from Toph at earthbending their way out of the temple and to safety. "I wish I knew if they were okay," Haru said to him. "I know Katara and the others can take care of themselves, but I owe them my freedom, and my father's freedom." He sighed again. "And Lee . . . Zuko," he corrected himself. "I remember all that time hiding that I was an earthbender so I wouldn't be taken, I can't imagine what it must have been like for him to pretend to be the wrong kind of bender just so people would trust him." He looked up at Hakoda. "He fought on the ship to save us, just like Katara and Sokka and Aang."
"It's strange," Hakoda answered. "Because he's the Fire Lord's son, so he's almost the face of everything we're fighting."
"But you're still worried because he's just a good guy and had all that Dai Li stuff happen to him," was the understanding response.
"He's got something with Katara," grumbled Hakoda, missing Bato more than ever.
Chit Sang had ambled over from where he'd been collecting more wood to last the night and amusing the other boys with tall tales. "He seems like a nice kid," he said. "But I get what you're saying. If he was sniffing around my sister I'd be wary too. Kid that good looking can be trouble."
"True," Hakoda said, "But I don't know if I should be ready for him to break her heart when he's too nervous to make a move or when he finds another girl."
Without warning a man stepped out of the bushes, having approached with such stealth none of them had noticed his arrival. "You speak of Prince Zuko?" the man asked.
"What we're speaking about is who you are and what you want," Hakoda replied, coming to his feet, weapons ready. He noted Chit Sang edging his way around the fire into a good position to ambush the new arrival.
The man's eyes flicked in Chit Sang's direction and then back to Hakoda. Clearly aware of the presence of the other man. "I do not wish to fight," he said calmly. "I am making my way to meet with others who you might find . . . amenable."
"Amenable?" Hakoda asked with scepticism. He could see that the man was Fire Nation, and if what Zuko had said about firebenders and weapons was true, odds were good he wasn't a bender. And that meant they potentially had a surprise waiting if their visitor was less peaceful than he was attempting to appear.
"I have friends in the other nations, as well as my own, who are displeased with this war," the man told them. "After meeting young Sokka, I realised it was time for me to choose a position in the war."
"Meeting . . ." Hakoda trailed off and took in the man with an eye to identity, rather than simply as a potential opponent. "You met Sokka?" he asked, deciding to wait on naming names. If this wasn't who he thought it was, best not to give the man ideas.
A grave bow, and then the other continued. "I am Piandao," he said.
"The swordmaster?" gasped Chit Sang. "I am honoured to meet you."
"Who?" muttered Haru in Hakoda's direction. The other boys approached.
"Swordmaster, huh?" The Duke said as he gamely shoved Teo along. Whatever there was to say about the boy's tiny size and completely uncivilised behaviour, he had guts. Teo was also, despite his inability to walk, tough as nails.
Hakoda almost missed the swordmaster's response as he was struck so hard by the unyielding toughness of these children. Teo, who was kind and sensitive and brilliant, burying that under sharpness and a hardened glitter in his eyes, Haru, who was younger than he wanted to admit, and The Duke, who managed to have that same empty look as too many of the warriors Hakoda had seen in the war, that look that said he was seeing death and hearing screams no one else could.
"I am a swordmaster," Piandao said. His blade flew out of its sheathe, slicing through a stick, and reversing the same move to smoothly slap away a stone, both items flung by The Duke, who looked him up and down again and nodded in satisfaction.
"You're at least as good as Jet," he said in apparent approval. "Okay."
Piandao raised a curious eyebrow, but didn't pursue the matter. "You look much like Sokka," he said, addressing Hakoda again. "He holds himself much like you."
"Why did you train him?" Hakoda asked. His son had been interrupted by Zuko's terrifying sister before he could find out.
They settled down, and Hakoda was forced to admit that he'd accepted this man, a man his son admired greatly, who was spoken of with some reverence by Zuko, and who had done what he'd wished to do himself. Taken Sokka the final steps from brave, gutsy child, to a warrior to be proud of.
"The art of the sword, all art, whether in paint or ink, dance or the sword, these should not, cannot be the domain of one people, one place," Piandao said. "Sokka was humble, yet talented, clever, yet hardworking, creative but respectful. How could I not give him the teaching he deserved?"
"Then you have my thanks," Hakoda said. "For giving him what I should have been able to," slipped out before he could stop himself.
The swordmaster looked at him shrewdly, then said, "This war has taken much from all of us."
Hakoda glanced at the boys again, then thought of the children they'd just left behind, all of them trying so hard to be adults, all of them with a bleakness inside that came from the things they'd seen and done. Even his little Katara was sharp and lean and dangerous, belying his memories of the little girl he taught to penguin sled.
And that brought him to a question he'd only just realised he had. "When you arrived, you asked if we spoke of the prince." He didn't say anything further, just left the idea dangling in the air, waiting for the other man to pick it up.
"I did," Piandao graciously allowed him to direct the conversation. "Sokka spoke of him to me, and what I had heard from General Iroh led me to wonder. If he had not fled I was to have given him training in the sword."
"His skills are impressive," Hakoda conceded. "I expect you would have found him an excellent student."
Piandao smiled. "I am glad, then, that General Iroh's claims of his nephew are not baseless boasting of family."
"It's certainly not baseless," Hakoda replied, remembering the boy's fighting skills, his flexibility and speed in sparring and his acceptance and genuine attention to criticisms of his style. "He's definitely talented and hardworking."
There was a pause, then the swordmaster broke the silence. "Where are you going next?" he asked. "You cannot remain long in the Fire Nation."
"I suppose we'll go looking to catch up with the Earth armies," Hakoda said with a shrug. "I don't know where the rest of my people are and there's no way for me to find out, nevermind breaking them out."
"If you would trust me," Piandao said, "I could assist you with finding them, and then continuing to reach my contacts who oppose this war."
It was tempting, and everything he'd heard from both Sokka and the prince suggested this man was honourable and trustworthy. He caught Chit Sang's eye and flicked his glance to the woods, suggesting a private meeting out of earshot of the newcomer. "I'll think about it," he said. He clapped Haru on the shoulder as he went to have a quiet chat with Chit Sang, telling the boy to keep an eye on Piandao.
The next morning, they all, including Piandao, left to find Hakoda's men, then rejoin the Earth armies.