Aang was right… Katara was cranky to say the least. And she wasn't pleasant company when she was cranky.
"Honestly. Jumping in front of lightning. What were you thinking?" Katara asked. "You could hardly walk as it was and then you decide to fight Azula? You know very well you can't take her on your own."
"Erhmm." Zuko began.
"Don't you erhmm me Zuko." Katara huffed. "You are reckless and impatient! Think before you act why don't you!"
"Yes uncle. I mean Katara!" Zuko shouted hastily correcting himself.
Katara looked at Zuko with narrowed eyes.
"Sounds like your uncle is the only one who has been talking any sense to you." Katara stated. "Which isn't surprising. And you should listen more to him and us!" she stated.
"I know… You need me. To be able to restore the balance." Zuko said.
"None of us care about that right now you ass." Katara stated. "We all care about you. Get it into your head! The only reason we found you at all was because Mai told us where you were!"
"She… She did?" Zuko asked wide-eyed.
"Yes. Do you realize how dangerous that must have been for her?" Katara asked. "And she didn't do it for the world. She did it for you. There are a lot of people who care about you. So shut your mouth and take better care of yourself!"
"Yes mam." Zuko wide-eyed replied.
Katara sighed deeply. "Your fever is mostly down. But it's not gone. You need to keep drinking water. Tea should also be really good for you." she said. "You're lucky, no bones were broken. You have some bruising on some bones but that's it. Just take it easy. Your skin is bruised and your face isn't pretty at the moment. As long as you take it easy though. You should be fine."
"Okay." Zuko nodded. "Thank you."
"Remember!" Katara suddenly snapped sticking a hand right up to Zukos face. "Take. It. Easy!" she punctuated each word in a threatening voice. "If I see any running. Any training. Any swords or fire bending. I will have Toph chain you to the ground. I will have Zhau-Li be the guard he always wanted to be, standing there day and night. The Avatar will be watching your every move and I will not forgive you."
There was quiet. Deep quiet as Zuko wide-eyed looked at Katara and Katara finally stood up, leaving the tent without saying another word.
Zuko gulped as he looked at the closed tent flap… yup… Girls were scary.
It took a while, but finally Zuko really felt like he wanted to go out and have a look. He had already been taking in this tent he was in.
It was… Kind of odd. Seemed to be made of animal skins. His blanket was animal skin too. It was soft and warm.
Aang and told them they were with the water tribe warriors at their camp. Then though Zuko halted… remembering what Katara had said.
Then again., She had just said he had to take it easy. Not that he couldn't go out at all… Right?
Also Zuko needed to relieve himself… Really really badly.
Finally Zuko dared to stand up, only to hiss in pain. Yup… Sore… Very sore.
And then he opened the flap and was met with a world of blue.
Dark skinned tanned men, wearing blue just like Sokka and Katara. Sitting around while working on different projects. Walking back and forth. Talking…
The tents standing around were run and made from very different materials than fire nation tent. This really was… A water tribe camp.
Zuko remembered. The small village he had invaded… And he remembered how there had only been women, children and the elderly there. The men were all gone. They were here.
And then Zuko remembered how small that village had looked, how scared those people had been… And Zuko just wanted to vanish into himself.
"Prince Zuko?" A man Zuko didn't know asked and Zuko turned to him. They were about the same height.
Like everybody else the man had brilliant blue eyes and dark tanned skin. A strong looking body and skin that seemed worn by wind and weather. There was a warmth to him though, a certain kindness.
"Yeah…" Zuko replied nervously.
"It's good to see you awake." The man said. "I'm Hakoda. Chief of the southern water tribe." he said.
Zuko gasped. "You're… Sokka and Kataras dad." he said.
"Yes. And they have told a lot about you." Hakoda replied. "They seem very convinced that with you on the throne. The fire nation is going to be fair to the water tribes."
"I erhm." Zuko swallowed. "I'll make sure to free any water tribe prisoners and just leave the poles alone if that is what you're asking."
"Yes. It is." Hakoda said. "In fact. It's all we're asking or could ever ask. Oh that and free passage to our sister tribe on the north pole."
"Oh… Okay. That seems very reasonable in fact." Zuko glanced down. "With everything my family has done to your tribe I…" he swallowed. "You would be in your full right to ask for more. A lot more."
Hakoda looked at Zuko who averted his eyes. And then Zuko also realized they were getting an audience as people seemed to notice the two talking and were stealing looks at them.
And then Zuko realized. This was the chief of the southern water tribe! He was another world leader!
Yes the tribe was small but still. It was a part of the world! This was another step, to try and find peace. And thus this was important. Really important.
"I… I'm sorry about what my nation has done to you." Zuko stammered. "I know sorry wont help. But I am." he said. "And.. I want to make it up to you. Somehow. I don't know how yet but.."
Hakoda smirked amused. "If you keep the promises you just made. That will be enough." he said. "The water tribe is a proud people. We don't want to be in debt to the fire nation, we want the things we build to be by our own hands. Thus we will be stronger for it. And I know you personally weren't the one who attacked my tribe."
"Well… erhm actually." Zuko swallowed. "I erh…"
Hakoda lifted an eyebrow.
"I broke your snow wall thing!" Zuko exclaimed. "And I might have… threatened this old lady. But that's it! I didn't hurt anyone I swear!"
"Zuko!" Sokka shouted as he came running. "Zuko you need too chill out okay! Just stop talking. Dad, it's true what he says! No one was actually hurt. Gran-gran was fine."
"What? You threatened my mother?" Hakoda asked Zuko and Zukos eyes widened.
"Well… I didn't actually threat. I mean I did. But I didn't erhm." Zuko swallowed.
"Zuko… How come that sometimes you are really good at speaking. And other times you are the worst talker in the history of mankind!" Sokka exclaimed.
Wide-eyed Zuko looked at Sokka and Sokka sighed as he turned to Hakoda.
"Sorry dad. But what you learned right now is that Zuko cannot lie to safe his own life!" Sokka exclaimed. "Seriously. He can't! The dude can't lie at all. So you know he's sincere, and we're all good."
There was silence.
"Good. We're all good." Sokka smirked just as Zuko was about to open his mouth. "No! I think you have done enough talking." he said.
"But Sokka." Zuko whispered.
"Seriously. You need to learn when to just be quiet." Sokka whispered under his breath.
"I just… I was wondering if you could tell me where. You know… The bathroom is. Or at what place you guys do… You know." Zuko whispered.
"Oh…" Sokka realized. "Of course. Sure. Come I'll show you." he waved.
Quickly did Zuko put a fist into the palm of his hand and bowed for Hakoda. "It was an honour to meet you Chief Hakoda." he said and finally left with Sokka.
Leaving a pretty stunned Hakoda.
Wait… Wait this was the son of Fire Lord Ozai? The crazy war lord who had reigned fire on the world?
And this kid was supposed to be some sort of fire bending master. There had been going stories around about what a great leader he was sure to become.
…. Hakoda could only suppose that first impressions weren't everything. But honestly at that moment he just felt rather sorry for the kid.
Then again. The Avatar didn't look like much either and both Sokka and Katara had assured him that Aang was extremely powerful as well as dependable when it mattered.
Still Hakoda couldn't help but look up at the sky and whisper a little. "Tue and Lai safe us all." under his breath.