A/N. So, if there are spelling errors or something, I apologize, I just had a rather severe visit to the dentist, just after my trip, so I'm not in the best of shapes lol…
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender
Three days. It had been three days since that that bison landed on this beach. And since then, the beast had only moved towards Hakoda's tent, and made his wake there. As the chief watched the rising sun above the horizon, far in the water of the bay, he saw how the bison sat at the entrance of the tent like a silent protector.
Three days since he had opened his stupid mouth. His children were so lost… Sokka tried to look brave, but Hakoda had seen the tears of rage in his eyes, when Katara had told them what had happened to the airbender… And his daughter… Spirits, it was as if Kya had come back from the grave. Katara didn't look like her, or at least, not exactly. But the personality was exactly the same. There was nothing from him in there.
And he had messed it up so badly… At one moment, she was trusting him, talking about her feeling for the Avatar… And then, of course, he had said some stupid things… Of course, she would hate it that he had said no, especially now. He should have waited, at least a few days, so that she was more collected, calmer… But no, his mother had been right about the fact he was never able to shut his mouth, even in these kinds of situations…
In silence, his son joined him, standing on his right, also looking at the rising sun.
"She loves him, doesn't she?" Sokka spoke softly.
Hakoda didn't need to know about whom he was talking. Katara had not come out of that tent in the last three days, only standing at its entrance, with the beast, while Sokka cleaned the Avatar each morning and evening. Otherwise, she was inside the tent. Healing the Avatar. Protecting him.
"Yes."
Why lie? It was painfully obvious to anyone with eyes and ears. His daughter had told him as much, that she loved the boy. And that he loved her. The tribesmen had even begun to talk about the chief's daughter and the Avatar. Not just Katara. Not just the Avatar. When they spoke about one, they also spoke about the other. Like it was obvious to everyone that those two shared a bond.
"Why did you say no?" Sokka asked, and it sounded so much like an accusation that Hakoda had to close his eyes. So, his son knew of this. The Avatar had probably told him while travelling back to Ba Sing Se… Spirits…
"I… I don't know. Sokka, he is the Avatar. This war will not be won without sacrifices… If he wakes up before this comet that you spoke up… He will have to fight the Fire Lord. And maybe die."
"So?" It was the only response his son gave him. Spirits, when had Sokka become this pragmatic? A soldier spoke like that about death, not a boy without training or experiences. His son spoke like a veteran of a hundred battles…
"I know… I'll give it the second he wakes up."
He had promised it to Katara, and Hakoda wouldn't back down from such a promise. But the dangers to that permission were real. What if they married or, at least, began a relationship, and the Avatar fell against the Fire Lord? He had seen the fire in those blue eyes when his daughter had claimed the princess as hers to kill. If Ozai killed the Air Nomad, Katara wouldn't stop before she was dead herself, or the world had learned what it meant to kill her love.
"You better. Aang is the best thing that happened to her since Mum died."
"I know Sokka, no need to torture me further about it…" Hakoda began to walk towards where the sentries stood, watching over the stretch of beach that led to a road two or three miles further. If enemies came from land, then they would have to come from there. The thick jungles were not easy to walk in, so a whole army couldn't get through.
The scrunching in the sand made it clear to Hakoda that his son was following him, and he let him. It was actually nice to have Sokka with him. The girl, Toph, had been a bit… Distant, not willing to listen when Hakoda gave orders or asked something, while the Earth King was just a hand full, incapable of doing the simplest task.
When they reached the two sentries, Hakoda recognized one as his oldest friend.
"Oh, the snoring menace graces us with his presence!"
"Yeah, yeah Bato, laugh. You haven't been kicked out of you tent it appears. So let me snore."
"That's true. We'll build you a hut or something for the time being. There has been a movement at the road." Bato was holding something in his arms, and after some moments, the chief realized it was the creature that had perched on the bison's horn that fateful night… What had Sokka called it? Momi? No, Momo.
"What kind of movement?" Sokka asked. Normally, Hakoda would have done that… But he let his son take over. He was capable enough.
"The wrong kind we think. It isn't just a farmer with his cart. There are at least two people, wearing red."
So, Fire Nation, and this far east, that meant only one thing. Soldiers.
"Well, if there are only two… let's go meet the neighbours." Hakoda pulled his knife and club out and began to walk. Behind him, he heard the scraping noise of weapons being drawn and the three pairs of footsteps behind him suggested that Sokka, Bato and the other sentry were following.
After just five minutes of walking, Hakoda saw them. Two men, in the red livery of Fire Nation soldiers outside of combat. And they didn't look like they had just come back from a visit to the brothel at the village further downstream. No, these two looked like… Like they had a purpose. Like it was their mission to be found. They were just too easy to spot.
Instead of immediately attacking, Hakoda thought about it. If they captured them… or at least, talked to them, they could get information about what was happening in the world around them, and plan from there…
They had done it once before. Most Fire Nation soldiers didn't expect them to be fighters, and had been taught to watch out for earthbenders, not for snow savages from the Poles. So, most of the time, soldier didn't know what hit them before being knocked out, to be questioned later.
But these two didn't look like the poor souls they had captured. Both had their arms raised, and walked towards them… Slowly.
"Are you the commander of the camp?" One shouted
"Yeah, what do you want?" he yelled back, holding an arm out to stop the other three from advancing.
"We come as envoys, from Ba Sing Se. Their Royal Highnesses Azula and Zuko have a message."
Hakoda didn't miss the fact that they cited the princess first. In their six years of travelling around, he had learned something about courtly manners. And citing the princess before the heir to throne did mean something. The message came from her. Not Prince Zuko. Also, these soldiers were probably not aware of who he was, and were just passing from camp to camp to relay a standard message.
"So, banner of truce?" He shouted back, dropping his club down, but keeping the knife in his hand. If it came to fighting, he preferred to have the small blade in close quarters.
"Banner of truce." The other soldier spoke, with the distinct accent of the Fire Nation largest island. He also dropped his weapons, as did his companion, but Hakoda did count on the fact that they were firebenders. So, he still had to keep a close eye on them.
"Could we sit down at your camp?" The first soldiers asked, sounding quite reasonable. But Hakoda knew that if he invited them back to the tents… They would see the bison. And maybe even get a glimpse of the Avatar. So, no. If they saw them, Hakoda would have to kill the soldiers.
"Here is fine. Give us the message, and then be gone please."
"Fair enough. The Earth Kingdom has fallen, and there is no need to resist our rule now. We are not your enemies. The only enemy of the people, the Avatar, has been killed while trying to murder our gracious princess. We are asking everyone to lay down their weapons, for our quarrel was with the corrupt Earth King, and no one else. Please, don't die for such a cause…"
So… This was the official version? That the young Air Nomad, who was probably wrestling with death at this very instant, helped by his daughter… Had tried to kill Azula?
"Do you have any proof about the Avatar's demise?" Bato asked, and the chief nodded. That was a good question. Let's see what the Fire Nation told about the airbender.
"His body lies inside the Crystal Catacombs, as do those of his cronies: THe earth filth that was teaching the Avatar her bending art. And those of the water tribe savage and the Avatar's water wench."
Hakoda heard the soft growl coming from his right, and presumed that it was probably Sokka, trying his hardest not to betray that he disliked being called a savage. But what was that about The Avatar's water wench?
Did the Fire Nation know about his daughter's attachment to the airbender? Spirits… If that was true, she wouldn't be safe. Not now, not ever. Because these people would hunt her down, just to make sure that there was not one person that resistance could flock to…
"Thank you for your message. Please leave now." He had to stop this conversation before Sokka lost his temper, and also before the soldiers saw the bison. As the two men turned around, Hakoda felt his son move next to him. Grabbing the arm of the young men, he just shook his head.
"Not now. If they leave, they won't have a reason to suspect you are here."
"You heard what they said about Aang!"
Oh… Sokka wasn't angry about being insulted. He was enraged because the lies the Fire Nation told about his friend…
"I know, and the world will know the truth… But now, it is better if no one knows he is here. If the Fire Nation learns he survived… Then we will have a whole army on our ass in the next few days."
"He is my brother. He is not of my or your blood, but all the same, he is like a little brother to me. And so, one gets the right to insult him." His son spoke through gritted teeth. Spirits… If the airbender did inspire such loyalty… Hakoda had surely misjudged him… Toph seemed to care for the airbender… Sokka thought of him as a family member, something that was a rare honour in the Water Tribes… And Katara loved the young man…
It was all so messed up.
Walking back to the camp, Hakoda kept his hand on his son's arm. He had seen the look in Sokka's eyes. If he let go now, the young man would probably go back and try to kill the two soldiers. When they passed the first tent, Bato spoke up.
"So. What now?"
"Now, we do what we always do… Summon the warriors and let them decide the next step."
He may be the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, but that didn't mean he had absolute power over his fellow tribesmen. It was rather a first among equal kind of deal, and one he happily accepted. Hakoda had been elected as Chief after the death of Kya's father, who had been the chieftain before him, and he had taken the role seriously, but he didn't want to rule over his friends and family.
"Alright, do I invite our guests?" Bato gestured somewhere to Hakoda's right, and he turned around to see the blind girl and the Earth King, sitting next to the bison, who was still guarding the tent's entrance.
"Yes, of course, we are not excluding them," Hakoda nodded, and began to walk to the beach, where, since arriving in this part of the Earth Kingdom, their tribal council had been held. Behind him, he heard Bato shout to the warriors to assemble.
They had not yet learned about the fate of the capital, and didn't have any knowledge about the Avatar… As they assembled in front of him, Hakoda released his son's arm. Sokka was probably calmer now, and he wouldn't do anything too stupid in front of the whole tribe… The blind girl and the Earth king joined them, standing in the front row.
"Men! I have some grave news… Ba Sing Se has fallen to the Fire Nation! We just got confirmation from two soldiers who passed the message." Well, better to begin with the real bad news… At least that way, they could move on.
The murmurs from the warriors changed into shouts and groans.
"The king has luckily made it out alive!" He gestured towards the young man in the rich garments, but the king seemed to hesitate. He didn't know what to do… Spirits, how idiotic, was he? The only thing he had to do was come and stand next to him. After a moment, Hakoda saw how Sokka nearly pushed the man to step forward. The king waved, awkwardly, and spoke.
"I am grateful that you welcomed me in this hour of great tragedy." With that, the man quickly rejoined Sokka. Hakoda had to hide a groan of frustration. That was not a man who inspired confidence…
"Now, on to more pressing matters, of immediate concern. As you all know by now probably, the Avatar has been injured, and now, we are charged with making sure he stays safe!"
Of that, Hakoda would make sure. He didn't know the boy, but there were two things he knew. Without Ba Sing Se and the Earth Kingdom, this war could only be won by the airbender. And secondly, if he didn't do anything in his power to protect the boy, his children would turn their backs towards him. Because he had seen it. If it was a choice between him or the boy, Sokka and Katara would choose the Avatar, without a second thought.
"Why?" one of the men shouted. This time, Hakoda didn't hide the irritation. Iqaluk was a good warrior, and the best of their boat builders. He was also the biggest pain in Hakoda's ass. Each time he made a decision, Iqaluk would protest.
"Because it is our duty!" Hakoda protested, but the man in front of him just scoffed.
"As it is the duty of the Avatar to protect the world. That didn't really work out, did it?"
The Chief wanted to protest, but before even managing to say something, his son spoke up.
"Really Iqaluk? We hadn't noticed! That the world has gone to shit is not Aang's fault! He was kind of frozen inside the biggest ice cube in existence for a century. But the moment he got free, do you know what he did? He gave himself up to the Fire Nation! To save our village! That also means your wife and two daughters! He protected people he didn't know. The least you could do is the same kind of sacrifice."
That was a big deal. In the Water tribes, if someone protected you or your family, you were honour bound to do the same for that person… Sokka had, in three sentences, made sure that every man here would protect the Avatar with his life… Spirits, his son was quick and intelligent…
Iqaluk immediately backed down, and nodded, not speaking a word again.
"Everyone in favour of protecting the Avatar?" Hakoda spoke up, and saw every man raise his hand. As did Sokka. The chief felt his lips turn a little upwards, seeing how his son participated…
"Alright. Now, we need to repair the ships, and secure the surroundings. The Fire Nation will probably concentrate on consolidating Ba Sing Se, so we have some time! But that doesn't mean they won't try and attack! So, I want at least twenty men constantly keeping watch. The others will work on the boats, and on foraging parties!"
The men began to split up the tasks between themselves. Hakoda was happy to let them, because they all knew each other's strength and weaknesses. He was also pleased by the fact that the tribe had decided to help the airbender… If he couldn't help his children personally, at least, he could do this for them…
"And what do we do?" Sokka voice interrupted his thoughts, and Hakoda looked at his son. He had become so… Well, everything one could hope for a child… Intelligent, brave and strong…
"Well, the warriors know what to do… So, maybe keep an eye on that one?" He gestured his head towards the Earth King, who stood in the middle of busy men, looking totally lost.
"Everything except that please… That man is a walking disaster! He has been pampered into oblivion. It wouldn't surprise me if he didn't know how to wipe his own ass…" Sokka sighed but nodded after a moment.
"What can I do?" The blind girl asked, and Hakoda didn't have the heart to tell her that… Well, she couldn't do anything here…
"How good are you with animals?" He asked, and she scoffed.
"Spare me, Appa can keep himself clean, and Momo is very good in stealing food from under your nose. I am the best earthbender all around, and I can bend metal. Guess that can help."
Wait, what?
"Let her just do her thing Dad, if you want to live." Sokka whispered, but a small pebble hit his son right in… ouch.
"As Sokka said, I can help." The girl smiled, while his son was trying very hard not the scream. Smiling at the display of friendship between the two, Hakoda nodded, before realizing she had probably not understood it.
"Alright. And I will… I will try to see if Katara need something."
Sokka began to walk to the boats, but the blind girl stayed next to Hakoda. As his son was out of earshot, Toph grabbed his arm.
"Alright, before going our separate ways, you are going to listen. Your children love you but have mixed feelings. Surely that has something to do with being abandoned by their father, who had to go to war with… what, a hundred men? You really think you are making a difference? You don't. You could have made a difference in their lives, however, by staying."
Each word hit him like an arrow, piercing his heart over and over again.
"And about whatever is happening between Katara and Aang. You will not interfere. You are going to accept whatever happens, because Twinkletoes is the best thing that happened to your daughter. The guy literally would let himself be killed all over again if it meant that she would be safe."
And again, it hurt. Every word that this small, blind girl was speaking, in that low, quiet voice…
"They love each other, there is no doubt about that. But here are some things that she doesn't know. Aang had a pouch in his pocket, and with my earthbending, I could feel what was inside. And it is the same kind of stone as Katara wears around her neck. And I may not know much about your customs, but what that means, I do know."
The airbender had… Gone through the trouble of finding a stone… Spirits, how could he have been so blind…
"And one last thing. When he woke up on Appa, Aang spoke some words. Most of them, we didn't understand, but we all understood the tone. Whatever he said, it made such an impression of Sweetness, that she completely shut us out for at least an hour. But there were also words we did understand. My Katara. Those were the last words he spoke. I don't know where their relationship is at, but I suspect it is rather advanced. So please, don't interfere."
"I… I know. You are right. My children are lucky to have you as a friend." He spoke, quietly, feeling guilt and regret flow through him.
"Damn right they are. This is nothing personal, understand me. You seem like a decent guy, and I can feel by your heartbeat this hurts you." The blind girl released his arm, and Hakoda didn't miss the fact that she had said she could feel his heartbeat…
"Thanks… I'll keep it in mind. Thanks for telling me this…"
"Yeah, yeah, go see Sweetness now. Judging by her heartbeat, she is quite calm now."
With those words, Toph walked away, towards where the king was standing. Hakoda turned around, walking slowly to his own tent. Before getting out of earshot, he could hear Toph's voice call out to the king.
"Come on thrice removed cousin-in-law, or whatever you are!"
Wait, what? That girl was noble? Spirits what was this little group? As he made his way to the tent, the chief thought about it. Four young people… Two children of the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, one Earth Kingdom noble, and the Avatar… If they managed to end the war… The world would probably be shaped by these young people… Spirits…
Arriving in front of the tents' entrance, Hakoda inhaled, and entered. This was the first time since that first night, when he messed up big time, that he would speak to her. He was afraid what he was going to find inside. A furious Katara? A dead airbender? What was he going to find?
First of all… A burnt candle. Completely burnt with only a puddle of wax marking where it had burned… The chief didn't want to ask what that was about, so he stepped over it, ignoring it. Looking further inside the tent, he saw how Katara lay on the bed, with her back turned towards the entrance.
She is sleeping next to the airbender…
The sight broke his heart. It was so endearing and sad…
"Katara?"
No response. Nothing at all.
Getting closer to the bed, he managed to see past his daughter, and remarked that a small mountain of bandages lay on the floors next to the bed… She had continued to heal him… Alone, and exhausted… She had continued, trying to save the boy…
Hakoda saw how one of his daughter's hands lay flat over the airbender's chest, just where his heart was… Even after bandaging him, she had continued to watch over him… Spirits, Katara really loved him…
"Hey." A very tired voice sounded from the bed, and he nearly jumped into the air from surprise.
Katara's eyes were wide open. There were dark bags under her bloodshot eyes, but they were fixed on the airbender.
"Could we… talk?" Hakoda sat down on the stool next to the bed. His daughter just nodded and sat up. While she did that, he noticed the small pouch that blind girl had mentioned, sitting on his bedside table… Spirits, she hadn't lied… He had really looked for a stone…
The Avatar had been planning to make a betrothal necklace…
"How are you feeling?" he asked when Katara sat on the side of the bed. He saw how she wasn't looking directly at him, but rather, at a point on the floor. Probably so that, from the corner of her eye, she could still see the airbender…
"Alright."
One-word answers… That had been his wife's favourite way to tell You messed up big time. Other people would ignore you if you did something like he had done. But Katara was too much like her mother. So, one-word answers it was…
"I wanted to apologize for being an idiot… I should have waited to hear what you thought about it… I should have told the Avatar that he should wait…"
"Aang."
"Sorry… I should have told Aang to wait…"
His daughter looked over her shoulder now, where the airbender was laying on his bed. Such a small, pale figure, sunken into the furs. The hard look she had had in her eyes softened visibly, and in those eyes, a gaze came that made Hakoda's heart shatter.
Kya's look…
I love you. I want to spend my life with you, sweet Koda…
The words of such a long time ago drifted from the depth of his mind… Spirits, this was difficult. Bato had been right. It was easy to read Katara's emotions… If you know how to look…
"Yes. You should have."
Progress! The answers became longer. That was good. Each time Kya had given him the one-word treatment, he knew he had to apologize. And that after that, it slowly became more and more words.
"Indeed. It doesn't matter what I think, however. What is important, is how you feel about him. Would you spend your life with this boy?" He was threading into dangerous territory, he knew. But the information that was now sitting on the table… Well, it changed everything.
"Yes." That conviction… Spirits, no hesitation. Katara really loved the airbender. And he didn't miss the fact that it was just one word. Back to square one.
"In that case… When he wakes up, tell him how you feel about him. And for spirits' sake, don't wait. This war… It could take it away at any given moment. If you don't do it now, you will regret it if the worst happened. "
Hakoda surprised himself. A sensible father would encourage them quietly to wait for after the war. But if the last six years had taught him something, it was that he wasn't a prudent father. So, now he would give her the only advice that sounded… good. Life in the moment, because it can be snatched away by the Fire Nation. At least, she would have those moments then…
"He knows." Katara voice sounded so soft, and he detected a small… shyness?
"That is good. If you are not too tired… Could you tell me something about him? What is he like?" He knew what he was asking her. It was not simple, but he suspected that talking about the airbender would make her open up a bit. As it had done with Aang when he had dropped Sokka off…
Katara sat up, and, for the first time since he had entered the tent, looked directly in his eyes. Hakoda saw how she grasped the airbender's hand.
"Aang… He is a kind soul. I never met a man with so much compassion, respect or kindness…. I never met someone who didn't like him."
The famous charm of the Air Nomads… Hakoda tried to keep quiet. His ideas about these people were from Fire Nation propaganda... Now, he was hearing facts about one from another biased source… But better this than propaganda.
"He can be a bit brooding sometimes, when he thinks no one is watching."
The implication of that she had been watching made Hakoda's mouth corners turn upwards.
"Please… tell me more. What are his interests? His fears? I want to be able to know him…" He spoke softly. He would prefer to talk with the airbender, and discover it by himself. But this was alright.
They would be alright, Hakoda knew it. Because even the darkest days end to make place for light.
Answers :
TheQuietReader23 : Yeah, the dynamic between the two is going to be interesting. I will not go down the same path as the series with Hakoda and Katara only talking about all her fears on the ship, so prepare for that! Ah… That, you are going to see how their relationship develops…
Jjsmith103 : Thank you! This chapter was a bit of a filler, needed to bring the story forward, and also I feel like sh*t lol. Yeah, Hakoda was my choice because it was an outsider of the group, who could give advice and learn things about the characters.
Gabriela N Gonzalez : Sorry, the horribly sad chapters are nearly over. This one was already a bit calmer, but next one will be Katara, who will probably be less optimistic than Hakoda!
CoyoteLemon : Thanks you! Yeah, writing those chapters were a bit of a depressing thing to do lol!
Chinmay : Thank you very much! And here is the update lol
Dividedbyzero-0 : Here it is!
Guest : Thank you! Always happy to see people enjoying the story!