A/N. So, the introduction to the rest of the story! Next chapter we'll leave the Western Air Temple, where I dwelled for much longer than I had originally planned lol! It will pick up from there, but we'll easily reach the 100 chapters And I have begun to plan the sequel : The Ashes of Autumn (I may have to get other ideas for titles lol!)
Oh, and don't judge Hakoda too hard, he is trying his best.
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender
It didn't take Hakoda too long to figure out that they were quite truly screwed.
Sure, it seemed that there was something being done about the whole situation, with Aang being trained in firebending… But it wasn't enough. Sokka had told him, on the ship all those months ago, about Sozin's Comet. The chief had known that it would pass this year but had not known firebenders were extremely powerful during the comet. Of course, Ozai was going to use it. No one in their right mind would let such an opportunity pass.
A hundred years ago, it had been the Air Nomads, in the prime of their power… But now? The whole world was exhausted by a century of war… Now, the comet and the battle that it would trigger could set the world ablaze.
At least, now that the Fire Nation knew Aang was alive, they would try and attack the Water Tribes… For the moment. At least, they had that…
And their only hope was a young man, who needed to learn a bending art in three weeks or less. And even if he had faith in Aang… Hakoda knew that no one was able to do that…
And it also meant his children were in immense danger. He had managed to put it aside before the invasion, putting his entire being into defeating the Fire Nation the Day of Black Sun. But now? Now… His fear had begun to creep back up. It had already seeped into his soul when he had seen Sokka and the desperate look in his eyes in the Boiling Rock… And he hadn't had the heart to ask him how desperate the situation truly was.
So, he had asked after his daughter. And it had revealed a bit of the picture. Hakoda agreed with the idea of Katara hiding in the North Pole, surrounded by people who shared her description… But he also knew, just like Sokka had said… That it was no use. Katara wasn't a coward, and would stay in the thick of the fighting… Even if it put her at risk.
That was another thing he had observed. Aang and Katara seemed… closer. Too close. Not that that was necessary a bad thing… But they didn't let the other out of their sight, Katara probably afraid that Aang would get hurt or even killed… And the airbender because of what the princess had threatened. His son was right. If they knew that Ozai himself had ordered the whole Fire Nation army to hunt her down… Well, Aang wouldn't be able to close an eye to get some sleep over the worry.
But Katara had the right to know… Right? How could she take the right decision if she didn't know the whole picture?
He had promised Sokka not to tell either one of them… But there was a need… right?
He didn't know what to do…
Sighing, Hakoda sat down next to the cold ashes of their campfire. The terrasse was actually beautiful, and if there wasn't so much to worry about, he would have taken the time to walk around the temple, to discover the culture of a lost civilization…
Not lost. Just… Nearly extinct.
There was only one left…
The morning dew that hung in the canyon gave the whole complex a mysterious look, and as he took some of the firewood that lay around, Hakoda looked up towards the wall that hugged the canyon wall. There, a great mosaic depicting at least fifty women and bisons took nearly the whole length of the Terrasse.
Had those been great nuns of the past? Surely not, there were some younger women. This temple… How had Aang not yet gone crazy, walking these corridors, knowing his friends had been slaughtered here? If it had been his family or tribe… Hakoda didn't know what he would do in the airbender's place. But instead of the hopeless crazy mess he had expected to find… The Avatar had been happy. Kind of. He had seen the sense of calm over the boy's face when Katara had laughed… Kya's laugh. And he had understood. And then, his son and the airbender had walked away, and Hakoda had heard the soft laughter from time to time while the two drank and talked.
It had seemed… So normal.
But that had to be a façade. It had to be. No one in their situation could be that relaxed. So, as he had turned and twisted, not being able to sleep, the chief had decided that it had to be just that. A façade, that the young people had constructed around themselves to shield them from the horrible truth. This war… was lost. And there was nothing they could do to stop Ozai from using that comet to finally finish the fighting. In his favour, that was.
And Aang couldn't change that by some training. No… The only way to stop that was by going into hiding, and perhaps… in a few years… Perhaps then, they could finally change the world.
But not in three weeks.
He had heard the knock on the door of the room beside theirs this morning, and the soft whisper of the prince for Aang to wake up. The door had creaked as it was opened, and the soft murmurs had indicated that the two had walked off, probably towards the first training of the day. The moment he had heard the whispers disappeared, Hakoda had got up.
So, there he was, staring at the mosaic without truly seeing it, with his arms full of firewood for the fire.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" A voice whispered behind him, and the chief nearly dropped the firewood, not out of surprise, but because that voice sounded so much like the one he had grown used to miss.
Turning around, he saw Katara standing a few feet behind him. She wasn't wearing her usual blue dress, but a long grey shirt while a blanket was draped around her shoulders. He smiled, tiredly. He had not seen her like this for so many years… That it nearly hurt him to see that the little girl that dragged her blanket to his and Kya's bed was still there.
"Yeah… they liked to decorate their temple, didn't they?" It had surprised him in the Northern Air Temple how nearly inch of available space had been used to make a painting, a mosaic or even just a few waves with paint.
"They did." Katara laughed softly, "This one shows the nuns responsible for the temple at the moment of... of the attack." The soft laugh that he had heard at the beginning of the sentence died in her throat, and Hakoda grimaced. That would be difficult for the airbender…
Seeing the eyes of people he had perhaps known follow him around… Reminding him of the things he had lost.
"Did Aang visit this place often?" He had to know. If he as going to spent time here, talking with Aang… He didn't want to say the wrong thing. Not again. Not like that one time on the ship.
"Yeah… he did." Was the only response he got from his daughter. The Chief rather suspected that there was more to the story… But that that information wasn't for his ears. And that the airbender had told her, and only her… As always.
Tui and La, if it wasn't such a terrible situation, Hakoda could have even liked the fact that Aang only truly opened up to his daughter. But now… It made it only way more complicated.
Hakoda nodded, putting the firewood down. He had wanted to start a fire to boil some water for some tea, but that could wait. He could at least acknowledge the people who had died. That was the least he should do.
Walking to each depiction, he looked them straight into the eyes. Perhaps it seemed idiotic, for the tiled nuns could not hear, see or even know he was there. Spirits, they weren't even there, they were just pictures… But the Water Tribes accorded so much importance to honouring the people who came before you… He felt like it was the least he could do.
Dark grey eyes… Ember eyes… Brown eyes… he looked into each of them. It was the least he could do. Behind him, he heard the soft footsteps of Katara, who was probably following him. Knowing her, she had surely done the same thing as he was doing now. At least, acknowledging the people who had died here.
At the end, a girl was depicted, laughing, holding a flute with one hand and a fist against her hip. Hakoda was surprised at the livingness of the mosaic… It seemed like it lived… That the cold tiles still held some of the personality of this nun.
Silver eyes.
Silver eyes he recognized. That nose… That smile… Those eyes...
Turning to his daughter, she saw him shake her head with a sad expression. It was clear.
Don't mention that one.
He didn't. But if he was not mistaken… he had found someone who had been close to the airbender who was now training with the prince somewhere close to this building…
How much had the boy truly lost? And… Would that perhaps explain why he had been trying to convince Katara to hide? So that he wouldn't lose that too? And if that was true… Well, he could only agree with Aang. No, she would never agree with hiding… But Hakoda understood why he had tried. All too well…
He sighed, turning back to the campfire. It was all so messed up. His daughter followed him, still with the blanket around her shoulders, as a silent shadow. The chief sat down, pulling the firewood closer to him and starting to pile them up in a way that would make it easy to start a blazing fire.
"How have things been?" Yesterday, he had asked her, but there had been others around, so he was afraid he hadn't got the real answer. He had been pulled into the celebrations and had kept his mouth shut about other subjects as not to dampen the mood.
"Alright. It has been difficult, the supplies were running out. But the airship had provisions, so that is good news." Katara answered, sitting down in front of him.
That had not been his question…
"Good… And you, personally?" That had been the thing he really wanted to know. His daughter bit her lip as she was thinking. So… not good?
"I've had better days, after the failure of the invasion." She began, "With that firebender joining us, I have begun to worry about that. But I have to admit, for the moment he hasn't betrayed us… yet."
Hakoda didn't need to ask who she meant by the firebender. It had been clear his daughter distrusted Zuko, and with good reason he suspected. But the young man didn't seem to be in a betraying mood, and had helped them against his own nation… No, he was as much a traitor in the eyes in his father the Fire Lord as any of them were.
"How have things been with Aang?" Of course, Sokk had told him some things… But Hakoda rather suspected his daughter didn't tell her brother everything. But then again, she probably wasn't going to talk about those things to him… After how he had acted during the airbender's coma.
"Good."
One-word answers. Kya favourite way of making sure to tell him to shut up. And, as he had discovered… Katara's way to let him know that he was walking into dangerous territory.
"Good… Good. I'll say it again, if one day he suggests marriage…" He didn't finish his sentence. Sure, he had joked about it before the invasion, and if it had been a success… Surely Aang would have proposed. He had seen it in the boy's eyes that that was where this relationship was headed…
But he was not prepared for what Katara did next.
Her head whipped around, and Hakoda saw the angry snarl on her face.
"Who talked?"
Tui and La… What had he said?
"What? No, no one said anything! It was just a joke!" He said hastily, and his daughter calmed down visibly. This had been too… too specific.
Oh Spirits and Spirit World…
"Has he… asked you?" He murmured softly, trying to sound pleased. There was nothing to be happy about! Under normal circumstances, he would be more than pleased! Katara was indeed of marriageable age, for the Water Tribe standards, and Aang was a decent person, who made her more than happy. But now?
No way. No way in the cold hell of Tui! Hakoda prayed to every spirit there was that the two had not done that! They were not that stupid, were they? The Fire Nation was hunting them down, and Katara specifically! Because the Avatar loved his daughter! And if they learned about this? Tui and La…
"Nothing happened." Katara pulled the blanket closer around herself, a move Hakoda knew perfectly well. She was lying.
"Well, I was joking, I know nothing happened." Spirits, let that be true…
"Of course not! We are not there at all!" Katara defended herself lightly, but the chief saw the small blush. Sure… the two were not there… Sure.
"And it is way too dangerous to even consider it." He threw his argument in there, because why not.
"Exactly!" Katara nodded, her voice slightly higher than usual.
Ah. There it was.
It had been clear something happened. His daughter's lying was evidence enough for that. But the fact that she agreed so readily was proof for another thing… She found it too dangerous too. But Aang had probably broached the subject, perhaps during the Invasion…
Hakoda chose not to say more about it. Katara had been clear a few months ago… he had nothing to say about her choices and way of life, he had surrendered that right the moment he had stepped on the boat to the Earth Kingdom… And Hakoda accepted that. His children were nearly adults now… And they had lived through enough to think like an adult.
They could make their own decisions.
Although he didn't like… He knew he had to take a step backwards, and let his daughter do what she thought was right. He had lost the privilege of giving advice. Hakoda would give it, if asked… But not before.
A soft groan came from where the bison lay, and the chief could also hear excited chittering from the lemur. Looking up, he saw the firebender and Aang walk towards them. Zuko looked… well, like shit. That was not that surprising, for he had probably not slept. Hakoda had seen the worry in the young man's eyes as they had talked about who had saved them during their escape. And he suspected that the girl who had sacrificed herself was probably someone close to the prince.
"Morning!" the airbender spoke happily, with a smile on his face. He looked like he had not a care in the world, but Hakoda knew that that was probably just an act. How could he be happy, with all the worries of the world on his shoulders?
"Good morning Aang." He smiled at the boy. His daughter didn't say anything, but then again… They had probably already spoken this morning. In their shared bedroom.
It was not that he was against it… It was only that it created a space where the two could discuss and plan a future that probably wouldn't come. And that made his heart ache. The two were both optimists, at least, it seemed like they were. And of course, they would think of what after… But what they needed to do now was focusing on how to defeat the Fire Nation.
"How was Sun Meditation?" Katara asked as the airbender sat down next to her. The prince sat down in complete silence next to the chief.
"Alright! I think I finally got the whole thing down with bathing in the energy of the sun!" Aang answered softly, not even explaining what he meant by that. Meaning, that he had told Katara everything about the training.
It was even worse than Hakoda had thought… They were really inseparable. And it was a good thing… Under normal circumstances.
"Good. I'll get Toph for your earthbending. Then, before lunch, you're with me… And then, with him." His daughter pointed her chin to the prince, who didn't even look surprise at the rather… rude treatment.
As Katara began to walk away, Hakoda saw how the airbender's eyes followed her until she had gone into one of the corridors. He was afraid. That was it. And… Well, the chief understood. If it had been Kya who had been threatened by the Fire Nation? He wouldn't have slept an hour until he was sure his love was safe…
And now, Aang had to live with that…
Sighing, he took the flint and steel out of the small bag next to the campfire, but before he could even touch the two together, the wood began to smoulder, and then, caught fire. Looking up, Hakoda observed how Zuko had stood up and pointed a finger to the wood.
"Thanks…"
Tui and La, that was so easy… But still, it made him uneasy. What was wrong with making it the normal way? It was no shame to be a non-bender. But benders made things look easy.
"You are welcome." Zuko spoke softly before walking away, towards the bags. That left him with Aang… For the first time since the invasion. Of course, he liked the boy! What was not to like!
"How have you been? I heard that… Well, you liked to visit this place before." Spirits… No introduction, he was going to just ask it, wasn't he?
Aang looked up, startled at the question, and Hakoda noticed the silver eyes fly towards the mosaic, before quickly turning back to him.
"I'm good. Had some… Nasty surprises. But I'm alright now." The young man smiled at him, but not the grin of a few moments ago, but a small, tight lip smile. And Hakoda suspected that it was a genuine one.
"Good… How are the others?" He asked. Knowing the airbender would probably want to make a good impression on him, he was probably going to be honest.
"Well… Sokka is much better now that he has done something to help the people captured at the invasion. Toph is like she always is, blunt and rude, but caring underneath. The others are holding up, but don't seem to know what to do." The airbender explained, casting a look towards where Zuko was still searching through the bags, grumbling.
"And Katara?" Now was the moment of truth. Would Aang trust him with facts or try and avoid talking about this like his daughter had done?
"Ah… Katara." That didn't sound like something good…
"She… I… I did something stupid, but that's alright now. I had hoped to get her to safety at the North Pole, with Sokka. But she explained that that was a stupid plan, and that staying together was better."
Was it?
"And… I don't know what to do..."
Was that… The opening Hakoda had been waiting for?
"About what Azula has threatened?" He asked. He had promised his son not to talk about the fact that Ozai had ordered the capture of Katara. But that didn't mean he couldn't at least talk about this.
Aang let his face sink into his hands.
"You know about that?" Was his only response.
"I do… And I guess you and I have the same fears about that." Hakoda whispered, relieved that at least, one person was worrying about it like he was.
"You must hate me… I brought this upon her…" The airbender muttered. The chief heard the heartfelt anguish in the young man's voice, and his own heart cracked at the sound of so much pain.
"I don't Aang. My daughter knew what loving you means… But it doesn't mean I'm not worried…" He answered, looking around to see if someone was approaching them. Zuko was still searching through the bags, now clearly damning everything to the cold hell of Tui because he couldn't find what he was looking for.
"I am trying to make sure this doesn't happen… Please, believe me. I even… I swore not to let that happen." Suddenly, Aang looked up, and straight into his eyes. Hakoda saw only one emotion in those silver eyes. Resolve.
And for the first time, he was taken aback. Until now… Aang had seemed too innocent, too emotional and… Well, too kind. Too kind to be the Avatar, to be the instrument of war and destruction everyone said the Avatar was.
Of course, he had heard the stories about the airbender. Sokka and Katara had told him some things, and there had been rumours around the Earth Kingdom. That the Avatar had destroyed a Fire Nation fleet in less than five minutes by bending the ocean up and slamming the ships into the bottom of the sea. Of the recked fortress of a general on the western coast, just because the man had threatened him.
And Hakoda hadn't been able to associate those talks with the boy in front of him.
But now, staring into those silver eyes, swirling with resolve and determination? Now, he could finally see what Avatar Aang was like. And to be honest? He wanted to crawl into a corner and hide, hoping that the man in front of him would never be his enemy. Because there was one thing clear about how the airbender looked now.
Hurt Katara, and the world will regret it.
Spirits, those two were really devoted to each other. Hakoda had seen it during those long weeks of Aang's coma. Katara had sworn to kill Azula for what she had done to the airbender. She had lost any semblance of pity the moment they had fought. And… His daughter had looked exactly like the airbender was doing now, when talking about the princess.
But he had known his daughter, and knew that those were emotions that had always been present. Hurt the people she loves, and the people who had done that would never be forgiven. Hakoda had been afraid of his own daughter while she had been healing Aang…
But he had never seen that kind of brutal resolve in someone else than Katara. Well… Yes. He had. Kya…
But to see it in those gentle eyes of one of the kindest and calmest people he had ever met?
That surprised him.
"I know… I know." He sighed, not able to keep his eyes on the airbender. It was no use. He didn't need to tell Aang about Ozai's order. If twenty thousand soldiers stood between those two… Twenty thousand soldiers would die before one would let the other be hurt.
"Twinkletoes! Get your scrawny ass over here!" Toph's voice cut the tense atmosphere around them. And Hakoda watched how the face of the airbender changed immediately into a grin, and how the boy bolted up.
"Coming, Sifu Toph!" and the young man nearly flew towards the small blind girl. Katara stood next to the earthbender, shaking her head at the display. Hakoda couldn't help but do the same. The carefree and happy character was probably true, but underneath, there was a whole untapped source of seriousness and protectiveness.
Standing up, he walked back to the mosaic, as behind him, he heard Zuko walk back, apparently having finally found what he had been searching for. Glancing around, he saw that the prince had a high pot in his hands, made of red glazed porcelain. It looked expensive… But then again… Those bags came from the airship. The Royal Airship.
Hakoda turned back, and went to stand in front of the girl depicted on the mosaic. It was too… too realistic. And having seen Aang with hair, it was the same colour… The same nose… And those eyes. Those eyes would haunt anyone who knew the airbender. No, this girl was related to Aang, that was for sure.
Soft footsteps came towards him, and, looking from the corner of his eye, Hakoda saw his daughter walk towards him. With a frown.
Oh Tui and La…
"What did you say to Aang?" She asked as she came to stand beside him.
So, the happy façade the airbender had put up wasn't enough to fool her. And what could he say? Katara probably knew everything, and lying would only make the situation worse.
"I asked him what he thought of what Azula had said." Hakoda answered honestly, praying to every spirit that Katara wouldn't get angry.
"You know?" The voice was hard…
"I do…" He chose not to add anything else. Katara had been clear. He had no role in her decisions.
"I won't change my mind. I stay here." His daughter answered, in the same voice.
"I know." What else was there to say…
"It won't affect him. He knows his duty." Katara spoke.
Did he? It was clear to him that if it was his love or the world, Aang would choose to save his love…
"He has already lost so much…" Hakoda said instead of putting all his fears on the table. He had promised Sokka not to tell the two about Ozai's orders...
"I know. And it won't affect him. I know it won't." His daughter said. A silence settled between them, and Hakoda felt horrible for doing this again. Meddling in affairs in which he had nothing to say. But… He was just afraid.
"If something happens… To lose someone important… it's hard." He knew… Oh, he knew how that felt. And the irony of the situation wasn't lost on him either. A few months ago, he had been trying to protect his daughter by making her understand the dangers this relationship brought with it. Now… He was trying to shield the airbender from the heartbreak that losing Katara would bring…
Spirits, this was getting complicated…
"Dad. He knows. Losing people is something that he is rather used to. He and I have discussed it at length." His daughter didn't seem angry now… rather resigned. And Hakoda understood what she meant. They were standing in the monument to Aang's loss… And he still found the energy and the will to go forward…
"And if you don't believe me… He is living here, with one of the people whose family is responsible for his enormous loss. With the people he loved staring at him each day, from this mosaic. Aang promised me he wouldn't let anyone else he loves die. And that is enough for me. And it is enough for you." With that, Katara turned around.
At least… At least she hadn't closed her heart to him. She hadn't got angry like she used to on the ship… At least, these few months had been good for her mental health… But Hakoda's heart cracked at the idea that his daughter rejected his advice… Although he knew why and accepted it.
"Oh, and another thing. Under no circumstances are you to ask about that girl. Never. You hear me?" His daughter's voice ordered. He nodded. Hakoda had to accept that the time of advice and help was long gone… No, his children would never need that from him. They had their own lives… And he only played the part that they wanted in it.
And, casting one last look at the mosaic, he turned around towards Zuko, who had apparently made some tea in that horrible teapot.
Answers:
Kalaong: Sokka is a genius, but that brings problems with it. No genius is ever "normal" in the eyes of other people. What makes Sokka such a good character is that he can be the genius and the idiot at the same time. And although I love LoK, it hasn't the same intricate personalities as ATLA has!
Jjsmith103: Yeah, I had to give Aang and Hakoda at least one positive moment before letting it go downhill once more lol! And yes, normally it is Sokka who advices Aang on these kind of matters in fics. But here, Aang has so much more experience than his friend that it seemed to me that a role reversal would be interesting!
Alyssa: Sokka is perfect, because he knows he needs the help Aang can provide, but at the same time, he knows he doesn't want to hear anything about it!
Bbacon: Oh yes, that was my goal lol! And indeed, giving that kind of talk is such an awkward moment, that I thought it would make a great filler!
Gabriela N. Gonzalez : I absolutely love how fast you are catching up to the story, and even though I know you'll read this much later, I'm really glad to see you back!