One thing Zuko didn't believe was possible, was that igloos weren't as cold as he thought. And not as small as they looked from the outside.
Growing up in the Fire Nation, he was taught that the Water Tribe savages were too stupid and poor to make normal wooden houses, so they lived inside holes made of snow. Zuko was wondering how they were surviving in the cold, even when they were inside those freezing holes. His teachers told him that the savages were either animals or monsters, as a result of the light of Agni never reaching them.
When he and the family went inside, he was welcomed by the coziest place he could dream of. The igloo wasn't much, just a common room with a stone stove in the middle. Fur pelts were all over the place, on the walls and on the ground, giving a nice warmth despite the walls being made out of ice. Zuko wondered why the igloo wasn't melting by the heat from the fire.
Sokka and Katara besides him were smiling like little kids.
"Ahh it's so nice being home!" Sokka said while dropping some stuff down.
"Agreed!" Katara chirped.
"Tell me about it. I missed it so much." Hakoda said while he took in the image around him. He was finally home. After three years of living in a ship and camps.
Zuko took another look around. Big pots that were made of wood and clay were placed around, containing supplies like water, wood, food that was mostly dried fish and jerky.
Now Zuko was awkwardly standing in the entrance with his bag on his shoulder, while the others sat around the fire.
Zuko didn't know what to do. Should he just suit himself and sit with them? But he didn't get invited to. Did they even want him in there?...
Zuko was ready to leave, when Sokka talked to him confused.
"Zuko, buddy, you're gonna sit down or what?" he said, patting the empty place next to him. Kanna Katara and Hakoda looked at the Fire Nation boy, and Zuko rushed to sit down because he didn't want to be disrespectful.
So now there were all in a circle around the fire, with Kanna, to her left Hakoda, then Katara, Zuko and then Sokka. Zuko felt comfortable with the fire in front of him, having his element in a place that had nothing but snow and ice. It was somehow welcoming. But Kanna in front of him was feeling the exact opposite, and Zuko didn't blame her. Having a firebender with his element in front of you was not the best scenario. She was definitely terrified.
It appeared that the stove had a pot on it, with something brewing inside that was like soup. Zuko didn't know what it was, but the smell was something he never smelled before.
"Sea prunes? Mom you have no idea how much I longed for them! The Earth Kingdom's food is alright but not compared to this." Hakoda said as he grabbed a bowl.
"The last time we ate them was when we encountered Bato at the Abbey! Oh man it smells so good!" Sokka said.
"Gran Gran this is the best welcoming home dish I could imagine!" Katara said.
"I am so glad. It is your favorite after all." Kanna said. "But I must say that our guest probably isn't used to these kind of dishes." Kanna said glancing over to Zuko, who suddenly felt too hot in his parka.
"N-no..it's alright." Zuko said, looking at the floor. God she hated him. He deserved it.
Then the others started filling their wooden bowls with soup. Then Katara filled another one and handed it over to him.
"Here the meals we eat are communal. And don't worry if you don't like it- Aang didn't too. Which was kinda a surprise for us but anyway, I have some leftover Fire noodles in my bag if you want to." she said. Zuko took the hot bowl and thanked her.
"No need. I think Aang overreacted." He said.
"How bad it could possibly be?" Zuko thought and took a sip. Everyone was looking at him. Oh Agni the taste wasn't exactly good for his liking, maybe weird was the best word for it, but Zuko ate worse as a refugee. The taste was quite salty, but it missed spices. Cultural differences and such. But he wasn't in a position he could complain.
He swallowed it and let out a sigh.
"It is very nice." Zuko said. They all smiled. Even Kanna let a smile slip. Was this a kind of ritual to be accepted in the Water Tribe's lifestyle?
"I never expected a firebender to be in front of me, satisfied with my cooking." She said.
"It is delicious." Zuko said. "I-I don't even deserve it but thank you for the meal." Zuko said as he bowed his head, showing gratitude.
"Come on Zuko, there's no need to thank for something that we take for granted." Sokka said patting his shoulder. Zuko raised his head and looked at him with a puzzled look.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean, it's not like you didn't eat meals in the palace, right?" Sokka laughed.
"Well…Ozai was always telling us that food is earned. Isn't that how you do it here too?" Zuko asked.
Sokka Katara and Hakoda looked at each other in shock. Damn even Kanna was in shock.
"Um Zuko…not actually." Sokka said and he looked at his bowl. Suddenly he was not so hungry.
"Oh." Zuko said and he felt like he was completely fucked up. Well he was fucked up, Ozai made sure of that. But it would be nice to not get reminded by that often.
"But…what about when we were together in the Air Temple, or the Ember Island? You ate there." Katara said.
"Yeah. Because I was teaching Aang firebending." Zuko said. Sokka let out a sigh.
"Zuko, let's add this in the list of the things you must learn anew while you are here; When you were with us before the comet…we were giving you food because that was the right thing to do. Even if you didn't teach Aang, we would not let you starve. Food is not something you deserve or not. Food is just… food." Sokka said. Zuko's face made a sad scowl.
"Agni I am so…" Zuko started but he didn't want to swear in front of the Chief and his mother.
"No Zuko, you are not fucked up." Hakoda spoke for him, who in return received a 'language' scold by his mother. "You just learned some things in a wrong way when you were growing up. And now we are going to fix that."
"Let's just eat for now, chit chat and then go to sleep. I am kinda exhausted." Sokka yawned, changing the topic. Zuko was thanking him from the inside.
Katara laughed. "How are you tired? You didn't do anything while we were on the ship!" she accused him.
"Hey my leg was recovering, which as you know, broke when I fell from the big ass airship!" Sokka delivered.
"You did what?! Kanna and Hakoda both yelled in unison, the later spitting out a mouthful of soup first.
Zuko was just standing there between the kids, awkwardly staring at his bowl.
Some weeks before the raised voices of adults would give him a panic attack, but know he got only a tiny flinch. He was making progress. Slow, but at least it was progress.
Then he heard Sokka and Katara tried to reassure their family, making jokes and such. It was kinda…nice.
"Families are always like that?..." he thought.
This family in front of him was casually chatting, laughing, telling stories. Nothing like his family dinners.
"Anyway….you're right son, we're going hunting tomorrow. I want you two to be up early." Hakoda said.
Zuko was confused. Two?..
"Oh dad this is amazing! Hunting trip with you and Zuko? Hell yes!" Sokka yelled excited.
"Sokka. Language." Kanna commented.
"Sorry." Sokka replied.
Zuko looked at Hakoda.
"Me too?" he asked.
"Of course son. Here we all carry our own weight, and since many men came back from the war the food rate is low. We must go hunting the sooner as possible, after all, winter is just around the corner. And don't worry about the act of it- me and Sokka will show you how to use a spear and such." He said.
Zuko was shocked. Hakoda actually wanted to do something with him.
Like a true father.
"Of...Of course. I will be very happy to accompany you." Zuko said, trying to hide his blush.
Sokka smiled.
"Katara, I know you don't like chores, but your grandmother and the other women here will need your help." Hakoda said. "And probably your bending." He smiled. Katara smiled too.
"That's right. Until Pakku and more Northern Waterbenders come, Katara might be able to start rebuilding our village." Kanna said.
"That would be great." Katara said. Her waterbending skills would come in handy even in the everyday life in the village.
They finished eating- Sokka and Hakoda eating seconds and Zuko too shy to ask for one too- they started telling in short their adventures to Kanna. Sokka was rumbling uncontrollably, having Hakoda and Katara sighing and Kanna having more concerned thoughts by the second. Zuko preferred to keep quiet, but the others kept on encouraging him to talk.
After 2 hours of talking, they all went to their sleeping tents.
Sokka took Zuko outside the igloo, leading him in a nearby tent.
The temperature difference between in and out of the igloo was huge, Zuko thought. He already missed the warm feeling inside.
"Ok so, here you are. I know it is not much but I think we all got used to it by now." Sokka joked.
It was true, after so many weeks of travelling, camp was something that grew in them.
"If you are still cold, which I doubt, just ask Katara for more blankets. Or use your dragon breath I guess." Sokka said sheepishly. Zuko nodded.
"Thank you Sokka."
"No problem man. Goodnight!" he said and retreated to his own tent, which was just next to his.
"Goodnight." Zuko responded with a smile.
Inside of his tent there wasn't much. Just a thin wooden flooring with pelts and furs over it, a blanket and a makeshift pillow. Zuko let his bag on the side, grabbing out his dao swords and his Uncle's picture. Just like in the Western Air Temple. He grabbed some blue Water Tribe clothes Katara gave him while on the ship. A blue tunic, blue pants and some heavy boots, similar to what Sokka was wearing. He changed quickly into those, as he left his everyday Fire Nation clothes inside the bag. He wouldn't need them here. He lit the nearby candle by touching the wick. He put it in front of him on the floor, as he sat down in the unusual bed. He started meditating.
Uncle had familiarized him with meditating. It was the best way to control firebending. A calm mind and a proper breath were all that were needed.
The flame moved high and low in sync with his breathing. He was in control. He made a rule with himself to not firebend when he was here, not even a little spark. But as he tried his best not to in the ship for days now, he realized he needed it. He needed his fire.
Zuko inhaled. And exhaled.
After some hour, he blew out the candle. He covered himself with the blankets and closed his eyes. He thought about his Uncle in the Fire Nation. He thought about the others, Aang Toph and Suki. He thought about Azula. About Ozai.
He tried not to think about that last part. His former father was in prison, and he couldn't do anything to him. Here in the South Pole, Zuko was safe.
He let himself fall into deep sleep. Tomorrow he had to prove himself to Hakoda. He would give his best.