Katara had a productive day to say at least. From the moment she woke up, she started doing chores around the house. She cooked, helped her grandmother with washing laundry, drying them immediately after with her waterbending. She and some other few water benders from the north pole built a new igloo, making it big and spacious.
When she sat down near the campfire to take a break, she noticed some men running towards the village entrance. She looked towards the way they were looking, and she let out a laugh.
Her dad, brother and Zuko were dragging with ropes a big yak. It appeared their hunt was a success. She got up and went towards them.
The men took on from here, taking the ropes and dragging the dead animal to an igloo so they could skin it and cut it to portions. The boys looked exhausted. No wonder, with this weight they had to drag in the snow.
"You're back!" Katara said cheerfully. "You must be awfully tired. Why don't you go and rest? The lunch is ready, so we can eat afterwards."
"Thanks sweetheart." Hakoda said panting. "That's a good idea, some rest sounds wonderful right now." He said glancing at the boys. They looked more tired than him, but he couldn't complain. They did excellent work out there.
"Imma go to lie down. My back hurts." Sokka said grabbing his back like an old man.
"Alright son." Hakoda said and then he looked at Zuko.
"So?" Hakoda asked. Zuko was confused. "Am I supposed to do something?" Zuko thought.
"What is it?" Zuko asked.
"Won't you go and get some rest too?" Hakoda said. Zuko thought about it and nodded. He was pretty tired after all.
"If you don't want me for anything else…" Zuko said. Why was he speaking like a servant all of sudden? Hakoda laughed interrupting his thought.
"Well, if you promise me you are alright after, you know…" Hakoda said. Zuko perked up.
Katara was curious all of sudden. "What? What happened?" she asked glancing between the two.
"Nothing happened." Zuko responded with a hint of anger in his voice.
"Dad?" Katara asked. Hakoda looked at her and then to Zuko.
"It's up to Zuko to say. But the most important question is this; are you alright now son?" Hakoda asked. Zuko let out a sigh and nodded.
"Yes." He said.
"Good to hear that. Go on now." He said as he patted Zuko's shoulder. The former Fire Prince walked towards his tent with his hunting gear, leaving footprints in the snow behind him.
"I know I shouldn't say this behind Zuko's back but this morning he had a small breakdown." Katara said. Hakoda looked at her.
"Are you worried?" he asked.
"I am not sure. He is here for healing, but it seems he is getting hurt instead." She whispered.
"Katara, healing emotional wounds isn't easy. Often, in order to get better, you have to go through some hard points. And you know that." He touched her shoulder gently.
"I guess you're right." Her eyes were full of sadness. Hakoda sighed.
Zuko placed his spear near his mat, because a warrior always sleeps with his weapons nearby. He lied down exhausted. He was never good at hunting. When he and is uncle were refugees, he couldn't provide them with lots of food. Zuko could catch a fish here and there, but it wasn't enough. They'd eat mostly things they have bought from a small village or stolen.
He let out a frustrated growl. This day has been just perfect. He had a mental breakdown in the morning in front of Katara, and another one in front of Sokka and his father.
Maybe he wasn't supposed to be here after all. Maybe they were already tired of his bullshit.
He should probably go back to the fire nation and do something useful, like being the Fire Lord.
He was about to dwell more into his thoughts when Katara entered his tent. Zuko got up immediately, his instincts kicking in.
"Hey Zuko. I hope I don't intrude." She said.
"No. Is…everything ok?" Zuko asked glancing around his tent. He really should keep it more tidy but then again Katara has Sokka as a brother, so he doubted if she minded his weapons lying around like clothes.
"I should ask you the same." Katara said. She sighed. "Look Zuko, we know what happened in the morning, and then my dad tells me that something happened while you were away.."
"Katara, I told you it was nothing." Zuko said.
"I don't think it is nothing." She said crossing her arms around her waist. "I know you don't want to talk about this, but it would be nice for me to help you."
Zuko let out a growl that was mixed with sparks.
"What do you want to know? That I had the same breakdown as in the morning? That I was a complete failure at hunting and your dad said me otherwise? Meanwhile, I thought I was going to get hit?" Zuko started asking questions with anger in his voice.
Katara had to control her emotions when Zuko brought up the "hit" part.
"I figured this happened. Want to sit down, and talk about it more?" Katara asked him. Zuko stood there looking at her, then the tent entrance, then her again. He let a small growl and sat down to his bedding. Katara followed his movements.
"So let's start from the beginning." She said. Zuko shook his head in anxiety.
"You know I was stressed about the whole thing. That I wanted to be good- no perfect at it." Zuko said. Katara nodded.
"Well, I didn't listen to your advice. I wanted to, but I really couldn't. There are some things I learned in a specific way while growing up and…it's hard. It's hard to… change." Zuko spatted out.
"I understand. It is natural for you to feel that way." Katara said placing her hand carefully on his hand. Zuko resisted the urge to take it back.
"I hate it. I want to change, but it doesn't seem to be working. I am sure you are all tired of seeing me like this." Zuko said and averted his gaze to the fur under his legs.
"Don't you dare say that again!" Katara yelled ready to slap him. "I am worried about it too, but I don't want to just…abandon you! We will stay with you on this!" Katara said mentioning her family. Zuko let a small smirk.
"You sound like Toph." He said.
"Did you listen to what I just said?" Katara asked.
"Yeah, I did. I mean…I understand." Zuko said. "Alright. I will stay." He said smiling. Katara was about to smile when it hit her.
"Wai- you were planning on leaving?!" she shouted. Zuko bit his breath.
"Well I um…Kinda? I mean it wasn't your fault! No, you are good!" Zuko tried to explain himself with his amazing social skills. "I was thinking about it, cause you know, you heard me saying it just before- I won't do it now though! I promise."
Katara let an super exhausted sigh. "Ok, well, now we settled it and I am sure you won't be escaping the South Pole by swimming like the idiot you are…" she smiled, and Zuko returned it. "…I will go and help with the village repairs. You rest and join us for lunch after, ok?" she said getting up from the mat. Zuko nodded.
"Sure. I'll be there." He said and after Katara exited his tent he curled in the fur blankets and closed his eyes. He was very tired, he could use some hour of sleep.
Zuko opened his eyes and he immediately felt a lot better. He didn't know how long he had slept, but it helped him get his brain back together. Oh shit the lunch!
He quickly rose up from his bedding, rushing outside his tent. The sun hadn't set yet, so he didn't overslept much. He hoped. He didn't remember the setting hour of the sun in the poles. He announced himself before entering the igloo, where he found the family already eating. They all looked at him.
"Oh hey Zuko. Come sit, I'll get you some fish." Katara said and grabbed a plate. Zuko whispered a "sorry for being late" and sat besides Sokka. The boy swallowed before asking.
"Did you sleep well?"
"How do you know I was sleeping?" Zuko asked.
"I checked on you, idiot." Sokka said. Zuko felt stupid.
"Oh…right." Sokka laughed.
Zuko took his plate from Katara and started eating with the rest of them. The fish was fresh, it still didn't have any spices, but Zuko could really taste the salt of the ocean. He could really get used to this cuisine.
"Hakoda told me that you helped killing a yak. I am impressed." Kanna said. Zuko swallowed his bite hard.
"I didn't do anything really. Sokka and Chief here did all the work." Zuko said embarrassed. They all gave him a sympathetic look.
"Either way, you helped them carrying it. That was important too." Kanna said. Hakoda smiled. His mother was tough, but she would eventually turn around and like the boy.
Zuko stumbled a thank you and started eating again. That was unexpected coming from Kanna.
"Zuko, we and the kids are having a snowball fight in the afternoon. Wanna join us?" Sokka asked. Zuko looked at him.
"Snowball fight?" he asked.
"Don't tell me you never heard of it." Sokka asked shocked.
"I know what snow and fight are! Just…not a snowball fight." Zuko said.
"I swear to Tui, you are not leaving the South Pole until you try snowball fight." Sokka declared.
"Or penguin sledding." Katara added.
"Or ice dodging." Hakoda said smiling sipping his drink. They all looked at him shocked. Sokka's mouth was near the floor, Katara's and Kanna's eyes widened. Zuko looked confused but did not let out a strong reaction.
"Koda are you serious?" Kanna asked.
"Actually I made my mind about this a short time ago." He said.
"Like when?!" Sokka asked.
"When we were in the temple." Hakoda said. Zuko remembered now. Hakoda did said to him something like that when he was having a panic attack.
"I can't believe you are taking Zuko ice dodging! Why didn't you tell us before!?" Sokka yelled.
"Ehm…" Zuko said awkwardly "Chief I remember you saying that, but isn't a ritual like that really important? Can I really participate?"
"Only if you want to. If you pass you become a member of the tribe Zuko." Hakoda said.
"Hakoda, this is wrong. Ice dodging is only for the tribesmen!" Kanna said.
"Aang did it too. He isn't Water Tribe." Katara said. Sokka nodded happily.
"He is the Avatar. It's different." Kanna said not backing down.
"It's alright, If it is prohibited I won't do it. I don't want to insult your culture." Zuko said raising his hands.
"No Zuko, it is not prohibited. Mom, I love and respect you, but I am the Chief, and I will say if Zuko can participate or not. And after a long conversation with the boy, I decided that he has permition." Hakoda said. "Please understand me."
Kanna sighed. "I still don't understand why. Why the son of that monster? His family knew only cruelty. Did you forget about Kya?" she asked. Zuko lowered his head and took a sharp breath. He felt so guilty. Katara noticed and started whispering reassurances.
"No mom, I didn't forget, and I never will. The firelord and his family are enemies to me." Hakoda said. Zuko's head starting spinning. He was ready to start panicking. So was everything a lie? Did Hakoda actually hated him in the inside?
"But not Zuko. Zuko is different. He is a honorable man and I trust him. To my eyes, he is family." Hakoda said. Zuko looked up and met the Chief's blue eyes. They were the same. Kind and full with fatherly love. Zuko couldn't help but cry a little.
"Zuko buddy are you alright?" Sokka asked concerned. A second breakdown in the same day?
"I am fine." Zuko said weeping his eyes. "I just…thank you. I…You told me before many times that I…could be considered family, but I…didn't let myself believe that fully."
"Zuko…" Katara said.
Silence.
After some seconds, Hakoda decided to break that silence.
"Ok kids, finish your meal and go play with the others." Hakoda said. The teens nodded. They finished their meal in silence and exited the igloo after that, leaving Hakoda and Kanna have a discussion.
Zuko and the siblings went at the center of the village near the campfire where some little kids were waiting. The kids were very young, not over eleven years old.
"Sokka! You are late!" A small kid said.
"Sorry sorry!" Sokka said but for a reply he got a snowball thrown to his face.
The kids laughed and so did Katara. Zuko let a small chuckle.
"You little!..." Sokka said wiping his face, then rushing to grab a handful of snow in his hands, shifting it to a ball. The kids yelled and started running in all directions. Sokka started throwing snowballs towards them, some of them finding target. Katara too has started running throwing and receiving some balls herself. Zuko stood there not knowing what was going on until he felt a snowball crush on his parka.
"Hey!" he yelled. But he wasn't angry this time. More like "Watch it" or "Why are you hitting me?"
"Zuko, you are supposed to throw a snowball too! Don't stand like a target there! Run and get in offense!" Sokka yelled from a distance.
"Oh..right!" Zuko said and started mimicking the movements the other did. It was simple, just make a ball with your hands, throw it on someone and run so you wouldn't be an easy target. Easy. But he still wondered how this stuff was any fun.
Ok, Zuko never had this fun in his whole life.
Zuko managed to dodge all of the snowballs directed at him (the kids were shocked of his agility) and landed a few shots here and there. After that, they formed teams- some kids wanted to team up with Sokka cause he was their warrior and some others decided to go with their new firebender friend, who they were scared of him at first, but after he showed his "fighting" skills, they adored him.
Katara was playing a both party game and she was nailing them. She used her waterbending to win ok, but no one said a rule against bendin. Sokka had to say otherwise when a giant snowball landed on him. Everyone laughed. Zuko laughed too. He let out a real, heartwarming laugh he thought he had lost these last four years.
Katara and Sokka noticed. It was strange to see Zuko laughing and having a blast playing snowball fight, but they accepted it smiling. It was nice seeing some progress.
Before the game, Zuko knew that the day had been awful.
After the game, Zuko knew that the day had been great.