The next few days Zuko got used to the way of living in the Southern Water Tribe.
He got up with the sun, he couldn't really help it, and after eating breakfast with the family, he went out to the village to do his share of chores.
At first, the villagers were intimidated and unhappy about the Fire Lord's son coming to live with them, and expected the former Prince to be a mean, murderous and spoiled brat. The one that would complain about the living conditions and the one that would treat everyone like a barbarian (like the other Nations assumed they were). The men of the tribe were well aware of the Chief's orders to not lay a finger on him, so they kept quiet, but they still watched him with untrustful eyes here and there. The kid may helped end the war, but there was no harm to keep an eye on him in case the Fire Nation blood that was flowing through his veins suddenly turn him to a murder machine.
Then the hunting trip happened, and word spread quickly that the ashmaker actually helped too. The men were kinda impressed. Who knew that a noble would do something like that?
After that their kids, who grew in an environment to hate and fear firebenders, came to like him and even played snowball fight with him. It appeared that they didn't feel any discomfort for the boy now.
And for the next week, they saw how Zuko acted around the village. He was the opposite of being lazy; Bato and Hakoda literally begged him to take a breather and Zuko kept on saying that he could do more.
"Zuko, son, for the love of Tui, rest for a bit!" Hakoda said trying to take the big pot of water Zuko dragged towards a tent. It weighed more than Zuko himself, but the boy didn't even think to stop.
Zuko was sweating a bit but it was normal. Since morning, the kid has collected wood for the fire, helped gut fishes, sew some clothes with Katara and sharpened their weapons with Sokka. He also heated water for every home (Hakoda, Bato, he and the others have had a meeting with the villagers to discuss if he was allowed to firebend and finally they agreed that Zuko could, but if he became hostile or attacked them, they would kill him on sight. Zuko didn't complain. He thanked them instead.)
"I thought you said that everyone has to carry their weight here." Zuko said resisting.
"You did enough for today." Hakoda said.
"Yeah but-…" Zuko tried to say but was interrupted by Hakoda.
"No buts. Go to your tent and rest." Hakoda said, finally taking the pot from Zuko.
Bato tried not to laugh but failed anyway.
"Ha ha, your son is something else Koda. It reminds me of you when you were at his age." Bato said, patting Zuko's shoulder proudly.
Hakoda just let out a chuckle. Zuko's cheeks were flushing red even at the cold climate. He was called son by Hakoda many times by now, which was still a little strange, and now Bato called him that too. Not to mention that Zuko almost called him dad the other morning. And let's not forget the time he actually called him that in the Air Temple after they hugged and shed tears.
Zuko had to talk about it with him.
"Ok I am going to find some fresh wood with the men. See you in the night." Bato said and left. Hakoda waved a goodbye and proceeded to carry the pot with water to it's destination. Zuko followed him.
After Hakoda left the pot in the tent, he turned around to see Zuko, with a questionable look.
"Zuko? I thought I told you to go rest." Hakoda said with his arms crossed. Zuko really tried not to flinch. Unfortunately, his body wasn't as obedient as his mind and he flinched a little, barely noticeable. Hakoda caught it though.
"Oh Zuko, I am sorry, I didn't mean to sound that way. I just want you to rest, that's all." Hakoda said quickly and Zuko noticed that the man wanted to hug him but restrained himself in the case he triggered him. Zuko respected that a lot.
"It is fine Chief, really." Zuko said with a smile. Hakoda seemed to let a sigh of relief. He almost thought that he was the second worst father in the world. (See, Ozai took the first place all for himself.)
"Zuko, how many times I have to tell you to drop the formalities? Call me whatever you like." Hakoda said.
"That's…what I want to talk about." Zuko said, looking him in the eyes. "Can we…?" Zuko asked. Hakoda thought about it.
"Want to talk about it while we are fishing?" Hakoda asked.
"Um… sure." Zuko said. "I guess. I haven't really tried fishing here."
"Great. Meet me here in ten minutes. I am bringing our gear and we leave." He said and went to pack his stuff.
After several hours, they were both in a wooden Water Tribe boat in the ocean between the icebergs.
Hakoda taught Zuko how to use the net and then proceeded to show him how to fish with a rod.
"I think it is biting." Zuko said. Hakoda touched the fishing line and felt the vibrations. True, a fish took the bait.
"Ok." He said and grabbed Zuko's hands to guide him. "Let's pull It a little…nice…but not too fast, it might get away. Normally we want to tire it. Pull again now…" he said. Zuko was letting his movements to be guided by Hakoda's hands. It felt weird, like that time when they went hunting together with Sokka. Hakoda was doing that father thingy with him.
One more reason for him to ask.
He was interrupted by his train of thoughts when he felt his hands pulling the rod all the way behind, the fish following the line.
The fish landed between their feet. It wasn't big, but not small either. Zuko kept looking at it, watching how it jumped here and there struggling to breathe.
"I…I did it?..." Zuko said. Hakoda touched his shoulder. Zuko raised his head for his eyes to meet Hakoda's kind ones.
"You did it." He said smiling. Zuko smiled too. He did it! He caught a fish!
It was funny how happy he felt considering what he did was something his past self wouldn't cheer over.
Hakoda looked very proud. Zuko smiled.
"Now…" Zuko said. "With your permission, I want you to tell you something. If that's alright." Zuko said. Hakoda took his hand from his shoulder but his smile did not fade away.
"Sure, fire away. Or better yet, not." Hakoda laughed with his own dad joke. Zuko took a little longer to get it. But then he chuckled too. It was stupid, but it was also nice. It reminded him of Uncle.
"Well…I want to tell you about the fact that…Argh, remember back at the Air Temple? You came into my room at night, and said that you see me like a son?" Zuko said, and he just realized that it was harder for him to talk about. The awkward part of him was showing.
"Yeah. I remember." Hakoda answered.
"Alright. Well, back then…after you said that to me…I kinda…well firstly I am very sorry about it! It was kinda embarrassing for me… but I cannot imagine how bad it was for you!" Zuko tried to say, his words coming out worse by the minute. Hakoda tried to follow Zuko's train of thought. Then it finally hit him.
"You called me dad." He deadpanned. Zuko wanted to fall into the water and freeze.
"I am not mad if that's what you think." The man quickly said, his palms open in a reassuring way. "In fact…it was quite flattering." Ha said smiling.
Zuko had to hear it again. "What?"
"I said that it is alright. You know Zuko, even if you called me dad by accident back then, I didn't get embarrassed, or offended. Quite the opposite actually." He said.
"Oh." Zuko could only say. "Thank you." He said. "I mean, honestly, it kinda slipped back then. And I thought you would be mad." Zuko didn't tell him that he almost called him dad again in the other morning.
"Not at all son." Hakoda said. Zuko smiled. The man before him was understanding.
"You also call me son a lot." He said. Then he froze a little. Did it sound like he was accusing him? Shit. "I am sorry!" He quickly said.
"About what?" Hakoda asked.
"For …accusing you." Zuko said. He still beat himself over not being respectful. Disrespect was something that he feared a lot, because the last time he did it, it didn't end very well. Would Hakoda have to throw him off the boat?...
"No, no, don't worry about it, I didn't took it that way. And about that…" Hakoda said. "I guess it is because you really feel like my son, you know?" Hakoda said. Zuko gasped. He thought that Hakoda called him that because it was like a Water Tribe slang or something. Like the Flameo Hotman Aang kept calling him. But now he thought about it, the Chief never called Aang or any of the other boys back in the Temple that way.
"R-really?" Zuko asked. Hakoda nodded.
"Sorry, if you don't want to be called that…."
"No." Zuko said. "I don't mind actually. I think… I don't know. It is very strange."
"Being called son by a stranger?" Hakoda asked amused.
"Just… being called son." Zuko whispered, but Hakoda heard it. His smile disappeared.
"…Ozai never called you that?" Hakoda asked. To be honest, he wasn't that surprised. That monster was incapable of love. Zuko sighed.
"He never wanted me as his son. He hurt me, banished me, tried to kill me…The signs were all there. I told you the story. So…I guess not." He chuckled sadly.
Hakoda suddenly had the urge of ripping Ozai's eyeballs out.
Silence.
"Sokka and Katara are so lucky…" Zuko whispered.
"What?" Hakoda asked, too loudly for the liking of them both. Zuko flinched.
"Sorry! Sorry. I'll be quiet. I didn't mean it!" Zuko said trying to control his breath. Hakoda cursed.
"No, no Zuko I am sorry. I yelled again. I am not mad at you. Just…I was surprised of what you said." Hakoda said. Zuko made a nod slowly . When he heard a yell by the man and Kanna back then at his first night (when Sokka and Katara told them the dangerous things they did) he just flinched but didn't panic. But this time the yell was directed at him. So Zuko couldn't help but automatically spill out pleads. Pathetic, he thought.
Anyhow, Zuko almost cursed under his breath. He didn't want the Chief to hear this. Oh well, might as well get over with it. Sooner the better.
"Sorry. I…am envious. I am sorry. It's just….I see how you treat your kids. It is amazing. You actually love them and you mean it." Zuko said, staring at the dead fish between his feet.
Hakoda didn't know how to respond to that.
"My father never loved me. He never will. Your kids… are the luckiest in the world to have you as their father." He said.
Silence again.
They remained like for some minutes, each in their own thoughts. Hakoda picked up the net, and it appeared they caught many fish. Zuko caught another fish with his rod, and Hakoda praised him. Zuko smiled but his smile disappeared when he recalled the conversation they had a few minutes ago. It was awkward with a dose of melancholy. They stood there when suddenly Hakoda spoke.
"Ozai is a huge fool to not want you as his son. You are a good kid."
Zuko was surprised. "You mean it?"
"Of course. Every father must be proud of their children." He said.
Zuko couldn't help but feel even sadder. "Well…not mine apparently." Hakoda noticed.
"I told you that before and I will do it again…" Hakoda started. "I am proud of you, Zuko."
For a moment Zuko was ready to burst into tears. He succeeded.
"Thank you." He whispered. "Chief I… I don't know how to thank you."
"About what?" Hakoda asked. Zuko saw the similarity he and Sokka had.
"For everything." Zuko said. But he wanted to say more. For accepting me, for forgiving me, for being proud of me, for hugging me, for caring about me, for not hitting me, for making me feel loved.
For being a father to me.
And so, so much more.
Hakoda smiled, as he realized what Zuko meant.
"You are welcome son. You don't have to thank me or anything, I do it because I would never forgive myself if I didn't." he answered.
Zuko really, really didn't ask for all these emotions that overwhelmed him.
Hakoda smiled. "Do you want a hug?" he asked. Zuko nodded, as he wiped his eyes, trying to stop the tears from flowing on his face.
Hakoda took the teenager in his strong arms and he could swear that the kid was shaking.
Zuko embraced the hug. It was the nicest sensation he had experienced all these weeks. He felt safe when Hakoda hugged him.
"Let it all out…" Hakoda said to him, as he kissed his forehead. Zuko didn't need to hear that.
He broke.
After they remained like that for several minutes, they broke the hug.
"How about we go back to the village? I am sure you want some rest." Hakoda said.
"Yeah. That would be nice." Zuko answered.
Hakoda started paddling towards the direction of their home.
When they arrived after an hour, he looked behind him to see that the boy had fallen asleep. Hakoda smiled. He tied the boat to the docks and made a signal to two nearby men to come and collect the fish and their equipment. He grabbed Zuko slowly and carried him towards his tent. The boy was pretty light for his age. Kanna would have to change that. Hakoda smiled.
He arrived at Zuko's tent. He placed the sleeping teen on the bed and covered him with the fur blankets. Zuko made a small sound. The man smiled as it reminded him of his kids when they were little and carried their sleeping forms to their bed. Then they would wake up and ask for a story. Hakoda would always say yes to their demand and tell them a different story every night.
"Sweet dreams son." He whispered as he kissed his forehead again and exited his tent.
Hakoda was indeed, the proudest father in the world.
And ,bless Tui and La, no one would say otherwise.