Southern Water Tribe
9
He clung to the rim of the saddle as tightly as he could, vertigo rushing inside him. While he hadn't quite experienced fear of heights before, it was hard to feel at ease when you soared miles above ground, even if the bulky bison, and the strength of the Avatar's confidence, should have eased Kino's anxiety. But as was clear by his heavy breathing and wide eyes, that wasn't at all the case.
"Come on, didn't you say you wanted to try flying one day?" Katara taunted him, smirking as she relaxed on the saddle. "You have nothing to worry about, Kino. Appa is as good an airbender as Aang is."
"I-I get that, but it's still scary!" he exclaimed, his voice shriller than ever. "H-h-how do you airbenders live like this? How are you not scared of just… falling and becoming bender pudding when you splash against solid ground?"
"Because airbenders could easily save themselves if they fall off things!" Aang called back from Appa's neck, where he sat as he led his bison through the sky. His amusement was apparent: Kino's nervousness was hilarious to him, which wasn't common for Kino. It was usually Katara who made fun of him, not the Avatar.
"Well then, make sure you save me if I fall, too!" Kino squeaked, trembling as he glanced down at the snow, the cold breeze buffeting against his black curls.
Aang chuckled and closed his eyes, allowing the wind to brush against his hair, too. Sometimes he missed being bald, even if he was well-accustomed to his hair after all these years. It came in handy to grow out your hair in the South Pole, for it was a natural layer of protection against the merciless cold… but Aang would have gladly continued to abide by Air Nomad tradition and shave it all off if he were no longer at risk of being discovered.
For the risk still existed, regardless of whether Zuko, Suki and Kino were perfectly trustworthy. Any hypothetical foreigner to come into South Pole lands couldn't be allowed to know that Aang was the last of the airbenders, much less the Avatar. Hiding his identity was essential, and if certain plans bore fruit soon, it would become even more urgent to keep it hidden in the future…
Aang swallowed hard as he glanced down at the Tribe, which loomed ahead. They had flown a couple of laps through the terrains near it, but it was time to land again. Hakoda would be expecting him and Katara by now.
"Well, as we did promise this would be a short ride… you're going back to solid ground in a bit, Kino," said Aang, glancing back at him with a sad smile.
"What, so soon?" Katara asked, surprised. Aang nodded.
"You know we shouldn't dawdle," he said. Her eyes narrowed upon understanding his intent, and she nodded promptly as Appa drifted towards the village again.
"Say, is he the last of his kind too?" Kino asked thoughtlessly as he stroked Appa's fur, garnering a glare from Katara.
"Kino!" she berated him, and he flinched.
"S-sorry, I didn't really mean to say anything insensitive, never mind…" he said, bashful and apologetic.
Despite Kino's takeback, Aang only smiled sadly at him and shrugged.
"I'm not sure, just as I'm not completely sure that I'm the last of mine…" he said. "Because who knows, maybe others got away from the slaughter. Right?"
"Hopefully," said Kino, biting his lip. "Because we should find a girl, so that Appa can get busy with her! Haha!"
"Kino," Katara growled now, looking at him in disgust. "I don't think that's any of your business, now, is it?"
"Hey, it's just common sense talking!" said Kino, beaming. "It's just like Aang, you know? He has to get married and make babies as soon as possible to make sure the airbending is passed on to a new generation!"
Aang's entire face reddened, and Katara's eyes widened. Kino's proud smile was tinged with malice, too.
"Though, now I think of it, maybe he shouldn't marry," he said, tapping his chin. "He should find lots of girls, heaps and heaps of them, and get them all pregnant, so…!"
"Kino!" Katara bellowed now, her irritation at dangerous levels now. Her cheeks were red too, outraged and protective of Aang, as usual. "What the hell are you talking about?! Did you forget all your human decency down on the ground?! Or maybe at the settlement, heck, maybe all the way in the Fire Nation?!"
"Hey, no need to be so grouchy, I'm just saying he should be efficient about rebuilding the airbending population," Kino declared, proudly. "If I was in the same situation, I'd definitely give that a shot…"
"I wonder how many girls would let you get away with that," said Aang. Katara snorted.
"Considering he can't convince any to allow him to woo them in the tribe, I question that even a single one would," she said, shaking her head. Aang smiled awkwardly while Kino glared at Katara.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Katara, I wouldn't do that even if girls did want me to woo them," said the Avatar, smiling awkwardly. "Some Air Nomads were quite liberal about having multiple partners… but I'm not like that."
"That's good," said Katara, smiling at him. "You'll… you'll make a fine husband for whoever you end up marrying, no doubt."
"R-right. I should hope so…" Aang said, grinning too though feeling a little cold inside. Was she being evasive about being a potential match for him…? Or was she completely oblivious to his interest? Did she see him as a friend only, perhaps? That was entirely possible, wasn't it…?
Kino huffed and rolled his eyes as Appa finally landed inside the village's enclosure. Nearby children came rushing towards him, eager to play, and the bison licked a few of them while also groaning in that tender and deep way that was unique to him. Aang leapt off the saddle, smiling proudly at his partner, and the children rushed towards him, begging him to take them for a ride, too.
"One day you'll have to honor your promises to these kids, you know?" Katara told him, smiling and patting his shoulder before making her way to her father's igloo.
Hakoda was already waiting by the door, and Aang swallowed hard upon seeing him. He had agreed to be part of these meetings, and of these operations… but some part of him was apprehensive still. He dreaded things wouldn't turn out as positively as Hakoda and his closest associates expected them to.
"You really can't take advantage of any openings I give you, huh?"
Aang frowned as he looked at Kino, who had successfully dismounted Appa by now. The former soldier glanced at him with a judgmental leer, and Aang grimaced, utterly confused.
"What opening, exactly…?"
"You know, just tell her you wouldn't have kids with ten thousand women because the one you love is her! How hard can it be, really?" Kino pouted, as Aang blushed and glared at him.
"W-well, it's hard! Harder than you think! When have you ever confessed your feelings for a girl?" he asked.
"I did it all the time," Kino declared. Aang's eyebrow twitched. "The girl who sold flowers near my house, then this other one who used to recite poetry, and one I went to school with, and…"
"How many of them accepted you?" Aang asked, his voice deadpan by now. Kino twitched.
"T-that's beside the point!" he cried out, and Aang sighed.
"Whatever you say," said Aang, shaking his head. "I'll just take my time and tell her how I feel when I'm ready. And that'll be when she's ready to hear it. So, yeah, with that settled… I'll see you later."
"Oh, you have that… that meeting?" Kino asked. Aang glanced at him with unease and nodded.
"I know you don't like being left out, but… it's for your own good," said Aang, smiling awkwardly. "I'll see you at the igloo later."
"Fine…" Kino pouted, watching as Aang walked Appa into his refuge, herding him away from his many fans.
These meetings were growing more and more ominous in the eyes of the former Fire Nation soldier. The first time this had happened, he had dismissed it as something boring, probably matters of administering food or resources, stuff he had no say in. But the more often they happened, the more he felt Aang and Katara were concealing important things from him. He could see it in the way they would fall silent, deep in thought, whenever he tried to talk with them right after those meetings. He would notice it in their quiet conversations during the weekly feasts at the tribe's central fireplace, conversations they didn't want him to be part of. And it was all the more apparent that something was happening when more and more warriors started joining those meetings: right now, Kino could see Hakoda welcoming other Tribesmen right after Aang, some of whom Kino had learned had been Chiefs of their own villages before they had gathered into a single one.
Whatever was going on had to be serious, and yet he wasn't allowed to find out what it was. Even if he had his suspicions, Aang and Katara had refused to confirm or deny anything. As far as he could tell, the whole tribe might be aware of whatever they were discussing… but he was being carefully kept out of the loop.
Well, not just him. He was quite certain there were two other people who were in the dark, much like he was…
He bit his lip, wondering if they even knew of those secretive meetings. Going by how aloof Zuko tended to be, constantly minding his own business, Kino suspected otherwise…
It couldn't hurt to tell him about them, could it?
Resolving to pay the happy family a visit, Kino smiled and made his way cheerfully towards the two igloos he frequented the most. The area was growing a bit crowded as of late, though: Yuro and Siku's igloo was right next to Zuko and Suki's, and they were already expecting a child of their own. The two had been married three months earlier, and it hadn't taken much time for the young wife to seek out medical advice after growing chaotically sick for several weeks without improvement. Both Kanna and Katara had known quickly to diagnose her with a very demanding child, and Siku was as good as bedridden right now, to avoid further complications during the early months of her pregnancy. Kino considering stopping by to wish a speedy recovery to Siku, but he guessed it would be best not to bother them. If she was supposed to stay resting in bed, he would only cause her unnecessary trouble. No, he should just head to Zuko and Suki's place, as he had intended to, all along.
He could hear the clutter of plates and pans, and he guessed it meant they were cleaning up their lunch by now. He took a deep breath, put on his brightest smile and knocked on the door.
"Hey there, anyone home?" he called, enthusiastically.
"Nope. No one's here," Zuko's unmistakable voice responded, even as Gruff, the family's pet and guardian wolf-dog, barked at the door. Kino pouted, but only briefly: Suki was quick to scold her husband for his mischief.
"Zuko, don't be silly. Yeah, we're here, Kino!" she called back at the door. "You can come in."
"Mari's awake, Suki, and she's going to…" Zuko groaned, as Kino pushed the door open and smiled brightly at the domestic scene that was Zuko and Suki's igloo.
It was a mix of tidy and messy, but in the expected way for a couple with a child and a dog: toys were scattered around the igloo, as were small baby cups and children's clothes, such as the socks that Mari had surely removed when her parents weren't watching. As Zuko was busy skinning the prey he had caught in his latest hunt, and Suki was cleaning the dishes, Mari was on the loose and no doubt ready to wreak havoc.
She was six-months-old now, even if, to Kino, it felt like she had been born only a few days ago. Her eyes were sharp and intelligent, but she was, indeed, a child. As such, there were several things about Mari that were utterly inexplicable, such as her profound dislike of Kino. Therefore, as soon as she saw him in the igloo's threshold, she made a face of irritation and growled in rejection towards him. Within moments, she crawled all the way to Zuko's side while keeping a wary eye on Kino.
The former soldier was as reckless as ever, though, and he moved past Gruff, who greeted him with a few barks, and instead approached the little girl with what he hoped was a friendly smile.
"Look at you, Mari! You're an adorable little lady, that you are! Is your daddy teaching you how to skin animals?"
Mari only pressed tighter to Zuko, and now she whimpered in that way that usually meant a crying bout was on its way. Zuko groaned and gave Kino a pointed glare, which sent Kino away, pouting just as Mari was.
"Goodness, what did I ever do to her? She hates me for no reason," he shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest as he sat before the fire. Zuko scoffed.
"You keep demanding for her attention when she's busy doing other things. Of course she doesn't like you," he retorted, carefully moving the knife across the deer-elk's skin, the sharp end carefully directed away from where Mari was huddled against him.
"Busy doing other things?" Kino repeated, looking at Zuko blankly. "Like… sleeping, crying and pooping? I mean, she doesn't have a particularly busy schedule…"
"It's certainly busier than yours, if you're showing up here unannounced in the middle of the day," Zuko retorted. Kino pouted.
"You've gotten way grouchier since you became a dad, Prince Zuko! Isn't that right, Suki?"
"Oh, only once in a while. When he's cuddling with Mari he's happier and brighter than on a day of sunshine," Suki smirked. Zuko huffed, shaking his head while blushing lightly. "He's like Gruff that way. Both ridiculously moody until they're spending time with her."
"It's good to cherish your time with your kids, or so people say," said Kino, biting his lip. "I'll find out how that works when I have my own, I suppose!"
"Heh. Good luck with that," said Zuko, with a smirk. Suki glared at him.
"Zuko! Stop being a jerk!" she said, and Zuko sighed and looked away, pointedly.
"Well, at least he listens to you," Kino smiled happily at Zuko's silence. "Goes to show who's the dominant spouse here!"
"Kino…!" Zuko growled, in a dangerous tone. Not that Kino's words were off-base, but it wasn't nice of him to comment on their relationship at leisure as he just had.
"Relax, I'm just messing around. Besides, you've been insulting me since I entered the igloo, I deserve a chance for a little revenge," he pouted. Zuko sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Why are you here, Kino, really?" he grunted. "How do you not have anything better to do than to come check if Mari likes you yet?"
"Well, I actually had something to talk about with you… and Suki," said Kino, watching as Mari's fear of him was replaced by intrigue regarding a nearby toy. She crawled towards it, recklessness glowing through her gold eyes. "I mean, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one in the dark about this, but I guessed I'd check if my assumptions were, well, close to the truth…"
"What are you talking about?" Zuko sighed, almost looking at Kino pleadingly so he'd get to the point. Kino cleared his throat, grimacing awkwardly.
"Just… all those meetings. You must have noticed them, haven't you?" Kino said. Zuko frowned.
"What about them?" he said, shrugging as he continued to work. By then Gruff had returned to his side, where he had been before Kino's arrival, and Zuko tossed some chunks of raw meat for the faithful dog to chew on.
"You know, I'm not invited. Neither are you two," said Kino, biting his lip. "And when I'm with Katara and Aang they won't say anything about them, they're just so tight-lipped it's kind of scary. I… I keep thinking they're planning something big. Something crazy. Something they think we'd get in the way of, like… like an attack on the Fire Nation."
Suki set down her plates and glanced at Kino with uncertainty. But Zuko only raised an eyebrow, without interrupting his work.
"And… that concerns us how?" he said. Even Suki was surprised by his response.
"W-what do you mean, how?" Kino exclaimed. "I know we're no longer living there, but we're Fire Nation people, you and me! I-it's… it was our home, once. While I don't like the war and I'm happier here than I'd ever been, I… I don't want Hakoda to go to war against them again…"
"I'd be concerned about Hakoda's wellbeing, no doubt," Zuko sighed. "I guess it is worrisome, in that regard, but… Aang's destiny is supposed to be to bring back balance. Maybe that's what he's trying to do."
"But… at what cost?" Kino said, looking at Zuko hopelessly. "I… I don't want him to die at your father's hand. It'd be so horrible. A-and Katara, and Hakoda…"
"I don't want that to happen either, but… it's up to them to decide what they're willing to sacrifice to change the world," Zuko said. "All things considered, though… they'd definitely be crazy if they hope to take on my father's armies with the Tribe's warriors only."
"Maybe that's not what they're trying to do," Suki suggested. "I mean… didn't they mention sometimes that they were hoping to rescue Sokka? Might be that they think it's time to try…"
"Rescue Sokka?" Zuko repeated, skeptical. "Well, that's going to fail for reasons that have nothing to do with my father, then…"
"Do you think your sister would hurt them if they tried to take Sokka away?" Kino asked. Zuko shrugged.
"I doubt she'd take it silently, at least," Zuko said. "And truthfully, antagonizing my sister may be more dangerous than antagonizing my father. She's… well, getting on her bad side is a terrible idea."
"You really think so?" Suki asked, frowning. "Your father is a much worse person than she is…"
"No doubt, but that doesn't mean Azula is a nice and forgiving person either," Zuko said.
"And if she cares about Sokka the way you guys say she does… yeah, that couldn't end well," sighed Kino, "And that's what worries me, you know? Even if it's just a small extraction mission or whatever it is, I can't imagine they'd make it very far in their plan before someone catches them. And after they're caught, well…"
"I guess it's a risk, but then again, we're also talking about the Avatar. As far as anyone in the rest of the world knows, Aang's been dead for a century," Zuko said. "They won't be prepared to fight him, and he'll have better odds of success in a rescue mission than anyone else would."
"Well, that leads to another concern, one I thought you might voice eventually, Zuko…" said Suki, surprising her husband as she slipped closer to them, taking her seat beside him. "This operation, as you'd call it, might not be some silent, quick thing that won't affect other people. It could be an invasion, of the magnitude of the White Lotus's attack on the Capital, if not bigger. It could have catastrophic results, for everyone we care about. It's not just Aang, Katara and Hakoda… it's also all our friends from the Fire Nation, Zuko. Most of them have nothing to do with the war, and they disagree with it altogether…"
"True," Zuko conceded, frowning. "But… if Hakoda's smart about this, that won't happen, or at least, I guess so. Hakoda has to know they can't expect to outclass the Fire Nation army, not even if another eclipse miraculously zapped out all the firebending, since there's earthbenders in the army these days, too. So, since he's a good leader, I'm pretty sure he has a much more complicated and intelligent plan than you expect, Kino."
"But how can he expect any of his plans to work?" Kino said, almost pleadingly now. "He doesn't know the Fire Nation's Capital, he's never been there. He doesn't know enough about its defenses, he doesn't know about the underground tunnels in the city: how can he set up a rescue mission or an invasion without knowing any of these things?"
"If he did know about them, would you be reassured?" Zuko asked, raising his eyebrows. Kino grimaced but sighed in defeat.
"Maybe," he said. "But I still would feel uneasy. I just… I don't know what they're up to for real, and that worries me. If it's something small and careful, I'll be a little less worried… but the more often they meet, the more I worry that it's something huge."
"Then, you're not only worried that he's doing what he's doing, but you're also thinking about how to help him do it right?" Zuko asked, raising his eyebrows. Kino froze. "Say… who are you trying to protect, the Fire Nation or the Water Tribe?"
"Why can't I try to protect them both?" Kino said, with sad eyes. "I like it here, but… that doesn't mean I hate the Fire Nation."
"I guess I don't hate it either but… I can't say I mind if Hakoda wants to strike at my father's regime in any way," Zuko said. "He deserves it."
"That's beside the question," said Suki, sighing. "If Hakoda strikes at your father and dies in the process, it's as good as expecting a mosquito bite to kill an elephant-rhino…"
"If the mosquito carries a disease, he might just pull it off," Kino admitted, tapping his chin. Suki looked at him skeptically.
"The point is, if this is what Hakoda wants to do, he shouldn't do it without being advised by people who have a better understanding of what he'll go up against," said Suki. "I know we're not that knowledgeable about the Fire Nation's politics, but maybe the three of us can help in other ways."
"Maybe he doesn't trust us enough yet," said Zuko, unknowingly striking upon Kino's main fear. The soldier eyed him sadly, his heart sinking. "I mean, all three of us are officially part of the Tribe now, but we know that doesn't mean they see us as though we really belonged here. We're welcome outsiders, but outsiders all the same…"
"And maybe they want to protect us," Suki said. "I mean, yes, we're outsiders, and Hakoda has done his best to make us feel welcome here. But as it is, I doubt he'd ask anyone to make sacrifices for the Tribe's sake, or for Sokka's sake, be that as it may…"
"Whatever this is, it's not for Sokka's sake, I can guarantee that," Zuko said. "I don't doubt he loves his Tribe and wants to see his family again, but he was more than just content by Azula's side. All things considered, he'd have to be a bigger idiot than he already was not to sit back and enjoy being her favorite slave."
"That makes it sound sick," said Suki, grimacing. "I mean… I guess it's one way to put it, but the way they acted… it was like they were best friends rather than master and slave. I look back sometimes, and remember how hostile she could be towards me… and then I think about how her mood seemed to lift immediately when she was with him. Granted, I wasn't anyone important to her, but… no one else had that effect on her. No one else mattered the way he did. They were partners, Zuko. Equals."
"Which only bolsters my point," said Zuko, shrugging. "Who would give up that kind of privilege just to return to living in an igloo, skinning animals, fighting the unbearable cold, with nothing to look forward to other than the eventual bonfire nights? It'd be a complete waste. Hell, he even had more sway over my father than I do. He'd be stupid to give that up, no matter how much he may want to come home."
"And, uh, if he really were in love with the Princess…" said Kino. Zuko shrugged.
"If he really is, which… still is a strange concept to me, though I guess if someone could be in love with her, it's him. But anyways, if he is, he'd never want to leave her," he said. "I sure as hell wouldn't give up Suki for my family's sake. I wouldn't give her up even if they were better than the mess they are. When it comes to this kind of love, you simply don't let it go, no matter what."
Suki smiled a little, and Kino had the distinct feeling the woman was holding back the urge to jump in her husband's arms to kiss him, despite they'd been arguing on opposite sides of their discussion so far. Still, she held back from doing as much, and Kino smiled uneasily.
"I guess, but they don't have your kind of love, right?" said Kino, gesturing at Mari, who was now crawling all over the igloo, on her way to her mother, the toy she'd found safely tucked in her diaper. "They can't get married or have a kid or… well, what most people do when they're in a relationship. So…"
"That's not how love works, Kino," said Suki, picking up Mari and smiling as she brushed some of her daughter's hair out of her face. Upon an attempt to remove the toy from the diaper, Mari grabbed it herself and refused to relinquish it to her mother. Suki merely sighed before focusing on their conversation again. "When you truly love someone it's not just a matter of having babies and getting married. I always had thought Zuko would eventually come to his senses and find a noblewoman instead…"
"What…? You call that coming to my senses?" Zuko said, his face a grimace of disgust. "Suki, please…"
"I know, yes, you don't think that'd be an upgrade and I'm lucky for it," she laughed, as she sat by the fire along with them. "But ultimately, Zuko, I didn't know for sure that we'd end up having this kind of life together. And yet, I… I still loved Zuko, I still wanted to be with him, I still wanted nothing but to make him happy. When we woke up together every morning on the ship, sailing into the unknown, I saw that smile on his face and I just wanted to do whatever I could to make sure he still felt like smiling that way. That… that's what love really is about, Kino. And if that's how Sokka feels about the Princess, maybe he doesn't need kids or marriage or anything material. Maybe he can't touch her, maybe he can't hold her, maybe every gesture of affection is forbidden for them… but that wouldn't have to mean he loves her any less than I love Zuko, or than Zuko loves me."
"Huh. I get it," said Kino, nodding. "And if that's how he feels, Hakoda will end up causing a lot of trouble for nothing, right? I mean, unless he's willing to kidnap his own son, well… Sokka wouldn't want to come home, would he?"
"I do think he might want to return, but… he has a whole life there by now, you know?" said Suki, sighing as she brushed Mari's hair absentmindedly with her fingers. "It's not just the Princess, they have friends like the ones who took care of me, the ones who helped me heal. Last we saw, they were closer than ever. He just… has built a lot of stability there, I'd say."
"A stability he may not be as willing to abandon as readily as his family expects him to," Zuko said. "I mean, if I were him, I wouldn't be all that eager to stay in a city where most people think less of me just because of where I was born, nor would I want to carry on doing a job that expects me to fight for a living… but maybe the bonds he's developed there are more important than all the drawbacks."
"It's hardly impossible, really," said Suki. "Mai, Ty Lee, Haru… they're great people, great friends, of the sort who end up feeling like actual family. It's hard to feel out of place amongst them, if you ask me…"
"Heh. Maybe for you, it is," Zuko smiled. Suki rolled her eyes but smirked skeptically at him.
"Yeah, well, I said it was hard, not impossible, and you did your very best to avoid feeling like one of them, silly," she said, and he chuckled.
"Not my fault I only wanted to be with you. You were much more interesting than them, as far as I was concerned," Zuko mused, as he finally finished the skinning. He breathed deeply and looked at Kino with a raised eyebrow. "Anyways, was there a purpose in telling us about this? Did you want us to gang up on Hakoda to demand that he tells us whatever he's planning, or…?"
"W-well, not really," Kino sighed. "I guess I just wanted to talk to other people who were as out of the loop as I was. Especially people who should be in the loop, seeing as Prince Zuko probably would be a very helpful resource when trying to infiltrate the Capital…"
"Me?" Zuko asked, raising his eyebrows. Kino nodded.
"You lived there for years, didn't you?" he said. "You were born and raised in the Palace, you know it better than Hakoda could, so… it stands to reason that he ought to ask you about which rooms to avoid, and which room to go to if he wants to find Sokka, too…"
"Heh, you'd think so, but… he shouldn't go to the Palace, outright," said Zuko, with a small grin. Suki chuckled too, while Kino blinked blankly.
"What? Why? I mean, are you saying it because it's dangerous?" Kino asked.
"I mean because Sokka doesn't live there," Zuko answered, earnestly. "Thing is, I… I don't really remember where he lives, actually? I only went there the one time and it was at the city's outskirts, only stopped by briefly and then we left. If asked now, I don't know that I could give them directions to it, frankly."
"And I never went there myself, so I'm even more clueless about where it is than you are," Suki mused, frowning a little. "You think Ty Lee might know?"
"I don't know, Azula might have kept her away from Sokka's house," Zuko smirked. "Sounds like something she would have done, at least before Haru showed up. Ty Lee used to fawn over how attractive she found Sokka… I can't tell you how many times I rolled my eyes at it."
"No surprises there," Suki chuckled. "And I guess it'd make sense, if the Princess wanted to keep Sokka focused on his job. Though… I guess we could tell them where Ty Lee's place is. Sokka probably still drops by there for training on occasion, right?"
"Probably," said Zuko, shrugging. "I guess it's true that we could give them directions to her house, if nothing else…"
"This already sounds like a smarter plan than anything they might be cooking up," said Kino, pouting. Zuko smiled.
"It's still no good, though. Sokka probably doesn't go to Ty Lee's house alone anymore, Azula probably flies him in on her dragon, and…"
"Ah, he does get to ride her dragon with her?!" Kino exclaimed, eyes wide. "That's sooo coooool…"
"Heh, I rode it once myself," Zuko said, smiling a little. Kino gasped.
"Tell me about it! Tell me all about it! I want to know if it's as bad as riding Appa!" he exclaimed, beaming. Zuko snorted.
"If you think it's bad, why would you want to know?"
"I just do! Please, Prince Zuko?"
Zuko shook his head but smiled before obliging. Kino was thrilled to hear the stories, while Suki held her drowsy daughter to her chest, listening intently to Zuko's tale. He seemed ashamed of his behavior after the Slate, something that gave Suki no peace either way – she felt responsible, to some extent, for his misery during the second leg of that trip. But as he explained how his sister had given him a chance to ride her dragon, and offered him advice that he'd found valuable, her heart softened all the more. Azula was still a strange person, as far as Suki could tell: she was utterly unpredictable and very difficult to understand, as though she concealed more secrets behind her golden eyes than the Fire Nation's entire history did.
The biggest amongst her many mysteries were her displays of kindness, which showed she wasn't quite as dreadful as many people, Zuko included, had believed that she was. At least, that was how Suki had always thought of her. That was why she had no qualms with believing Sokka might have fallen in love with her.
But of all things they'd spoken about, something had stuck with Suki more than anything else. And it was something that continued to course through her mind later, long after Kino was gone, even when she tried to feed Mari – the little one had decided she didn't want to eat the shrimp cake Suki had prepared, so it was a hassle to figure out how to get her to swallow her dinner –, and also afterwards, as she laid the redheaded child to rest on her smaller bunk.
"Sleep tight, okay? And please, please don't cry so loudly if you need anything, dear?" she said, sighing as she kissed her brow softly. "Mommy can hear you just fine, I'm right here with you, see?"
They had a room for Mari already, for Zuko had built it into the foundations of the igloo all along, but as she was still so young, they had decided to keep her in their room with them until she was a little older. Suki had placed her on the child-sized sleeping bag gently, and she laid there caressing her sleepy daughter's head until Zuko and Gruff showed up. The dog dropped at the foot of their bedding while Zuko let his hair down: it was long enough to reach his shoulders by now. Suki bit her lip at the sight of him, wondering if she was merely crazy or if her husband would become more attractive with every passing day.
"She's already asleep?" Zuko asked, leaning down to kiss Mari's brow. The little girl mumbled something incoherent as a response to his kiss, and he smiled fondly at her. "Sleep well, Mari. I love you."
Suki's blissful sigh came accompanied by a lazy grin, and she watched Zuko take off the clothes from the top of his body before dropping heavily on their dual sleeping bag, eyes closed already.
"Why am I so tired if I only caught one deer-elk and I didn't even take that long skinning it?" he asked.
"Because Mari woke you up twice last night and you couldn't get proper rest afterwards," Suki sighed. Zuko grimaced.
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense… but if it's for her, I'll put up with it," he declared. Suki smiled.
"You're such a sweet dad. The sweetest I've ever seen," she said, draping an arm around his waist and kissing his cheek. Zuko smirked a little.
"Sweet enough that you've decided we can try to have a second kid yet…?" he teased. Suki bit her lip.
"I'm still thinking about it," she said. He chuckled.
"Well, unless you outright say no, it means there's still some chance for it," he said, beaming. "Some days I just feel like… like I was born to be our children's father. I honestly can't imagine finding a stronger calling in life than this one."
Suki's tender smile softened all the more upon hearing him talk that way. There was something innocent about the glint in his eyes, something that had been absent in Zuko for years, surely, something that had only appeared in them when he had held their daughter in his arms for the first time. It was as good as impossible to refute his claims: maybe they both had been born to start their beautiful and humble family.
"That's lovely to hear," she said, kissing his shoulder softly. "I guess I still want to think about it some more, but… chances are you'll have your way, anyhow."
Zuko smiled somewhat mischievously at her, and she laughed before kissing him softly. He held her against his body, a peaceful smile on his face as his wife continued to caress him gently.
He was almost fully soothed into sleep when Suki spoke again, her words confusing and surprising:
"What do you think they'd say, if we… if we introduced Mari to them?" she said, smiling and almost hiding her face in Zuko's chest. He raised his eyebrow, even though his eyes remained closed.
"Who's 'them'?" he asked. Suki huffed.
"You know who I mean. We were talking about them most the afternoon," she smiled, shaking her head. "Mai, Ty Lee, Haru… even Sokka and your sister."
"Hmm," Zuko mused, fingers absentmindedly brushing Suki's long hair. "I guess Mai would be pleased. She seemed to be quite supportive of us together. I guess, since she found her own happiness, she may have wanted me to find mine, and…"
"And?" Suki said, glancing up at him to find he had opened his eyes again as he smiled at her.
"And I can't say I've ever been happier, it's true," he whispered, pressing his forehead to hers. "I never had thought I'd be grateful that Mai had married Ruon Jian, but by now… I'm so very glad she did."
Suki laughed and kissed him, and Zuko smiled warmly into her lips. Suki sighed blissfully afterwards, a hand caressing his cheek.
"I guess I started thinking about how Mari might have fun if she could play with Yuudai," she said. Zuko looked at her with interest. "Granted he's a few years older than her, but still…"
"He used to be a good kid. I hope he's still one," Zuko smiled. "The worst things he did were… well, pulling my hair all the time and hiding a little too well when we played hide-and-seek."
Suki laughed and tightened her embrace around Zuko. His lips brushed the side of her head now.
"As for Ty Lee, and Haru… heh, they might just start crying in joy because we made it so far," Zuko smirked. "I'm pretty sure Haru was crying when we left the Capital…"
"Yeah, it looked like it," said Suki, laughing softly before sighing. "You know, I… somedays I miss them. I know it's silly, it's not like I was that close to them, or genuinely part of their group, but… I enjoyed my time with them. It was the first good thing to happen to me in years."
"I know," said Zuko, biting his lip.
"Do you think we'll ever see them again?" Suki asked. "I just… I worry that they might not be doing as well as we assume they are. I mean, everything seemed to be so stable for them when we left, but… it's been over a year now since we did. I can't help but wonder if anything's changed…"
"Maybe things have changed for the better," Zuko shrugged. "Heck, maybe… maybe Mai's expecting her second kid by now."
"What?"
"And we can't let her get ahead, can we? We should definitely…"
"Zuko!" she exclaimed, laughing at his teasing jokes as he laughed too. "Oh, goodness, I love that you can be such a goofball sometimes, but you sure love taking me by surprise with that, don't you?"
"I'll stop, I'll stop," he laughed, pulling her closer to kiss her brow.
"Well, what about your sister?" Suki said. Zuko blinked. "How do you think she'll feel about being an aunt?"
"I… don't know. She'd probably be baffled that anyone would sleep with me, for starters," Zuko said. Suki snorted. "I mean it, Suki…"
"That's just sibling nonsense, I guess," said Suki. "I mean, wouldn't you feel the same way if you heard she's pregnant, or married?"
"Just the mere thought…" said Zuko, grimacing. "It's like… utterly incompatible concepts with my sister. I can't imagine her with a kid, and she probably can't imagine me with one either."
"So, she'd be surprised," Suki concluded, smiling weakly. Zuko huffed.
"She ought to love Mari, though," he said. Suki raised an eyebrow. "She's feisty, clever, doesn't follow any of our rules and always does her own thing… heck, now I think of it, Mari's a lot more like Azula than she is like me."
"Well, she is your sister…" said Suki, smirking a little. "Maybe some personality traits are hereditary, even if they come from an aunt?"
"I sure hope so," said Zuko, pouting. "Because if not, I'll start suspecting you had an affair with my sister and…"
"Oh, yeah? How did I do that, exactly? In the middle of the ocean?" Suki laughed. Zuko's attempt to feign indignation ended as quickly as it had begun. "Mind you, even if I was as reckless as to be interested in her in that way, I'm pretty sure she had an unfavorable opinion of me…"
"What, she did?" Zuko said, raising an eyebrow. "Heh. Must be she knew you were a better gladiator than Sokka."
"I don't think so," said Suki, smiling with unease. "Not only am I pretty sure he was better than me, at least going by his fight in the Slate… but I don't know. She seemed not to like me much, for some reason, even if she saved me. I've always been a little confused about it…"
"Azula makes no sense to normal people," Zuko sighed. "Which is why Sokka liked her as much as he did, he's completely mental…"
"Zuko," Suki smiled, looking at him reproachfully regardless.
"Really, though, understanding my sister's train of thought isn't something most people ought to try to do," Zuko grimaced. "I tried a bit too hard back in the day and I always got burned for it. I definitely don't recommend it."
"Well, I guess I just hope she'll eventually forgive me for whatever I did to trigger her displeasure," Suki sighed dramatically. "Else, well, I guess Mari will have to keep on living thinking you're her father, rather than her real…"
"Ah! I knew it!"
The two of them laughed at their shared joke, and they cuddled together through the night, occasionally chatting again about their old friends. By the time Suki was fully asleep, though, the smile had faded from Zuko's face.
He had a lot of shortcomings, no doubt, but he hadn't worked on some of them remotely as hard as he should have, by now. He sighed, wondering if he was naturally selfish. Suki surely thought about their old friends on occasion, hoping their lives would be turning out for the best… meanwhile he had barely spared them a few thoughts ever since settling down in the South Pole.
Sokka and Azula were constantly debated about, and Zuko frankly doubted he had any reason to worry about those two. He didn't think they were undefeatable, but he would sooner worry about whoever crossed their path than about them. The last time they'd seen them, Sokka had been a terrifyingly powerful warrior, and Azula was an extraordinary fighter of the sorts who came about only once every several generations. Unless they had destroyed each other's patience by now, surely they'd be okay.
But Mai, Ty Lee… the two of them had helped him countless times, and he hardly had bothered hoping they'd still be doing well until today. He had even talked so casually about how Hakoda should take his people to Ty Lee's place and wait to ambush Sokka and Azula there… how much trouble would that nonsense cause his old friend? He truly was inconsiderate, wasn't he?
He had no doubts both Mai and Ty Lee would love Mari. And just upon imagining what a meeting between them might look like, his heart yearned to make it happen. His daughter filled him with joy, and he knew she could spread that feeling to countless other people. If perhaps there was a way to repay those two for all the help and patience they'd had with him, it might just be by giving Mari a chance to meet them.
But it was a fleeting wish, and one he hadn't even considered until tonight. He had been so focused on his core family, on Suki and their Mari, that he had done his best not to think or worry about anyone else. As much as he had a dreadful relationship with his father, and he had no hopes of returning to the Fire Nation until Azula had replaced him, it wasn't fair to deprive his child, or however many children they might end up having, from knowing their heritage and meeting people who would love them. People who would be part of the family too, just as everyone in this Tribe seemed to be…
His chest hurt as he thought about it, mainly because of his awareness of how impossible that was. He couldn't tell anyone where he was, or he'd risk bringing unwanted attention to the South Pole. He couldn't leave with Suki and Mari just to go visit his friends in the Fire Nation either, there was no way his old boat could get through the currents if it had failed the first time, and it was simply too risky to take up a long journey on such a small vessel…
But maybe there was one way. The thought made him frown, as the conversation with Kino came to mind again: Hakoda was planning something. Whatever it was… it could mean bringing the two worlds, South Pole and Fire Nation, into direct collision. Did Hakoda merely want to check on Sokka? Did he want to take him away from the tropical archipelago…?
Or did he want to put an end to the Fire Lord's rule?
Shivers rushed down his spine. What if Ozai was dethroned? What if Hakoda was hatching a rebellion stronger than it seemed, under Aang's leadership? The Avatar was meant to bring balance back to the world, after all… couldn't those secret meetings mean Hakoda finally intended to end the war?
Things could become chaotic if that truly happened, if Aang genuinely defeated Ozai… but Zuko had a hard time imagining what might come of it. Fleetingly, he wondered if the Avatar would want to reinstate his birthright… he scoffed at the very notion soon enough before rolling on his side and embracing Suki fully.
Maybe he had been away from the Fire Nation for too long, but as he was, he could barely remember why he'd fought so hard to obtain that throne in the first place.
Aang's fire blasts grew stronger every day, his stance improving, his breathing timed in the right way. The arrival of the light period had certainly helped both the Avatar and his firebending instructor with regaining more firepower, but it was clear that talent abounded in Aang's case. Zuko wondered, while watching the Avatar perform a routine he had set for him, if the young man might even have a bender like Azula on her toes if he ever fought her.
Such thoughts kept crossing his mind now, especially with the imminent possibility that Aang might be off to fulfill his higher calling sometime in the near future. Zuko breathed deeply as he watched the routine, quickly memorizing all the small mistakes he could notice in Aang's performance, but instead of giving Aang a rundown of all he had to improve on, Zuko only stayed silent and observant once Aang finished his final movement at the best of his ability.
"Well?" he said, swallowing hard. "You're not all quiet because I did it perfectly, now, are you?"
Zuko seemed startled by Aang's words, which wasn't a good sign either for the airbender: Zuko was never distracted.
"Your legs are a little too close together in the fifth stance," Zuko said. "There's also a few points where you should have kept a closer watch on your breath…"
"Yeah, I noticed that last thing," Aang grimaced. "Being breathless for the big finale was a bad idea, huh?"
"Yeah. You have to plan ahead, even in terms of breathing," Zuko said. Aang raised his eyebrows.
"Huh. Sounds like a nice philosophy to live by," he said, with a crooked grin. Zuko swallowed hard.
"Do you live by it, then?" he asked. Aang's easy grin faded away quickly, giving room to confusion instead.
"I… uh, I guess not usually? I do like living in the moment, but I do plan things on occasion. Still, not to the extent of planning my every breath…"
"That's not what I meant," Zuko sighed. "Kino… he showed up yesterday, whining about being left out of your secret meetings with Hakoda."
"O-oh…" said Aang, grimacing. "Well, there's nothing to worry about! W-we're just… planning Kino's birthday party!"
"It was three weeks ago," Zuko said, raising his eyebrow. Aang flinched. "You may have had too much to drink if you don't remember any of it…"
"I remember it, I just forgot I couldn't use that as an excuse anymore," Aang grimaced before sighing. "Uh, Zuko, I really shouldn't talk to you about this…"
"I don't expect you to," Zuko nodded, and Aang looked at him in grateful disbelief. "I figure you'd rather keep this between yourself and the leaders the Tribe, rather than those of us who as good as ended up here by chance to make a living and raise our families…"
"Well, the thing is, it's unfair to involve you guys, as far as I can see," Aang sighed. "You, Suki, Kino… you shouldn't have to be worry about these matters."
"And I'm fine with that," Zuko said. "But… I am worried about you."
"Oh? About me?" Aang asked, with an awkward grin. "Well, that's nice to know, Sifu Hotman, but…"
"Don't call me that," said Zuko, sighing. "Whatever you guys are planning, whether it's rescuing Sokka or taking down my father… you need to be careful with how you go about it. You can't expect to infiltrate the Fire Nation easily, not after certain things that have happened…"
"Oh? Like what?" Aang asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Like the White Lotus' attempt to break out some of their agents," Zuko sighed. "They impersonated guards, from what I heard. I don't know the full details of what happened, but I do think security is tighter ever since that happened."
"That's…" said Aang, grimacing, but Zuko carried on talking.
"Invading the Fire Nation would never be easy," he said. "But maybe you guys need to remain underground if you want to succeed at this. There's tunnels under the city, they're not of easy access but if you found an earthbender's help you could possibly sneak underground. Other than that, you could access those tunnels by using your firebending in the trapdoors that lead down there, but…"
"Woah… huh?" Aang said, eyes wide. Zuko rubbed his chin carefully.
"Thing is, I'm assuming you guys are after Sokka, but I can't remember where he lived, and Suki doesn't know either. He doesn't live in the Palace, though, I can tell you that for sure. Still… if you want to catch him alone somewhere, I suppose the Grand Royal Dome is the safest bet you'd have. That's where the gladiator fights happen… I don't know if there are tunnels that would leave you right inside the building, but there has to be a trapdoor nearby. All you'll have to do is wait near the standby room until Sokka shows up, on some day when he has a scheduled fight, and then you can, well, do whatever you want to do, I suppose."
"I… guess?" said Aang, blinking blankly. "Zuko…"
"Yeah?" said the Prince, raising his eyebrows.
"Are you sure of what you're doing?" Aang asked, looking at him doubtfully. "I appreciate the information, but… won't your people treat you as a traitor if you help us with this?"
"If they find out, sure," said Zuko. "I couldn't care less, though. Truthfully, I… I barely miss the Fire Nation for what it is anymore. I miss the warmth, and the plumbing, and the varied diet, but… I don't miss most the people, I just miss my old friends. If anyone thinks I'm a traitor for what I've done, I can't say I mind too much. I just want you guys to stay safe, even if you're taking huge risks…"
"Well, we will take them, surely, but… we never expected you to help us," said Aang, looking at Zuko with uncertainty. "You always said you knew very little about your sister's movements, same with your father's. You also have a family to take care of now, and… Hakoda thought it'd be inappropriate to ask you for anything when you're raising your first kid."
"Information isn't all that hard to provide, though," Zuko said, shrugging. "Truthfully, I'm glad you guys are trying to protect us and keep us out of it, but… you won't be much help to anyone if you deliver yourself to my father on a silver platter. I gave him what he wanted when I left home of my own volition, but you… you definitely should never give him what he wants. You're way too important to do something like that."
"I guess," said Aang, biting his lip. "Would you really want to help, though? Even if just by giving us a hand with planning things? I mean…"
"I wouldn't mind. I hope I was helpful in some way with the advice I gave you just now, at least," Zuko said, breathing deeply and raising his hands as he took a new stance. "But if you guys want anything else, you only need to ask."
Aang blinked blankly as he watched Zuko bend a new burst of fire through the chilly air. Was it a good idea to bring this up to Hakoda? Katara probably wouldn't be too supportive of having Zuko's help: even if their relationship had improved, she didn't trust him as fully as she trusted Kino and Suki. And how would everyone else feel? How much would their plans change with Zuko's input?
The thoughts gave Aang pause, mainly because it probably made sense to change their plans if his information was as accurate as it sounded. So far, they had planned to create distractions just so Aang and Katara could slip inside the Palace, while the rest of the warriors risked their lives picking fights with the Fire Nation soldiers… and such a risky plan was ill-advised, no doubt. Even if Aang and Katara got away with their part of the plan, they might have attempted to return to the rest of the warriors to find they had been captured or killed. And as it was, they had no better strategies than that…
Why not take this chance, then? Why not offer Hakoda this new intel, in hopes that something good might come from it? Aang's chest churned with eagerness, for something told him this was a good idea, even if he doubted everyone would agree. But he certainly trusted Zuko, perhaps more than anyone else in this tribe did, aside from Zuko's own wife, that was. If someone could vouch for the prince, it was going to be Aang himself.
And that was what he did on the next day, after waking up early to speak with Hakoda at his igloo. Katara was there too, and she listened, wide-eyed, to the advice Zuko had given Aang.
"It's risky, no doubt, but… if we'd gone to the Palace we would have never found him," Aang told them, watching their reactions warily. "I don't mean we need to involve Zuko fully in this, but… maybe we should consider bringing him in to help us on some level, if just as an advisor."
"But Suki knows that Royal Dome place better than Zuko," Katara scoffed. "If it's true that that's the better place to do it, then… I'd ask her instead."
"Well, she knows about that place, but he knows about those tunnels, and about how to take less risks when dealing with his father and sister, I think," said Aang. "In any case… why not ask them both?"
Katara seemed taken aback by Aang's very logical solution, but she didn't protest it anymore. Hakoda sighed audibly, though, earning both Aang and Katara's attention now.
"Do you think it's a bad idea?" Katara asked. Hakoda shook his head.
"Not for us, it's not. But I wanted to keep them safe," he said. "I wanted them not to worry about whatever we were up to, because it's risky enough for us to take up this quest. The less people involved, the better."
"But we can't find Sokka alone," said Aang, looking at Hakoda earnestly. "You said so yourself when we started planning this. You've always wanted to make sure we can act as safely as possible, so that no one needs to sacrifice themselves just to get back in touch with him. That's why we haven't moved forward with our plans so far, because they felt so unsafe, but with this idea, Hakoda…"
"If that idea about that gladiator fighting venue works out… we'd have a good chance to catch Sokka alone," said Katara, sighing. "I didn't want Zuko's help either, Dad, but… it does sound like it's safer than the plans we'd been developing so far. It might actually pay off."
"We'd still need to plan this thoroughly, and we'd have to start from scratch," said Hakoda, sighing. "It may be better, but we had already made such progress with our previous plan and convincing the rest of the Tribe's council to follow a new one won't be easy. Still… I concede. We may just need Zuko, Suki, perhaps even Kino, if we want to succeed. What little I know of the Fire Nation Capital is by what I learned during the war, and… it's hardly reliable information, let alone all these years later. So…"
Aang smiled and nodded, and Katara sighed again. Somehow, she felt uneasy about this now, mainly because she knew this potential plan had different risks: there'd be a smaller window of time for them to talk with Sokka before anyone noticed something was amiss, if they could only catch up with him before one of his fights. How often did he fight, too? They'd have to genuinely infiltrate the Fire Nation to obtain that sort of information, and as far as she could tell, the best candidate for that was…
She grimaced upon imagining entrusting such an important mission to Kino. He was Fire Nation, he was perfectly likely to blend with the crowds in the Capital… and yet Katara couldn't be certain he'd pull off the job. Suddenly, Hakoda's apprehension was so much easier to understand… this would take time to plan, mainly because they needed to be sure that all their assets would pay off. If they were going to work through stealth now, they would have to start from scratch altogether…
"It's not going to be easy," said Hakoda. "But I suppose it can be done, even if it sets us back somewhat. As soon as we're ready… we'll find Sokka."
"Well, the ideas to build more ships to travel to the Fire Nation would still work now," Aang said. "We'll need to travel all the way to the Capital somehow, right? Or would you rather we go with Appa?"
"I'd never rather do it with Appa," said Hakoda, with a weak grin. "If anyone notices him and identifies him as a sky bison, it won't be long before people start suspecting you might be the Avatar. So far, keeping your identity secret is our best asset."
"Then the Tribe ships it is, huh?" said Aang, smiling a little "They can be built over the next months, going by what the others said, right?"
"Yeah, they assured us of that, at least," said Katara, sighing and biting her lip. "It's been a long time since we first started talking about this, hasn't it? It's… it's surreal to think we really might find Sokka within, I don't know, less than a year?"
"Hopefully," said Hakoda, with a small smile. "We can't forget that he may have changed in many ways, Katara, so… don't expect everything to sail smoothly. Sokka has been through a lot of experiences that we can hardly imagine, experiences that could have turned him into a very different man than the one who left this tribe four years ago."
"I know, I know," said Katara, sighing. "Still… he couldn't have changed that much. I mean, you've heard Zuko and Suki's stories… he sounds a lot like himself, even if he's stuck with that wretched Princess."
"That is, in fact, what worries me," said Hakoda, breathing deeply. "It's possible that both Zuko and Suki have misunderstood the situation, but if they didn't, Katara…"
"It's not possible-…"
"Katara, just listen to me," said Hakoda, looking at her earnestly and clasping her shoulders with his hands. "I don't like it any more than you do. I don't want him involved with someone who hurt him, someone who stole him away from home. But if you head into the Fire Nation with the certainty that it's not possible, and yet you discover he's completely wrapped around her finger…"
Katara frowned, the mere thought caused her stomach to twist and churn. Whatever Suki said about how Azula had saved her, whatever Zuko claimed about the effect Sokka had on his ruthless sister, none of it had any bearing on what Katara felt, on what Katara could see. No doubt her father was right: she needed to be ready for anything, but that didn't mean she had to like it.
"I'll try, Dad. I will," said Katara, shaking her head. "But if he really turned out the way Zuko and Suki think he did? I…"
"Katara…" said Hakoda, frowning a little. "Even if that happened, Katara, he's still your brother. He's still our family. His judgment can be skewed, it really might just be. But that doesn't make him any less part of this tribe, or this family."
"I… I know that," said Katara, gritting her teeth. "I do, Dad, but… if it's as bad as they think, don't you think there's a chance that she's just manipulating him? That she weaseled her way into his heart somehow, tricking him or, I don't know, seducing him, and he's completely blinded by her pretenses?"
"I can't say it's not possible. But I'd like to think my son is too clever to fall for that kind of ruse," said Hakoda, closing his eyes and dropping his hands now. "Still… we won't know until we get there. Our preparations must include wrapping our heads around all this, Katara. We have to be ready for the worst, for even the worst isn't quite as bad as what could have been: Sokka is alive, and he may yet come home."
"Only if she hasn't poisoned his mind completely," said Katara, closing her eyes. "You said it yourself once, didn't you? That maybe bringing him back was going to be worse for the world in the long run, if he can use his apparent influence on the Princess to do as he pleases…"
"Our plan was never to drag him back home, though," said Hakoda, raising his eyebrows. Katara sighed in defeat. "Our plan was to find him, and make sure to give him a choice to return if he wishes to. To support him and, in case he has plans of his own, to offer help with his endeavors, too. If Sokka has been tearing down the Fire Nation from the inside out…"
"There's a chance we can help him do that," said Aang, with a proud grin. The two looked at him in surprise, and he shrugged a little. "I honestly prefer fighting that way, if you don't mind me saying so. Wars and violence… they're not my thing. But finding a peaceful way to end this war? Finding a way to reform the Fire Nation from within? That's… that's a worthy goal. Don't you think so?"
Despite herself, Katara agreed. It wasn't easy to smile approvingly at Aang, but she did it all the same. The Fire Nation had hurt too many people, killed countless innocents and destroyed lives in every way they could… but maybe it was time to wrap her head around many notions, including that the Fire Nation might deserve a chance to correct its course, for it was clear by now that it could never take back the damage it had already inflicted upon the world. War was an option, but perhaps it wasn't the only option worth considering, as much as she had always expected it to be.
"I guess if Zuko could be reformed, others can be," said Katara, with a weak shrug. "Granted, he makes it sound like he wasn't that close to his father's ideologies anyways, but… he was still a Prince, once. If a Prince can change his ways…"
"Then maybe so can a Princess," Aang finished. Katara breathed deeply before grimacing in uncertainty. "Well, maybe we still need some time to work on accepting that, huh?"
"Not just maybe: definitely," said Katara, sighing and shaking her head. "Anyways… should we tell those three the good news, then? I figure they might be happy for it…"
"Kino will be, for sure," Aang laughed. "He's been asking me so much about this… I figure he won't be too surprised when we finally tell him what we were planning. He must have come up with tons of theories…"
"I wonder if heading into the Fire Nation just to have a chat with my brother will be one of them," Katara smirked before jerking her head toward the door. "Shall we, then?"
Aang smiled and patted Hakoda's shoulder gratefully. The older man seemed relieved over their newest agreement, and yet he seemed anxious, ever dreading whatever dangers might be looming in the horizon. He had a strategic mind, and he certainly wanted to see to it that this attempt to get back in touch with Sokka would pay off. He would take every precaution, and make the wisest choices he could muster, all in the hopes of seeing his son back home when the time was right…
But for now, he had Katara. He had Aang too, he thought, as he watched the two of them sprinting to the central fireplace, where the three foreigners sat right now, with the red-headed child in her mother's arms. He had Zuko, he had Suki, he had Kino, he even had Mari. The one who still needed to come home was Sokka, and as soon as he did, their family would be complete. Or as complete as it could be anymore, after so many had passed away…
Kino, predictably, was ecstatic upon hearing the news, and Hakoda smiled as he saw the young soldier leaping in joy and hugging Aang and Katara with an arm each. Suki seemed surprised, most of all to know that Zuko had been the instigator of this change. Zuko himself was astonished, clearly, but perhaps he was proud of himself, too. The small baby didn't seem to understand any of what was happening, but she was happy to see Katara, stretching her arms out in hopes for a hug that the waterbender obliged her with right away.
Yes, they were a family, as any Water Tribe was bound to be, Hakoda thought. And while it was childish, foolish, ill-advised… he allowed himself to dream of the best outcome. He allowed himself to believe, if just for that moment of silent joy, that his son would come home one day.