[“Every child is a treasure,” the chief says quietly, one hand pressing Zuko’s forehead into his own shoulder as if Zuko is a lot younger than he really is. “I’m so sorry no one has ever told you that before.”
And with that Zuko is crying into the shoulder of a man he hardly knows. A man that has shown him more kindness in the few days they’ve known each other than his own father has in sixteen years.]
Read more under the cut, AO3 link -> HERE <-
Having adults at the temple is weird, Zuko decides.
It’s not that he doesn’t trust them. Well, maybe he doesn’t quite trust Chit Sang, but Hakoda is a good man. He’s Sokka’s dad. He’s a perfectly kind person. He’s nothing like Ozai.
But for some reason, Zuko’s mind can’t seem to separate the two people.
Every time Hakoda’s deep voice echoes through the temple, he’s back in the throne room, if only for an instant. It’s stupid, and he doesn’t know why it happens, but it does. And so of course, the solution is to stay nice and far away from the whole group.
It’s not that bad really. Zuko’s used to keeping his distance from people. He tries to tell himself that it isn’t so bad. After all, it’s nice and quiet when he wanders off alone, there are no grating sounds, no yelling.
(No liveliness. No hugs from Aang or shoulder-pats from Sokka. No smiles surrounding him.)
He’s in the middle of some solitary firebending practice late in the evening when Aang runs into the room, hands grasping Zuko’s tunic. The elder stammers, thinking there’s some kind of emergency based off the way Aang is all but dragging him out of the room, but the kid just grins at him, bouncing with energy.
“C’mon, c’mon, come on!” he urges. “Get your stuff, we’re having a sleepover!”
And that’s how Zuko finds himself around the campfire, Aang and Toph on either side of him, both having curled up with the excuse of “You’re the warmest one here.” Well, Zuko isn’t about to argue with the Avatar or the greatest earthbender of their generation, so he resigns himself to his fate.
Aang was somehow right in his excitement. The sleepover is wonderful.
It’s lively and warm and Zuko can almost forget Hakoda’s presence in the group as he laughs at Sokka’s jokes and listens to Aang’s stories. Hours later, long after the sun has set, Hakoda speaks up.
“All right, it’s getting late,” he says through a smile. “Bedtime, everyone.” His tone is warm, not the slightest bit commanding even as he gives an order. The younger kids scramble off to their bedrolls immediately, followed closely by the rest of the group. Zuko remains seated where he is, as does Hakoda.
“Are you going to sleep, Dad?” Sokka inquiries from where he’s spreading out his blanket. Hakoda nods.
“In a bit.” Sokka seems satisfied with this and rolls onto his stomach, falling asleep within minutes.
Just after everyone falls asleep, Zuko and Hakoda stand almost in tandem. Hakoda holds a knife and a half-started carving, while Zuko is empty-handed. They both begin to walk off, Hakoda acknowledging him with a nod.
Zuko takes off at a brisk pace, making the short climb from one of the windows to a particularly scenic cliff face. It’s his favourite he’s found so far, providing him with the loveliest view of the night sky. It’s not uncommon for him to need to step away after being around the group for hours on end, and this is the perfect spot to do just that.
He sits, tracing constellations in his mind, when there’s a rustling from the forest. It’s probably just one of the myriad creatures that roams the woods here, but Zuko’s nothing if not wary. He lights a fire in one of his hands, tensing instinctively for the possible scuffle.
But instead of an animal, Hakoda emerges from the brush.
Zuko immediately drops his defensive stance, his flame growing smaller and softer.
“Sorry, sir,” he apologizes. “I thought there was something out there. Well, there was, but it was just you, and you wouldn’t hurt me, but still-”
“Zuko,” Hakoda interrupts, halting the nervous rambling. There’s a fond smile playing across his lips, almost like Uncle used to get when he saw Zuko actually smile. “It’s all right. I’m just surprised you got up here so fast.” Zuko shrugs, careful not to jostle his flame too much.
“It’s a short climb,” he mutters, rubbing the back of his neck with the hand that isn’t holding fire. “I can find somewhere else, if you want.” Hakoda just sits down, prompting Zuko to do the same.
“I think I’d like some company actually, if you don’t mind,” he said, taking out his carving. Zuko nods, pulling one knee up to his chest and resting his chin there.
The quiet isn’t awkward in the slightest, which surprises Zuko. The forest sounds and the quiet scrape of Hakoda’s knife blend easily into background noise and Zuko just watches the stars, lost in thought.
“So,” Hakoda begins, breaking the silence after a long while, “what’s the Fire Nation like?” Zuko ducks his head, momentarily caught off guard at the unexpected question.
“It’s, ah, nice.” He twists a flower stem between his fingers. “Warm all the time. The food is good.” Zuko curses himself for his awkwardness, but really, what is he supposed to say? Hakoda just nods though, cutting a little notch into his carving.
“And your family?”
Zuko tenses there, not having expected the conversation to go this way. Any military secrets he would readily spill but this? This is weird.
“It’s… all right,” is what he finally settles on. “My, um, sister is not the greatest as far as sisters go, and well, my father is Fire Lord Ozai, so no favours there. My mom is… gone. My Uncle is alive though! But his son is dead, so. Yeah.”
“That doesn’t sound like ‘all right,’ son,” Hakoda says, brows furrowed with a tinge of - is that concern? Zuko shrugs, going back to picking apart the flower in his fingers. Yeah, when he says it like that, his family kind of sucks. He draws in a shaky breath, thinking of the Water Tribe siblings. They didn’t exactly have the greatest family experience either, what with their mother being killed and their father leaving to fight in the war.
Still, that was somehow better than his. Kinda put things into perspective.
“Is it okay if I touch you, Zuko?”
The firebender raises his head, surprised by the question.
“Uh, yeah? Sure.” Why would Hakoda want to touch him? Subconsciously, he tenses, prepared for any harm that may be about to come to him.
But Hakoda just places a hand on his shoulder, the lightest bit of pressure on Zuko’s skin.
Before he can really stop himself, Zuko leans into the touch. It’s… nice. To have someone touch him so casually, with an undercurrent of care in the contact. Hakoda seems to realize this, and he moves slightly closer, looping his arm around Zuko’s shoulders.
And Zuko suddenly feels very, very small.
It’s been so long since he’s been touched other than Aang’s swift, squeezing hugs or Sokka’s friendly taps. It feels so wrong and unfamiliar but so right and safe at the same time. He’s not sure how to feel or what to do so he just stays there under Hakoda’s arm, trying not to lean in any closer lest he make the situation awkward.
“It’s been a while since you had something like this, hasn’t it?” Hakoda asks. Zuko’s hardly able to meet his eyes after that question, and not able to answer at all. Luckily, Hakoda speaks for the both of them.
“I’m a father, Zuko,” he says. “I can see when a child hasn’t been treated like the treasure they are.” Zuko swallows hard.
“With all due respect, sir,” he mutters, “I’m hardly a treasure.”
Hakoda meets his eyes sadly, takes a deep breath, and pulls him into a full embrace.
“Every child is a treasure,” the chief says quietly, one hand pressing Zuko’s forehead into his own shoulder as if Zuko is a lot younger than he really is. “I’m so sorry no one has ever told you that before.”
And with that Zuko is crying into the shoulder of a man he hardly knows. A man that has shown him more kindness in the few days they’ve known each other than his own father has in sixteen years.
That hurts. That hurts so bad, and Zuko only cries harder.
I’ve discovered a new(ish) fanfic author and have devoured her work. It has become my soulfood seaprunes and crack-cactus juice all in one. (It’s a complement Sokka would understand... like meat and sarcasm.)
Of course, Salvage by @muffinlance strikes very near and dear to my heart, since I’m writing my own #dadkoda fic, The Dragon and the Wolf, and I just want all. the. love. for Zuko. (And yes, that was a shameless plug. But I didn’t know #hakuddles as a genre existed, and now I’ve found my place in the world. It inspired a two-chapter update after a year-long hiatus!)
Toph’s characterization in Towards the Sun is PERFECT. Perhaps even a bit underappreciated? It’s not like @muffinlance needs my endorsement or anything. The work speaks for itself. But writing Toph is something that is either done well or just, not.
Those two fics are fan favorites as far as I can tell, but I absolutely adored Little Zuko v the World. Spot-on-Sokka, Jee-Armor-Creaks, and Forced-Friendship-Aang are the lifelines I didn’t know I needed.
I’m also a sucker for Cheating at Pai Sho because I can just imagine it... fun-loving Aang and quick-thinking Water Tribe sibs convincing Zuko to let them join in the search for the Avatar? Thank you, @muffinlance. I am now complete.
Also, after years in the fandom, two of my other favorites @awesomeavocadolove and @emletish-fish are still updating, and this gives me so. much. hope. I’m seriously tearbending, y’all.
I can't wait to see how Sokka and Katara are going to react to their mom literally adopting the current Fire Lord (son of Fire Lord Ozai, great-grandson of Fire Lord Sozin). I truly cannot wait for them to literally lose their shit. ALSO CAN WE GET MORE HAKKUDLES PLEASE. I NEED MORE DADKODA!!! Seriously. I don't care if its through a servant or smthg that he finds out what happened to this kid, Zuko needs a dad (who won't torture him for existing).
You have no idea how much I have to restrain myself. I’m so tempted to just completely skip all of the development just to give Zuko the Hakuddles. But if I did, I would never forgive myself, so I must. show. restraint.
Still, we’re getting closer and closer. Dadkoda is coming, you just gotta hang on.
Hakuddles aside, I think the real question is what sort of ship mascot/pet does Hakoda's crew that can snuggle up to Zuko in adoration while the crew looks on in bemusement
ASKING THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Okay but really this is in my outline with lots of questions marks next to it. Now accepting Water Tribe ship's-cat-equivalent suggestions! Bonus points awarded for some version of a Southern cat that is just as instinctively off-putting to Zuko as mimic-catopuses are to Sokka.
