“Dad’s going to want to be at your side. To help- and to make sure he has a hand in raising it.”
“I know.”
“Have you thought about what the court’s going to say?”
“Some of them will just be glad an heir’s being produced from somewhere. Others are going to fuss about how, and others who- it’s going to be a fight on my hands no matter what, like every decision. Most of them know something’s up, but until I make an official announcement, no one can really say anything.”
“Lean back-“
“That’s cold- uh. What are you-“
“Do you want to know which it is?”
“…don’t you usually need to cast a horoscope or something for that?”
Katara gave the mighty Firelord Zuko a glare with just one eyebrow cocked. He resolved not to quaver. “I’m a healer, not a fortune-teller. Water’s everywhere, remember? And Toph taught me a little about feeling the shapes through the vibrations…”
He paused, and she waited for his go-ahead.
“…I think I want the surprise. Just- tell me if there’s anything wrong. Or anything I can do better.”
“Will do.”
…
When they finished, Katara went to the tent-flap and met with the rest of them there. Sokka was looking twitchy, but in more of a ‘serious things abound’ way than ‘laugh off what I cannot comprehend’ fashion. Aang was looking serene- he practiced that a lot to get the right effect- but winked at her when she caught his eye.
Hakoda looked to her, a faint smile ghosting hopefully across his face.
“I’ll be heading to the Fire Nation capital for a while when the Solstice is done- working as a closer liaison about the pirate problem. Full diplomatic immunity, don’t worry.”
She caught him in a hug, much as she had Zuko, and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Be careful, Dad. And good luck.”
“Yeah, Dad,” Sokka put in, swallowing before he pulled in a breath and stood like the warrior he’d become. “Just try not to fall too hard for those Fire Nation wiles, huh? We would like you back eventually…” This time Hakoda pulled his son into the embrace, and smiled at his nervous joking.
“We will meet together as a family again. I promise that.”
The tentflap pulled aside and Zuko emerged, garbed against the island’s chill in robes and concealing cloak. He looked at his gathered friends, trying not to bite his lip like the nervous teenager he’d long outgrown.
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timeasmymeasure
Hakoda/Zuko, Feeling the Awkward Pt.4
Date: 2010-01-05 10:50 am (UTC)“I know.”
“Have you thought about what the court’s going to say?”
“Some of them will just be glad an heir’s being produced from somewhere. Others are going to fuss about how, and others who- it’s going to be a fight on my hands no matter what, like every decision. Most of them know something’s up, but until I make an official announcement, no one can really say anything.”
“Lean back-“
“That’s cold- uh. What are you-“
“Do you want to know which it is?”
“…don’t you usually need to cast a horoscope or something for that?”
Katara gave the mighty Firelord Zuko a glare with just one eyebrow cocked. He resolved not to quaver. “I’m a healer, not a fortune-teller. Water’s everywhere, remember? And Toph taught me a little about feeling the shapes through the vibrations…”
He paused, and she waited for his go-ahead.
“…I think I want the surprise. Just- tell me if there’s anything wrong. Or anything I can do better.”
“Will do.”
…
When they finished, Katara went to the tent-flap and met with the rest of them there. Sokka was looking twitchy, but in more of a ‘serious things abound’ way than ‘laugh off what I cannot comprehend’ fashion. Aang was looking serene- he practiced that a lot to get the right effect- but winked at her when she caught his eye.
Hakoda looked to her, a faint smile ghosting hopefully across his face.
“I’ll be heading to the Fire Nation capital for a while when the Solstice is done- working as a closer liaison about the pirate problem. Full diplomatic immunity, don’t worry.”
She caught him in a hug, much as she had Zuko, and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Be careful, Dad. And good luck.”
“Yeah, Dad,” Sokka put in, swallowing before he pulled in a breath and stood like the warrior he’d become. “Just try not to fall too hard for those Fire Nation wiles, huh? We would like you back eventually…” This time Hakoda pulled his son into the embrace, and smiled at his nervous joking.
“We will meet together as a family again. I promise that.”
The tentflap pulled aside and Zuko emerged, garbed against the island’s chill in robes and concealing cloak. He looked at his gathered friends, trying not to bite his lip like the nervous teenager he’d long outgrown.
“I promise.”