Hakoda

Hakoda had received quite a few surprises in a short time. He had expected to rot in prison, being rescued by not only his son, but also the Fire Nation's prince.

Even despite Sokka's assurances that Zuko was on their side, Hakoda had kept his judgment in reserve. He might be an ally, but Hakoda would not care to spend a great deal of time with a pompous brat.

He was quite thankfully proven wrong about Zuko's allegiance, and he now trusted the young exile completely.

But that led to another of the surprises Hakoda had experienced. After all, what Father wants to step off of an air machine to find that his little girl is in love?

Hakoda was too old, and had seen too much to ignore how both the teens felt, despite how well they seemed to be able to. He remembered courting his wife…they had some terrific rows before he'd finally gotten her to agree to marry him.

And Hakoda could see it. It wasn't really that he could see past their fighting, although he could. It was the little things that he noticed that told the story.

Little things like how much care Katara took to keep Zuko's clothing mended and clean.

Little things like how there was always a warm fire waiting for Katara in the morning.

Things like the time Katara had accidentally burned supper, and Zuko had been the only one to choke it down without comment.

Also, like how Katara hadn't even asked when she saw the burn on Zuko's hands from one of Aang's wayward fireblasts, she had simply healed him.

They fought, but they took care of each other. Hakoda resigned himself to the eventuality that he would have to accept that Katara was no longer his little girl.

But if Zuko screwed up, Hakoda would carve him to little pieces.

(Hopefully not before Hakoda had grandkids.)

I know Suki's viewpoint was really short, but I don't know much about her, and besides, I think I stated everything that needed to be said. I basicaly went for the idea that she could see through the arguments as well as Toph, and that she's getting fed up with it.

I finished it. I actually finished a story. I do honestly think this is how Hakoda would react, if Zutara had any chance at all of being canon. I wish it did, but I'm a realist. Stories like Avatar don't ever end that way. But as many Zutarans have said: We'll always have fanon.

Stay turned. You'll never know what's coming next from my odd, warped brain.

Adversus solem ne loquitor.