Salvage

Yay for successful mini-Muffin, and thank you so much for this delightful chapter!

with half the day off zukos gonna have to figure out what hobbies are

Congratulations on mini-muffin! I hope you and spousal unit and baby are doing well!I loooved this chapter 🥺. Zuko toeing the line!

Hakoda and his new son,,,, TWO VOLCANOES

Congratulations on your new baby! I did a little dance around the house when I got the notification that this updated, I can't wait to see what happens next and I wish only the best for you and your family!

Zuko: what would you do if I disrespected you in front of all of your crew?Hakoda: your punishment is to be a teenager. Starting with not working all the time, them’s the rules.Zuko: o.o this is ... normal????

Oh my god thank you for updating even with a baby in the house!! God knows the headaches I get with my siblings are hard, can't imagine a baby of my ownAMAZING CHAPTER, ZUKO IS GETTING ALL THE LOVE HE DESERVES AND WE LOVE TO SEE IT

I've missed this fic💖 lovely update

Congrats on the baby! Love the hair ruffling, that's adorable!!

i LOVE this book and this was such a wholesome update :) also hope you and Mini-Muffin are doing well! sending the best wishes and i hope you're getting as much sleep as you can!

First, congratulations on your human child! I hope you and your baby are healthy and well!Second, you are probably the scariest, coolest, and most badass person alive if updating your fic is even on your mind when you have a newborn to take care of. This chapter was amazing, as always! I loved the small scenes and tiny timeskips, they were written exceptionally well and I think it helped add to the 'what now?' feeling Zuko's going through. And Zuko deserves all the head pats and hair rubs! Also that part where Zuko says they would have killed him if he wasn't the Fire Lord's son kjfdsjfsadf it hit me so deep because the fact that Zuko is trying/wanting to distance himself from his father but he knows he wouldn't be alive right now if he wasn't the prince but also that he probably wouldn't even be /here/ if he also wasn't the Fire Lord's son and also that being on Hakoda's ship is probably one of the best things to happen to him and UGh we love that complexity of being!!! I'm excited for the next chapter, please don't feel rushed or anything, especially considering you have an actual baby to take care of right now! Wishing you and your family wellness and good health!! <3333

Woo! I discovered this fic yesterday and stayed up until 5am reading it. So getting a new chapter so soon is awesome!Thank you for writing this. I love it!

God I'm pretty sure this is the best ATLA fanfic I've ever read. Hakoda and Zuko's relationship is TOO MUCH. This character growth is honestly everything. You're creating a beautiful masterpiece and we all appreciate your ridiculous talent in crafting such a spectacular story.

Ahhhh your writing is so good! You capture Zuko's and Hakoda's thought processes really well.I hope you get well soon! I still can't believe you wrote this great chapter while recovering :0. Congrats on the baby :DMuch love! <333

This chapter was amazing 😭😭😭😭 omg, the crew warming up to him even more and poor Zuko’s confused and still expecting the worst 😭😭😭And poor Tokla, that’s so awful to hear about your brother, and he’s latching into Zuko as a friend 😭😭But that’s all about the chapter, I’m really happy both you and Mini Muffin doing alright!!! Congrats!!!!!! I wish you guys the best and that things only improve for you!!

Oh my god please get some sleep. You're gonna need it going forward. About as much as Hakoda is once he learns the true extent of their "adventures"

Oh my, I just read and added this story to my bookmarks yesterday. It was quite surprising to see the update so soon. Great chapter.Congrats on your baby :) I wish for your newborn's good health and happiness. I have been helping take care of my baby niece for 8 months now, please rest as much as you can and take all the time you need before the next update. The quality of your work is so good!

T-T it's beautiful! Give the baby lots of kisses from us!

Maybe I screamed when I got this update, whats it to you. How do you manage those BRUTAL lines????? They're everywhere and every time I read one I start crying

you’re freaking amazing!! like updating after having a child is literally so amazing and i couldn’t be happier for you!! this was a great chapter and thank you for writing it!!

Your update made me super happy! Best of luck to you and Mini-Muffin!

"The former-prince child-soldier not-a-master-firebender glared back down. ...That was definitely a teenager up there."Indeed! Love your writing! On a related note though, SINCE WHEN WERE THERE SO MANY RELATED WORKS??? I mean, congratulations, but now I have to read all of them. Oh, and congrats on the baby too!

This is.... everything? Thank you so much? and congrats on the Mini-Muffin! Glad everyone's okay!

You are an inspiration to us all. You’re dealing with a newborn and managing to write an entire chapter? And it’s coherent???Also, how has Zuko become the “good” child? Or at least the least problematic.

Congrats again on your spawn! :D I'm glad you're both doing well.I loved this bit: "How would you being dead help anything? Then I'd have a dead brother and a dead friend and the Fire Lord would still be awful." Zuko needs friendship! They all need more hugs!"He didn't act like a kid who was safe now. He acted like he expected to be thrown overboard." ;_; My heart!! And aaaa he learns he's allowed off the boat but has to ask if he's allowed back on?? This analogy and the mental image were great: "the same way a hermit-shrimp wore its shell: like if he was in blue he'd be protected." I also love all of the hair ruffling and affectionate touches. Amazing. This fic continues to make my heart jump for joy when I see it updated. Thanks for writing!

Eeeeeep this update is AMAZING!!! Im obsessed with this story and i am so excited to read more!!! I love every character so much!! Also, i only recently started reading atla fics and i want you to know that literally all of yours are fantastic! Seriously it seems like every good fic on here is either written by you or gifted to you lmaoo you straight up run this fandom. Cant wait to read more! Also congrats on the baby!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHH you updated!!!!! This was!!!! Such!!! A good!! Chapter!!! I just wanna say that I had a notsogreat day today and really needed a pick me up and you!!!! You beautiful person!!! Did that!! So thannnkkkk you! Seriously tho I needed this lol. This is my fav fanfic ATM like u are awesome. I love that zuko's officially becoming a part of the crew!! I was hoping that's happen soon!!! Also: I am now so hype about meeting Iroh and the Gaang! I mean, in the distant future, I'm sure, but like! You write Hakoda and Zuko and all of the rest of the crew so well I'm just so ecstatic to see where this story will take you! Or the other way around lol. Also also: guurl you need to get your sleep go sleep. Now. Babies are Hard and writing is Not As Important as You or your Baby's health! But! This stuff can be relaxing/fun to write, so also treat yo self! Anywho obvs u know yourself the best, just wanna make sure you know that your health is Top Priority. Also also also: that being said, I can't wait for the next update!! I will wait patiently tho!! But I am excited :). Anywho rant over, thanks for sharing with us, and have a downright lovely day!</

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE MINI-MUFFIN!!! *champagne popper confetti*Teenage rebellion is in the air and Hakoda's in for it. Thanks for the chapter, I got the subscription alert and audibly squealed!

"Teenage rebellion was two volcanoes" made me laugh irl like a crazy person so thanks for thatGlad that Zuko is becoming both fuzzy and more stable on the ship-- oh when is the crew going to bed him? Fantastic chapter as always! Congrats on the baby if I didn't already say so, hope he isn't causing /too/ much chaos

This story is heartbreaking in the best ways.But someone needs to tell Iroh that Zuko's alive!And congratulations on your little one! I hope you're all getting rest!

Oh this chapter was everything I was imagining! It's good to see Hakoda slowly relizing "hmm maybe Ozai isn't that good of a dad, and for the crew to slowly open up to Zuko. Also come on Zuko, pls realize you've found a safe place! Go nuts! And that last line about Hakoda realizing that oops his kids have a higher level of teenage rebellion than Zuko was pure comedy gold. Thank you for posting this awesome chapter! I'm gonna have to go reread it tomorow.

Congratulations on the baby!! Sending all my love to you and your little muffin (cupcake?)

!!!!!!

Idk why but my first thought when you mentioned the port was that Zuko was gonna find a dao (or whatever style of swords that he uses) and the where going to actually buy some for him and he would get to show of his "not a master" ability with his swords (to the amazement of the crew)

Mini-Muffin... please, let that be the actual birth certificate name.

Making him work in shifts and take breaks because he is a member of the crew dagnabit is excellent! And probably very punishing to Zuko, it’ll give him more time to think. Apprenticing Zuko to Kustaa is great!!!! It gives him a purpose, and encourages an interest he’s probably had to hide his whole life. He doesn’t understand why they don’t hate him anymore. Ouch ouch ouch! He doesn’t grasp that he is a CHILD and should never have been in any of the situations he’s been in recently!!!! OUCH.

Congrats to you on Mini-Muffin! Godspeed getting sleep.;A; I love Hakoda parenting Zuko and showing him what a good father looks like. And a good leader too! And just the entire crew ;;;; These are really complicated emotional situations for everyone, with Zuko being on board while they're fighting and killing Fire Nation soldiers. AT LEAST SEAL JERKY IS THERE TO BE A BEST BOY!!!! And I loved Zuko just finally climbing up the main mast in order to cut to the chase and Get Some Answers.

Pre read scream rrRRRREEEEEEEEE

In my mind Hakoda is mentally pulling a Sokka about his children's antics, which involves lots of pacing, gesturing, and random shouts of "Two VOLCANOES?!?!" Great chapter, congrats on the mini-muffin! Lookin forward to any future inclusion of Iroh. Love your characterization of Zuko!~Fae

"and what did the Chief want with him. Everyone else might be okay with him for now, but it was a leader's job to think ahead." Oh Zuko.'"And the world, as if to punish him for leaving them at home, had dropped a sixteen-year-old in his lap." Lmao, Hakoda is really being tried here.But he's sp good, and Zuko is so traumatized but also so good. He grumpily let him put his hand on his head! Spectacular.Wishing you good things and sleep! Thanks for writing somehow regardless! <3

Congratulations for your baby!! And thank you for updating this marvellous story! But please take care of yourself, don't exhaust yourself too much :)

PFGSRRSADUIHGC I LOVE HIM

YES! Gosh this gives me all the warm fuzzies

ALL HAIL MOMMA MUFFIN! THE MOST GENEROUS AND DILLIGENT AUTHOR ALIVE

My goodness MUH heart ❤️❤️❤️

That is so amazing, and I love it so much and omg♥♥♥And congratulations on your baby!

Zuko. Zuko sweetie. Zuko my love my darling my sweet fire son. This is not how you teenage rebellion, you adorable pile of shouty feels.Can't wait to see Healer Apprentice Zuko! Poor love, someday he will realize that him being good at something does not automatically mean it's easy and/or worthless. Someday. Obviously not today, but someday.Also Hakoda is never going to let Sokka and Katara live down those two volcanoes, is he. Two volcanoes, you little hooligans!

A wonderful chapter. And good luck balancing fic-writing with small children! It does get better. Eventually.As for this chapter: oh, Zuko. Set adrift again, if only figuratively. ...there may be awkward conversations with Katara and Sokka yet to come.

Thank you for the chapter! I’m glad you and the new baby are well!Zuko being made a part of the crew! Holy shit! This is so cool! But knowing you you’ve probably got something heartbreaking up your sleeve So I’m preparing myself for that

congratulations! i could never turn out such wonderful story-telling when i was sleep deprived for years with my kids. i hope you and your little one manage to rest! great chapter as always!

Not gonna lie I was low key expecting Zuko to go into morality coma. Then again there’s still four chapters left. TRIPLE KUDOS

Awwww that was so lovely

I feel so bad for Zuko but also his teenage rebellion is kinda hilarious!!

Muffin you are too kind to us, updating with a baby (and then saying you're going to continue update as well). Salvage is one of my favorite avatar AUs and it just keeps getting better as it goes on. Thank you for writing it!

I love this so much omg

Holy shit I applaud you for writing with a newborn in the house. Congrats on the baby!!!!Also, this chapter!! I love the idea of Zuko becoming a healer. It's very fitting for his character.I love how Zuko manages to get some normal teenage rebellion in. And how it's still nothing compared to Katara and Sokka.

I love everything you do ever

This is just. So sweet. I love this. Thank you SO much for this! Take care of yourself and the little one!

I saw the Salvage update email and immediately went :OOO IT'S MUFFIN WHO HAD MINIMUFFIN so I'm very glad to hear that you and baby are both well!!! Thank you for the update it really made my dayZuko's going to be an apprentice healer I have so many feelings about this

Congratulations on your baby! Also loved the chapter and Zulu’s little rebellions!

Congratulations on baby! Love this chapter, love Hakoda dealing with Zuko’s ‘rebellion’ love Toklo’s reaction I love all of your oc’s in this so much!

Aaaahhhhhhhh Zuko apprenticing! It’s perfect!

Zuko: what u gonna do if i dont workHakoda: sike thats ur punishment

Congrats! I'm so happy for you but make sure you get some rest babies are hard and we know that.

This was amazing! <3 <3 <3I love both Zuko's teenage rebellion and him suddenly being the Good Kid compared to Sokka and Katara

This is both the most wonderful thing and the thing that hurt me the most. Zuko not believing that they won't hurt him, and the rest of them knowing that there's no way they could! And oh my gosh the conversation at the end of this! I made the most squeaky "awww" sound that I've ever heard. It's so cute and warm and fuzzy and aaaaaa! It's just so good.

aaaa baby!!! congrats!!!aND AAAAAA I LOVE ZUKO AND HAKODA'S RELATIONSHIP!!! AAAAAAAAAA ZUKO NEEDS ALLLLL THE HAIR RUFFLES!!! yeesh kid also needs some therapy damnbUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE!!! I LOVED THIS CHAPTER SO MUCHHHH!!!

Hi Mrs muffin I love this thanks

This is a good story and I like it a lot. Thank You for writing this.

AAAAAAso goooddd!I missed this

😭😭😭 You've done such an amazing job of writing an abuse victim unlearning all the horrible things his abuser taught him. "We actually don't want to hurt you." Zuko: "Sounds fake, but OK." I love Zuko becoming a healer!! I think fighting against his own people isn't something he'd ever be able to fully be comfortable with. Hurting his own countrymen would always be painful. But as a healer he'll be saving people! It's actually really beautiful. He's suffered so much pain, and now he gets to learn how to take pain away. This is so gorgeous. This, this is poetry.Hakoda = #1 dad!! I love Hakoda so much. You write him so well. Poor, poor Toklo. I really like Toklo and Punuk. I think it's really interesting how Zuko is seeing that most of what he was taught about the war and other nations is a lie. It's similar to his cannon adventures in the Earth Kingdom, when he meets the teenage girl who's obviously a non-combatant with burn scars. I wonder if he'll ever hear the story of what happened to Kya, and if there will be a moment when he suddenly realizes that everything he thought he knew was wrong. Well now I've veered off into speculation, sorry. It will be brilliant no matter what.Thanks for this amazing chapter! Congratulations on the baby!

I'm crying so much EARLY FATHER SON BONDING AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALSO ALSO congrats on baby !!!!!! I wish the best for you and your family <3

"Run off on their grandmother" makes me think Appa is their grandmother and it is [i]hilarious[/i]

Congratulations on your lil muffin!!! Glad to hear that you and baby are well!!Great chapter!! And yessssss, healer!Zuko is one of my favourite Zukos!!

Loved it!! Hope you and the mini one are well :)

...Katara is going to be even angrier than she was already going to be once she finds out that Zuko is training to be a healer, isn't she? Well, at least the whole "betrayal" thing from the Crossroads of Destiny hasn't happened here... Still, though, that is a good occupation for him. Especially since Kustaa has adopted him.And it's pretty... cool, I guess? That Zuko was upfront about his teenage rebellion when directly asked. And given the whole turtle seal thing from another lifetime... yeah, he definitely would try--and would probably succeed--swimming to shore from there.It's good that he was there for Toklo, and that Toklo didn't blame him for anything. I laughed when Seal Jerky stole his breakfast, though.That's a good point about the South Pole and Sunlight--what is Hakoda's current plan in regards to that? Or has he not thought ahead that far? I mean, as it stands he might have it in the back of his head that when they overthrow/kill Ozai they can just place Zuko on the throne immediately (assuming they don't already have a different form of government in mind), but it kind of doesn't seem like those sorts of plans are really on his radar for now. ...Considering he asked about Iroh last chapter, he might just be planning to locate him after wards and see what his plans are, I guess. Or at least whether or not he has advice on what to do.Anyways, great work, and I'm glad you and your child are doing well.

Yasssss

I don't know how you're writing like this with a newborn but by god I sure as hell admire it.

How do you give me exactly what I want before I know I want it? I mean, healer Zuko and hair ruffling on top of a mast, come on, that's perfect.I gues it's all payment for the next time you decide to hurt me with emotions.

The parts that hurt most are always Hakoda being kind to Zuko and teaching him what it's like to be cared for. But it's a good hurt. And it's a much more abrupt lesson than what he gets from Iroh in the show. It's the same basic message of self worth and love, but coming from a man who was until recently his enemy, it hits harder and faster.

Hakoda making Zuko work less is extremely humorous and in character.Hakoda’s lines at the end were wonderful.

Of course this is wonderful. I love zuko, and ur writing is so natural it’s mesmerizing. Love this story ❤️❤️

So awesome to see this updated and massive kudos for writing anything with a new baby!!! Poor confused Zuko, at least he got hugs ❤❤

YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!I've been waiting for any of your fanfics to update, but Salvage has always had a special place in my heart!!! It's literally the fanfic that got me into the ATLA fandom!!! I love how Zuko is a more normal teenager compared to Hakoda's actual kids🤣And the hair ruffling!!! It does look soft☺️I wanna touch👋🙆♂️Can't wait to see what you do with this fanfic!!! And your other works!!! I now say "super endangered" to my little brother whenever I wanna talk about Zuko and it's all thanks to you and 'Little Zuko vs The World". And the Kuzons. And teaching the northern women how to fight. I just love your work!!!!Congrats on the birth by the way!!! Good luck for the next few months!!!! Sleep is precious!!!👍👍

New chapter kudos -> <3Additional kudos for minimuffin -> <3Another additional kudos for still being able to write with a newborn wtf -> <3

I had the biggest grin on my face the whole time reading this. Thank you!

Zuko's teenage rebellion has nothing on Hakoda's kids' and he knows it. Beautiful.

While Team Avatar galavants all over the planet, Zuko cements himself, entirely on accident, as The Good Child. I love it! ♥️😭

Zuko: I will be a good childEveryone: Oh dear god please stop

TEENAGE REBELLION WAS TWO VOLCANOES

Congrats on the kiddo! Glad you and he are healthy and doing well.Thanks so much for another great chapter - I am so invested in Zuko and the crew's interactions, so many complex emotions and motivations throughout this fic and even chapter is a wonderful read. Love that we're in some of the gentler emotions now, but how that it's still rife with misunderstandings, but they're working on it.I appreciate all your hard work!

holy shit this updated just as i got done binging the whole thing and i went to bookmark it and noticed that the chapter count went up one 😭 JUST MADE MY WHOLE NIGHT. this is such an incredible story and i cried last chapter and i know the verdict for this chapter will be just as exceptional !! ur writing is amazing, it feels like i’m in the scene most of the time and ur characterization is incredibly accurate !!!!!! even tho hakoda wasnt extremely fleshed out in canon, i feel like i understand him better. thanks for such an amazing story !!!!!

If my heart was breaking before it's broken now, no doubt why this chapter has 1183 comments. ...Scuttles was a great dog name. No one appreciated Hakoda's complex humor. Or his concise tactical illustrations. I agree with Hakoda. Scuttles was a great dog name. Now, where do I go from there... Hakoda was wrong: the boy was a fantastic liar. He'd said his father wanted him back, and Hakoda had believed him. "I didn't lie. I didn't do anything wrong." "You were born." Hakoda didn't know how to explain to a banished sixteen year old that he might be a bad son, but a good man. This wasn't the right way to do this. But if there was a right way to tell a boy that his father wanted him dead, Hakoda never wanted to know it. "Are you going to kill me now?" he asked, when he was long past the point of delaying this conversation. "I really wish you'd stop asking that," Hakoda replied. It was the wrong thing to say; the boy flinched, and visibly straightened himself. "No. The answer is always going to be no, Prince Zuko." "Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't." Prince Zuko— Zuko threw himself back into his work, like he was trying to prove something. Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live. What am I supposed to say to that? I'm at a loss of words. Wonderfully, well-written.

You updated with a BABY in the house? I can barely write when my CAT needs attention. You truly are a miracle worker, because this chapter was delightful and amazing and I just. have so many feelings about Zuko and the Water Tribe and him never having had anything secure or predictable and not understanding how anyone could ever admit that they'd been wrong... I just have a lot of feelings about Zuko. And Hakoda. And the Water Tribe. and this fic.

I lovethisss ahhhhh my heart!!! Zuko’s taking a further step towards healingggg

So many comments on this idk if you'll ever see this, but I just had to say. You know thet feeling you get when you read a good book and a scene makes you so happy that your heart speeds up and you wanna like kick your feet and giggle? Idk if that's just me But this book is full of scenes like that and I truly love it. This is a work of art!

"Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live." THATS BREAKING MY HEART😭😭 Hakoda is trying to be a good dad and he's being hit with all these feelings and emotions and NOW SO AM I💔💔

I'm so worried but relieved for Zuko. I'm glad he's finding a place for himself here

Hakoda didn't know how to explain to a banished sixteen year old that he might be a bad son, but a good man. - ouuuch "But. What do you want from me? I'm not any use to you, I—" Hugging the boy tighter made him go stiffer, his breaths more ragged. "Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't." - ohh my gosh. This chapter was a rollercoaster of emotions. Well done

"The Southern Tribes don't have much of a history with medicinal plant lore." "Why not?" "Because our benders could heal," he turned a page in his own book. "And then they were gone. We lost as many people to injuries and infection as to the raids." Oh.   " What do you want from me? I'm not any use to you, I—"   Hugging the boy tighter made him go stiffer, his breaths more ragged.   "Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't."   It wasn't hard to. " 😭   "Prince Zuko— Zuko threw himself back into his work, like he was trying to prove something.   Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live." 💔

- This chapter is such a page turner and particularly fun to reread. I loosely remembered what happened but not when or how (the rereading sweet spot) which was a lovely additional layer of dramatic irony. - Hakoda being terrible at drawing is hilarious. I love his dynamic with Bato. - “Hakoda didn't know how to explain to a banished sixteen year old that he might be a bad son, but a good man.” I LOVE this quote, and everything about Hakoda’s thoughts and actions in the chapter. - I love the chapter title and its understated drama. - Panuk and Toklo are fantastic characters. When I find myself thinking back on this fic, it’s Zuko’s new Water Tribe friends that come to mind first.

I knew this chapter was sad, I knew it would be A Lot, but I wasn’t expecting the thing to make tears finally fall would be Aake telling Panuk to get his razor and shaving zuko’s head for him. But somehow it just hit and now I’m gonna need to take a minute before I continue reading

Oh yeah, this is the feeling I’ve been waiting for during this whole fic. Beautiful. Absolute cinema.

Now THIS is the chapter I was waiting for! Well, I mean, I’m still eagerly anticipating when everyone realizes HOW Zuko got his scar, but this is the next-biggest moment! I adore Panuk and how he looks out for Zuko so much, and Zuko hoping against hope that there’s a rescue mission in the works, ouch… and those LETTERS, Ozai pretending not to know Zuko and telling Hakoda to kill him, WOW I hate this guy. And Zuko killing a fire nation guard for the ship, wow. What a wildly satisfying hug with Hakoda and Zuko, though! And Zuko cutting his hair and everyone accepting him… so damn good. Although I’m sad that Iroh doesn’t know Zuko’s okay!

"The prince stood, looking ridiculous as always holding a bird half his size. Especially one dramatically letting her wing drag as she draped her long neck over his shoulder and down the better part of his back.'I think Stormsurge hurt her wing when she landed.''She did not hurt her wing. She's suckering you, just like Seabreeze. You need to stop babying them—'" I am so obsessed with how much Zuko cares about animals. He's so sweet. How could anyone take such a sweet gentle child and turn corrupt him with evil emperialistic ideals :(((Oh my god, Hakoda going from "stick to the rules or you're dead, or at least down one or two working limbs" to "stick to the rules or I'll have to have a stern talk with you, young man." Hakoda, you're long past dealing with a prisoner. At this point you're gentle parenting. Congrats on your new son.The vigil thing!!! Zuko "not believing" in spirits but doing it because his Uncle taught him it's important. Because it's part of his culture that he feels so isolated from at the moment. Because he feels this is the least he could do if he already failed his men, and his nation. And Hakoda compromising, because it's not like he's gonna disrespect his (not-)beliefs like that, even if they were enemies, because he once comsidered Zuko the enemy too.Holy. Shit. Zuko killing a fire nation soldier, a soldier who wanted to RESCUE him (which he's been waiting for for weeks), in order to save the water tribe men??? HELLO??? This poor boy oh my god. He had to act before the two got each other killed and he couldn't risk the whole ship being doomed (especially his Not-Uncle whom he'd already imprinted on like a turtle-duckling or what the comparison was). I absolutely loved the scene of him sitting at the railing afterwards and the others comforting him (especially Hakoda hugging him). But nothing beats Zuko finally, FINALLY crying. And Hakoda hugging him AGAIN. "'Stop caring more about me than my own father.' It wasn't hard to." BRO???????????? Insert all the crying screaming frothing at the mouth reaction images here please.He's finally becoming part of the crew now I hope. Not the prisoner anymore but their collectively adopted son/little brother. Speaking of that, I also love how Panuk found him trying to escape and managed to talk him out of it. His friendship with those two is so dear to me. Poor boy needed some friends his age. I can't wait for Katara and Sokka's reaction to this whole thing if they ever find out here. Oh, and I need to see the crew's reaction when they finally find out how exactly Zuko got his scar. I think none of them would have thought they could hate the firelord even more until that moment.There are so many things to comment on each chapter I always feel like there is stuff I forget, especially in this one because, once again, HOLY SHIT, but I'll just say I loved every word of this so much. This chapter was truly fantastic from start to finish. (Judging from the fact that over a thousand people had things to say about this chapter while it was only a few hundred comments on the last ones, I guess I'm not alone in that lol)

YESSSSSS RAHHHHG

Zuko... :'(I think he needs a big ass hug. And some Sea-plums.

Loved this chapter. I know it might’ve been an excuse not to write action but choosing to cut from meeting the fire nation soldier to the aftermath of his death was an impactful transition. Zuko finally breaking down and crying was wonderful. I’m wondering how Hakoda might grapple with his decision, knowing the Firelord was going to kill those men, even if he told Zuko that it wasn’t a sure thing. I like how much emotions and personal identity play a role in bending within your characterization of the ATLA world. Zuko not getting burnt at all during the fight, then losing his ability altogether, having a traumatic response…idk I just loved this chapter and your worldbuilding and both your subtle and overt character development! Thank you!

Historically speaking fostering your kids with another Noble family was quite common. Higher ranking to lower ranking was usually sign of trust or way to make someone else pay for your child's care. Lower ranking to higher ranking was either a way for the higher ranking Noble to gain leverage over the lower or a point of Honor for the lower. This is none of that.

Yup. Just as painful reading the second time. Loved it

OUGHHGGGHH WHAT A CHAPTERZUKO FINALLY GOT A PROPER HUG LETSGOOOOOOO

that last line… ouch

"You were going to kill him anyway," the prince said hoarsely. "You were going to kill him, right? And he—he was in so much pain, and I couldn't just let you hurt him—"   The man's throat had been slit. The prince hadn't made it far from the body before throwing up. He was curled up against the bulkhead now, Kustaa's arm over his shoulder, his face buried in his knees and a dog pressed against his side. NOOOOO MY SHAYLAAAAAA NOOOOOOO

This was a very painful but healing chapter all at the same time

Hi there! Oh dont mind me, just crying in the corner. As you were.

Don't know how many times I've reread this, but I'm still crying by the time I get to "Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't."It wasn't hard to.Like it's just a slow sucker punch.

Goodness this was so heartbreaking😭😭😭😭 and emotional 😢

1152 comments?! I highly doubt I‘ll have anything new to say, but I‘ll say some things anyway.Absolutely heartbreakingly amazing! How dare you tell us that one of the prisoners is Toklo‘s brother and then have Ozai kill them all T-T T-TThere was no way he would do anything better, but still!And Zuko having to kill one of his own people with his own fire to save the crew? UGH the FEELINGS!! Vomiting but not crying about it several times, fearing his own flame…Hakoda’s revelation that Zuko can in fact lie. Sort of. Was really good. Though I‘m still not sure if his lies aren‘t just what he does or wants to believe? That his father wants him back, that he‘s not a good bender.And then the scene between Zuko and Hakoda when he shows him his father‘s letters. Absolute gut wrenching. Especially how Zuko keeps expecting Hakoda to just kill him or at least hand him over to the Earth Kingdom if not that because he can‘t and doesn‘t want to believe that his captor and enemy captain seriously cares more about him than his father. T-T So thankful for the ending. Shedding his past, his title and connection to his „father“ together with his hair, and the crew accepting him! Even Aake!I only wish he didn‘t leave his uncle thinking him dead like this. I feel so bad for Iroh, losing his son and then his nephew like that. But with how many chapters there are left still I am hopeful that this is not the last we have seen of him.Enough speculating! I really adored this chapter and I think I‘ve calmed down enough to throw myself in the waves again.See you soon and warm wishes! <3 <3 <3

I love all the little "Not real bending" tricks that Zuko knows. Like this compass thing being able to track the sun is really cool and it feels like a detail that would fit so well within the canon world. It's an amazing idea! And you are also building cultures and pointing out the differences between them little by little and it's just such good world building!

I struggle to name an emotion I haven't felt reading this.

“Ozai received his own letter with great satisfaction, and promptly executed ten Water Tribesmen”I read this fic for the first time a couple years ago but I totally forgot that this happens. The way my heart just stopped and my stomach dropped. I felt like I had gotten the worst news in real life. Just the total heartless efficiency. Ugh you write so well and you killed me

damn. im crying here. how dare you

Heartbreaking.

Prince Zuko is dead, long live Zuko! I started this chapter at the end of a treadmill walk and decided to just finish the chapter walking not realizing how long it was. I think you just got me to walk an extra roughly 3k steps, so thanks for that 😂 and for the amazing chapter!

Ay mi vida, me dueles en el alma Zuko, pero soy tan feliz porque Hakoda parece haberte adoptado.

This hurt so much, but was also so cathargic.Love how symbolic the haircut was and how it came at the perfect moment in the story.

actually crying

Ooomph, this was a doozy. I had some tears fall when Zuko read the letters

Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live.You know how to break people with your final lines

"Zhao is creepy. He's always—and—I don't want to be on one of his ships.You know, the first time I read this, I had no idea what Zuko was referring to, but after going back to see clips of Zhao interacting with Zuko, he was incredibly creepy to him.

This chapter though!?!?! Absolutely incredible!!!

I love this fic so much

I love this so much. Thank you for sharing

💜💜💜

oh...really doing us like that, are you ? Okay. Okay. The pain is real and i'm tearing up zt one am in my bed, and that's exactly why i'll keep reading. Everything in this fic just sounds right and just, if that makes sense ? I can really feel the thought and work put inside of it :)

😭😭😭😭😭😭 my poor prince

I wonder how Katara and Sokka are going to react to finding out that their dad adopted Zuko

Oh okay totally not creating an ocean of tears broMy heart

FUCK YOU FOT THIS CHAPTER IT BROKE ME

This chapter made me cry (in the best way)

I see sokka’s drawing skills run in the family

THIS WHOLE CHAPTER IS SO GOOD AND SADZUKO BEING CONFLICTED OVER NOT ONLY OFFING A FIRE NATION SOLDIER BUT IT BEING HIS FIRST INSTINCT WHEN HE THOUGHT THE CREW’S LIVES WERE IN DANGERHIM THINKING IROH DOESNT NEED HIM WHICH OH GOD WHEN IROH FINDS HIM ITS LITERALLY OVER THE ALL FOUR NATIONS WILL FLOOD WITH SALTY TEARS

This story is brilliant, thank you!

My eyes got watery a few times while reading earlier chapters, this time I cried fully. Well done

And you grieve and you grieve and you grieve and you grieve and you grieve and you grieve and you grieve and you grieve and you grieve and you grieve for something you knew wasn't there, but maybe you can still be good to be a child again, even if you were never just a child

I just want to give Zuko a hug.

Literally sobbing through this one a+++

😭😭💗

You had me tearing up this chapter, goodness that was intense. Extra kudos all around for excellent execution of this complicated mess <3

This is kind of hurtful to read (how much hurt this boy can hold).Anyways, it will be funny to see the Gaang's reaction to Zuko in Hakoda's ship.And- and I'm incredibly curious about how will the North Pole go

OH MY GOD IM ONLY ON CHAPTER 8???I remember reading this fic a while ago and it broke me then. This chapter in particular broke me again, now. Ugh I love this story so much more than I should

💙💙💙

Holy crap, this chapter was heavy! Poor Zuko, I just want to wrap him up under a hundred fluffy blankets and hug him so tight!

Ohhhhhhhh i love ahkluts >:3

I thought it would take more than eight chapters to reach this point. really shows how brilliant the writing is. I want to inject it into my bloodstream

This poor boy...

Oh my god. Poor baby. I have nearly cried several times. My soul hurts.

MUST YOU MAKE ME CRY!!! ITS NOT FAIR! 😭😭😭

We're not going to talk about the fact that I've barely stopped reading this since I started, or thenfactvthat it is absolutely awful to read in the best way, why do I do this to myself

Well, this was a depressing chapter. Good, but depressing.

Omg the viet names?? 🤭

Yay now we can start the redeeming part!!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

'...there was a superstition spreading through the crew that the prince had uncanny hearing. Not with that husk of an ear, he didn't; Hakoda found it more likely that the boy just had exceptionally good timing for his scowls. At least he wasn't outright glaring as much, now that he was meditating. Sometimes he could even go an entire day without stomping.' I have a soft spot for recognition of the impact of Zuko's injuries -- the way you've written him preferring to keep people on his "good side" and how he hates people walking through his blind spots, for example. Also I love that he's a grumpy grumpy boy but meditating is helping <3Ohhhhhh. Ougghhhhhh. Ouch. I hate Ozai.'"I didn't lie. I didn't do anything wrong."/"You were born." It was the only excuse the Fire Nation had ever needed for attacking their villages. They'd set the rules, not the Water Tribe./The prince paused. Nodded, like it was a reason he'd been given before. Got back to work.' Yeah. Ouch.Panuk's solution is very clever.Oh, Zuko, sitting vigil.... this is an interesting conversation, emotionally, politically, and philosophically. '"You don't have to commit suicide for your nation."/"Father would want me to."/ ...Yes. The Fire Lord probably would. "Your father is wrong."/The boy's shoulders jumped. He turned the quickest of glances Hakoda's way, then jerked his gaze back to the ocean. "I just want to go home."/So did Hakoda. Strange that the same man stood in both their ways.' Ouch.THE NEW RULES HAVE ME EMOTIONAL. And so does Zuko's vigil. He's honorable and loyal and dutiful and a good prince and a good person. And he trusts Hakoda because Hakoda earned it ('Hakoda had a cloth-wrapped bundle of Fire Nation fingers in one drawer of his desk. Water Tribe, in another. And the Prince of the Fire Nation on his floor, trusting him with his turned back.') And Hakoda is a better man that Ozai deserves to deal with....Oh, shit, FUCK Ozai, for real.... I'd pay to see Hakoda take Zhao down for Zuko.Zuko killed for them. A man who treated him like a prince, and he doesn't even know ozai wants him dead. He's crying, I'm crying, we're all crying'Hakoda had wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders. He didn't let go. The prince rested his head against Hakoda's shirt, and refused to cry.' Sorry, Zuko, Hakoda is your dad now. Congrats on the new son, Hakoda. I don't make the rules, this is just how it isHe has FRIENDS and they love him asgfjkgdtqggjj'"Are you going to kill me now?" he asked, when he was long past the point of delaying this conversation./"I really wish you'd stop asking that," Hakoda replied. It was the wrong thing to say; the boy flinched, and visibly straightened himself. "No. The answer is always going to be no, Prince Zuko." /"But I'm worthless to…" to you, he didn't finish, because Hakoda could see him thinking and realizing and broadening that statement. "I'm worthless," he said.' I'm not crying you're crying'"Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't." It wasn't hard to. The boy slipped from his chair, and Hakoda caught him.' Okay fine I'm cryingI'm so proud of Zuko. I love him and Hakoda and the crew.I'm a bit sad about Iroh but Ozai and Fong can fuck right off.'Prince Zuko— Zuko threw himself back into his work, like he was trying to prove something. Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live.' Ouch

A lot of things happening in this chapter. Still, the line that punched me in the gut was this:"The fleet had learned not to keep every member of a tribe on the same ship. It was a lesson they'd only needed to be taught once." It took me a second to understand it but now I cannot get it out of my head.

Great chapter!

ACTUALLY MADE ME SOB BROTHEN RUN AROUND MY ROOM VIOLENTLY STIMMING WITH JOY WHEN HE CUT HIS PONYTAIL OFF

Hakoda sat the vigil with him. In the morning, after making sure the prince understood he was to sleep before returning to work, he took a certain bundle to the rail and gave it a too-quick burial at sea, with a quiet prayer to the wrong god. It was the best he could do. Hakoda hadn't fought this war on the Fire Lord's terms. He wouldn't let the man force him into starting now."These lines go extremely hard

Om fucking on the edge of sobbing but I can't because I don't want to wake up my family and my fucking throat is just cant

Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live.imagine people caring enough to notice this is what you believethis is why I need to read angst fics like it gives catharsissomeone suffering being saved being worthy of care. and in so learning that I deserved better too when I needed something. he's a good kid. he's trying .

I’m bawling over one sentence. (spoilers) ‘ Ozai received his own letter with great satisfaction, and promptly executed ten Water Tribesmen, as agreed.’ R U SERIOUS IM CRYING OVER THEM I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THEIR NAMES TOKLOS BROTHER?! HOW I CANT EVEN THIS IS MY BREAKING POINT

Bato slid other papers over the drawing of their plans. This would have been more effective if he wasn't hiding it under Hakoda's drawings. His Second gave an unrepentant shrug under Hakoda's glare, but at least had the decency to turn the sketches upside down.This fic is hilarious

"Hakoda was wrong: the boy was a fantastic liar. He'd said his father wanted him back, and Hakoda had believed him."Oh *GOD.*"They shook, for whatever such things were worth. Any deal was only as good as the word of the men behind it."Yes. And at this point, at least one of them is aware that the other truly means it, and the other is starting to believe the same. "Living isn't cowardice, Prince Zuko.""Hakoda didn't know how to explain to a banished sixteen year old that he might be a bad son, but a good man."Ain't that the crux of the issue."Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't.""Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live."Stop it!! Stop breaking my heart!!!(Please do not stop, thank you)

Man I hate when people have triple 6s in their usernames I have really severe religious traumaAnyway. I'm fucking sad but hopeful. This fic has been a rollercoaster of emotions and I'm just gettin started.

"Hakoda could count on one hand the times their second youngest crewman had called him 'Chief.' The boy wasn't from Hakoda's village; his uncle was chief of an inland tribe, one of the semi-nomadic ones that lived their lives around the honey-reindeer swarms. The fleet had learned not to keep every member of a tribe on the same ship. It was a lesson they'd only needed to be taught once."Obviously there's a lot to unpack later in this chapter, but I actually want to talk about this first.There is *so much* built into this paragraph. The use of titles not as obligation but as a mark of respect and acknowledgement, as well as a signal of what kind of communication this is going to be.Secondly, *more Southern Water Tribe!* I find it hard to believe that the handful we see in the show are really all thats left of the SWT. Making it so that what we see is the last of *that particular* tribe is brilliant.Thirdly, the horror of the mistake. Chilling.And lastly, in a different vein, dear *god* reindeer-wasps/bees?? I'm terrified."How would you?" Hakoda asked, from an acting chief to a potential future one."An even better addition to the scene. I'm such a slut for sublety in speech like this, and discussions of leadership styles and qualities. This whole scene is truly one of my favorites and it is written SO well. Thank you.

Oh god this story is so good but alao holy shit i need zuko to be getting hugs all of the time constantly and forever. That poor fucking boy deserves some kindness

"Prince Zuko— Zuko threw himself back into his work, like he was trying to prove something. Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live." Hehehehe Oh this crew ain't never letting him go now.

zukos head is shinier than the crab from Moana omgjkjk (kind of)I loveeeee this so muchhhh ahhhhhdjkciduejdj

If I could enter the ATLA universe and do one singular thing, the choice would be to hug Zuko. Without hesitation.

this fic is so masterfully written! random lines just come out of nowhere and pierce my heart. so so good!I looooove the way Zuko is written. he's such an awkward turtleduck <3

I've been rereading this fic and I have forgotten how hard it hits. I love how Zuko, and then Hakoda too, holds the vigil for the fire nation soliders, it gives their deaths so much depth.

[His Majesty the Fire Lord advises that there will be no treaty, and no return of your men, so long as you dare put forth this impostor to the throne— —leniency may be shown should you abandon this transparent Water Tribe ruse to cause the royal family more sorrow, and dispose of the pretender to Sozin's line— Hakoda sat staring at the Fire Lord's reply for a long time. This was how long it took a proper father to process that another man was asking for his son's head. The price the Fire Lord named, in exchange for Hakoda's men. ...Hakoda kept sitting, awhile longer. ] yep he’s definitely realized now how much Ozai sucks [Everything the boy said was from the Fire Nation's view; why what he'd done was traitorous and cowardly and wrong. He'd saved an enemy ship, the enemy leader's ship, he'd killed one of his own men, his father would never forgive this, let go of him— Hakoda had wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders. He didn't let go. The prince rested his head against Hakoda's shirt, and refused to cry. He threw up again. Over the side of the ship, thankfully. Hakoda did let go of him for that. And when Panuk and Toklo approached, apparently done with their clean up belowdecks, Hakoda ceded his seat to them. Hakoda didn't know how to explain to a banished sixteen year old that he might be a bad son, but a good man. "If you want to hold another vigil tonight," he said instead, "my door will be open."] 🥹😭🥺😭🥹 [dead?" "But. I— You're not even going to try? It's not like you want me here, you don't want me—" The prince was arguing against himself again. And he hadn't met Hakoda's gaze since he'd read that first letter. Hakoda stood and came around his desk, and tried to ignore how much shorter the boy's breaths became with every step closer he took. He knelt, and wrapped the prince into a hug as best he could from that angle. The prince didn't respond; his chin was on Hakoda's shoulder, his body barely moving even to breathe. "Are you going to sell me to the Earth Kingdom?" he asked, in a voice so quiet Hakoda might not have heard if they weren't so close. "No, Prince Zuko. I'm not selling you to the Earth Kingdom, either." "But. What do you want from me? I'm not any use to you, I—" Hugging the boy tighter made him go stiffer, his breaths more ragged. "Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't." It wasn't hard to. The boy slipped from his chair, and Hakoda caught him. He finally cried. The lamp on the desk followed each breath; near-guttering on the exhales, flaring behind its glass on the inhales, unsteady and exhausting itself, but safe for all that. ] 😭😭😭😭😭 his kid now

goddammit man... I'm crying now... this is the first atla fic I've read and now I'm crying

Crying over fictional characters was not on the agenda today.

Looking through some of the comments and realizing that some of my fellow readers (at least the first commenters, which may have come before the Kyoshi novels came out, I haven’t checked to see when this was written) didn’t have the full cultural context for him shaving his head.Hair is heavily linked to honor. After losing an important Agni Kai, one might shave a patch of their hair (which Zuko took to an extreme with that ponytail). But the topknot is not to touched outside of “circumstances akin to death”. To cut it yourself is a ceremony denoting a complete loss of honor (Zuko and Iroh cut their topknots after being deemed fugitives.). Until such time as the topknot grows back, you are legally subhuman. People can treat you like an animal and no one is allowed to get offended on your behalf because you have no honor to insult.

So I cried. Its 11 at night and I wept about fictional characters suffering. No set of emojis can properly display my anguish

Bro I just cried reading this 😭 Zuko honey..your dad’s a Dick please just act like a child I beg of you 😭😭

Was the Fire Lord trying to get his son killed? He TOLD you you shouldn't send Ozai ransom requests. The Chief was mad at him and he didn't know why. Not that the 'why' mattered: Zuko had done something wrong, and now the man kept watching him with his jaw set. It could be the thing with the compass. Or maybe it was the letter he'd written the other day; maybe it still wasn't any good, but the Chief had sent it anyway because he knew Zuko couldn't do any better. Maybe he blamed Zuko for the Fire Lord's response taking so long. :(:( Hakodaaa, you sparked not only a blankout PTSD attack, but the nightmare that he hasn't had in weeks. Hakoda was wrong: the boy was a fantastic liar. He'd said his father wanted him back, and Hakoda had believed him. OHHH yeah accurate, Hakoda, yeap uhhuh yes. And now Hakoda had called the Fire Lord's attention to his men, men who might have been able to sit in the relative obscurity of some Fire Nation prison, treated with only the usual abusive indifference, but instead there was a box in his desk— Hakoda had done this to them. This is the point where I tell you again, Hakoda, I underSTAND why you didn't believe him that contacting his Uncle was a better idea, but. Hakoda sat down in his cabin with a dead man's fingers and a letter he didn't want to write. !! that is indeed DARKLY creative, respect and horror to you. Hakoda took in a very careful breath, and let it out just as slowly. "Prince Zuko. I've been meaning to go over the rules with you again." \o/ that was all very good, and you can tell because you got a THANK YOU from him!!! Hakoda sat staring at the Fire Lord's reply for a long time. This was how long it took a proper father to process that another man was asking for his son's head. It feels weird that I kinda wish I could read the entire letter myself? Kustaa was fine. His dog was fine. The body in Fire Nation armor was not fine. The prince, somehow, even less so. Ohhh Zuko, I'm sorry, what a CHOICE. This wasn't the right way to do this. But if there was a right way to tell a boy that his father wanted him dead, Hakoda never wanted to know it. Wince, yeaah, there really was no good way. "Are you going to kill me now?" he asked, when he was long past the point of delaying this conversation. "I really wish you'd stop asking that," Hakoda replied. It was the wrong thing to say; the boy flinched, and visibly straightened himself. "No. The answer is always going to be no, Prince Zuko." 🥺🥺🥺 "But I'm worthless to…" to you, he didn't finish, because Hakoda could see him thinking and realizing and broadening that statement. "I'm worthless," he said. "And Father will give your men back if—" "The Fire Lord promised no such thing. He promised that 'leniency may be shown'. Even if he offered my men returned to me on a new ship, carrying a peace treaty that would keep the Fire Nation out of our waters, how could I trust the word of a man who wants his own son dead?" Zukooo :( Hakoda is ABSOLUTELY CORRECT to not trust Ozai's terms!!! "But. I— You're not even going to try? It's not like you want me here, you don't want me—" The prince was arguing against himself again. And he hadn't met Hakoda's gaze since he'd read that first letter. Hakoda stood and came around his desk, and tried to ignore how much shorter the boy's breaths became with every step closer he took. He knelt, and wrapped the prince into a hug as best he could from that angle. The prince didn't respond; his chin was on Hakoda's shoulder, his body barely moving even to breathe. Awwwwwww proper, full, intended as such, hugggg ;_; "Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't." It wasn't hard to. The boy slipped from his chair, and Hakoda caught him. He finally cried. The lamp on the desk followed each breath; near-guttering on the exhales, flaring behind its glass on the inhales, unsteady and exhausting itself, but safe for all that. Yeah, caring about Zuko more than Ozai is a stunningly low bar to step over. He sent matching letters to Ozai and General Fong. The prince had been lost at sea. Very tragic. His condolences. So tragic, mhmm. Hakoda considered sending a message to Prince Iroh, as well. But he didn't know whether the man was any better than Ozai, and he didn't particularly want the Dragon of the West influencing the boy. Mmm :) the Iroh&Zuko thing is one of the most fascinating things in the entire show, would love for you to witness and attempt to unpack it, Hakoda.

I’m rereading and this chapter always makes my heart hurt

"I know you didn't say yes. But." Panuk stopped next to him, fidgeting with something cloth-wrapped in his hands. "It's an option. I still think replying in kind is… is what we have to do, or the Fire Lord is just going to think he can do whatever he wants to our men without repercussions. But we don't need to hurt Zuko."% ...mmm maybe his hair finally gets the disaffiliating cut-- if Ozai believed them would that make him made, tho (I'm so far ahead now but let me finally just post my comments instead of trying to figure out what else I was gonna comment on)

Halfway through this chapter I started drafting what I’d write for this comment. I’d cried twice before then, and then twice after. I don’t know how I can put into words how much I loved this chapter, so just know that I’ve tried, alright?The way in which you play with the cultural differences between the Fire Nation and the Water Tribe, and just How that contributes to the tensions and connections that grow between the characters, is absolutely Phenomenal. It fits so seamlessly into the established worldbuilding and explains so much about each character and their behavior that I’m genuinely confused as to what’s canon and what’s not.Zuko sitting vigil for his nation’s soldiers surrounded by his enemies on their leader’s deck was such a potent moment of imagery it was intoxicating. They *let* him mourn the people they killed, their oppressors, and they did it with such beautiful I felt it in my bones.Hakoda’s struggle with deciding what to do about Zuko was so fucking palpable- the scene where he bore the weight of his men’s lives, the lives of the Fire Soldiers they killed (all of it concretized into the smallest and yet most viscerally effective symbol of the severed fingers) and the teenage boy with his back turned.. it was That scene it was absolutely blew me away and made me utterly convinced of your writing prowess. I’d never read a single fic of yours before this and still it’s become obvious to me.And with Aake, the man who’s held so much wariness towards Zuko *helping* him with his hair, his acceptance of his loss, his rejection of him home, even going so far as to allow him to *grow it back*.. God.This fic is absolutely infatuating. It’s one of the highest rated in the fandom and I see why. It deserves Every word and point of acclamation. Can’t wait to read more.

I am now Big Sad

Aww babbyyyyy!!!also-LOVE this alteration!!! <3 <3 <3

not zuko basically disowning himself cskcmdkwomzzxxi adore zuko and especially your characterization of him. i also adore how you write unreliable narrators.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh he's such a good dad, they're all live yup this is our fire boy now

This BROKE MY SOUL

Im experiencing too many emotions in very little time, what even is happeningZuko cried in Hakoda's arms and I cried tooHE CUT HIS HAIRI need helpand the vigil is also so heartwarming/breaking( this is amazing btw I'm loving every second of it )

!!!!!! you keep breaking my heart with this fic!!!!!

“Scuttles was a great dog name. No one appreciated Hakoda's complex humor. Or his concise tactical illustrations.” i see sokka takes after his father artistically“He will if he knows what's good for him," another crewman replied, demonstrating a fundamental lack of Fire Prince understanding.” zuko runs face first into what is bad for him alwaysoh yeah iroh is probably sick with grief right now :(“Was the Fire Lord trying to get his son killed?” Yes.hadoka x ibuprofen“Inside was a bed of preserving salt, and ten dark-skinned fingers. Their fleet was missing ten men.” Oh No.i love all the cool animal hybrids youve come up with“The fleet had learned not to keep every member of a tribe on the same ship. It was a lesson they'd only needed to be taught once.” PAIN.“Or that the briny goodness of Water Tribe sustenance is finding its way into your core, infecting your ashmaker body with truth, love, and justice—" LMAO“Hakoda was wrong: the boy was a fantastic liar. He'd said his father wanted him back, and Hakoda had believed him.” BECAUSE ZUKO STILL BELIEVES IT 😭😭😭😭zuko who has been raised to hurt his whole life being taught to heal… beautifulhadoka 🤝 zukounderestimating the others lack of self preservationthis fight is brutal in a different way than most and i love itoh panuk is CREATIVE. in another world where ozai actually gave a fuck i imagine him being like >:0 after zuko comes back with all his fingers intact and ozai just has a mixed box of random mystery fingers now“he wasn't the boy's father.” BUT YOU COULD BEi love that we dont see zukos fight only the aftermath“It wasn't. I… I knew what I was— It wasn't an accident. Are you going to kill me now?" PAINall of the last part. with the letters. and the hugging. pain

'Hakoda hadn't fought this war on the Fire Lord's terms. He wouldn't let the man force him into starting now.'That's his own resolve and honor. I like seeing it.'Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live.'That is a brutal realization for anyone, especially a parent. But, Hakoda is a good parent.

Here was me thinking I'd gotten emotional at "I'd like to hear it from you." the second time.And then you went and did THIS 😭😭😭

The hakuddles killed me. I am dead.

Man, they are really goin through it. When Panuk starts calling Hakoda chief, *and* swearing, you know it's bad. AHHHHHHH. I understand the title now. The least harmful of the ideas is probably to send his Phoenix tail. "Hakoda was wrong: the boy was a fantastic liar. He'd said his father wanted him back, and Hakoda had believed him." He's not lying to u. He's lying to himself. "Because our benders could heal," he turned a page in his own book. "And then they were gone. We lost as many people to injuries and infection as to the raids." Damn. That's something I never really put much thought into before, but yeah. They were so reliant on their healers that they would have lost a lot of people to injury before learning of another way to take care of wounds without them. "whatever he was hearing was not the sound of an honorable fight, they were ambushing some unsuspecting Fire Navy ship like the underhanded cowards they were—" Cultural and strength differences. War is won by the living people, Zuko. Fire nation prides itself in "honor," but this is war. And they are non benders up against people who shoot fire. Ah. A funeral fire. "Hakoda sat staring at the Fire Lord's reply for a long time. This was how long it took a proper father to process that another man was asking for his son's head." Yeah. You weren't arguing with a father all this time, Hakoda. You were arguing with a murderous psychopath.   "It's one of Zhao's ships." OOF. Yeah, that ship is *not* here to rescue you, buddy. And what is better, really? Zhao or Hakoda? It's a tough call. Well, it was Zuko who cut off his own phoenix tail, so I was wrong. "Hakoda had never been so proud of his crew." 💕💕💕 A shame about the 10 water tribesmen. :( But expected. "Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live." Yep! That is exactly it.

I love this so much I can't believe I didn't look at your ATLA work before. Turns out you write avatar just as well as voltron. Bless.

HOLY. It’s 2022 so I’m pretty late to the game but my god. This is incredible work. You have a wonderful way with storytelling (unlike Zuko) and I can’t wait to read the rest of this. ❤️❤️❤️

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Oh. Ohh! That's it. I cried. Poor boy.

My heart is aching oh godTen tribesmen dead…. I’m so upset Ozai is such a douchebag oh my god

I hate leaving a critical comment on a classic, but I wish that between Zuko asking for a knife and Hakoda handing it over, this had happened:.....................Hakoda: if you insist, but, I like you and I wish you wouldn't do this.Zuko: ... What? Oh, ewww no!....................Hakoda knows he's an abused and neglected kid. Hakoda also knows Zuko thinks he has no value. If he did want to kill himself, Hakoda could quite likely make the difference.

Jesus fucking Christ you just goddamn ripped my heart out and stomped on it with this chapter didntcha!!!!!

i'm just waiting for the shock when the gaang meets this new zuko... poor kid :(

Im crying right now

Zuko...kiddo..

This story is so freaking good even though this chapter definitely makes me want to cry. So happy for Zuko getting a hug from a father and the kindness shown to him by the crew as well. So sad for Zuko about basically everything else. It's awful that he had to kill one of his countrymen but also shows just how good of a person he is/that it's not about where you're from but who you are that matters.

'"Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't."  It wasn't hard to. 'Oh look, it's raining on my face.

""But I'm worthless to…" to you, he didn't finish, because Hakoda could see him thinking and realizing and broadening that statement. "I'm worthless," he said."Such a great line, this is amazing!

I just love the switch from technically a hostage/prisoner to 'we're keeping you actually, you're ours now'

Zuko’s arc has ended, now begins the character arc of Zuko’s Hair

oh man, another absolutely amazing chapteri would probably write a better comment but i stayed up a bit too late reading this and am now very tired of so now all i can think of is what'll happen when the Gaang finds out that Hakoda somehow ended up adopting Zuko, y'know, Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, the guy who was chasing them for a while but then kinda disappeared and nobody knows whyalso Iroh is most definitely freaking the hell out rn and has been for a while, Zuko you think hes better off without you? honey, you have no idea how absolutely incorrect you are and Iroh will make a point to prove it (and then Iroh and Kustaa have a custody battle to be THE uncle)

Been reading for two hours straight now and still going strong! Sleep is for the weak (I have to get up in a few hours, that little bit of sleep now isn't worth it anymore...)

"there was a superstition spreading through the crew that the prince had uncanny hearing.":-D I had wondered, when Bato brought up the hearing, whether that was true here too or a just nod to TTS. I feel like I remember a Toklo reference in TTS too that I didn't get at the time. Oh! And the spear, the polar dog... I JUST got that.Reindeer swarm reference! OMG, those things are insane. Between that and the akhlut, real life is giving ATLA a run for its money on weird animals, mythical or otherwise. None of them can match the horror that you created though: the squirrel-rat. Truly, a world destroying organism."The boy met his eyes in a way that said he knew exactly what Hakoda was doing, and resented the responsibility come early."<3<3<3 Panuk. Just ... <3<3<3. I adore this character so much."Hakoda didn't know how to explain to a banished sixteen year old that he might be a bad son, but a good man."<3 Leave it to Zuko to find the most traumatic entry into lethal combat.I have a feeling the story's taking a more definitive tilt into healthy relationships and healing beyond this point. And at the moment I'm more in the mood for some emotional heart stabbing. So, I'm going to put it back on the shelf for now and save it for when I'm in a more wholesome mood. ...Which is a weird thing to say after the most visceral, harrowing chapter. But, Hakoda seems to have understood what he needs to do. And I have faith in him.

The fingers in a box unnerved me. Ozai is not playing around.Poor Zuko, picking up on the change in attitude on the ship, worried that he did something "wrong" to make Hakoda upset with him.I liked the scene with Panuk, the whole leader-in-training bit. And him... acquiring fingers was clever, albeit creepy.I loved Zuko's vigil, and the conversation with Hakoda about revising the rules./Hakoda sat the vigil with him. In the morning, after making sure the prince understood he was to sleep before returning to work, he took a certain bundle to the rail and gave it a too-quick burial at sea, with a quiet prayer to the wrong god. It was the best he could do. Hakoda hadn't fought this war on the Fire Lord's terms. He wouldn't let the man force him into starting now./ <--This probably wasn't the best tactical decision, but it was the ethical one. Hakoda is a good man. Ozai insinuating that he would free Hakoda's men in exchange for Zuko's death... I don't have words...../"Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't." / <--I was beginning to get teary at this point.I love that Aake was the one to help Zuko even out his haircut, and his line about the hair growing back. That was very sweet./Ozai received his own letter with great satisfaction, and promptly executed ten Water Tribesmen, as agreed. It was a greater leniency than sending them to the coal mines, or continuing his discussion with them regarding their fleet's movements. / <--I don't know what horrified me more, their sudden execution or the comment about 'continuing the discussion.' **shivers**

What a great chapter! Hakoda is best dad for sure and you nailed both his and Zuko’s personalities. I’ve gotten so attached to the crew as well. Really enjoying the story

Ow 😔💜💜💜💜💜

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Yeah I don't even have words for you lol, just my salty ass tears The fact that Hakoda's ten men got tortured and killed is fucking infuriating and painful and makes me want to melt Ozai's eyeballs with a hot poker

I love this so much

Your writing made me cry this is brilliant

I love the mental image of Zuko popping up and sticking his arms out east to west. But wow, what a chapter! Zuko sure made some choices and I'm really excited for him to heal and realise how wrong his Father's treatment was. I can't wait for them to find out how he got his scar too!

1. i love your chapter titles. theyre amazing2. this chapter almost made me c r y

>> Hakoda sat staring at the Fire Lord's reply for a long time. This was how long it took a proper father to process that another man was asking for his son's head. The price the Fire Lord named, in exchange for Hakoda's men. ^^ the fire lord is playing the same game with hakoda that zuko is used to. set a rule, and punish you even if you try to follow it. there is no doubt that even if hakoda were to do it, ozai would attack them anyway.>>Ozai received his own letter with great satisfaction, and promptly executed ten Water Tribesmen, as agreed. It was a greater leniency than sending them to the coal mines, or continuing his discussion with them regarding their fleet's movements. ^^ yeah, that's what I thoughtPoor Iroh.Poor zuko oh my god

"Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't." Was where the tears came.I've been reading this all in one sitting so far and it's 4:25AM. I've been drawn in so deep I'd no idea what chapter I was on. I just checked and it's 8 out of TWENTY (Oh gods we're less than halfway, we're going to die here oh glorious death 😭).

I'm tearing up this is so well written!!!!

I cried

I absolutely love this story! The world-building, all the tiny character details, the plot... It's all just ridiculously good. I'm so excited I have so much fic ahead of me to read!

So many feelings!!! The hug!!!

You made me cry. :)

this chapter made me sob so much wtf i can’t handle this

"Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't."  It wasn't hard to.  The boy slipped from his chair, and Hakoda caught him. He finally cried. The lamp on the desk followed each breath; near-guttering on the exhales, flaring behind its glass on the inhales, unsteady and exhausting itself, but safe for all that.  And: Prince Zuko— Zuko threw himself back into his work, like he was trying to prove something.  Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live. I CANNOT STOP READING

that last line - Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live. - always hits me so hard and i try not to think about why. but like. omfg so well-written, this entire fic!

the last line omgggg

I'm crying. That's all I have to say."Hakoda had never been so proud of his crew." I'm so proud too. I'm also very sad. And happy. And crying.

Thie chapter really made me cry... I also hurt muself more because i was listening to daddy issues by the neighborhood. I hope he does writee

IM CRYING RN

Man, this is my favorite chapter. Reading this at 3 am with *just* the right music? Instead tears.

I decided to take a trip to Pain. Wasn’t my brightest decision.

Honey… reindeer… SWARMS???

hhhhhh CHILDZUKOLET PEOPLE CARE ABOUT YOU

Dude you are genuinely making me cry

💙💙💙💙

💙

This was great. Your writing's great. I don't usually cry from reading, but this definitely got me😭😭😭

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

"Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live"My heart broke so many times this chapter, but this? Oh, this hurt.

When he asked for the knife I was like...nope nope please don't hurt yourself Zuko and then he cuts his hair off and I'm like Oh...and then he goes Just Zuko, not Prince Zuko anymore I went even more OHHHHHH!!!!

I started rereading late last night, and how is it possible that every chapter gets better, more heart wrenching, and gives us more found family?? Zuko asked so many times in this chapter if Hakoda was going to kill him, and was sure he was going to, and each time I could hear him get more desperate and hopeless. And god! Him finally breaking down and crying!!!!!

hakoda 🤝 me wanting to throttle the fuckerlord"He didn't know what direction the ship had gone down. Didn't know where to direct the prayers for their spirits. He faced west; the direction of endings."ok. wow. that left me with goosebumps. and i'm speechless at how you write zuko dealing with the guilt he feels for not stopping the crew from fighting his people. and the vigil... the solemn feel you managed to invoke... ughWOW ok i just got to the part where he killed a fire nation soldier and somehow i'm even sadder than before!! good god!! i can feel the grief and guilt and sorrow from each line seeping into my bones and making my chest literally ache!! i just. love the moral dilemmas and zuko fighting his inner conflicts. and aake (the one who seems to have always been "against" zuko) being the one to help zuko shave his hair better..... poetic.anywhore thanks for stabbing me with the knife that is written pain!

;-;

“ No one appreciated Hakoda's complex humor. Or his concise tactical illustrations.”I love that Sokka got his artistic talent from his dad.

You are just hurting my heart a little more after every chapter

this is. so sad. it always makes me smad (sad and mad) to think about Zuko's (non-existent) relationship with Bitchlord Ozai but this chapter especially hit me. good job I guess

hey author? i have a legit tear in my eye and thank youfor sharing this fic

Hakoda: "okay. I have arrived. Like everyone who has ever met Zuko for more than ten chapters always do. The "I am adopting this boy and also punching Ozai in the face" point. Ah good times."Iroh: "oh mood."Hakoda's entire crew + Zuko's entire crew: "I'll drink to that."

this is such a beautiful chapter- i can't-

GOD. Godddddddd. This was stunning

As good as this story is...I have to say it's way to slow.

Oh my heart the poor boy. This story is absolutely fantastic and diving into Zuko’s psyche like this... I’m just going to go cry in the corner for a few minutes 😭😭💔💔

Well. The crew has a permanent water heater now.

I'm rereading this every few days bc I love it and I was just struck with the thought that panuk feels kind of like who Lu Ten was or could have been for zuko if they'd been closer in age and alive. I love all the crew of the akhlut you've created, they're amazing

You know, at this point, I wish the GAang met with the fleet cos... the chaos lmao.Ozai you fucking dumb-beard-bitchass, fuck you sideways with a rusty sword.

I'm pausing here in my read through to inform you that I haven't been this close to actual tears while reading a fic in a Very Long Time. This is just So Good.

I’m only half way through this story (binging it at 3am whoops) and I’m already crying. I love the crew and Scuttles/Sokka/Seal Jerky. Zuko! D:I hope eventually he gets to talk to Iroh. Well, on to the next chapter!

ohhh my god. when zuko found out about everything my heart just completely broke down. every word you write is so powerful, and the way you word and pace things really drives in the emotion!

This chapter broke me. The pure emotion, the breaking point for Zuko to finally understand how little his Father cared about his life. How he has grown to hve a weird sort of family in his supposed enemies. So many hard choices comes with war, so many choices that need hard decisions and you puzzled them out and also showcased how war is not just a battle of strength but also the strain of politics and determining outcomes that could end in the loss of so many lives. ALSO ZUKO BABY AHHHH he’s officially been adopted lol. I really really want Iroh to meet Hakoda and Hakoda just be so wary of how this man could hurt his new adopted boy. Protective Dad mode Hakoda is the best. Just so good

Oh god I knew this was going to be heartbreaking going in but you really just Did That

💜💜💜

i am just in awe of this fic. I always loved the idea of post-canon zuko just relishing in dadkoda's love but this, this is just everything he needed, i needed, and MORE. i love it and i think you've captured zuko so well and how the communal water tribe would deal with him. it's amazing im really enjoying it. i would be completely happy with the story if it had ended at this point but who am i to complain for more when im enjoying this story so much?? hahai really hope zuko gets to be reunited with his uncle. and i really hope sokka and katara and aang come and meet him on the boat soon. but i'll just have to wait and see.

Ah fuck, that last line. As if I wasn't already crying.

Huh. I guess AO3 doesn’t have a message system. I’m writing ficlet. Not sure if I’ll finish it. Although I think I’m half done with it. But wanted to ask for permission to borrow ship/crew names from you. I know. A pirate asking before stealing. Shows how much I respect your work. 😉

... ... ...  ...  ...oh.

The details of this fic are just incredible, the fighting and ambush tactics, the fingers, the navigation; it's brilliant to read and I am so invested in this story. The end though with Zuko cutting his hair? Beautifully heartbreaking

This is so fucking good!!! I can see why it has the most kudos of any other A:TLA fic

Zuko had another nightmare. His father had a different face, in this one. OhThe bag Zuko had found, the food he'd been sneaking, the water, it was gone it wasn't here it— "Zuko." Don't think I haven't been noticing that Leg Breaker is now Aake, Bato is Bato, and apparently he's no longer Your HighnessHakoda hadn't fought this war on the Fire Lord's terms. He wouldn't let the man force him into starting now.Panuk is such a smart, brave boy 🥺 but this is a fist pump moment, hell yeah Hakoda "Not thinking of escape, are you?" Hakoda asked, and the prince jumped. Man, i legit thought zuko jumped straight overboard at this and almost died laughing"You're the only one that'll make it out fine no matter who wins."...huhHe knelt, and wrapped the prince into a hug as best he could from that angle.Boom. Ur adopted zuko, get used to it

KUDOS ❤

Okay but that Iroh doesn't know breaks my heart.Please let there be a reunion scene? 🥺🥺

I love how this chapter is like. Really wholesome and has kind of a happy ending and BHAM BITCH THAT LAST LINE HITS YOU IN THE FACE AND YOURE LIKE JDJDJRHDHSIDJDJDHUSJJE ZUKO NO!!!!(yes im rereading salvage again and im TAKING NOTES. for a big ass review once its done. or earlier if ill get to it earlier but unlikely. I fucking love this story oh my god)

God I love Hakoda’s slow development from “angry authority” to “Ozai doesn’t want him so he’s my son now”. Zuko needs all the good authority figures.

I'm literally sobbing It hurts so good <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

"Right," Bato said, and picked up the charcoal, and a fresh sheet. "As the Chief was trying to explain—" There were sudden nods of understanding, and murmurs of agreement.Bato: Sokka’s clearly his father’s sonNot with that husk of an ear, he didn't; Hakoda found it more likely that the boy just had exceptionally good timing for his scowls. Oh my gosh I’m dyingThis chapter killed my soul if I am being honest.

On one hand... huzzah! Rip the Phoenix tail! On the other hand... RIP Zuko’s hope

"Living isn't cowardice, Prince Zuko. You don't have to commit suicide for your nation.""Father would want me to."...Yes. The Fire Lord probably would. "Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't."  It wasn't hard to. Prince Zuko— Zuko threw himself back into his work, like he was trying to prove something. Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live. I'm rereading for idk how manyth time, this fic is just so good

Noooo, Iroh needs to find out his nephew's alive!

“Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live.” THISSSSS

"" The prince had been lost at sea. Very tragic. His condolences. ""Pffffttt  Oh, Zuko. Poor boy

This wasn't the right way to do this. But if there was a right way to tell a boy that his father wanted him dead, Hakoda never wanted to know it. Ouch. This hurts. Great job, but every chapter of this fic has made my chest ache

"No one appreciated Hakoda's complex humor. Or his concise tactical illustrations." sdhglksdj i'm SO PROUD....LIKE FATHER LIKE SON....."He will if he knows what's good for him," another crewman replied, demonstrating a fundamental lack of Fire Prince understanding."""Because our benders could heal," he turned a page in his own book. "And then they were gone. We lost as many people to injuries and infection as to the raids."" oh.the...battle. well-written. sympathetic. devastating.the renegotiation of the rules is similarly devastating."one life wasn't equivalent to another" :/

OH SHIT THE IMPORTANT HAIRCUTso so so much to love here. the vigil! the way firebenders can tell time and direction! that in particular feels familiar like i've seen it in another fic? idk if it was canon but i dont really care about "canon" i care about worldbuilding and i love the worldbuilding you are doing with this fic, the good uses of canon as well as the interesting and justified additions to it. "...Scuttles was a great dog name. No one appreciated Hakoda's complex humor. Or his concise tactical illustrations. " i copied this sentence what feels like a lifetime ago so that i could tell you i love how Hakoda is so clearly sokka's dad.

Reading this in class was a bad idea based on the sound I made when ozai received his letter. Fuck.

Oh sweet baby boy!

crying in the club! crying in the club!

Oof my heart. Wow this is so so good

Ya uh this chapter... this chapter really pulled on the heart strings. I’m trying to blink back tears so my mom sitting five feet from me doesn’t get concerned (not working) and all I can say is just wow. I’m glad Zuko finally gets to grow and rebuild away from the fire nation and I hope that he will be reunited with Iron eventually. Great work!

Oh my gosh. What a long, amazing, anxiety-inducing, horribly sad chapter. This one finally made me cry. And I couldn’t even tell you the lines or the whole sections that made me just *feel* for Zuko. That poor boy!!!And I can’t believe they’re not writing to Uncle!! I understand Zuko’s insistence against it, because it’s so self-loathing to think that Uncle doesn’t love him with all his heart and also self-deprecating to deny himself the chance to see the person he loves most.And god! That last line!!!!! “Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live.” He deserves so much love and found family and support and intensive therapyFinally, one consistent thought throughout this chapter and obviously always too - FUCK ozai

This chapter has so much depth. It gives me so many feels

this fic is so well written omg. when zuko finally broke down i actually cried. thank you so much for writing this!!!!

I didn't really believe that a father-son(-ish) relationship between Hakoda and Zuko would work but here I am tearing up over this chapter. Thank you for proving me wrong.

Fuck of course stupid ozai thinks killing ppl is leniency 😭

oh- heRE WE GO ZJDBBSJSJSHSBSJHS LANO

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😥😥😥😥😥🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

OHMYGAWDIt's 5:30am and I'm here sobbing and having a breakdown of my own to mach Zuko's. What you do with words is an art. And it should be a crime.

Ooooooooof well THAT hit hardAnd here we have the tipping point. Very Nice, you really did enough character work to get to this being believable, which is HARD when you're starting with book-one Zuko. Please, Zuko, time to start processing that your dad is Not Good, you have a good surrogate dad Right There.

holy shit, this has been beautiful so far. the characters! the relationships! the worldbuilding! i'm reading this fic for the first time, and it's been amazing. i need to go read the rest of the (released) chapters now, but i just had to comment on this one because it's definitely my favorite so far. keep up the great work!

im dying send help T^T

I was half expecting Hakoda to at least try to kill Zuko, but also I knew he wouldn't, but I was half expecting him to because story. Immersive. Words.

This was a punch to the gut and my Feels and thank you for it <3

“His Majesty advises the following, in good faith: a respectable forgery should include personal accounts recent to his treasured son's life, not indifferent minutia years out of date—“zuko who hadn’t been home for 3 years: 👁👄👁 honestly that to me screamed “fuck ozai he doesn’t want you back” more than anything, because how were things NOT supposed to be outdated when he hadn’t been at the palace in years to make things recent??it’s very good writing!

Ozai: *says anything*Hakoda: never talk to me or your son ever again

I am bawling my eyes out, this is PAINFUL

OW THIS ONE HURTS

Jxkckemdbfbfiv my feels. D:I cannot. This chapter is just too much. This fic is literally my favorite. Seriously so much love for this. I'm so glad I found it.

😭

He sent matching letters to Ozai and General Fong. The prince had been lost at sea. Very tragic. His condolences.  XD once again I smiled. YES GO HAKODA ADOPT AND HIDE THE POOR SUMMER CHILD

every chapter just destroys me i swear

Bro that was absolutely fucking wrecking. Like fuck.NOT gonna lie The foul put in my stomach to even wondering his head being sent to his satisfied father?And goddamn to kill a man with fire aint - Just oofThis chapter had Nice moments but was só many oofs thrown around like. Man thats Just. Heavy. Good job damn!

You need to know that I’m a latinx person who’s English is not very good but yet here I am CRYING at 5:02 am and for some reason I have mixed feelings about you, author, but you’re a very talented writer and holy fuck that was a ride

oh god i cried really hard reading this

Wow, this chapter just killed me. Masterful writing.

Uh, you just ripped out my entire heart

"Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't."  It wasn't hard to.  The boy slipped from his chair, and Hakoda caught him. He finally cried. The lamp on the desk followed each breath; near-guttering on the inhales, flaring behind its glass on the exhales, unsteady and exhausting itself, but safe for all that.  Ah.....sweeet sweet catharsis 😩 this feels like the moment it’s all been leading up too. I can finally b r e a t h e again lmao. Anyway, this fic is incredible so far and I’m really looking forward to reading the rest :D

if you dIDNT CRY THIS CHAPTER IDEK I DID

I’m obsessed w this fic, this is one of if not THE best Zuko portrayals I’ve seen on here

Oh my gosh. Okay. Okay. I have some stuff to say.First, I need to talk about this paragraph: “ Hakoda had a cloth-wrapped bundle of Fire Nation fingers in one drawer of his desk. Water Tribe, in another. And the Prince of the Fire Nation on his floor, trusting him with his turned back.”This really, like, HIT me. Here we have the prince of the Fire Nation and a Southern Water Tribe chief sitting in a room, both angry and sad and frustrated for their own different yet similar reasons (both regarding Ozai. But one knows the truth about the letters, and the other just thought his letters weren’t good enough and that was all).The fingers, man. I don’t know if this was your intention, but the fingers symbolize so much right here. Water Tribe fingers and Fire Nation fingers. They show that Zuko and Hakoda have both already lost so much to this war. The fingers symbolize that they’re both victims here, albeit in very different ways, and have helped one another see things from another perspective. The men Hakoda couldn’t protect—the men Zuko could protect but withheld himself from anyway.Secondly When Hakoda hugged Zuko, I /broke/. Zuko hasn’t allowed himself to be vulnerable, but he can’t help it anymore, because his father wants him dead and Hakoda has gone from seeing this as an angry prince and threat to his life to a teenage boy (Sokka’s age...) who wants to go home but can never have that. So Zuko lets Hakoda hug him, even though he thinks he should be dead or sold or something awful, because this kid doesn’t see his worth, and it’s tragic in so many ways.And finally, the hair cutting. We got that scene in ATLA between Zuko and Iroh, but seeing Zuko do it HERE, with these men who are (were) his captors, it’s like he’s saying that he’s one of them—he’s against the Fire Nation and can’t go back anymore.Beautifully written, all of it! You truly have a gift <3

Damn this was a powerful chapter, so much emotion ❤️❤️

Omg I have been reading this fic all day and I am loving it!!! This is so amazingly good/great!!! I love this and I am excited to keep reading this!! So well written and engaging!! thank you for writing this!!

THIS IS SO TRAGIC AND IM STILL LOVING EVERY LITTLE BIT OF IT

My eyes are dripping

getting really worried about what Iroh thinks about all this.Hakoda was wrong: the boy was a fantastic liar. He'd said his father wanted him back, and Hakoda had believed him. -> oh, honey.Hakoda sat staring at the Fire Lord's reply for a long time. This was how long it took a proper father to process that another man was asking for his own son's head. -> asjljflkHe sent matching letters to Ozai and General Fong. The prince had been lost at sea. Very tragic. His condolences. -> VERY TRAGIC

this. i love this.

I’m very SAD about Iroh continuing to think that Zuko is dead :(((But hey Ozai is the fucking worst wow like we already knew that but DAMN. Zuko is growing though!!! So proud of him!!!

prince zuko? um i think you mean Zuko of the Southern Water Tribe

"demonstrating a fundamental lack of Fire Prince understanding. "..... isnt that just the whole series from anyone BUT zuko's point of view.....Anyway, reading for the millionth time in a row, and just ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I love it. So much. ❤❤❤❤

Well if I thought my heart was broken before.... what a way to do it more

Oh god this chapter always hurts, I forgot how much it hurt having Zuko kill a man and be told to kill himself and instead choosing to be himself

I thought I was going to wait until the end to comment on all the chapters as a whole, but damn, I just could not resist coming down here to tell you that chapter 8 fucking WRECKED me. Your ability to make my heart twist with just a few simple words is astounding. Zuko's growth, the crew's growth, Hakoda's growth, has all been tremendous throughout this fic, and incredibly realistic. Their slow realizations, their coming to terms with how things have changed, how their views are changing, how their assumptions might be wrong, it's all so good. Just. Ugh. I love it. I love this fic. I love the way you have me fighting back tears. I loved Zuko finally breaking down in Hakoda's arms, Hakoda accepting him, Hakoda deciding that he won't give this poor kid up. UGH. UGH.

THIS IS SO AMAZING I LOVE EVERYTHING ALL OF THE THINGS AAAAAAAAAAAAA

You really excel at putting emotions in your work! I really don’t cry that often while reading fic, and generally, one story doesn’t make me cry several chapters in a row! But that sort of just happened? You portray Zuko’s uncertainty and turmoil so well. I knew the second the soldier came downstairs, that Zuko would have to make a choice like that, but that didn’t make it any more wrenching because I really, really did not want this poor teenager (who desperately needs therapy) to have to make that decision. There’s something so final about it, and although I recognize that the Fire Nation is doing terrible things and that Ozai is doing evil things, the war must have been so painfully abstract for Zuko, up until now. He wasn’t in the war because he has his own mission. His reasons for being on the Fire Nation’s side was personal, and now his reasons for saving Hakoda’s ship are personal. He’s just making decisions blindly with no backup and not really a lot of support, or at least not support he’s capable of hearing right now. (Hakoda is right — Zuko wouldn’t accept that he can be both a bad son and a good man because the two are mutually exclusive in his mind. Ozai has him and Azula all wrapped up in binaries.)

This is fantastic. God. I'm dying over here it is 3:30 AM and I am not okay. This is so incredibly written. Poor Zuko. I'm so proud of him. And that ending passage. Fuck. I'm so excited for the next chapter of this.

oh man oh man oh man, I'm so proud of himi hope iroh somehow eventually finds out he's alive, he'd be so proud of him too

Oh no, this chapter absolutely broke my heart.

I wish you didn't have Zuko kill the soldier. I mean, he never killed anyone in the show, and it just doesn't seem like him. Other than that, great chapter. This story is really interesting.

Bro it's 4 am and I haven't been able to put this down oh my gosh wow to everything

I literally cried while reading this chapter 😭😭Really love your work 😍

Actual tears, this chapter.

HOLY. FUCKING. GOD. SO much feels in this chapter I can't even. I haven't been this profoundly affected by a fic in... Well, a while. Like, holy shit, how do you write this well?! I swear I've read published novels that weren't as good as this.When I started reading this I kept closing my eyes and smiling ridiculously in anticipation. And now I'm just sitting here being overwhelmed with feelings and also being kind of numb at the same time. I do love it. But like. Wow. there was a superstition spreading through the crew that the prince had uncanny hearing. Not with that husk of an ear, he didn't; Hakoda found it more likely that the boy just had exceptionally good timing for his scowls.Lol. _cease at once with this continued affront to his beloved son's memory. General-Prince Iroh has already reported the young Prince Zuko's tragic loss at sea in pursuit of his royal mission—God this guy sucks so much. _Inside was a bed of preserving salt, and ten dark-skinned fingers. Their fleet was missing ten men.Well DAMN. 8I_"Prying out the compass with his eyes," Tuluk replied.Lol! _Down on deck, the prince set down the net he'd been working on and, for no apparent reason, stuck his arms out in opposite directions. Even standing in front of the compass, it took Hakoda a long moment to realize he was pointing unerringly east to west.The different ways fire nation and water tribe compasses work is really interesting. _He had another nightmare. He wasn't quiet enough. "Tea?" Kustaa offered, exactly like a man who didn't want to get out of bed but would do it anyway.:) _The man stifled a yawn, and rolled his burned shoulder in that skin-too-tight way that Zuko wished he could do with his face on cold mornings.Ouch. _"Bato," Leg Breaker said. "Do not expect me to watch him. I've got a deal going with the Chief: the prince stays away from me, and I don't murder him."Heh heh. _"Not that I'm saying you'll eat our entire supply inside a week. Or that this is clearly a Fire Nation plot to deprive us of another element of our cultural heritage—""Shut up," Zuko said. He even remembered to swallow, first."Or that the briny goodness of Water Tribe sustenance is finding its way into your core, infecting your ashmaker body with truth, love, and justice—"This was not worth a few sea prunes.Lol. _Two and a half years. Two and a half years ago the Fire Prince had been tasked to find the Avatar. Two and a half years in which the Avatar was thought gone forever. Hakoda was wrong: the boy was a fantastic liar. He'd said his father wanted him back, and Hakoda had believed him. And now Hakoda had called the Fire Lord's attention to his men, men who might have been able to sit in the relative obscurity of some Fire Nation prison, treated with only the usual abusive indifference, but instead there was a box in his desk— Hakoda had done this to them.Oh OOF. _"I didn't lie. I didn't do anything wrong.""You were born." It was the only excuse the Fire Nation had ever needed for attacking their villages. They'd set the rules, not the Water Tribe.The prince paused. Nodded, like it as a reason he'd been given before. Got back to work.OOF. _If the Chief had known everything a month ago, would he have let Zuko live?How much longer until it wasn't worth keeping him fed? He'd cut himself back to just eating at the main meals, but—but he was an extra mouth, and even though he was working, he'd only had one real job on this ship and he was failing at it.OUCH. _"Listen. Just. Don't jump overboard. You know we're too far from land. If you're going to die that way, you might as well give Hakoda a chance to not kill you, right? ...I am not explaining this well."Aah! I love this scene! _"It's not about liking it. I'm more good to them after a fight then during. If I die, so do a lot more men. Isn't it the same for a prince?"Yeah, that's a really good point. _"The Southern Tribes don't have much of a history with medicinal plant lore.""Why not?""Because our benders could heal," he turned a page in his own book. "And then they were gone. We lost as many people to injuries and infection as to the raids."That actually makes a lot of sense. _The attack was a success. It was the clean up that was the nasty business: the Fire Navy ship had time to launch her life boats. Her crew had time to understand, to curse, to beg. The longer they could keep their strategies confined to rumor, the safer they would be.This was their war. They were better at it than Hakoda had ever wanted to be. DAMN. The way you write about the war and everyone's perspectives of it is (though I don't have personal experience and hope I never will) intensely, Horrifyingly realistic. _"Sitting vigil," the prince answered."I see."The boy's face set into stubborn lines. He didn't look at Hakoda. "I'm not going to stop."Love this._"I should have stopped you," the boy spat. "I'm their prince. I should have done more, I should have…" He didn't seem to know how to finish that sentence. If he had, he wou

i have more feelings about this fic than i do for any other work of fiction. you show hakoda’s fatherly love and zuko’s deep self loathing so well and i am SO emotional about all of this. i feel like i understand zuko’s character so much better with the way you show it. UGH so much love

IM SCREAMING THIS IS LITERALLY EVERYTHING IVE EVER NEEDED

God, it hurts to read. But in a good way. Cathartic. Thank you.

IM NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING

Sorry for commenting on a chapter halfway through the series, but as a child from an abusive household, I relate to how you've written Zuko...much more than I probably should. What with his hesitance around Hakoda's rules, about his need for physical busy work and misconception about having to be worthy of being around...just all of it. You've made me cry a coiple times so far, and I'm really looking forward to the rest. :)

Genuinely crying, my heart can't take it

This chapter was pure perfection, and completely worth the lead-up to it. Perfect pacing, perfect prose, perfect dialogue, perfect use of perspectives... perfectly evoking perfectly painful emotions that hurt so good!When I saw the chapter title, I did think Zuko was going to cut his own ponytail off (as he did on he show) but I'd thought it would be along the lines of "here you go, send him that as proof you actually have me," but this was so much better; him doing it after a wake up call re: what his father actually thinks of him, as a symbolic cutting himself off from his past (just as he did on he show, now with similar significance). And the finishing off by Aake was just beautiful -- the boy cutting his hair off was a disconnection from his past, but Aake completing the haircut was a connection to a new future. The start of a new chapter in his identity development :):)Zuko killing his own countryman to save Kustaa was heartbreaking and perfect. Hakoda learning from Zuko how to act honourably was perfect. (Because it's not all just one way here, this fic isn't all about Zuko benefitting from the Water Tribe, even though the poor kid doesn't think he has anything to offer! They benefit from having him too, and it's not just about infinite hot water.)"Don't. Please. I've ruined his life enough already. He can go home, without me." This line was so painful to read because he actually believes it's true, and Hakoda has no way of knowing otherwise. Hakoda doesn't want the Dragon of the West "influencing" the boy, but doesn't realise that a lot of the good in him now is because exactly that influence. We the readers know how Iroh really feels, don't we? (Oh I do hope there's a tearful reunion coming up!) Of course Iroh doesn't have anything to go "home" to and he'd rather make a home with his adopted son anywhere else (on a ship on a fool's errand, even). It reminds me of this line from Lois McMaster Bujold: "My home is not a place, it is people."

Zuko is to stubborn and spiteful for killing himself to be the first thing he thinks of doing. He will live just to piss everyone else off.

I love you but i also hate you so much. How DARE you do this to me. How dare you be this good jkdiidisisjsjddkdkdisjis STOP(but seriously what the hell this is one of the best things i have ever read in my whole entire life like classic literature who i dont know her)

This was heartbreaking. Just as heartbreaking as I expected. Wow. I hope Iroh is alright....

LETS TALK ABT MY EMOTIONS i actually don't have very good words sorry for the poor review when i tried typing out my thoughts i'm literally just likea. GOOD DAD HAKODA, CHIEF BUT FATHER FIRSTb. ZUKO TRIES SO HARD AND IS SO LOYAL (relating the death of the fire soldier from the fire nation's POV almost broke me, and the fact that he was speaking to a water nation warrior...... who is empathetic and doesn't try to get zuko to betray himself or his nation.................)c. the crew being kind and strong men. god bless. and that is all i will say b4 i freak out over the next chapter <3

Oh god my heart hurts.This was so good

I think this chapter was where i got hooked when i was reading backwards. The angst of the letters and Hakoda sort of subconsciously adopted Xuko as he read them. His own guilt for ignoring the signs and assuming Ozai would care about his son and thus getting his crew killed. The whole plot line with hakoda vs. ozai via letter was good. The vigil was a nice tpuxj as well, and using that and other things to show hakoda finally allowing himself to see Zuko for who he really is is noce. Also looks pike Zuko finally killed for the first time, woth it probably being even harder cause it’s one of his own people. It’s good he has Panuk and Toklo. And Hamoda’s thinking about the knife was interesting. He really thought the boy was going to die their, but he wanted to be kinder than letting Zuko find some more painful way to go. And than instead Zuko removing his hair, showing that he’s not exactly fire nation anymore. Also the crying and the reading was good. Poor Zuko having to accept much earlier that his father will never care for him. Good job

Wow I really did it, I’ve made it to the last chapter of my re-read and then I get to read the new chapter. Wow. Deep breaths, I can handle this (I definitely cannot)“"He will if he knows what's good for him," another crewman replied, demonstrating a fundamental lack of Fire Prince understanding.” Shut up unnamed crewman, everybody else has figured out that this boy is the ship’s new baby and you better figure it out too“At least he wasn't outright glaring as much, now that he was meditating. Sometimes he could even go an entire day without stomping.” See when you treat your firebender nicely, he’ll be nice back“Possible assassination attempts aside, the boy would probably try jumping over the side of the ship to escape, or remember that his firebending could be used for more than his Uncle's tricks. Or something even more drastic.” More drastic is certainly possible, but there’s no way assassination attempts or fire bending attacks would occur because zuko loves you and you love him, don’t be ridiculous Hakoda“hope chased by terror crossing his face.” How much of this terror is him knowing he’s not wanted? Do I even want to know?“(Maybe he didn't read Zuko's letters.)” I assume he didn’t, but I also wonder if you have more insight into that assholes brain. Did he read them and laugh at his son? Do I even want to know?“It helped as much as it never did.” Probably less cause it makes him miss Iroh too“The Chief didn't say anything else. He just stared Zuko down, and for a moment it was like that first day, kneeling on the infirmary floor— “ I didn’t catch this first time, you’re not just implying that he’s glaring, you’re implying that Zuko wants to apologize because he reminds him of his father; aren’t you? *cries*“it's beneath a prince to keep track of” Zuko has a really cool skill and once again he thinks it’s lame just because he’s been told that his interests don’t matter :(“"You're still a kid.""Shut up." “ I have lots to say but I’ll try to keep it short. I really like this because Zuko had to grow up too fast so he forgets he’s still a kid and doesn’t like being reminded he is. But also, in episode one Aang tells Katara the same thing and although she has a very different reaction, it’s the same reason—she had to grow up too fast. Very interesting parallel. “More like a swordsman than a firebender, more like a navy man than a prince.” I really wish Hakoda would use his brain and put the pieces together “The Chief was mad at him and he didn't know why. Not that the 'why' mattered: Zuko had done something wrong, and now the man kept watching him with his jaw set.” NO! It’s not your fault!!! “to act like a prince for once in his life?” I hate that Zuko doesn’t know how princely he is when even as an immature teenager he’s more of a royal than Ozai ever was“He had another nightmare. He wasn't quiet enough. “ WHY DOESNT ANYONE GIVE HIM A HUG“He worked like he thought it might help something. Given the letters the Chief had been showing them, Aake doubted that. “ Leg Breaker is starting to soften “His brother is one of them. Isn't he?" Poor Toklo :(“Panuk tilted his head back, watching the clouds above as he kept being unbearably annoying. He didn't meet Zuko's eyes, or Toklo's. Neither noticed. “ gosh why am I having feelings about PANUK now. I shouldn’t be thinking about how he grew up too fast too and how he has to force himself to be childish so that Zuko doesn’t realize there’s something bad going on and awwwwww poor Panuk“Hakoda was wrong: the boy was a fantastic liar. He'd said his father wanted him back, and Hakoda had believed him. “ BUT HES NOT LYING. Well he is. But he believes it. AND THATS WHY ITS HEARTBREAKING “Hakoda had done this to them.” Now I’m sad for Hakoda too. Wow, too much heartbreak for too many people in this chapter“Zuko had another nightmare. His father had a different face, in this one. “ this kills me cause it shows both that Hakoda is his father figure and also that he doesn’t trust him both because of how he’s acting and because of his trauma“Nodded, like it as a reason he'd been given before.” WAS THIS NECESSARY? WAS IT?“"He's not going to kill you," Panuk said. "Just to be clear.”” Poor Panuk has to be too brave here and I’m so glad he protected Zuko and stopped him from being an idiot (cause let’s be real he would’ve jumped overboard) but it’s still so upsetting that he has to be so brave when he’s so young too“How Hakoda had ever mistaken that for anything but a sixteen year old bracing himself, he didn't know.” It’s so cute that while Zuko is freaking out that Hakoda really doesn’t like him, we’re actually at the point where Hakoda is actually softening so much“The Healer said it like Zuko was still going to be here, like there was any point in keeping him around.” You’ve been adopted buddy, this is your home“And he was just sitting here, like the coward he was.” I hate that he sees himself not being stupid as being a coward“But we don't need to hurt Zuko." Not prince z

“Oh, yes, Zuko does at sea. Many tragic. Much sad. Very condolences.”

I'm. Crying so hard. This chapter hurts.In a good way as well as a sad way, if that makes sense?

This is absolutely fantastic! I love it! I'm super glad you're still writing more but I totally get the need for rest.Congratulations on your baby! Take care of yourself. I'll subscribe to this fic for when you're better rested.

That last line hurts...

I'm in love with this story <3 thank you for writing! I can't wait to see how it ends

Genuinely wanted to cry. I’m way too emotionally involved now.

I’m crying omfg this is so beautifully written but my heart omg!!! OMG!!!! 😭😭😭😭

I have no words, I am actually in love with this fic and your writing style is mwah chefs kiss. Your fics are some of my favorites

this is so goOD omg :( i just caught up to this chapter in one sitting and I'm just,,, my gosh I love this. Love this chapter and I'm looking forward to future chapters!!

I love this so so much!

this story is really great i loved the cultural clash and how it rubbed everyone in the worst way, where everyone got everything wrong i loved how tilted everything was in how they viewed it, like, hakoda is like "oh my god this firebender brat is going to burn our main mast oh my god" and zuko's like "yes hello i'm panicking i just need a bit of space please give me space i don't know how to emotion without uncle" i loved zuko's dryer abilities, how awesome and how bato took it the wrong way with how his linens smelled i love how honest zuko is like "yeah you know im going to escape i know im going to escape literally no lie here" and how shaken he was (justifiably so) when someone said they'd break his legs so he wouldn't run how hakoda listened to him about the hand-breaking in the earth kingdom and listened how he lied (!!! well done dad-model!!!) and said zuko drowned the crab-dog emotional-support-animal and also as a concept and how zuko was mad at sokka's behalf (that's my boyyyyy!!!) the pacing and the shifting pov which are natural and each scene just as long as it needs to also i've learnt about how to keep decks of wooden boats from dripping into the boat, very cool, very cool indeed one of my favorite parts was the fire-breathing, and how zuko was like "well sometimes i can't help it what do you want from me i'm not a master!!!" and it was very human and great and then you added to that the comment about fire-breathing being a master's skills, and zuko's like "pffft no if i can do it that's like, just a trick, what are you talking about you crazy water tribe person, youuu" also also zuko's adherence and fear about the rules and also just everything, great story, i enjoyed it a lot! thank you!edit: oh and also mazel tov! for your child! best of health to you and yours :))

God bless everything about this??? Oh my godLike obviously the culture stuff was all really rad and stuff but whatever it says about me, you had me as a evangelist the minute you put in the idea that firebenders inherently understand the cardinal directions because of their relationship with the sun because that's the kind of world building that I die for in stuff like thisGood luck with the baby (I don't have any firsthand experience but from what I understand it is one of the most difficult things in all of existence so I'm not exactly looking to HAVE firsthand experience ever in my life) and keep up the good work with this fic whenever you have the mental capacity to do so, because it is something REALLY special.

Ouch, this hurt. A lot.

Congratulations for you on the Mini-Muffin!!!!!!!! Also, OMG THIS IS THE BEST STORY EVER AND I NEED IT MORE THAN IROH NEEDS TEA THIS IS THE BEST AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH YOU ARE SO TALENTED!!!!!!!

First of all: good wishes to you and your baby!!!Please don't push yourself hard to write, if you need to rest without making yourself be creative - please do so!We can all wait patiently for your great writing :)I really loved this story, i inhaled it all in one day, it was such a delight to read!Have a good Day!

I don't usually start unfinished works, but this premise was too tempting. It manages to be both hilarious and heartbreaking, and Hakoda is the best dad EVER. Now I'm just waiting for Katara and Sokka's reactions to this lol

ahh congratulations on your baby!! i’m sending you both well-wishes 💖 i loved this chapter v much (all the hurt comfort yes thank you). salvage zuko is really just a babie fire prince! a scowly anxious good hearted kid who deserves a better father! love to see hakoda step up as a Good Parental Role Model. love the hugs. love zuko slowly learning to let people in. thank you always 💜

I read this all in one day, and I’m going to be completely honest. This is the first time in a very long time something I read made me cry. The way you characterize Zuko makes my heart hurt, as well as you showing that Hakoda is doing a balancing act trying to keep his men safe but also not hurt this kid. The little world building in this is also wonderful, and makes me smile every time I see something new about how time is different, or food, or even how ships are built in the different nations. You did a wonderful job on this story and I can’t wait to read more.

This is heartbreaking and wonderful

This is brilliant and beautiful and I’m kinda crying over how amazing it is. The development of the dynamic between Zuko and the crew is fantastic and Zuko’s personal development is also awesome. I love this so much!!

Kay so I'm not sure if I commented on this fic when I first read it, but because in the past few months since you've last updated I've been constantly thinking about it and I decided to reread and damn is this still my favorite atlab fic.And I'm glad I did because you updated a little June 2020 note and CONGRATULATIONS holy shit that's great!!! I'm happy for you, so please please please take all the time you need to update. I hope you're doing great and baby muffin is healthy, and I look forward to whatever you write because well with this atlab revival I'm more detirmined than ever to read atlab fics instead of casually reading and I will be combing your entire profile soon enough.Keep well and safe! Thanks for the wonderful stories you share with us 😊 💕

Zuko is TRYING HIS BEST

I love how Aake was the one to approach him about his hair

Never realised slow burn adoption was a thing till now but I love it. Also CONGRATS OMG take ur time!! It'll be worth the wait :)

Enough to say that I started this fic with the intention of pacing myself, taking my time. But now it's well past midnight and i'm having waaay to many emotions&feelings. You're an incredible writer and this story stands testament to that. Everything, from the plot to the characterization, from the descriptions to the dialogue, it's well written and engaging. It made me laugh and worry and smile and tear up in sone places too. I just want to thank you sooop much for deciding to share it with the world!❤❤ Also, congrats on the baby, may it lead a long, healthy, and happy life.

You should know that you're one of my wife's new favorite people because this fic is the one that made me finally decide to sit down and actually watch Avatar.I keep trying to leave like a coherent and/or deep review but all you're gonna get is babbling and also possibly some gibberish because this fic is just. I love it so much. I love the characters and the dialogue and the interactions and the in-jokes oh my god I love the in-jokes so much and also the misunderstandings oh my god I love the misunderstandings so much because they are in no way contrived or shoehorned in, they're just poor communication because of different cultures and experiences and Hakoda is such a dad. Hakoda please. Please take care of your new traumatized teenager he needs it so much.Speaking of whom!I am consumed, on the average of every 2-3 paragraphs, with the overwhelming urge to wrap that boy in a blanket and make him some damn soup. He's such a shouty wounded adorable baby and it's so realistic and I can't even with this boy he must be protected. He must be protected from everything. I am sobbing. The way he acts and thinks and how he's long since reached the point of just expecting to be hurt because expectation is better than fear, if you're always expecting the blow then it can never take you by surprise and it's easier but it's also so much worse and it breaks my heart for the kid. Please, I love him so much. Please just let him be happy. Not even for forever, I know that's asking too much, but like. Ten minutes of peace and safety. Ten minutes. That's all I'm asking for right now. Just ten minutes so he can breathe.I'm sorry I know I'm not making much sense right now but I just have a lot of feels and you gave them to me so here's so textual flailing in exchange. You're such an amazing author and my heart is full of emotions. I love this fic and I love you and your tiny human and wish you both the best. Time to go read literally everything else you have ever written.

Hey, I just found your story here and I LOVE it! You do such a great job with the characterization of Zuko and I love where you have taken this story! I can't wait to see were you go next!

I ADORE this story!! The life and personality of the crew, the tense plot sprinkled in with fun, Zuko's growth as a person learning about the world around him... *chef's kiss* perfectThe letters added a great tension and tine line. I'm so interested to see what will happen next, especially since Zuko is "dead." Will he ever learn to sail for real? Will he try to escape and regret it? Will he encounter the Avatar and have a crisis of faith? Will Iroh ever see him again? How far will this story go?? I'm so excited to find out. In the mean time, I'll reread it as it is so far. Again.

Ohhhh man. I was wondering when Zuko would finally find out about the letters. Like shit dude! I feel so bad for him! The whole fight scenes where so intense and I feel bad but also don’t because the soldiers deserved it but I feel bad for Zuko. He cut his hair though! Finally! I wish he had been able to tell Iroh he’s still alive, but that’ll probably happen later. I really love this fic! It’s really good and I’m glad Hakoda is being a dad to Zuko bc Ozai sucked at it

this is such a good story! I couldn't put it down

I just binge read all of this and I'm completely hooked! Congrats on your baby! Hope you both stay happy and healthy as they grow!

I hope you and your baby are doing well! I really enjoy your fanfic but please take as long as you need. Kids are hard, especially what with the plauge and all. I hope you and your family stay safe during these trying times

oh my god! this is so good! and very heartbreaking!! and much wow and I stayed up way too late or at this point early reading this and I'm sad I found this just as you're taking a break but congratulations on Baby!!!

just finished another re-read and still loving those not sure if you read all these comments but as always brilliant work and i can’t wait for the next chapters :)) wishing you and mini muffin as much rest as you can get!! congratulations again <3

You are a lovely lovely person and this story is INSANELY good. I love the interactions between Zuko and the crew so much, and that boy just deserves to feel safe and happy in an environment where he can be protected, and the folks on the ship are slowly working up to that. I can’t wait for further interactions with other people, like will uncle Iroh ever show up?? What about the Gaang?? Either way, this story is just amazing and I can’t believe I’ve found it. Have fun with your new baby, and no pressure to update- just keep up the wonderful job!!

This is amazing! Poor Zuko. I’m glad Hakoda is nice and decided to not hurt him. I can’t wait to see where it goes and if they ever run into Iroh. Congratulations on your baby!

Oh no! Poor baby. I feel so bad for Iroh. He must be so upset! I can’t wait to see his reaction when he finds out Zuko is still alive.

God I Love me some good Dad!Hakoda fics! This is excellent - I can't wait to read about the Gaang finding Hakoda, and about Iroh's reaction to knowing Zuko is alive. Good luck with the newborn, and no rush!

Found this fic linked on Tumblr. I love it so much. There were times I wished I could just jump into the story and hit Hakoda and Bato over the head screaming "He is a child!" I really hope you finish this and have Iroh find out that Zuko didn't die, but understand a baby is a lot of work. ♡♡♡

Oh the last line broke my heart :(

"At least he wasn't outright glaring as much, now that he was meditating. Sometimes he could even go an entire day without stomping."Ah - that looks like Hakoda realised that the Fire Lord probably did receive the first message and just ignored itOh shit - the Fire Lord cut off fingers?????? I mean I'm not surprised but oh...Huh rather than north/south, makes sense that fire nation would go east/west - sun right?"The fleet had learned not to keep every member of a tribe on the same ship. It was a lesson they'd only needed to be taught once." oh"He could count on one hand the number of times he'd heard the young man swear. Two hands, now." Okay brilliant writing right there!!! Perfect example of show not tell!!!!!Ah, now Zuko knows.....and of course Hakoda feels guilt for drawing attention to his men...."The prince approached with stiff shoulders, raised chin, and a scowl. How Hakoda had ever mistaken that for anything but a sixteen year old bracing himself, he didn't know."Panuk is clever....I don't feel good about dead man's fingers, but at least none of them do either"Living isn't cowardice, Prince Zuko. You don't have to commit suicide for your nation." "Your father is wrong." Yes!!!Hakoda rewriting the rules will hopefully make Zuko a lot more comfortable"In the morning, after making sure the prince understood he was to sleep before returning to work, he took a certain bundle to the rail and gave it a too-quick burial at sea, with a quiet prayer to the wrong god. It was the best he could do. Hakoda hadn't fought this war on the Fire Lord's terms. He wouldn't let the man force him into starting now." Yes!!!!!Oh shit. The Fire Lord wants Zuko's head......of course he does because he's a terrible human being and an even worse father!Oh god.....I can't imagine what that's going to do to Zuko......"Hakoda didn't remember seeing any burns on the Fire Prince. Not a master, indeed.""Hakoda didn't know how to explain to a banished sixteen year old that he might be a bad son, but a good man. " "No. The answer is always going to be no, Prince Zuko." Good!!! I'm glad he got a hug, and was finally able to cry And omg congratulations on your baby!!!!

Ok, first, congratulations on the baby :D Take the time you need (obviously) and I hope everyone stays healthy and safe! Now... DAIUM I CANT WAIT FOR FUTURE CHAPTERS I love how all characters are in-character (my perspective) and the writing is really great! That angst at the end of the last chapter, like...eiukjgnriuxwhgerinuxhg I'm a sucker for angst, I like to make myself suffer :0 Well, anyway, kudos and subscription from - me, an unstable chaotic bi gen z teen

This was worth staying up 'till 4am to finish.

*loud sobbing* this fic hurtsssss i love it so much omg

I’m crying reading this and that definitely can’t just be blamed on the fact that I stayed up till 4am to read your whole fic. You did such an amazing job capturing the two sides of the story, and I’m especially impressed as well as stunned by your attention to cultural differences. It adds such a depth to the story and creates an amazing tension that I never thought of before in this world. Zuko’s reactions to the water tribe’s customs and ways of caring is heartbreaking at times. The way you deal with his trauma and how it manifests in his character is so real and well executed. The characters in this story are so well fleshed out, even the ones who don’t have as large a role. I really really love this story and though I’m excited for an update I’m happy enough to have read what you’ve done so far. Thank you!

Hhhhhh.... I love this so much. I.... Omg this. My heart. I am not eloquent or wordy but holy crap this is great. Also, as someone with ASD, I relate to Zuko so hard!! Especially how you wrote him and like .... Precious baby. 😭Good luck with parenthood! I look forward to the next update and hope you you'll be able to sneak a few restful naps in between baby duty.

oh my god no wonder this work was so recommended!!! it's awesome! i can't wait to see what happens next aaaacongrats on your baby also!!!

This is quite possibly the best fanfiction I have ever read. I enjoyed it SO much - you captured the characters and the world amazingly well and then added so much more!! Definitely cried when Hakoda finally hugged Zuko. I'm so looking forward to reading the rest when you are ready. You are a fantastic writer!! Thank you!

YooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooWhat a good chapter what intensity what a good series of events I can’t even !I did notice an error with ‘Sea Woman and had’ where there’s nothing between the and and had, wanted to point that out.But gosh - everything was so good. I love the way Hakoda and everyone on the crew turned to Zuko. And the hug man. My word. ‘Stop caring about me more than my own father’Damn that hit hard.And the last line of the chapter. Phew. Killing blows you have dealt. And they’re wonderful.

Hadoka: kids meet your new brotherSokka and Katara: dad!!!! no!!!!

Holy shit this fic fucks!!!!!!! Congrats on the baby!!!!!

*arrives to the Avatar fandom 15 years late with Starbucks.... even if I haven’t *technically* watched the show yet*Okay! Let’s start this review, and I really, really should have started writing notes, or commenting on each chapter 8 chapters ago... but retrospect is 20/20.So, I just want to say how much I absolutely adore this. Your Zuko is absolutely delightful: the stubbornness, the way that it’s so, so clear that he’s still a child and a terribly broken and abused one at that, and the whole way that he is (was?) still very loyal to his people even if he’s not a terrible kid. He wants to go home, not cause harm, and the way that comes across is perfect. The escape attempts, the vigils, the salve, and the hot water... it all makes for some absolutely ace show don’t tell character development moments.The way everyone on board is developed, and adjusts to Zuko is a master class in developing your side characters, like how we learn about *why* not all of the people on board are from the same village, or how much laundry didn’t get done because of the frigid waters. It sets the scene, and the setting, and it makes this feel like a really full and well-rounded plot- which it is. The fact that people don’t just accept him, and the well done in-universe explanations as to why things are the way they are. I’m living for the bits of cross-cultural bits that we get, like the communal plates. It’s a brilliant, and yet subtle way to show that they’re all water tribe, and have ways of life and customs that Zuko wouldn’t know about, and even more so as they’ve been at war for a century, so of course there wouldn’t be any of that free-exchange.The inter-alliance politics is fascinating to read, and the whole way that you’ve set up the Earth Nation here is so good. I love seeing how just... the regular war side of the war is. The fighting, the battles, the way it all comes together to paint such a vivid picture.We’ve seen some amazing character growth form everyone, and I’m so glad to see that Zuko has finally broken down, because let’s face it, I think he needed it. From ground zero when, fever-mad and delirious he called their healer “uncle” and how that, as a sort of in-joke has carried through. The scene when they’re first washing the clothes!!! That one may be one of my favourite ones I’ve ever read. There’s some amazing comedy to help balance some of the darker, more heart wrenching moments, a comment which can be said about the whole fic. Your balance of levity to the more dark/plutocrat aspects is absolutely fabulous, and I’m in awe. And none of this, touches on your actual writing, which is, to be able to build and carry TV is whole plot, is truly, truly incredible. The pacing is really solid, and the development never feels rushed or undeserved, but I also don’t feel as though we haven’t been getting any. Ozai, for being a distance figure, is and continues to be absolutely wretched, and I appreciate the fact that we do it see it juxtaposed to Hakoda, who even here, still is absolutely a caring father (and has also, kind of accidentally adopted a teenaged firebender, prince (former) of the Fire Nation, for which they’re at war with.... it’s been a busy month).You’re wrong though, is absolutely jaw-dropping. I read TV is whole thing in an afternoon, by cramming as much of it into ever spare moment I had, because I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading. I think the thing that really catches me off guard though, is just how organic it all feels. You’ve built it up to feel quite real, and to make it all seem quite immersive, and I’m amazed.I’m enjoying the ability to see Zuko as a kid here tbough, and not as the oldest and responsible one that he is in so many fics, it makes for a good reminder that he is 16, and while he’s gone through more than any 16 year old should have to, and it’s clearly left makes, he’s still a child. Thank you so, so much for this fic. I don’t know how much I can get across the amount of adoration I have for this. (Poor Hakoda.... his dog doesn’t listen to Scuttles, and is rather taken with said prisoner). The cutting off of his ponytail is such a poignant moment, and I can’t wait to see how it all goes from here. Thank you though, this really is arguably one of the best canon-divergent fics I’ve ever read- maybe just one of the best full stop.

UGH Ozai is THE WORST and so in character >:( I appreciate that Hakoda and Zuko really struggle with developing a relationship - that it's not easy or quick - it really makes the pay-off even better. I also really appreciate how you handled Zuko's childhood trauma. Poor baby. <3

Congrats on the baby and on this ridiculously long chapter! It gives me joy and life! Rest up and love baby and I’ll be here waiting for the next chapter of Zuko: blood traitor/sailor!

OHMYGOODNESSILOVETHIS!Two o'clock, and I had to read this.It's so good! I love it!I don't--Why is this so good!I LOVE IT!fakjshdkjhskdghkgghjghgskd!Kudos! Millions of kudos! <3 ~please excuse my attempt at wording correctly.

This is so good! I'm so proud of Zuko for finally doing what needed to be done.

THIS THIS THIS!!! All I can think about is how differently thibgs are going be during the battle at the North Pole and what's going to happen when Sokka and Katara find out they have a new brother......This really is giving me everything I wanted for Redemption Arc!Zuko but two season early. The reunion with Iron????? It WILL make me cry. And congrats on the baby!!!!!

oh my gosh this is incredibly written and holy fuck I really fuckin need to give zuko a hug

this is such a gorgeous story! congratulations to you and your baby as well :)

I binge this story in a night only to find out you had a baby?! Congratulations! I’m just glad you left it at such a nice point- this chapter was pure catharsis <3 Thank you for writing it!

I just found this fic, and wow, what a ride! Definitely subscribed, and eager to read more if/when time allows!

I just read this entire thing in almost one sitting (while at work!) and now I'm gonna go back and reread it. This is the best representation of both Zuko and the Chief that I've ever seen. God I'm in love, I hope the baby is well and that you can spare moments to write more soon <3

This story is so good! Just the right amount of realism to make it feel like a real war without going over the top with the gore and brutality. Great characterization, especially for Zuko and Hakoda, the former of who I feel it is so difficult to capture when we don't see all that much of him in the show. Thank you so much for writing this, I cannot wait to see where you go with the story. Also, congratulations on having a baby! I hope you and your baby are doing well.

Dang it’s 4:33AM and I just finished binge reading this. I neeeed more. Congrats on the baba btw (:

Oooh I love this!!! I can't wait to read more! :D

Oh my god every part of this chapter hurt me so much. I cried when Zuko cried, when he didn't want Hakoda to care more about him than his own father. And you really captured the depth and heartbreak and absolute tragedy and cruelty of war. This was amazing. Thank you for sharing.Oh! Also! I noticed the Vietnamese names for the fire nation commanders. Evem though they're not necessarily the good guys, I do appreciate the representation lol.

Oh my GOD dudeIm so proud of all these kids/technically adult cartoon charactersZuko fully grasping the situation of the letters and basically offering himself up repeatedly as an object instead of a person. Baby.

You are amazing 😍! I love your Zuko, him working all day with no breaks is much more in character than being a spoiled brat. Also Ozai has been entirely predictable, what with not caring for his son and executing the prisoners,in the absolute best way. Also I wonder will we be seeing any of the Avatar gang and uncle Iroh?

I really enjoyed reading this!I loved how gradual the trust on both sides was and the character development! So good!!

Fuck you. Like- seriously. I stayed up til almost 2am, i have to get up at 5 for work, i regret everything I've ever done except reading this bc it's a work of art, solid gold, made me cry and laugh but i still regret reading it so late in the evening and nothing can stop me from blaming you and your writing skills for my lack of discipline and good decisions.Ily

I spent all day reading this and I’m so sad i finish!! I love this so much, and it warms my heart to see more people care about Zuko!! GREAT WORK ON THIS!! EVERY MOMENT WAS THE BEST!!

Wow.Wowowow.This has been an amazing read.Like wow I don't have any other words I'm just blown away.I'm excited for the next installment but also YAY BABY I hope things go well with the little one, and that you somehow find a time to rest in there somewhere. :)

II’m *speechless* this is so-Just the way you write this and Zuko and the crew and the development I’m- It’s so good

Wow there are a lot of comments on this story. Uh just wanted to say this is wonderful even if it breaks my heart. I have no idea where it's even going to go from here, and I love it.

<3

okay so I found this fic eight hours ago, and I am on my third read-through. just. I need to inhale it. all of it. repeatedly.and you know how once you've read a thing you can reread it but skip the portions that don't make your brain light up? there are no portions of this that do not make my brain light up. this entire story is making my think-meats do the blinky-blink. this is the Good Fic. (I have subscribed and the second you drop a new chapter I will be here with bells on and that is a promise.)

I gotta say, I absolutely adore this fic! I love Zuko's characterization, the constant overworking himself feels like a product of anxiety through this unfamiliar surroundings, and it really feel portrayed through your writing(though some of that may be projected on my part haha). Hakoda is a character I didn't really think much of when watching the show but the way you write him gives him such an interesting personality and I gotta say, Ive been absolutely hooked! You've actually inspired me to write my own Dadkoda piece! I've never been so inspired by another work before and it's really invigorating! I'm sure you get comments and messages like this all the time but if possible, I'd really love to have your blessing to post it!It's been a while since I've been motivated to write anything, this past year has been an absolute terror on my muse, but your fic has really got me excited to write again! So I guess I'm just trying to say thank you!♡

LOVE

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA THIS IS SO GOOD!! THIS!! IS SO GOOD!!! I AM DYING!!!! I LOVE ZUKO SO MUCH HE'S SO SMOL THIS IS SO WELL WRITTEN???? THANK YOU FOR BLESSING MY EYES WITH THIS?????

This is sooooo good!!!

I'm gonna cry this is SO GOOD. Someone PLEASE tell Iroh he's okay, though...

This is so good and I love it so much!! Hope your baby lets you sleep some and I can’t wait to read more!!

Oh my god this is amazing! Everything is so well written and the cultural differemces are so beleiveable! Legitimately amazing.

Oh I cant wait for the next one! (And if you need something to help sleep, try lemon zest in some peppermint and lavender tea. A squirt of honey if you like it sweet. Trust me, it helps!)

This is the fic I never knew I needed! It’s been an absolute blast to read! The dynamics are just so interesting!!

i just spent hours out of my day reading this all, it’s amazing. i love everything about this

THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God, this is just so beautiful and heartbreaking. I love fics like this, and I think this is my fave Hakoda & Zuko fic I've ever read. Congrats on your baby, and I eagerly await the next chapter when you're better rested!

Oh gosh. This. This chapter was such a journey. Oh gosh. I'm so glad. I am so glad Zuko has been fully taken in by the whole crew, oh goodness ;u; Also congratulations on your baby!!! I hope that you can catch some sleep soon, please take as much time as you need <3 You've already given me and my roommate an amazing day's worth of delight, reading this and quoting it back and forth!!! Including a number of times where my roommate got very concerned, because it took me a minute or two to compose myself enough to update her on what happened this timeHakoda is right, caring about Zuko more than his father is really really not hardAlso ZUKO YOUR UNCLE HAS GOT TO BE WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU HE THINKS YOU'RE DEAD PLEASE JUST AT LEAST LIKE LET HAKODA TELL HIM YOU'RE OKAY ;A; ;A; oh gosh, poor IrohThank you so much for writing this, this is such an amazing fic. It hits really hard. This is a phenomenal fanfiction, and thank you so much for sharing it

Congrats for you and your little one!

congrats!!! and this was freaking amazing take your time updating!! we’ll all be waiting for you whenever you are ready!

Holy shit just binge read this and I love it lots. Congrats on the baby too!

<3

Good luck with your tiny human! Your writing is very enjoyable to read:)

I read this fic super late last night when I should have been sleeping, and by read, I mean I became totally engrossed and completely lost track of time and resurfaced with tears streaming down my face. You have emotionally destroyed me. Thank you!

I loved this fic, the dynamics between the crew and zuko are amazing and this last chapter made me tear up. Cant wait for more! Congrats on the baby!!

Well that made me cry. Thanks for hurting my feelings. I love Hakoda, he's such a good dad.

i love this fic so much holy crap <3

This shit hurted me!!!!!!!!! Also pls continue thanks. Hope you and mini muffin are doing well!

I HATE OZAI I HATE OZAI I HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE HIM"The young man sat across from him. "Is there a reason you're freaking the prince out? He's been up all night holystoning the deck within an inch of its life, and now he's acting twitchy about taking a break for breakfast." They're protective of their weird little firebender but his dad is gonna mess it all up for them because Ozai is the worst :("Hakoda was wrong: the boy was a fantastic liar. He'd said his father wanted him back, and Hakoda had believed him." It's not a lie when you genuinely think your dad will care about you if you do the impossible :( :( :("The boy's shoulders jumped. He turned the quickest of glances Hakoda's way, then jerked his gaze back to the ocean. "...I just want to go home." MY POOR BOY"Hakoda had wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders. He didn't let go. The prince rested his head against Hakoda's shirt, and refused to cry." ELMOFIRE.GIF"The boy slipped from his chair, and Hakoda caught him. He finally cried. The lamp on the desk followed each breath; near-guttering on the inhales, flaring behind its glass on the exhales, unsteady and exhausting itself, but safe for all that." I love dying and being dead"Hakoda had never been so proud of his crew." A FAMILY CAN BE A DAD AND HIS TWENTY-SOME-ODD WARRIORS AND A WEIRD LITTLE TEENAGER WHO IS TECHNICALLY THEIR ENEMY BUT IS LITERALLY THEIR SONCongrats on your baby! I can't wait for more fic, whenever your life lets you share more of your excellent writing with us!

AUGH AKFBSDKDJBDJDFNBSHDKGBSBSHKGNFBSThis is SO GOODLegit tearing up through these last few chapters.yourwriting is SUPERB. A++The depth of emotion rivals the ocean, especially through Zuko and his PTSD abuse-shaped brain. I love seeing the story unfold through the different POVs; your charactervvoices are perfext and I can easily imagine each scene as if in watching the show. I only hope Iroh can eventually learn Zuko is safe and not be sad, but I love this story and look forward to how it continues.Fantastic work!! Thank you for writing this and sharing it with us!

fantastic!

Congrats on the baby! Hope you and Mini-Muffin are doing well!This is an absolutely fantastic story and I've been loving it to pieces. Kudos!

Oh, look, is that a subscribe button? Let me press it.

what do you mean uncle iroh still doesn't know zuko is alive?????????? :(((((((((

This work is an absolute masterpiece!!! My heart breaks every time Hakoda and Zuko interact, but it healed a lil with the firm hug and the tears in Ch. 8. Also love the shenanigans with the isopuppy name, and also the concept of isopuppies as a whole. I look forward to reading more, and thank you for all the joy so far!!

Okay so I came back to tell you that I absolutely can't stop thinking about your fic to like the absurd amount that I keep trying to go about my day and I keep imagining Zuko struggling throughout this fic. And then as I was scrolling down I accidentally stopped at ""But. What do you want from me? I'm not any use to you, I—" Hugging the boy tighter made him go stiffer, his breaths more ragged. "Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't."  It wasn't hard to. "WHICH IS THE WORST (best) PART OF THE FIC. LIKE THIS IS WHAT IVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALL DAY. THIS POOR BABY WHO FINALLY HAS LOVE BUT IT STILL HURTS AND WHO STILL THINKS (AS YOU SOULKILLINGLY PUT IT "Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live." And I'm trying to stop screaming at you, but just...I get pretty emotional with fics and I've obsessed with fics before, but I've never had a fic just envelop itself in my soul. Like I don't even know how to put it. I couldn't stop thinking about this Zuko. ALL DAY. Which I'd be happy to be thinking about, except for the fact that it's not a choice. Like I was sad (cause life, yknow?) and my brain was just like "YOURE LIKE ZUKO CAUSE ZUKO IS SAD CAUSE HIS FATHER HATES HIM AND HE DOESNT UNDERSTAND THE CREW LOVES HIM" and I was just like??? Brain?? Whhyy now I'm more sad!!!Okay so I'm rambling and authors say they like comments, but also I worry about being obnoxious so I can't decide if you'd like me to keep screaming (cause trust me I can). I guess, just thank you for introducing me to the lovely dadkoda (this was the first dadkoda fic i'd read which is exciting) and for giving Zuko an amazing family and giving me a new obsession. If you'd like more screaming, let me know cause I'm probably going to re-read anyway.Also I think I said it before, but thank you for posting this story because it's more amazing than anything I could ever imagine (or have ever read) and it has brought me so much joy (and sadness, but it was worth it). Don't let anyone rush you (YOU HAVE A LITTLE TINY HUMAN??? THATS ABSURD) but if writing more of this would make you happy, I (and many, many others) would be so so happiness to read more of this amazing universe. Okay, I'll stop now. I just love this fic a lot

First off congratulations! Hope you’re doing well and are getting slightly more sleep at this point. Just wanted to let you known how much I’ve enjoyed reading this. I’m excited to see how it ends when the final chapters go up at some point!

I am totally digging this work! The cultural differences resulting in misunderstandings is just... so perfect. I love how Zuco is growing and developing and actually finding people to be friends with. I wonder what this will mean for him when he eventually joins the gaang (assuming that still happens in this AU). Thanks for sharing this ♥️

Wow this fic is very good! I thought all the characters are reacting very realistically, which sometimes made me put down the fic in frustration (why won't you just SAY SOMETHING) but of course that would be very uncharacteristic. Anyways thank you for writing! :)

So feelsy! It was wonderful when Hadoka hugged zuko. So sad that Iroh thinks Zuko is dead tho. It's amazing to read how Zuko bonded with the crew and how he protected the healer

This story is the reason reading about hakoda and zuko bonding/ hakoda looking at zuko and deciding he has two sons now are my favorite. Found family tropes are the really mvp

Omg I love this so MUCH. It's just perfect. It's heartwarming to see how zuko's character has been developing and his relationship with the rest of the crew and THE HUG. I feel a little bad for iroh because he must be heartbroken right now... I just hope him and zuko reunite soon. This was just amazing, I really enjoyed it, thank you❤️

I am SCREAMING. it made me want to CRY, this was so good, I cannot wait to see what happens next. So goddamn freaking good. i am feeling emotions. Many kudos. Many.

Love everything about this! Looking forward to seeing how it progresses 💜

Ahhhhhhhhhhhggggggggghghhhhhh! So good! Can't remeber if i replied before, but just ahhhh! So much love. My heart hurts for iroh though. I hope that iroh gets to know zuko is alive. Meet the crew. Make tea for hakkoda.And thank him. I just want that fluff so much. (Thoughi i understand if that won't be here, that might be a different story. I can imagine it though). I cried with that talk after the letters. The "you can't love me more than my father" really got me, especially since i have a complicated and not great family history. Just.... Yeah. So much good. Perfect mix of writing obvious enough to understand, but subtle enough to make the emotion /felt/ by the reader more than read. Just.... Ugh. So good. But it's late and I've already written a good bit so i should stop here. Congrats on the little one! Recover and rest, lookingb forward to reading more in this, atv whatever pace you set! (Don't usually talk so directly about reading updates, but yoy said yourself they're guaranteed so hope its okay). Best wishes, and happy writing!

Omg this is so good but no we need more uncle iroh

AHHHHHHHH

I love all the cultural misunderstanding you've got here, and how fleshed our and real the world feels! Also....oof, I can't say I didn't see ozai executing the water tribe warriors coming, but still OOF. You've got a real talent for writing the really horrible stuff in a way that packs a very effective punch without feeling contrived. I love it. I cannot *wait* to see where you go from here, I'm very excited!

Congrats on your baby!! But you should know that you said July and it’s only June. But I did have to open up my calendar to make sure I hadn’t completely lost my mind in quarantine.Okay, I definitely am glad this is the chapter that you breaked at because obviously I will be so happy to read more, but it’s not a giant cliffhanger or anything. And it was kinda happy (but the pit in my stomach from how sad I was for zuko seems to say something different) because he accepted his family and even the hugs from dadkoda and he cut off his hair because he’s one of them now and gosh I have so many emotions this really is an amazing fic. Zuko deserves the world and I know his new family will help him realize that and I’m just so happy for him and so grateful that you shared this beautiful story with me

🥺

Amazing story, love the characterisation and the exploration of these characters in this situation! I can’t wait to read the rest - though I have my fingers crossed that everyone might see how awesome Zuko is at firebending in a fight...but regardless, this story is already a favourite!Hope you’re enjoying your time with bub! I hope you’re getting enough rest as well xx

It’s almost 2am, and I’m reading this clinging to every word. I am honestly amazed.

Ah!!!! Zuko! Write to your Uncle! Iron loves you! Honestly can’t wait for the gaang to meet up with them and Zuko finally becoming friends with them! Thanks!

Very good! I look forward to more 💜

im emotionally devastated thank you

AAAA this is just *chefs kiss*

Oh man I did not need this much crying tonight. Poor Zuko, I love that boy so much. You go, Hakoda. Show that boy what a real parent should be. Your writing is beautiful thank you so much for sharing!!!!!

This fic is soooo good! Thanks so much for writing! I absolutely LOVE this story!!!

I've been reading this for A WHILE now, literally over 2h without a break, and I'm absolutely god damn delighted. This is such a well-written story I can NOT stand the fact I didn't find it sooner. Absolutely wonderful. I'd love leave some actual feedback but I just. Can't. I love it. Every chapter. Absolutely subscribing with a great hope Ao3 doesn't fuck up and I get an email when this is updated

Amazing. I can't wait to read the next chapter. Keep up the excellent work! Kudos!

Sweet HELL. This is intense and political and just. Damn. Holy damn. I'm speechless.

Wow. I wasnt sure what I would be getting into with this but I loved it! Looking forward to the rest in the future!

Omg. This is amazing! I would quite happily read another many chapters of this 😂

I just really need Iroh to have adopted the Gaang in this universe and for there to be a heartwarming yet super awkward reunion between everyone with Hakoda and Iroh sizing each other up and going “Are we step-parenting each other’s kids? Did we inadvertently get married?”

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ this was so good. just, guh. no words.

Congrats on your baby! I love this story so much, and I’m so happy to hear it will be continued ❤️ I’m so curious as to how it will come to a conclusion. I really, really hope, Iroh and Zuko will reunite. It makes me wonder though, would Zuko then depart from Hakoda and return to the Wani crew? (;-; cue bittersweet scene), or will the Gaang find Zuko first, and something totally different occurs? There are so many possibilities, and I’m so excited to see what you come up with. Awesome job!

Aww man, poor Zuko, he really is going through the wringer , but I love the relationships he has built with the crew ❤️

I was supposed to go to bed but I read the first paragraph of this and just couldn't stop. I was especially impressed by your depictions of the men being at war it's incredibly well thought out.Congrats on the baby! We await your triumphant return ;)

oh my gosh this was really so incredible!!! the way it made perfect sense in both Hakoda's and Zuko's point of views so consistently and seamlessly and realistically was absolutely amazing!!! i love the conflict of the water tribesmen seeing a Fire Nation soldier, and not just any, but one of their most dangerous and important, versus zuko just being zuko - proud and confused, self-righteous yet so doubtful of himself, wanting to do the right thing but not knowing what it is because he's fked up and so very sixteen. i love how you manage to blend humour and feels and world-building things together so naturally, plus all your OCs (toklo and panuk!! and all the animals!!) and the little peeks of zuko's kindness and just the way you write hakoda and zuko are perfect. thank you so very much for sharing this, i read it all in one sitting and cannot wait for more!! <3

I have no words because all I can think about is just breaking down into sad sobs bc Ozai's A+ Parenting really be hitting hard at 12 am and any am really, you write really well! Though on one note, the paragraphs are too spaced up, I suggest working on that a bit but other than that, thanks for having me sob my eyes out for virtually every chapter!

Extra kudos from a reread! Thank you!!

im crying this is PHENOMENAL

Oh man I am having so many EMOTIONS I am so glad that I saw this in a Tumblr post!

This was great! Thank you for writing and sharing! 🥰🥰

My heart, this is so fabulous, I love the rotating povs, they're very effective - and congratulations!!! <3<3

I’M SOBBING AT 1AM RN BECAUSE OF THIS FIC OH MY GOD“Hakoda Becomes Zuko’s Dad” fics are my new hyperfixation and I am NOT regretting it in the slightestI’m SOBBING MY EYES OUT but I’m not regretting it

So a friend of mine directed me to your fics after the Big Wave of Avatar hit and everyone started obsessing over it again. So I looked at your fic list and this one stood out the most, so I promptly READ IT ALL IN LIKE THREE SITTINGS. I love this so much, I love your Zuko SO MUCH. I will be reading more of your fics. And if I'm not careful, maybe writing a fic inspired by this, because wow, I've never been so inspired to write a fic of a fic. It seems lots of others have done so already; you've got quite the following. It's well-deserved. I actually cried this chapter, thank-you-very-much. When Zuko cries, I cry. And the way you handled it was so PERFECT. SO IN CHARACTER.I'm excited to see where things go from here. I sense official adoption in the near future. Also, congrats on your baby! That's super neat!

I want to say this is one of the best fanfics I've ever read, but that would be inaccurate. This is one of the best stories I've read ever. This is published level quality. Like if this were a novella with all original characters I still would have read it. The writing here is amazing. Your command of the English language and your skills at characterization are stunning.That being said this is also just really good as a fanfic in addition to the writing quality. It hits all the emotional notes. Poor Zuko. Poor Hakoda. They deserve each other. Poor Bato, the lone sane man who eventually gets pulled into the insanity with the rest of the crew.The healer is probably my favorite character (you are so good at writing OCs, it's HARD) out of everyone. He's just... the best. I would read a whole fic just about him and his life. I'm imagining interactions between him and Iroh and it's making me grin.Hakoda is one of my favorite non-main characters in ATLA. He has a huge impact in a limited number of episodes. That being said he is often written... poorly. You capture him perfectly here. He's a great dad and a loveable dork, but also a SERIOUS BATTLE COMMANDER. (That's the part that often gets left out in fic.)Anyway, long story short, this was epic.

I read through this whole fic without stopping!! It's wonderful and I really like how you portrayed the cultural differences between the Water Tribe and the Fire Nation.

ohhh my god im gonna CRYGOD this is SO good, every character is so alive and so human and I'm gonna cry because they realized that Zuko was just a child in a hellhouse that banishment was an unknowing escape from oh GOD when they learn abiut that scar theyre gonna LOSE IT and SO WILL IWell done!! Incredible work!! I cannot wait!! <3

This story is absolutely killing me!!! It’s so terribly wonderful. Congrats on your mini-muffin, and good luck with it! We will all excitedly await your next chapter, but take all the time you need for you and the squirt.

Oh man. Oh man. Zuko, sweetheart, I'm so sorry. Also... I need Iroh to be told Zuko is okay. I need it. He can't think he's lost another son, he just can't.

So you just go about making peopls cry for fun i see. Gods this was AMAZING

Words can not describe how much I adore this fic. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. What you have created is simply beautiful and i can NOT wait for the next piece!!!!

What a spectacular fic! I’m having a great time. It’s 9:30 am and I should have slept and woken up, but time is nothing and your fic is good. I’m totally imagining Katara and Sokka finding their dad again and trying to attack Zuko who is hiding behind their dad going “nuh-uh! Cheif said it was ok!” And Sokka being like “WOW. The fire nation is appropriating DADS now.” Can’t wait to read more!

Doing a periodic re-read, GOD I love this story. I love poor Zuko, with his deep deep trauma and terrible dad. I love his boat of fathers and uncles and brothers and cousins who all care about him. I love that he can win people over even when he's not trying, BECAUSE he's not trying. I love that actually he's a really good firebender he just doesn't realize it because all the adults he's ever known are garbage, with maybe two exceptions. I love thinking about how the gaang will deal with their new brother and now im just grinning at nothing. This is amazing and YOU'RE amazing. Give The Feral Child Swords 2k20

Can't wait for more! Super excited. My heart hurts. It's 4 am.

I really liked this fic! Stayed up way too late to read it.

I played myself... reading a work in progress story.... why must you hurt me so. I really hope zuko and iroh get the reunion they desperately need! I'm just hear CRYING. CONGRATULATIONS to you and your family. Cant wait for the update! I'll go read some of your other stuff to pass the time...

"We left the south pole with one ship pet and came back with two..."

Congratulations!

This was fantastic!!! I hope you are well and congratulations on the baby! I can’t wait until you update! You’re writing is amazing and the story is wonderful!!!!!

I love this story, I love this writing, it's perfect it's beautiful it's well written and I have such a soft spot for found family. Zuko deserves more father figures! I mean he has Iroh but still! Get this boy some dads.(Gonna be awkward meeting with the gaang again. "Hey kids, this is your new brother, yeah he tried to kidnap you a few times but don't worry about it he's cool")

This is amazing!!! I've reread thos fic multiple times since first discovering it and god. I love it so much so far!! I dis have a quick question, do they all already know about zuko's scar or will the find out? I love this though, your writing is incredible!

I didn’t sleep. Why well first I was reading Outline of Amnesia Zuko from 1am to around 2am where I had to take a break because my phone almost died. I sat there till 3am when my phone was finally charged then I finished the story around 5am. Then I proceeded to read this from 5am to 8 something am. For you see somewhere around 8am I passed out only to wake up around 9:20am where I then continued to read. Now I sit here with a killer headache wondering why I have no more chapters to read from this beautiful story.

I Love this so much 😭😭<333!!!

Shit. God. This was so emotional and heartbreaking but so good. Ugh. I really want the rest of it SO BAD

It's one-thirty in the morning and I should be asleep but instead I'm crying over Zuko. And not, like, hyperbolic internet tears, either. Real ones that required the use of multiple tissues. This is one of the best fics I've ever read <3

So i have adhd, and have mostly made peace with how it affects my life and actions and etcBut i cannot and will never be okay with how it makes itLITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE to enjoy something at a reasonable paceI found this fic at 1 in the morning and Immediately had to read itIt was so good that i physically could NOT stop, kept putting my phone down when my eyes burned from exhaustion, only to immediately pick it back up because what happens nEXT, this characterization is so GOOD, the CULTURAL DISCONNECT IS SO WELL WRITTEN I GOTTA KNOW HOW ELSE IT AFFECTS INTERACTION AND-I literally passed out at 4am right before the first attack like i just remembered reading and then opened my eyes to sunlight and my phone on my face and my birds screaming at me bc i probably looked dead idk it wasnt prettyAnd i KNEW this wasnt complete and i had a RULE for myself never to read an incomplete work, just suscribe and wait, but the concept of this fic was so irresistible i had to read it and now im just. Im in pain. This is so good. Im gonna go lie down now

I stayed up late reading this story in that “I’ll just read one more chapter” mentality. This story is so gritty and sweet and that’s such a strangely great combination! You made me CRY. I really loved when Hakoda hugged Zuko after he killed the fire nation soldier. And the cuddles at the very beginning? I did not expect the detail bout the necklace to come up but DAMN was it powerful!! I think you handled Hakoda’s reaction very appropriately. AWESOME STORY

Do you know what fuck it, I'm not done! I commented on chapter 1 in vagueness about how damn good this fic is, but I want to give a very incomplete list of my favorite details. The subtle changes in the way characters react to things as they become more familiar or understand things more. The idea that firebending leaves a scent, and that can be good or bad. The disturbing description of the smell burned flesh. The detail of the effects of burns, and why Zuko would want to end that soldier's suffering. The reaction he has to his own choices. The slow realization each person has that Zuko is just a kid and that he's a good person, despite everything. The frankly beautiful vigil. The REALLY cool way that firebending navigation works with the sun--the world building is already rich in A:TLA but you've gone and made the details even better somehow. Seal Jerky. The way that Kustaa gives me Leonard Bones McCoy energy in the best way, and I love him. "The prince approached with stiff shoulders, raised chin, and a scowl. How Hakoda had ever mistaken that for anything but a sixteen year old bracing himself, he didn't know." Holy SHIT. Just every goddamn thing about this beautiful thing you've built, I love it.

This story is amazing!!! Im obsessed!

"Slow burn adoption" that is everything I need in life hoorggafajddgabhdsdg I'm sobbing right now you have killed me

This is so sad poor Zuko, at least he’s finally going to get the treatment he deserves.

aaaAAAAA I absolutely LOVE this fic.Now i'm imagining them meeting up with the gaang like:Hakoda: hey remember that angry firebender prince that used to chase you around? Well, uh, he ended up being our prisoner and now i've kindasortaadoptedhimsayhellotoyournewbrotherZuko: [enters with a bad powerpoint presentation effect] hello[Katara.exe and Sokka.exe have stopped working]

This is soo good! You are an amazing writer!! I cant wait to read more!

Ok I just found Salvage, read it in one sitting, then immediately went back to chapter 1 and read it all again without stopping lolJust wanted to say that I really, really love this story, and the way you’ve done the split POVs to show the very different way the adult vs the child are interpreting things based on their own experiences. I just think it’s really excellently done, and I can really identify with itIt’s hard being a kid and having the only idea of how things should/shouldn’t go be... hm, bad examples lol. Vs when you’re an adult and you Know Better but also find it’s sometimes easy to forget that kids can’t know better if no one’s taught them (thinking also of the scene in DoBS part 2 where Zuko’s journey finally culminates in him Getting It that what Ozai did was cruel and wrong, and how well this fic has that energy but explores it in different ways). Anyway all this to say, great job, thank you for this fic!!

OH GOD THIS STORY IS SO GOODIT'S 4:30 AM I NEED HELPBUT AAAAAAAAA I LOVE THIS SO MUCHHHHHHCAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT UPDATE!!!!

I genuinely adore this series and reading it makes me smile more than any other fic I've read. I anticipate the next chapter with much hope.

I guess I knew what was coming at the end of this chapter but the word “executed” really cut me to the bone. This is like the third time I’ve cried reading this fic (and thats a good thing btw, your writing is amazing)

Still hurts on the re readCongrats on the baby:) and thank you for the amazing content you contribute to the fandom<3

this is quite literally the best hakoda/zuko thing ive ever read in my entire life

I binged this all day and loved every word of it ♥️

oh no im going to cry! i just finished watching the series and reading this brings all those emotions back to the top. very well done

A masterpiece, and it's not even done. This was phenomenally written, the way you can get away with not saying anything while still getting the message across is honestly an art and I have the utmost respect for you as a writer. The characterization, to me, seems spot on. This is truly one of my favorite fanfics.

I just...don’t even know what to say. This story is so good. I love the plot and the characterization of zuko and the whole water tribe crew. Please, please continue this story! I really need a Zuko and Iroh reunion!

This is a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!! I didn't know that "slow burn adoption" was something I needed until now. Thank you thank you thank you. I sure hope there will be more of this fic! For a second I thought the chapter before this was last and then I realized there was more... oodles of relief, right there. I am loving the epically gentle and happy vibes the crew gives Zuko, but I'm also on my toes for poor, poor Uncle Iroh to finally learn that Zuko is alive. I feel like Hakoda would immediately recognize his good-dad vibes and approve rather quickly, especially if Iroh started crying and asking what he had to do to get his wonderful, living nephew back. (Zuko would probably be both pleased and baffled by the strange behavior of his two adopted dads)Thanks again for writing :)

I love love love this fic so much. Zuko needs more hugs from the isopup.

This story is GREAT! I can't tell you how many times you made me laugh, and all of the characters seem so real! It is great to know their thoughts and all. Keep up the wonderful writing!

ive never been this sad in my LIFE oh my god

Zuko: "You don't want me, I'm useless, I'm-"Hakoda: "Shut up, I'm adopting you."I would die for you, and I will live for you and that is a threat I will make good on. I love you and I love this fic. Thank you for your time.

I love it! I hope Iroh does eventually learn zuko is ok (also love zuko having two older brothers in Panuk and Tuluk) and I wonder how Katara and Sokka will react to having an adopted brother xxx

This is so fascinating. Thank you!

So appereantly I fall in love with each and every one of your storrys. I think I have one left to read or something? anyway. I love the way you write zuko as a sixteen year old. the way he fights with himself, because everything good about him is something his father views as bad. but his uncle doesn't (so thats something). the last chapter was especially great. zuko didn't seem all that surpriesed considering. he was shoked for sure. but I got the impression he was always secretly scared to admit that his father didn't view him as valuable. Also: your oocs are amazing. all of them. I love the crew and how they warm up (pun intended) to zuko against their will. I wonder how iroh is fairing. he must be devastated. maybe he will go home and find out about the letters and about what supposedly became of his nephew. I imagine him getting quite angry and joining the army again in a quest to avange him and then finding him on board of a ship happier than he'd ever been. and then I want an uncle iroh hokada bromance. XD but I am going to be happy with whatever path you choose for this fanfiction. it is probaly going to be better than wthatever I could come up with. (sorry for the shoddy grammar and spelling. I'm german and the only english writing I do is in comments)

oh nooooooo iroh

10/10

I don't know what your plans for this story are ( i have a feeling i will love it regardless) but I'm dying for an Iroh pov, I wanna know his reaction to Zoko's "death" (does he think he died after falling overboard or did Ozai tell him he was killed by the water tribe?) Will Zuko's "death" lead him to join the white lotus early or will he join after he finds out he's still alive? I have so many questions 🤔🥰🧐🥰🤔🥰

How dare you make me Feel Feelings! I just spent four hours binging this whole thing, and now I feel absolutely bereft - your writing is beautiful and emotional and it feels SO REAL, how do you even do it? I can’t wait to go read everything else you’ve ever written and then try to leave kudos on every chapter even though I know it won’t work :P

This is one of the best “adopt Zuko!” stories I’ve read, and I will now proceed to read all of the works I inspired by this one because I need more of them in my life. (And if you are planning on continuing in the future, I very much look forward to it, you are an amazing writer, like, holy crap.)

I didn't have time to comment on this last night bc it was teo in the morning when i finished this chapter but i am back bc i have a lot of feelings!!! First of all, thank you for the art inspiration i love so many scenes from this and will need to draw them. Second, the way you write zuko is PERFECT. You really naturally balance the being-an-exiled-traumatized-prince with the being-a-shitty-teenager and it's very compelling.I love how the crew very slowly adopts this strange child. 11/10. I want your Hakoda to adopt me.

I don’t even have the words to describe how much I love this fic and how absolutely amazing it is

This in incredibly well written. Thank you <3

Baby!!!!!!!!!!

This story is so good!! Did I cry many times? Yes. Do I love it a lot? ALSO YES. AGH

Hey, uh, you didnt need to hurt me like this, but thanks :>

i didn't even know i wanted this much less needed this.. 12.28 amzuko gets rescued? captured? by hakoda's ship and well people get along with each other

I just binged this entire fic after a rec crossed my tumblr dash last night, and have SO. MANY. FEELINGS. for this poor child! 😭And poor Uncle Iroh too, losing the nephew he loved and mourning for him and not even knowing how Zuko still thinks of him, my heart is HURTINGThis is beautiful, thank you so much!

Stayed up till 4:44 reading this. I am deeply enthralled and wishing desperately for the conclusion. I will most likely read this again cause this is a story I've always wanted and why did it take so long to find it?? I have work in s few hours and I don't regret a second of reading this. I don't mean to be to forward, but I think i love you.

Holy shit how am I just finding out about this amazing work now?! This is incredible and I knew I would finish it in one sitting and I did and now I am subscribing because I must find out how this ends! So, so wonderful for a character that is vastly under used in the show (Hakoda) and quite a different perspective that still feels quite genuine for another (Zuko). Wonderful. Cannot speak highly enough of this work.

This is fucking incredible!!

"Hakoda was wrong: the boy was a fantastic liar" OOFIM SOBBINGTHIS IS EXCELLENTOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYY GOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDD I AM LOSING MY MINDDDAJSFD;LKKKKKKKKKKIHRNO[[ISAAH'EGER[OGAJROIGI might try to come back and leave a coherent comment later lmao but right now????? I am DYING in the best way and it's incredible

Oh Zuko, is there ever a moment your tragic scene can't be punctuated with a ending blurb to make it hurt even worse? Of course there isn't.

I love this so much. The best fic I’ve ever read, hands down

zuko: i hate it here. everyone here wants me dead. i am worthless. no one cares for me. might as well die yknow. also zuko: befriends an isopup. uses his bending to help his (friends) guards with chores. defends the ship and his newest parental figures from death. gains the tentative trust of most of the water tribe. like, rarelt ever thinks about the avatar. is weirdly protective and attached to the bigass messenger birds. is just a fuckin child. zuko: ah. so i was correct. i am hated by everyone.

It's 6:40 in the morning. Why is it 6:40 in the morning? What happened?This fic happened is what.From the first two chapters I already knew I was sucked in. From the style of writing to the characterisation of each character, to being able to switch so absolutely deliciously between humour and pure horror of a child who should have never had to grow up like this.When I opened chapter 8, I did, out loud, exclaim 'ah, fucking hell."Gods this was good. Amazing actually, a favourite if anything. Thank you for this.

This was 100% worth staying up until 1:30 am reading. My heart broke for Zuko so many times and it hurt in the best possible way.

I'm SO uPSET"Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live. "iM SO UPSET

WHOMST destroyed her sleep schedule to stay up and finish this amazing fic?! This moi!

ahhhhhhhhhh he really needs a hug

Okay--I need more. I need Iroh eventually finding out and HUGGING THE CRAP out of his nephew, I need Sokka and Katara and Aang eventually finding out and being confused/horrified/intrigued, I just... I NEED more, okay?I need our boy actually admitting that Panuk and Toklok are his friends and not standing on ceremony anymore, and maybe even fighting WITH the Water Tribe men in the next fight? Maybe? (Pretty please?)This story is incredible and you're incredible for writing it and I need more!

YES this is SO good oh my god. It's 6am and I'm just now going to sleep because I couldn't put my phone down. I love how you characterized everyone, especially Hakoda, and their relationships were 👌 I also loved how you would go from one POV to another to show the miscommunication/misunderstanding. Just a fantastic concept carried out to perfection. Thank you for writing!

This chapter absolutely broke my heart I love zuko so much thank God he finally got a hug thank you for sharing

I can’t even tell you how many times you’ve made me cryLike THANKS IT WAS GREAT, I ENJOYED EVERY TEAR BUT, FUCKMMY HEART

i cannot think of the last thing i read that made me this emotional

Wait this isn't over???? I'm.excited to have more chapters to read

YOOOOOOOO. Loved this story. It was a mazing. Exactly what I was looking for.

Wow that made me cry. Everyone slowly realizing just how screwed up Zuko’s home life is...

WelpThat hurt. You write the exact brand of angst i was looking for. Now I understand why I kept seeing ur username mentioned. Holy fuck, I literally couldn't stop reading until it was done... I on my intended to read the first couple sentences to see if I liked it. Geez. Double kudos

I totally didn’t read this entire thing in one day what are you talking about hon I wish you all the best with your pregnancy and baby especially considering *vaguely gestures at everything* but without more I might die so please please please PLEASE MY BABY IS CRYING AND NEEDS HIS NEW DAD AND NEEDS TO MEET HIS NEW SIBLINGS AGAIN

I love this fic so much!!

Iroh is gonna be so damn pissed and happy once he figures out Zukos alive.Please tell me he joined the avater?

I'd read this before, but not the two latest chapters and OH MY GOSH IT GOT BETTER I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!!!And the stage is all set for Hakoda to get another son and Zuko to get an infinity better dad.This story is amazing, thank you so much for writing!!

i mean it’s not like i couldnt stop reading this even tho i have to get up in the morning and it’s 2:30. it’s not like i cried several times reading this in one go.

"Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't." It wasn't hard to.Im....under attack. Thank u for my life. I've stayed up way too late reading this lol but it was worth it. Iroh tho! Iroh....deserves happy news....eventually, please?I didn't know I needed, of all people, Hakoda adopting Zuko, but I don't know how I lived without this glorious content.

This whole fic is beyond amazing - I read it through in one sitting and then started re-reading it almost immediatelyBless you for writing so much amazing content for an absolutely superb idea -- I can't wait to see how this story's going to progress!

I really was not expecting to cry today but here we areCan’t wait to see what Hakoda does when he finds out how Zuko really got his scar

I'm so glad I went back to find some atla fanfics after a year, I found this gem :D this is one of the best zuko fics I've ever read. Looking forward to see how this continues!!

Well damn. Not surprising but always tragic and so well done ❤

Oh god. I just read all of this and,,,,, oh godI cried so much, especially this chapterAbusive family really just hits so hardI love your writing style and how naturally everything progresses hereBeautiful

An absolutely wonderful chapter, as were the rest! These raw feelings are incredible, and I can picture it so vividly. The last line, "Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live" gives such a clear picture of the upbringing Zuko had. Hakoda is portrayed perfectly. I can't wait for more! :)

I'm??? Emo???? god okay THIS PART"You'd better at least manage to get one of our boats.""Uh.""Lastly, work. Every man here earns his meals. This wasn't a problem for you yesterday, and I don't foresee it being a problem tomorrow. I'm approving your request for a one-day leave. So don't forget to eat." "...Okay." Hakoda stood."Sir?" the prince asked. "What direction did the ship sink in?""North-northwest of here."The firebender glanced up at the sun for a moment, eyes half-lidded, then adjusted himself to face the new direction. Hakoda was sure if he went to check, the boy would be perfectly aligned with the compass' reading. "...Thank you."and THIS PART: Hakoda didn't know how to explain to a banished sixteen year old that he might be a bad son, but a good man. and the whole thing w the crew telling Zuko how they'd felt when they'd first killed, and just! Zuko figuring out his father wants him deadexcuse me??? and this part????"Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't." It wasn't hard to.I'm!!! Gonna cry!!!! and the whole "It's just hair" part brooo. I just. I don't have words for this, this is!!! so good!!!!! it's fucking me up thank you so much for writing this!!!!!!

You’re doing amazing, sweetie. Absolutely amazing.

Everything about this is so good. Thank you for writing!

oh my. i just— i love this so much. this is just perfect, this is literally everything i love. thank you?? so much????? it’s like 6:45 in the mornin and i have not yet gone to sleep because i could not stop reading this, thank youuuuu

I’m loving this!! Poor Zuko!

[The lid slid along its grooves with impeccable craftsmanship. Inside was a bed of preserving salt, and ten dark-skinned fingers. Their fleet was missing ten men.]*shudder* ["Make sure you're actually ready to survive when you go; we pulled you out of the water once, don't make me do it again. You'd better at least manage to get one of our boats."]Aww, they care <3 [Hakoda sat staring at the Fire Lord's reply for a long time. This was how long it took a proper father to process that another man was asking for his own son's head.*winces* Yeah. I mean, the signs have been there all along, but Hakoda's just too good a dad to have guessed what a terrible dad Ozai is. [The boy slipped from his chair, and Hakoda caught him. He finally cried. The lamp on the desk followed each breath; near-guttering on the inhales, flaring behind its glass on the exhales, unsteady and exhausting itself, but safe for all that.]This is heart-breaking beautiful and I love how you equated the flame to Zuko's in mental state in this moment. [The boy jerked his gaze back up. "Don't. Please. I've ruined his life enough already. He can go home, without me."]N-- damnit, Zuko, no! Your uncle is either worried sick or heartbroken right now, depending on whether he believes you're truly dead, and he would want to know you're okay. Believe that people care about you, Zuko, damnit!  [Ozai received his own letter with great satisfaction, and promptly executed ten Water Tribesmen, as agreed.]*snarl* Ozai is the worst. Oop, now I'm all caught up and still wanting to know what happens next. Well, I did know what I was getting myself into, clicking on a WIP ^^;;Thank you for sharing this story! It kept me up several hours past my bedtime, and it was worth every bit of the lost sleep :)

Wow. I was in actual tears

I love it

This story is a new love and favorite of mine. Will tell my friends to check it out. Can't wait to see what's next!

"But I'm worthless to…" to you, he didn't finish, because Hakoda could see him thinking and realizing and broadening that statement. "I'm worthless," he said.This---this line made me cry. Poor Zuko, he internalizes all the abuse he's been given until he starts to see himself the same way.

i really really love this wholesome story and i cannot wait for more :) until then, i'll have to satisfy myself with the works inspired by this one, i guess! i eagerly await the next update!!!!!!

Zuko's not-so-low-key constant anxiety is gonna give *me* a panic attack at this rate, and I don't even suffer from them, lol. Oof this is so heartbreaking, but SO, so good.

This is..... so so so so good.

*screams incoherently into the ether because this is SO GOOD* *spams kudos button* *resumes screaming*

hey i just read all of this in one sitting its 3 am now and this frickin SLAPS

This was just so fucking AMAZING! Thank you for writing! Can't wait for more :)

a bitch do be crying

I have an exam tmorrow morning and if I sleep through my alarm I am absolutely blaming you because I had to read this entire thing through because it slaps thank you for your time I would kill for you in battle

Hello. This story has emotionally destroyed me. It's just fucking devastating. Fantastic and wonderful but devastating. I really hope they run into Iroh's ship. I just. Zuko thinking his uncle is better off. Ouch. I don't think Iroh would ever stop looking for Zuko.

So good!!! I love it!!!

This was such a delight to read! I just finished ATLA for the first time a few days ago (thanks Netflix!) and I’m loving alllll the Hakuddles. This was amazing.

Don't mind me, just can't seem to stop this waterfall coming from my eyes... can someone give Zuko more cuddles please? (Also, I can't stop thinking about the Gaang finally finding Hakoda's ship and realizing that Zuko's been on it for months, just working and making friends and they're just like, dude, wtf?)

Okay. I am now officially crying. I have... I have no words. This is freaking *heartbreaking*. I love this story so much, you have no idea! I love that the crew was slowly coming around and then at Zuko's 'official' choice, they were all like "Adoption Mode Activated". Still heartbreaking, though.I look forward to the next chapter! <3

OH MY GOD...This is SO GREAT. New fave story. Well written, great characterizations, worth the read (that last one may not be worth much from me, considering)

You know the perfect way to hurt Zuko and your followers. I love you!But at least Zuko is finally moving forward!!!

My dude, this is amazing! I love it so much!

Ahhhhhh this is such a good fic! I love Iroh but there's a very good point about him not stepping in more to protect Zuko, this is a much healthier environment for Zuko (and isn't that just fucked up??). I love your characterizations and how you're developing the relationships between Zuko and the rest of the crew, it's really interesting and fun to read!Scuttles is my favorite character tho hands down <3<3<3 he's so cute!!Thanks for writing this!

My very first fic in this fandom, and it is beautiful. I can describe the satisfying feeling reading this gives me. I can't wait for more.

Forget the avatar, when the crew hears how Zuko got that scar they're going to be the ones to kill the Firelord

i cannot describe how badly i want to see zuko sink completely into this family. i love this story so so so much, love growly zuko and all his adoring pets. i need to see hakoda dad and son zuko and all that healthy loving relationship that entails. i might faint with excitement. this is wonderful

Your worldbuilding is SO satisfying and good!!! The cultural differences among the kingdoms, the cultural markers, the FOOD, the vigil, the consequences of all the benders being killed when they were healers... And the PLOT. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next chapter and almost screamed with frustration when Hakoda decided not to send a letter to Iroh.

This is such a unique take! And so well written! I really hope you continue!

The fact that i can read something as good as this for free is astounding to me! Such a great read- honestly one of the best i've read in a long time! I especially enjoyed your characterization of Zuko- his charcter developement throughout the story was so well done! Amazing work!

I’ve reread this fic three times now and it is so so wonderful!!!

This story is AMAZING.... I just recently watched atla for the first time and instantly fell in love, and this story is SUCH a great au! I’m so happy zuko is finally reaching that big moment of change in his arc, but the way you wrote his struggles throughout these chapters has been captivating and sympathetic. The characterizations feel spot on. Nothing ever felt forced or unrealistic for any of them! I’m really excited to see where you take the rest of this and I know no matter what I’m gonna love it😍 thank you for sharing your story!

fucking *hell* this was a good read!!! one of the best i had in some time! Thank you so much for writing this!

Such an amazing fic!!!! Can’t wait for the next update

The last part here broke my heart and mended it back together, can’t wait for the next chapter!💕

This,,,,oh this is IT

i’m sitting here reading this with a giant lump in my throat and i love itthis is wonderfully written, thank you for writing it!

welcome to: my actual new favourite fanficseriously i had a whole list of fanfics to read and now i don’t know if i can after thisat least not without a breakbecause holy shit my dude this is fucking amazingpoor zuko, he’s dealt with so much

Extra extra kudos, this is the third time I’ve read the story in its entirety not counting the many times I ran over here because I was alerted about an update. Your writing of zuko makes me tear up, the crew’s mixed feelings and the culture clashes are so fun to read. Thank you for writing this, and I look forward to the next time I remember this exists so I can re-read it all again 🥰

I love this. It’s great. The only thing I NEED is for uncle Iroh to be a part of it. He likes Zuko. He would willingly betray the fire kingdom for him. Please please please let him be a part of this.

This chapter brought be to tears Ugh it's so goodThis is such a good story

This was so good, I cannot beg you enough to Write a second story in this universe, I would love to see the gang reunite with Succo and to see him find some self-confidence and to see him become fire lord, please please please

I love this so much! I bet iroh is just losing his mind :)

Ozai is a Dick, but that's nothing new

i spent the whole time thinking hakoda was gonna cut zuko's hair to send to ozai as proof of life and then the ACTUAL HAIRCUT WAS SO MUCH BETTER FUCKAND YO I FUCKING CRIED WHEN ZUKO READ THE LETTERSthis entire fic is a god damn gift, i love the way you write zuko and hakoda and literally everyoneit's so cathartic watching zuko interact with adults who, although are ofc very reasonably wary, see him for the KID THAT HE ISand hakoda being one hell of a good man and father by seeing zuko for the kid that he is and not just the fire nation's princei especially love the way you write conflict!!!!!! it would have been so easy for you to write conflict in the form of frustrating misunderstandings but instead the misunderstandings were created due to the nature of the characters involved so instead it was like, half-horribly tense and half-hilarious so they're super enjoyable and fulfilling instead of making me wanna tear my hair out, and using alternating povs to make it clear to the audience that the misunderstanding and conflict is due to the characters and not like, plot-driven bad timing works SO WELL with the way you're telling the storythanks so much for writing and sharing!!!! this has been SO CATHARTIC TO READ HFNdsglkj

This is great! I love the progress of Hakoda slowly beginning to care about him (as much as his position allows), and of Zuko becoming integrated with the crew. I also love the fact that Zuko helped with the burn salve for Bato, despite the fact that Bato didn’t trust him. This story is both heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time, and you’re doing really well using both of those tones and balancing them. I can’t wait for more!

this is an amazing fic ❤❤❤

I love this so much I'm crying from joy. It's just thatI hate wating for updates, but I'll check in in a few months when my fandom-fanfic-reading-cycle brings me back to Atla and I'll need more of this awesomeness. Keep up the great work (please keep it up I'm actually begging you)!

wow i’m fucking crying this is so good and so sad and i love zuko and my heart HURTS

God this is so goooooooooood.

you have to UNDERSTAND how I was reading this deep into the night, It's so amazing the way you write this!!! you are so talented and if I could give 5 million kudos i would! Zuko being slowly accepted into the crew, im dead ugh. So amazing and I can't wait to see how you continue this

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;iroh would do ANYTHING to know zuko was still alive but the boy thinks hes been a burden and hakoda doesnt know if he can trust thisi want iroh to see his boy againbc i dont think he will recover if notand if something bad were to happen to him, zuko would get worse toothis is a cycle of heartache with no winnerim not surprised tho that ozai did that- he doesnt have any honor

I see Hakoda is the one who taught Sokka to draw.I wonder how long until Hakoda will notice that literally every bit of good advice, cultural heritage, or cool abilities Zuko knows came from his uncle. If he hasn't already.Oh yeah. Of course. So even though Hakoda probably has picked up on it by now, his source was Zuko, who also thought his father loved him. So he can't trust that Iroh is any better.

Hi, this made me legitimately cry. It's definitely very late but sometimes you just need to feel your feelings and thanks for giving me this outlet. oh my gosh, so good

I'm so happy to see that Zuko is moving on, he deserves the world.

astounding

Literally what an amazing story!

I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS FIC. The character relations are done so well, and the slow burn of the crew warming up to Zuko is incredibly sweet. Your way with dialogue truly shines in showing the camaraderie of those aboard the ship, and I love the conflict perspectives between Hadoka and Zuko when it comes to cultural differences. I cannot wait until the next chapter!

This is my new favorite thing. Im OBSESSED. God! Zuko catching the big dumb birds!! I love him so much. Im so glad he's getting a real family aaahhhh

hOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!! I love this! I love all the water tribe ocs and background characters you fleshed out here AND i love how you handled zukos character change and hakodas slow realization that ozai really is a piece of shit in EVERY conceivable way!!!! I love this fic so much!!!!!! Thank you for writing such a gem!!!

Omg!! I need more!! It’s so good!

holy SHIT this is good im sobbing i cannot wait for the next chapter wtf wtf wtf

Yooo I'm crying rn! HUG THE CHILD

oh my god :( i love this so much. your characterization of all of them is so perfect. zuko is particularly heartbreaking, especially the way he misunderstands their attempts at kindness. i’m glad he has hakoda, and i’m excited to see the ways zuko grows as he starts to trust him more. i LOVE that the healer reminds him of his uncle. he’s such a brat i would die for him. and he still cares so much :( i’m not sure when/how/if uncle iroh will appear in this story but i’m anticipating some very interesting dynamic shifts haha. this is just, really great. thanks so much for writing and sharing.

Zuko:The entire water tribe: it’s free son

oh my god i love this so much! i hope you keep it going !

Boy! What do you do to me! That gave me feelings! Especially the last line! Hakoda adopting Zuko is the story I never knew I needed. You have no idea how much I want to read the ending! Please please! God this is awesome!And also Scuttles/Sokka/Seal Jerky! Man I wish I had a dog like that! Very cute, and funny, and also a tiny bit terrifyingly creepy!Very much love from me, and cannot wait for more!

omgggggggggg NOOOOO THIS IS LITERALLY ONE OF THE BEST FANFICTIONS I'VE EVER READ. IT'S SO GOOD. I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS WAS THE LAST CHAPTER

i love EVERYTHING about this!!! the angst!! my emo son being emo!!!! i lOVE IT

Holy shit. I was sobbing like a spoiled toddler after being told they can’t get a new toy when I rewatched that one scene with the little soldier boy song in it today, but that can’t even compare to how much these 8 chapters made me cry. The emotions were so strong, and all the characters were amazing! The character development was so amazing, along with all the relationships among characters. It’s all really amazing, so I hope you have a good day and continue doing what you’re doing

i love this so impossibly much, and i love all the characters youve written in this; theres not a single one that i dont like, holy hell. this is so heartbreaking and funny and intense and i am so excited for the next chapter. you write so well. i love how you characterize zuko - youve thrown him into a unique scenario while maintaining a personality that still feels so true to the canon character, and it’s really impressive that youve done this. and youve also created really likeable and distinct original character designs alongside this - i love kustaa to death. and your plot! im always in awe at people who can do plot, and you absolutely can - you have these twists and developments that catch you off-guard, but not in a way thats unrealistic, rather in a way that feels like a puzzle falling into place and makes sense and is exciting and keeps me reading more. this is just such a good read, and i could rant on about why all night if that werent socially unacceptable and i didn’t physically need to sleep to function. im really glad to have gotten to read this.

SO GOOD SO VERY VERY GOOD

Okay, so I binged 2.5 seasons when Avatar came out on Netflix this weekend, and then i found your fic and I spent...more time of my work day than I should have reading this. I love EVERYTHING about this. It's so cool to see military water tribe but also just chill water tribe. I LOVE your interpretation of Hakouda. Great leader but also unsure and thrown such curveballs. Great Dad. Sad man. I love all the other characters, and I thought it was really convincing how you brought Bato back into the fold. The other crew members add some great personality as well. I love your interpretation of Zuko. I think it can be easy to write him into an awkward sad mess which is fine, but I think you displayed a lot of aspects of his personality that gradually went from angry confused to just nice sad/confused in a reasonable, believable way. This is a masterpiece, which I'm sure these other 2000+ comments say but wow, I'm just floored.

Loving this, thanks for writing!!

This fic is so good oh my g-d

This is amazing!!! The cultural differences and miscommunication between the Water Tribe and Zuko are simultaneously funny and also really heartbreaking. Poor kid has gone through so, so much and you really drag out the discovery of that. The "oh, that scar is pretty old" and "oh, he is expecting something different" and "wtf, something is very wrong here." It's intense and sad and now I'm like...so where do we go from here? What is Zuko supposed to do? Will he switch sides, and how will he come to the realization that he needs to? And when will Iroh learn Zoku is alive!! Poor guy! He already lost his son! Iroh is going to be destroyed and I can't take it.

I'm... this is a very mature, very deeply fely work. Thank you for writing it.

It’s 3 am and I just found/caught up on this story and I am crying... and my gosh my heart is just breaking. There are no words to accurately express how amazingly written this is, thousands upon thousands of kudos to you, I look forward to more of this

wowso goodso much love had for this specific fic. i love *pats screen* this is nice

Love love love this fic, can’t wait for more!

PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE STILL UPDATING THIS ITS SO GOOD AND I N E E D MORE AND IT C A N T END WITH ZUKO THINKING THAT IROH THINKS HIS LIF IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT HIMMMMM

Ahhhhh, this is so good!!!!

This is a very beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us! I look forward to any future chapters you may write :)

This is so good!!!!!!I ADORE this au!!!Thank you for posting!!

EXCUSE ME!? YOUR NOT ALLOWED TO END IT WITHOUT ANY REUNION BETWEEN ZUKO AND IROH, LEAVING THE MAN TO THINK HE'S LOST HIS NEPHEW. THATS NO FAIR HOW DARE YOU!Edit: i forgot to check if the story was labeled as complete before commenting. My broken heart still stands, but PLEASE dont end this amazing story with a broken uncle. It'll kill me.

just binged all of this after rewatching atla and lok s1 and ohhhhh my god I love this? so much?? I'm so excited to see where the rest of this goes!!!

BRUHHHHHHHH poor iroh And also this bit *sad yeahhhhhhh“Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live.“

This chapter breaks my heart....my poor Zuko.

on my third reread of this fic and i still love it so so much

"Stop messing with the lamps, boy," makes me think it was said with even a glance in Zuko's direction, more annoyed about the inconsistent lighting than scared of the firebending.

Hi I just read this entire thing in like two hours and it’s amazing and I can’t wait to see what comes next!! I love how you’ve portrayed zuko here, it’s amazing and perfect, my little bby 😭😭 I read your profile so I hope your pregnancy is going well, stay safe and healthy!!!

WOW just marathoned through this, and it's just amazing. I'm not great at writing (just the reading lol) so I can't properly describe how awesome and emotional it's been to read through this but I absolutely loved it!

This almost made me cry. I’m so glad Zuko is getting hugs because he desperately needs them. I feel sorry for Iroh though and thinking he failed Zuko.

Hey, just wanted to tell you that you're an incredible writer and I'm so glad that you use your talents to do something that (I assume) you enjoy. I just hope you know that you really are amazing! You're honestly a lot better than a lot of published, popular fiction writers I've seen out there. I hope you continue writing! Have a nice day!

I just reread the last three chapters because I did not have time to reread the whole story again (sad life) and they're still so good, aaargh!The significance of Aake shaving Zuko is just so great! I wonder what Zuko will do if the Gaang will come along at this moment, or sometime later.... <3

Love to reread! <3 <3 <3

God, all I want is for Iroh to find out Zuko is alive and hug him!! Please please please???? I will sell you my first born if you continue this please? Lovely writing, fervently hoping for more! <3 <3 <3

I have thoroughly enjoyed this story so far. Some tropes I particularly like: the honor between enemies that allows Zuko and Hakoda’s crew to strike agreements even when they don’t trust each other very far, and unreliable-narrator Zuko who is actually far more capable than his father and sister had ever allowed him to believe. I hope to read more of your work soon. You have good writing skills in spelling and grammar as well as skills in story telling with the tension and character depth. Thank you so much for sharing your talents with the Ao3 community!

NOOOOOO TELL IROH HE'S ALIVE DAMN IT!!

HOLY SHIT THIS IS SO GOOD! I can’t wait to read the rest. Thank you for sharing!

This was so unbelievably good. It was a joy to read and I felt, the whole way through, that this seriously couldve been an episode to watch. Very well written and true to character. I just wanted to give Zuko the biggest hug! Im so glad he got one, he needed it. I was so sad when it was over! Wonderful job!

This story is so good!

this was the best and admittedly first avatar fanfiction ive ever readbut i loved it a lot! in fact first thing no im going to go through all your works scavenging for more of your writing and then im gonna go into the general tag for avatari understand if you never continue this work and maybe its the pressure of all these ppl reading and commenting that keeps you from updatingbut let me just say it would mean a lot to me if youd continued this work if you dont thats perfectly fine too

I love this story so much! :) Are you planning to continue this work? There's so many different directions as to where this could go, and I have so many questions...but if you decide to leave this open as an ambiguous ending, I completely understand. Awesome job!

This story is so so good

I cried, a lot

Ok, you bastard, you made me cry. I hope you are happy now. (Note: just in case, I'm not serious. Well, I'm serious on the crying part, but I think your writing is amazing and heartwrenching and I love it and I need you to keep updating pleaseee)

Wow this chapter! So much going on and you really delved into the emotions so well. Poor Zuko going through so many ups and downs and the crew starting to understand what his situation really is I just..wow this was such a powerful chapter. Also, please Zuko Iroh is definitely not better off thinking you're dead! Somebody please tell him he didn't lose his second son.

Hey so this is fantastic and I cried. The characters are brilliant and this was amazing!

This is heartbreaking

This shit never fails to make me sad af

bruhthis was really really goodi hope there’ll be some more cause damn

excuse me while i quietly sCREAM INTO THE VOID. YOU CANNOT PLAY WITH MY HEART LIKE THIS.This is very good. Thank you for your hard work

* ugly crying * Ok ok wow. Thank you this was glorious

I finished my reread and now I don't know what to do, wallow in my desire to know more? Worry for zuko?

This chapter is so good, it makes me want to goddamn cry. I just want Zuko to be able to be a normal kid, like Toklo or Panuk, or for him to finally be able to meet up with the Gaang. Also, if the Gaang is following cannon, who is going to save Aang from Zhao while Zuko is stuck on Hakoda's ship? And will we ever get to see Iroh? I feel like Uncle and Hakoda would get along well, being the founding members of the "I care about Zuko more than Ozai ever could" squad. I have so many questions. I will wait (im)patiently for answers.

this fic warms my heart!!!! the subject matter is so sad but the bonding is so sweet!!!

Oh dude you're breaking my heart. But also making me crave more. I'm also following the Scaled Out one, you're way good

*around a sob* ...well I did ask for more.

So beautiful I’ve been crying. Thank you so much for the read.

wow this hurtsanyway this is amazing and I love it. the angst, the sorta found family, perfect. also zuko finally got a hug thank god. Cant wait for more!!!

noo.. I need more. what happens next?? I feel like things are just getting good between them all.

I usually never reread stories but here I am.I reread this in one sitting and it was just as amazing as the last time I read it. That last sentence just gets me every timeThis is one of the best written fanfics I've ever read, and the plot! Oh don't even get me started on that, it's absolutely amazing and I can't describe how much I love it and how you portray not just zuko and hakoda but all of the charactersI hope you're doing well and I'm excited to see what comes next in this story~♡

Reread this last chapter again.Tried not to break down sobbing again.Thank you for breaking my heart, again and again, because there's just so much love and hope here even with the despair-And they're all just such good people, and I just- ❤

It's super tragic that Iroh will never know what happened with Zuko. Great fic!!!

AAaaaAAAHHHHaahhHhhhhThis fic is so great i love it!!

woahhhh i stumbled upon this fic in a collection and im amazed, its soo good!! i feel terrible for zuko but i hope he heals :(<3

YES OMG IM LOVING THIS SO MUCHTHANK YOUTHE DEVELOPMENT FROM BEING SUSPICIOUS AND ANGRY TO FRIENDS, ALMOST LIKE FAMILYTHE HEARTBREAKING WAY ZUKO IS JUST A CHILDTHE WAY ZUKO FEELS ABOUT SEA PRUNESTHE WAY ZUKO HELPED WITH BATO'S SALVETHE WAY HAKODA GETS SCARY GETS MAD GETS KIND GETS CARINGTHE CREWMEMEBERS ESP HEALER AND PANUK AND TOKLOSEAL ! JERKY !CANT WAIT TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES !!THANK YOU FOR SUCH A GOLD TIER LEVEL OF ZUKO AU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God, this is so fantastic!!!! I’m just picturing the Gaang reuniting with Hakoda and being so very confused when they see Zuko without a ponytail wearing blue....Fantastic story. Really, really amazing. I usually get annoyed when there’s an abundance of OCs in fics, but yours were just so great???? Everything about this is awesome. Thanks so much for writing.

Aaaaah, this is so good! I definitely meant to go to bed an hour ago, but I just couldn't put it down. I looove the development here - how realistically and gradually the water tribe started adopting Zuko and Zuko adopting them back. And I don't have anything insightful to say, but this is amazing and you're amazing and love this story a lot!

I LOVE THIS FICHOLY HELL DO I LOVE EVERY SINGLE WORD OF THIS FICYou know how there are some fics where for whatever reason you nope out of within the first sentence? This fic is the exact opposite of that experience. This fic is, every single word of it I read, I want to know, NEED to know what happens next EVEN MORE.YOUR WRITING IS SO DAMN GOOD JESUSI’M GONNA CRY ABOUT ZUKO FOREVER, THANKS. I MEAN NOT THAT I WASN’T ALREADY A HARDCORE ZUKO STAN READY TO CRY ABOUT HIM FOREVER BUT LIKE. JEEEEEEEEEZUSSSSSSSSSSSSS.The way Hakoda and Zuko are having just two entirely different conversations and missing each other’s meaning so profoundly is just done SO WELL and the changing perspectives are SO GOOD and I NEED TO GIVE ZUKO A HUGAnd GOD HAKODA WHAT A GOOD MAN. Taking it remarkably in stride too lol you fish one (1) wayward prince out of the water and suddenly you have a new emotionally damaged sonAlso tho SOMEONE PLEASE TELL IROH HIS NEPHEW IS ALIVE, PLEASE, I KNOW HOW ANGUISHED HE MUST BE THINKING ZUKO’S DEAD TOO I NEED HIM TO KNOW HIS NEPHEW IS ALIVE AND SAFEAnd I love the crew and I love Zuko’s prickly warming up to the dog and just, just all of it, okay, just all of itTHIS IS JUST. A REALLY GOOD FIC.And it’s 3:30AM and I’ve run out of chapters so I’m gonna go sleep now but I am looking forward to the next chapter more than you would BELIEVE

I love this! Can't wait for the next update!Poor Iroh though; we know how much he loves his hot-headed pseudo-son ❤

I read all of this last night and loved every second of it, so I just had to reread it again today. I just love how you write the characters and just all of it is so amazing. While I'm curious as to whether another update is on the way, I'm so glad Zuko has relinquished his title and chopped off that man bun. He deserves a real family and he found one. Although I am sad that Iroh thinks he has died. Also I was daydreaming about how this fic might continue and I'm curious as to whether Zuko would fight with the crew or stand guard with the ship. And if he does fight would he firebend or become the Blue Spirit again - as a firebender with a Water Nation ship might draw too much attention? Anyway I love your work so much and you are an amazingly talented writer! Thank you for sharing this with all of us :)

Oh god I knew it was coming but... Zuko finally giving up hope in his father was heartbreaking. At least he's found a better family in the crew. Where will they all go from here? Thank you so much for writing and sharing! I absolutely love this story, can't wait to see what happens next!

Ah fuck my heart

Wow, this chapter was EXTREMELY powerful. Poor Hakoda and Zuko, having to make such difficult choices. I'm really impressed with where you've been taking this story.

I read Towards The Sun, and between it and this one I dont know which one is more heart breaking. But, its definitely this one. I cant imagine how Hakoda(?) must be feeling. Knowing his choice would lead to the death of his crew, but still choosing that simply because Zuko deserves it. And Zuko, damn. He deserves all the sweaters and hugs in the world. What a lovely story you are writing.

It's killing me that there's not more to this. Ugh. This is one of those fics I never knew I needed

I've just realised how many of the atla fic i love are written by you. How?!? How are you this talented??

Thank you very much for writing this. I really enjoyed how detailed it is and how emotional it is, the characters feel very real

Omg. I’ve never been one for ATLA fics but this has made me change my mind! I love how detailed yet not overly so you are about the day to day life on the boat, and all the characters are done so well and Zuko! And Hakoda! Gahhh. The emotions! And this chapter!!! So many feels. I loved reading this so much and will happily read any more chapters you post! Thank you for writing and posting <3

Oh man, I can't wait for this update. Loving this story!

I love this! 🥺

Not sure how I got here. I haven't seen this show in years and I've never read fanfiction for it, but this was so good?? Zuko catching the albatrosses when they land... adorable. God I teared up multiple times while reading this. So glad the Water Tribe has been so compassionate, despite their initial reactions. Subscribed.

I love this so much Zuko needs some actual A+ parenting

... fucking *ow*. Shit. I love all of this so much, but. Ow.

holy.....holy moly. I'm literally flabbergasted at how amazing this story is. I'm a long time ATLA fan, and I've never seen Zuko characterized so well, especially season one zuko. he's lonely and scared and furious and starving for a good father figure. I love how youve expanded on Hakoda's character--I see so much Sokka in him (omg, the sealjerky / sokka debate is the LITERAL best), and yet he's so clearly a chief of the southern water tribe and a father and a widower and ahhhhhh. I have a really hard time liking people's OCs in fanfic, but yours are so charismatic and well-rounded, its hard to not remember their names and relationships and consider them part of expanded canon. Your slow build of Zuko's character growth has been as good as in canon. I actually like how this is set in S1, a season I revisit least often (zuko's ponytail gives me hives), and how you so clearly choose to show off how young Zuko is, something which is never really touched on in canon. Every single dumb thing he does is a reflection of how he was raised, and his really young age, and you manage to make him bratty and fiery and still Zuko while still portraying a human teen who's had the worst 2 1/2 years of his life. GAH! i could go on. I'm truly so happy you decided to write and post this. Thank you so much =)

this literally had me crying like 11 times bro i cannot deal with this level of emotion. i don’t think i’ll ever recover.

This is the first AtLA fic I've read. And you've eternally spoiled me for them.I can't even begin to scream about it properly because everything is incredible and heartbreaking and hilarious and I love the crew and I love how fleshed out the canon characters are and I love the three-named-dogA very good thing to stay up way too late for. Thank you.

Ouch, ouch ouch this chapter Hurt but also was Very Good. Please let hakoda and iroh talk about their boy! Poor iroh, poor zuko. I adore the entire crew and I'm so glad zuko isn't alone!

This story is just so, so good. I wasn’t prepared, when I started, for how much I was going to care about all these characters. But I care VERY MUCH. Thank you for writing and sharing this!

Dad!Hakoda is the best ;)Love your work

On my 3rd re-read of this amazing fic. Man it just gets better each time I read it, seriously this is really really good

HHEHEODGQOWBEOWUEOQKWBEI this is so goooood!!!!

Heartbreaking, deep, wonderfully well written, excellent story! Thank you so very much for writing this. ツ

this was so hard for me to read, emotionally and literally. i luckily have a very ssupportive and happy background so ive never experienced anything like what you've depicted but man you write it in a way that makes it so easy to understand and empthatise with zuko. literally difficult to read though because i had to constantlu take breaks to sob and furiously wipe my eyes. this is great, i love it, now im gonna have a good cry.

Once again you are making me cry at stupid hours when I should absolutely be sleeping thank you for that

i have just discovered you thanks to captainkirkk on tumblr and your work has taken over my life. you’re fantastic and i would die for you TT^TT

OOOOOOOOF. THAT ANGST. IT HIT ME RIGHT IN THE FEELS.I will say, when I got to the end of this, for a second I thought it was finished, but then I saw it wasn't and that made me happy because I am looking forward to Sokka and Katara and Aang's reactions to discovering this (which I hope we get to see) and also hopefully the reunion with Uncle Iroh because I think he deserves to know that his nephew is actually alive and not in dire straights.I can't wait to see what happens next! (Like you're other fic, I have officially been hooked in :))

i'm so!!zuko is..honestly just a kid.well,a teenager.a very combative & awkward 1,who's also weirdly honest,& i can see the crew gradually being endeared to him.bcos like hakoda has noted,his father might not think he's a good son,bt he's a good person - getting indignant over the dog being named sokka & renaming him as seal jerky,defending the healer against someone from his own army & killing him 'to spare him',sitting vigil bcos of his uncle's beliefs..denying that he's a master (his uncle isn't really a good gauge,lol) for being able to breathe out fire,and tbh his compassion?helping the healer with making burn salve bcos he rmbred how much his own injury hurt,trying to catch the messenger seagulls from crashing.also!!him bonding with the slightly older teenagers (and everyone's simultaneous realization when they realized his age lol) and everyone sniffing their clothes after he helped to dry them,his refusal to rest when ppl were watching,him thinking he wasn't allowed to eat bcos he hadn't earned it (when in fact they just did things differently bcos communal dishes),his ridiculous escape attempts when he was still recovering (out of a porthole,really?),tldr there's a lot of this i loved and thank you for writing it!! :D

NO I was like yeaaaaah woohoo stalk the reviews. Cool, fun next chapter now. It’s not there! I’m in tears. For real tho actual tears at that last line. This story has been a ride and I’m looking forward to the next chapter :)) But Watch me find another fic now to deal with the pain :((

Awesome! Zuko don’t worry, you have a new dad, even if he doesn’t know how to deal with you or kids in general. Probably many a misunderstanding in the future but it’s all uphill from here.

Ahh oh my god, I had tears in my eyes this chapter wth. I absolutely love how kindly you write while also acknowledging the brutal realities of this situation (both in Ozai's responses and in the harshly practical options that Hakoda considers before choosing to be kind). I don't know if I'm putting this across correctly but I basically love how the situation is not been horrific on Zuko as a prisoner (how it's actually warm and very hopeful for the most part) without being unrealistically welcoming and perfect for Zuko at the beginning and the choices that Hakoda has had to deal with. I wouldn't have been nearly as invested without all the believable buildup of Zuko's current dynamic with the crew. This story could have been depressing and bleak or improbably fluffy, but it's not. It's kind and I kind of love it for that. Thanks for writing and sharing :)

I love this so much. Zuko's characterisation is the best I've ever seen, and watching them all slowly warm up to him (pun intended) is amazing

Man, this is so dang good! I really can't wait to read more - your writing is really immersive and characterizations are spot on. Thank you for sharing your work!!

Man, this is so dang good! I really can't wait to read more - your writing is really immersive and characterizations are spot on. Thank you for sharing your work and I can't wait to read more!!

God. Not to be a drunk girl in a bar but holy fuck. This is so good? I love it very much it’s very good and I have no good words to describe How and Why I love it I just love it very much. This is the good zuko content that we all crave and love.

I love this story so much. It's so well written and so beautiful. I love the other characters as well. Such beautifully written work. Thanks for sharing!!

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Hi! I know that it's a crazy time right now, but if it's possible, would you mind updating this fic? It's such a wonderful piece of work, and it's been over a month, and I've been checking daily. I know it's a crazy time and everyone's busy, but this is my favorite work on this site!

You’ve really pulled me in with this story. I love all of the characters and the story you are building here. It’s shown a realistic progression of the potential relationships between all of these characters at this point in the story. Great job, can’t wait for the rest of the story.

I liked this story so much I had to come back for a re-read! Thanks for writing :)

holy shit wow

GODS you got me crying this fic is so good <333

Just read this whole story again. While I feel almost painful empathy for Zuko throughout this fic, it's also one of my happy places. Zuko making friends, especially with Seal Jerky/Scuttles/Sokka, warms my heart. If there were ever a boy to need a pet more.... IDK which reunion I'm looking forward to the most. It's a tie between Iroh and Aang rn. Iroh for the cathartic pain and Aang because I want to see if the Blue Spirit rescuing him comes up. ❤

I just read this all from 12 am to 4 am and I don’t regret it bro my eyes hurt

God this is heartbreaking. I can't wait to read more!

This is amazing ♡( ◡‿◡ )Really looking forward to Zuko growing his hair out and becoming an even greater part of the crew~

This is really really good. I read all 8 chapters in one night! I'm excited to see how the remaining chapters go once they're written.

Wow I never knew how much I could need another chapter to come out till now. This work is amazing!

Zukooooooooo;______________;Also: Iroh!!! ;__;I wish I had more coherent words but yeah you go Akhlut adopt that boy.

This story just keeps getting better and better and I absolutely love it. I look forward to the next chapter! Bew well and stay safe!

I cried the whole chapter. Like not a way to start the morning. And now I'm dehydrated. Goos way to remind myself to stay hydrated but terrible for my heart.You have a way with words. And atmosphere.

When did it become two in the morning?

I Cried, rip me

So I had just decided to get into Avatar fanfics, and this was the first I read.....I could not and would not stop reading...I have stars in my eyes....and love in my heart...thanks

I legit bawled.

Wooooow holy shit i just ran through this and couldnt look at anything until i caught up i love all these characters and the development here

So from stalking you on Tumblr every day, I can see that this is the story that's gonna get updated next. I'm speculating that we're gonna have to wait till the Iroh reunion for the truth about Zuko's scar to come out cause I can't see any of these manly, manly men being comfortable asking about it and Zuko is definitely not opening up about it any time soon. Other than that, I look forward to the new dynamics that Zuko no longer being Prince of the Fire Nation will bring. Although I can't really see him losing his loyalty for his people... just his loyalty to his dad.

i have some salt for you to pickle my fingers in. it's from my tears

You do not understand how much I've almost cried through reading this story, so, it's clear to me that this is AN AMAZING STORY KEEP UP THE AMAZING WRITING

I spent my entire day reading this! I love it! Thank you for sharing! =^·^=S

I didn't get any sleep at all for binge reading this xD this is amazing. The concept, the writing style, the characterization, it's really good. I am eagerly waiting for what's to come

Boi this fic SLAPS! I binge read it and I can’t wait to see how Zuko grows now that he’s finally free from believing that he needs to serve his father! Thank you so much for writing this, I’m so excited for the next chapter <33

Oh this is heart breaking

Big oof at that last line

Just gonna say, I read this all in... about three hours I think? And its absolutely OUTSTANDING, you've somehow managed to get me hooked. I'll be looking forward to the next update!!

This is a great fanfic!!! One of my favourite avatar fics!!!!!!! Poor Zuko *cries*Is this the last chapter? I hope there is more :)))))

Oh no, the feels! I actually teared up a little. Poor Zuko, he doesn't deserve this 😢

Loved the story! Hope that hakoda can see that iroh does care for zuko

*hugs the poor boy*

thanks im CRYING!!!!!!

I would like to propose for the next chapter: Somehow, Ex-Prince Zuko Is Even More Trouble When He's Not Trying To Be.Featuring such thrilling adventures as:Hakoda: (turns away for a second) (turns back) WHAT THE HELL WHY ARE YOU CLIMBING THAT ICEBERG HOW DID YOU GET UP THERE SO FAST NO I DON'T CARE IF YOU WERE TRYING TO HELP BY GETTING A BETTER VIEW, GET DOWN THIS INSTANTZuko, casually double-welding swords: yeah no, I'm a terrible bender, so I need to use these, but it's shamefulThe crew: WHO GAVE YOU SWORDS AND ALSO HOW ARE YOU SO TERRIFYING WITH THEMBato: we need reconnaissanceZuko, trying to be a helpful puppy: (uses ninja-skills to infiltrate random top-security place)Hakoda: what the fuck

I Love this story!!!! <3 Is so goooood!!!!

Habia seguido esta historia pero hasta hoy pude ponerme al día con ella. me a encantado demasiado. adoro este punto de vista. muchas gracias por la historia

This fic is incredible and I love your characterization so much. I love the complexity of Zuko and how you fully explore it from and outsider's pov

Hey holy FUCK

mY SOUL MY HEART ITS BEING CRUSHED AND HEALED AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH THIS FIC SJFLSJSLJBut in all seriousness, I am so in love with this fic! Its so well-written and so thought-out. A lot of the time we tend to shy away from the ugliness of war and the cruel, but necessary, deeds of all sides. And. uGH. MY HEART. This is just so amazing and I love it with all my heart. :'))))))) Keep it up!!!!! <33

holy heck this is amazing I full on cried I love your writing!! poor zuko doesn't understand kindness and poor hakoda is so confused lmaothank you for writing this and I can't wait to read the next chapter whenever you post it!! <3 <3

I love this, but poor Uncle!Also, this is a new favorite fic!

T-T just.. Oh my word.. It could of ended right there but no, right? Oh Zuko, I was a wondering if they were gonna draw it out any longer but they all just came clean. I seriously love this and I actually cried for Zuko... and Iroh. I look forward to updates.

This. Is. Amazing.

This hurt! Thanks!

Stab my heart directly next time, that will hurt less.

' "And you couldn't have begged a pair of steel cuffs off of them before you ticked the Earth Kingdom off? Or asked their healer about bending suppressants?" his second-in-command questioned. Hakoda groaned. "This is why I need you here.""So you don't keep a royal firebender on a wooden ship?" ' *shrieking laugh& '"I know you miss your kids," Bato said. "I know the prince isn't much older than Sokka. But you didn't put your son in armor and set him in command of a war ship on a critical mission. The Fire Lord did. What does that tell you about his son?' *sighing.*' "You want to take a break?" Panuk asked. "No." "You want to go get some snacks for us? I could use something." "...Fine." ' jeirsroeigjesr !!!! him help!!with the helin ' Ranalok came to his rescue, this time. "You haven't seen those two together long; the Prince imprinted on him when he was feverish, or something. Like a duckling-seal. He's about as likely to hurt Kustaa as he is to hurt the dog." This statement clearly failed to reassure Bato on any level. "You leave him alone with Sokka?" "Scuttles," Hakoda corrected. "Seal Jerky," Ranalok grinned. ' *quiet screeching* ' "You didn't even lock him in, Hakoda." "The men know to watch the porthole." "...The porthole?" Bato had shared Sokka and Katara's stories of the Fire Prince. Now Hakoda shared his. Bato continued to not be reassured. ' *shrieking* ' It was just the Healer, anyway. Kustaa dropped his pillow onto the room's other bed, got out a spare blanket, and lay down. "What, you need to keep an eye on me, too?" "I was having trouble sleeping without the world's quietest night terrors next to me." "Shut up." ...It was easier, falling back asleep to the sound of his stupid Not-Uncle's breathing. ' a/wwwwwwww/ ' It was easier for Kustaa to fall asleep, too, with the brat curled up under a dog just across the room. A lot easier than jolting awake, and realizing the prince had said his burn had been treated by his ship's doctor.  The prince was sixteen. That scar was years old. It wasn't the sort of math a man needed before bed. Bato snorted. "The Fire Nation would know burns." "They would," the healer said tightly, capping the ointment jar with a very final sort of click. He reached for a bandage roll. Bato's shoulders tensed again. He held his breath. ' oof. //oof//. ' "...Hakoda. How bad were their terms, exactly?" Why was the prince not enjoying Fong's hospitality, somewhere that had better methods for dealing with a master firebender than 'knock him on the head before he causes too much damage'? ' ehhh heheheheh. 'More like he just felt like sharing his glares; the kid had been doing nothing but glaring at him, since he'd come aboard yesterday. Everytime he turned around the prince was watching him. ' oh my gods. ' "Please don't call him that." "But it's good to remember your kids, Chief." Hakoda gained a certain glint to his eye. "You know what? Go ahead. Call him that." ' oh my fucking gods. \'He was back up to speed on the fleet's activities by bedtime. The Fire Prince's sad attempt at a hammock hung in a corner of the crew cabin, with clear signs of something approximately the size of a sixteen-year-old menace falling through. hee heeheeheehee. ' "We only did blankets today; we'll do furs tomorrow!" Bato regretted his life choices. "...Let the prince know he's allowed back on deck. And stay away from my furs." ' oh my gods. ' There was something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Something more than the way the kid kept glaring back at him, or the complete ridiculousness that was his shaved head with that one prideful plume of carefully tied back hair. "...Where is he getting a razor from?" Bato asked, to no one in particular.  No one in particular was able to answer. ' afiewofijw what do you bet he just burns /that particular/ hair off ' "There is against theft." The prince had the audacity to cross his arms. "No there's not. I need to work or I can't eat, if you catch me escaping you'll break my legs, no 'instigating fights' or people can beat me as much as they want, and if I hurt anyone or anything with firebending you'll kill me. Those are the rules." The Chief let a slow breath out. "New rule. No stealing." ' oh my gods. 'Hakoda remembered when he'd considered Aake's leg-breaking suggestion and, in his naive idealism, discarded it as stooping too low. He discarded it again now, for a more practical reason: he couldn't picture a broken leg stopping the prince from doing something stupid.' ' "Good Seal Jerky," Zuko said, with firebender-warm belly scratches and an escape's worth of bribes ready for tactical deployment.  It helped that the rest of the crew seemed to be on his side.  "Good boy, Seal Jerky," Ranalok said, adding his own belly scratches in passing. For once, the Dog Namer glared at someone other than Zuko. ' oh my goodness. ' Toklo stood awkwardly between them, a full bucket of water dragging down his arms. "I mean, we usually do it up in the crew cabin. But you

I'm crying 😭😭Poor zuko is just trying his best.You've written everything and everyone so well I'm losing it scoob. 328/10 will read again

I would honestly die for you I hope you know that @muffinlance. Your works have a re-read quality that have helped me get through this self-imposed quarantine I'm under.

oh fuck ozai with a cactusI really love this fic; thank you fro writing it!

This story is so good. I read it in one sitting. The plot really called to me and I just love how it developed. Thank you so much for writing this and sharing it. It is a pleasure to read.

This chapter brought me to tears! Thank you!

Distant choked sobbing noisesZuko it’ll be okay, baby! I promise! Eventually...

listen i just really need u to update this it's amazing and it hurts so bad but also there's so much hope and dadkoda hit so hard

It took me days to get through this Muffin. ***** you. I just realized, by the way, you've influenced my fics in the HP fandom. HP. I'm writing a series now. What the heck. This was actually painful.... More please?

This is so good, the writing is amazing, I've almost cried more times than zuko has scowled.

Awh man, poor Zuko :'(Having to kill the Fire Nation soldier must have been hard. And then reading his father's messages... OuchThe crew helping Zuko deal with his problems makes my heart melt though. I love this story so fucking much <3

I was scrambling to finish this chapter before I had to leave for work but I have to say this was The Best chapter yet.Zuko cut his hair. Holy fuck. The character development. The growth. He saved the water tribe boat from a slow agonizing death by killing a fire nation soldier. WOWHakoda. My dude. The position of father figure is officially open now. Just adopt him already.Hakoda keeping his word to Zuko. My heart.I think The Dragon Of The West & Watertribe Protection Squad is ready to roll out. After they figure out they’re on the same side lol.Is Zuko BALd? Or does he look like a fuzzy chick(buzz cut)? This is important.

I couldn't stop reading last night and read all eight chapters in one go. Worth it, definitely worth it!Reading about Zuko's escape attempts and him refusing to even be subtle about it was just an absolute delight. Loved the crew slowly getting used to Zuko and starting to get along with him, and this last chapter was just agahsksskjsh!!! My heart. You crushed it. :'(So in other words I loved it, thanks for writing!

<3

Annnd, now I'm crying. Your story always hold such strong emotion but are still light and fun to read. Thank you so much for sharing.

<333333333 should be sleeping but this was too good to put down

If you need me I'll be laying on the floor, staring at the ceiling and crying silently

Bro this fic gave me life oh my god. I’m always looking for stories about Hakodate showing zuko that hey! You dad in particular sucks! And I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Aaaaaa holy shit this chapter was so intense, I loved it so much!! That last line hurts so much!! :(

Ohh, Zuko.

Ugh it hurts but like peeling a scab it hurts so gooooood I love it

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

Ok but i re read this again and now i am sad. That's not FAIR

Um, hi, I’ve been sobbing for waaaaay too long now. But as painful as it is, Zuko does need this closure. And it’s good for the Water Tribe to know what this child has been through.

This was such a sad chapter

Favorite things:- Hakoda being just as bad a Sokka at drawing- Hakoda being the better man and not sending Ozai a box of fingers (hard yikes when Hakoda received THAT letter)- Ozai wanting Zuko’s head (D:) and Hakoda noping so hard- Zuko is a bad son but a good man (great line!)- Tears and hugs when Zuko reads the letters- That last line. AAAAAAAAAAAAI’m in pieces, thanks

I love this fic so much!!! Excited to see that it updated you’re doing awesome!

I have put off reading this chapter because I knew it was going to make me cry, and guess what! It did! Success! Not for the reason I thought, though. Gosh. I really am a sucker for kids being told that they are capable of being loved.

This chapter made me cry, poor Zuko! But at least he knows the truth now. Please update again soon.

I am emotional I dunno how to feel. God this story is incredible! I’m holding out for both the crew finding out about the scar (coz I live for angst okay) but also Zuko’s réunion with Iroh coz omg I love their relationship. Idk I have a lot of feelings rn I’m sorry but this is too good and words are failing me.

I don’t think I’ll ever understand how you’ve managed to make me cry so hard. This story is so beautiful, it makes me love Avatar: the last air bender so much more. You’ve written these characters so well and I can’t wait to see what’s next, I really hope that Zuko gets the family he deserves and changes as a person with the water tribe. I love this story and the author so much.Sorry for the long read lol.

I love this story, I cant wait to read more

Aaaaaahhhhhjjjjxhydvjtdbkydvjydcnjuy I love this and you

oh my god. every chapter just gets more and more gripping. it's been a slow and satisfying burn but i absolutely love how zuko's finally getting the support he needs from hakoda, and how the crew has finally accepted him! you've written this beautifully, you've perfectly captured zuko's teenage angst and severely warped mindset, but also kind heart, and hakoda's strong morals and sense of responsibility, both to his men and to this teenage boy he's stuck with. can't wait to see where you take this next, hopefully zuko gets to be a little more emotionally healthy, and I'd love to see some hakoda-mediated meeting with the gaang

can I just say that your writing style is like getting repeatedly punched in the gut? jeez, that's... this whole chapter just about made me cry. the way that you illustrate moralities and relationships and AAAAAAAAAAA

WOW I didn't know I needed this until now!!!

jesus christ, that was an emotional trainwreck.good job, hope ur proud of yourself. you should be, im real fucking sad.

I just reread this and now I'm crying and I stayed up too late. Thanks. This is very good.

I don't generally read gen fic, but good god, this is spectacular. Your diction, the storyline, the CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT—you're a brilliant writer, and that's a rare breed in the fanfiction world. I wait in eager anticipation for the next three chapters, which I'm sure will be as captivating as all the previous have been.

This story is so good! It's simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming and also often amusing, which absolutely suits Zuko. Hakoda's strength of character was amazing in this chapter. The fact that Iroh thinks Zuko is dead breaks my heart.

I JUST STAYED UP SO LATE READING THIS ITS SO FUCKING GOOD HOLY GOD

This chapter was /so/ worth the wait. So, so satisfying. Just. The rising tension in which Hakoda gets increasingly stressed and angry at Ozai's replies, the way his tension is rubbing off on Zuko (the stilted interactions, the hot-temper, the way Zuko is hurled back to those first days of being a captive on the ship) - it's not Zuko's /fault/, but it's so understandable why Hakoda is acting the way he does. I loved Zuko trying to figure out what he'd done to make Hakoda mad. Also the angst that sneaks in when Zuko thinks it's his fault for not making his letters good enough. <3 <3 <3 Hakoda finding out how long Zuko had been banished was so, so satisfying. So satisfying. As is the misunderstanding wrapped up in it: Hakoda assuming Zuko's lied to him, when really Zuko is doing his hardest to believe /himself/ that his father wants him back. The slow, steady escalation is a thing of beauty: Zuko becoming more and more anxious, feeling like he needs to make a run for it or be killed by Hakoda. The added tension through having to sit out the attacks. The slow, tentative mend - and then Ozai's reply, telling Hakoda to kill Zuko and be done with it. Zuko protecting Kustaa was the best sort of catharsis. No, wait - the best escalation? The best consequence. So much angst, and guilt, and /pain/. Hakoda wrapping his arm around Zuko and offering comfort - /that/ was the catharsis. That's when you knew what Hakoda's decision would be. Finally, the Hakuddles tag has come true <3"Stop caring more abotu me than my own father" is my favorite line in the story so far. They've come /such/ a long way - Hakoda giving in and being a father instead of the Chief, Zuko /recognizing/ that he's being cared for, both of them being aware how fucked up of a situation they're in. Hakoda giving Zuko his knife was just. Wow. Respecting Zuko's wishes like that (or believing what his wishes were), even by giving him the means to take his own life... damn. I'm so glad we've reached this point. I'm so, so glad. All the development coming to fruition here - Hakoda, but also the rest of his crew (Aake's development in particular was beautiful). And Zuko, who finally managed to cut himself loose from his father (but still believes he needs to be useful to live. Baby steps, honey.)Amazing job. Such a satisfying chapter. Thank you so, so much for writing!~Gwen

Prince Zuko— Zuko threw himself back into his work, like he was trying to prove something.  Like he thought children needed to be useful just to live.:( :'( this is the fcked up mindset zuko was raised in. Thank you for the slow burn adoption fic i love it a lot

...Well. That escalated quickly.Didn’t think I’d be writing another review so soon, but damn once I started reading my mind was just going a mile a minute, and i tend to write my thoughts down as I read, and before I knew it I had... however many words this review is going to turn out to be. Probably a lot.I think my reaction can be nicely summed up in this handy dandy image: I’ll be honest, I was expecting a few things to go a little differently. I had a feeling Zuko was going to be the one to cut his own hair - though for some reason I was anticipating it to be more of an explosive heat of the moment/I got a lot of feelings and they gotta go SOMEWHERE sort of action - since I figured he wouldn’t need any prompting to do it himself after he heard Ozai had replied. But then when Ozai skips over any official disownment by already declaring Zuko dead, the increasing demands for a more definitive Proof of Life, then Hakoda opening the box of fingers, then the discussion amongst the older crew about “returning in kind” to the point that even PANUK didn’t see any other options (albeit his version involved giving that proof without taking it from Zuko directly), on top of Zuko picking up on Hakoda’s displeasure and feeling a steadily creeping panic at an obvious shift in Hakoda and the older crewmen’s demeanor that must mean something has gone wrong as he scrambles to appease the Chief and the crew by being simultaneously as useful and out of the way as possible when he’s not even sure what he’s guilty of...... SO what I initially thought all this was leading to was Zuko discovering the finger box and the first few letters on his own shortly after they had ambushed the Fire Nation ship, with Zuko then being the one to approach Hakoda about getting that proof if it’s the only way his father will believe them; it wouldn’t be the first time he’s sacrificed a piece of himself for Ozai after all. Or even forgoing asking altogether to try and prove (to Ozai or to Hakoda?) that he can show initiative by doing it himself, and someone was gonna find him with a bunch of Kustaa’s medical tools in the midst of figuring out which body part of his he would miss the least while still being recognizably his to send to the Father Lord. Complete with whoever catches him reacting with the appropriate amount of "the FUCK are you DOING" walking in on that calls for.(...And I may or may not have started drafting out scenes for this scenario and honestly if you’re cool with it, I’d totally be down for expanding them into a speculative one shot.)But for Zuko’s sake, it’s for the best that nothing like that happened. And him arguing in favor of his own execution is definitely the bigger gut punch. But I’ll get to that part in a bit.Glad we finally got to see Ozai’s first response, and he was just as awful as I expected of the man. I too see the appeal of arson after reading it, from implying that if Zuko was a real son he would’ve taken Hakoda and the Akhlut down with him instead of letting himself be sold for ransom to the absolutely shameless nerve to pasture offense on Zuko’s behalf after all that.Although, I couldn’t help but notice that The tone of Ozai’s letter comes across as rather... performative? A little more theatrical than what’s typical of Ozai when it comes to Zuko, maybe? I’m having trouble putting my finger on it, but the excerpts seem to really deliberately play up how “traumatic” and “harrowing” it is for the royal family (another notable detail, to reference the whole family and not just the Fire Lord) to have to be assailed with Hakoda’s lies and libel for the sake of what’s so “obviously” an imposter. Which seems noteworthy, considering these letters are supposedly only going to be seen by enemy eyes.It could be because it’s being written by a scribe, who’s perhaps cleaning up Ozai’s statements for the official letter, but I suspect that perhaps these correspondences are just as much for the potential prying eyes in the royal court (namely Iroh) as they are for Hakoda and his men. Considering Ozai appears to have indeed initially intended to ignore the first letter (and maybe he did believe the hostage the Water Tribe had was an imposter and indeed too insignificant to warrant a response... until Iroh showed up with news that Zuko was lost at sea in a timeline that aligned just a little too perfectly with the arrival of that first letter for it to not be a coincidence?) he might be trying to play up the grief a little on paper to appease a currently mourning uncle who might happen to see them.It also occurs to me that if Zuko recognizes Scribe Reo’s handwriting from during his banishment, then the scribe must have seen at least a couple of Zuko’s letters in that time and therefore also have recognized Zuko’s hand writing too. So he must know the that this isn’t a Water Tribe ruse and the theatrical outrage towards it is fabricated... I think I see a candidate as to who could break the news to Iroh.(There is also Azu

This is so beautiful. Thank you.

poluikyjthgrfvsacxz;LK,JMNHBGFVCDSX YOU ARE AN AMAZING FANTASTIC TALENTED WRITER AND I LOVE THIS STORY AND THE WAY YOU WRITE EACH AND EVERY CHARACTER IS LIKE THEY COME TO LIFE!!

This latest chapter? Big Oof. You have my regards.

I’m crying in the clubWe’re finally getting Zuko some of the love he deserves and the part with the fire nation on the ship had me SHOOK

I am crying.. I've been crying through most of this fix, but that last part really got me..

THIS IS SO GOODThank you for writing this!!!Poor Zuko- but like. It’s so much better for him to be with Hakoda, it’s so goodLooking forward to your next update, whenever you manage that!

In all of the years that ive been reading, I have never read anything like this story. I've never encountered a story that did such an incredible job showing the different sides of each others cultures and still maintain such an intricate and entertaining storyline!It's truly amazing what you've been able to do and I eagerly await for the next chapter!Thank you for such an amazing time!

I'm not crying, you're crying

my heart

Please continue repeatedly breaking my heart; it hurts in the best way

This story is so great. I am always checking for new updates and it's a joy to when they arrive! You really nail the characterization of each canon character, and I love all the OCs. You have great narrative voice, too. This really brings new life into one of my favorite fandoms. Thanks for continuing the magic!

I hope Zuko would trust the crew completely one day and start feeling somewhat better

I usually like stories focusing on Zuko and the Gaang but I found myself really sucked into this one!! Can't wait for the next chapter!

Aaaaaa this was so good!!! Thank you for the update!!

This chapter is so good and so heartbreaking, zuko having a cry in hakoda's arms just made me so soft. Ozai is a massive bastard and I can't wait to see zuko being treated more like an actual 16 year old and vaguely freaking out about it

My heart!

Those last two lines, man.

I don't even know where to start. This chapter pulled so many of my heartstrings I don't think I even have a heart left to break. The emotional rollercoaster that Zuko is going through resonated through me with every word, and Hakoda's fatherly instincts finally noticing Zuko's standoffishness as quirks of his trauma had me gasping for breath. I wish I could leave more kudos. I am greatly looking forward to the next chapter.

You made me uglycry. I cant even see the screen clearly. You're great. I love your pacing and the ending made my heart hurt. Ty.

You have served me exactly what I wanted - fun and hakuddles! But with all these extras I didn't order like angst and sadness and murder and impossible choices! But I am still deeply satisfied. Will leave amore coherent comment later, after I have recovered from all these feels you gave me.

this chapter had a different quality of gutwrenching impact. (skillfully led up to and, incidentally, not at all what my brain was concocting for the haircut portion of it from reading your tumblr posts)but really. wow. there was a weight to this chapter that is still present even after giving myself some days to process it. you did justice to the similar tone that canon had, but condensed it to, primarily, a chapter. truly impressive.thank you for stabbing through my chest, ripping out my heart, and destroying it with feels. I am now even more distraught at the lack of quality, in character, zuko-gets-adopted-fic there are available. I'll have to continue with my obsession with your excellent writing.

OMG! I read this fic I was laughing out loud so hard it hurt. I even stayed giddy when Earth Kingdom's unique mix of creepiness and assholeness hit the fray because Hakoda wouldn't (and hat tip for the casual description of cultural differences and the water tribe politics description). Then I was almost violently ill because Ozai reminded me that yes the Fire Lord aspiring to outdo Sozin in monstrosity is a part of the story. And my gosh, I don't have words for what you did with Panuk that was one hell of characterization. And of course, Hakoda being himself is absolutely amazing from his refusal to kill a kid or send fingers through the mail to pretty much adopting Zuko.Also, did I mention how amazingly you worked Bato in? I think the only thing keeping me from melting from all the awesomeness is the thought of Iroh. Also, the last three chapter-long wondering why Zuko hasn't mentioned writing to him again.

IMZUKOOOOI'm sincerely hoping this was the "it gets worse before it gets better" point because I'm so sad and I don't think my heart can take any more. Please more isopuppy cuddles next chapter?(I am, however, imagining a distant future where Iroh cries and thanks Hakoda for saving Zuko and immediately starts initiating a confusing found-family relationship with Hakoda and the rest of the Water Tribe by extension.)Also, I do really like the continued hints that whatever Zuko lacks in firebending technique and fierceness he makes up for in control, as well as the Water Tribe worldbuilding being mentioned offhand.

Bsbdosjxjskxksjsks I want to say so much but I literally don’t know what to say I have so many feelings about this and I love Zuko so so much and I just,,,, This was a really great chapter

oh god this gave me a heart ache so bad, i want to wrap zuko up in a blanket and hold him like hakoda until he absorbs the concept of familial love through osmosiszuko really deserves the world and i’m glad hakoda’s finally got enough pieces to understand how zuko lived and what made his whole personality so...prickly

I AM CRYING, I AM BAWLING, I FEEL LIKE I COULD FILL THE SEA WITH MY TEARSSO DAMN WELL-WRITTEN, MY HEART HURT SO, SO MUCH, BUT WE FINALLY GOT PROPER HAKUDDLES! AND THE CREW ADOPTED ZUKO<3<3<3 GOD I LOVE YOUR STORIES SO MUCH!<3<3<3The part with Hakoda's drawing talent was /amazing/, we now know where Sokka got his talents from XDYOUR FICS ARE SO GOOD AND SO AMAZING AND SO THOUGHTPROVOKING AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, I WILL NEVER STOP GUSHING ABOUT THEM!!!<3<3<3 (even though I still haven't had the time to read all of them ^^' At least I have something to look forward to! :D)Thank you so, so much for writing and sharing this!<3Sendingvlove, flyingcat<3

ಥ‿ಥ

I first read this chapter a few days ago but didn't have time to comment then. But your writing is always so good! Even though this chapter is very long (word wise) for the action that actually happens in it, you always manage to keep my interest right through the end. There are always little things in your work that rip me to shreds - like how Zuko wouldn't recognize his father's handwriting, but how he does recognize a scribe's. Or how his father adds extra conditions to his banishment. Or how Hakoda cares more about Zuko than his dad. Also, I love the weight you put on Zuko cutting his hair, even in only a few sentences. You manage to convey the gravity of the action without overdoing it. You're a really talented writer!

Zuku melts all hearts

Oh, gosh the *feels*. This chapter has hit all of them.

this chapter is so good and it made me feel so many emotions. difficult descisions! angst! zuko being a fire bending prodigy! crying! symbloic and dramatic hair cutting! it's all so good!

Eeeeep this was so good my HEART Hakoda finally comforting this poor kid. And the idea that he won't let ten water tribesmen go for Zuko, the idea that they'd never get them back anyways... oh my heart. Hakoda is like 'we're just human beings, Zuko, human beings don't do this' and like people trying to be as decent as possible in a horrible war.So grateful for this story, the action, and the characters!!

Poor Zuko.Poor Water Tribe men. Ugh this was heart wrenching.I Need to Know What Happens Next. I super want Uncle Iroh reunion. Because one Hakoda is going to be surprised there is a fire nation adult who cares. Two he still has the letters to show Uncle Iroh. Three stupid little brother worthless lord is going to get it once Uncle Iroh and New Water Tribe Dad(s)/Brothers (because let’s face they all like Zuko now) join forces. But also just want Zuko to get the hugs he needs. Give him so many cuddles. Please tell me next chapter Zuko and Seal Jerky get cuddles at least!?! Zuko needs so many hugs. I love your storytelling! You have an amazing balance of humor and seriousness. I look forward to more!

Amazing! Heartbreaking too. I'm excited to see what kind of a turn the story takes from here. Also I hope there is more about zuko and the dog cuddling lol.

this is great! im looking forward to the next chapter!

This chapter is so great! I think what I'm struck by most is how attached I've become to the crew, it doesn't feel like a large cast because they interact and balance each other so naturally. I did not expect Zuko to go through so much in one chapter, I'm totally stumped about where they're headed in chapter 9. Hopefully Zuko will start dealing with his fear a little more productively (and by that I do not mean sanding the rails or swabbing the deck harder), but I'm not betting on it! Thank you for sharing this chapter with us, it obviously took a lot of work

So it 5am and I just binge read the whole thing and hooooleeee shit is this fantastic!!! I'm crying because the feels are too much. I just wanna give all the hugs and Hakoda is is so well balanced between ship captain and understanding father. The slow progression is absolutely fantastic and heart-wenching. Zuko's reactions are especially gut-punching, especially in reaction to preceived (whether accurate or not) wrongdoings. I'm just mentally flailing cause actual flailing would be rude to my housemates.

I-Uh...Ehm,nope. I'm honestly speechless.I need a moment to gather my thoughts and a nice calming jasmine tea.

My HEART-

Finally got some time to read this chapter and now I am trying very hard to stop crying but it’s not working. I love how this chapter is a tragic ending and a hopeful beginning all at once, and as always you’ve handled the writing of heavy topics spectacularly.On a lighter note, the adoption is pretty much official so I can’t WAIT for Katara and Sokka to finally get wind of this.

send a message to your poor uncle you fucking dumbassGod that fucking hurts. But in a good way. I love this so much it is brilliant yes. Zuko cutting off his hair, Zuko getting hugs, very good. But oh Iroh... god. Iroh. I absolutely adore this

Reads chapter 8.Takes deep breaths.Screams incoherently into a pillow.This is everything I could have asked for!

this was an action filled update i love your writing so much

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Omg!!!

This chapter ABSOLUTED gutted me at 139 in the morning so, thank you for breaking my heart. But seriously this is fabulous

Oh my baby

And that's how Zuko joined the water tribe! I can't wait for when the war is over and Katara and Sokka go back home only to find that they've been replaced by the not dead prince of the fire nation (And an isopuppy).

Oh noooooooo, Zuko. I mean, I knew this was coming, because there was no way this wouldn't come to a head eventually, but hot damn. My boy deserves some love. Luckily, he's got a whole ship full of dads and uncles and brothers now. XD

Oh my God! This chapter broke my heart; you had me on the edge of my seat. This is hands-down becoming one of my favorite AU stories! Zuko reading Ozai’s letters and crying was gut wrenching. Please make sure he has more hugs, OK? I’m so, so curious as to how this story will conclude. I really hope Iroh does make an appearance and reunites with Zuko! He must feel absolutely horrible right now ): I want him to know Dadkoda is here and Zuko is officially adopted and loved and safe!(Zhao would be an interesting feature too...I’d be curious to see how that could come into play! It definitely wouldn’t be good)Thank you so much for updating this amazing story, can’t wait to see how it will wrap-up. <3

another great chapter. this was very intense. the characters are all dealing with very difficult situations with no right answers. thanks for sharing.

;asdjfh;asdfhthis is so goodSeriously, all the updates for this basically make my entire day. I can't wait for each one and am super excited for how ever you wrap this up, but I'm probably going to have to re-read it at least once a month to get dopamine once you finish it

That moment when you look at the comment count and it's more than 300 so there's really no need to comment but you're DYING and it's ALL YOUR FAULT so you need to comment-rantAight. So I'm one of those groveling fools who hangs around your Tumblr, and the entire time I kept getting whiplash from the SPEED. Like holy heck bruh, I could hear the Sonic theme every time I read an update on how it was going. And when I saw that the chapter was posted I entered a haze-like state for a good few moments. May have been shock. Or fear. Or both.And then we Began Reading. Wahoo. What a wild ride. What a demonic, loopty-loop filled, swerving, wild, wild ride of a reading. I Nearly Cried approximately 18 times (I am near incapable of crying but you got real darn close many, many times) for various different reasonsDuring the real dramatic/sad/angsty parts I turned on some dramatic music to fit. Jenny of Oldstones by Florence and the Machine works very well, I would like to report.I have so much to say but I'mma try to keep short(ish) and sweet. THE BIRBS. THE SWEET BEAUTIFUL BIRBS GRACELESSLY DIVING ONTO THE DESK AND THAT SWEET BEAUTIFUL PRINCE GRACELESSLY CATCHING THEM BECAUSE SOFTNESS. The fingers! A big fuck you for that one! :) Panuk and Toklo being Absolute Lads as always is A+ as always. Smol Prince overworking his butt off and crew desperately trying to Not Care but failing is a big yes. Uncle Kustaa is always and forever and big big yes. Murder! Murder is also a big yes, thanks to all the Sweet Nectar of Angst that can be juiced from it. And like a faithful farmer boy you have juiced it wonderfully. The nightmares being Not Quiet Enough is peak angst material and I adore the crew slowly not trying as hard to hide their affection for the BB of the family. When you had said there would be a hair cut, and I read the first letter from Ozai (who, btw, is one the few people who's grave I would happily barnyard shuffle on), and thought Hakoda was going to slice off the Stupid Ponytail and send it to Ozai as proof that they have him. I never should have assumed that you would ever, in any way, be predictable.If I was to voice all my thoughts on The Adoption (thats what it was, ok?) you would think 10k is a pitiful number. So, the simplified version: I Almost-Cried through this whole thing. Oh my god. He HUGGED HIM! AND ZUKO FINALLY LET HIMSELF CRY!!!!!!!!!!AHHHHH! And then he cut off his dumb ponytail with HAKODA's knife and I caught that symbolism right there, and Aake! Aake was the one to shave him! And my inner monologue was just a bunch of incoherent screeching and I was feeling All The Feels and IT'S OFFICIAL LADS, DADKODA IS CONFIRMED, ah shoot who's gonna tell Sokka? "Zuko had another nightmare. His father had a different face, in this one." The many different implications of this one in particular stuck with me. You clever little author, weaving your webs and letting our minds destroy ourselves. I see you.I want to say that your writing style is one of my favorites ever. I read Salvage first, and then a while later read Earth Kingdom Guard Li OUTLINE and I could tell that it was you just from the outline because the way you imply things and pace things and your sense of humor is just so distinctive I caught it instantly. If I ever started writing I would look to your writing to see how it's done. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I thought I was prepared, but here I am, crying as I read this. Kudos.

No!!!! I read this for the pain but I didn't expect THIS MUCH pain!(Translation: wonderful, as always.)

Fantastic chapter! It made me cry a little bit, but that just means you're being wicked effective as an author.I'm really kind of worried about Iroh and hoping that he'll find out Zuko isn't dead before the end of the story. I'll understand if you don't include it since the narrative has mostly centered around Zuko and Hakoda's crew. You do have three more chapters, though, so here's hoping. Zuko's going to be ok, though. Hakoda and the crew are going to look after him, as long as he doesn't do anything foolish...who am I kidding?Thanks for posting! Loving this story!

I'm really crying!Everything in this ch breaks my heart, my baby boy is just a kid who needs a hug and a father who doesn't want to kill him. I was waiting that Zuko was so much obstinate about let Ozai's shadow go but maybe I'm just supposing early. I love this ch but I hope new angst! Now, the water tribe with a new son, they as new dads actually need to learn about Zuko's past and that is a dark land (but Zuko thinks that it's normal, isn't?. Everyone have a childhood like that, have they not?. Zuko believes If Azula could knows what these people think about normal childhood, she could be really confused - just like him-) or about his auto destructives habits how he doesn't have any sense of auto conservation in a battle or a chase or in his life...(English isn't my native language, I'm learning. I'm sorry but I hope this it dosen't awful)

Ahh, my *heart*! Zuko! Hakoda finally hugging him! Poor Iron!Thanks for sharing!

This chapter was absolutely devastating, but beautifully written. You handled this complex turning point for Zuko so well. Bravo!

Each update is more heartbreaking than the last, how do you do this?!?! I cried so much!!!! Breaking Zuko's faith in his dad is so necessary - but this was brutal!!! And perfect. It's like you reached right into my chest just to prove that you could rip my heart right out, with zero effort. Beautifully written, thank you so so much for sharing it.

Yes yes yes, the adoption is complete!

If you ever publish some kind of original fantasy epic or you have one out there already please let us know because the world-building and characterization in this is *chef's kiss* and I would love to have a physical book by you.

i am legitimately crying at that last bit there, especially that last line. like holy fuck. this whole chapter is even more heartbreaking than any of the rest. i can't even express what im feeling right now. all the times he panics. and as people start actually noticing- especially panuk. and him killing a firebender to save the kustaa. all ending with Aake of all people being the one to shave the rest of him head and accept him. i am actually sobbing

This is beatiful beyond words.I am dying so hard right now. Poor Zuko finally realizing that his Dad wants him dead. At least Hakoda was there for him.

I am so psyched about this chapter!!! Will Zuko go into a morality crisis coma now? The Gaang is going to be so bewildered when they show up and Zuko's the new Water Tribe mascot...

...,, hey ow?

HEYGod. That chapter title. The raids. The fingers. The FEELINGSAake chilling out! Everyone getting uncomfortably aware of how messed up Zuko's home life was! God!!!

(Also, I get the feeling Zuko meditated with Hakoda bc after hearing Kustaa talk abt his work, he didn't want to risk distracting him right after a raid....)

♡

Wow. Thanks for ruining my life.

😭🧡🧡🧡🧡

This is so heartbreaking but also endearing. I just felt so sad for Zuko while also being relieved by his actions and the Tribe's reactions. Thank you for sharing

Oooof this hurt. Thanks!

This is a huge turning point!! I’m so hype over what shenanigans Crewman Zuko will get up to while he’s not lowkey trying to escape

I cannot fully describe how much this chapter made me feel. Seeing Zuko who has been so desperate for his father's approval learn that he wants him died and just accepting that Hakoda is going to kill him was heartbreaking. Zuko killing the Fire Nation soldier and then being unable to create his own flame but so dedicated to carrying out the vigil was so telling of his character. And Hokoda's thoughts that it wasn't hard for him to care for Zuko more than his father did and the last line about Zuko mistakingly thinking children had to be useful just to live really demonstrated how his thinking about Zuko has shifted so much. The rest of the crew's reaction was great and I'm so excited to see where you take this next!

You know your profile with Zuko freaking out? That was me this whole chapterKeep up the fantastic work!

Omg I wish I could read more stories like this. The mixture of hurt/comfort, disagreements, actual story points, growth, its great. The way you write the relationships is perfect. The up and down. You are an amazing writer. I want so much more from you. <3 from a student

God I love this awkward stupid lovely tyrtle duck so much istg.Also, Ozais a dick.

The P A I N I went through reading this is immeasurable

"Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't."  Holy crud the feels. It’s sooooo good

top heartbreaking lines in this chapter- Hakoda didn't know how to explain to a banished sixteen year old that he might be a bad son, but a good man. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't." thanks for ripping my heart out with that BUT ALSO!! ZUKO REALIZING OZAI IS TERRIBLE!!! AND HAKUDDLES

I knew that Zuko would be the one to cut his own hair. But I thought he would fight with Zhao again or with somebody egally despicable, saving Toklo or Panuk or even Aake, not Kustaa and the dog. And for proof of life I thought it would be one of his eyes or his scar scraped off. I won't say what I think about Ozai and his reaction to Zuko's capture. He is wasting a perfectly good son. Shame on him.I like this chapter very much, I think I read it at least four times since yesterday. First time I begun reading it from the last sentences, I just had this fear in my guts, you know? Can I say how much I like Aake in this? Him being the first in whom the prince confides his insecurities and seeks advice, although they are far from friends, and then Aake being the first who shows him that he can have a future and be accepted by the crew was heartwarming. Zuko trusts Aake and Aake pities Zuko, and it's clear they don't hate each other anymore. So yay, Aake and Zuko! I liked their clashes and now their awkward reconciliation.And I absolutely loved how Zuko broke down in Hakoda's arms. It was time, I knew that it was coming but I didn't imagined it being private. Now he can piece himself together. And he won't be doing it alone, the first pieces being handed to him immediately by Hakoda and Aake (and I'm sure by Kustaa, Toklo and Panuk).So the question is: are more heartwarming or more heartbreaking moments coming? Or both? I would like to see Zuko happy or at least calming down enough to function quasi normally. I like my Comfort and Fluff, but it's you, you are more Lance than Muffin sometimes. Anyway you know best what would work. So happy writing and take care!

Muffin, my heart hurts.

This chapter was every single moment of emotional payoff I’ve been hoping for since the beginning of this fic, and then some. I love how everyone has reached such an amazing turning point, especially with Zuko protecting Kustaa and Aake’s moments throughout this chapter. And I love your Water Tribe crew so so so much!!!

Holy fuck...Thank you for sharing!

as;dlfh this made me feel things in my chest. really well written

This is all very good and very sad. But my favorite part is when Hakoda thanks his lucky star that Zuko doesn't know how to read the stars and then it cuts to Zuko thinking about how his ability to read the stars means nothing when he can't do anything about it. Hehehehehe. Comidic gold!

I love this whole fic and this chapter just killed me. Thank you for writing it.

I'M GONNA CRY

This fic is so good. I was literally just telling my friend about it and said ‘I’m waiting for it to update’ and when I checked it had! Exciting times. Excellently and emotionally written, can’t wait for more.

Oh my god for a second I thought this was the end. And I had to scroll up to see the 8/11 and breathe a sigh of relief. This fic is honestly so good, I get so excited whenever I see any updates. There were some really heart wrenching moments in this chapter (“I’m useless to... I’m useless.” 😭😭😭) and you wrote them amazingly well.

YOURE BREAKING MY HEART

I wanted to cry several times while reading this chapter. It was so good and so sad! I absolutely adore this story and your portrayal of Zuko. I can't wait to see where this leads and I really want to see the scene when Iroh finally finds Zuko and sees how he has been adopted by Hakoda and the rest of the tribe! <3 <3 12/10

Oh Lord, for a second there I thought this was the actual ending, Zuko is a water tribe peasant now and Iroh spends the rest of his life believing he failed his son. That hurts, Muffin

why do i care more about your OC's then most actual characters in media...(it's because you're an incredible writer)

I’m wrecked and heartbroken right now 😭

oh........ my god. oh my god !!!! i don’t think i can express just how much i love this story. i just!! love everything about it. every single detail put into this is so amazingly planned out, and it’s just!!! amazing!!!! agh and it feels really good to finally get to see hakoda’s reaction to ozai’s true feelings about zuko, and hakoda siding with zuko :( makes me feel all <3<3 heart eyes HSKSJDN anyway i !! love this story with all my heart and i just needed to let you know that :(

Oh god, i knew this would be sad, but somehow i did not expect all this angst

Zuko Is Forced to Pick a Side! What Happens Next Will Make You Very Sad :'(Jokes aside, what a wonderful chapter, if that's the right word. I love that we really see Hakoda's and Zuko's respective struggles of morality vs duty, and also I love every single member of the crew. You're such a phenomenal writer and I'm excited to see the aftermath of this.

Oh, damn.

Three chapters left and Zuko is basically now officially part of the crew.Not it's a matter of what happens when they meet canon.

...The crew still doesn't know how Zuko got the burn, do they? That's gonna be a fun conversation.

Woah bro hold the fuck up you're killing me bro. This shit hurts really bad bro. I'm shifting into Hurt Comfort Found Family mode bro. Stop stabbing my heart bro...

That was so, so well written!

Ozai's letters, sheesh. First one is basically "If that's my son, he should try to kill you (or die in the attempt) (so maybe just kill him before he tries)". Second letter: "So I cut off some fingers. How are you going to prove you have my son? Hint hint" and the third one is just... yeah. Not even subtle anymore.I've read this chapter three times already. And the rest of the fic again, for good measure. I love this so much. You get ALL THE KUDOS

This chapter was extremely well done. I greatly enjoyed reading it.

me freaking out over some lines:“Stop," the prince said. "Stop caring more about me than my own father, you can't—you can't."  AHH??? this freaking line...i literally had to stop reading for a moment because i felt so bad. ugh zuko. uG h we love you you deserve so much better.“Don't. Please. I've ruined his life enough already. He can go home, without me." BRO BROOOO. i am triggered. but, even, i love how this sets up a scene in the future where uncle and zuko reunite and zuko realises that he was never a burden to his uncle, that his uncle loves him..ffff getting emotional just thinking about it.honestly. really good writing. the storyline really just pulls one in, with all the emotions on the line. just. the way the plot is progressing is really 👌🏼 you know? just 👌🏼

I've been emotionally annihilated.

Oh this chapter just broke me. I love this story so much, the depth you give the characters is incredible. My heart is breaking for Zuko. Thank you for sharing your writing

This feels too much like an ending. It's not an ending right!? I need more hakuddles!!!!

Sorry, did someone see my heart? Oh, it burned to ash? Okay. Anyway, team HakodaIsAGoodDad for the win

This made me hurt in a special way.....Your writing is just so beautiful!

aaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! poor babyyyy :( I have a deep need for iroh to come along and be like oh hello may I have my nephew back? and then have to have a power struggle with new hakodaddy lol. this fic is amazing thank you for my life ❤❤❤❤

So I was crying for so many reasons, zuko fighting the firebender, the letters, Hakoda keeping his morals, and zuko becoming his own person just starting that journey. They got to me. Thank you so much.

Wonderful chapter! So many Feelings. I love it!! <3

I. Wanna. Scream.I have a never ending predicament where I simply cannot find the words to describe how much I love and appreciate this story. The characters make me wanna cry because of how well written they are. I'm just?? Idk I want countless books with this story and I don't know how I'm gonna wait for the next chapter with how excited I am to see where this goes and really just read the wonder that is the way you write this story.Also it's time for long haired Zuko to shine~

Zuko with his hair cut down is a bishounen. Let the ocean winds ruffle his hair! Anyway. Loving your work!

It’s almost one am and I am YELLING

This was...so much more painful than I could have ever anticipated

This chapters incredible

Muffin lance I adore you deeply and you have broken my heartI am screaming in my souls and wish for you to know that so aaaAAAAAAAHHHHHHHamazing chapter as always, very heavy in symbolism to me and very deep

THIS IS AMAZING HOLY SHIT

Kudos

this comment is extra kudos!

My heart!I knew this would be coming, but I still wasn't ready for it is. And Zuko should get all the hugs, not just because he needs it, but because at this point I do.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK 😭

Oh god, I was not ready 😭

ooh i like the removal of prince from "prince zuko" and also!! the hair scene!! i cant think of any better way to play that out!! this chapter is great and thank you!!

I'll admit that when I saw that Zuko was going to get a haircut in the description I thought that the Chief would cut it off and send it in response to the Firelord's fingers, but I'm glad it was Zuko's choice instead.Also I'm sure there's still going to be some bumps on the road he's now on, but I'm glad he finally got some hugs!

Oh my god, I'm gonna fucking cry.

Okay this is awesome and also I just realized that if they don't play this right, Iroh will show up and see Zuko's haircut and think they did it to *break* him.

Literally crying