Chapter Text
Zuko felt the cold water on his skin like thousand icy daggers. His lungs started almost immediately burning as the sudden jump and panic made him forgot to draw breath before slamming into the ocean and sinking into the dark depths. He flailed around, his mind and body both trying to work out which way was the sky. Where was the sweet sweet air.
A hand grabbing his collar and pulling finally pointed the right way up and Zuko kicked his legs like a mad man breaking the surface. The air was welcome but a short happiness when the screams of his men carried through it.
The attack had came so quickly. They had finally been able to dug themselves out of the snow and ice the Avatar had buried Wanyi in and fished the fallen men out of the sea. They had set the course to follow the Avatar back to the little village but the moving icebergs had altered the course and soon they had noticed their position to be a lot different than it should have been. Then came the southern warriors. In a normal situation Zuko and his crew would have easily defeat the Water Tribe savages but now with half the crew’s firebenders injured from their dip in the ocean and the Wanyi broken to a bad shape by the ice and snow, the warriors managed to destroy the ship.
Zuko had never liked the Wanyi. It was slow and it’s engines were always breaking but now seeing it sinking into the dark ocean, he felt sorrow. For it, for his men and for himself and... Uncle! It was Uncle Iroh's hand that had guided him to the surface and now he was tugging Zuko forward, away from the sinking Wanyi and the drowning Fire Nation soldiers. His crew. Away from the already retreating savages who didn’t bother with them anymore. That was a bad sign. They didn’t need to finish the job themselves.
"Zuko! Quickly! We have to get out of the water!" Uncle Iroh's panicked and wheezing voice pulled him to the situation at hand.
It had been Uncle Iroh that had grabbed him and made him jump the ship. Now Zuko and Iroh were neck deep in an icy ocean water and now the most important task was to get out! It took some effort and encouragement from both sides to continue forward but finally they got to the white shore. Next mission was to get up on that ice floor. Uncle Iroh went first and melted little handholds on the ice and with Zuko's help he managed to climb up. Then he helped Zuko onto the shore and the teen slumped on his back on the snow.
He was breathing heavily and he just wanted to fall asleep on the soft snow then and there but Uncle didn't let him.
"Get up Prince Zuko!" he pulled Zuko up to sit and hit his back a couple of times, "We need to get warm and away from the open!"
Zuko grumbled but knew his uncle was right. He tried to call for his fire and managed a tiny flame but Uncle was already breathing out a flame. Uncle dragged Zuko with him a couple meters behind a small snow bank.
"Prince Zuko, you have to circulate the fire through your body and out of your lungs. That will keep your body warm and save you! Try to locate the chi in you and push it through your body! Warm yourself!" Uncle encouraged him and Zuko tried.
He managed to breath only little fire wisps out of his mouth but it was enough for his uncle.
"Yes! Keep going!"
For a while they just breathed together on the snow, warming themselves inside and out. When Iroh was sure that his nephew wouldn't immediately keel over, he stood up looking around. Zuko turned his eyes up to glance around too. The tiny snow wall was keeping their hunched figures hidden from the ocean but he could still see the savages' ship far away.
It hadn't really tried that hard to follow any of the Wanyi's crew in the water but it hadn't needed to. Fire Nation soldiers in armor slammed into the icy cold South Pole water surrounded by equally icy land? No real effort needed after crippling and sinking their ship.
But although the other soldiers hadn't seemed to make it to the land, the savages had not known one thing about the firebenders' armor. Their armor looked heavy but it was actually much lighter than non-bender armor. It was made to have a very airy built so the much done firebending didn't cook the bender inside. Although firebenders had much higher tolerance for warmth, even they weren't happy to be grilled in a stuffy armor.
Now that firebender armor was their saviour but also their upcoming doom. It had saved them from sinking to the ocean floor but it wouldn't shield them from the cold air and icy winds of the South Pole for long.
They needed help but who would help the firebending Fire Nation royalty in the Water Tribes' lands?
Uncle bent to grab Zuko's hand and pulled him to his feet. He looked worried even if he tried to sound light. "Let's go farther inland. We won't survive alone here for long."
Zuko nodded and they started to trek through the snow. It became so cold so quickly. The wind pushed through the armor's airways making the chill almost unbearable and his horrible fire breath didn’t do much to help. There were no trees and no shelters. Just white snow everywhere. They must have accidentally gone much further away from the ocean that they had meant to.
Zuko saw Uncle's teeth clanking as they both shivered in the cold wind. Zuko knew this was it for them. Two rejects from Fire Nation who were not needed or wanted. To be forgotten and buried in the snow, in the land of their enemies. Uncle didn’t even need to be here! He had joined Zuko’s quest because he was too incompetent to do this himself. Zuko never thought it would end like this. It was so stupid…
"Oh, Agni! There! There is someone!" Uncle shouted pointing forward and yes! There was someone on top of a big Buffalo yak pulling a crude sled.
"We can't just ask for help! They could kill us!" Zuko hissed but there wasn't much heat behind his words with his teeth clicking and the full body shiver going through him.
"You are too pessimistic, Prince Zuko. We have to try. There is no other choice...", Uncle said and then they were both shouting and waving their hands around for the person to notice them.
And the person did see them. Despite Zuko's grumbling earlier he was so happy to see the person turning his mount and coming towards them quickly. He stopped a little bit away and eyed them from the slit between a warm looking hat and collar of his coat.
"Fire Nation? All alone and in the middle of our lands?" the man's voice was a bit humorous certainly seeing their power dynamic being in his favour.
"My good man. Could you please help us? We are indeed in a dire situation and I fear for my nephew's health in this weather", Uncle Iroh begged and the man dared to laugh!
Zuko stepped closer growling and showing his teeth.
"Watch yourself savage! We can just decide to take the help we need! No need for your participation!"
Uncle Iroh grimaced and the man narrowed his eyes not looking humoured anymore.
"Watch yourself boy. The minute I'm in danger, Quna here-", he patted his buffalo yak, "-will stomp you to death. You will not survive here alone and I do not like your tone here now. No one would miss two ashmakers all alone here, now would they?"
Zuko wanted to attack. He wanted to scream in anger and lunge at the man but that would not help their situation. The man did not like them and what ever Uncle tried, his honeyed words would not turn his mind. These savages!
Just as the man seemed to make his mind to just turn away and leave them to their fates, the wind turned and the man on top of the horned mount froze. Zuko noticed Uncle Iroh tense beside him too when the man turned back to them and he leaned towards Zuko’s way, sniffing.
His eyes opened large and he pulled his thick collar down to unveil his full face.
"You- you are an omega!" he inhaled in surprise.
Zuko frowned and glared at the alpha. Yes... He was an omega but he was just as capable as the others. And yes, he had noticed some nose crunching now and then when he had questioned the Earth Kingdom locals about the whereabouts of the Avatar or any other spirit related happenings but... This was the first time he had encountered a Water Tribe man without his usual scent dampening perfumes. His uncle had always stressed that it's better to thread carefully in the lands of Earth and Water as an omega. Now the ocean water had washed away the perfume and the Water Tribe man was staring at him pretty intensely.
Zuko scoffed and stared back stubbornly. "Yeah? What is it to you? Will you suddenly help us after all?"
"Yeah, I will. Who is he to you again? Your alpha?" the man asked pointing at Uncle Iroh as he threw his other leg over the buffalo yak and slid down on the snow floor.
Zuko spluttered in embarrassment that this man thought his elderly uncle was his alpha! Uncle Iroh put his hand on Zuko's shoulder and squeezed like he was either afraid of him attacking the man or the man grabbing Zuko.
"He is my nephew. He is dear to me only in a familiar sense", Uncle Iroh stressed and for Zuko it just seemed weird to have to say that separately after already telling the man they were related. Well... Zuko guessed that it might not be so weird. To his shame, many of the history books about his family mention cases of inbreeding but still! It was Uncle Iroh!
The man came closer and looked at Zuko questioningly.
"He is my fafa's older brother. We are not-! He isn't-! Just the thought is stupid!" Zuko stammered and then he sneezed.
The man clicked his tongue and walked to the sled waving for them to follow. He picked a warm looking pelt and with a quick and smooth move, he draped it over Zuko's shoulders. Zuko grabbed the pelt and eyed the man suspiciously.
"Get on the sled. I will take you to my tribe. We have a village further in the inland", the man said making room for them in the sled.
There wasn't much stuff in it and Zuko gingerly stepped in and settled down in the sweet nest of animal furs and pelts. Uncle Iroh stepped in quickly after him and the man instructed them to hold on tight.
"I'm Hanouk. Me and Quna will take you quickly to the Karibu Tribe’s village", Hanouk said and hopped easily back on Quna's back who gave a deep happy bleat.
"Mush!"
And then they were on their way. The sound of the buffalo yak’s hoofs hitting the snow and the winds and snow billowing around them didn't make an easy environment to hold conversations but Zuko still tried.
"What's going to happen to us, Uncle?" he shouted over the wind.
"I am not sure", Uncle Iroh shouted back, "We are in a complicated situation, dear nephew…"
Zuko knew that already. What he wanted to know was how they were going to get out of this situation and get back to chasing the Avatar!
But... the situation was complicated indeed... They were in the middle of cold Water Tribe lands that were not native to firebenders. They were cold, they didn't have any allies here, their ship was in the depths of the ocean and their crew-! The crew…
A feeling of sadness, regret, anger and guilt washed over Zuko and he didn't know what to do. His crew had changed a couple of times but the current... The last one had been with him the longest. They had been a rowdy, not at all orderly, disobedient bunch but... After complaining and whining to themselves they had always pointed Wanyi to where Zuko had ordered. He knew his men didn't take him seriously and they looked up more to Uncle Iroh than him but still... His search for the Avatar wouldn't have been possible without them. And now Zuko had lead them to their doom.
What ever happened, here or back in Caldera, Zuko was always unable to save his countrymen who were only following orders... This time it was his own orders that destroyed them.
He buried his face along his feelings into the furs, closed his eyes and surrendered for the travel next to his worried uncle.
It took some time to get to Hanouk's village but finally his buffalo yak started slowing down to a slow trot. Arriving with two extra people in the sled didn't go unnoticed and Zuko looked around seeing the people of the tribe gathering around them as the buffalo yak dragged them into the village.
Both he and Uncle Iroh were wrapped in pelts to keep them warm but their pale faces and top knot and phoenix plum were different enough to draw suspicion. Also Zuko's bright golden eyes and the big facial scar were pretty eye catching to say the least.
A big burly man with a scar on his cheek and dark brown hair tied to a short tail stepped forward past a group of curious beta women and omegas.
"Hanouk, my friend! What on earth have you brought with you? Who are these pale faced strangers?!" the man asked smiling and Zuko felt an unusual nervousness when he got to a smelling distance and he could notice the strong alpha scent from him. The same revelation came to the man's face when he could smell Uncle Iroh and Zuko. His eyebrows rose and he quickly came even closer.
"Hanouk. Don't keep us in suspense!" he said glancing back at Hanouk who was standing next to Quna and smiling to himself.
"Well, I collected these firebenders from the snow. All alone", Hanouk said and immediately everyone around them let out an audible gasp.
The burly man turned back to Zuko and Uncle Iroh and grabbed with a viper's speed a hold of Zuko's pelt pulling him up and opening the cape a little revealing the black and red Fire Nation armor.
Uncle was quick to grab Zuko from under his pelt and pull him inside his own fur. Zuko would normally shout in anger about being handled like a toddler by his uncle but this was not the situation to fight with his only ally.
"Fire Nation omega", the man mumbled starting at Zuko with a weird gleam in his eyes, "And a...?" he turned his eyes to Uncle Iroh.
"An uncle", Hanouk explained, "Protective of his family omega. As it should be."
"But not protective enough to keep him safe at home", the big man said and scratched the scar on his cheek.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Zuko snapped wanting to stomp to the man but Uncle Iroh's hand around his wrist prevented him from outright screaming to the man's face.
"A fire kitten we have here!" the man laughed narrowing his eyes and leaning a bit closer to the much shorter Zuko and Uncle Iroh, "A fire kitten that is not like our snow cats. Not used to our cold harsh weathers and endless snow and ice. Alone in the tundra... Not likely to survive…"
Zuko felt Uncle Iroh's hand squeezing a little tighter around his wrist.
"Kittens like that should make friends with bigger and better beasts and cozy up to their side for warmth...", the man continued and lifted his hand to Zuko’s face, but both Uncle and Zuko stepped a couple steps back.
"I'm sorry, but as our saviour Hanouk said, I'm protective of my nephew as his family alpha. Are you the chief of this tribe?" Uncle Iroh asked and Zuko felt it weird that he talked about being a family alpha to Zuko.
It was true that they were family and he was an alpha but it had never been a thing? Omegas weren't typically in the military but it wasn't something to think about few seconds longer either. The alphas in the family were protective sure but it didn't stop at omegas.
"No. I'm Poaka. One of the hunters and warriors of the Karibu Tribe", the man, Poaka, said puffing up his chest and looking down at them, "I'm also currently available. No little omega wife or husband to keep me warm during the night."
Zuko did not like the tone the man was using or the way he looked at him. Zuko scoffed trying to look bigger but the icy wind made him hunch his shoulders instead and tremble. Uncle Iroh looked at Hanouk and smiled a little bit tensely.
"Dear Mr. Hanouk. Could you please show us the way to your chief? I'd like to talk with him about our next move if possible", Uncle said and Hanouk did come to them grinning like all of this was amusing him endlessly.
"Of course Mr. Fire Nation. It would be my absolute pleasure", Hanouk smiled and changed a look with Poaka who did not take the hint that Zuko and Uncle did not want him close to them.
Hanouk started leading them trough the gathered people, Poaka on their heels as well as some other curious people. Poaka was still holding Zuko's fur but Zuko would rather share the warm with Uncle and endure the rather awkward shuffle of walking than ask the man to give it back.
Zuko looked around the little village as they followed behind Hanouk. It was quite small when it was compared to Caldera or most of the cities and towns found in Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom but it was notably larger than the coastal troupe of tents and igloo where the Avatar had been hiding. Here Zuko could see multiple igloos and larger tents and a big number of people. Both men and women, alphas, betas and omegas. Young and old. The village that had hidden the Avatar was completely void of adult male betas and all alphas, save some old men and women, so it was curious why the Avatar hadn't been hidden here in the inland where there were actual southern warriors to defend him?
Why leave him in a village where the only warrior left was a teen alpha who didn't even know how to fight?
Zuko didn't understand but his focus was quickly reinstated to the matter at hand when their guide bend down to go through the opening of a huge igloo. They wouldn't be able to follow together so Uncle Iroh started shrugging the fur of his shoulders to give it to Zuko but he wasn't that weak that he needed Uncle's charity.
Zuko scoffed and threw the fur of his own shoulders pushing it to Uncle and bent down.
A whistle made him straighten up again and look behind him. That annoying hunter, Poaka, was staring at him and Zuko started to really get angry. He- he wasn't the most... experienced in... intimacy and stuff but he did recognise that Poaka had done something really inappropriate! Zuko scowled and quickly bent again to go through the opening. It was starting to get cold without the fur and the sooner he got in the sooner Uncle would follow and they could maybe share the fur again.
When getting through the little opening hallway he moved away a skin drape and plopped inside a big and surprisingly warm room. It was round as one could guess from outside but it also had stairs dig into the ground going under the earth. There was a small lamp with the first fire that Zuko had seen in the south and he felt immediately better when he saw it. The people sitting around the lamp didn't give him the same warm feeling. Hanouk had crouched down next to an alpha man who sat next to older alphas. They were all whispering to each other when Zuko drew the drape out of the way they all turned to look at him. Zuko crossed his arms trying to look like they didn't make him nervous at all and at the same time, crossing his arms made him able to tug his freezing fingers against his body.
The alpha Hanouk had been talking to was leaning leisurelyagainst his knee as he sat on top of thick furs. He eyed Zuko from up to down and looked calculating something. Then Uncle came from behind the drape and without asking scooped Zuko under his fur.
"Pleased to meet you, honored elders and who I presume to be the chief of this tribe!" Uncle greeted them with honouring bow making Zuko bow too in the progress even if Zuko had no wish to give these savages any good will.
The man who was sitting pretty relaxed, and who was maybe a little over Zuko's fafa's age, straightened a little and nodded his head, not returning his Uncle's proper greetings and dignity.
"So... What are two Fire Nation- hmm, -soldiers doing in the south?" the man asked, not even giving them his name.
His uncle was ready with his answers, gripping Zuko’s arm under the fur again. Like Zuko would be stupid enough to tell them about their plans to capture the Avatar!
"Me and my nephew are on a really small and indifferent mission to find a person for someone we know. We accidentally came here because false intel and because some unfortunate accidents with your waters' icebergs our ship was lost", Uncle Iroh said as charmingly and with an old man’s jovial tone as he could. Zuko had seen that behaviour work on many people but here it didn’t seem to help them.
"We don't care about your reason for invading our lands being accidental. We don't like your kind here in the South Pole", the man sneered, "Any other time we would have killed you by now. A dead ashmaker is a good ashmaker."
Zuko was just about ready to start throwing fists but the memory of that cold icy weather outside stalled his hand. Uncle Iroh’s kept silence and still firm grip on Zuko's arm also made him nervous about the situation. Usually he would just fight his way out of this situation like any other day but... The south did not like them, they were easily recognised as Fire Nation, they had lost their ship and crew, they did not know how to survive in this climate and although there was the little lamp in the middle of the room, Zuko had not seen wood anywhere. Stealing supplies and running would not be easy if you didn't recognise any of the supplies.
The man kept the silence on for a little while longer and then chuckled a little making Uncle Iroh next to him relax an inch. Zuko on the other hand could not relax. Nothing ever went his way after all...
"The difference here is your nephew", the man said and that made Uncle tense right back up, "We Karibu Tribe do not waste omegas here. The life is harsh here and we need omegas to keep our tribe thriving."
Zuko looked between the man and Uncle but neither elaborated leaving only Zuko out of the loop.
"What do you mean? We just want to get to the nearest harbor and get out of the South Pole!" Zuko snapped when everyone kept staring each other like the conversation was kept going inside their heads!
The man turned to stare at Zuko now. "It means dear omega, that you and your uncle have two choices here. One, your uncle is killed right now and you are taken as our prisoner. Or two, you two become members of our tribe through your marriage. The choice is yours."