In such a fanfiction, Hakoda might comfort Zuko by sharing his own experiences of loss and hardship. He could tell Zuko about how he coped when his tribe faced difficulties. For example, Hakoda might say that even in the darkest times, there is always a glimmer of hope. And that it's important to focus on the good that can come from difficult situations.
The age of Zuko in the comics isn't fixed. It can change based on the timeline and events of each comic issue. Sometimes he might be around 22, and in other cases, a bit older.
At first, Zuko might be hesitant to accept Hakoda's comfort. But as Hakoda continues to show kindness and understanding, Zuko could start to open up. They might develop a friendship based on mutual respect.
The relationship development could be a slow process. Zuko might have to earn Hakoda's respect. He could do this by showing his skills in combat or his strategic thinking. As they spend more time together, they begin to see each other as individuals rather than just representatives of their respective nations. They might have deep conversations about their pasts, their families, and their hopes for the future, which deepens their bond.
Zuko's personality could be shown as more tender and caring than ever. He might be constantly worried about Mai's well - being and that of the baby. His sense of responsibility would be heightened. Mai, on the other hand, while still maintaining her dry sense of humor, would show a more vulnerable side. She may not be as openly emotional as Zuko but her actions, like making sure the nursery is safe, would show her love and care for the unborn child.
Maybe Zuko has his own goals that don't involve chasing Aang. He could be more focused on redeeming himself in other ways, like helping the Fire Nation people or learning about different cultures without the need to pursue Aang.
You could have Zuko be constantly outsmarted by his enemies in really dumb ways. Also, you could make his backstory completely different in a bad way, like making his mother leave him because she didn't love him. And then, you could make him lose his temper at every little thing, which is not in line with his growth as a character in the original story. This would really get on the nerves of Zuko fans who love his character development.
One great Katara and Zuko fanfic is 'The Balance Within'. It beautifully explores their relationship development post - war. It shows how they learn to understand each other's perspectives and grow closer as friends and maybe more. Another is 'A New Alliance' which has an interesting plot where they team up for a mission that forces them to rely on each other and in the process, their feelings start to shift.
One way could be to make Zuko constantly lose his battles in a really uncharacteristic and stupid way. Another way might be to give him a really cheesy and out - of - character love interest. And a third way could be to have his father be nice to him all of a sudden for no good reason.