Hiccup, you are Zuko's only friend. Plz never leave him. =<
OKAY OKAY in all seriousness - the Gaang is great and they are Zuko's buddies and he likes them and appreciates them, but to some degree, they still became his friends out of necessity. And they all personally know what a terrible person he used to be.
Hiccup, on the other hand, is not just the only friend Zuko ever made without a pre-existing relationship or help from someone else. Hiccup is the first friend Zuko made as HIMSELF, the person he is now, the person who is the way he is for the sake of his own healthy ideals and principles, not for the sake of his father's warped ones.
Hiccup is the only friend Zuko has who only knows the Zuko he wants to be known for being: the determined, noble Fire Lord who believes in determination, honor, and getting the job done with humanity and dignity and respect and hard goddamn work. And Hiccup likes that person. This just humbles Zuko utterly, because while he's never been cruel to Hiccup, Zuko is not Nice by nature, and generally, this turns people away from him. But Hiccup appreciates his directness and determination, which is the only trait Zuko has consistently valued in himself throughout his life. He sees that inner determination as the thing that Hiccup has just needed to become the person he wants to be, and being someone who only recently became the person he wants to be, he wants to help Hiccup get there . . . and he's humbled and touched that Hiccup actually likes him, in all his jerky hardass glory.
That somebody actually likes him, the real him, and appreciates the things he appreciates about himself, sort of confirms him very strongly as a person. And he can see the seeds of those same virtues he values in himself, and wants to help Hiccup get over his weaknesses and become a stronger, more whole person, because being a stronger, more whole person feels great.
So yeah, they are pretty friggin' bromantic and if anybody tries to beat on Hiccup while Zuko's in earshot they will get burned and Zuko will get violations, so, you know, don't get yourself in trouble, Hiccup. =|
Re: Zuko
OKAY OKAY in all seriousness - the Gaang is great and they are Zuko's buddies and he likes them and appreciates them, but to some degree, they still became his friends out of necessity. And they all personally know what a terrible person he used to be.
Hiccup, on the other hand, is not just the only friend Zuko ever made without a pre-existing relationship or help from someone else. Hiccup is the first friend Zuko made as HIMSELF, the person he is now, the person who is the way he is for the sake of his own healthy ideals and principles, not for the sake of his father's warped ones.
Hiccup is the only friend Zuko has who only knows the Zuko he wants to be known for being: the determined, noble Fire Lord who believes in determination, honor, and getting the job done with humanity and dignity and respect and hard goddamn work. And Hiccup likes that person. This just humbles Zuko utterly, because while he's never been cruel to Hiccup, Zuko is not Nice by nature, and generally, this turns people away from him. But Hiccup appreciates his directness and determination, which is the only trait Zuko has consistently valued in himself throughout his life. He sees that inner determination as the thing that Hiccup has just needed to become the person he wants to be, and being someone who only recently became the person he wants to be, he wants to help Hiccup get there . . . and he's humbled and touched that Hiccup actually likes him, in all his jerky hardass glory.
That somebody actually likes him, the real him, and appreciates the things he appreciates about himself, sort of confirms him very strongly as a person. And he can see the seeds of those same virtues he values in himself, and wants to help Hiccup get over his weaknesses and become a stronger, more whole person, because being a stronger, more whole person feels great.
So yeah, they are pretty friggin' bromantic and if anybody tries to beat on Hiccup while Zuko's in earshot they will get burned and Zuko will get violations, so, you know, don't get yourself in trouble, Hiccup. =|