Zuko walked the tea shop as he noticed it was closed down for the day but they usually didn't close this early..

"Uncle I'm home!" Zuko called up the stairs as he grabbed a cookie from the bakery part of the shop and went up the stairs to start his school work.

"So is it my turn to make dinner tonight or yours? I always forget who gets Wednesday's," Zuko opened the door as he broke off a piece of the cookie and ate it.

"Wow Zuzu is cooking now? I'm almost impressed," Azula sat on the couch next to durk who slept silently.

"What.. why are you here azula?" Zuko glared at her as he put his after school snack on the counter.

"Dads talking to uncle by the back door," Azula smirked and stroked durks fur casually.

"That doesn't answer my question," Zuko picked up the sleeping cat and held him to his chest.

"Why are you here?" He sneered as durk meowed up at him but didn't mind his owner holding him.

"Family meeting," she sighed rolling her eyes and picked up the picture frame next to her with iroh, Zuko and their cousin lu ten.

"For what?" Zuko set durk down for him to run off as Zuko stood in the living room.

"Dad wants custody of you, he wants you to come home," Azula put a hand on her chest with an innocent smile.

She smiled cruelly seeing the fear in her brothers eyes.

"I'm kidding, he doesn't want you dummy," she laughed and Zuko inhaled deeply crossing his arms.

Azula was about to speak again but the door opened as two men walked through. Zuko flinched a little when the door slammed close and he saw his uncle standing next to his taller younger brother.

"Hello Zuko," Ozai looked at the boy, Zuko forced himself to stand straight and shoulders open still as he kept his arms folded over his chest.

"That scar healed nicely," he smirked and Zuko glared at him.

"What do you want?" Zuko sneered back.

"Ozai was just about to leave," iroh said sternly looking at his brother.

"Well Zuko was going to make dinner, we might as well stay uncle," Azula hummed as Zuko clenched his jaw.

"I'd love to stay for dinner," Ozai chuckled and Zuko gulped a little looking at his uncle.

"But I have a meeting in an hour so I must be going," he shrugged and Zuko let out a breath of relief.

"Let's go azula," Ozai looked at her and the little sister got to her feet and walked to her father with her black heels clicking against the ground.

"I liked looking around, it's a cozy little loft," Azula smirked back at her brother before going down stairs.

"Oh Zuko, we'll be in touch," Ozai told him in a tone that almost seemed like he was taunting him. The door closed behind them and Zuko immediately dropped to his knees holding his chest.

"Zuko!" Iroh ran to him as Zuko hugged his chest breathing heavy as his uncle knelt next to him.

"Just breathe, I'm right here," iroh held his shoulder as Zuko bowed his head down as he tried to catch his breath.

"Wh-why was he h-here?" Zuko rasped as his jaw trembled.

"Ozai had some things to discuss with me, you're safe it had nothing to do with you," iroh told him calmly as Zuko inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth.

"Fuck," he hit the ground and sat back so his back was against the couch.

"Are you okay?" Iroh asked concerned.

"I'm fine uncle," he coughed a little to clear his throat. "I didn't think I'd freak out like that, I'm sorry,"

"Don't apologize," iroh whispered softly.

"I'm going to go get us some dinner, will you be okay for a little?" Iroh asked gently and Zuko nodded a little as he stayed on the ground, he felt to dizzy to stand.

"I'll be right back," he patted his shoulder as Zuko gave him a reassuring smile before his uncle left to go close the shop downstairs, giving his nephew some time to breath.

Zukos hands started to shake as he was left alone in the apartment as he waited for his uncle to be gone before he stood up gripping his phone tightly. He passed the bathroom on his way back to his bedroom. But he stopped and looked in the mirror above the bathroom sink, touching his face where his scar covered.

Ugly

Monster

Horrifying

Pity

Disowned

Criminal

He closed his eyes as he used his hand to cover half his face and looked in the mirror once more. He looked normal on one side. Removing his hand he glared at his reflection. He was stuck with this face for the rest of his life, like it or not...

"FUCK!" Zuko screamed throwing his phone out the door, across the hallway and into his room with a loud bang that sent durk running away. He leaned his body against the sink in the bathroom as he growled to himself, clenching his fists as tight as he could, feeling his nails digging. Everything in the past seven years pressing him down against his shoulders.

His mother's death, all the fights he's been in, that day he was suspended and dragged out of the school, the hospitals, the pills, the drinking, the thoughts in his head...

He wouldn't cry. He refused to cry anymore. It was stupid to cry over what's done, he couldn't change it so why the hell would he cry over it?

Zuko inhaled deeply with a shaky breath, turning the sink on to splash cold water in his face. He wiped his eyes using the back of his hand as he went to his room to get his phone that was probably damage.

"Shit..." he whispered seeing the screen had a crack but otherwise it still worked.

He sat in his chair at the desk and went to FaceTime Jin, he pulled his knees up a little to his chest as he waited for her to answer.

Unavailable to answer

Zuko pursed his lips a little but closed his laptop. She was probably sleeping still. He reached under his bed and grabbed the bottle of whiskey he kept hidden and sat on his bed as he laid on his back. Flicking the lid of the bottle off and took a few chugs.

"I guess Bad habits die hard," he mumbled enjoying the burn. It was a pain he could tolerate in hope to feel something again.