Chapter Text
“How dare you embarrass me?!” Ozai shouted at the child, his eyes burning with a rage he had seen plenty before.
“I-I-m sorry.” The six-year old stuttered, shifting from one foot to another.
“For crying out loud! What did I say about the stuttering! First you disgrace me and now you can’t even speak. Your sister truly is better in every way, isn’t she?” He looked down toward the floor, invading his father’s gaze. “Boy, I swear to spirits! If you don’t look at me when I’m talking to you,” his hand darted out to the boy’s chin, holding it tight in his grasp and forcing him to meet his eyes. Gold met gold. One pair is dull with anger; while the other is bright with fear.
“That's better,” Ozai’s smirk tore his face and he stared down at the boy, “Now answer my question. Your sister is better isn’t she? I mean here you are at bending age and can’t even let out a few sparks, yet she can already control flames.” His grip tightens as the boy remains silent. “You really are pathetic aren’t you? I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”
Ozai gave him a look of disgust as he let go of his chin. Zuko kept his eyes down the tears beginning to pool- he knew better to let them fall. Ozai let out a laugh and watched as the boy flinched away, his eyes once again turning black.
“You want to flinch? I’ll give you something to flinch about.” And he did. He started with a kick to his legs, knocking the child to the ground, and finished with a kick to the stomach. The tears fell, and the man laughed. “Be thankful, next time I won’t be as nice.”
When he finally walked away, the boy let out a sob maybe out of pain, or relief, or both. He picked himself off the ground already knowing it wouldn't be smart to stay in the hall his father had left him in. Slowly and as quietly as he could he made it to his room and collapsed on his bed. The pain was horrible, all he wanted to do was curl up and cry- but he couldn’t. The door creaked open and he flinched away, the little girl no older than 3 came in her arms overflowing with supplies.
“Zuzu,” she whispered, shutting the door. No older than 3 and already quieter than a mousecat, “it’s just me. Mama told me you need this. She said she come soon” She dropped the supplies on the bed, before looking up and giving him a bright smile, her speech was broken and learn, but right now he would have it no other way. No older than 3 and had no idea what happened or why he needed it. And that’s how he wanted it.
“Thank you, little dragon.” Zuko gave her his strongest smile, he’ll feel the pain later. Right now his little dragon needed him. “Come sit with me, I’ll tell you a story.” She quickly hopped up in his bed and climbed in his lap, her smile brighter than before. Zuko didn’t know how that was possible, but it was then he decided that he wouldn’t let it fade.
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“Zuzu! Zuzu!” The now six year old girl ran down the halls to the pond her brother was studying at. She had gotten better- she knew she had. She was the best bender her age and her teachers said that she would be something great, she couldn’t just lose control. She had been bending for years, much longer than Zuko’s pitiful few months. He had been so proud when he mastered his first flame, he ran down the halls overjoyed to show his father, and on the way he bumped into a noble. The noble laughed, he had a daughter around Azula’s age and thought Zuko’s joy was contagious; his father had not. Once the nobleman left, he hit him for that told he was a disgrace and a disappointment. Azula watched from around the corner, now knowing what her father would do.
“Azula,” Zuko got up from his spot under the tree when she entered the garden, “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“I messed up, Zuzu. I lost control. I didn’t mean to, I promise! I was practicing the new trick Lu Ten taught us, the one where you make a flaming ring and a fire ball, and I wasn’t thinking! I’m really scared, Zuzu! I messed up really bad! I don’t know what to do. What’s going to happen to me?” She was talking a million miles per minute and her eyes started to wield up with tears. Zuko grabbed her shoulder and crouched down to her level.
“Little dragon, it’s ok. Remember what Mom said? Everyone makes mistakes. But I need you to tell me what happened so I can fix it, ok?” Azula nodded her head and looked into his eyes.
“The drapes, in the family sitting room. I burned them- bad. And when I did the servants told me to run. I don’t want them to tell him, but I don’t want him to hurt them either. What do I do, Zuzu?” The tears started to stream down her cheeks and she looked at him with fear in her eyes.
“I’ll handle it, don't worry about it” He gathered her in a tight hug before pulling away and giving her a small smile and getting up, heading towards the sitting room. Unbeknownst to him, a little dragon followed behind.
Once Zuko arrived in the sitting room, he swallowed his fear and took in his faith. The drapes we burned behind recognition and so was part of the wall. The servants were trying to clean up the best they could but very little could be done before his father would come in.
“Stop, there’s nothing more you can do.” The servants looked at him in shock, he was just a kid, having just turned nine, but knew how to command a room. The servants stopped what they were doing and looked at him for what to do next.
“He’ll be back soon, you all can’t be here when he is. If he asks, I lost control and burned the drapes, Azula had no part.” He said as he started ushering the servants out, the younger servants looked confused. Why in the world would the young prince take such responsibility over drapes- they’re just drapes. The older servants just gave him a nod and helped clear the room. And Azula just watched from the crack in the back door.
Once the servants left Zuko, let out a sound, he was screwed. He heard footsteps sound down the hall and the voice of his father yelling at servants and nobles alike, his brother and nephew just left to begin the siege on Ba Sing Sa, which left him as the Fire Lord’s right hand man. Zuko took a deep breath and got on his knees, his head low, as he heard him approach. The door opened and then slammed shut a seconded later, Zuko looked up- His father was fuming.
“Forgive me father, I lost control. It won’t happen again I promise.” Zuko lowered his head again. And from behind the door Azula stared in shock, tears silently flowing from her eyes. It was silent for a long minute, during which Zuko didn’t breathe, scared to move a muscle. Ozai walked over to him with a frown deep in his face, “You’re right,” he said, stopping behind him, “it won’t happen again. And to make sure of it, I’ll show you what’ll happen if it does. Robe off.” Zuko froze, this had never happened before, he turned around to look at his father, confusion very present on his face, but before he could look at him, his hand collided with his face. “DID I TELL YOU TO LOOK AT ME? No! Now don’t make me tell you again.”
“Yes Father, I apologize." He said with a shaky voice, before untying his robe and letting it fall. He was left in his trousers as he stared ahead at the wall opposite from door Azula was hiding behind, she couldn’t see much from where she stood but she could see enough. And she could hear a lot more. It all happened so fast, first there was a flame, then a whip, then a shout, and then she let out a cry and the room froze.
Azula quickly brought her hand to her mouth and turned to leave, but it was too late. Her father ripped open the door and dragged her inside, “Well what do we have here? Hmmm.” He pushed into a chair that was in front of Zuko, she could see the pain in his face and the fear in his eyes, only not for himself.
“Father, she did nothing wrong. It’s me who misbehaved. She’s done nothing. I promise, just let her go. I’m already here.” Zuko was rambling as he turned to his father, the fear present to everyone in the room.
“No, she’ll stay and watch. I would be good for her- she’ll learn from your mistakes.” He made the child turn back around and look his sister in her eyes. He saw her guilt and gave her a small smile, then the fire whip came down again, and again, and again. Zuko was left collapsed on the ground- his back was burning and pieces of flesh were missing. Azula was crying, she had been this whole time. Ozai let out a scoff at the sight of his children before storming out of the room. They’re weak and he’ll have to beat it out of them.
Azula scrambled to the floor before helping Zuko up, “Come on Zuzu, we have to get you to your room before he comes back.” She left out a desperate plea, but there was little they could do with his vision turning black and the blood pooling from his back- He was a dead weight. Azula began dragging him out the back door and through the servant halls towards their rooms. Servants stopped to stare but none offered help, Azula doesn't blame them. Once she reached his room, he was out. His breathing was shallow and his pulse weak. She pushed him on the bed before running away from the room. Grapping the one person who will help- Mom.
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Lu Ten was dead. Grandfather was dead. Mother was gone. Uncle was sad. Father was the crowned Fire Lord. Zuko was his heir, the crowned prince. And the Fire Lord didn’t like that, he was still weak. It didn’t matter how much he hit him, Zuko remained Zuko. He will have to try something else, after all he needs a strong heir and his nights were now free.
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“Please Uncle, just let me sit with you. I promise I won’t make a sound.”
“Fine Nephew, but not a sound.”