walls-zukka au highschool

Chapter 1

|ZUKO|

Zuko always slept on his left side. No matter what. For the past three years of his miserable life he slept with the door locked, a backpack ready, and a pair of running shoes by the door. The light was off but within reach so he could turn it on quickly. But looking at the first thing on uncle Iroh's list of rules, it seemed he would have to deal with the door just shut instead of locked. His eyes moved down to the next item on the list, scrawled in his uncle's neat, but shaky penmanship.

No drugs or alcohol

Well that wouldn't be too hard. Zuko hadn't ever tried them and had no desire to. Maybe he had a drink now and again, but he never risked screwing up his head more than needed.

No contacting Ozai, under any circumstances whatsoever

At his father's name, Zuko felt a pit form in his stomach, creating a gross, nauseous feeling. He clamped his hand over his mouth.

"Nephew, are you alright?" Uncle Iroh asked his face covered with concern, breaking the unbroken silence. Zuko ran his hand over his face and through his hair.

"Yeah, sorry uncle, i just...um...sorry" he mumbled. Iroh put a hand on Zuko's shoulder, and he jumped. "Sorry" he said again, the sick feeling in his stomach worsening. He didn't look at Iroh, his head pounding.

"Zuko, it is okay. You are safe here. Just breathe" Iroh said, his voice steady with a hint of worry. Unfortunately, Iroh was used to this by now. Zuko eventually got his breathing under control. He looked at Iroh next to him at the dining room table.

"Are you alright, nephew? Was it a panic attack? Would you like some calming tea?" Iroh asked, his eyes sincere and worried. Zuko shook his head.

"No. No, not quite. Thank you, uncle" he exhaled shakily, his eyes drifting back to the list, which only had three items left. Iroh reached for the list.

4. You will keep up with school and grades

5. No destruction of furniture or property

That last one kinda stung. When he had been living at his- no Ozai's house- he had done any and everything to hurt his father without hurting himself, but he still left with bruises and scars all over his body.

6. You must tell me when you leave the house

Uncle's list ended there and Zuko looked up to see him sipping tea with a satisfied smile on his face. "So nephew, do you have any questions?"

"Can I go get my stuff for school now?" Zuko asked, scooting his chair out.

Iroh nodded, giving him a warm smile.

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Zuko rummaged through his dresser looking for his favorite shirt- sure it was just a plain black tee, but it was still his favorite. He found it and grabbed a pair of ripped jeans heading into the bathroom to change. He made sure to brush his hair down across his face, attempting to hide his hideous scar covering two thirds of his face which had left him blind and deaf on that side.

"Come on Zuko, lets go!" his uncle called with false enthusiasm. He knew how much his uncle wanted him to be happy but it was just so hard with everything going on. He grabbed his bag and headed down the stairs and out through uncle's tea shop The Jasmine Dragon where they both worked.

Zuko met his uncle at his jeep and they headed off to school

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He looked at the crumpled piece of paper that had his schedule printed on. First up: Algebra, Room 406. Should be easy enough.

Zuko looked up from his schedule and looked up at his new school. It was nothing like any of the private schools he had grown up in. The school was around 20 years old and students roamed the schoolyard. Zuko started to feel the pit in his stomach growing, but he tried the grounding technique uncle taught him and surprisingly it almost worked.

Zuko wasn't sure if the feeling of a million eyes on him was a result of social anxiety or because of the massive scar he was desperately trying to hide behind his bangs.

"Who the hell is that guy?" someone says. "I have no idea". Spirits, he wish they would just shut up.

He took one last deep breath and headed into the school.

Zuko was hopelessly lost and about to look for a bathroom to cry in but eventually found the physics room. When he entered no one else was there and he started to panic.

"Zuko ?" he jumped, his hands instinctively balling into fists. Then he saw a woman mid-30s behind her computer and relaxed slightly. She had long dark hair and bright red lipstick, but it suited her. "I'm Mrs. Sato," she said with a warm smile. "You can sit right there by the front. Your deskmate should be here soon. He's usually early".

"O-ok thanks." he responded thanking the spirits he got to sit in the front of the class where he could actually see and hear what was going on.

Not two minutes later a boy with caramel skin and chocolaty hair walked in laughing at something another girl had said. no-I cant go getting attached to people. Zuko was hoping for his sake that this wasn't his deskmate, but sure enough it was. The boy came over and sat down making it look effortless (it probably was).

"Oh hey! You must be new. i'm Sokka" he introduced himself.

"Zuko here," he responded with a tiny wave, sounding like an idiot.

"Cool. So, Zuko, when'd you move here?" Sokka asked, putting his iced coffee down on the desk. Zuko had been dreading this type of conversation, but he answered anyway.

"Well, actually, I just lived a few towns over. I just had to move in with my uncle for... personal reasons" He said, not quite looking at Sokka's face, rather his hands, his fingers long and nimble, a faint scar across the back of his hand and a few ink stains.  oh spirits why did Zuko find that attractive? He had to stop. Thankfully, Sokka didn't pry the any further.

"Oh, cool. Yeah, I've moved around a lot, dad's in the army, so," he gestured to his sweatshirt with a U.S. ARMY  logo, as if that answered everything. More students started to come into the room, most of them talking.

Even if this Sokka dude was a bit annoying, he was probably going to sit here for the rest of the year, and he should probably make friends, and try to avoid falling in love, his brain added, not so helpfully. Mrs Sato did that weird teacher clap thing to get everyone's attention, and class started.

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He hadn't brought food with him so there he was at lunch sitting with his back against a tree, drawing, and just overall looking like a loser. Zuko was too busy hating himself to notice Sokka was standing right over me.

"hey, do you want to sit with me and my friends?" he said leaning on the tree looking all cool and hot.

"thanks but i really don't think you want me in your friend group" Zuko said shrinking into his hoodie.

"Aw come-on, why not! You seem like a great guy" Sokka said.

"Have you met me?" he mumbled.

"huh?"

"Oh uh nothing. I'm good sitting here though"

"Ok, suit yourself. There's always a free seat." it seemed like he was gesturing to someone else's spot, someone who looked very similar to him, but Zuko didn't think much of it.

He sat the rest of lunch alone by the tree watching Sokka and his friends laughing and just having a good time. 'no- i'm not here to make friends' he thought to himself.

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sorry this was a lil short but that just felt like a good stopping place. i was reading a ton of fics before i wrote this and its late so please lmk if i stole something so i can take it out. ok ty for reading!