The Phoenix

Begged

"MOM!"

Thirteen year old Zuko bolted from the bed as he found himself sobbing as he awoke.

"Zuko your awake," he heard his uncle run in the medical room.

"W-where- where are they? Where mom and where's father?!" The young teen touched the side of his head but felt the left side of his hairline was covered in a bandage. He touched down his face and felt the white wrapping around his eye.

"Zuko..." iroh sat next to him on the bed. His sweet poor nephew.

"She's dead isn't she?" Zuko sniffled looking at him. "Dad killed her..."

Iroh pulled him in a tight hug as Zuko felt the burning tears on his face. So many thoughts of the Agni kai, so many emotions since. Anger, grief, fear, pain...

"Where's father?" Zuko whispered into his shoulder.

"I banished him, to never step foot on the fire nation lands as long as he lives, hes brought shame and pain on our family, he is never allowed back," iroh told him softly holding zukos right side of his face.

"You should've killed him," Zuko gulped pushing himself away.

"Killing my own brother wouldn't have ended well to the public eye, and throwing him in a prison would've been merciful, he would've found power in it," iroh explained to him as his nephew wiped his tears quickly.

"Anywhere else he will be an equal or less to the world, as a fire nation prince," he inhaled deeply and Zukos jaw quivered feeling rage.

"I hate him," he whispered and stood up quickly. Zuko went to storm out but iroh caught him seeing the young boy starting to fall.

"Prince Zuko you're not well, it's only been five hours, you need your rest," iroh held him up.

"I don't need sleep, I-I just need some air," he pushed himself away from his uncle as he felt light headed.

"Zuko, just know I'm always going to be here for you, I won't let you be alone," iroh smiled gently at him as his nephew looked behind him but nodded grabbing his robe.

—

"Agh!" Zuko slammed his fist into a tree with fire and rage as he stood on the shore line near the palace.

He panted falling to his knees as he dug his nails into the grass, it steamed under him and shriveled at his touch.

"How could he?" He whimpered biting his lip. Zuko looked at the sea as he pulled his knees to his chest, he saw a ship near the bay but it was to dark to recognize it. After who knows how much time passed, heard foot steps behind him as the boy inhaled deeply.

"Uncle leave me alone," Zuko blinked away the gloss in his eye as he turned around but felt fear pierce his heart like ice.

He saw ozai behind him and stood up immediately with his shaky fists up.

"That's going to leave a scar," Ozai looked at his son emotionless.

Zuko was lost for words as he backed away from the monster, ozai had no regret in his eyes, no sympathy.

"You're not real," Zuko gulped. Ozai grabbed his chin and dug his fingers into the bottom of the bandages causing Zuko to scream in pain.

"Is that real enough for you?" He smirked. "Uncle said your in jail!" Zuko grasped his wrist with wide eyes but his father grabbed his throat forcing Zuko to step back closer to the ledge.