Zuko road down the road on his bike heading to school, it was a quiet morning as he took the long way to enjoy the morning air a little longer, everything always felt more fresh, he's always been a morning person. He noticed a car behind him seemed to be there for a while. He stopped at the stop sign as the car stayed behind him.

He didn't think much of it but turned right to see if his paranoia was correct. The next stop he took another right. The car followed him.

"Fucker," Zuko glared and took a left with his engine roaring. The car turned and sped up.

He passed through a red light as he went 20 over the speed limit and took a sharp turn hoping to loose the car behind him. It was obvious it was someone of his fathers business. No one else would, no students would hunt him like this.

Zuko let out a breath of relief as he slowed down so he wouldn't get caught by a cop, his heart raced but he took a few deep breathed to calm down and just get to school. He stopped at the stop sign waiting to go, once it was his turn he drove forward.

As soon as he was in the middle of the intersection a car slammed into his side.

—

Katara screamed when a light blue helmet was slammed on the lunch table  as everyone jumped at the loud sound. Zuko slid it to her and slammed a black leather armored jacket next to her as well. It had metal alone the spine, chest and elbows.

"You'll wear this every time your on my fucking bike, got it?" He sat next to her with a glare as everyone was in shock.

"...everything okay?" Suki scooted away from him a little.

"Yea we made up," Zuko rubbed his arm a little.

"I already told them," Katara gulped a little and noticed a tear in his jacket.

"You okay?" She asked again confused and he nodded. "You were gone for the morning?"

"Slept in, and since I was already late I ran to the store," he had his arms crossed over the table.

She noticed road burn on his hand and saw something peaking from under his jacket.

"Cool, I really like it, mind helping me put it in my locker real quick?" Katara asked standing up and he sighed but got up as well to help her out, he held the heavier jacket due to the armor inside as they went to the empty halls.

"What's that?" Katara stopped him in the middle of the hall.

"Huh?" He asked flatly. She grabbed his wrist and held it up, there was a bandage over his palm with some road burn peaking out and under the jacket was bandages wrapped around his wrist.

"Ow fuck, let go," Zuko pulled his wrist back quick.

"I got in an accident, I'm fine though, had my helmet on," he admitted and her eyes widen fearfully.

"What kind of accident? Where else are you hurt?" She asked frantically.

"I have to fix my bike for a while but I'm still alive aren't I?" Zuko sighed a little bit noticed how worried she still was.

They put the items in her locker for later so she didn't have to carry the helmet and jacket for the day.

"It's just a sprain, I got some road burn and that's it, that's why I wear a helmet, and why you get a little extra," he put his hand on her head but pulled her close. She immediately wrapped her arms around him but he flinched a little in pain but never pulled her away.

"Did you get the information from the guy that hit you? Insurance and all?" She asked.

"No it was a hit and run," Zuko sighed a little irritated.

"That's illegal," Katara looked at him frowning.

"Hitting a person is illegal," he told her flatly.

"I got the license plate, don't worry," Zuko rolled his eyes and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before getting out of her grip.

Zuko looked at his phone seeing he got a text, it didn't change when he saw it was his father, he looked calm still. But the emotion drained from his eyes seeing what it was all about.

It was a picture of cash on his desk in his room.

Ozai: nice helmet

Zuko closed his eyes for a moment as he pursed his lips to stay calm. It was a sick game his father loves to play, he would break and beat him and give him money to fix himself only to do it again and again, it was a sick fucking game. He hated it.

"Is that your dad?" Katara looked at him seriously seeing he wasn't pleased.

"Yea," Zuko put his cracked phone away. "Nothing important,"

"Has Jet bothered You today?" He changed the topic. 

"Here's your parking pass," she rolled her eyes handing him the sticker. A deal is a deal.

"What alcohol should we get?" Katara smirked a little up at him and he smiled a little.

"I'm very much a whiskey guy but I feel like you'd like something sweeter," Zuko hummed a little as they went back to lunch together.

"Seriously I think your limping," Katara looked up at him. They got to the table and Zuko put his leg on the chair and lifted his jeans to show the bandaged gash on his calf.

"Cool!" Sokka gasped as Aang looked sick.

"I'm going to kill you," she looked at him unamused as they sat down. He winked back at her smirking.