Ozai stood in the middle of a warehouse with men surrounding him, thirteen year old Zuko stood at his side calmly. It was his first time being this involved with his fathers business, wanted to make him proud.

He promised not to speak as his uncle convinced Ozai to let his son come along, it was a meeting outside the 'offices hours'.

"I recommend the 41st divisions to go first against the southern trade, let the south waste their bullets before we send the experienced," an older man shrugged with his arms crossed. Zukos head snapped up as he looked at the man then his father.

"But those are the rookies, they won't be able to defend themselves against the south," another man said confused.

"That's the point," he smirked.

"While they're the distraction we take the south from the rear and take what is ours," he explained and Zuko looked at his father surprised. Ozai smirked a little.

"You can't sacrifice an entire division like that!" Zuko blurted out and all eyes were on him.

"Those are young adults that are putting their lives into this business and are expecting to be home after, we can't just waste their lives because it's easy!" He didn't stop but Ozai glared down at him.

Zuko felt fear trickle down his spine as his fathers eyes were on him, a large hand clasped behind his neck and held him tightly.

"Excuse my son," Ozai looked at the other men. "He's young and naive,"

His hand tightened around the back of the boys neck.

"Burn this place down, let the south know we're coming," he chuckled and turned to leave as men immediately started pouring gasoline against the cement floor and Ozai forced his son to walk with him, basically dragging him by his neck.

"I-I'm sorry father, it wasn't to be disrespectful, i swear," Zuko whimpered as he pried at his fathers fingers when it started to hurt more. He cried out when he was thrown to the ground when they got outside.

"Your a humiliation to this family! A waste! A bastard burden!" Ozai roared down at him as Zuko stayed on his knees with his head down in shame.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry father, I would never try to embarrass you, it was on accident, I'm sorry," he begged with tears beginning to run down his face. Suddenly the warehouse went up in flames behind them as Ozai glared down at him still, not phased by the fire.

"You know nothing of respect!"

"I had the businesses best interest, I'm sorry," his voice cracked as he felt more tears run down his face.

"I'm sorry father," he sobbed but whimpered when Ozai grabbed his hair and yanked his head up.

"You will learned respect," the man snarled and began dragging Zuko towards the fire.

"And suffering will be your teacher," he hissed in his ear.

He slammed zukos face against the burning building before he could plea, the child screamed in pain and terror.

"It was my father..."

Katara looked at him shocked and hoping it wasn't what she thought he meant.

"Huh-" "it was my father who gave me the scar,"

Katara felt like she couldn't breathe as Zuko looked down at her calmly, he pulled her hand off his face.

"Y-you're kidding?" Katara looked at him like he was crazy.

His eyes told her it was true, he didn't flinch when she pulled her whole body away from him and ran her hands through her hair in horror.

"You're dad put a scar on your face!?" She cried out.

He turned to the side so his scar didn't face her.

Katara covered her mouth as a tear ran down her face, more started to join and she didn't even realize she was crying. But she remembered how hard it was for Zuko to even admit it, to share something to traumatic with someone that wasn't family. She freaked out already and he looked like he was trying to find an escape, like he regret telling her.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she went back to him but Zuko stepped away not wanting to be touched again.

"I'm sorry, why..? How could he?" She sniffled wiping her face quickly.

"I spoke against his co workers, I humiliated him and it was disrespectful, and now I have a permanent reminder," Zuko whispered. He did regret sharing it, remembering it.

"It was my fault, I shouldn't have gone with in the first place," he mumbled crossing his arms a little and rubbed the front of his neck.

"Zuko whatever happened there wasn't your fault, you were thirteen, thirteen, a child, you were in middle school, that is not you fault, your father is a grown ass man that should know better," Katara told him seriously and he shook his head.

"He does, he told me he doesn't regret it," Zuko gulped.

"I'm sorry," she whispered covering her mouth.

"No im sorry, I shouldn't have said anything, i don't want you to feel burdened by knowing, it's a hard secret," Zuko shook his head as he covered his eyes with his palms. Gripping his hair a little.

"Don't be sorry, thank you for sharing that with me, I know it's hard, I'm glad you told me," Katara pulled his hands off his face but he still didn't want to be touched. She let go immediately for him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again.

"Don't apologize," Katara told him gently.

She looked at him gently as he finally looked at her, she kept her body open as he uncrossed his arms. She wanted him to heal from his past knowing it still haunted him, he never got to heal from his trauma, it showed. He looked at her and she smiled with making small grabby motions with her hands.

Zuko stepped into her and wrapped his arms around her waist gently, she smiled relieved and pulled him close, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and letting him hide his face in her neck.

"I'm not going to cry," he mumbled against her. She snorted a little.

"I already did," she hummed but his arms tightened.

"He pressed my face against a burning building," he said barely above a whisper, hoping she didn't hear. But she buried her face against his shirt because she did.

"I'm sorry," she felt her eyes getting watery again.

Hakoda leaned against the wall as he heard the children, he covered his mouth with tears in his eyes as he let them be. To hear those things from a child. He inhaled a shaky breath letting the two be knowing it wasn't anything shady behind his back, he went to his room after wiping his eyes. He couldn't imagine what that child has been through.

He was just a kid.

He is just a kid.