Author's Note: This is an modern-day AU. I don't usually write AU, but I've issued myself a challenge of writing an AU and not making it trite. We'll see how it turns out. Non-beta'd, but if someone's willing to help, I'd love you forever.

Discalimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender is not mine. I make no money off of my writing. I just wish I had Iroh as an uncle. He's awesome.

Chapter 1

"Good, you're waking up."

The young man slowly opened his eyes, puzzled and in pain to find that while he could see out of his right eye, that side of his face felt heavy and stretched.

"What happened?" he asked. He was surprised at his own voice; it was scratchy and brittle, not the voice he was used to hearing.

"There was a fire. You're lucky to be alive."

He tried to move and choked back a sob of pain.

"You have minor burns all over your body, but those will heal without leaving a mark. Try not to move, though."

The young man nodded and closed his eyes again. The strange feeling of heaviness was still on the right side of his face and it puzzled him.

"What's wrong with my face?" he asked softly.

The paramedic conversed softly, quickly with his fellow workers, before saying, "Don't worry about it right now. Rest. You'll be out of the hospital faster that way."

---

The young man was unconscious when his uncle walked into his room in the burn care unit at the hospital.

"Do you know what happened?" the uncle asked quietly.

The nurse behind him shook his head. "No. The paramedics who brought him in should still be near the emergency room. Talk to them," he murmured as he checked the patient's IV drip and bandages.

Iroh nodded and gently closed the door to his nephew's room before walking towards the emergency room. As he passed, a boy reached out and caught the hem of his jacket, making him stop. Iroh looked over, annoyed at first, but was assuaged by the obviously concerned countenance of the child whose hand was on his clothing.

"Yes?"

"Is he okay?"

"Pardon?"

"That guy. The one they pulled out of the fire. Will he be okay?"

Iroh looked at the boy, then smiled. "I'm going to find that out, actually. Do you wish to come talk to the paramedics with me?"

The boy nodded. "I was with them, but they wouldn't tell me anything."

"Then you are responsible for my nephew being alive?"

"I guess. I saw the fire starting and called the fire department, then went out to see if I could help. It was a huge house, but it seems like only he was in it. Does he live alone?"

"No, he lived with his sister and father. It is lucky that they were not home to be hurt, no?"

The boy nodded, and the two started to walk.

"What is your name?" Iroh asked the boy.

"It's Aang. You?"

"Iroh. My nephew, the person you saved, is Zuko."

"Zuko...I hope he'll be okay."

"My nephew is strong. He will most likely survive this trial."

The two managed to locate the paramedics that had brought Zuko in, and cornered one of them.

"Are you a relative of the boy's?" the unhappy paramedic asked.

"I am his uncle. Would you give me your professional opinion on my nephew's state?"

"We managed to respond to the call quickly, thanks to the boy at your side. He had borrowed a passer-by's cell phone and told us in good detail where he was and what was happening. We were standing by as the firemen did their work, and were surprised and happy to see a pair coming our carrying a young man, your nephew. He was still alive, though barely. We treated him for smoke inhalation, which brought him around to consciousness. He wasn't entirely aware, perhaps in denial or shock, and was quickly put back under. He had various first degree burns all over his chest, arms, lower legs, and feet, which we treated as best we could. He probably has a broken rib or two from the impact that left him unconscious and on his back. All of these injuries will heal with care and time."

Aang and Iroh were relieved, but puzzled by how the paramedic was still somber.

"There is more, isn't there? Like why my nephew's face was bandaged."

The paramedic sighed. "I hope your nephew isn't too vain. The right side of his face has sustained third-degree burns. He is in no pain because the burn runs so deep, but the scar will never leave him, even if he has skin grafted onto his face to cover it."

"That is unimportant. Will he be okay? Will there be an infection, anything that could go wrong that could more than simply scar him?"

"There is always a chance of complications. But since he's in a specialized facility for his condition, he should be fine."

"I hope you are right." There was a pause, and Iroh stepped aside. "Thank you for your time."

"No problem," the paramedic replied, but was obviously relieved to be away from scrutiny.

When Iroh looked over to Aang, he was surprised to see that the boy was looking depressed. "What is wrong, child?"

"I should have responded faster. It's just that the house was so big and people weren't willing to lend me their phone just because I'm poor. They thought I was going to steal it. I should have–"

Aang was stopped when Iroh placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You did what you could. Now it is up to my nephew."

---

Zuko awoke with a gasp, then coughed heavily for half a minute before getting his breathing under control. His left eye focused on the ceiling while his right remained cloaked in darkness. Puzzled, he lifted his right hand to touch his face, and found both covered in loose, light bandages. He looked down at his left arm to find it too his forearm covered in bandages, with an IV stuck into the crook of his arm. He started to push himself up only to feel a weight on his chest keep him down.

"Do not move, my nephew. You are not fully healed yet."

"Uncle Iroh? Is that you?"

His uncle's kind face swam into view of his left eye, and he couldn't help but smile back.

"It is good to see you awake. I thought you were going to sleep forever!"

"I'm awake now," Zuko said, voice tinged lightly with amusement. "What happened?" he asked softly.

"There was a fire at your home."

"House."

"What?"

"There was a fire at my house."

"Ah. Well, yes. The firemen found you unconscious, brought you outside, and the paramedics treated you. Neither you father nor sister were home?"

"No. They had gone out together. They said it was a 'father/daughter thing' and left me alone. That house is too large for three people; it feels enormous and terrifying when it's only one person."

"Aww, was poor little Zuzu scared of a big empty house?" came a drawl from the doorway. Zuko stiffened as his sister came in, her eyes and voice mocking. Zuko frowned and pushed the button to bring the bed into a sitting position. "What do you want, Azula?"

"You mean I'm not supposed to come and visit my injured, scared, weak older brother?"

Zuko's good eye narrowed and he was about to throw back a scathing reply when Iroh's voice cut in.

"That's enough, Azula. You were lucky to be out; you could be injured just like Zuko, perhaps even worse, had you been there."

"Well, daddy always says I was born lucky," Azula said so sweetly that Zuko wanted to punch her. Before Iroh could say anything else, Zuko's father walked in. Zuko's temper faltered, and instead he gave as much of a bow as his body would allow him to. "Father."

"I am disappointed in you, Zuko."

Zuko's good eye widened, and Iroh stood. "Little brother, that is not something to say in a sickroom."

"I have not trained him for years in the martial arts to have him fall victim to something as escapable and noticeable as a fire. He destroyed my house and is costing me too much to keep. He is a burden. When he is well enough to leave here, he stays with you, elder brother. Get well soon, Zuko. That way I don't have to concern myself about you and your inability much longer."

Zuko's father left without saying another word and Azula gave Zuko a long, mocking glance, a sneer forming on her lips as she left behind her father. "Good-bye, Zuzu scar-face."

Zuko desperately wanted to throw something at her, but with nothing convenient in sight and too bandaged and sore to move, she left with a soft, mocking laugh. Zuko closed his eye and took in a few deep, ragged breaths.

"My face is bandaged because of a burn, isn't it, uncle?"

"Third-degree, which is why you don't feel it."

"It will leave a scar."

"Most likely, but that can be fixed through skin grafts."

Zuko nodded, and when he opened his good eye again, it glinted dangerously with hate. "I will look normal, but it will never be the same, will it?"

"I do not know."

"That's okay. I'll look fine, but I will always know the difference."

"Then you want the skin grafts?"

"Yes, please."

"This isn't just to spite your father."

"No."

Iroh somehow found that hard to believe.

The two sat in silence for a while before Iroh passed Zuko the remote control for the television. "Watch some TV and rest. I will tell the doctor that has been taking care of you."

"Alright."

Iroh left as Zuko turned on the television.

The first story on the news was about his father and his business. Zuko nearly snarled and quickly turned the channel.

Would he never be free again?

—end chapter 1