Zuko wailed in agony as he rushed from the headmaster's office, he hadn't the slightest clue as to where he was going he just knew he had to get away. Raw stinging pain consumed the left side of his face. He pulled his hood up and over his eye trying to conceal he surely horrendous mark.

"AND DONT COME BACK" Master Sozin roared

He walked briskly as he headed toward the gas station at the bottom of Sozin Prep Hill. Keeping his face covered he asked Joe if he could use the phone.

"Ya know sonny, if you were anyone else I'd expect to get robbed with that black baggy hoodie, you bein a pesky 17 year old your lucky I know ya Mr. Sozin otherwise I'd be using this phone to call the cops!"

He said as he handed over the phone, displeased by the use of his last name Zuko grunted as he dialed his uncle's number.

Though uncle Iroh lived all the way in the outer ring of the city, Iroh's was the only place he'd think to go. It's not like he had much options since he and Jet split a few months back, ironically because Zuko refused to stand up to his father and tell him he was gay, but he really had no real friends.

Sure there was that one eerie goth girl, Mai, that used to follow him around but she'd despised him ever since he expressed that he wanted nothing to do with her.

She was one of his sister Azula's lapdogs that do whatever she says. It was bad enough that he had to suffer Azulas cruel tricks and insults at home so naturally he distanced himself.

Cheerfully he heard through the phone "Who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"

"Uncle, please can you come get me at City Park near the hill please it's urgent" voice cracking as he spoke

"Say no more nephew I am on my way" the phone clicked off and he stood there a second trying to calm the tears streaming down his face before giving the phone back

"See ya later Zuke!" The old clerk yelled as he left in a hurry

Crossing the street he eyed an empty bench on the parks edge that was partly concealed by a tall pine but would still allow him to see Iroh's silver station wagon rumble by

Tugging his hood down he winced in pain. A woman walking her dog gave him a dirty look. Sighing he silently prayed for Iroh to come

When eight minutes had passed he heard the old familiar tick of Iroh's engine. Typically the drive from Iroh's took a good 15 minutes, he must've of sensed the urgency in his nephews voice and sped the whole way.

Zuko stood up just in time to be seen by Iroh's searching eyes and the car came to a loud, screeching halt. He climbed in the station wagon and Iroh looked him over for a minute trying to piece together what was wrong

"Zuko pull back your hood" he spoke firmly in a caring voice

Hesitantly pulled back his hood and faced his uncle knowing the sooner he could get help the less pain he'll suffer.

Uncle's eyes widen in shock but wisely he held back his words and drove Zuko to the hospital.

When they finally made it back to Iroh's cozy home, it was night time. With Zuko's eye now fully bandaged Iroh led his nephew to the spare bedroom.

Iroh stayed up sipping tea in his living room worried sick about Zuko. Iroh was wiser than most and immediately concluded this was the result of his brothers rage. For years he'd noticed Zuko covered in bruises but never thought to intervene.

Struck with guilt he silently decided he'll wait until Zuko came to him ready to talk about it before he says a word about the situation.

A month had passed, Zuko had yet to utter more than a few words as he sat silently watching the fireplace. His face, now a pink ugly scar. He knew it'd be about time for Iroh to send him back to school now that there was a week to the new semester.

He wouldn't be going to the elite Sozins prep, instead he was enrolled at his uncle's workplace, the public Rykell High School.

Zuko was eager to get a fresh start hoping the other teens wouldn't be too harsh or curious about his scar, though he doubted he'd make much of effort to socialize. The night before his first day he was so nervous he was shaking as he realized Rykell is where Jet went.

What would he think of Zuko going to his school? Would he be mad? He missed Jet and hoped that he wouldn't straight up ignore him. Maybe they could be friends and sit together at lunch in silence as they'd done many times over the summer. Words weren't even needed with those two, they just needed to be close.

He pulled out his new cell phone Iroh had given him a week ago and typed in Jet's number, he'd dialed him nearly every night that summer when everyone else was sleeping. He knew it by heart.

He decided to text him

"Hey it's Zuko. Guess what"

After worrying for 5 minutes that Jet hated him and he was stupid to reach out he finally got a reply.

"wat"

"srry for bothering u. just want to let you know I'm going to Rykell starting tomorrow. . .hope u dnt hate me"

"nah were cool. . still not happy tho. Cya tmmrw"