Zukos' eyes tracked his uncle, watching as he moved towards his cabin.

Probably to drink some tea, whenever he spoke about what happened that day, it always seemed to leave a bad taste in his mouth, he always seemed to slip away to avoid it.

Zuko loved his uncle; he really did, but part of him still blamed Iroh for not helping him.

'He couldn't help', the logical part of his brain reasoned. But logic could never win over pure emotion, and no matter how many times he told himself this, he was never convinced.

His reasoning always bought back memories from that day, making him bitter; he hated everyone, including his uncle, but this hatred he knew was unjust, causing the emotion to become self loathing.

He hated weakness, despised it even, and no matter how many times he tried to convince everyone that he was training to defeat the avatar, his uncle knew otherwise and was never truly convinced.

Turning back out to the water, his eyes were drawn to the setting sun, he took in the array of colours and watched how the clouds were split with the colours of the element he bended.

No matter how much he tried to enjoy it he hated sunsets.

They always reminded him that even if he was suffering the world would keep turning.

Turning around and heading to his room, his previous thoughts echoed in his mind no matter how far away he pushed them.

(LATER THAT NIGHT)

Zuko spun around at the same time as his opponent, expecting to see the man he had insulted directly.

He was ready to show his father that he was worthy of being his son. That he could prove he was worthy of being prince Zuko and that it wasn't just a pretty title.

What he didn't expect when he spun around was to come face to face with his father, they widening of his eyes revealed his shock and sudden fear that over took and froze his body to the spot.

Like always the memory blurred until he felt the heat of his fathers' flames and the sting of his flesh burning, the sickeningly sweet smell of burning flesh filled the air, causing him to feel as sudden hatred of fire bender, as well as grudging respect for the flames that now destroyed his face.

All thought process stopped when the flames did, turning to the side Zuko couldn't help but vomit, his stomach no longer able to hold in his recent meal.

Glancing up at his father, what he saw in the mans' face made him freeE in fear yet again, a terrible mistake even after the fight was over.

The hatred reflected back at him struck him deeply, permanently fusing itself into his soul.

He unknowingly began to remember all the comments he heard while sneaking around about how he looked like that late mistress of the house, his mother.

He knew about the rumours, his uncle told him about how he inherited his mother features and caring nature, he always found it strange that Azula got nothing from their mother. Maybe their was truth in what they said, what if Azula truly wasn't his sister, pondering these thoughts for the first time, he finally began to recall every little detail that pointed to the truth, how could he have been so blind how could he not see, Azula always did favour their father, but never 'his' mother.

This realisation made everything click, the reason his father looked at him with such sadness and hatred. The reason he hated but loved him. His face must have revealed something because when he looked up again into his fathers face he saw the ever present look in his father eyes disappear for a second.

It wasn't long but in that second he saw the father he remembered from his childhood. The man that saw him, and not his mother The man that was happy and that cared about those around him.

The moment ended and the spiteful look returned again, so great in intensity it caused Zuko to shake in fear.

Frozen in place he could only watch in horror as his father turned to the crowd and began to speak.