I don't own avatar last airbender.
I sneak quietly into my room, knowing I could get in trouble for being with the commoners. Nut I had spent my day in bliss, playing with my best friend, Han Chen.
"Where were you just now?" I turn to see Fire Lord Ozai. My Dad.
"Father!" I say startled.
"Where were you?" Father growls dangerously in a demanding tone. Mom quietly approaches us. I tremble in fear.
"I was…in the palace the whols day." I lie.
In two quick steps he is at my side, wrenching m y ponytail in his grasp and pulling me close.
"Father, please!" I scream and pull my hair from his tearing grip.
"You little…" he snarls, "You lying ass. Who do you think you are, lying to my face!"
Father pushes me to the ground and stands in front of me, chest heaving, teeth gritted, eyes burning with anger. I turn my head from Father's heat radiating from his angry being. I focus on a spot on the ground, hoping to keep myself from talking.
"I saw you." Father says, voice dripping menace. "I saw you with that fire nation peasant boy. What did I tell you about that worthless dirt?"
I mumble, "Han Chen is my friend." I have said the wrong thing.
Slap.
My ears ring and my face grows numb.
"How dare you contradict your father? That peasant is nothing. A waste of time!" Father yells, edging closer. I whimper. Father's aura is so hot. So so hot. So angry.
I do not answer. Again…
Slap.
"Answer me worth less trash, stinking excuse for a son!" Father roars.
"Ozai…" Mother starts.
"Shut up!" Father yells
Mother steps back, fear widening her amber eyes.
Father turns back to me. "Where does that peasant live? They will be executed immediately."
I gasp slightly but do not answer.
"Tell…me." Each word is stated with great anger from Father.
My mouth opens defiantly, tears springing to my eyes for fear of Han Chen.
"No."
This time, I am prepared, but it isn't enough. Father's blows strike me with as much intensity and force as could be mustered. My body lays slumped on the floor. I close my eyes. I can no longer feel the pain.
"You are going to kill him!" Mother shouts.
"Get away!" Father screams, "This is your fault. Your son is like you. Look what kind of prince you have raised. A lying stinking piece of shit!"
I am slowly drifting away, floating in my mind. Hovering…
Mother's tears stain her face. She yells, "You heartless dog. You are no better than a violent madman! Why do you think our children avoid you?!"
No. Now Mother is in danger.
"You!" Father roars. The blows cease breaking my body. I raise myself up and squint through my tears. Mom backs away, Father follows.
"You and your sneaky ways! It's all your fault!" Father growls.
Mother yells, "Evil tyrant! Heartless Beast! Drunk Bastard!"
A lamp crashed to the ground as Mother hits the table.
I sit up, crying. Hands over my ears but that doesn't stop the sound of Mother's screams.
Stop.
By Agni Kai.
Make the pain stop.
Please.
Please.
Someone.
Make it stop.
"OZAI PLEASE!" Mother wails.
Father cools. His heat no longer burning. Slowly diminishing.
Father whips around and stalks out the door barking, "Stay in your room until I dismiss you. You will not come down for supper. Understand!"
The last bit is an order, not a question.
Father leaves the room slamming the heavy door shut in temper. I crawl on hands and knees to Mother. This has happened many times before. I gently shake her shoulder.
"Mother? Mother? Please be all right. Don't be dead."
Mother gathers me in her arms.
"It is not your fault Zuko."
"Then it is Father's?"
Silence. Then…
"Zuko, no matter what, I love you."
"Me too Mom."
Love.
Simple and at the same time complicated. Mother and I hold hands and sit quietly.
The moon shines into the little cluttered mess of my room. On Mother and me.
AN: Sad yet true.