A/N: I don't own Avatar. Or else I wouldn't keep uploading these terrible stories.
He held her close within his arms, the years between them falling away the longer they embraced. "I have never stopped loving you," he whispered in her ear, the intoxicating scent of her hair stirring memories of younger days spent hiding away enshrouded in their love. She had been home for a matter of minutes, after being banished for nearly four years, but it felt as though they had never been apart. She pulled him in for another kiss, passionate and hot as his fire used to be, and even now he could feel it welling up within him, with no release to speak of except for-
"Mom?"
"Zu-WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?"
"What...you mean he didn't tell you?"
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, and her fists balled up into tight fists as she turned to face her husband. However, she kept her voice unusually calm as she asked, "didn't tell me what, dear?"
"It was nothing, nothing at all. Just a misunderstanding-"
"You challenged me to an Agni Ki-"
"OZAI!"
"-when I was only 13 years old-"
"OZAI PAUL FERDINAND!"
"-and burned off half my face! How is that a 'misunderstanding'?"
"OZAI PAUL FERDINAND THE THIRD, HOW DARE YOU BURN OFF HALF OF OUR SON'S FACE! ESPECIALLY AFTER I MURDERED YOUR FATHER TO PROTECT HIM! WHAT WHERE YOU THINKING? ARE YOU INSANE?"
At which point Zuko opted to chime in, "No, but thanks to him, Azula is," at which point his mother simply lost it.
"I can't leave you alone for five minutes with the children without you driving one insane and burning off half the other one's face. Well, you know what? I'm going to show you how it feels!" With that, blue flame erupted from her fingertips and shot directly at the left side of Ozai's head.
A few weeks later, the royal family made their first public appearance as a group. Despite Azula's straightjacket and muzzle, they made a striking set. Especially the Firelord and the Phoenix King, with their matching scars. As the crowds cheered for the newly rehabiliated royals, Zuko kept reaching over and poking his dad's delightful new ponytail.
"If you touch me one more time, I swear to Agni I'll set Azula loose in your quarters."
"Sure thing, Ozai Paul Ferdinand the third."