From the moment Song met him, she knew he had been scarred. And not just the angry red mark that marred his face; there was something deeper. She could see there was hurt in his eyes, and anger and hatred. And she thought that, in some way, she could understand. She'd been hurt once too. She'd been scarred. And she'd been angry too, once. She could understand his quite, burning anger and hatred that simmered just below the surface. She knew that that anger and hatred was so all-consuming.
But Song had learned that anger accomplished nothing, that hate only causes wars. She learned that the only way to survive was to forgive, to move on. Or else you were doomed to self-destruction.
And when she saw this young man with his frightening scar and his angry eyes, she could see him walking that path to self-destruction. And something within her wanted desperately to save him. Because she felt like she could understand. Because she thought that everyone could be good. She knew she was idealistic, but it was her nature. She couldn't change that. It she had one flaw, it was compassion. She wanted to help people, to heal them. And she believed, despite the anger and hate in his eyes, that he could be good.
She reached out, wishing that he touch could sooth him scars, both inside and out. But he snatched her hand away. His grip was vise-like, but he did not hurt her.
"It's okay," she said softly. "They hurt me too."
She did something she hadn't done in a long time. She showed him her scars. For the longest time, she had been ashamed of her scars. They marked her. They reminded her of all her pain, all her loss. But she showed him, because he needed to be shown. She could see that he thought he was alone. He needed to know he wasn't.
As she showed him, a strange expression flickered across his face. It looked like pity, mixed with regret. The regret surprised her. What had he done to make him look so sad? Perhaps his past was darker than she thought.
"I should go," he said in a gruff voice, not looking at her. He looked a little … softened, although it was clear he was trying not to show it. Perhaps, in some way, she had reached him after all. She could see there was some good that glimmered there, although it was deeply buried.
She watched him leave from behind the door, so he couldn't see her. Her heart sank as she saw him pull the reins of her family's ostrich-horse. She wasn't angry, just profoundly sad. If he'd only asked, she would have given it to him. He didn't need to steal. But what hurt her the most was that she thought she'd reached him. She thought she understood him. It looked like she was wrong.
But she could forgive him. That was what he needed . Forgiveness, trust, understanding. She could forgive him. And maybe someday, he would learn to forgive him too.
A/N: See, Song believes that Zuko is good! I believe that deep down, Zuko is good and shall conquer all! All he needs is a hug! Forgive yourself Zuko! Come to the light! Hahahahaha. Please review!