Living proof
"Dad?"
Zuko looked up from his paperwork, seeing his eldest daughter looking unsure and hesitant in the doorway of his office. "What's wrong, sweetie?"
Kya rubbed her arm. "I was reading some history scrolls..."
Zuko set his quill down. He and Katara hadn't hidden the war from them per se, but there were some details they hadn't explicitly told them yet. They'd decided to wait until they were older. But Zuko hadn't imagined that any of them would seek answers themselves...
"And? What did you learn?" He smiled kindly at her, gesturing to one of the seats in front of his desk. She was 14 now, old enough to understand the horrors of trauma and war.
Kya frowned as she walked forward. Instead of sitting she walked around the desk. Her hand stretched out towards him, "Daddy... how did you get that scar?"
Her hand hesitated, not quite touching the damaged skin. She had never been afraid to touch it before. Zuko smiled sadly.
There was no need to lie to her.
"My father burned me."
Kya swallowed roughly, nodding slowly. That was what she had read. She had known her grandfather was a horrid man that wrecked havoc on the whole world. Including his own family.
"I'll tell you the whole story if you want to hear it." He held up a finger, "On one condition."
His daughter tilted her head in question. He continued, "You have to keep in mind that you are living proof that our nation is healing from the war. Your mother and I didn't always get along, we were on opposite sides of the war after all. Don't think too badly of me... I made many mistakes when I was young."
Kya threw her arms around his neck, "I'll never think badly of you, Dad. Please tell me."
Zuko rested his cheek on top of her head, holding her close. When had his baby girl gotten so big? She was almost an adult already.
"I was about your age when it happened..."