A/N: Sorry about the long wait. I'm not discontinuing this one, but I'm not promising anything quick. Maybe quicker than this chapter, though. XD

Not mine.

Zuko steadied himself as he stared down at the grave stone. His mind cleared a bit as he read the words again. He had probably read them dozens of times by now, but he still couldn't believe what they said:

"General Iroh of the Fire Nation, Dragon of the West"

Why, Uncle? He thought, tears slipping down his cheeks. He swigged from the bottle in his hand. Why did you have to leave me? I need you!

Slipping to the ground, he absently sipped his bottle and traced the carved letters with his pinky. I need you.

"Here again are you, Zuzu?"

Whipping around and trying to stand at the same time, Zuko wobbled to his feet. His sister, his insane, crazy, incognito sister, was standing before him, arms crossed over her chest.

"Whatd'ya want, Azula? I did it. What mored'ya want?"

She stalked a few steps forward, rubbing her chin. "Been drinking again, Brother? Why is that? You've never drunk before."

He swigged, as if to prove a point, keeping his eye locked on hers. "No reason. I just don't like to remember what I do for you." He lifted the bottle, stepping backwards to keep his balance. "This jus' so happens to help me do that."

She raised an eyebrow, a sly smile sliding across her face. "You don't like my orders, Zuzu? All I ask you to do is have a good time and let me handle the rest."
Zuko wanted to explode that what she told him to do was not his idea of a "good time" and letting her handle things was terrifying, but it was then that he really began to lose his balance. As he was blacking out, he heard her laughing. "Oh Zuko..."

When I woke up, the boy was gone, my injuries throbbing a lot less and a fluffy blanket mercifully covering my body. He seemed always to know when my one and only 'client' was coming, because he was consistently there immediately afterward.

Everything ached. He only came about twice a week, (whereas some clients would come see girls every night), but when he came, I never knew what to expect. Tonight was especially bad because he was playing with fire. Burned my robe off, little bit by little bit, and began burning my hair off for no particular reason. Than he began threatening to burn my breasts if I didn't let him do what he wanted.

Which I don't know what the big deal was. I learned right at the beginning that it was no use to try to get away, so he pretty much did as he pleased.

But for some reason, he did anyway. He burned me in my tenderest spots even though I cried out and kissed him and tried to let him in to make him stop. Oddly enough, he had tears in his eyes.

Although the fire wasn't as bad as the last time. Last time, he had chained me in place and breathed fire from his mouth with every kiss. It was torture. His hands were glowing red with heat every time he touched me. He even burned a spot under the small of my back to keep me from relaxing. I cried, tried to make him stop.

But just the physical abuse I can handle. I hate when he switches to words.

"Who is that one? The one that abandoned you?" He yells.

When I didn't answer, he back handed me across the face. "Answer me when I ask you something! Tell me his name! Say his name, peasant!"

I began to sob, silently, the tears trickling lightly down my face. "I... I can't! He hasn't! I haven't been abandoned!"

He laughed. I was saved, for the moment. But almost every night he demands for me to say the name.

When a fire ball hovering inches from my face, his other hand on my neck, he yells once more. "Say it, girl! Say the name of the one who abandoned you!"

With every once of my mind, the part leftover from before, I force out the name: "It's Zuko!"

His eyes widen. He scrambled backward, the fire slipping harmlessly into the air. Hearing his own name was surprising.

I closed my eyes. Listened to him breathe quickly, the one that I used to trust.

When I reopened my eyes, his were narrowed into slits. He dressed slowly, stealing harsh kisses and sucking and my raw lips. As he exited, he looked back,

"The name you were looking for is Aang."

u I'm so evil. I'm not even trying to make it definitely Kataang or Zutara. It's kind of... both? XD Cruelty is my middle name, apparently.