Katara was in her shower as she washed her long thick hair late at night, washing the day off her body to feel refreshed before bed. 

Her phone buzzed on the counter top in the kitchen as Sokka was making himself a bowl of cereal near by while Aang was on the counter chatting. Sokka noticed the phone ringing and saw it wasn't one of her contacts, it was a random number.

"Kataras phone, who's this?" Sokka answered and shoved a spoonful of Cheerios in his mouth and Aang cocked his head to the side. 

"Sokka?" Zuko rasped, like he was out of breath.

"God dammit Zuko, why are you calling my sister?" Sokka groaned holding the phone still to his ear. Aang seemed surprised Zuko was calling. 

"I-I didn't know who else to call, can-can- shit," zukos breath hitched as Sokka relaxed a little thinking the other boy wasn't okay.

"You might be better, can you come pick me up? Don't tell Katara?" Zuko asked almost like he was begging. Sokka and Aang looked at each other. 

"What happened? Why can't I go get Katara for you?" Sokka asked putting the phone on speaker for both boys to hear. 

"I'm kinda drunk, I need some help," zuko slurred with a whine.

"I knew you were a bad influence, for fucks sake man," Sokka groaned shaking his head. 

"I'm-I know, but just I need a hand, I can't be here anymore, I can't feel my face anymore and I need to leave but I ca-cant drunk and druve," Zuko groaned and it sounded like he stumbled.

"Please," he begged.

"He sounds desperate Sokka," Aang looked at him concerned. 

Sokka thought about it for a moment but sighed shaking his head. 

"Where are you Dude?" He asked annoyed as Aang jumped down.

-earlier that day-

"You look fancy, got a date?" Katara sat in the kitchen as Zuko was rolling up his sleeves of his black dress shirt and secured them above his elbows.

"I have a.. a job interview today, I wanna look nice," Zuko told her quietly straightening his shirt out.

"A job interview? I thought you were good with working for your uncle?" She sipped her tea and gave him a look.

"I love him and all, but I need a second job to be able to go to college," Zuko ran a hand through his hair with a sigh.

"Cool, where are you applying for?" She smiled leaning against the counter. 

"Its an editor I'm going to job shadow for a while and I'll see where it goes from there," he lied with ease.

"I hate getting dressed up like this," he mumbled and Katara looked at him.

"I think you look nice," Katara told him gently, Zuko blushed softly feeling his chest tighten. 

"Thanks," he looked away.

"I'll drop you off if you want, I need to get going," Zuko rubbed the back of his head and she nodded.

-

"Welcome Zuko," Ozai grinned seeing his son walked in the meeting room as it was only his father and sister in the room. 

"I'm here, now what?" Zuko asked stood at the end of the table.

  "Don't be like that son, I have an offering I know you won't refuse," Ozai smirked as he motioned to the spot next to him on his right. 

"Won't or cant?" Zuko narrowed his eyes but sat next to his father, his scarred side facing away. 

"I think you're smarter than you let on Zuko, i do believe you've learned your lesson," he looked at the boy as azula quirked a brow at her brother as he clenched his fists.

"Then what do you want from me?" Zuko growled.

"Nothing much, attend the meetings with your sister and I, a few errands once in a while, get to know the business because for all you know this is your future," Ozai told him calmly and Zuko gulped a little.

"What do I get out of it? You know I don't want to be here or have this as my future, why should I stay?" Zuko asked boldly ignoring everything in his head that screamed at him. 

"Hmm you have a point, how about you get to keep your life?" Ozai looked at him. 

Zuko pursed his lips looking down, he knew he fucked up, he shouldn't have come, this wasn't worth it- 

"Never mind, I know that's not worth much to you anyways," Ozai waved him off.

"Do as I say, I'll pay for any college you go too, full ride, every book, your dorm, any college you dream of going I'll pay for, no debt," he smirked which caught his son by surprise.

"And you'll be paid here still of course, I honor the labor laws," he chuckled but Zuko felt sick. 

He could go anywhere he wanted, but work for a crime lord, his father would know where he was but he could have the education for a career he would be able to achieve now... with that kind of money. But it was still dirty money.. 

"What if I say no?" He asked quietly.

"I know you won't," Ozai grinned.

"So do we have a deal?" The man asked handing Zuko a contract.

"Give me some time?" Zuko asked wide eyes.  "You have until tomorrow at this time, 24 hours," Ozai nodded.

"But do please stay, there's a gathering I believe you'll like to be at, gain some perspective and get to know our clients, there will be free drinks," he hummed leaning back in his chair. 

Zuko looked at azula unsure as she's been oddly silent this whole time. Did she have the same offer, they made eye contact as if there was communication between the siblings. A silent understanding while they still hated each other.

"I have to drive home, I can't drink," Zuko shook his head a little.

  "Just one drink?" Ozai smirked. 

- 

Zuko sat on a couch in a dark room with purple lights to give the room some light, it was like a club almost as he minded his own business. Ignoring the men with multiple women on their arms or in their lap. 

He finished his second drink of bourbon trying to not feel so anxious anymore, he should stop now and start to sober up, he didn't trust himself to sleep somewhere like this. 

"Have another drink?" A woman in a small outfit held a bottle as she and other girls were in charge of getting people drunk.

  "No thank you," Zuko put his hand on top of the glass he had shaking his head.

"Come on handsome, have one more drink," she gently took his hand off the glass and poured him another. 

Zuko closed his eyes shaking his head as he put his hand on his face. He was feeling warmer, his face was heated. He knew this feeling to well.

"Don't be shy handsome," she sat with him and Zuko scooted away but drank anyways trying to feel better. 

One more drink led to another and another until it turned into five more, and he wasn't able to grab his own lighter to get a cigarette.  Zuko leaned against the couch feeling dizzy as he looked around not seeing Azula anywhere, he couldn't even tell the time.

"F-Father?" Zuko looked around confused but his head spun more when he tried to stand. He knew he was drunk as he stumbled trying to stay on his feet.

"I-I need to leaaave," Zuko leaned against the wall as a girl walked over holding a shot. 

"One more?" Now a brunette smirked at him and held it to his lips and raised the small glass for him to take the shot.

"Kat I need to gooo.." Zuko looked at the brunette dizzily as the girl hummed.

  "But stay~" she held his face and kissed his cheek. 

Zuko leaned against her a little as his nose brushed against the dark brown hair, she smelt like an expensive perfume and dry shampoo. It wasn't Katara, her hair smelt like coconut and sea salt, like a beach..

"No-no I'm 17, I want to go," he slurred pushing himself off but fell against the wall. 

"Wait your literally a kid?" She blinked surprised seeing he was flushed red and unable to keep his head straight.

"Okay, who do you want me to call?" The woman in the tiny black top and shorts knelt down to him as she turned his head to her.

"I want kat.." he closed his eyes. 

"You can't call your cat, do you want me to call your mom or dad? Or do you have a buddy I can get?" The brunette asked as she found his phone in his pocket.

"Yellow book," Zuko motioned in a random direction.

  "Okay your gonna have to show me tough guy," the woman groaned pulling him to his feet. She put his arm around her and helped the kid out the door to the parking lot where everyone had their cars.

"Which is yours?" She asked but he motioned to the motorcycle in the corner.

"Oh damn, nice bike kid," she smirked and dragged him over with her as Zuko used the wall as well knowing she was smaller than him. 

She set him on the ground next to the bike and found his backpack strapped on the back, she dug through and found the yellow note book he mentioned, on the first page was a phone number and the name Katara.

"Alright, I'm gonna have to go back inside, I'll dial the number though," she knelt to the boy and used his phone to dial Kataras number. 

"I'll keep an eye out for you if your still here in the morning, sorry it got this bad," the woman told him as Zuko groaned a little rubbing his face. 

"Thank you," he whispered.

"Take care of yourself kid," she kissed his forehead and let the phone ring in his hand as Zuko sat up a little more trying to get his thoughts together.

"Kataras phone, who's this?"

"Sokka?" He whispered surprised.