Zuko waited minutes to pass by to feel something, if it was a single pill to kill him it should work fast like multiples would. Nothing.

Sokka covered his mouth as Katara was silently watching him. They both were in shock.

But a sickening feeling dropped in their guts when Zuko began laughing a little. He covered his mouth to hide his amusement but he broke into laughter. The room was silent but he chuckled shaking his head.

"You fucking lied," Zuko snorted like it was an inside joke.

"Was it a test?" He looked at his father wide eyes and a wicked smile. Zuko grabbed the gun and held it to his head.

The barrel pressed against his hair as he pulled the trigger.

Click

Nothing.

Zuko laughed in disbelief as he kept the barrel of the gun to his head. His shoulders shaking in laughter.

"Oh I should've known," he snorted as everyone looked at him like he was crazy.

"So, was it a test to see which of my friends I'd kill and then get them to hate me when I'd pick? I'll give it to you dad, it was a good plan," Zuko hummed as he finished the wine and set it down harshly.

"You said it yourself, I rather finish what I started, much rather do that then let someone die in my place,"

The room fell silent again.

"Kat, Sokka, leave," Zuko didn't look at them as he opened the side of the gun that he held. It had two bullets. Oops.

"Do you remember what I taught you?" Zuko asked calmly as he set the bullets in its proper place. Sokka paled seeing the bullets.

"Yes," Katara took a shaky breath as she stood up. He slid the gun across the table and she stopped it.

"Two are left, keep yourself safe," he nodded sternly.

"They dont get to leave," zhao stood up but Zuko grabbed the knife on the table that was for the meal but was never touched.

"We had a deal!" Zuko barked as he was on his feet already.

Ozai put his hand up to stop them from continuing.

"They may leave, you can leave as well," Ozai told them calmly as Zuko was taken by surprise.

"But know that it's not over, this was a small test, only for you to remember how easy it is for me to take anything and everything from you boy, never forget that," Ozai glared at his eldest as Zuko set the knife down.

"I own you," he sneered a little and Zuko clenched his fists.

Ozai waited for the answer and Zuko knew what he was waiting for.

"Yes sir," he whispered and the waiters opened the door. Zuko took the lead and walked to the door, he waited seeing Katara and Sokka quickly followed after him.

Zuko took the gun from Katara and handed it to the waiter before slamming the doors shut.

Zuko immediately fell to his knees as he gripped his head as his body shook.

"What the fuck?" Sokka whispered mortified as Katara was at his side.

Zuko was breathing quickly and shook his head a little as he covered his face.

"What the fuck Zuko?!" Sokka raised his voice at him.

"We need to go," Katara told the boys quickly. She grabbed zukos hand to pull him back up, they jogged a little to the exit but Katara could feel his hand shaking in hers. She pulled him more as Sokka ran behind them fearful still of where they were. She pushed the door open and saw they were outside, they were in the city still.

They painted heavily as Sokka leaned against the wall rubbing his face from the tears that dried from the fear he experienced.

"I knew, you had a fucked up family," Sokka growled a little.

"But what the fuck was that?!" He yelled storming towards Zuko and reached for his shirt.

Zuko gasped a little tripping backwards as he put his hands up quickly.

"Are you crazy?! You put my little sister in danger! You had a gun and talked like you were part of a fucking mafia! You know how to fight with a gun! You're not a gang leader your a fucking kid so what the hell was that?!" He screamed at him as he stood on the curb and Zuko was below him from standing on the empty street.

"I'm-I'm sorry, I thought you'd be able to get away," zukos voice shook.

"And you still took the fucking pill thinking it was going to kill you?!" Sokka cried out confused.

Zuko shook his head as he kept his eyes down, he gave up and sat on the curb with his face in his hands. He didn't have an excuse. They didn't know he's witness murders and buildings burning, they didn't know the shit that was normal to him.

He felt someone sit next to him as their knees touched. He knew it was Katara.

"So that's why you made me shoot a gun? Because of zhao?" She sighed a little resting her head on his shoulder. She wasn't afraid of him.

"And that's why you slept on my couch without letting me know," Katara started to put the pieces together.

"And why you rather work for your shitty father than tell him no," she listed and Zuko stayed silent.

"Tell me something at least, I don't want an apology I just want to know what's on your mind," she sighed a little scooting closer to him and kept her head on his shoulder.

"I'm tired,"

"Did you know that pill was fake?" She whispered to him.

He shook his head with his hands over his face.

"Did you know that gun didn't have the bullets in the first?"

He shook his head again.

Katara closed her eyes as a tear ran down her face.

"You tried to kill yourself before?" Her voice cracked. He pushed his hands from his face to over his ears and leaned forward with his forehead against his knees.

"I just want it to stop, everything hurts, I'm always tired of hearing his voice, I'm sorry," Zuko whimpered a little keeping his body tight in a ball.

He remembered as a kid when his father would scream he just wanted to stop hearing the world, he loved taking baths because he could go underwater and just have it be quiet for once.

"I'm glad it was a fail, the pill, the gun, because I know your not ready yet to leave," Katara didn't touch him as she clasped her hands over her knees and looked up at the sky, the sun just settled in the horizon.

"You might've before but not anymore, you said it yourself, your better," she sighed a little.

"Plus I want to see you graduate college, and start a career you love, you owe me that much okay?" She glanced down at him seeing he was less tense.

"I don't want you to die for me, I want you to live for you, I know you have a future, have I ever been wrong?" Katara smiled gently and he pulled his hands off his ears.

"No," he finally answered.

"I still want to talk about this, the whole thing, but maybe tomorrow, I think we should go get some food, I'm hungry," Katara patted his back and smiled back at her brother brightly.

"You want food sokka?" She asked even though he was still pissed.

"...yes..."

"Good, I'm in the mood for like noodles and boba, just me?" Katara got back to her feet and stretched her arms up. Zuko looked at her calmly but there was still something in his eyes that told her he wasn't okay still. She assumed it was part of his PTSD, it was obvious he had it.

She smiled holding her hand out for him, he took it and stood up, feeling her fingers laced with his as he sighed relieved.

"I'm sorry you went through that, both of you," Zuko told the siblings sincerely.

"We all walked out of there alive," Sokka crossed his arms. "I'm pissed about my car though,"

His stomach gurgled and told him it was time for dinner.

"Okay yea let's get something to eat," Sokka whined a little.