I can feel their eyes. Always the eyes. Eyes that want me, eyes that are amused by me, and eyes that hate or fear me. It's always been the eyes.

I sharpen my blade. Iroh was making tea.

"So, are we going to talk about it?" Sokka asked.

"What?" Toph said.

"Him!" Sokka yelled pointing at me. 

I ignore him. I continue sharping my sword. 

"There's nothing to talk about." I say. 

"Nothing? You killed them!" Sokka yelled.

"Done it before. I'm a champion after all." I say.

"What? Burn treats you like a pet." Katara said.

"That's because he is a pet." Toph said.

"Thank you for clearing that up." I say.

"My pleasure." Toph said eating crab puffs. 

I ignore them. They were still staring at me. Katara walked over. She examined my wounds.

"Your chest. I can help." She said. 

I push away from her.

"Like you have before?" I ask.

She looked at me. 

"What do you mean?" Katara asked.

"It's better that I just stay here. Not like I have a choice anyway." I say. 

"We need you to teach Aang fire bending." Toph said.

"No you don't." I say.

I put the sword back into my case. I turn. 

"Prince Zuko all your decisions have led up to a point. Do you really wish to be her pet?" Uncle asked.

"I don't have a choice." I say.

"There is always a choice. You are either too afraid to let go our hold on." Uncle said.

Sometimes his wisdom was pointless, but he did have a point. I was afraid to cross Burn. After all, she murdered her sisters and presumed the throne.