Honesty's never been something he's been terribly good at. Not because lying's an art he's perfected over time so much as he's actually an incredibly guarded person. He spoke up and said what was on his mind once, shared what he really thought, and it nearly cost him his half his eyesight and hearing. His sight in that eyes still wasn't what it ought to be, but he's gotten used to it by now. He's honestly lucky he made it out of having a fistful of flames pressed to his face with just an ugly scar and mangled ear to show for it.
Not that any of them know that. Zuko's made a point not to make his joining of their group about what his father did to him as a child or his blood ties to Avatar Roku. This war isn't about him, and he doesn't need, nor want, their pity. He's done feeling sad and ashamed for having the gall to stand up to a tyrant, to say no to someone who made people cower in fear until they said yes. If anything, his scar is a mark of courage these days, even if he's the only one who knows it.
Whether they believed he was burnt by his own fire, a childhood accident, or a firebending mishap with someone else while in the midst of learning how to bend didn't matter. It wouldn't change anything; the past or what needed to be done.
But honest is something he knows he needs to be with Katara. He lied to her once (not that his "lie" had been an actual lie, so much as his choices after delivering those truths being some of the worst decisions he's made in his life, all because he wanted to gain the favor of a man who thought burning a child's face was an appropriate punishment), and he was determined not to do it again. Not after he'd finally earned back her trust.
"You go after everyone else. Someone has to go after you."
no subject
Honesty's never been something he's been terribly good at. Not because lying's an art he's perfected over time so much as he's actually an incredibly guarded person. He spoke up and said what was on his mind once, shared what he really thought, and it nearly cost him his half his eyesight and hearing. His sight in that eyes still wasn't what it ought to be, but he's gotten used to it by now. He's honestly lucky he made it out of having a fistful of flames pressed to his face with just an ugly scar and mangled ear to show for it.
Not that any of them know that. Zuko's made a point not to make his joining of their group about what his father did to him as a child or his blood ties to Avatar Roku. This war isn't about him, and he doesn't need, nor want, their pity. He's done feeling sad and ashamed for having the gall to stand up to a tyrant, to say no to someone who made people cower in fear until they said yes. If anything, his scar is a mark of courage these days, even if he's the only one who knows it.
Whether they believed he was burnt by his own fire, a childhood accident, or a firebending mishap with someone else while in the midst of learning how to bend didn't matter. It wouldn't change anything; the past or what needed to be done.
But honest is something he knows he needs to be with Katara. He lied to her once (not that his "lie" had been an actual lie, so much as his choices after delivering those truths being some of the worst decisions he's made in his life, all because he wanted to gain the favor of a man who thought burning a child's face was an appropriate punishment), and he was determined not to do it again. Not after he'd finally earned back her trust.
"You go after everyone else. Someone has to go after you."