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Dear Diary,

I knew today was going to be a mess the second my office exploded.

Okay, not really exploded. But when your new client enters angry, dramatic, and literally ON FIRE, it feels like an explosion.

The smoke clears, and there he stands—Zuko.

Scowling. Arms crossed. Half his body radiating heat like an active volcano.

I calmly sip my coffee. “So. You’re the new client.”

“I don’t need therapy!” he snaps immediately.

Uh-huh. Classic.

“Cool,” I say. “Then why are you here?”

He clenches his jaw. His fists tighten. And then, after a long pause—

“…Uncle signed me up.”

OF COURSE HE DID.

Iroh, you beautiful, sneaky genius.

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The Zuko Problem™

I get Zuko to sit down (mostly because I tell him he can either sit or I’ll bill Iroh extra), and the story spills out.

He’s been hunting the Avatar for years.

It was supposed to bring back his honor.

But now? He’s not sure he even wants to anymore.

Also, his father is the actual worst, and Zuko desperately wants his approval.

It’s a lot.

I nod. “So, just to clarify—you don’t actually hate the Avatar?”

Zuko’s eye twitches. “I do! …I mean, I don’t. …I mean—I have to hate him.”

Oh, buddy.

“You don’t have to hate anyone,” I point out.

Zuko glares. “If I don’t bring him back to the Fire Nation, my father will never forgive me!”

Ah. There it is. Daddy Issues™.

I take a deep breath. It’s time for some hard truths.

“Zuko,” I say carefully, “has your father ever given you any reason to believe he’ll love you if you succeed?”

Zuko freezes.

I press on. “Let’s say you capture the Avatar tomorrow. You bring him back in chains. Then what? Your father praises you? Suddenly treats you with kindness? Calls you ‘son’ again?”

Zuko swallows. I can see the doubt creeping in.

“…He has to,” he whispers.

I shake my head. “No, he doesn’t. Because Ozai doesn’t care about you, Zuko. He never has.”

BOOM. THERE IT IS.

Zuko shoots up, fists clenched, flames crackling at his fingertips. “You don’t know anything about my father!”

“I know he burned his own son’s face off,” I say flatly. “And if you think a man who does that is capable of unconditional love, then I’ve got some bad news for you.”

The fire dies instantly.

Zuko stares at the floor. His hands shake. He doesn’t deny it.

And that’s when I know—I got through.

I take a softer approach. “Listen, Zuko. I get it. You want your father’s approval. But if you spend your whole life chasing it, you’re going to wake up one day and realize you never lived for yourself.”

His jaw tightens. “…Then what am I supposed to do?”

I lean back. “Figure out what you want. Not what your father wants. Not what the Fire Nation wants. Not even what your uncle wants. Just you.”

Zuko looks lost.

And honestly? That’s progress.

Because accepting you’re lost is the first step to finding your way.

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Session Notes – Patient File #005

Client: Zuko, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. Currently on Fire (literally and emotionally).

Issue: Severe Daddy Issues™, Honor Addiction, and existential dread.

Plan:

✔ Step 1: Accept that Ozai is a trash father.

✔ Step 2: Figure out what Zuko actually wants—besides trauma.

✔ Step 3: Maybe make a friend? (Preferably one who doesn’t want to kill him.)

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Final Thoughts:

Zuko is a walking crisis in human form, but he wants to change.

He just doesn’t know how yet.

If nothing else, I hope he leaves this session knowing he deserves better than what his father gave him.

But also?

He definitely needs like ten more sessions.