This is worse than Mozzie. I have developed so much headcanon for Zuko it isn't even funny. How about a bit of headcanon for the entire Ozai-and-spawn category?
I like to think that before Ozai decided Zuko was such a failure, he treated him a lot like we see him treating Azula in canon. Zuko was the golden boy and heir apparent, and this is what Zuko meant when he talked about a time when his family was actually happy. Ozai wasn't a warm, caring, emotionally healthy person, but he hadn't really started with the bulk of the abuse yet. Then Azula started really excelling, and Ozai decided Zuko wasn't worthy of his vision, and started treating her like the golden child and Zuko like dirt. This is why Zuko is convinced daddy dearest loves him, and also why he thinks if he just does the impossible, he will be the golden boy again. He also thinks that his father doesn't see capturing the Avatar (who hadn't been seen for a hundred years, no less!) is impossible for Zuko. Zuko sees his inability to do it as a failure to live up to his father's reasonable standards, and that Azula would be able to do it. Not only has Ozai by doing this put his children in direct competition, but now every time he abuses Zuko, he's also abusing Azula. Azula remembers Zuko being the golden boy. She has seen the price of imperfection in Ozai's eyes, and she's terrified of paying it.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2012-08-04 02:32 pm (UTC)I like to think that before Ozai decided Zuko was such a failure, he treated him a lot like we see him treating Azula in canon. Zuko was the golden boy and heir apparent, and this is what Zuko meant when he talked about a time when his family was actually happy. Ozai wasn't a warm, caring, emotionally healthy person, but he hadn't really started with the bulk of the abuse yet. Then Azula started really excelling, and Ozai decided Zuko wasn't worthy of his vision, and started treating her like the golden child and Zuko like dirt. This is why Zuko is convinced daddy dearest loves him, and also why he thinks if he just does the impossible, he will be the golden boy again. He also thinks that his father doesn't see capturing the Avatar (who hadn't been seen for a hundred years, no less!) is impossible for Zuko. Zuko sees his inability to do it as a failure to live up to his father's reasonable standards, and that Azula would be able to do it. Not only has Ozai by doing this put his children in direct competition, but now every time he abuses Zuko, he's also abusing Azula. Azula remembers Zuko being the golden boy. She has seen the price of imperfection in Ozai's eyes, and she's terrified of paying it.