I have always thought that Zuko's scar was positioned weirdly, if it is a handprint why is it perfectly sideways across one eye? It almost seems too perfect and conveniently placed, realisticly it would be more at an angle - a more natural hand placement for the position Zuko was in compared to Ozai.
Surely Zuko would have naturally flinched away from the pain, his body trying to escape in a knee jerk reaction - causing the scar to be less recognisable as a hand and more off center. I always just assumed this was convenient character design, allowing for easier animation whatever.
However, the placement makes perfect sense if Zuko was lying on his side. Ozai set his sons face on fire and held him in place, pinned to the ground to ensure he could not escape until the damage was permenant. I am now obsessed with Zuko struggling with regular sleeping positions because lying against a cold surface always makes his nightmares and flashbacks worse.
Iroh begging a thirteen year old Zuko to please try and sleep because he hasn't for three days and his fever from the infection won't go down. Zuko learning to sleep sat up instead of lying down, the gaang always picking fun at him for being 'paranoid', not understanding. On especially cold nights the gaang all sleeping slightly closer to Zuko, keeping him warmer and safer after finding out about his scar and trauma.
Toph sitting up with him on nights where he cannot close his eyes without seeing flames, the earthbender being able to sense his uncontrollable heartbeat during a panic attack. Sokka beginning to insist that he is too hot at night, giving Zuko extra blankets to lie on as to not feel the cold stone underneath him. Katara watching over him as he sleeps, because even though she despises him her motherly instincts kick in as she watches him wake up from the fifth night terror that night.
Aang noticing that Zuko always seems to be calmer around animals, making up excuses so that Zuko always has Momo near or on him during the night. Zuko waking up after the agni kai with Azula, surrounded by his friends all dog piled on top of him and realising that he has slept without fear on his side for the first time in three years.
