Chapter Text
A few weeks later, Jet was sitting on the Freedom’s couch watching Bigshot. Zuko sat next to him with his knees tucked up to his chest. “Have you ever shot a gun before?” Jet raised an eyebrow.
“Never had a need to.” He shrugged and waved his fingers. “Firebender,” he said.
“It’s different. Do you want me to show you?” he asked.
“Why not. There’s fuckin’ nothing else to do.” Zuko sighed.
“I can think of a few things.” Jet winked. Zuko rolled his eyes and snorted. “C’mon, man.” He stood up and picked up a few cans off the floor. He set them across the back of the couch in a line. He pulled his gun out of it’s holster and checked the chamber. Zuko watched him with his arms crossed while he set up the makeshift shooting range. “Come on, get up.” Jet gestured toward where he stood a few yards from the couch. Zuko groaned and walked over. Jet pressed the gun into his hand and stood behind Zuko. His chest brushed against Zuko’s muscular back. Heat rolled off Zuko as he looked at the gun in his hand. He set his hands on Zuko’s shoulders and breathed in his scent. He smelled like a campfire and gunsmoke with a hint of chili pepper.
“Did you just… smell me?” Zuko said.
“No.” Jet felt heat rise into his cheeks. He could feel Zuko’s eye roll even though he couldn’t see it. “Okay, so put your forefinger along the frame just above the trigger and and your other three fingers wrap around the grip. Then put your other hand over that.” Zuko’s back muscles tightened as he held the gun. “Okay so to cock it, pull back on the barrel and it will load the chamber.” Zuko cocked the gun and his shoulders tightened even more. “Now point it at the can, look down the sight, watch out for the recoil, and move the trigger.” He squeezed Zuko’s shoulders lightly. Zuko pulled the trigger and the bullet embedded itself in the couch, just below the can.
“Holy shit! ” Zuko exclaimed. “That’s fucking insane.” He leaned against Jet’s chest.
“Do you want to try again?” Jet smirked.
“Fuck yeah.” Zuko nodded.
“Okay, relax a little this time, don’t overthink it. Just point and shoot,” he said. Zuko’s shoulders relaxed a bit under Jet’s hand. He cocked the gun and aimed. This time the can went flying off the couch. “Nice shot, darlin’.” He grinned and clapped Zuko on the shoulder. “Try again.” Zuko did, hitting one of the other two cans. His fourth and fifth shot both landed in the couch, but the last one hit the last can. “Good boy,” he purred into Zuko’s ear. Zuko shivered against his chest. “You did so well.” A wave of heat rolled over Jet and he realized how close they were. Zuko’s back brushed against his chest and his leg was placed in between Jet’s.
“That was something else,” Zuko said.
“You’re a natural.” He slid his hands down Zuko’s arms and let them rest on his hips. Zuko turned around and put his empty hand on Jet’s chest, the other one pointing the gun at the ground. Their noses were so close that they almost touched. Zuko’s warm breath washed over Jet’s lips. “Can I kiss you?” He squeezed Zuko’s bony hips. Instead of replying, Zuko surged forward and pressed their lips together. Jet shut his eyes and melted into the kiss. It was slow and warm. Zuko’s lips were soft against his own and his hand burned against his chest. Jet moaned quietly and Zuko slipped his tongue into his mouth. His hand slid up to hook around Jet’s neck. Jet guided him toward the couch and pulled him into his lap as he sat down. Zuko panted when they broke apart, supporting himself on the back of the couch and leaning over Jet. His hand was still wrapped around the gun. “D’ya want to put that thing down, sweetheart?”
“Fuck, that’s proboably smart.” He smirked and put the gun on the arm of the couch. “You’re fucking georgeous, Jet,” he said. He grabbed the collar of Jet’s leather jacket and pulled him up for another kiss.
“Spirits,” Smellerbee groaned when she walked into the room. “Gross. Get a room.”
Zuko climbed out of Jet’s lap and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, Bee,” he said.
“I mean, the sexual tension was insufferable, but this is the meeting room. Please don’t fuck in here.” She rolled her eyes. The two boys mumbled their apologies. “Anyway, Longshot sent me in here to find the source of the shooting, but I take it that it was you guys.”
“Yeah, I was teaching Zuko how to shoot.” Jet slung an arm over Zuko’s shoulders and smirked.
“Gotcha.” She nodded and looked at Zuko. “Are you any good?”
“I made three out of six shots. I don’t know if that’s good or not.” Zuko shrugged.
“Not bad, newbie.” She smiled. Zuko smirked.
“Do we have any leads?” Jet asked, getting bored of the topic.
“Not yet,” she said.
“Shit.” Jet slid further into the couch.
“Hey, now you have Zuko to keep you entertained until we get one.” She snickered.
“Fuck off .” Jet threw a pillow at her. Zuko buried his face in his hands. She cackled as she left the room. Zuko chuckled from behind his hands and Jet broke out in laughs.
“I have the worst fucking luck when I’m making out.” Zuko chuckled.
“Why?”
“My uncle walked in on the last girl I dated and me kissing like five times. All in different places too. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this,” he said.
“Shit, that is unlucky.” Jet snorted. “Your uncle seems like a nice guy, he doesn’t deserve that.”
“I know!” Zuko exclaimed. He sat back on the couch and glanced at the TV. A familiar face flashed across the screen. Jet started to say something but Zuko shushed him.
“Princess Azula is the daughter of The Phoenix King, that’s right, Ozai’s only daughter. She’s a powerful fire and lightning bender and Ozai’s top enforcer. She’s been seen in Earth Kingdom territory with two unknown women. Reports say one is an excellent acrobat and one throws knives,” the cowboy said.
“Talk about girl power.” The cowgirl tipped her hat. “I wouldn’t mind being in that foursome, mm-mm.” She grinned.
“Since when was she gay?” Jet chuckled.
“Shut up,” Zuko hissed.
“These girls are very dangerous, so you better keep your wits about, amigos. Shucks howdy,” the cowboy said.
“Happy hunting.” The cowgirl winked. Zuko folded his long legs up to his chest and a scowl etched itself into his face.
“That’s your sister right?” Jet put his hand on Zuko’s shoulder. Zuko nodded. “Shit, sweetheart. How’d she end up as Ozai’s enforcer and you on his hit list?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it,” Zuko cringed.
“Okay, darlin’,” Jet said. He pressed a kiss to Zuko’s temple. “Do you want me to distract you?” He smirked. Zuko nodded numbly. Jet took his hand and led him out of the meeting room to his bedroom.
~*~
Later the four of them were eating dinner in the common room. Smellerbee and Longshot were sitting on the couch, Jet was sitting on the coffee table, and Zuko was leaning stiffly against a cabinet. His jaw clenched when he shifted positions and shot a glare at Jet. Jet winked playfully and blew him a kiss. Zuko mouthed ‘dickhead’ at him and Jet replied with a flash of his middle finger. “Look, Shot, we get to bear witness to their first lovers quarrel.” Smellerbee grinned and elbowed his arm. Longshot smiled in response and looked at her fondly. “It’d be better if they would give us some context .” She looked pointedly at Jet, who gave her a mocking smile in response.
“No,” Zuko hissed. However she figured it out the next time Zuko grimaced when he shifted his weight.
“Ohh it’s like that .” She wrinkled her nose.
“I’m going to light myself on fire.” Zuko sighed and hung his head.
“Awe, I’ll miss you.” Jet smirked.
“Get bent,” Zuko replied. Jet got up from the coffee table and walked over toward him. He pressed a kiss to Zuko’s temple.
“Is this what we’re gonna have to deal with now?” Smellerbee gestured at the two of them.
“Yeah, probably.” Jet grinned. Smellerbee groaned and Longshot sighed. Jet put an arm around Zuko’s waist and nosed at his spiky hair.
“Changing the subject, I noticed we’re not far from the Ember Island Asteroid and I happen to know one of Ozai’s top men moved there a few years ago. A guy named Zhao. He has a big hand in the syndicate’s drug trade and he’s a huge creep,” Zuko said. He pushed a chunk of cabbage around his plate with his chopstick. “I think they said he’s worth 10 million woolongs.”
“Not bad.” Smellerbee shrugged. “Isn’t Ember Island, like, a place for rich people’s vacations?” Zuko nodded.
“I’ve heard it’s beautiful,” Jet said through a mouth full of food. “What kind of creep is he?”
“He was always really weird around when I was a teenager,” Zuko murmured.
“Oh ew. Yeah let’s go get him.” Jet wrinkled his nose.
“Maybe we can get a nice vacation out of it.” Smellerbee grinned.
“Yeah, my family has a house there that hasn’t been used in years,” Zuko said.
“Nice!” she exclaimed.
“It’s a beachfront place so… prime real estate. It’s worth like a million woolongs. There’s a hot tub and a sauna. Five bedrooms, six baths… a four car garage and place to park space crafts. Central heating and cooling,” he said, his voice getting softer.
“Sounds good, Zu.” Jet put a hand on his arm to stop his rabbling.
“Okay.” He nodded. Jet smiled at him and kissed his forehead. They finished dinner over light conversation and put their dishes in the dishwasher, knowing full well they weren’t going to put them away for at least a week. Afterwards, Jet was in Zuko’s bed, laying on his chest and pressing light kisses to his neck and collarbones, both of which were still covered by a black turtleneck.
“Did I really hurt you before?” He asked into the cotton fabric.
“‘M just sore. Haven’t done that in a while,” Zuko mumbled. He tried to run a hand through Jet’s hair, but it got stuck in the snarls. Jet winced when Zuko pulled his fingers out, pulling at the unkempt hair. “Sorry.” Zuko patted his head. He ran the flat of his palm down the side of his head and scratched behind Jet’s ear. Jet’s eyes slid shut and he rested his chin on Zuko’s chest. He hummed softly, his hands kneading Zuko’s turtleneck. “You’re like a cat,” Zuko murmured. “Such a pretty kitten.” Jet hummed in response, pressing his head further into Zuko’s hand.
“Are you worried about seeing Zhao again?” He asked, not wanting to admit how much he liked when Zuko called him ‘kitten’.
“Why should I be?” Zuko said.
“Well, you said he was creepy to you when you were a kid. How creepy is creepy?” Jet opened his eyes part way.
“Oh, spirits, nothing like that.” Zuko made a face. “He just looked at me weird and complimented me a lot, but not in the way people usually talk to their boss’s 13 year old son.”
“Yeah that’s weird. I’m sorry, Zu.” He rubbed his cheek against Zuko’s palm. Zuko shrugged.
~*~
Jet woke up in Zuko’s bed the next morning with Zuko’s golden eyes trained on his face. Jet smiled sleepily. “We landed an hour ago,” Zuko said. Jet sat up and rubbed his eyes, his face twisting in a yawn. Zuko sat up and rubbed Jet’s mop of hair.
“Why- yaw- why didn’t you wake me?” Jet frowned.
“You looked peaceful.” Zuko smiled briefly.
“Don’t tell me I already got you whipped.” Jet smirked. Zuko scoffed and cuffed Jet’s ear.
“You’re an idiot. I shoulda just gotten up,” he said.
“Okay, you’re the one who got on a spaceship with someone you don’t even know.” Jet’s smirk widened. Zuko rolled his eyes and got out of bed. Jet stretched his arms out against the bed, his hips raised in the air. Maybe Zuko had a point about him being cat-like. He stumbled into the meeting room after Zuko, still rubbing his eyes and yawning.
“Morning sleepyhead,” Smellerbee said. He made a noise of distaste. She pressed a cup of coffee into his head. He inhaled the dark scent, already feeling more alert. He looked over at Zuko who was already drinking his coffee and brooding on the couch. Jet walked over to him and sat down.
“When was the last time you were here?” Jet asked him.
“I was probably 15.” He shrugged. “With my uncle and cousin.”
“Fun,” Jet said. Zuko nodded silently, staring into his swirling coffee. “You’re not going to find anything in there besides coffee, darlin’,” he said. Zuko shrugged and took a sip. “What’s the plan for catching Zhao?”
“I don’t know. I’m not a plan guy. I was just gonna go for it.” He shrugged again. “My ex-boyfriend was a plans guy. He probably would have said something like ‘Zuko, you should figure out his schedule and attack when he’s least expecting him,” he said, pitching his voice up, smoothing out the gravelly tones, and adding a hint of excitement to his normally flat tone.
“Your ex sounds like a smart guy.” Jet said, fighting back the envy in his voice.
“He was kind of a dumbass,” he said. “Apparently I have a type.”
“Shut up.” Jet smirked.
When they finished their coffee, the four of them left the spaceship and walked out onto the beachhouse’s landing strip. “It’s fuckin’ toasty out here.” Jet fanned himself with his hand. “Bet you’re basking in this, huh firebender.” He clapped Zuko’s shoulder.
“It’s pretty nice.” Zuko stretched up, turning his face toward the sun. “It was never this warm and sunny in Ba Sing Se.” He flexed his hands, sparks flying from his fingertips. They walked toward the house.
“Do you have keys or something?” Jet asked, trying to open the large wooden doors.
“Jet, I’m a master firebender.” He smirked. He delivered a strong kick and the door went flying open. Jet snorted and Smellerbee giggled. They walked into the large entry hall. Zuko led them around the house, rather, mansion, showing off all the ridiculous amenities that the top crime boss in the galaxy could afford.
“Holy shit this place is amazing.” Jet grinned when they were sitting in one of the kitchens eating some of the canned food they found in the cabinets.
“Yeah, who knew some dirty tea boy would be such a boon to our quality of life,” Smellerbee said. Longshot smiled and nodded in approval.
“No biggie.” Zuko smiled sheepishly.
“So d’ya got any idea where to look for Zhao?” Jet asked.
“He’s a fan of casinos and fancy restaurants,” Zuko said. “And brothels.” He wrinkled his nose in disgust. Jet matched his sentiment.
“Let’s stick to casinos,” Smellerbee said. The other three nodded in agreement.