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Chapter Text

When his sister was born, Zuko stared down with interest at the small being in his mothers arms. This was his sister. It was so cool!

He was kicked out of the room after the brief introduction to give his mother rest and his father a chance to take a look at his new princess. But, he didn’t mind that much. The turtle ducks could keep him company until Azula was ready.

Turns out, she was ready faster than anyone had predicted. At the young age of two, Azula had nearly burned off her fathers eyebrows.

Four year-old Zuko watched as his father yanked his face back in surprise as his mother gaped and began chuckling. He watched as a grin slowly spread across his fathers face as it softened, and felt his own excitement at the surprise flame.

Six year-old Zuko felt a different burn in his cheeks when Azula perfected another basic form. He was furious! Zuko was older and he tries harder and he should be up there with her, even ahead of her!

His father made it clear that he agreed, with rough grabs, dragging him up when the training instructor would not, forcing his son to do every form over and over again, even without a flame to accompany it.

Six year-old Zuko was stubborn. He had decided enough was enough, and that he was a bender. He decided that he would firebend, right here, right now. This next form would blow them all away.

Six year-old Zuko stood proud against his father’s surprise.

Six year-old Zuko hugged his sister as she glowed, screaming “Zuzu’s a firebender!”

Six year-old Zuko decided that he could do anything.

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The first time Azula felt... weird, was when she was four. She was surprised she could even remember the moment.

The scene in front of her should be nice. Her mother was burying her face into Zuko’s neck as his own screams of laughter, just like he did to her sometimes. It was funny, watching him squirm in their mothers grasp.

Not today, though.

She ran up to them crying. No matter how many times she tried, she couldn’t explain what was wrong. She was angry and sad and so distressed, and she just could not for the life of her understand why.

But, that was ok. Zuko wrapped Azula up in his arms as their mothers own long robes dragged them both into her lap. It was comforting, and questions slowed in time with her sobs.

She experienced the feeling again, many times.

Zuko was with father, training. Zuko was being talked to by father. Zuko was snuggling with Uncle Iroh, playing with Lu Ten. Zuko was rambling to mom about every single play he had learned because “Love amongst the Dragons is my favorite! Can you read it again?”

It made her stomach turn like someone was waterbending her insides. Azula hated it. But, she never cried over it again, not where people could see anyway. Time moved on and she forced herself to get used to the foreign feeling, which wasn’t feeling so foreign lately.

She was eight when she decided to ignore it completely. It was a weakness and a nuisance, getting in the way of her and Zuko’s games. He was closing in on her firebending forms, almost as perfect as she is. Almost.

Azula is a princess that sticks to her decisions.

Azula is also eight years-old when she learns that all decisions are not supposed to be kept.

Zuko had failed another form that she was excelling at. Not a new occurrence, but definitely another win for her own ego. She smiled as he failed, because that meant that she was still winning their unspoken competition. Her mother, on the other hand, grimaced. That was also not a new occurrence.

What was new was her father, even her grandfather, being here, watching. What was also new was her own smile falling, the feeling surging up as her grandfather’s face fell too.

Azula and her mother watched as her father got up and hauled Zuko back to his feet, anger rolling off him in waves.

She had seen this anger directed at Zuko before, and always soaked it up. It meant that Azula had done something right, that she was better, that she was loved. It meant that all her hard work was paying off, because looking so perfect wasn’t as tireless as she made it work.

But, for some reason, right now was different.

It could have been because her father had hauled Zuko up with a grip that would definitely leave a bruise, something that she’s only heard of, scoffed at even.

“Don’t mess up then, Zuzu,” she had teased, eyes narrowed and voice poisonous.

Or maybe it could have also been because her grandfather was watching, unamused and unimpressed. Maybe it would have been different if he didn’t look so- so bored. Like this was normal, and should be normal.

Or maybe, just maybe, it’s because her mother sat there unmoving, her eyes locked on the floor. She looked helpless, which Azula knew was not true. Her mother was the future Firelady, she had so much power! Even she could not be so…weak, right?

But as she finally locked eyes with Zuko, who had looked at her with pure panic in his eyes, she guessed it was because of none of those things. Because here was Azula, the princess of the fire nation, watching the prince, the heir, get hurt.

And she could do nothing but watch.

After the scolding that left even her trembling, she forced Zuko to sit and listen to their father and grandfather's talk. Of course, she won in the unspoken “who could stay here the longest” competition, but she received no prize.

She received the news that her father wanted to kill Zuko. The words echoed in her head, making the specific feeling swirl faster as she left the throne room.

Azula marched into her brother's room with a mission.

“Sleepover,” she demanded, pushing Zuko to the left side of the bed.

Questioning eyes answered her as she glared back. She would not be giving answers, not right now, not ever.

Zuko settled back into the bed as she snuggled into his side, wondering why.

Why did she even want to be here, by his side? If he.. If he died by her father’s hand that meant she would have won. She would be the golden child with no older sibling to hold her back. She’d have her mothers attention and her fathers praise. The unspoken competition, which Azula knew she would always win, would have an actual clear winner.

Azula would be declared the best, and Zuko not because Zuko would be dead.

That night, Azula convinced herself she was there because she craved the competition. The only person who would fearlessly fight her, lose, and do it all over again, was her brother. That is the only reason she was there, protecting him from the only person she would ever fear.

Not because she cared. No, if she cared she would have a weakness, and Princess Azula of the Fire Nation does not have any weaknesses.

The next day, after her mom had told them both good bye very mysteriously, she decided she would name the feeling Jealousy.

Jealousy for all the relationships Zuko had with her mom, her Uncle, her cousin, which was now passed. How each relationship came so easy to him, it made her jealous.

Jealous for who and which side? She won’t answer that.

“And for father?” a deeper part of her whispered.

A deeper part that she ignored, because the answer would mean she would have a weakness.

Princess Azula doesn’t allow herself to have weaknesses.

Eight year-old Azula just wants to keep Zuzu safe.

Chapter Text

Zuko is eleven when he finally realizes something is off. Not off in a bad way, but not in a good way either. Just.. off.

His normal schedule is wake up, meditate, breakfast, train, lunch, studies, training, dinner, free-time, and then bedtime. Nothing unusual with that.

And, usually, Azula is there too. She’s been coming more often, more competitions, spoken or unspoken of, pushing him harder and harder. It’s made him better, no matter how exhausting she is.

But that has always been their dynamic, right? Zuko thinks back to all the insults and fights and competitions with few and in between hugs. Everything checks out.

He doesn’t think it is father, either. A new routine showed up after mother had left, leaving Zuko with more burns and scars than he thought would be possible.

But father always told him he deserved them, for being so weak and not strong enough. For not trying hard enough. (He was, he was trying so hard, he promised.)

So while that was new, Zuko was sure that it was not the thing throwing him off.

He didn’t realize what the thing was until dinner, and he almost didn’t notice. Maybe Azula was right about him being stuck in his own head too often.

His father was praising Azula for her hard work, and Zuko was using this time to eat before his stomach was too upset to eat anymore. Father yelling always did that to him. Just another weakness, he supposed.

“Zuko, how was your history test today?” his father asked, raising an eyebrow.

Deep breaths, he reminded himself before swallowing. “I passed with an 84-”

“84? 84?! I bet even your pathetic excuse for a mother could do better than that! What do you have to say for yourself?”

Zuko wished he could run. His blood was pumping fast and he could feel it, but not as much as he could feel the jab at his mother. “I tried-”

“Not if you got an 84, you didn’t,” his father sneered. “You never try enough. Your free time will be used for studying, and you will retake the test tomorrow. You will not get anything but a perfect score, or else.”

And just like that, his father left him and Azula alone at the dinner table. Zuko sucked in a deep breath and sighed. Guess that meant he couldn’t reread the next few scenes of “Love amongst the Dragons” again.

Zuko continued to eat quietly, enjoying the silence as he tried to hurry his meal as fast as possible. Apparently, his sister didn’t share his thoughts.

“What have I always said, Zuzu? You never try hard enough,” her smile was big and wide, making Zuko’s anger flare.

“What?! No! I try super hard Not my fault being perfect doesn’t come as easily to me as it does you!” he spat.

The nerve she had to insult him when she knows how hard he tries. Azula hears how many questions he asks, how many tutors he visits, how much he studies-

“No, you’re really not. I mean, I could help you, but you’re too stupid to ask, aren’t you, dummy?”

All thoughts going through Zuko’s head froze. “W-what?”

Azula sighed. “You really are dumb, aren’t you? I said I’m going to help you. Now get up, I am not as forgiving as your other tutors.”

Zuko watched as Azula got up and started towards the door, shocked. Her? Offering to help him?

He scrambled out of his chair and stumbled into a quick pace as he tried to follow her. She led him to her room, plopped down on her bed, and grabbed her scrolls.

This was Azula’s free time, where she could do anything, and she was going to spend it tutoring him?! Had she hit her head?

“Stop gaping at me, idiot!” Azula said, throwing a scroll at him and hitting him in the head.

“But, but why?”

“Because you look like an absolute du-”

“Not that!” Zuko roared. “Why are you helping me?!”

Azula gave him a blank look, like he should know the answer. But he didn’t know. He never knew, and that was the problem, wasn’t it? It was even why he was here, in Azula’s room, and-

“Because I want to spite dad.”

What? Zuko sat there, letting the words sink in. Just... what?

“Why?” he prodded, eyes wide and curious, which Azula would say-

“Your curiosity is going to kill you one day. Now open your scroll or I’ll burn Mr.Toad,” she chastised.

That, she’d say that. But that was not an answer, was it? His favorite stuffed animal was on the line, the one his father hadn’t found yet, but he wanted, no, needed an answer.

“But-”

“Mr.Toad, Zuzu, his life is in your hands.”

“But why-”

“I’m going to get him.”

Zuko growled, exasperated. “Why won’t you just tell me?!”

Azula slipped out the door, presumably to get Mr.Toad. Zuko yelled after her, scrambling up to chase his sister, because no he did not want Mr.Toad to die.

“Azula! Don’t you dare!”

“What? Making this into a challenge Zuzu?” Azula crooned from inside Zuko’s room.

“No! Just, stop, I- uh, new challenge!”

His brain was going on autopilot, trying to think of what would stop his sister from killing the one piece of his mom he had left besides play scrolls. Zuko was good at thinking on his feet, right? Come on, come on!

“Yes?” Azula paused, hand aflame, head tilted.

“Uh, shoot, if.. if I guess why you want to spite dad, then Mr.Toad lives.”

Zuko was so, so screwed.

He watched as Azula blinked, long and slow, as if observing him inside out. His hand was shaking but he made sure his gaze held firm. He had made this the challenge because he was sure he could win, right?

FInally, Azula spoke. “Alright. What’s your guess?”

Zuko let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. But, the truth was that he had no clue why. That’s what he was trying to figure out!

He had theories, small instances that didn’t line up but nothing he thought of could possibly be why unle-

Zuko blinked as a realization hit him. Unless, what has been off was Azula.

Not Azula and their relationship specifically, not until now had that changed. But Azula and their father. Zuko started to think about every instance he, his father, and Azula had been together. What had changed, and when?

“You’re boring me, Zuzu.” Azula sing-songed.

He knows, Zuko knows because Azula is always short on everything when it comes to him. Which makes a different kind of sense, when he’s looking back on memories now.

Azula used to preen under fathers praise but she doesn’t anymore. Maybe she gloats, sending a look to Zuko but never as much as she used to. He doesn’t know when it changed, but he now knows what changed.

“You don’t like dad,” he whispers, like it’s some sort of revelation that takes years of stress off his back and not something that may get them both hanged for treason.

As the realization sinks into Zuko, because he knows he’s right this time, he watches the growing panic on Azula’s face because she also knows Zuko is right.

The panic disappears from her face as quickly as her flame does from her hand. She shoves Mr.Toad into his hands.

He wonders why, and what changed, but he can tell when he’s pushed enough.

“Well, do you want to study or not?” Azula snaps, starting back towards her room.

As he looks at his sister, Zuko makes another realization, this time about himself.

“Me too.” he responds quietly, sort of awed that he had the guts to say something so, so traitorous himself.

The expression of pure shock and surprise on Azula’s face is almost as funny as the way she stumbles before righting herself up. Almost.

Zuko tries to stop the laugh that tumbles out of him, but suddenly he is cackling because he and his sister both don’t like their dad, and that means they should probably both be dead.

He doesn’t even know why he doesn’t like their father. He loves him very much, actually, and values his opinion above all others. It’s his dad, of course he does.

What Zuko does know is that Azula doesn’t like their father, and that’s enough for now. He can figure out why he doesn't later. For all he knows, it is just for sibling solidarity.

He stops cackling when Azula yanks Mr.Toad from his arms and burns him to a crisp, silence enveloping the hall.

Azula grins and says “No one laughs at a princess.”

And, Agni help him, Zuko must have a death wish because he ignores that Mr.Toad is ash and slips into a small soft smile and whispers, “Even traitorous ones?”

Azula’s enraged shriek is something he will cherish till the end of time, even if he has to do 200 hot squats before even starting studying.

He may not know when, how, or why, but he somehow has his sister on his side, and that’s enough for Zuko.

If Azula looks oddly proud at Zuko when he announces he got a perfect score on his test the next night, he blames it on the hilarious amount of shock on his fathers face.

Chapter Text

    Turns out, Zuzu is as much of a little devil as she is. Their unspoken challenge of “who can shock father more” is getting out of hand, if fathers face tonight is to go by.

    What is upsetting, however, is how smug she feels and she isn’t even winning. For once in her life, Azula is losing . 

    But, instead of absolutely loathing it, as she thinks she should, she is reveling in it. She’s soaking it up and spitting it back into her fathers face because this new side of Zuko? The one who was starting to stand up to her more and more? Was making her fathers face contort in ways she had never dreamed of.

    It was like he wanted Zuko to be the disappointment, which made the feeling that was totally not there surge up again. But the feeling was appearing less and less as Zuko gained more confidence, and Azula felt herself grow right up there with him.

    Along with the “not feeling” that was showing up less and less, she was also almost as tall as Zuko. Almost.

    Azula was ten years-old and she could practically feel herself grow in more ways than one.

    Later that night, Zuko comes to her room and knocks. She glares at him, tells him to leave, that “This is my free time, Zuzu, scat!”

    But instead of nodding and leaving like a kicked puppy-rat, which he would have done not too long ago, he smiles and pushes himself in.

    Azula feels pride spread through her chest. “Yes,” she thinks, “this is the Prince of the Fire Nation, the one who commands.”

    She wills her face to stay neutral, though. Her and Zuko both know why he’s here, and she will not be the first to break.

    Azula glares at him as he squirms, and then the dam breaks and he starts laughing loud and full and happy, that makes Azula grin and try to contain her own chuckles.

    “I wish a painter could have painted that expression he made.” Zuko wheezed, eyes glowing.

    Azula found herself agreeing, even as she pretended to be upset about losing. It was worth it.

    Eleven year-old Azula and thirteen year-old Zuko were almost inseparable. She commanded the room ruthlessly. The words and phrases said behind her back were “viper-rat” and “just like her father”, and she loved them. That's what she wanted, the power. But they made Zuko’s even better.

    “Clever,” they called him, as his strategy teachers boasted a bit too often to loose-lipped people.

    “Quiet,” they described, especially as he stood behind her as she floated across the room with Mai and Ty Lee at parties. Anything she could not pick up while talking, which wasn’t much, he did. He figured out each noble and knew exactly who to stay away from.

    But the best, Azula mused, was the word whispered about them both.

    “Powerful,” was hissed like dragons breath in between walls from servants who had seen their sparring sessions, Azula still better than Zuko, but Zuko better than any trainer the royal family could provide.

    Each of these words were earned because Azula decided to help Zuko. He was more of a challenge than ever, yes, but every single compliment was because her personality oozed onto him, bringing out the parts he had buried deep down.

    Their father never acknowledged the change, but Azula couldn’t seem to care. Everyone else did, and that was what mattered.

    Maybe Zuzu would even let them co-rule for a while. They were a good team, after all.

    Azula was training with a person dubbed “firebending master”, which she thought was not true because she could beat them, when her Uncle came to her.

    As with everyone else in her life, the Dragon of the West favored Zuko. Her relationship was not the worst with him, mainly because of this fact, but it was not great either. Whenever he was around Zuko, jealousy reared its head again and she hated it. Her Uncle was weak, why was she jealous?

    But, she shoved the feelings of dislike for her Uncle aside as he came down, pausing her training.

    “Ah, Uncle Iroh. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Azula smiled, bowing her head politely. Maybe Zuko had rubbed off on her too, since when does she bow her head?

    “Zuko has disrespected your father, Azula. He is being prepped for an Agni Kai, and there are no visitors allowed.” Iroh spoke, face drenched in worry. 

    Azula allowed her face to contort to the same expression at his next sentence.

    “He does not know it is against his father.”

    She fixes her face and meets her Uncle’s eyes. “I will get to the bottom of this,” she sneers.

    Uncle Iroh nods as she brushes past him, head held high. 

    In truth, she doesn’t know how Zuko will do. He still somehow loves their father, something she will never be able to understand. And father is stronger than her, and Zuko can’t even beat…

    Azula decides to ignore this problem, as she does with most others. One thing at a time, she decides, marching to where she thinks her brother should be.

Chapter Text

    Zuko can do this. He knows he can, he can do anything.

    When he was six, he had the same revelation, and Azula helped him hold onto it through the next years. He knows he can take down an old general, because he is the third strongest firebender in the palace.

    Zuko knows of that fact just because Azula taunts him mercilessly with it, holding it over his head like some sort of prize. Her voice echoes in his head.

   “I will always be better than you, Zuzu.”

   He gets up and walks out the door to his first ever Agni Kai. The one he knows he will win, because he is Zuko. He can and will win.

   As he walks through the halls, no nervousness chips at him and his sureness. As roars of the crowd grow louder, no fear grips him. Not even as he turns his back and kneels, do any doubts plague his mind.

   At his queue, he stands up and turns around. Only now does every feeling, every doubt, fall onto him, just as his ceremonial cape falls to the ground.

   The person he is fighting is his father.

   Any other day, he’s sure he would be thrilled. This is the guy that always doubts him, always pushes him down and says he’s weak and on bad days, Zuko even believes him. This is the man that he and Azula loathe with their entire being.

    But, he can’t help the small part of him that says this is also his father, the one that he has tried and failed to stop loving, unlike Azula. Just another thing she’s better than him at, he guesses.

    Today, he feels his knees fall like his cape. His arms and head follow suit. Zuko opens his mouth and begs, because this is the man he has always tried to please.

    Even now, he tries to please him. Make his father see him for who he is, who he’s become, who he’s becoming . He wants to scream because he loves and adores the person that is clearly hurting him and he hates it, hates everything about his father. But he doesn’t.

    Zuko does the one thing he knows best when his father is angry with him.

    Beg.

    Like all other times, it doesn’t work. This one just has bigger consequences than the rest.

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    Azula’s brain replays the scene over and over and over . 

    The hand on Zuko’s face, lighting ablaze. The skin melting at the high temperature, the split second before pain registers for Zuko, the split second before he screams . 

    It is louder than Azula has ever heard him and the sound rings in her ears even now, after Zuko passed out from pain, after he was carried away in a medical bed, after she finally made it to the room where he lay and was refused entry. 

    She had almost burned off that guy's face, before Uncle Iroh had placed a hand on her shoulder, a pitying look on his face. Maybe it was supposed to be comforting, but right now? It humiliated her.

    And one of the royal Fire Nation siblings had already been humiliated, so she would not take this.

    But, before she could lash out on her Uncle for whatever that expression meant, a servant had told her that her father requested her presence.

    Azula collected herself in one gulp of air, the feeling growing stronger every second since she had learned that Zuko and her father were to battle. It was a raging forest fire now.

   She idly wondered how she would feel when she saw her fathers face. Would she burn off his as well?

   “Azula, do not be rash.” Uncle Iroh warned.

   She turned around, eyes narrowed. “I will be anything but.”

   Her footsteps echoed from the hall and into the throne room where her father sat, a small victorious grin on his face. 

   Azula fell to her knees and bowed, waiting until he told her to rise to stand. She wondered if this was the position Zuko was in exactly. Was he more hunched? Would her father revel in seeing her in the same position as her brother?

    She stood and held her head high, willing her voice to be as unwavering as she was when she spoke. “Congratulations, father, on your victory.”

    His eyes glinted with a pleasure that made her sick to her stomach.

   “Thank you, Azula. But that is not what I have called you here for, I have news.”

    Her head bobbed up and down in approval, waiting for the news. The feeling fueled the burning thoughts of worry. Was Zuko dead? Would he be executed? Tortured?

   “Zuko is to be stripped of his Prince title and banished.”

   Azula blinked and her father continued with a smile as big as she’s ever seen.

  “You will be named my heir.”

   And that’s when everything got more complicated, because Azula felt herself smile genuinely. 

   “I-, I must say I am surprised, father. Thank you.” she said, hoping her excitement wasn’t showing too much.

   She was the new heir, which she had wanted but had resolved herself to never getting, because Zuko lived and she didn’t want him dead. But, here it was, laid right into her hands and Zuko was alive. 

   “Of course, as Zuko is my only son,” her father continued exasperatedly, “I must give him one way back.”

   She nodded, there was always a catch. 

   “He must capture the avatar if he wishes to return home.” 

    Azula felt her face pale as her father cackled at his requirement, that was impossible. The avatar had not been seen for 97 years, and yet, here was the Firelord, sending his thirteen year old son that he just burned half his face off of, after him. Well, assuming the avatar was a boy.

    And what was worse? The reason the feeling that she wanted so deeply to ignore surged up, filling her from top to bottom? Was because Zuko would not give up. He knows that he can and will get anything, it’s what Azula had pulled back out of him. 

   Now she wished she could put it back, because even she thinks he would fail this, and she wasn’t sure Zuko would be able to handle that.

   Her head raises back up as her fathers laughter subsides. She once said that she would not go back on any of her decisions, which she has held true all except for one instance. This instance is not an exception, she holds true.

   It was not her decision to not be rash, it was Iroh’s that the old geezer had forced upon her.

   At least, that is what Azula told herself as she opened her mouth in front of the Firelord.

Chapter Text

    It took a couple times for Zuko to wake and come to a sense of clarity that did not involve overwhelming pain, but he did.

    He didn’t know what to expect after the Agni Kai that had left him deformed and disabled, but his Uncle being his main caretaker on a boat full of crewmen was not one of them. He also did not expect to be banished and sent after the avatar, which may as well be a myth.

    But least of all? He didn’t expect Azula, the new heir , to be journeying with him at her request. It seemed so out of character, so random, but he needed the help if he was going to find the avatar. 

    Azula seemed to agree if she was here.

    He sighed and forced himself up. If Zuko was banished until he found the avatar, then that was exactly what he was going to do.

    Zuko was going to find the avatar to restore his honor.

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    Jet was eight when the fire nation took away his family, his village. Everything was burned to a crisp with practically nothing left standing.

    Nothing except Jet, that is.

    Jet was nine when he first picked up some hook shaped swords that made swinging on tree limbs so much more fun and so easy to do. If it also helped him get away from the angry fire nation men when he stole their rations, that was just an extra plus.

    He was twelve when he met a kid that was super talented with a bow. Jet tried to get a name from him, but only got the word Longshot instead. He shrugged it off, and just assumed it was his nickname. But as more kids came with more crazy names, he started assuming he just had a knack for meeting the people with the craziest names.

    When Jet was thirteen, he realized that his group, currently at 5 members, all hated the Fire Nation. That each of them had been in small fights and scraps as they evaded Fire Nation capture, living alone as most orphans do.

    He was thirteen when he started training to be the leader of what he himself named the Freedom Fighters.

    From ages fourteen to sixteen, Jet led the Freedom Fighters valiantly. They fought every Fire Nation citizen, because they had eradicated them and their lifestyle. It’s freeing for them to do the same, right? 

    The best part was that no one stood in their way, either. Fire Nation people were the common enemy, which graced the Freedom Fighters with no hostility with anyone but the Fire Nation.

    Oh, and maybe it helped that their home was in the trees, where Jet could swing for days and they could never be spotted.

    The more the Freedom Fighters and Jet saved people, the more people wanted to join the Freedom Fighters.

    Maybe, just maybe, he had found his place among his ragtag group of orphans of which he had formed. 

    That didn’t mean his hate for the Fire Nation went away, though. Nothing would replace what he had lost, Jet knew that.

    It was part of the reason why he and some of the other fighters were up in the trees, stalking Fire Nation soldiers with a decent amount of blast jelly, waiting for a distraction to pop up so they could drop down.

    He looked at Longshot, who was pointing near a bush. Jet allowed his gaze to follow the other boy's finger, and watched.

    “-Nation” a boy in blue clothes and a ponytail squeaked, grabbing a boomerang and turning around as the whole Fire Nation camp set eyes on the new intruder.

    Er, actually, Jet corrected himself, intruders. Three people and two animals, all surprised by the soldiers in front of them.

    This day just got a little more interesting, and Jet welcomed the new distraction. He looked up with a grin on his face and nodded to Longshot.

    “Let’s do this,” he thought.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Jet had many regrets in life. Too many to count, but being frozen to a tree after trusting the avatar and friends was definitely the top one.

    Growling to himself as another shiver went through him, he wondered how they couldn’t get it.

    The Fire Nation was the enemy here! They destroyed and they took and they corrupted and they killed, and apparently Katara had seen all of that. No, he knew she did because she had mentioned her mother and how she was brutally murdered!

    But, they decided to stop him. They stopped him from getting rid of the plague of citizens in the clearly earthen city. Katara had been enraged and Aang horrified at his actions, while Sokka had been disgusted enough to fight and then go save the people.

    Jet couldn’t understand it, and he decided he would not let it go. He was furious. All he wanted was to help the Earth Kingdom stay safe. 

    If the avatar and friends didn’t want that, well, that was a problem. A problem Jet was going to solve.

    How? He didn’t exactly know yet. The fact that the avatar, so worshipped and revered, could be wrong was still sending his head spinning. So, stopping an all powerful kid was something he hadn’t figured out yet. 

    But he would, he was sure of it.

    For the Earth Kingdom.

Chapter Text

Zuko hated the avatar. Not too long ago, shortly before the avatar even showed up, Azula had to go back to the Fire Nation to be prepared for taking the throne.

He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t jealous, because that was his throne, but he dismissed it anyway. Azula was happy, even if she hated father more than he ever could.

She was always winning, wasn’t she?

            The avatar constantly evading him and his uncle was also not favorable. How many times had he failed? How many times would he fail before succeeding?

Sighing, Zuko looked out the window, only to be surprised by the change of course. His anger boiled and threatened to spill over, but he breathed in and got up. Azula and Uncle have taught Zuko many things, and controlling his anger is one of them.

Doesn’t mean it works all the time, though.

“Zuko-” his Uncle started.

“No! I do not care for the safety of the people on this ship,” he hissed. “It is my ship, isn’t it? Then stop telling me what to do. We are going into the storm in search of the avatar! Right our course!”

The echo of his yell should have been louder, but his left ear wasn’t what it used to be. He really needs to stop dwelling on the past, like Uncle and Azula said.

It surprised him how alike the two were. Uncle being more kind and more wise, and Azula being more cruel and intelligent. So close to polar opposites, but then they say the same things just in different ways and it makes him wonder about a future where they might get along. The day that happens, Zuko is sure he is screwed.

At his newfound smile, he scowls again and heads inside to nap. 

Zuko awakes to the ship throwing him out of his makeshift bed with a metallic groan that sends a chill of fear down his back. Maybe they shouldn’t have gone into the storm.

He grits his teeth and rushes out the room and up the ship's stairs to be met with fat droplets pounding the deck of the ship. It is loud and he feels himself freeze as lightning strikes his Uncle, but the old man redirects it with a puff of smoke. 

Maybe he can ask about that later, but right now he must take care of his crew.

“An alive crew is a good crew.” Azula had told him once, after he threatened to blow half their faces off. 

The other half of the message was “but a good crew is an obedient one.”

He knew what that meant, and he knew his crew knew as well. The threats Azula carried around like neverending daggers always seemed to work. Zuko was just lucky they have not been thrown at him yet.

Climbing up the wet ladder, he reached out and grabbed the falling man, his shoulder screaming slightly at the jolt of weight downwards. Swinging the man so he could grab the ladder, they both climbed down.

A look from his Uncle and he knew exactly what to do, not that he needed the old man to tell him. 

“Set course for the eye of the storm!” he roared.

A few minutes later, he, his uncle, and his crew were all looking up at the eye of the storm above them. 

“A beautiful sight,” his Uncle mused looking at the sky straight above the ship.

Once upon a different time, maybe Zuko would have looked up at the piece of clear sky too. But for now, he looked at the wall of the eye, and how powerful it was with the rain practically beating down on the ocean waves, which were also 20 feet high and could sink any normal ship.

“Yeah,” Zuko said, “Beautiful.”

A commotion from the water slightly left of the ship startled Zuko and the crew out of their awe as the avatar's sky bison zoomed out and sprayed ocean water onto him. 

Golden eyes locked with grey ones just as quickly as they looked away. Zuko ran impulsively for the fire cannon, aiming it to where he hoped the bison would be as he fired his hand up and blasted.

The shot was slightly too low and he scowled as the sky bison gave a small dodge. It’s fine, though. He knew he was getting closer to getting the avatar, and having his crew alive would definitely help that fact. 

For now, Zuko hoped it would serve as a warning shot. Not by mercy, but just by slight mishap.

Just like the small mishap keeping Azula from being here with him right now. When Azula gets here, the avatar is screwed.

Zuko will gain the avatar, his honor, his throne, and his people back eventually. Because he is Zuko, and he knows he can do anything.

“Uncle, can you teach me your redirection technique? I’ve never seen it before.” he mused, looking over at him with a fond curiosity which hid a dangerous curiosity.

“I do not know if you are ready.” his Uncle responded hesitantly.

Zuko’s gaze narrowed. Always, always with the hesitancy. He could redirect it, and he will. He could hear the separate voices and phrases of his Uncle and Azula in his ear.

“Be patient, nephew, and you will succeed.” his Uncle would say.

“Patience is strategy,” his sister would sing, “use it to your advantage.”

He forced a weak smile to his uncle. He didn’t like waiting, but he could use his time in a different way. 

“What about lightning bending? Could you teach me the basics?” he prodded.

Zuko watched his Uncle sigh and accept defeat, because Zuko would get his way one way or another.

Just like with the avatar, it was only a matter of time.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zuko never thought Zhao would be as much of a pain as he is, but he was useful. Apparently, he had been able to capture the avatar alone, which was a feat to behold. But, Azula got wind of it, and she has power Zuko only dreamt of holding.

Next thing he knew, Zhao was babysitting the avatar for Zuko on Azula’s order. He wished he could have been there to see Zhao’s face when he read that message. 

Now, he was heading to the stronghold to claim his prize. It was all a matter of time after all.

Chapter Text

Jet had chased these kids all over the earth kingdom, just for him to get captured by the Fire Nation. 

He saw it happen too! These archers were the best around, and he was sure that Longshot would give anything to learn from those guys.

But, they had taken the avatar, and now Jet needed to steal the avatar, talk sense into him, because that is his new plan, and get him to get rid of the Fire Nation.

A very loose and bad plan, Jet knew, but he was desperate. And angry, oh so angry because he was so close to getting the last bit of Fire Nation citizens away from their forest, when the avatar and friends messed it up.

If convincing went wrong, he could always kidnap the water tribe siblings and try to force Aang, right? Somehow, that seemed worse than sneaking into this stronghold.

Sighing, he pulled his orange dragon mask over his face. He didn’t feel like being recognized, but the orange that was always in his home forest comforted him. It will work for his disguise. Maybe, if Aang took the rescue well, he’d be as receptive to this “new” person's views?

Pulling out his swords, he got to work and ran towards the stronghold.

It was heavily guarded, but that was no problem for Jet on his stealth mission. He permanently took out each guard, running deeper into the tunnels to where he thought Aang would be.

Opening the door, he felt his stomach twist at the sight in front of him. Aang was here, chained in what looked to be in a painful, limb stretching way. His head was down and the arrow was pointed to the floor. 

Anger fueled Jet like never before. This was not the happy kid that was with the Freedom Fighters a few weeks before, this was just a traumatized child. Some deeper part told him that he was one too, but he ignored it.

He pushed the door open and ignored the avatar's questions as he slashed the chains off his hands and feet. Jet waved to Aang, signaling him to come on.

Aang did, only to stop at the sight of… frogs?

Throwing his hands up in exasperation, he grabbed Aang’s arm and dragged him forward.

“Wait! My friends need to suck on those frogs!” Aang yelled, squirming out of Jet’s grip.

They needed to what those frogs?! Maybe the Fire Nation had done more to the boy than Jet thought.

There was no time to mull it over as he ran and grabbed Aang again, pulling into a sewer as they tried to escape the way Jet was able to get in. 

They climbed up and almost over the wall when arrows zipped past both their heads and cut into the ropes that they were currently climbing. Jet barely let out a curse as he fell, but he felt Aang’s eyes on him as he fell onto an invisible, airy pillow.

Thank the spirits for airbenders.

They jumped back up into action in a blind trust, which wasn’t new to Jet, but he wondered if the monk to his back had to.

He also wondered if the young boy had experienced death the way Jet was causing. He tried not to think about that, and sent a silent apology to the kid near him.

This was war, what he had to do was move on from these deaths. They were Fire Nation, this was justice.

That didn’t ease his gut as Aang looked at him like he had seen a ghost, expression morphing to a sick kind of acceptance as they were forced up a different wall of the prison.

Grabbing the ladders and using them as legs had almost, almost got them over the wall but then Jet had fallen, which gave Jet the time to make the most startling realization that he didn’t care how Aang ended the war, he just needed to. 

And he couldn’t do that if he was in prison held captive. Growling in frustration because he should have realized that useless fact earlier, he readied himself for the onslaught of Fire Nation soldiers coming at him.

But then Aang was in front of him, defensive as well. 

Jet took one look at his swords doused in red and made a sick decision, that he was sure Aang would never forgive him for. If it got them out alive, he’d take it as a win though.

He felt the twelve year-old stiffen as the hooks crossed his neck, lightly pressing down. Jet stared down the commander, message clear. 

“Let them go.” the commander sneered, his frustration spiking.

The doors behind him slowly creaked open, so he slowly started to go backwards, careful to not kill the young avatar that was at his complete mercy.

They made it so far out that Jet was about to turn around, about to think they were safe, when something hit him hard in the head and his vision swam. He’s been knocked out before, but ouch did this one hurt.

Jet’s eyes blinked open to find his mask off and sun shining on his face through green trees that could not be from the Freedom Fighter’s forest. 

Groaning, he sat up and looked right and then left, where Aang sat, hunched into himself. 

“You remind me of an old friend, you know.” Aang mumbled, not quite looking Jet in the face.

Jet stayed quiet in response.

“His name was Kuzon, and he was very stubborn. It got him into more trouble than most, but that’s because you pair his sense of adventure and stubbornness together, and you can’t really get him to follow the rules.” he laughed shakily.

“Sounds like a cool kid.” Jet murmured, staring at a patch of grass that really was not as interesting as he made it look.

“He was,” Aang said firmly, finally turning his head towards Jet. “And he was Fire Nation, a firebender.”

Jet opened his mouth to argue. Times had changed! Not everything was the happy-go-lucky past Aang was used to! But when he turned his head to face the avatar, he was gone, leaving Jet alone with his thoughts once again.

And think Jet did.

Chapter Text

Pirates were not as cool as they were in stories, Zuko learned. He was considering it after meeting the crew the first time, when he was so close to finally getting the avatar until the Watertribe boy said something.

Thinking of that instance made his blood boil, but if that made his blood boil, then what did this do to him? He was absolutely seething, because he had almost died . Most of his crew did die, and his Uncle had thought he was dead.

He didn’t even want to think of Azula right now. 

Zuko sighed at his guard post, because sneaking upon Zhao’s ship, of all people it just had to be Zhao , was the best option he had when traveling to the North. 

There, he would finally get the avatar, and maybe even the Northern Watertribe as well. Then, Zuko would also have the satisfaction of seeing whatever Azula did to Zhao when she found out he tried to kill Zuko.

This would be fun.

After a tearful goodbye with his Uncle, where he had no time to really think over the implications that he reminded Uncle of Lu Ten, Zuko swam through the sealturtle caves and into the Watertribe.

Luckily for him, they seemed to have poor security, so when the Princess with white hair, the Waterbender girl, and the avatar went into a not-so-secret hole, all he really had to do was sneakily follow. 

In the hole was a really pretty oasis, that Zuko had the time to look around in. The ice walls were high, but not melting even with the high temperature. In the middle, surrounded by a garden, there was a pond and 2 black and white koi fish. Maybe he could spruce up the palace gardens when he got home.

Waiting until the avatar was in the spirit world and then sneaking around the two girls was the easy part. Apparently, fighting was the hard part.

He sent another blast of fire towards the watertribe girl as he barely dodged another wave. The avatar was right there, if he could just grab him, then maybe Zuko would be victorious. Maybe he’d finally win-

Ice surrounded his limbs as he was pushed back and frozen to the wall. Frustration engulfed him as he tried his Uncle’s breathing methods to get the ice off him, but the point was mute. The moon was up right now, which meant the water would be stronger than he was.

So, he sat back and waited. He could feel the sun rising, anyway.

“You won’t win, Zuko. We will stop this war.” 

A laugh erupted from Zuko. Wasn’t that what they were all trying to do?! End this war?!

“You forget,” he snarled, “you rise with the moon, I rise with the sun.”

Steam blew from his nose as the ice around him began to melt away. The girl's slight shock and panic gave him enough time to throw the first shot, which she barely dodged.

He’d win this time for sure, and win he did. Zuko trudged through the snow with the avatar on his back, looking for shelter.

They would not find him in this blizzard, so now all he had to do was take cover until it was over. 

A cave greeted him to his left, so he went towards it, shivering. Setting the avatar down and tying him up, Zuko let himself relax.

The blizzard was a nuisance, but he was used to bad luck anyways. Azula, on the other hand, was born lucky. At least, that’s what his father always said.

“But look at me now,” he murmured, “I have the avatar that was missing for almost 100 years, in my grasp. How lucky is that?”

His gaze went back to the glowing tattooed boy. The boy that seemed to be waking up. Zuko scowled, of course nothing would come easy, even now.

“Hmm- what? Zuko?!” The avatar sat up in alarm, taking in his surroundings. 

Zuko barely had any time to react as the boy got up and blew himself past Zuko, out of the cave, and into the icy winds of the blizzard. 

“Great, just great”, Zuko thought as he scrambled after his prisoner.

“Katara! Down here!” 

The sky bison landed as the watertribe siblings hopped off to help their avatar friend. The princess stayed, diligently watching.

“Ready for a rematch?” Zuko called, dropping into a fighting stance.

He can take back the avatar, and he will. He just wishes he could take the monk now .

The watertribe girl laughed, her parka shaking around her. “Oh, it won’t be much of a match.”

His eyes widened as he was engulfed with snow, everything going black.

Zuko, the banished prince of the Fire Nation, was absolutely exhausted. Swimming through frozen water, being frozen multiple times, trudging through a blizzard with the avatar on your back, and fighting people multiple times in one day would do that to a person. Oh, and being knocked out, that would do it too.

He always was so close to getting what he wanted, before everything was ripped from his hands. The universe always seemed to be against him, and he was sick of it.

His heart pumped as he ran from the spiritual oasis, after removing the poorly tied rope around his wrists and ankles. It was way too cold for this. 

Turning a corner, something warm and tall bumped into him. Swearing, he stumbled backwards and away because this could be an enemy for all he knew.

Lifting his head up, Zuko barely had a second to gather his thoughts as Zhao sent a powerful fireblast towards him. Hadn’t he left already?!

Glaring at his newest foe of the day, in which he’s starting to think he should rank them, he dropped down into a fighting stance. Azula would have a field day with everything that has happened to him in the last 48 hours.

A fire blast was pushed away from his left side with his right hand as he spun on one foot, letting his other send a blast right back at Zhao. He wants a fight?! He’ll get one!

Zhao was the cause of Zuko’s horrible week. He tried to get Zuko killed because he could not handle having the banished prince taking all the glory! Zuko just wanted to go home, was that so hard?!

Spiraling into close hand to hand to hand combat on a bridge escalated everything. One fall, and he was sure neither man would make it back with how exhausted they were.

Zhao’s eye bags were as big as his own. Zuko could work with that.

A grin formed as a plan came in his mind. He breathed in, and began doing basic, offensive forms. Zhao had to dodge, which would take up much more energy than the forms Zuko had mastered when he was much younger than he was now.

But, as always, the universe had different plans. Plans that would always overtake Zuko’s masterminded ones, leaving him angrier than ever. 

Blue waves rolled around a corner, and Zuko stared up at them. They were swirling with blue energy, spreading a light that made him think of the missing moon, because where had that gone?

Not that he had much of a chance to wonder about the moon, as the water seemed to look between him and Zhao, and then choose Zhao. The water swept over the man with such a force and grabbed him, pulling him over the side of the bridge.

And Zuko? The one who was almost never chosen? Was ok with being left behind this time. 

Snapping out of his shock, he jumped onto the side of the bridge and stuck his hand out. Uncle’s voice screamed in his ears.

“If fate allows you a chance to save, then save and you will be rewarded.”

But, it was Azula’s calculated whisper he decided to listen to, as he withdrew his hand in sync with Zhao.

“Spend your energy on those you trust, Zuzu, and don’t blink an eye at the dying man who spits on you.”

And Zuko didn’t.

Chapter Text

    The news that her brother was dead surprised Azula. She did not know how to feel, so she told herself she didn’t need to. 

    Then, news of everything that happened in the Northern Watertribe was placed upon her feet, like embers that were supposed to get her fire burning bright blue again.

    And burn she did.

    Zuko was alive! Zhao had tried to kill him, that treasonous little -, and had then died after killing the moon spirit. Or, he was presumed dead, and Azula hoped the man had enough sense to not come crawling back to the Fire Nation, for death would be what he begged for if she got her hands on him. 

    Zuko was alive, and had even captured the avatar for a moment. Sure, he failed, but that wouldn’t happen the next time. If there was a next time.

    Zhao, the liar, had one more trick up his sleeve. The Orange Spirit, the one that had broken the avatar out of a stronghold under his control a small while ago, was rumored to be Zuko. This was a fact that, of course, Zhao had backed up. Only the “traitorous”, banished prince would be that desperate to break the airbender out.

    Azula knew this was not true, as she had looked at the ship reports and calculated that Zuko was barely in the area when the breakout had happened. And she was never wrong with her calculations.

    Her father, on the other hand, was a fool. A fool that listens to a dead jester, and plays the ball exactly into his hands.

    The Firelord, convinced by his dead Commander, had ordered the Fire Nation princess to bring back the banished prince to serve out a sentence for treason.

    Treason's only sentence was death . 

    Forced into compliance, Azula readied her ships to bring her brother home in a way she knew he had never hoped. 

    The competitions of their youth had never involved death, and especially not their own. But that is what this was now, wasn’t it? A competition to see who could capture their target first.

    The feeling coiled around her stomach, spiking at full force. This was a competition Azula was not sure she wanted to win, and, Agni, wasn’t that a foreign thought.

    She would play her fathers twisted game for now. But maybe.. maybe she would be able to out play him. 

    Maybe this would turn into Azula’s game after all, one where she and Zuko were the only players.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The pink petals the trees dropped were everywhere, and Zuko was pretty sure he could not stand it anymore. After 3 weeks on the stiff, stupid excuse of a raft, his legs had needed to be stretched. But if one more petal came from his left side, he swears he will burn this plac -

    “Zuko, there you are!” his Uncle calls. “You must try this tea, it is delicious.”

    Sighing, he responds. “I do not want tea, Uncle.”

    He wants his honor back, his people back. He wants his nation, his sister, his birthright, the avatar. He wants his mom, wants his father to look at him like he does Azula.

    He wants to go home .

    Curling one leg up and under his chin as he sat down against the fence gate beside him, he scowls. 

    “What if we play Pai Sho instead, nephew?”

    “No,” he rasps. “We’ve rested enough. We need to find-”

    His mouth clicks shut, sure that his Uncle can fill in the blank. 

    Later, when there’s a knock at their door, he bristles. He does not need another distraction, he needs a plan. Leaning forward over the papers full of “Avatar Sightings”, he forces his mind to be buried in the words. Something in here will be useful, right?

    “Princess Azula? What a surprise!” he hears his Uncle sputter.

    Zuko felt himself get whiplash from how fast he turned. Azula?

    “It is also a surprise to find you both alive.” Azula practically coos as she and Iroh bow to each other.

    His arms push his chair out as he stands, making his way to his sister. He bows.

    “Nothing we could not handle.” he replies with a small smile.

    “Sure, Zuzu, and I can bend the trees.”

    Her eyes gleam and Zuko laughs. He has had a rough time, but he and Uncle made it out. Maybe he could tell her about it later, because he looks back up and her mouth is opening again.

    “I have good news,” she starts, eyeing Zuko. “Father is… realizing how important family is to him as assassination attempts become more common.”

    Zuko opens his mouth to suck in air, because he needs it for the rest of her speech, but it just hangs there. Is this happening?

    “He wants you home, Zuko.” Azula states, staring into his soul. “He is ready to forgive you.”

    And at that, he shares a look with his Uncle. Forgive? Since when does their father forgive ?

    But he has to believe it. This is his father, his family, and it is all he has ever wanted for the last 3 years. It can’t be a coincidence that this news comes on the 3 year anniversary of his banishment, right?

    Azula never looks away, expression as unreadable as always. She turns and runs her hand alongside the windowsill, walking towards the door.

    “I see you need time to take this in,” she says, sighing dramatically. “We will be leaving tomorrow morning. I’m sure that this is enough time for you to.. pack up your things, yes?”

    And there’s the cruel smirk that Zuko had grown used to. They didn’t have anything to pack, and she is rubbing it in. Of course she is, she’s Azula. It’s what she does.

    Zuko answers before his Uncle can, excitement beginning to settle in.

 “As long as your ship has enough room for our things, everything will be on course for setting off in the morning,” he says smirking.

Azula’s scoff as she walked out was the only response he got.

He turned to face his Uncle, smiling bigger than he had in a long time, only to be met with a closed off face. The smile fell off his face, a pink petal in the wind.

“Uncle?” he questions.

“Zuko,” his Uncle starts hesitantly. “My brother does not forgive so easily.”

Anger rises and Zuko, who’s been keeping it down so as to not blow up, erupts.

“Do you think I don’t know that?!” he roars. “I know he doesn't, I know, but Azula would  not have been sent out here if it wasn’t important!”

His Uncle stays silent, longer than Zuko wants. He can hear his breath heave in and out as he waits for a response. 

“Do you trust her?” is the whisper he gets.

It is not what he was expecting in the slightest. Zuko knew that his Uncle didn’t like his sister, but doubting her loyalty? 

He thinks through every memory he has with Azula. Sure, she may be cruel and mean, but she’s Zuko’s sister! He’d do practically anything for her. She’s.. she is the last piece of family he has, besides Uncle. 

Would Azula do that for him, though? At times, she seemed to want nothing more than the throne, and others… well, she did come with him for the first 2 years of his banishment. That had to have meant something. It had to.

His gold eyes bore into another's as he says, “With my life.”

Zuko just hopes he never has to regret those words.

Later that night, there’s a note on their dinner tray. Zuko and his Uncle open it, eyes full of curiosity.

New Challenge:

Catch the avatar before Father makes me catch you. 

Chapter Text

The Freedom Fighters were going to Ba Sing Se as refugees. There was complaining, confusion, and a lot of people left.

    But, that’s ok. Well, Jet says it is.

    In reality, it really is not ok. Their numbers are lowering and he still is trying to come to terms with the fact that he is the one that made this decision.

    He’s been complaining that he can’t fight the war anymore, complaining that they could be killing those Fire Nation citizens, that they could be doing anything other than making the long trek to Ba Sing Se. 

    And, to every complaint, he’s gotten the question of why . Oh, how Jet was really starting to hate the word.

    “Why are we going to Ba Sing Se if you don’t want to, Jet?”

    “Why can’t we fight those citizens?”

    “Why’d we leave the forest?”

    “Why, Jet?”

    Why, why, why, why, why ! Why is the question of the day and Jet just, doesn’t… he doesn't know!

    He should know. He’s the leader, he made this decision and he is leading his ragtag family in this direction, and he is doing it blind.

    The sensation of not knowing crawls over Jet and makes him shudder in his bed at night.

    Yeah, he doesn’t get much sleep anymore.

    The only guess he has as to why these plans changed, is the avatar himself. Aang had shared something so personal with him about a long lost friend. A friend that Jet reminded the other boy of.

    A Fire Nation friend.

    Ever since then, he’s felt weird. He’s seen Fire Nation children before and never gave them a glance. But now? Now, all he could see were the children.

    Every child was eight, with shaggy brown hair and dark brown eyes. They were laughing with their family, blind to the dangerous world around them. They didn’t know how dangerous their own fire was, or how it could hurt people. The kids thought it was pretty to stare at, and that was enough for them.

    Jet didn’t have that anymore, but these kids did. It made him wonder dark things, things he wasn’t sure he actually wanted the answers to. And the biggest thing? The darkest? It haunted him, as most dark things do.

    “How many ‘Jets’ has he made?”

Chapter Text

Running from Azula had let Zuko go down to a new low, stealing. 

    When they first saw the wooden shack in the woods, it is not like he trusted them to take care of his Uncle, especially since the foolish man didn’t know how to not get into trouble.

    Almost dying because of a poisonous flower? It was going to cut their time away from his sister.

    Then, the girl and her mother offered to give them dinner. He protested that loudly, because they needed to go. Zuko wanted, no, needed to win this challenge. 

    It didn’t help that Azula was also going after the avatar. It also didn’t help that his Uncle had convinced him to go to Ba Sing Se so they could plan quietly.

    Song, the girl who had followed him outside after he refused dinner, was trying to connect to him. Zuko kept his face forward. No way would she be able to connect to him.

    “The Fire Nation has hurt you,” she states. “Just as it has me.”

    Her dress pulls up to show a burn that was so obviously from fire licking her. He glares at it, hoping it would settle the unease in his stomach. 

    If they all surrendered, the war would be over and no one would be hurt. If they had surrendered a while ago, everyone would be happier now. Prosperous even, because the Fire Nation is prosperous. They would have shared!

    A hand floats right outside his vision as he grabs it hard, contorting his face in the most ferocious look he can give.

    “We are not the same,” he hisses in her face, as she winces in his hold.

    Dropping her arm, he makes his way inside. He was right about coming here, it was a bad decision.

    Zuko feels like a babysitter as he sticks by his Uncle’s side, glaring down on people that should be below him. But he’s at the same level now. He’s a refugee. He swallows and grabs his Uncle’s arm, marching forward.

    They have to get to Ba Sing Se before his sister catches them. 

    It’s lucky he makes it this far with his Uncle in the desert. The man had been traveling slightly behind him for some time now, and Zuko has not been able to figure out why. But, it’s luckier to hear his sister's voice in a ghost town, obviously talking to the avatar.

    He realizes how close she is, how close the avatar is, and he takes a risk.

    Zuko jumps out of an alleyway, the two-way fight now a three-way one. 

    Azula has the decency to look genuinely surprised, and maybe she actually is. He doesn’t give it much thought as his gaze moves to the avatar, who looks worse for wear. The avatar is actually surprised, but he also looks exhausted.

    Perfect.

    It takes a little too long for any one of them to make a move, but when he does, he shoots at Azula, giving her an opening for the monk.

    They work like they always have, sending small and testy shots into their area before sending full shots back at the airbender. 

    The new and current unspoken challenge? Who can get to the avatar first.

    But then it turns into who can take down who, as the avatar's friends come in. The waterbender catches Azula off guard, giving an opening for her brother to come in. 

    Zuko thinks that the gang's all here, but the earth rumbles with something that sends him stumbling, trying to keep himself upright. He spins around to find a blind earthbender girl, grinning maniacally.

    It takes longer than he likes to realize they have Azula surrounded, Uncle right next to the avatar's friends, obviously against Azula. 

    His eyes meet his sisters, and they’re so full of delightful annoyance instead of frustration, which makes him realize she has a plan.

    Zuko doesn’t think he’ll be lucky enough to gain his sister's mercy twice in one day, especially with their most dangerous challenge on the line, so he nods with a grin.

    “I trust you,” it says.

    Azula smirks devishilly at him, like the spawn of satan she is, and begins to lightning bend, something Zuko had barely just started. 

    He didn’t plan for the lightning to go to Uncle, and for him to not redirect it. He didn’t think his Uncle would be surprised by this move, and by Azula’s raised eyebrows she didn’t either.

    But she’s gone as fast as she came, leaving Zuko staring at the limp form on the ground.

    His eyes flick between his enemies, who are now surrounding his Uncle, and the place Azula escaped from. 

    Zuko grits his teeth. His Uncle will understand, right? He has to go before Azula finds him and.. and has to turn him over to his father. 

    He’ll reunite with Uncle. He’ll be able to keep his head, his Uncle, the avatar, and his sister. He’s sure of it.

    It doesn’t stop the feeling of betrayal and guilt from crashing over him as he gets on his ostrich horse.

    “Zuko?!” 

    The banished prince doesn’t turn around.

Chapter Text

The ferry taking them to Ba Sing Se wasn’t the biggest or the best, but it was comfy enough. Jet finds himself talking to kids, more often than not. Stories of a wonderful tree house, free for anyone to do anything.

Maybe for the next tree house, he could have the anyone part reign true.

He shoves that thought away as his stomach rumbles. He was not lying when he said the ferry was comfy, it’s just that the services were not.

The captain, the selfish leech, has feasts and gives the refugees barely enough to snack on. It’s a wonder anybody had even made it to Ba Sing Se without starving to death.

Gather the Freedom Fighters, he plans. They were going to steal the food and spread it amongst the refugees on board. They all needed food, and he would get it for them.

The one problem? He needed one more person to join their heist.

Jet looks around the ferry as he spots a person with two long dao swords and a burn scar taking up half their face. Now this guy is a fighter.

Striding over, Jet tries to look casual. What can he start with?

“What?” The guy glares.

This is going great already.

“I was wondering if you knew how to fight, you have some nice swords there,” he shrugs. 

Keeping his gaze forward, Jet chews on a piece of straw. “Take the bait,” he thinks.

“I do,” Scar Guy replies, voice clipped. “Why?”

Jet smirks. “The captain has a lot of food that he isn’t giving to the rest of the passengers. A lot of us are starving.”

His head turns towards the stranger, an unspoken question in the air. The man’s face scrunches, as if thinking it over, before he nods.

Jet internally celebrates.

“Hook, line, and sinker,” he thinks to himself.

“Meet us on the other side of the deck in 3 hours.” 

The stranger keeps his word. Or, was it his nod? Either way, 3 hours later, here they stand. Longshot pulls back an arrow and shoots it up, landing perfectly on target every time.

Jet nudges the strangers shoulder and smiles. “Jet.”

Watching the recognition come over the guy was the most hilarious thing ever. He clings to the memory, because friends can be made everywhere, right? This can be teased later!

Jet blinks at the thought. Yeah, no. He’s spent too much time with the avatar.

“Lee,” came the quiet reply.

He nodded, glad to not have to call Lee “Scar Guy” anymore. 

They work together with lightning speed.They pack up the meals and swing right back where they climbed up, eagerly distributing the food.

Lee keeps one all to himself, the stingy jerk, but Jet supposes that's ok. The guy was skinny, anyway. The Freedom Fighters circle up around him and they talk and laugh the rest of the night, as Lee watches.

Jet’s sure that he’ll be able to get him to open up someday. 

He shakes his head and asks Smellerbee something loudly, a little too loudly if her reaction was anything to go off of. 

“Can Aang possess people?!”

He’s sure that the boat rocked with her cackles.

Jet didn’t see Lee again until they were leaving the train. The train, which was loud and way too crowded to be comfortable.

Stretching and pulling out another piece of straw to chew on, he lets himself observe the room. So many people, so many possible threats. But, wait, no. Not threats, just refugees.

He really should let go of that mindset, now that he’s supposedly safe. 

He turns around a little more, and then he sees Lee. The boy is all alone with a cup of what looks like cold tea in his hand. Jet finds himself smiling, as he tells Smellerbee that he’s going to see if he can get a new Freedom Fighter.

“Hey, Lee,” Jet calls. 

Lee nods, giving a shocked and.. wary look up to Jet. Why was he wary? Was there actual danger Jet hadn’t spotted?

Jet felt his eyes roam the room once more as he spoke much calmer than he felt.

“Yeah, I was just wondering-” 

The tea was steaming. Jet forced his eyes up and back to Lee’s golden ones.

“-where you got that tea from? My team and I were thirsty.”

Lee seemed to relax slightly at the question, but Jet was tense. This guy was a firebender, he had to be. How else did the tea heat up? How was there a firebender here?! It was supposed to be safe, it should have been safe!

“Over there,” Lee answered, gesturing with his chin, but the words sounded muffled.

There’s no way Jet is letting a firebender into Ba Sing Se.

Jet gives no thought as he lunges at Lee, and is that even his real name?! He trusted this guy, and here he was, a firebender.

A punch to his nose sends him flying back, but not after he sends a good punch to Lee’s gut. Red leaks down his face as he bares his teeth.

“Firebender!” Jet yells, hands reaching behind him to grab his own swords, because he’s going to get this guy out of here if it’s the last thing he does -

Then there’s hands on him, pulling him back. 

“Jet, what is going on?!” Smellerbee cries out as Longshot holds him steady.

“He’s a firebender!” he roars, drawing his sword. “He heated up his cold tea! Only a firebender -”

“So tea isn’t supposed to be hot?!” 

And Jet blinks. “Wha- yes of course it is! But his was cold and-”

“And what Jet?! You go attacking someone with no proof, that's what!” Smellerbee yells, her finger in his face, shaking.

Jet watches as she storms off, Longshot hesitating before going with her. He looks back to where Lee is supposed to be, but the space is blank except for a spilled cup of tea.

It mocks him as he storms off into the opposite side of the town.

Chapter Text

The night is cold. It feels familiar, but not as familiar as the ache that’s in Jet.

Loneliness. It haunts him. On bad days, it reminds him that he's no one with nowhere to go, and on those days he believes it. On others, it undermines his new family and how much they care for him, and how he built himself a home. Those days, it’s like a small headache, bothersome but bearable. But, on the simple days and the bad, he’s never had to look too much to find someone to do something with.

Until today. 

It’s his fault, Jet knows. Attacking Lee out of nowhere was stupid, even if Jet was convinced he was a firebender. He could’ve gone and told the Dai Li or something, but no. He tried to take care of it himself.

Sighing, he runs a hand through his hair and stares at the ground.

Being alone allows him so much time to think, and maybe that’s why he’s wondering about Lee’s past right now.

What if he was a firebender, but a refugee nonetheless? What if he left his nation and was running from death? He looked only a little bit older than Jet, how much evil could a teenager hold?

“A lot,” his thoughts answered. “You have probably done worse.”

Maybe one day he can thank Sokka for stopping him. He doesn’t remember when he started regretting the decision, probably the same day that they started their trip to Ba Sing Se, but he regrets it. Sokka single handedly saved those people, those kids . 

A rock clinks from behind him. Jet turns at the sound, but there’s nothing there.

He goes back to his thoughts, trying to keep his senses alert. After his spectacle today, he’s sure he’s recognizable. 

Jet lets out a bitter chuckle. Maybe they just want to take a look at the crazy, paranoid guy?

But there’s no one there but his shadow, he reminds himself. He will make it back to the house that Longshot and Smellerbee may be at, apologize, and promise to be less impulsive.

Well, promise to try to be less impulsive. No one really thinks about it in the moment.

Jet stops and looks up at a street sign, trying to find out which way to go, when there’s footsteps from behind him.

He turns out of pure curiosity, because he knows Ba Sing Se is safe.

A Dai Li stands behind him. 

“Just trying to find my way home, sir,” he mock salutes, turning back around.

There’s another Dai Li in front of him. He doesn’t know how he didn’t hear the guy creep up, but now he can’t stop wondering.

Why are there two Dai Li near him?

He gets his answer in the form of a rock hand to his mouth, acting as a gag. Jet’s own hands go up to try and get the rocks off, but then there’s a sharp pain on the back of his head and he drops.

Jet should’ve known that there’s no such thing as a safe place.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zuko’s day was not going well.

First, the guy he helped earlier, tried attacking him claiming he was a firebender. Jex, Jek, or whatever his name was, had seen him heat up his tea. No one seemed to believe him, of course, but Zuko was thinking he should’ve been more careful.

But, his spectacle over tea has helped him gain a job. Spying a tea shop and a convenient “Help Wanted” sign, he figured Uncle had taught him enough to apply. Now, here he was working diligently.

Zuko served some tea, cleaned some tables, and repeated the situation over again for a couple days, wondering how long he should stay in Ba Sing Se. The walls were rumored to be unpassable, but he bet his sister could pass them with enough reason. 

That reason right now, unfortunately, was him.

Sighing, a new customer shook him out of his thoughts. Turning around, he put on his small customer service smile, and asked, “Hi! What can I get you?”

The girl smiled brightly back, too bright for Zuko’s taste. Sure, she was pretty with her thick, black hair, but her energy was just.. too much.

“Well, I was thinking of a Jasmine tea, and then maybe we could hang out at the market tonight?”

Zuko blinked.

“One Jasmine tea coming up.”

The girl left with her tea. Good, Zuko didn’t have the time for that sort of stuff.

Chapter Text

Black. It was really, really black. Well, not completely black, but it could have been. His eyes just needed to adjust, apparently. But why was it so dark? Jet hadn’t exactly figured it out yet, but maybe the rocks on his face should give him a clue.

Oh wait, yeah, he has rocks on his mouth from the Dai Li. The people who were supposed to protect all the people of Ba Sing Se. He could only guess that it was for the fight that happened with Lee, but if he was going to have to explain himself, why was he underground?

The tunnel was dark and humid, with green crystals and small lanterns that barely lit anything. Jet was just glad he hadn’t slipped on a rock yet.

Trying to memorize the twists and turns of the tunnels was harder than he expected, too. There were so many rooms, some with choruses of “My name is Joo Dee,” coming through the opening, others that looked like cells, and one with a sky biso-

Wait, what?!

Jet was pulled ahead before he could catch another glimpse of the great beast, but he was sure that it was Aang’s sky bison. Was he here? Had he.. had he failed?

Before he could mull it over any longer, Jet was roughly pulled into a room and chained up to the ceiling. He wasn’t necessarily hanging, but his arms were uncomfortable. The room had a ring of metal, almost at eye level, completely surrounding where he was chained up. There was a lantern on it, and it looked like it could move around the metal ring too.

All in all, Jet was not liking this setting.

The Dai Li stepped up to the lantern and lit it. The light engulfed the room, but not as much as Jet had hoped. He watched as the Dai Li took a step back and winded up that lantern, which slowly started going around the metal circle.

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se.” 

Jet’s nose scrunched. “What-”

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se,” the Dai Li repeated.

“Of course there is-”

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se.”

The Dai Li would not stop repeating it, so Jet shut up and started struggling against his restraints. He doesn’t know how long it took before a much more important looking Dai Li came in, but it wasn’t long enough because he was still trying to escape.

“That won’t help, boy.” 

Jet just glared as a response.

“I am Long Feng, and I have heard you think there is a Firebender within our walls. But, do not be afraid, for there is no-”

“War in Ba Sing Se, yeah yeah, I get it! What do you want from me?!” Jet yelled, starting to struggle on his restraints again.

What did they want from him, to keep quiet?! He could do that! Just ask, no need to tie him up and-

“I want you broken.”

Jet stopped and stared. What?

Long Feng just smiled and stepped back. He looked over and nodded to the Dai Li, before turning his back and walking out of Jet’s cell.

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se,” the Dai Li agent repeated.

Panicking Jet started struggling again, but to no avail.

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se.”

“Help!” Jet screamed, still struggling, eyes wide. “Get me out of here!”

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se.”

“There is! And stop saying that!” Jet snarled.

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se.”

“No! Help!” He had to get out of here.

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se.”

“No..” There was a way out.. right?

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se.”

“...” Right?

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se.”

“...there is no war in Ba Sing Se.”

Chapter Text

Zuko was, for once, really happy. Today was a great day! The sun was shining, the owlcats weren’t mewling, and a flyer had made its way into his possession earlier in the evening.

To be fair, before that, his day sucked. The customers were nagging him all day, and his break was cut short due to an unusual swarm during his lunchtime. So yes, he was not doing well.

But what happened as he was walking back to the place he was renting changed everything. 

An orange blur, the sound of paper, and something landing on his face, was what made him smile today.

The Avatar was in Ba Sing Se. Even better? He lost the sky bison. And even better?! Azula couldn’t get into Ba Sing Se. Well, he didn’t think she’d be able to for a while at least.

Zuko was the only one close enough to the Avatar to capture him, and that’s what he was going to do. There was only one problem.

The Avatar was in the upper ring, and he was not.

Opening the door to where he was staying, Zuko sighed. He could figure out how to sneak past the Dai Li tomorrow morning. Right now, what he really needed was sleep.

Fire roared in his ears, casting an orange light over his throne room. The robes on his back were heavy, almost as much as the heat behind him.

Two dragons came from his sides, swirling around him. One, the blue of the two, came down to his ear, followed by the red one to his other side.

“Firelord,” the dragons greeted in chorus.

“Is that who I am?”

“This is your throne room, isn’t it?” the blue dragon cooed.

It’s voice was strangely familiar. Zuko should know who it belongs to, but he doesn’t. The eyes also look the right shade of piercing gold for the voice, but how does he know that if he doesn’t know who the voice belongs to.

“I believe it is time,” the red dragon said from his left side, where the sound wasn’t as muffled as it should be.

The red dragon was also too familiar. Why? Zuko still doesn’t know. 

“I believe so.”

Looking between the two, he asks “Time? Time for what?”

“Who are you?” the red dragon harshly asks, as if concerned for the answer.

Zuko stares. Who.. is he?

“Who are you?” the blue dragon purrs, eyes locking onto his, as if she knew the answer he would pick, as if the question had choices in the first place.

His head turns between the two, mouth opening and closing.

Zuko didn’t know the answer.

The red dragon gave off waves of warmth. The kindness thawed him, and the knowledge that the dragon had was potent through the wrinkles around the dragon's eyes and the length of his beard. This dragon was one he trusted.

But the blue dragon was different. Trust was harder with her, yet he didn’t doubt that she’d ruin anyone who touched him. How he knows that and still doesn’t trust her baffles him. She radiates power and her smile shows how cunning she is, how much she knows yet hides. 

Most of all, the blue dragon radiates competition.

Competition was something Zuko grew up on. Playing tag with Lu Ten, Pai Sho with his uncle, even for attention with Azula. Everything was a competition.

For a normal person, it may have driven them mad. Always fighting to win was exhausting, but for Zuko, it’s what made him strong. It was home. He would never be where he is right now if it was not for the constant competition. 

Don’t get him wrong, Zuko hates that everything he has ever gotten he has had to fight for. It hurt him in more ways than one, but it has helped him gain precious skills, and even more precious relationships.

Him and Uncle playing Pai Sho had slowly taught him to work with his limited depth perception. It helped him laugh for the very first time since being banished, because he knocked a piece off the table, so his Uncle not so subtly flipped the rest of the board. The memory wouldn’t have happened if Zuko had not been so drawn into playing and winning, he lost focus.

Him and Azula’s competition to shock his father had brought them closer than ever. Thick as thieves, she also let him have the Avatar when at the Pohuai Stronghold, effectively stealing the glory from Zhao. Zuko isn’t even sure he’d be alive right now if not for her.

Zuko turned and looked over to the blue dragon. 

“I am Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation.”

Relief and shame came over him, as the door to the throne room opened. His mother was walking out the door, giving a glance back at him, mouth unmoving even as he heard her speak.

“Never forget who you are.”

And then he was falling. The red dragon stared down at him with sorrow as the throne room rose, or was it as he fell? But the blue dragon had swirled higher into the throne room, away from him.

Was this it? Is this how Zuko died, because the dragon he thought would save him, wouldn’t?

The dragon roared as she suddenly took a nosedive, opening her jaws as she flew to swallow Zuko whole.

Gasping, he shot awake. Zuko stared at the edge of his bed, letting his breathing slow. What was that?! Uncle would know, he mused, as he shuffled out of his blankets to walk to the bathroom.

He missed his Uncle, and he regretted leaving the man. One day, Zuko will find him again and apologize. Uncle Iroh would understand, right? Azula’s mercy should never be tested.

Sighing, Zuko opened the door and walked to the sink, splashing water in his face. He looked up, and anger clawed up his spine.

The Avatar?! In his room?!

Zuko impulsively threw a fist, only to find it went straight through what he thought was the Avatar. His reflection shattered with the mirror, and the void beneath it stared back, swallowing him whole once again.

Zuko woke up peacefully, and this time, he pinched his arm to make sure he was actually awake. 

Sleep had not given him clarity on what to do about the Avatar in the Upper Ring, but that was not a problem anymore. 

If sleep hadn’t given him the clarity he needed, maybe his sparking morning anger would.

The Avatar better prepare himself for Prince Zuko, because that is exactly what he was going to get.

Chapter Text

    Ba Sing Se was safe. Like, Jet has never felt this relaxed. 

    Did he wish the Freedom Fighters were here? Sure, but they’ll come soon, he’s sure. It’s safe here. Really, really homey. Well, not his kind of home, he still misses the trees, but definitely up there on his homey home list.

    He wondered when he had made that. Also, what a stupid name for the list! Jet could laugh at it, well, he did, actually. Now people are looking at him. He should really stop laughing.

    It’s fine though. Ba Sing Se will not get him jumped for being crazy, he’s sure. Or, looking crazy. He isn’t crazy. 

    Really, he isn’t.

    Looking around, Jet hums to himself. The sun is nice, the owlcats are singing the songs of their people, and everything feels right. Besides his lip, it feels off. Like.. like something should be there…

    Before he can mull that thought over any longer, a poster catches his attention.

    The Avatar’s sky bison is missing.

    That… that could really help him. Jet knows that him and team Avatar left off on the wrong foot, so maybe helping the kid find the bison would help!

    Also, posters weren’t allowed in Ba Sing Se. He goes up to the poster and tears it down, taking it for his own. 

    Wait, since.. since when has he known any rules of Ba Sing Se? Jet only got here…

    Jet pauses, staring at the wall he took the poster from. When did he get here? It couldn’t have been too long ago, but he knows the rules of Ba Sing Se, so it also had to be a while ago. But… but… why can’t he remember?! Something’s wrong, something’s wrong, something’s-

    “Jet!” 

    Whirling around, reflexively getting his swords out, he finds the person who had called his name storming down an alleyway.

    “Katara?” Jet questions, lowering his swords.

    Her blue eyes are ice cold, and, man, he knows what that feels like just because of the angry brunette. The angry brunette that’s still marching towards him.. oh no. He does not want to get frozen again.

    Jet starts back up, putting his hands in surrender. “Katara-” he tries.

    “What are you doing in Ba Sing Se?!” she practically shrieks.

    “Katara?” Aang’s voice calls, also turning into the alley way. The boy’s eyes widen as they lock onto Jet’s.

    “Not that guy again!” a third voice calls from over Aang’s head. Right, Sokka.

    Jet lets out a small grunt as his back hits the back of the alleyway, Katara’s water now swirling so close. And then, his hands and ankles are trapped to the wall.

    A short girl pushes her way past Sokka and Aang, calling “You’re welcome!” to Katara.

    “Toph! I had it under control!” Katara grumbles, although relaxing a bit.

    So, the little one is named Toph. Jet thinks he can remember that. 

    The group arcs up around him as he’s stuck to the wall. The rock that’s trapping him is making his heartbeat go faster than a cheetafly, but he’s not sure as to why. All Jet knows is that he wants it off .

    “Why are you taking down our posters?!” Sokka demands, the girls giving intimidating looks from behind him, as Aang stays uncharacteristically silent.

    “They.. don’t allow posters?” Jet says, because this is group goodie-goodie. They should know this, right?

    In response, Katara snorts. “Sure, Mr.Freedom Fighter. Now, I’ll ask again. What are you doing in Ba Sing Se?”

    “I came here early. Me and the Freedom Fighters decided to come here and be safe, but I wanted to scout it first.” Jet says truthfully.

    Well, he knows it’s the truth, but it also sounds wrong. If he said it, then why doesn’t he believe it? It’s how he came here.. he thinks. Why is he unsure of that? Why-

    “Toph?” Aang asks, looking at the girl who had somehow come beside him and is touching the wall.

    “He’s telling the truth.” she states with a shrug, turning around to Aang.

    The group of four, plus Momo, look at him. He shifts under the weight of their gaze and tentatively opens his mouth.

    “Do you need help looking for your bison?”

    “Yes!” Aang says hurriedly, before the rest of the group can answer. “Do you know where Appa is?!”

    The hope on his face pains Jet to break, but he shakes his head anyways.

    “Then why are you asking?” Katara asks, cold as an iceberg. Sokka is right there with her, his warrior's glare had definitely killed before.

    “I want to help. I’ve been here for a little while, maybe I can help you look around the lower ring.” 

    Jet watched as the group looked to Toph, who shrugged and suddenly the earth restraints were off. He had no clue he was holding in his breath, until he felt himself untense fully at the release. Looking up, he gave a small smile to Aang.

    “I can walk you around the Lower Ring?” he suggested.

    Jet watched as Aang nodded unsurely. But, he still nodded, so Jet felt himself grin.

    “Let’s go then!” he chirped, and since when does he do that?!

    Swinging his swords back into their sheaths, he starts to head out of the alley. Following him was the most intense feeling of wrong he had ever felt.

    But hey, at least there is no war in Ba Sing Se, right?

Chapter Text

The whispers behind him were loud. Team Avatar did not want to be rude about not trusting him, but they also obviously didn’t. Jet didn’t really blame them either. He did try and kill a whole village, so it makes a sick sort of sense.

After showing them around the Lower Ring a little, specifically the biggest buildings that could be hiding Appa, he honestly didn’t know where to lead them now. It may seem like his usefulness for the group had ended, but he wasn’t too upset. Hopefully, they took it as an olive branch that he was trying to help.

As the sunset became more orange, he found himself living in the moment. It was a really nice moment, with the temperature cooling off. At least, it was, until he heard a familiar voice call for him. A voice that shouldn’t have been here for another couple weeks.

    “Jet!”

Smellerbee’s small form crashed into him hard . She wrapped her small arms around him tight, cutting off practically all air supply. Longshot quietly stalked up behind her, concern written all over his face.

“What are you-”

“I thought you said you were alone!” Katara roared, uncapping her pouch of water.

Smellerbee ignored team Avatar’s presence completely as she barged in with her own round of questions.

“Where have you been?! We haven’t seen you since the fight in the station!” 

“What?” He and a couple of other voices chorused. 

Jet sent a look over his shoulder to Aang, before closing his eyes and shaking his head, returning his gaze to Smellerbee and Longshot.

“What fight? And why are you guys even here? You weren’t supposed to come for another 3 weeks!”

Smellerbee’s face contorted with confusion. “Jet… what do you mean? We all came here together 3 weeks ago.”

He felt himself take a stepback, and turn his eyes to the floor, thinking back. Three weeks? That’s… that had to be wrong, right? It was wrong. It had to be! Jet felt nauseous.

“No… I’m… You were supposed to come in 3 weeks.” 

Smellerbee and Longshot stared at him, confusion and concern clear. Jet was sure he looked the same as he stared back.

“Well, that's weird.” Toph said, hand on the ground. 

“What is it, Toph?” Katara questioned, coming closer to the other girl while keeping an eye on Jet. An eye which.. wasn’t so cold anymore.

“They’re both telling the truth!”

“Uh, that can’t be possible.” Sokka stepped in. “Right?”

“If Toph says it is…” Aang said, shrugging.

Jet looked between them. They can’t both be telling the truth. That’s impossible. He knows what happened. Smellerbee and Longshot must be feeling ill. Or… or maybe…

“What if he was brainwashed?!” Smellerbee asks, eyes wide.

“That would explain things, like why he’s acting so differently!” Sokka exclaims.

“Maybe we can help him.” Aang says quietly, giving a side-eye to Katara, who reluctantly nods.

“Please.” Smellerbee begs, Longshot nodding fervently behind her.

Jet watches as they all decide he’s brainwashed right in front of him, wondering why he , the one who’s “brainwashed”, was not asked his thoughts.

On the way to the house that Longshot and Smellerbee were at, Jet stayed quiet. If he was brainwashed, which he wasn’t , it would actually explain… a lot. Like why he can’t remember the last 3 weeks, or how he got to Ba Sing Se. 

But, he can’t be. Jet is in a safe place. There is no war in Ba Sing Se, and that includes mind wars. 

Ok, maybe he was freaking out. Being in a chair, in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by people who believed he was brainwashed is not the best situation Jet has been in.

“Aha!” Sokka yelled, grabbing something from the bed and sticking it into Jet’s mouth. “Feel anything?”

Jet blinked and stared at the end of the piece of straw hanging out his mouth. It felt familiar, but probably not the feeling Sokka was talking about. He shook his head and Sokka deflated.

“I was sure that would work,” he mumbled.

“Here, let me try.”

Jet watched as Katara stepped forward with water swirling around her hands, slightly glowing. Unconsciously, he leaned back. 

The cool water was pleasant across his temple. Maybe he wouldn’t be frozen this time..?

“Close your eyes. What do you remember?” 

Following directions, his eyes closed. Thinking back, he remembered what he thought was a lot, but it’s also slightly fuzzy. 

“Do you remember what the Fire Nation did to your family?” Smellerbee asks.

Fire, screaming, and smoke. So much smoke, too much. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t breathe, he was too warm-

Out. Run, get out. Off to the side of the village, far. That’s what his parents said. But the village was in flames and everything was loud and there were cries for help and, and… he couldn't. Just keep running.

The hill put him even more out of breath, but the village was fully ablaze now. Jet was alone. Blinking back tears and sucking in another breath, he ran. Run, get out, far. 

Run, get out, far.

Run, get out, far-

“I remember,” he muttered.

Could he take a break? That was not something he wanted to remember so vividly, and having his eyes closed did not help. Jet opened his eyes to look at Smellerbee, just as more questions came his way.

“What about meeting us? Do you remember that?” Sokka pushed.

“I-”

“What about traveling to Ba Sing Se?” Aang prodded.

“Well-”

“The Freedom Fighters?” Smellerbee whispered.

Jet sucked in a breath, squeezing his eyes closed as his whole world submerged in water .

Tunnels full of green light yet so, so dark swarmed him. Left, right, stairs, right, bison? Wait, a skybison?? Appa?!

Struggling. He was struggling. Against what? With what? Rock? Rock turned to chains. His arms really, really, really, really hurt. Why? Why, what’s going on? There’s something he doesn’t remember-

Light. Circling him over and over and words that made his brain turn to mush said by a Dai Li that he wouldn’t mind skewering. Over and over, days turned to weeks and words were all he heard with barely food or water or anything. It was just words. Only words. 

And then he was shot up through a lake, where clarity reached his mind. Long Feng stood in front of Jet, saying the two words he needed to hear.

“Lake Laogai.”

Bolting up right, shoving everyone out of the way, Jet barely made it to the window before he puked. So, that’s what he forgot. How lovely.

Using his sleeve to wipe his mouth, he stood up and turned around to the rest of the group. He sucked in a breath.

“I know where Appa is.”

Chapter Text

In hindsight, maybe Jet should’ve explained more than “I was brainwashed,” and “Appa’s under Lake Laogai,”. He threw up after remembering his brainwashing, so maybe that was able to fill in the gaps for the team he was currently traveling with, but he didn’t want to answer any leftover questions either.

The plus side of traveling with his current group of Katara, Toph, Aang, Sokka, Smellerbee, and Longshot, was that everyone knew how to handle themselves. Sneaking out of Ba Sing Se in mid-morning was a piece of cake, and sneaking over to Lake Laogai by the start of the afternoon was even easier.

But, now that they saw the waters, Jet felt uneasiness crawl up his spine. He didn’t really want to go down there, but he did want to help Aang. So, guess that’s where he was going.

“It’s here.” Jet said, gesturing to the lake with his chin.

“Where? I don’t see anything.” Aang walked up to Jet’s side, looking at the blue water.

“It's under the water!” exclaimed Toph, looking over to the rest of the group with unseeing eyes.

He watched as the earthbender spread her legs into a more firm stance, and earthbended a platform up to the surface of the lake. Toph grinned, and then started towards the rock hatch. 

“Let’s go,” Aang instructed, walking ahead of everyone except Toph, who was currently moving the hatch.

Jet watched as team avatar climbed down the leader, taking a deep breath before he did so himself, letting the dark green of the tunnel below swallow him. Setting his foot on the solid floor, Jet turned around as the hatch closed behind him. It was way lighter than he had remembered..

“Where to now, Jet?” Smellerbee asked, nudging his arm.

Jet looked around, before deciding to go left. These tunnels looked all the same, but hopefully his foggy memory wouldn’t fail him now.

“This way,” Jet said, taking out his two swords.

Instincts were on high alert for everyone. Hearing any noise sent someone glancing and confirming it’s not a threat. Usually Toph cleared it before then, though.

Toph said it was too big to thoroughly see Appa with so many people until she was close enough, too. Basically, Jet was leading them in blind. Slightly ironic, he thinks.

One room they passed had multiple girls in it, dressed in the same closing, and repeating the same phrase.

“I am Joo Dee.”

Hearing the chorus of voices was enough for Jet to pick up the pace a little. He did not want to stay around and hear that any longer.

Passing through a couple more hallways, Jet finally heard Toph shout.

“I see him!”

“Which way?!” Aang demanded semi-frantically.

“Follow me,” she smirked, racing off.

Running towards the cell he saw Appa in made him realize this hallway was familiar. It wasn’t just muscle memory anymore. Jet raced up side by side with Toph, ready to break the door open and get Appa out.

Swinging his swords up when he saw the door, he slammed them down on the chain, breaking it with a loud bang. Aang blew the door open and almost off its hinges as he raced to Appa.

The skybison roared happily at seeing the boy, gratefully accepting the jumping face-hug that Aang gave him. Katara squealed excitedly and raced past him to the giant beast, as Sokka grinned and strolled right over, arms wide open.

“Buddy!” the watertribe boy called.

A smaller figure pushed Jet to the side as she, too, raced to Appa, only to stop and smile brightly and pat his nose gently, before getting a big lick in return. Toph cackled loudly, as the other three people around her giggled.

Jet smiled softly. This was worth it, seeing their reunion. He crossed his arms and grabbed a piece of straw, putting it in his mouth. Looking over to Smellerbee and Longshot, he caught smiles on their own faces.

“Come say hi, guys! He wants to thank you!” Aang called, grinning from ear to ear as he waved them over.

Smellerbee immediately started to race over as Jet and Longshot walked side by side. Appa sniffed and then snorted into Smellerbee’s hair, who squeaked at the action. 

Giggling, she said “You’re welcome, big guy!”

Longshot put his hand tentatively on the bison’s fluffy forehead, giving it a pat as Appa rumbled. The boy smiled and nodded, before stepping away, letting Jet walk on up.

Reaching his hand out, he patted the big beast's snout. Jet wished he could’ve helped Appa sooner, but it wasn’t possible, he knew that. So why did he still feel so bad about it?

As if Appa was sensing his thoughts, a big, wet tongue licked Jet. 

“Gah! Ew, you’re welcome, but ew ,” Jet grumbled, backing away from the bison, fighting a smile as everyone else laughed.

“What a touching reunion,” a voice purred throughout the cell.

Whirling around, swords raised, Jet growled. “Long Feng.”

“You kidnapped Appa!” Aang yelled, raising his staff and marching up next to Jet.

“You brainwashed our friend!” Smellerbee accused, her small form and Longshot’s taller one appearing at Jet’s other side.

Right, that had happened. Jet fought his face from contorting to panic or fear, but he’s sure his face had paled at hearing Smellerbee’s words, because he had pushed that information out of his mind for a second. The reunion had been going well, no need to think about the bad thoughts, right?!

Suddenly, more Dai Li filed in behind Long Feng as the man stalked forward.

“What do you want with us?!” Sokka demanded, raising his boomerang as Katara uncapped her water pouch.

And Jet knew the answer to that question. Long Feng wanted order, for everyone to be in his control and to be his very own pawns. So, instead of letting the man answer Sokka’s question, he decided to start the action.

Eyes connecting with Longshot’s, Jet nodded. The other boy’s bow was already drawn, so this shouldn’t go too bad, right?

His legs dropped to a more comfortable stance as he slid his swords together, a metallic shing came from them, and the two boys moved.

Jet spun around and brought his sword down on Appa’s ankle shackles before the animal could react, as Longshot immediately shot the closest Dai Li agent. 

Appa roared and Momo screeched as the room descended into chaos. Jet only had one mission: get Appa free. One shackle down, five more to go.

“Stay calm, Appa!” Aang called out as he made another air shield, blocking the Dai Li’s hand from coming straight at Jet .

Nope, focus. Focus on the shackles. Another clank from the other side of Appa made Jet jump, but Sokka was just removing the other shackle with his club. Good, he needed all the help he could get.

Four more to go, two more to go, one more, and Appa was free. Ok, nice, now what?

The Dai Li and the team seemed to be fighting valiantly, but they were cornered, and he was pretty sure Toph had just yelled out the more were coming a minute ago.

“Toph, Aang, we need a way to shield Appa and earthbend through the roof. Katara, you’ll need to be ready to waterbend any water that comes through!” Sokka yelled.

Genius, besides the fact that Long Feng was right there , probably listening to the whole plan. But team avatar knows best, so Jet took on the distraction role. Raising his swords and baring his teeth, he charged directly at the man he was the most scared of in this room.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you, boy,” Long Feng snarled, gracefully dodging Jet’s attack.

“What? Kill you? Because I’ll do it gladly.”

Long Feng cackled as he threw a boulder at Jet, one he almost wasn’t able to dodge. 

Block that stone, jump over that boulder, dive away from those pebbles, don’t run into that Dai Li. His head was spinning from how fast everything was, but he was also in his fighting zone. This is what he’s trained for, what he’s done time and time again. Fighting is his blood. But, he wasn’t sure he was ready for this opponent.

Raising his sword, Jet was able to slash the arm of Long Feng. 

“Jet, come on!” Smellerbee cried. 

She was already on Appa along with Longshot, Toph, and Aang.

“On it!” he called back, starting to race towards the bison.

“Jet,” Long Feng started, “I invite you to Lake Laogai.”

Lake Laogai… Lake Laogai… there is no war in Ba Sing Se… Ba Sing Se is safe… Lake…. Laogai…

“Kill them.”

Water and earth smacked him. An arrow zipped past, snagging a piece of his clothing. That was not  allowed. 

“Jet, snap out of it!” 

Snap out of what?! He roared and rushed forward, finding wood behind his two swords, blocking his attack. A leg sweeped his own out from under him.

“Remember what you’re fighting for, Jet!”

“Long Feng’s controlling you!”

“We need to leave! He’s too dangerous!”

“We’re not leaving our leader behind!”

Jump, slice, miss, dodge, get knocked over by air and get back up. Don’t think, but why should he not? Thinking helps fighting. Look at the surroundings, come on.

“Kill them!”

Grey, frightened eyes met brown. What was he doing fighting Aang?! He broke his swords out a defensive stance and backpedaled, making sure to keep his snarl convincing. Something’s off.

“ Kill them, boy!” Long Feng shouted.

Oh. Keeping his glare fixed on Aang, his head low, and his breathing heavy, Jet gave the slightest nod. He really hoped the kid knew what it meant. 

Taking a deep breath, Jet let out a yell and charged forward, only to swivel on his feet and start running towards Long Feng, while Aang yelled at Katara to get Appa moving .

Long Feng’s surprise was visible, but Jet’s shock of being hit by a boulder was probably the most potent.

The rock had hit him hard on the left side and he cried out at the force. The boulder sent him flying but did not come and squish him afterwards, because Toph was able to catch it inches from his face. Jet stared at the rock, head spinning, as his left side throbbed without pain. Thank the spirits for adrenaline.

Jet forced himself up, using the wall as a crutch, and started hobbling over to Appa. Toph had hopped down to help Aang build a temporary wall of earth. Reaching up, Longshot and Sokka helped him onto the floating bison. Hissing as he went over the side, having to put most of his weight on his left side, Toph suddenly dropped into the saddle with Smellerbee’s help.

“Appa, yip yip!” Aang called from below.

Appa roared and started heading towards the ceiling, which Toph was already breaking.

“Hold your breath! It may get a bit dusty up here!” she yelled, grin clear in her voice.

A blur of orange, and suddenly Aang was also destroying the wall above. With one great big crack, the ceiling came apart. The two dropped the boulders over the side without care, since Dai Li could bend earth.

Water started rushing in, but Katara and Aang were able to hold it. 

“Sokka, take the reins!” Katara demanded through gritted teeth.

  “On it. The rest of you, hold on!”

Water swirled around Appa as Sokka steered him through Lake Laogai. It was beautiful, seeing the dark blue-brown water turn into a light blue with a hint of orange, before breaching the surface of the lake completely. Orange and yellow and very little pink tinted the sky. Sunsets represent the ending of an old era, so maybe Jet being with team avatar to see this particular sunset meant more than he previously thought.

But the adrenaline was also starting to wear off, and Appa wasn’t the smoothest ride. Bumping into Smellerbee, Jet let out an audible groan as his right hand went over his left side.

“Let me see it,” Katara commanded, eyes kind as she kneeled in front of Jet on the saddle. 

Smellerbee moved so Katara could see his hurt side, water swirling around her hands. The light blue glow was slightly comforting as one hand touched his ribs, and another his arm.

“Your ribs are bruised, but your arm and collarbone are broken. Can I see your head?”

Jet nodded as the hand that was on his ribs, which were actually feeling manageable now, moved to his head. 

“Well, at least you don’t have a concussion. That’s some miracle, hm?” Katara said with a smile, before moving her hand to his collarbone.

“ Wouldn’t call getting smashed by a rock a miracle, but not being crushed by the same rock is.” Jet mumbled, looking over to Toph with a grateful smile.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. You helped us find Appa. The least I could do was repay you.” Toph waved her hand, as if waving off that she had saved his life.

Jet snorted. “Yeah, thanks.”

The glow of Katara’s water slowly dimmed as they got closer to the outer wall of Ba Sing Se. 

“There, you should be ok, but don’t use your left arm for a couple days.” she chided.

Jet smiled. “Good thing I’m ambidextrous, right?”

That earned him an elbow to his side by Longshot, who was looking nonchalantly over the side of Appa. Jet elbowed him back, grinning.

“Now what?” Smellerbee asked, looking at Aang more than Jet.

Right, traveling with the avatar meant he wasn’t the “leader” anymore. That will take some adjusting to. Well, still the leader of the Freedom Fighters, but Aang had more jurisdiction than him right now.

“We tell the Earth King. He has to listen to us and then we can get Ba Sing Se’s help in the war!” Aang chirped.

“And if he doesn’t listen to us? Long Feng was his second in command,” Toph chimed in.

“Yeah! What if he just tells us to ‘Go book an appointment! There’s no war in Ba Sing Se!’ ” Sokka mocked, but who he was supposed to be mocking was lost on Jet.

“Well, then we will convince him. I’m sure the King was just as manipulated as everyone else. Maybe even brainwashed, too,” Katara said determinedly. 

Aang nodded at Katara’s statement. “And if that doesn't work, then we’ll.. we’ll have to leave.”

Everyone nodded slowly at that, mainly because they needed the earth King’s forces on their side. Hopefully, he’ll believe them.

Chapter Text

The group flew over the outer wall, and then the inner wall, and eventually to the palace. Everyone was silent. The palace seemed to be crawling with Dai Li, which they’d have to fight to get through to the King. They can do this, though. Jet knows they all can.

    The grip on the sword in his right hand tightened as he spotted earth catapults. Great, almost getting crushed once today wasn’t enough, was it?

    One launched, and then another, and another, until there was an onslaught of flying boulders. Appa dodged most while Aang made the rocks explode without even blinking at them. To think he was thinking of fighting his old morals into the Avatar…

    Shaking his head, he prepared to jump off Appa, when Smellerbee shook her head. Pointing her finger down towards the saddle, she glared at Jet. 

    Stay here.  

    He opened his mouth to argue, when Katara’s glare, which had daggers but no ice, confirmed what Smellerbee was saying. Jet was to stay in the saddle. Grumbling, he positioned himself to prepare for the landing instead.

    Appa landed with a thud. Everyone that was on the saddle was suddenly off, leaving Jet alone besides Longshot, who was using Appa as his vantage point. At least he could try and shield Appa from oncoming pebbles with his sword. 

    Toph was a beast, leading the gang ahead. Moving the rock tiles to block all of the Dai Li’s attacks. 

    Katara was knocking each Dai Li that dared mess with her back with her water whip, and Aang was blowing back the Dai Li as well.

    “Sorry!” Katara called. “We’re just trying to see the Earth King!”

    A whoosh by his head made Jet look towards Sokka, who was warding back Dai Li on one side, with Smellerbee watching his other.

    The river ahead had Dai Li on the other side of it, so Katara jumped over, bending the water to act as her arms, whipping all the Dai Li into the water.

    She then ran over and jumped back on Appa, which caused Sokka and Smellerbee to run over and join the saddle riders as well.

    The stairs ahead turned smooth, and the ground beneath Appa was being pushed up. Appa’s tail was helping Aang and Toph’s earthbending too. The wind rushed past Jet’s ears as they went higher and higher, before coming to the top of the stairs.

    This time, everyone jumped out of the bison’s sattle and ran into the palace. Sokka started peeking into rooms, one with girlish screams behind them.

    “Sorry!” Sokka called, face red. 

    He closed the door and kept running, sending Jet a glare because Jet was cackling at the scene. 

    Soon, they came to the throne room door. Taking a wide stance, Jet watched as Aang suddenly ran, jumped, spun in mid-air, and airbended at the door, causing it to fly open.

    Jet let out a low whistle, which earned him a punch from Toph. He shrugged. What? The kid was powerful!

    “King Kuei, we need to speak with you!” Aang demands.

    “Please sire, do not listen to them. The traitors barged in here!” Long Feng begs.

    Wait, how did Long Feng get here so quickly?!

    The man with glasses and an… animal Jet can’t identify nods. “He’s right, why should I listen?”

    “Please, he’s the Avatar and Long Feng’s a traitor!” Katara adds, desperate.

    “She is spouting lies!”

    “She isn’t!” Jet barged in. “Your highness, Long Feng is playing you. He has brainwashed many, including me, and has a secret base to do it under Lake Laogai!”

    There was a moment of silence as Jet’s words sunk in. But then Long Feng huffed.

    “That is preposterous. I would never do such a-”

    “Let us show you.” Sokka said. “We have proof.”

    And that was able to catch the King’s attention, but he still seemed unsure.

    “We could even take you for a ride on Appa!” Aang chimed in, smile wide, trying to hide his nervousness.

    They all needed this to work. But Jet could tell, the King was sold .

    “Fine. As long as I can ride on your skybison… fine.”

    Sokka let out a loud whoop as the rest of the group grinned. 

    “Well then, what are you waiting for? Shouldn’t you get going?” Long Feng asked, strangely calm.

    “You’re right, Long Feng! Let’s get going, Avatar.”

    On the outer wall, the group watched the sun set. With each minute, Jet could feel everyone’s worry grow. Where was the King and Aang? But, the worry’s bite stung a little less as Appa appeared, a blip in the yellowish-orange sky.

   As said bison plopped down on the outer wall, Long Feng and the Dai Li walked over from where they were waiting. He came before the storm, he supposed.

   Aang helped Kuei jump down from Appa, before both turned to Long Feng, Aang’s smile telling everyone who truly knew him that this had worked.

   “Long Feng!” cried the King. “You have controlled Ba Sing Se for long enough, and you will answer for your crimes.” 

   Jet watched Long Feng stutter, still on edge. He had left his swords near the rim of the wall to make sure he could not be used as a weapon again, but…. but it didn’t mean he wasn’t skilled in hand to hand combat either.

   Watching Long Feng sputter felt like it took hours until the King interrupted, showing how it had only been a second.

   “Dai Li, seize him!”

   The split second of hesitation caught his eye, but the Dai Li did as told. They carried away the screaming man as he struggled against their hold.

   “Well, now that that’s over with, we really need to speak with you, King Kuei!” Sokka slid on over to the King’s side, face serious. “There’s going to be an eclipse soon that will block out all firebending. We plan on attacking the Fire Nation then, but we need Ba Sing Se’s help.”

   King Kuei hummed. “I do not know… Ba Sing Se has been under Long Feng’s influence for a long time. I was hoping to help them heal , not fight another battle which is not ours.”

   “It is yours!” Jet argued, pointing a finger at King Kuei, about to go on but Katara had given him a glare that clearly said “I’ve got this.”

   “I’m sorry for his outburst, your majesty, but Jet is right. Maybe the war is not at your door right now, but the refugees are. And soon, the Fire Nation will conquer all of the Earth Kingdom, until Ba Sing Se is the only one left, in which it will fall. Whether it’s to disease from overpopulation, or to the Fire Nation finally breaking your walls, it will tumble. Your people will soon be in danger, and we need your help to prevent that! Please, reconsider.”

   The King looked down, deep in thought, before turning to look at the inner walls of Ba Sing Se. 

   “I-I suppose you’re right. Avatar Aang and friends, you have the support of Ba Sing Se behind you!” he announced, smiling wide.

   “Yes!” Sokka cheered, fist pumping. “Now, we need to talk about plans, and timing, and-“

   “Can we at least get back to the palace first? I don’t want to listen to your planning steps anymore than I have to,” grumbled Toph, getting giggles from Katara as Sokka pouted.

   “Another ride in your bison, perhaps?” King Kuei shyly questioned, eyes full of excitement.

   “Sure!” Aang chirped. “All aboard the Appa Express,” he called as everyone climbed into Appa’s saddle.

   “Please keep your hands, feet, ears, and tails inside the saddle to ensure all rides are as safe as possible. Yes, I’m looking at you Momo!”

   The lemur in question babbled at Aang’s side, as if denying the claim. Jet smiled.

   “As you sit down, please make sure all items are secure. Thank you for choosing Appa Express! We hope you enjoy your ride!”

   And then the skybison took off, earning a surprised gasp from King Kuei as the group went higher and higher into the air.

   Jet looked over the side of the saddle, watching as the ground got farther and farther away, with a small smile, until he felt a small bit of mist on his face.

   Looking at Katara with a raised eyebrow, he saw her leaned back with closed eyes, enjoying the cool water on her face. So, it wasn’t her.. then who-

   Jet didn’t feel the mist anymore. He wasn’t sure he felt anything but amazement at the sight in front of him. Clouds!

   Beautiful, fluffy clouds surrounded the skies around Appa, in various shades of colors. There was bright orange and a golden yellow, with pastel pink clouds feathering above. 

   A small “wow” came from Smellerbee as she took in the same sight, and Jet felt he had to agree. He had never seen anything like this, even in the high treetops of the Freedom Fighters’ forest.

   Ahead, another cloud laid. Instead of going around, though, Aang steered Appa straight through. So this was the so-called mist. It wasn’t mist at all. It was cloud . Now this was a feeling he never thought he’d be able to experience in his life.

   Not for the first time in his life, Jet thought a thought. Weird, he knows. Usually he doesn’t even think, is what Smellerbee would say. 

   A small bit ago, he’s sure this thought would have even made him angry.

   But now? It makes more sense than ever. He’s sure that he means this in way more ways than one, and maybe Jet will be able to even say it out loud one day.

   ”Thank the spirits for airbenders.”

Chapter Text

The balcony outside his room was usually full of people talking and working their way to their respective rooms. Well, houses. Zuko guessed that he’s lived long enough here to consider this place his house.

Right now, he was taking a break. After stalking a couple areas on the wall to look for weaknesses over the past two days, he hasn’t found many that he’d be able to fully exploit. It was frustrating!

So, he did what his uncle usually does. He picked up a tea pot, boiled the water and leaves, and made himself a cup of tea. Now, Zuko was staring up at the sky, hoping that maybe it would give him a clue on what to do.

Yet, all the sky really gave him was sadness. This really is what uncle would do, huh? 

Would he ever see him again? Was he alive? Zuko doesn’t know and that bothers him. It bothers him more than leaving him in the dust, just to get away from Azula. He didn’t want to die, and that was a good reason to leave, right?! Then why did he feel so… bad?

Grumbling, he took another sip of tea. At least the clouds and that flying bison were pretty.

Wait.

Flying Bison?!

Zuko leaned over the railing of the balcony, straining his neck to get a better peek at the animal, but it was already going over the other roof!

Running into his room and carefully throwing down his cup of tea, wincing at the sound of it falling, Zuko chased the Avatar once again.

Jumping down the stairs and rushing out the front of the apartment building, he turned his eyes to the sky, and there it was.

Disappearing and then reappearing through a cloud, the sky bison flew straight towards the palace. 

And that… that gave Zuko an idea.

The next day, Zuko was at the palace, without even having to try too hard. Writing down fake information on a real application was easy, especially since he wrote down the same fake information yesterday, just to make sure he would not forget his web of lies. 

Sure, maybe this position was not the absolute best. It really sent him to the lowest of lows. A step above being homeless, even!

Lee was now a palace servant.

And Zuko? Zuko was one more step closer to taking the Avatar into his clutches.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The long-con was boring. It was hard, mind boggling, and tricky. You slip up on one lie and you fail . 

Azula knows this. She’s made sure Ty Lee and Mai know this, multiple times.

It’s the reason that when she saw what she later learned were the Kyoshi Warriors when heading to Ba Sing Se, Azula saw an opportunity. Even better, she saw a solution .

If the skybison was there too, well, that was just a plus.

“Azula, are you sure we can’t spruce up these outfits just a little ? They’re too green,” complained Ty Lee fixing her makeup to look like one of the knocked out warriors next to her.

She had a dagger for her mirror, and was making it work pretty well.

“Ty Lee, Azula has told us we can’t change a thing no matter how drab these clothes are,” Mai chided lightly.

“Ugh, I know! But look at them!” Ty Lee whirled around, gesturing to her whole dress. “Hideous!”

Azula gave a small glare and the other girl huffed before turning around.

“That’s a warrior's uniform! We wear it with pride, ” the girl in front of Azula snarled.

The fight of the brunette had been worn out before Azula had taken her clothes for her own. It must have been humiliating for her, the poor thing.

“We will! These uniforms will be seen as an even greater symbol of pride when we bring back my traitorous brother, take down the avatar, and maybe even topple Ba Sing Se. These outfits will be those described in the history scrolls,” Azula drawled.

Golden eyes met gray, or was it blue? Green? Azula couldn’t tell with this lighting, but it didn’t matter. The girl glared, but it was of loss while Azula’s was triumphant.

“Now, you were just about to tell us where we were to meet the avatar for his next letter? I’m sure he’ll send you another for rescuing his beloved pet.”

Silence met her question. If she didn’t want to do this the easy way, maybe she could use these pretty fans. They seemed to be the girl’s weapons.

“The refugee center near the Serpent’s Pass!” the girl near Mai shouted.

“Yuna!” 

“I’m sorry, Suki, but I can’t let you get hurt!”

Azula blinked at the situation. Well, this works. Looking over to Ty Lee, she nodded in Yuna’s direction. 

“While I cannot promise her safety, I am glad you have offered up such valuable information. Ty Lee, would you repay her for me?”

“Of course, Azula!”

A few punches and the girl was out. The next time she’d wake would hopefully be in prison.

Turning back to Suki, Azula smiled. 

“You have been a help to me too. But, not as much as some of these other girls.”

Suki glared.

“My gift for you is my own wisdom. Where you’re going to go, you’ll need it.”

“How thoughtful,” Suki growled.

“Anything for my favorite prisoner. Oh, and that’s just it, isn’t it? Prisoner .”

Azula could see the reluctant curiosity grow in Suki, along with fear plaguing each of the girl’s limbs.

“You will be alone . No sisters of Kyochi.”

“K-Kyoshi,” Suki started. “Kyoshi Warriors .”

Azula nodded, grinning as she heard the stutter of someone being scared . 

“Oh, I‘ll have to remember that, won’t I? If I’m going to be a Kyoshi Warrior, I need to play the part. Too bad about you though, hmm?”

“What?”

“You’re being demoted. I am the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors now. And you? You’re no one now. Just Suki , alone.”

Chapter Text

The palace, once they were there, was hideous compared to her own. The boat ride was insufferable, the train into the city was crowded, and the walk to the front of the palace was long. Azula watched as Mai and Ty Lee struggled to bite their own tongues, keeping complaints from spilling out.

    Honestly, Azula was doing the same, but with much less noticeability.

    Leaving the real Kyoshi Warriors within the hands of the lower Fire Nation guards made anxiety crawl up her spine. She did not trust those fools. The only reason she had left was because she trusted Ty Lee’s skills in chi-blocking, which had paralyzed the prisoners.

    Hopefully, they got to the prison before it wore off. Azula would not want to deal with the real Kyoshi warriors coming up and exposing the new ones.

    The doors of the great throne room opened, revealing a golden badger mole hovering directly behind a small chair, surrounded by decorations of gold on what must be emerald green paint. No other place in this palace had impressed her, but this one was close.

“Ah, the Kyoshi Warriors! I welcome you to Ba Sing Se and I’m so grateful you are here. I have heard so much about you from the Avatar and friends.” the King beamed.

The three girls bowed in sync as the King continued.

“Honestly, after my previous royal advisor brainwashed me and some of my subjects, literally and figuratively, it’s nice to have those I can trust around. Especially with the invasion coming up, on the day of black sun.”

Azula’s eyes widened. This man is more of a fool than she predicted! Glancing at Mai and Ty Lee and they looked at each other, Azula gave a slight nod. 

“It’s terrible when you can’t trust the people who are closest to you.”

    The King nodded back. “Now, you girls must be tired! Can someone please escort them to their room? Dinner will begin shortly, but feel free to explore as you like!”

Bowing her head again, Azula turns around and allows herself to be led out of the throne room, Mai and Ty Lee following her. The large doors close loudly behind them.

Azula’s eyes flitted back and forth, observing the large green walls with ceilings as tall as trees. The footsteps echoed in this palace just like at home.

Mai and Ty Lee were whispering to each other about the palace behind her. Observing the grandness of it, no doubt.

That’s fine. They’ve done well today. Azula can use these last moments to start her observation of her surroundings, and even the Dai Li. Maybe she could use the royal advisor to her advantage?

    Servants were cleaning the floor of the large, open pathway the group had walked into. The Dai Li leading the girls to their room walked briskly across the floor, Azula doing the same.

Out of the corner of her eye, a blotch of red on a face caught her attention.

The servant was male, with short hair and a scar vaguely shaped like a hand print right over his eye.

Well now. This day just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?

    “Hurry, girls. We do not want to interrupt their work for long.” 

    Behind her, footsteps go faster as her voice echoes away. She leaves the room with a grin on her face.

    All her pawns are in one place. Now? Now, she just needed a plan.

    She cannot wait to see her father’s face this time.

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    Zuko is a dead man. He’s so dead. Only a change of Azula’s competitive nature can save him now, and that would take a miracle from Agni.

    It has been two days since she walked through the hall where he was mopping, covered in greens with her face painted white, red, and black. He wouldn’t have recognized her if not for her voice, commanding who he presumed was Mai and Ty Lee to hurry across the floor. Azula must have known she was not recognizable, which is why she spoke in the first place. She must have a plan which most definitely includes her bestfriends.

    And now? Zuko was starting to think it included him too.

    It has been two days since Azula found Zuko, and nothing has happened yet. He can’t really leave right now, with the avatar being so close, so his sister must know he’s trapped. She must be planning to do something with the avatar too, or maybe she just enjoys Zuko’s paranoia. Or…. could it have something to do with Ba Sing Se as a whole?

    Zuko groans and rubs his face. How is he supposed to know what she’s doing?! All plans would bring her a lot of benefits! Father would dote over her more than he ever has before. Spirits, she could probably do all three and make it… out… alive .

    So, that’s her plan. Taking Ba Sing Se, the avatar, and Zuko all in one swoop. But how?

    Zuko’s short victory of finding her plan, er, well, goal, was interrupted by not knowing her steps to do this all, because Azula would definitely have an entire agenda. She’d definitely need some help-

    A knock on his door interrupts his thoughts. 

    Grabbing one of his Dao swords, cautiously heads toward the door of his servant quarters.

    It’s a small tan room with a small twin bed, decorated in green. There’s a place for a torch and, he was lucky with this, a window. But it was definitely not a good place to fight, and has no other safe exits.

    He opens the door, sword behind his back, and sucks in a breath.

    “You have been requested for a meeting with head servant Biola.” the Dai Li at the door says stiffly, gesturing for Zuko to follow him.

    Carefully, he puts his sword down and decides to follow.

    The Dai Li leads him down many halls, before entering a room much fancier than he thought a head servant would have. A table is in the middle with benches at its sides. A small throne is at the front in the middle, and through the side door comes in another servant with some tea.

    Altogether, it gives Zuko alarm bells, but he decides to sit anyway. Only cause a ruckus if you have to, he reminds himself.

    The Dai Li turns around and closes the door, leaving Zuko alone for a small minute. A minute he sort of wishes had lasted longer.

    “Lee, is it? A very common name. I see you remembered our alias classes.”

    Jumping up, Zuko prepares himself for a fight.

    “I thought it fit! Took you long enough to talk to me.”

    Azula laughs. “Oh please, Zuzu, a Kyoshi Warrior has much work to do within her first days of arrival.” she smiles, sitting down.

    Zuko blinks. No fight stance, no guards, and a mention of the Kyoshi Warriors, which does ring a bell. Didn’t he burn down their village? Wait, Azula’s disguise…

    “So,” he starts, sitting down with his sister, “you’ve met the Warriors?”

    “Mhmm. Do you know them too?”

    “I burned down their village.”

    Azula snorts, hand flying to her mouth after the fact, therefore sending Zuko into a laughing spree. 

    After a minute, Zuko clears his throat.

    “What do you want?”

    “Straight to the point, as always. Can’t a sister just check up on her brother?”

    Zuko sends a glare her way.

    Grumbling, she admits, “Fine. Yes, I am here for my own gain, but it could also be yours.”

    “My gain?” Zuko asks, raising an eyebrow. “How?”

    Azula smirks. “The avatar is in Ba Sing Se, but we just so happen to also be in Ba Sing Se. The Dai Li are also not too happy with the King or the avatar right now. We could maybe arrange our little competition so you don’t return home just to die.”

    Zuko blinks. The Dai Li are upset with the King? That could help the Fire Nation take over the capital of the Earth Kingdom… they were able to convince the Dai Li to help them. Seeing as Azula already has them at her beck and call, it may already be started. 

    But that means Azula has that under control, so what does she need him for? What’s the turning point to make Father not kill him?

    “You’ve been thinking for far longer than I thought you could. Tea for your thoughts?” Azula questions, pushing a cup of tea closer to him.

    Zuko grabs the creamy white cup ane takes a sip. “How do we convince Father?”

     Azula lights up. “Finally! A good question!” she exclaims, grinning. “You don’t capture the avatar. You kill him… all of him.”

     Zuko’s eyes widened. That would take precise timing and expert firebending. Would fire even work? In the avatar state, the boy could definitely redirect the fire. If he fails..

    “You won’t fail.” 

     He looks up to Azula. “How do you know?”

     Azula’s eyes gleam, but her face remains serious. He can tell the point she wants to get across is that he won’t fail, and that him questioning her annoys her, but it is a valid question. They need to make sure this works.

      “Because, my dear brother, I have a plan. And you? You are my key player.”

      Azula stares at him, waiting for the information to click.

      Zuko doesn’t want to let her down. He tells everyone, even himself he can do anything. But with Azula? He lets his walls come down an inch. It is possible for him to do what she asks, it’s just not likely. Zuko wants her to realize this. He doesn’t want his potential failure to…

     “Zuzu, do you trust me?” 

     Zuko breathes in. 

     “Yes.”

     “Then you’re in? We will do this?”

     Golden eyes lock with eyes just as gold. 

     “ Yes .”

Chapter Text

The palace was boring .

Jet was alone. It was a great sign of trust to be left with the Earth King and to help with the war efforts for the week while Team Avatar went elsewhere. He was honored, really. The watertribe siblings had gone to see their dad while Toph decided to answer her parents' letter. Aang had been the one to drop off the siblings and took Appa to the Eastern Temple to do some.. avatar stuff Jet didn’t understand.

Sighing, he got up from the window he was looking out of.

He wished Smellerbee or Longshot had stayed, but they had gone to get the rest of the Freedom Fighters in preparation for the fight. With Jet’s permission, Smellerbee and Longshot had been appointed leader until they came back with what little members they had left. It was an important task, but Jet couldn’t help missing them.

Footsteps came up behind him. Jet refrained from grabbing his swords like his instincts told him. The Dai Li were good now, his own experiences with them aside.

Jet couldn’t help but feel unnerved when around them, though.

“Your presence has been requested by the King.”

Nodding, Jet started to walk away and to the throne room, guessing that it was where he was supposed to meet.

“Got it,” he replied shortly.

Walking away, Jet forced his shoulders down. There’s nothing to worry about; nothing to be so tense about, he thought while rounding a corner.

The grand doors to the throne opened as the Dai Li doormen practically beckoned him forward. Inside were three girls.    

“Ah, so you must be Jet,” the first girl smiled, two black strands of hair dangling in front of her face. “I’m Suki. Sokka has told me a lot about you.”

And that's when Jet decided that he would never doubt his instincts again.

“He has?” Jest asked cautiously.

“Yes, he has. It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Suki said, stepping down from the stair she was on.

Jet unsheathed his swords and brought them down slowly. They hovered in a comfortable defense position. Sokka wouldn’t have had the time to leave a good word in if he left immediately to see his dad. This girl didn’t know Jet completely, and maybe not even Sokka.

“If you knew Sokka, I doubt you’d actually mean that.”

“Oh?” Suki questioned. “And why’s that?”

She was walking closer. The girl on the last step pulled out a dagger, while the third had disappeared. 

“As I said, you know Sokka, you know his feelings on me,” Jet glared, backing up even more.

He should get out of here. These girls are not friends. They probably aren’t even the Kyoshi Warriors!

A kick to his knee and multiple punches to his back caused him to fall face first to the floor. So that's where the third girl went.

Jet struggled to get up with no help from his arms. They just seemed to dangle, like no amount of energy could get them to move. After wriggling on the ground, not able to fully get up, he looked up at “Suki” with a snarl.

“Who are you?!” he demanded.

A hand reached and grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his whole body upward, so he was on his knees. 

“Look at those eyebrows! Az- Suki, they’re killer sharp! May even rival M- Yuna’s eyeliner!” the second girl giggled, pulling his head up to get a better look.

“Suki” glared at the girl with the braid, and then sighed. 

“Admire his… eyebrows when he’s knocked out. We can put him in the caves,” she ordered, bending down to Jet’s level. “He will be our bait .”

Jet’s eyes widened, before everything plunged into darkness once more. 

He’s starting to really hate the color green.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At first, with his connection to Katara, Aang thought this undeniable feeling of dread was hers. He thought that something had happened and ran from Guru Pathik and his purple cosmic self, not taking in any visions that flashed before him.

The only thing that mattered was Katara.

But, when he finally reached Appa, Aang realized it wasn’t Katara. He couldn’t explain why, really. It just didn’t feel like her. How a indescribable feeling could not feel like something is beyond him, but then again, Aang’s the avatar. There’s many things beyond his knowledge right now. 

Even the avatar state is out of reach.

He shook those thoughts away, allowing his thoughts to focus back to the feeling.

Aang didn’t think it was Sokka either. With either of the Watertribe siblings, he imagined any feelings of urgency from them would have to do with water, ice, or even the cold in general! Just like the cloud he just raced through.

But the feeling was not a misty cloud, nor was it dirt. Toph would probably create the sensation of ground shaking, with the scent of mud fragrant on his skin. The thing was, Aang didn’t feel the ground rumble or smell the scent of mud. 

Well, maybe a little, which wasn’t helping his dilemma. Was it Toph? Was it Toph that was in trouble and needed his help?!

Yet, if it was Toph, Aang was sure that there wouldn’t be this much fear .

Aang has felt fear in his life. A lot of it. From being cast away from the temple to forgetting his own culture, his own nation, because they’re not here anymore.. they’re gone.. he’ll never see them again …

But this was a fear that was complex in a way he couldn’t fathom.

It was a caged animal, prowling its cage in search of an escape. It didn’t want to be hurt again, to be used again. It was tired of trusting and it had anger that burned .

With it’s growls and snarls and roars, it was hard for Aang to hear what lie beneath. The swatting paws, the sharp claws, the bared teeth; they were all signs that this was a fear that came with consequences when touched.

But, as Aang finally saw the boats that were anchored on the beach, he looked deeper.

A caged animal is described as dangerous. Maybe not as dangerous as the avatar, per se, but still not something to be messed with. 

A caged animal is also a sign. No one wants to meet the people that have this unhappy beast that speaks of murder, for their captors have hurt it enough that that’s all it recognizes people as. It recognizes everyone as a threat.

As Aang landed Appa and Katara and Sokka ran over, voices full of question but eyes full of concern, he saw what the fear was.

It was a warning.

“Aang!” Katara called, waving.

Sokka grinned as he reached Appa. “Did you do it?!”

He opened his mouth and then clicked it shut, looking to the side. Fear coiled in his gut, this time his own. 

Katara’s hand landed on his shoulder as she leaned forward. “Aang?”

She and Sokka were already in the saddle.

“Something’s wrong. I’m not sure what, yet, but I had to leave early.”

Sokka nodded as Katara sat back.

“Let’s get going then,” the older boy said, giving a small smile before giving a nod to an older man near the boats.

The two siblings waved as Appa took off after Aang whispered a small “yip-yip” into his ear. 

His thoughts returned to the feeling that wasn’t his, and realized that fear wasn’t the only thing present.

An unrelentless feeling of searching surged forward as Aang’s own leg began to bob up and down and up and down. He fought the urge to get up an pace, to try and find what he was missing even though he knew what exactly this feeling wanted.

“Aang?”

It’s not like he could exactly search for himself, he’s already right here!

“Aang!”

“Yeah?” he called, shaken out of his thoughts.

“Uh, you never mentioned what’s wrong, buddy. Me and Katara are getting pretty curious.”

“And worried,” Katara added. “You know you can talk to us, right?”

At that Aang sighed. “I know, I know. I’m still trying to figure it out myself though.”

“Figure what out?” Sokka questioned.

“I… I’m not sure. It’s sorta like this feeling I got, but it’s not exactly mine either? I thought it was you guys at first but… I don’t know.”

A small silence enveloped over the group. The wind whistled in their ears as Aang went back to wondering who the feeling was from.

“Well, maybe we can help you figure it out. Any clues so far from this, erm, feeling?” Katara asked gently.

Aang could practically picture her slight head tilt, and he smiled.

“They’re scared in the caged animal way, they’re trying to warn someone, and they’re searching for me.”

“.... is that it? Because the answers right in front of you!”

“What do you mean, Sokka?” Aang asked, turning around with his eyebrow raised.

“There’s only two people in the world that would go through an emotion-sharing-magic-thingy to find you, and only one of them would want to warn you about something!” Sokka exclaimed, pointing his boomerang at Aang.

“Jet…” Katara whispered.

Aang nodded. “That makes sense, I guess, but why would I feel Jet of all people? I don’t even know him that well! Ugh, with one thing answered, there’s even more questions!”

“I don’t know, but if Jet’s in trouble, that could mean that the King is too.” Sokka pointed out.

Aang turned back around. “Right, let’s-“

A mound of earth moving at impressive speeds below him caught his eye. After moving Appa closer, Aang realized it was two mounds of earth.

“Let’s check that out first,” he said, steering Appa even closer.

After a closer inspection, Aang grinned and he heard Katara give a small snort as Sokka cheered.

“Hey Toph!” he yelled, coming right up beside her.

Toph gave a small yelp and immediately stopped herself.

And then she launched a boulder at him.

“That’s what you get for scaring me, ya dunderheads!!” she yelled, shaking her fist.

Aang laughed as he broke the rock to dust.

“Get in, Beifong! We’re going to go save the Earth Kingdom!” Sokka screamed, raising his boomerang up high.

It was a declaration for war.

Or, at least a fight. Hopefully just a fight.

There was already one war going on, another would rip Aang apart! 

Chapter Text

Somedays, he wonders if he made the right decision. 

It is not easy to try and undo the effects of his past, to keep a clean future, and to live in the present. And yet…

Iroh does.

After Katara kindly healed him, it didn’t take long for the group to become comfortable. Iroh was glad he could win the kids over, even if it didn’t take much.

In his years, he’s never been more grateful for children and their belief in second chances. A long conversation, some tea, and a game of Pai Sho won the group over quickly, along with Miss Beifong’s compliments, of course.

Iroh has killed many in this war, yet the avatar looks to him and smiles, the southern watertribe siblings chat food and strategy with him, and the young earthbender talks to him in a way he wished his nephew would have. 

Iroh has been forgiven by some of the ones he has hurt most, but that does not mean he is done yet.

The city of Ba Sing Se was quite easy to sneak into, which was a surprise to someone who had laid siege to the place for many years. But he was thankful.

Aang had split with him as they made their way to the Serpent’s Pass. As much as he warned Iroh that Zuko would not listen to him, he went in search of his nephew anyway. He wants to talk to him one last time.

With the city free, it did not take long for him to hear from the group. Katara’s neat handwriting had showed up in Momo’s paw, explaining where team Avatar was going to and for how long. Upon seeing the letter, he smiled.

But now, he knew where his nephew was, and Iroh had a mission.

He would not betray the kids that saved his life, but he will talk to Zuko.

A plan formed in his mind and he got to work. Zuko pretending to be a servant hadn’t surprised him, as the boy had always had a strong drive.

Iroh could only hope that Zuko’s determination could be broken through.

Today, Iroh got up and brushed his beard and hair. He put on his nicest clothes and poured a delicious cup of Jasmine tea.

Today, Iroh was, hopefully, going to get his nephew back.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The crystal cave, once pretty, was starting to get on his nerves.

The bluish green light of the crystals was bright, which Jet was thankful for, but they never ever changed color. At all.

And no matter how many crystals he smashed, their glass-like fragments getting stuck in his hands as his swords were confiscated, they all remained the exact same color.

Green.

Seriously, even pink would be better right now! Or yellow or white or purple or any color other than green ! 

Green was a warning sign that nothing good was coming. It was a sign for the Fire Nation, one that they took as permission to destroy whole villages. One where the Fire Nation thought of everyone who wore the color as lesser; that the people who wore the many shades were just toys to be played with and manipulated and killed and brainwashed and…

There’s a reason why Jet never wears green. There’s a reason why he lives in a gorgeous orange forest, instead of the green lush one that may as well be next door.

After everything in Ba Sing Se, he just has more reasons to hate the color.

Jet hisses as he pulls a crystal from his hand. He grabs the bandages around his boots and wraps them around each hand. The bandages weren’t clean, but at least they’d keep his hands from further damage.

Hopefully.

He sighs and leans back against a crystal. He has to find Aang and warn him about what lies in the castle, but he can’t even get out of a stupid cave!

Yeah, that’s another thing he hates. Jet hates being underground. After being brainwashed and now held captive, he doesn’t think anyone would judge him for it.

Too distracted by his thoughts, Jet doesn’t feel the ground rumble until a small rock falls on his head. He yelps and jumps up, looking around.

And then rock bursts open and Aang follows through, an old man directly behind him.

“Jet!” he calls, with a wave.

The younger boy bounds over, Katara peaking around the corner of the tunnel’s opening.

“Aang? What are you doing here? We’ve got to go, now .” 

Jet walks over and grabs the boys arm, giving the old man who Jet now realizes is firebending a cautious glance, and leads him back to the tunnel.

“Why, Jet? What’s wrong?” Katara questions, blocking the path. 

“Someone’s here. She’s after Aang and has two friends with her too. I think the Dai Li are also working with her as well. They put me down here as bait! We’ve got to leave before-“

“I’ve got you now .” a familiar voice echoes down the tunnel.

All three kids step back from their current place, away from the attacker.

“Zuko,” the bearded man calls, stepping towards the voice’s source.. “Is that you?”

A boy he recognizes as Lee walks further down, face colored in surprise.

“Uncle..?”

Aang grabs Jet and Katara, pulling them further into the cave and begins to earthbend away from the encounter.

Jet thinks he hears Katara whisper good luck to the old man before making her way down with them, but he’s unsure.

There’s not much time to focus on what just happened, as they enter into a bigger crystal cave. This one seems carefully carved, though. 

He takes a deep breath in and out.

Aang looks over to Katara and speaks.

“Come on, let’s find a way out of here.”

Chapter Text

Making his way down the Avatar’s tunnel, Zuko didn’t know what he would find. 

Would he be too late?

Would the Avatar be gone?

Or would he be able to trap him and surprise him, able to gain the upper hand and potentially kill the boy?

All his thoughts centered around the Avatar and his job, so when he saw his Uncle, alive and well, with the Avatar…

Zuko was a bit shocked.

They stared at each other for a while. Neither really knew what to say, or, at least, Zuko didn’t. 

“Zuko..”

“You’re alive ?”

He took a deep breath in and uncurled and curled his fingers in and out of fists.

“I… I thought you were dead . I… I… I’m so sorry, Uncle. If I stayed, Azula..”

Zuko took a shaky breath in. He would not cry. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t cry he wouldn’t cry he wouldn’t-

Big arms wrapped around his smaller frame, a head rested on his shoulder, and his own chin slowly found its way to his Uncle’s shoulder. His face was wet, his shirt was wet, and Zuko wouldn’t mention either.

His Uncle was alright, and that’s all that mattered right now.

Unfortunately, his Uncle pulled away too soon. He had a small smile on his face, but his eyes were full of a familiar worry.

They stared a little longer before the sound of rocks down a newly made tunnel brought Zuko back to reality.

Back to his goal.

“I’ve got to go after him,” he said, voice strong as he looked his Uncle dead in the eye. “We’ve found a way for me to go home, and I’m going to do it.”

His Uncle sighed and pulled a hand up to Zuko’s face, where it wasn’t scarred.

“It will never be enough for him,” his Uncle whispered, his eyes pleading.

Zuko shook his head.

He didn’t get it. Of course he didn’t. Uncle wasn’t him, and hasn’t been with him for a while. It was as understandable as it was infuriating.

He took a step back. 

“I know.”

His eyes flickered to the new tunnel and then he was off, his footsteps echoing loudly in the cave.

“Zuko…”

He kept walking.

“Zuko!” his Uncle yelled.

He stilled, but didn’t turn. His Uncle kept talking.

“I can’t let you do this.”

A deep, shaky breath in. 

“I know.”

Zuko marched forward to destroy the Avatar. And Iroh?

He felt Iroh watch.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azula casually strolled down the tunnels, past the crystal cave, and into the biggest cave.

It was exactly where she wanted to be. The Dai Li would hop down any minute. 

Fire roared past her ear as her Uncle shot a fireball towards her. Seeing the old man alive was more surprising than she thought, but seeing Zuko stick to his word and fire a shot back in return for Azula…

She’s a bit sad to say that she didn’t see that coming either. She really must be losing her touch.

Water splashed and the boy that had two swords flit about the walls of the cave, searching for a natural way out as the Avatar, Loops, and Iroh held her and Zuko back. 

They were holding them off pretty well, actually. It was annoying, but annoying was something Azula could deal with. She always had another card up her sleeve.

Water grasped her right arm and she snarled as her left joined the same fate. Azula kicked a ball of fire towards the waterbender, only to have her other foot encapsuled as well!

At that, the Dai Li made their entrance. A smirk found its way to her face as Zuko grinned over to her.

The plan was working .

The battle continued but their enemies were outnumbered and overpowered. Backed into a corner, she watched as the waterbender struggled to keep Azula’s attacks from hitting her petite frame, as well as fend off the Dai Li.

”Eyebrows” was using a long piece of rock that was probably from the ceiling as a sword, but it was useless. Earthbenders would always win against a rock weapon.

Iroh and Zuko were neck and neck, her brother clearly having improved from his time without the old man. She felt pride surge in her chest, before realizing she didn’t exactly know where the Avatar was.

“Zuko!” she barked, tilting her head to the side as if to say move .

He did. Zuko brought down a wave of fire on the waterbender as Azula began blocking Iroh’s attacks. 

And then... the ground began to rumble.

The crystal tent, which just closed with Avatar inside, began to glow.

And Azula watched Zuko drop into a stance they had practiced over and over the past week.

She grinned .

Chapter Text

In a great flash of light, the green crystal that Aang had formed around himself exploded !

Jet let out a small whistle as all fighting stopped to look at the sheer power the avatar wielded. He had to admit that it was awesome. 

But the atmosphere shifted.

Jet’s arm hairs poked up as a thrum of electricity pulsed in the air. The person he thought was “Lee” and was actually the Fire Nation Prince had lightning crackling around his fingers.

A bolt of blue went through Aang before Jet could yell any warning.

Time seemed to slow.

Katara’s scream pierced the air. “ Aang !”

Prince Zuko had a look of surprise on his face, watching his own hands as his sister grinned like a rhinolion who just caught a bugrat.

Katara raced towards the airbender’s falling form, her waves taking over each and every Dai Li in her path. She was Jet’s way out and he ran to catch up with her. Iroh was already blocking the Royal Siblings’ path.

“Go!” the old man yelled. “I will hold them.”

Jet rushed past him, catching a glimpse of blue fire from behind him. He jumped into the whirlwind of water streaming up and out the cavern, its cold waves steadily pushing his body up.

He barely made it up and over the ledge when the water began to fall back down, Katara successfully ending her bending and dashing to Appa, Sokka and Toph having taken care of any guard in their path. King Kuei and Bosco watched nervously. They climbed up the bison, Toph temporarily holding Aang as Katara scaled up the fluffy animal and as Sokka yelled out a desperate “Yip yip!”.

The wind rushed past his ears as Appa roared and flew off into the sky, pace fast. 

Katara yanked a vial off her neck and yanked Aang over and onto his stomach, tears starting to flow down her face. Jet watched anxiously as she bent a small amount of water out the casing and onto Aang’s back as it began to glow blue.

Please, the guy was only 12 . He has to make it! There’s so much more he just has to see!

Aang let out a small cough and blinked bleary eyes open, managing a small smile Katara’s way, before slumping back into his fluffy friend. But, by Katara’s smile and own nod Jet’s way, he knew.

Aang would be ok.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zuko flopped onto the green bed in the Ba Sing Se palace, his hands still shaking.

He did it. He ended the Avatar.

There’s no way he could come back from that lightning strike. The thought was supposed to make him ecstatic but…

His hands still shook.

He put his hands on his face and groaned into them. An aching tiredness came over him and he got up to change. Before he could, though, there was a knock on the door.

Zuko paused and watched as Azula let herself in.

She smiled a smile that was of child-like happiness, like she was just gifted the best gift in the whole world . And then she did the unthinkable.

His sister crossed in front of him and grabbed his hands and beamed.

“We did it,” she whispered, golden eyes sparkling.

Zuko gave a small huff and smiled back at her. “Yeah… yeah, we did.”

But his smile must not have reached his eyes. Azula pulled him to his bed and sat down onto the big quilt. Zuko sat down next to her, tilting his head to figure out where this was going. She dropped his hands.

“What’s wrong? We, no, you just defeated our biggest enemy. The war is practically over . What could possibly be bothering you now?”

Zuko grimaced. “I’m… I don’t know. I never cared about this fact before, but… the Avatar was 12 .”

He looked over to Azula, who seemed to be waiting for him to carry on. Zuko ran his hand through his hair with a sigh.

“He was younger than you . I don’t know what I would do if I saw my sister hurt in such a way…”

Azula slowly nodded. “Do you regret what you’ve done, then?”

He shook his head.

Of course not. This was what he wanted . Having the Avatar gone and being able to go home was something he had been waiting for ever since he was banished! Sure, maybe he wished his Unc- no- Iroh was with him, but the fool had made his choice. He was happy.

He was .

“Then I guess you can be glad that no more twelve year olds will have to be ‘hurt in such a way’,” Azula mocked lightly. “Father will end this war and, when he does, there will be no more battles for these kids to fight and die in. They will have lost and we will show them the way of the Fire Nation, show them the way to greatness .”

Zuko nodded numbly. His sister was right. With the war over, there was no more cause for any casualties. Everyone will be safe, as long as they comply.

Almost everyone.

“What about us?” he questioned. 

Azula clicked her mouth shut, turning her head to stare out the window. Her hands were fidgeting with the green outfit she still had on. Apparently, she hadn’t been able to change yet either.

“Father will be too busy ruling the nations to worry about us. Maybe we will even be gifted nations to watch over ourselves. Either way,” she said with a wave of her hand. “We will be ruling and we won’t have to deal with him for long.”

Zuko smirked. “Oh? Do you have a plan for him?”

Azula glared. “I am not a traitor, unlike you .”

Zuko grumbled and rolled his eyes. “That was a misunderstanding and you know it.”

“Whatever you say, Zuzu,” Azula teased, pushing herself up off the bed. 

He watched her until she got to the door, at which he called out to her.

“Azula!”

She cocked her head back, brows furrowed.

“Thank you for rewriting the rules. I wouldn’t have come this far without you.”

Azula huffed. “Yes, well, you would have done the same for me. Agni, your heart's too big for this world.”

Zuko watched as she left, unsure if he should feel offended or not. 

The Avatar was dead, he was going home, and it was all thanks to his sister. How could he repay her? How could he properly thank her?

He pondered the question as he changed into red pajamas, glad to be back in a more familiar color. 

Oh.

There’s only one thing he knows Azula is scared of. Or, he thinks she’s scared of. He’s an excellent judge of character and can often read other people’s emotions perfectly, but Azula is always hard to decipher.

But he does know for a fact that this thing is something she also loathes.

Their Father.

To be honest, he’s also scared of his father. He doesn’t like him, but can’t bring himself to hate him as much as Azula does.

Zuko could do something about their father but… he’s unsure for now.

In the meantime, he’ll do his best to help Azula in what she needs. By the end of this, they’ll both be ruling the world.

Because that’s what siblings do.

No matter how annoying, how murderous, or insane the other is, they always stick together.

And Zuko knows he can at least do that.

Chapter Text

There was no going back now.

The ship had sailed about a week ago, navigating the seas he had never seen before. He had never realized the ocean was so big… how big the Earth Kingdom actually was .

Actually, Jet had never realized how big the world as a whole was.

It was ginormous!

There were humongous, rolling mountains that could lead to cliffs that were way too steep for any man to climb. There were vast oceans that became pitch black at night, leaving the stars and the moon for guidance and… the world was just so big. And Jet wasn’t.

Aang , for all the power the boy held, wasn’t.

His Freedom Fighters that he had unintentionally left behind in his rush weren’t big enough for this world either. They were young, not used to actual battles of war but what could be described as bar fights, usually started by stealing weapons from lone groups of soldiers.

Aang, at least, had Katara. Katara who was working day and night to nurse him back to health while Sokka had taken charge of the group, planning their next moves with the other Southern Watertribe warriors. Toph stayed with Katara or even Appa, most of the time. Momo had flit around between the group he knew best.

And Jet was alone. He was alone and watching from the sidelines, worry creeping up every avenue of his being.

Worry for Aang crawled down his throat, for the 12 year old boy who was also the world’s savior. Yes, if he didn’t make it Jet would be frightened of the war’s outcome, but right now… he worried about Aang as a person , not an Avatar. 

Wasn’t that a weird thought?

Jet worried how he would fit in now that the airbender was unconscious, the boy having been Jet’s only link to the rest of the group. While none of them had necessarily glared at him in a while, he’s still unsure if the Aang’s friends had forgiven him. He’s even unsure if Aang had forgiven him himself!

But, even with these worries being present on the floor right below him, they were not his strongest.

As he watched the blue water below, Jet worried for his Freedom Fighters, his friends, his family . Yes, they could take care of themselves but he’s almost always there to protect them. 

And now he can’t. He’s too far away.

If anything happened to any of them, Jet’s not sure he could ever forgive himsel-

“Hey.”

Jet looked up from the waves. “Hey, Sokka.”

The other boy gave a small nod before turning his back to the boat’s railing, leaning against it with his elbows propped up on the edge. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, seemingly enjoying the salty air.

Jet messed with the straw in his mouth, looking down at the railing he was leaning on, before staring back out into the horizon.

From his side, Sokka sighed. “I don’t hate you.”

Jet looked over to the other boy, finding blue eyes to be staring at him. “Ok…?”

“I don’t like you, either...”

Jet sighed and looked away from Sokka. “Is there a point to this?”

“Uhp, buh, buh, buh, bup! You didn’t let me finish. I may not like you, but I could probably learn to… eventually,” Sokka drawled, waving his hand in a circle motion. “Regardless of how I feel about you, though, I trust you and… regardless of what happened in the past, I want to say thank you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Thank you?” Jet echoed.

Sokka nodded, uncharacteristically solemn. “You gave up a lot to help the Earth King even though you probably wanted a break after all the Long Feng stuff. I mean, who wouldn’t?” Sokka jokes.

Jet huffs and shakes his head. “It’s the least I could do after everything.”

“Aha! And that’s it! Another thing, you've changed . I don’t have to say thank you for that but, man, does it make life easier to not have some double hook-sworded maniac after us!”

Jet glared over to Sokka. “They’re not hook-swords.”

“Then what are they then?”

“Wha- uh- how am I supposed to know?! I stole these things! They don’t come with a tag.”

“Hook-swords it is then,” Sokka laughs.

“You better respect these swords, dude. They saved and ended multiple lives.”

“Yeesh, maybe the maniac part isn’t completely gone.”

Jet laughs at that. “All part of being a freedom fighter.”

The Freedom Fighters which he left behind. His smile turns to a frown as he stares back to the sea.

“So,” Sokka says. “Are you going to mention what’s wrong, or..?”

He hesitates, wondering if he should tell Sokka. Jet wasn't one to just open up to anybody. It could be dangerous until you truly got to know who you were opening up to, but…

Jet trusts Sokka. Sokka is a reliable guy with a good head on his shoulders, along with a great moral compass. Jet should know the last part, he’s definitely had his own moral compass challenged in more ways than one, and he failed it at times. But Sokka? Sokka saw the light when Jet couldn’t for that village he tried to destroy and had saved countless innocent lives from Jet’s own hands.

He could trust him with this, too. 

“I didn’t put much thought to it when we left,” Jet admitted. “But I told the Freedom Fighters to meet me in Ba Sing Se, where it’s safe. Now, I’m not going to be there and Ba Sing Se is Fire Nation territory. I left them, and I can’t take that back.”

Sokka nodded beside him. “You’re worried.”

Jet let out a bitter chuckle. “For them? Always. I know they can handle themselves, it’s just… easier when I’m with them too, facing the same dangers they are.”

A hand fell on his shoulder and he looked over to the boy it belonged to. “They’ll be alright, Jet. I’ve seen them in action and, trust me, they’re a force to be reckoned with. But, that being said, do you want us to drop you off somewhere?”

Jet looked back to a latch where Aang and Katara, and most likely Toph, lay underneath. He took a deep breath in and shook his head.

“No. I want to help you guys,” he said strongly, before his eyes widened and he took a step back. “That is, if you’ll have me. I can go if you guys want, too.”

Sokka grinned and took his hand off Jet’s shoulder. “Well then, welcome to Team Avatar!”

“You’re… not gonna ask Katara or Toph for their input? Or Aang?”

“Pfft, nah.”

Jet grinned and shook his head. “Sokka, you’re a dead man.”

“Don’t I know it!”

“So,” Toph drawled from her metal seat. “The Freedom Fighters, huh?”

As the only two people in the cafeteria of the Fire Navy ship they just stole, Jet guessed conversation would be natural. But it was awkward for reasons he couldn’t figure out. He had always been what he considered to be charming but Toph just… she sent him on edge.

Jet had a feeling why. If the nightmares of rocks and green and lanterns and Dai Li guards told him anything, he really wished he didn’t know why.

“Yeah…” he responded, shifting in his seat. 

Toph crossed her arms with a huff. “Alright, spit it out.”

“Spit what out?”

“Everytime you’re near me your heartbeat skyrockets. Seriously, how you haven’t had a heart attack by now beats me!”

Jet stared at the girl in front of him. “You can feel that?”

“Uh, yeah. They don’t call me the greatest earthbender in the world for nothing,” Toph responded, kicking her feet up on the table they were sitting at. “So, you gonna tell me or what?”

Jet rolled his eyes. “Can’t I keep my business to myself?”

“Not around me!”

He sighed. This girl wasn’t going to give up, was she? “Earthbenders aren’t my favorite people right now thanks to everything in Ba Sing Se. It’s not you , specifically.”

Toph paused picking at her fingernails to look up in his direction. “Oh.”

“Yeah…”

He watched as she shifted in her seat before going back to picking her nails, seemingly out of things to say. To be honest, even with the little amount of information he had said, he was talked out too.

Jet was about to go and sharpen his swords for the millionth time, which, probably isn’t good for his swords but he was bored, when-

“Do you want to spar with me?”

He snapped his head over to Toph, who was still picking at her fingers. “Huh?”

“Psh, you heard me, Jackrabbit. If you’re scared of Earthbenders, the best way to get over that fear is by beating one. Not that you could ever beat me, though,” she smirked, standing up.

Jet felt a smile grow on his face, despite his initial confusion and slight hesitation ‘cause this is probably a really bad idea. He likes Toph.

“Alright, but don’t call me Jackrabbit.”

Toph snorted. “I do whatever I want.”

Together, they walked up to the deck of the ship. 

“Wait, how are you going to Earthbend up here?”

He shouldn’t have asked. Jet really shouldn’t have asked, because Toph looked right at him and grinned maniacally.

“Oh?” she asked, fake sweetness dripping from her voice. “You haven’t heard?”

“Heard… what?”

“I’m not just the greatest Earthbender,” Toph replied, stomping down on the ship's floor, causing a piece to come rolling up.

Jet took a step back, eyebrows high. But that’s impossible! That’s- it’s impossible! This ship is metal and no one can Metalbend… right?

“I’m also the greatest Metalbender !”

Chapter Text

Toph… was… a beast!

How long Jet had been sparring with her, he had no clue! This round had only been a minute at most, but they had been off and on sparring for a whole hour. It had been about a week and a half since she suggested they start sparring and it was probably the best suggestion ever.

Whenever Toph was bored or Jet was bored, they’d pull each other from whatever they were doing and just… go at it! Whatever damage Toph inflicted from Metalbending she could easily repair, too. It was a great distraction.

It hadn’t helped with his nightmares, of course. This still… they were still there. But he fell asleep easier and, most importantly, wasn’t nervous around Toph anymore.

Ok, maybe that was a lie. Toph was still a 12 year old master Earthbender that had invented Metalbending and- seriously, what did he get himself into?!

Chuckling, Jet plopped himself down and leaned against the cool metal of the ship. Toph grinned and strolled over too, sitting down just as gracefully as him.

“Had enough yet, Treetop?” Toph teased, punching his shoulder.

“Ha! Never,” he replied.

Treetop was a name he didn’t mind. Toph had mentioned she remembered that Jet used to live in the trees from the stories Sokka, Katara, and Aang told when catching her up on their previous adventures. It reminded him of home.

“What?! Hey, are you two sparring without me?!” Sokka called from across the ship.

“Nope! We’re sitting without you, Snoozles!”

Sokka jogs over. “Yeah, yeah,  I can see that! But what about before?”

“Dancing,” Jet supplies and Toph begins to cackle, slightly tilting to the side.

“Haha, very funny,” Sokka snarks, before sitting down in front of the two. “Whew! It’s so hot today!”

“You’re telling me,” Jet grumbles, moving his hair off his forehead. 

The three sat there in a comfortable silence. Jet felt himself rock with the different ways and, unlike some who may find the movement nauseating, he found it calming. Even Toph had come accustomed to the rocking of the boat on the ocean’s waves.

“So,” Toph started, slightly softer than usual. “How’s Sweetness and Twinkletoes?”

Sokka visibly deflated and ran his hand over his hair. “Katara’s… she’s overworking herself and she… she hasn’t really spoken with Dad in a while,” Sokka finished with a whisper. “But, from what she says, Aang’s ok! It’s just a matter of him waking up and making sure the scar heals properly, now.”

Jet allows his gaze to shift from Sokka over to the Chief, who was on the other side of the boat, talking to other men.

He hasn’t spoken much to Chief Hakoda, but he seems like a good man. He doesn’t really understand why Katara wouldn’t talk to him, he seems like a great father! Sokka really loves him, too. Had something happened when they went to visit during that week Jet was alone in Ba Sing Se?

Maybe he could ask but… that’s not his place yet. He’s getting to know Toph and Sokka better, but he most definitely can’t say the same about Katara, having barely seen her since they switched boats.

“Maybe… we could bring food down. Get her to eat something, ya know?” Jet suggested, looking back to Sokka.

Sokka’s nose scrunched and he looked over at the ground in contemplation, before a small smile came upon his face. “That’s not too bad of an idea! Hey, you’re not trying to steal my place as the Idea Guy, are you?” Sokka accused, pointing a finger directly in Jet’s face.

“Sure, like it was your place in the first place,” Toph snorted.

“Hey!”

Jet smiled and rolled his eyes. “No, this is my vacation, Sokka. No leaderly duties for me!”

“Now that’s more like it!” Toph encouraged.

“Vacation?! Yeah, sure. Ok, well, ‘vacation’ over because you had a good idea. Time to get some food and bring it down to Katara. Are you coming with me or not?”

Jet tensed as Sokka’s tone became less playful and more defensive. He… he didn’t think Jet actually thought this was a vacation, right?

He pushed himself up and held out a hand to Toph, before realizing she couldn’t see it as she got up by herself. Right, she’s blind. How does he always forget that?

Jet turned back around and began to follow Sokka, wondering if he should mention he was joking about the vacation thing. He clenched his fist and mentally shook his head. No, it’s too late now. That conversation has passed. He’ll just… make it up some other way.

Right now, it’s time for food!

Sokka gently knocked on a metal door to what Jet assumed to be Aang’s room. Well, Aang’s and Katara’s room as she never seemed to leave his side.

Toph, having no time for Sokka’s gentle stuff, immediately burst into the room.

“We have food!” she announced.

Katara whipped around, eyes wide before sinking in relief at the sight of just Toph. She glanced at Sokka and let her eyes linger on Jet before turning back to Aang.

“You can set it down on the dresser, I’ll eat soon,” Katara responded almost robotically.

It was weird seeing her so disheveled. Her hair was more untamed than usual, even as she pulled it back in a loose ponytail. Her eyes had massive bags under them and, even from here, Jet could see her hands shaking as she grabbed another wet rag and wiped Aang’s arm.

Sokka shook his head, even though Katara couldn’t have seen it. “Nope. We’re eating together! Just us five.”

Katara sighed. “Sokka,” she warned.

“Nope! You cannot stop us, Sugar Queen. Besides, it’s the seaweed soup thing you like,” Toph persisted, walking over a sitting down on a mat that must be Katara’s temporary bed.

There’s a coffee table next to it, which Toph puts her soup on loudly. Jet uncomfortably follows Toph’s lead.

He’s not too scared of Katara. Maybe he’s scared of getting frozen again, because that wasn’t a pleasant experience, he’s just unsure of where he stands with her. Jet doesn’t think he’s been forgiven yet, and he doesn’t want to push his luck.

Sokka pulls him back before Jet can follow Toph too far and places Katara’s soup in his hands. He nods at Jet and walks over to his sister.

Jet blinks down at the two bowls in his hands and then finishes his trip to Toph’s side. He plops down in front of her and puts Katara’s bowl next to her.

Behind him, he hears the two siblings squabble before Katara finally caves. Whether it’s because Sokka was actually convincing or because the soup smelled good, he’s unsure.

Jet’s unsure about a lot of things these days.

Katara goes around Toph and sits down next to her while Sokka sits next to Jet.

Slowly, everyone begins to eat. It’s… not an uncomfortable silence, but definitely weird and not happy. But how can it be happy? Aang is just over there… practically gone …

“I’m getting pretty good at Metalbending,” Toph brags, slowly trying to start a conversation.

Katara hums, her mouth full from her soup.

“Yup, Jet here has been helping me.”

Katara looks up to him at that, her face indecipherable. Jet just shrugs.

“She offered to spar and I thought it’d be good to do something other than chores.”

“That’s,” Katara swallows. “That’s good.”

“I’ve been beating his a-“

“Toph!” Katara scolds loudly.

Sokka snorts, immediately slapping his hand to his face with a loud clap ! That sends Jet into a coughing fit as he unsuccessfully swallows his soup.

“You two aren’t supporting this, are you?” Katara demands, pursing her lips.

“I would never!” Sokka defends.

“No?”

“Bad influences, the both of you!” Katara scolds, sending Toph into a cackling fit.

“Now there’s the Sweetness I know!” she wheezes.

Katara grumbles, struggling to keep a straight face as Sokka joins in the laughter. He was unable to hold back the laughter anymore.

Jet watches with a grin and rolls his eyes as Katara begins to giggle.

Slowly, they all sober, one by one looking over to the form that was Aang. Jet let his own smile fall. Aang always laughed. The kid’s silence was just… unnerving.

“He’ll wake up,” Katara whispers.

Sokka grabs her hand and Toph nods. Jet takes a deep breath in and out.

“He has to.”

Today, Toph was helping Katara and keeping her company. It had left Jet to his own means which… bored him.

He had asked random soldiers for different chores around the ship and did the most mentioned, and he had helped in the kitchen! There were only Fire Nation ingredients in the kitchen and he knew how to use those, having survived off stolen Fire Nation goods most his life.

Jet has even made a couple recipes himself. Well, someone could have made them before him, but he rediscovered them. Either way, helping in the kitchen had given him something to do.

At least, it had until the afternoon. Jet felt like he had done all he could for the ship and it’s inhabitants. He had even helped clean up in the kitchen after lunch!

Overall, he just felt like he could be doing more . So, when Jet saw Sokka, an idea popped into his brain.

He was a leader once. Jet was a good strategist, too. Maybe he could see if he could help Sokka and his father!

Satisfied with his new plan, Jet hopped up and followed Sokka to where Appa was kept. He had visited the skybison earlier today as one of the chores was “Clean the bison pin”. 

Jet slowly crept into the metal room. “Hey.”

Sokka let out a hum of acknowledgment in response, grabbing a brush and beginning to run it through Appa’s coat.

“So… I was trying to figure out different things for me to do around the ship and was wondering if you needed any help with anything,” Jet offered, leaning back against a metal wall.

“Sure!” Sokka chirped. “You could brush Appa and then get back to your ‘vacation’ while I go back and help the men plan our next move.”

Sokka thrust the brush into Jet’s hands and began to leave the room. Huh?

“Vacation?” Jet echoed, before remembering the joke he made a few days before. Sokka was still on that?! “That was a joke! Of course I know this isn’t a vacation.”

Sokka chuckled bitterly. “You know, I really don’t believe that. At first, you were too serious about this war, and now you’re goofing off! If you actually wanted to help, you probably would have offered it way before now if you actually cared about how this whole shabang ends.”

“Goofing off? I’ve been helping out around the ship as much as I can. The only reason I didn’t offer any help before was because I was unsure of my place here. Actually, I still am! And if I’ve been too aloof for you, then the only person you have to blame is yourself,” Jet growled.

Sokka audibly sucked in his breath. “Myself? Why would I blame myself for your actions?!”

“Because you changed me!” Jet yelled, watching as Sokka’s eyes widened. “ Your voice rang through my head and made me think about my actions way more than Aang did. I took a step back and realized what I was doing mainly because of you . Aang definitely helped but I would not have stopped killing innocent people under just his influence. I stopped taking this war ‘too seriously’ because of you , Sokka, and now I’m ‘goofing off’ too much? Just what exactly do you want from me?!”

By the end of his rant, he was huffing. He.. he just yelled at Sokka. Spirits, what was wrong with him? Is this how he makes up for his actions? By yelling at people? Jet groaned and tilted his head up, running his hand through his hair.

“I’m trying,” he whispered. “And I thought I was at a good enough place with myself and you guys to help with war plans, too.”

Appa gave a small rumble, stepping towards Jet. His eyes were locked on the brush in Jet’s hand. He chuckled and walked over to the skybison and began to brush him, leaving Sokka standing there.

Jet should apologize, right? It would be for the best and-

“I’m sorry.”

He nearly dropped the brush in surprise. He whipped his head towards Sokka. “What?”

Sokka sighed. “I’m sorry. I just… it’s so easy to assume the worst with you because of what you’ve done, but that’s not fair anymore. You have changed, and, in my opinion, for the better.”

Jet nodded. “Thanks. And, uh, I’m sorry too. For yelling…”

“What, so you’re not sorry for the people you almost killed too?”

Jet sputtered. “Wha- Yes! Of course I am, what kind of question-“

But Sokka began to laugh. “I know, buddy. Anyway, next time we have a meeting I’ll ask Dad if you can come, ok?”

Jet sighed in relief and shook his head with a smile. “Works for me.”

And then Sokka was gone. Jet went back to brushing Appa, who leaned into his touch.

If he spent longer than he should have with Appa, well, that’s a secret only they will share.

Chapter Text

Yue was bright tonight.

Jet watched her from afar, looking at the blackish-blue waves as they glistened under her moonlight. The boat rocked back and forth. A cool breeze went through his hair, cooling off his sweaty face.

Yue was a sign he wasn’t there anymore. He wasn’t underground and, knowing that her name was Yue instead of moon showed he was in control.

Jet wasn’t with Long Feng anymore.

But he was still scared. Sometimes he woke up in chains, eyes still watching a glowing lantern go in circles, whispers of “There is no war in Ba Sing Se” ringing in his ears.

When being a leader of those younger than you, you sort of learn how to hide your own fear. It’s not because he’s scared of what they would think if he was showing his true feelings, no. He hides his true feelings on most situations to make sure the people he’s leading feel more comfortable.

Jet’s their pillar.

Which is why, whenever Toph asked that day they started to spar what was wrong, he kept his mouth shut. She can handle herself, Jet knew that, but she’s still 12. 

Luckily, no one else has asked. He doesn’t need them too. 

Right now, it’s just him and Yue. If tears join that party from frustration of not being able to sleep as semi-calmly as he used to anymore, well, that’s between them.

Don’t get Jet wrong, he did have many nightmares before his experience in Ba Sing Se, it’s just that this one is the most recent. He hasn’t learned how to deal with these nightmares… yet .

Jet will get there. He always does.

Fast footsteps from behind him shake him out of his thoughts. Jet wipes his face dry of tears and takes a deep breath in, turning around to face whomever may be behind him.

He turns and sees Katara, tears streaming down her face as she desperately tries to wipe them dry. She chokes on a sob, shaking her entire frame.

“Katara?” Jet asks, taking a couple steps forward and reaching his hand out. “Are you-“

The girl shakes her head and hugs herself, before suddenly throwing herself on him.

Jet, stunned at Katara’s actions- doesn’t she hate him?-, slowly and cautiously wraps his arms around her body.

“H-hey,” he tries, internally cursing himself for stuttering. “Hey, it’s ok. Let it out.”

Katara just shakes her head and clings to him tighter, practically leaning all her weight on him.

Jet’s worried. Has something happened to Aang? What was wrong? He’s never seen Katara like this! Was… was he comforting her right?

He’s comforted his Freedom Fighters, but he’s pretty sure Katara hates him. Jet decides to take a risk. 

Slowly, he begins running his fingers through Katara’s long brown hair, hesitating at every tangle he finds. He lightly shushes her, unsure if he’s rocking her subconsciously or if it’s the waves moving the boat.

Jet doesn’t know how long they stand there, Katara crying in his arms. It’d be so awkward if Sokka came up deck right now… 

He turns his attention to the stars, hoping it would make time go faster.

Ever so slowly, Katara’s sobs quiet. With a final sniffle, she pulls away.

“Sorry,” she says hoarsely.

Jet shakes his head. “No need. You needed it.”

She shrugs, before turning to the boat’s railing and leaning on it. Jet hesitantly joins her.

“Do…” he starts. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Katara huffs. “Not with you…”

And that stings. He just held her as she cried and he doesn’t get to know why?! But, then again… Jet isn’t obligated to know anything. He’s probably hurt her the most with his actions.

Jet sighs and gives a nod, staring back out to Yue.

He wonders idly what it would be like to be a Waterbender, to feel her push and pull. 

“What are you doing out?” Katara questions, glancing at him.

Jet tenses. He doesn’t want to tell her, especially since she didn’t tell him her reason for being out here, but… someone needs to get the trust train going. He runs a hand through his hair.

“Nightmares,” he answers quietly.

Katara’s shoulders raise as she fully looks to him. He guesses that she didn’t expect an answer. She turns back out towards the water.

“Me too…”

Jet looks at her, eyes wide. Oh . He flips to his back and leans on the boat’s railing that way. Jet looks up and watches the stars.

“Must’ve been a crazy dream,” he whispers.

Katara gives a bitter snort. “Yeah… yours too.”

He blinks over to her. “What?”

Katara shrugs and gestures to her face. “Your eyes were red and puffy.”

“Huh?!” Jet whirls back around and leans over the railing, trying to peer into the water before realizing he’s too high up to see his reflection. He slumps against the metal beam. “Great.”

Katara rolls her eyes before sighing. She turns to him again. “What… was yours about?”

Jet looks up to her, before looking back down to the waves. He opens his mouth hesitantly. “I… it was about Ba Sing Se. Long Feng and…” he trails off.

“Aang,” Katara whispers, gripping the rails.

Jet nods. “But, it’s ok. He’s going to be ok and I’m safe now .”

“How do you know that?!” Katara suddenly snapped.

He straightened up. “Know what?”

Katara crossed her arms, hugging herself and not looking him in the eye. “How do you know Aang’s going to be ok?”

Ah… so they must have both relived the same moment that night. Jet shrugs.

“I don’t know… I just do.”

“How?” Katara begs, searching for an answer.

“He… he’s a strong kid,” Jet settles on. “Aang survived for about 112 years now, right? One bolt of lightning won’t end him, especially with the world’s greatest Waterbender taking care of him.”

“If… if I’m so great… shouldn’t he be awake by now?”

Jet shakes his head. “Sometimes healing is up to the person being healed. Sometimes, people just need to recharge mentally and physically. There’s tons of factors, Katara, but you’re doing your best. And you know what? That’s all that matters.”

“It won’t matter if he doesn’t wake up,” Katara argues.

“But he will,” he reminds her.

“And how do you know that?! How are you so sure? You barely know him!”

“It’s just a feeling I have. Maybe it’s stupid hope or just a beautiful instinct I have, but I just know it. He will wake up, and when he does, you’ll be there.”

Katara nods, turning her gaze to the floor. “I wish I could be as sure as you.”

Jet gives a small chuckle. “Comes with being as awesome as I am.”

“And now you’re acting like Sokka. Did he give you his ego?”

“Thankfully, no.”

Katara gives a small smile. She turns back to the stairs down the lower decks and lets her smile fall. 

“Thanks, Jet. For talking to me… and everything else tonight.”

Jet nods. “Anytime.”

He watches as Katara leaves. Jet turns back to the sea and watches how the reflection of the moon flickers on the waves. Maybe he should go to bed again, too. He turns his head back up and smiles.

“Good night, Yue.”

Plans were made after much debate and review. So much review, in fact, that Jet was willing to bet his two swords that it was a way to stall so Aang could wake up and put in his final thoughts.

It never happened.

Of everything to happen in the war, having the Avatar fall into a coma for a few weeks seemed to be the worst part.

In the few weekss since Aang had fallen, the Fire Nation had all but conquered the Earth Kingdom. The Southern Watertribe warriors had not heard from some of their Earthen allies in days and, in some cases, weeks . The Northern Watertribe never communicated much, but it was safe to assume no letter would reach Sokka’s hand either. As for the Southern Watertribe itself, well… they can’t communicate as easily.

From what they currently know, their tribe could be in ashes buried in snow.

Which brought them to now . Chief Hakoda had been as patient as he could with his daughter, Jet could tell, but he needed to talk with her about Aang’s state.

Jet knows he’ll wake up, but now he’s beginning to worry about when .

The Chief calmly assembled Team Avatar- Jet’s a part of that now?- that night and began to explain the plans they had come up with. But, in Jet’s eyes, it spoke wonders about how well Aang was because Katara didn’t even refuse. She just got up and came to the impromptu meeting.

That’s a good sign. It has to be.

The plan didn’t take long to go over, Katara and Toph asking many questions. 

Suddenly, there’s a thump from the lower deck. Jet looks over to the doors covering the stairwell, confused. What was that?

He straightens a bit, allowing himself to stay alert, but focuses back on the conversation at hand.

Jet shouldn’t have dismissed the sound so easily.

The doors fly open, a loud clang sounding from the doors smacking against the metal floor. The group jumps, swiveling to face their opponent but…

That’s no foe! That’s-

“Aang!” Katara cries, rushing over to his side as the boy struggles to keep his weight up with his staff. 

Everyone follows her, just as excited and worried.

“K-katara?” he asks, obviously dazed.

“What are you doing up? You need re-“

Aang faints before she can finish her sentence.  Jet stares at the boy in Katara’s arms and feels a grin climb onto his face. 

The Avatar, however weak he may be, is back !

Chapter Text

The trip around the world and back to the Fire Nation was a long and boring one.

But the ship they were on was full of celebration. The Avatar, the world’s greatest threat, was no more! The deed had been done by none other than the crown prince, which was on this very ship.

For once, Azula was ok with being overlooked. Mai and Ty Lee were by her side as she watched Zuko be pulled around by different crew members, awkwardly dancing with them. It was music night and the last night they’d have on the ship. They would arrive at the Fire Nation in about an hour, now.

Azula wouldn’t have given the crew the time of day, if she were Zuko, but her brother had insisted. He reminded her how important it was to know their subjects and celebrate with them. She had just sighed fondly, telling him to go do whatever he wanted.

Besides, Azula would have her own celebration with Mai and Ty Lee. A sleepover after she met with her Father was planned. 

What? She was a teenager. While she was the Fire Princess, she did have other activities than murdering people.

She’s going to have to explore those hobbies more now that the war is almost to and end, too.

Next to her, Ty Lee began to clap along to the beat on the deck they overlooked. “Oh, I love this song! It’s such a happy melody!”

Azula rolls her eyes as Mai chimes in. “It could be better…”

“You’re just upset that Zuko’s enjoying it with a crew mate instead of you, Mai,” Ty Lee teases.

Mai glares in response. “I do not dance.”

Azula chuckles at their antics. “Well, Mai, you may not want to look ahead of you, then.”

Because up comes Zuko, huffing and puffing from the lively sailors below. He bows his head slightly to them before standing by Mai’s side.

“You stink, Zuzu.”

“They wouldn’t leave me alone,” Zuko huffs, a small smile on his face.

“I saw,” Mai commented.

If it were anyone else, Mai may have looked nonchalant to them. But Azula knew her friend well enough to see the way she slightly angled her body towards Zuko by a few degrees, and she smiles.

Mai would be good for Zuko. She’s the calm he needs, sometimes, with a temper as eruptive as a volcano at his worst. And Zuko would compliment Mai, as he slowly encouraged her to feel more.

Zuko would even be a good leader, Azula muses. He cares for his people and wants the best for everyone, even people not from the Fire Nation. She’s unsure she would even want that, the other element wielders were too below her to consider it. 

But she also thinks she could be just as good. Her direction and command something to trifle with, her wit legendary. Azula could lead her nation to prosperity, regardless of the civilians underneath her rule.

She guesses that that’s where she and Zuko differ. Two sides of the same coin. They lack what the other has when it comes to ruling. 

Together, she thinks, they’d be unstoppable . They’d be the best rulers the Fire Nation has ever seen.

“You were awesome out there!” Ty Lee chirps, smiling.

“Thanks,” Zuko says.

He hesitantly turns to Mai, opening his mouth when a bell sounds from the ship.

“We’re home,” Zuko whispers, turning to look across the railing at the nation in front of him.

Azula steps forward and puts her hand on his shoulder with a smile. Ty Lee steps up to her side while Mai joins Zuko’s.

Their next challenge? Facing Ozai.

Their footsteps echoed down the palace halls. Azula could hear Zuko fidget with his clothes, making sure he looked presentable.

As if he could look presentable in Ozai’s eyes.

They paused before the throneroom’s doors. Zuko took a big breath in and then nodded to the guards. The guards pulled the doors open and she slowly crept into the dark room, fire crackling in front of her.

Zuko stayed right next to her side.

They walked together and bowed together before Ozai, hearing the gigantic doors be pushed shut behind them. 

“Is it true?” Ozai asked, voice quiet but not a whisper.

Azula and Zuko stood.

“Yes, father,” Azula answered. “The Avatar is no more, thanks to Zuko.”

Zuko nodded by her side and she could see him trying not to shake. This would be the first time he had seen Ozai since… that night. 

“ You killed the Avatar?” Ozai sneered.

Azula held her breath.

“Yes, father. Thanks to you and your teachings,” Zuko said.

His voice hadn’t even wavered. Azula breathed.

Ozai slowly smiled, before cackling. “Yes, this is exactly what I meant. Suffering was your teacher! And now the Avatar is dead. I suppose this brings us to our next matter…”

Azula glanced to Zuko. His hand was shaking in a fist. She hoped this next matter was a quick update.

“Because Zuko is back, he is my rightful heir.”

Oh . She guesses she should’ve expected this.

“He will resume his place and his teachings, but you will also continue, Azula.”

She looked up, her brows furrowed. “Why?”

Ozai’s gaze trailed over to Zuko. “If he fails, I want a competent ruler to take over. And if you do fail, the consequences will be far more severe.”

At her side, Zuko trembled. He nodded and Azula turned her attention back to her father.

“We won’t let you down,” she announced, head held high.

Ozai smirked, before waving his hand in dismissal. She could practically feel Zuko slump in relief.

Azula felt like she could do the same. She was an expert at not showing it, mainly because her anger for the man was stronger, but she was also scared of Ozai.

He had burned off half her brother’s face, before. If she messed up like that, would she match or would she be ashes?

In unison, Azula and Zuko turned their backs on their father. 

Chapter Text

Wind flowed through his hair and he sighed. Jet would never get used to flying with Appa. 

Aang had left. Katara had screamed at her father, words unintelligible from where Jet was standing. Sokka and Toph just sighed and loaded up Appa. They said their goodbyes and Sokka planned when and where the group would meet back up before the Day of Black Sun.

That was probably the only good name Sokka had given anything.

Together, they all flew after the Avatar. Jet found it ironic. Hadn’t he chased Aang enough, whether voluntary or just through fate?

Whatever, they found him soon enough on a fire nation beach. He had apologized, burned his glider, and gave a… look back to the group behind him.

Jet had just watched Aang decide to grow up and he didn’t know how to feel about it. He’s seen everyone choose to grow up throughout the war.

Longshot had grown up without him and Jet was never able to get the story out of the boy. He was practically mute whenever they first met, letting out only grunts for communication. Jet had been so frustrated, but allowed it. At least he had someone to talk to, even if conversations were mainly one-sided. He remembers the first time Longshot had ever spoken, a slew of curses passing the boy‘s lips as an arrow he was sharpening slipped and stabbed his thigh. Jet had forgotten to even do anything to help for a good minute, staring at his friend in shock. 

Now, they both laughed over the scar whenever the story came up. Well… they used to. Longshot wasn‘t with him and the Avatar.

Jet had seen Smellerbee grow up, though. It was just him and Longshot for a while , and then it suddenly… wasn’t. He and Longshot were pretty migratory when they finally found their forest, the trees always orange no matter what season. It was perfect! Immediately, Jet had begun thinking of plans for an epic treehouse.

And then they heard sniffling from around a tree in front of them. Smellerbee, about 8 years old, sat sobbing.

Jet and Longshot had took her in. She was wary of them at first, but soon she was bouncing around insisting she could do anything they could. Smellerbee was the main motivation to build at least one treehouse, probably because she’d take Jet’s swords and swing them around at him if they didn’t start building. Soon after she joined their small group, they found more children just from going to random villages and getting supplies. 

Suddenly, Jet wasn’t so lonely anymore. And, just as suddenly, he was calling the shots.

Place that log over there, nail those two things together, and stop picking your boogers! Jet was a bossy kid, that was sure, but he was better at naming things than Sokka was. The Freedom Fighters were coming together.

Until a group of Fire Nation soldiers came strolling through their forest.

Jet had thought stealing from villages was a pretty horrible move, but hadn’t found a different way to gain supplies until they came through. Instead of putting together a plan, he grabbed his closest friends and scaled the trees to stake out the soldiers down below. It ended in bloodshed.

He had only seen Smellerbee’s moment of choice on accident. Jet was busy defending himself, as were a couple other kids, from the stray soldiers. From the side of his eye he had seen Smellerbee, standing and staring against the chaos. A soldier got up in front of her, one he hadn’t diced enough, and grinned.

Jet wouldn’t have been able to get to her in time, and he saw the split second she realized she was alone, no matter how many people on her side fought with her. He had watched as she scrambled forward, a dagger just a couple inches to her left, and quickly grabbed it up. The soldier aimed his hand and shot a ball of fire. Smellerbee had squeaked and dove to the side, staring back at her foe wide eyed.

And then she got up. She readied the dagger and ran forward. As soon as she was close enough, she raised her weapon upwards. Jet fought and had kept his gaze on her, still unable to get to her as she hesitated. He knew what it was like.

The dagger came down and the choice had been made.

The blood had splattered across her cheeks and, when she rubbed it, two lines had formed on each side of her cheeks. They were wavy and dripping red. Smellerbee’s choice had been quick. It had been life or death.

Jet’s choice was different.

It was a long and difficult choice. The moment he watched his village burn, their screams ringing in his ears, his choice began. It took years for him to choose to grow up, and it didn’t happen when he first killed a soldier. No, he hadn’t had the value for life that Smellerbee used to have when she made her choice, so his first kill was natural. It haunted him for a while, but he accepted it. Death was life, something taught to him by his father.

And while he did grow up some, just through the passage of time, he never made the choice. He slaughtered, he planned, he rejoiced, and he led his family, yes, but he didn’t grow up until he realized. 

Everyone had made the decision to grow up because they had given up something. Most would say they gave up their innocence, but Jet knew better. He had lost his innocence a while ago. He had lost his childhood hopes the day his parents burned.

No, the choice was always a choice. It couldn’t be ripped away, even if it may seem like it was because of how long it took to make the decision. 

Jet chose to grow up the day he let go of his goal for slaughtering each and every Fire Nation citizen he came across.

The choice was giving up his inner child, the child that longed for revenge. Smellerbee’s choice was giving up her inner child, the child that treasured life and wished to never take it away.

And Aang’s choice was… well, it was unclear to Jet. If he had to guess, it was about him letting go his perception of the world he used to know and the boy he used to be so he could be something greater.

Maybe he had learned that the world wasn’t as great as it once was, and he needed to be the greatness it needed.

Jet wouldn’t be sure until he asked, but how do you ask such a thing? 

Besides, they were landing now. They found a cave near a village that would allow them to get Fire Nation clothes in the morning. It’s time to blend in.

Jet grinned and stretched in Appa’s saddle. He looks good in orange, so why not red?

“Katara-“

“Quit being a baby, Jet! I’m just brushing your hair. All men here have some sort of bun or something, and we’re trying to fit in, remember?” Katara lightly scolds, pulling his hair back with a comb. “Now sit still! Even Toph handles hair brushing better than you.”

Jet grumbles, shifting on the rock he was sitting on. Stupid Fire Nation traditions…

At least his new clothes looked good. He was able to nab a maroon vest with gold outlining that fit perfectly. He was also able to grab some high waisted dark brown pants, too. They were a bit too big but he was able to stuff them into his new boots, which were a slightly different shade of brown.

“How thick is your hair?!” Katara complains, bending some water from her container onto his head. 

“Well maybe if you didn’t insist on doing my hair, you wouldn’t be asking that question.”

Water shoots into his face. Great.

The rest of the group looked pretty good in red too. Aang was even able to find clothing that covered his arrows. It was perfect!

“Alright,” Katara announces. “You’re done. How’s it look?”

She directs him to a small ice patch she made, reflective enough to let him see his new hairdo. He… looks like a stuck up, selfish, wealthy brat.

His hair was pulled back into a bun in the middle of the back of his head, some strands at the front hanging down because they weren’t long enough to reach back all the way. Honestly, with his hair, Katara did a good job. He just looked too Fire Nation for his liking. Unfortunately, that was exactly what they were going for.

“It’s perfect,” Jet grumbles.

“You could sound more happy about it,” Katara mutters back, before seeing Aang and going over to fuss over his clothes.

Jet rolls his eyes, barely containing his urge to stick his tongue out at the girl. Maybe she was his type before, but now… he doesn’t feel the same. Besides, with the way Aang looks at her, he wouldn’t pursue her even if he did. Aang deserves a great girl and Katara fits that bill.

“Well look at you! Are you sure you’re not even a small bit Fire Nation?” Sokka grins, walking up from behind Jet and slinging his arm around his shoulders.

“You’re a dead man.”

Toph strolls up to his other side. “I dare you to carry that threat through.”

Sokka removed his arm and backed up a bit. “I suddenly have the need to take Appa for a flight.”

Jet smirks. “Run.”

Sokka dashes away and Jet chases the other boy, leaving Toph behind. Her cackles ring through the air as Sokka yelps as Jet nearly grabs his new tunic.

“This anger feels very Firebender-like,” Sokka shouts with a snort, nearly tripping.

“Wha- Sokka?! Jet?!” Katara yells, eyes wide as they zoom past her.

“Dead! Man!” Jet retorts, fighting back a laugh.

Aang blinks as they pass him, too. “What the…”

Jet sprints forward and jumps, tackling Sokka to the ground. Sokka shoves him off cackling, Jet joining in with his own laughter. 

“I am not Fire Nation.”

“Whatever you say, buddy.”

A shadow looms over them both. They both look up to see an angry Katara, her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. Uh oh.

Sokka smiled sheepishly up at his sister while Jet just… stared. And then he realized his hair was back in his face, and it didn’t feel like it was in the bun anymore and…

Oh no .

His scalp felt like it had been burned by the time Katara was done fixing his hair again, regardless of his insisting he could do it himself. Katara was not gentle with his hair this time, either.

Chapter Text

Zuko thought being back in the palace would have been… relieving. For a while, it was.

He had Azula back. He got to see Mai again and Ty Lee was always… pleasant to be around. Ok, sometimes she could be annoying, but she meant well. How could he not like her?

It was nice to be home. The turtle ducks were still alive and the garden was beautiful. 

It was nice to be home… was .

After a couple days of peace, he could feel it rise back up. Zuko could feel the anxiousness, the paranoia of making one wrong move and then being killed. Regardless of how great his deed had been, he was always one step away from being a corpse by the hand of his father.

It terrified him.

It also terrified Azula. 

She would never admit it, he knew, but Zuko could see it. Azula performed at a rate of excellence and only excellency because of their father, and having even one strand of hair out of place… she thought she’d end up like him, half of her face gone.

He hated it. He hated being scared of his father, hated how Azula was scared of him, hated how every second they were here they were in danger.

But it was like that everywhere else, too. Zuko had played a hand in that. With the Avatar gone, the Fire Lord had no one stopping him. He’d be able to reach the ends of the world now.

No one would be safe. Azula and Zuko would never be safe.

Yet he still tries to please him. Still strives for the love that may never come. He has to try, this is his father .

His father had shown kindness by allowing him back and giving him the chance to inherit the throne once again. That had to mean something, right? Zuko would run the Nation amicably, Azula right by his side because they were a team . That’s how it always was and always will be.

He doesn’t know what he’d do without her.

He used to think the same about Unc- Iroh , once.

Zuko shook his thoughts from his head. He allowed himself to resume studying the scroll about royal mannerisms again.

A creaking sound came from his door. Zuko turned with a tired sigh, and locked eyes with his sister.

“Zuzu,” Azula greeted.

“Azula,” he responded, turning back to the scrolls in front of him.

He can feel her watching him as he studies the scroll. His agitation starts to grow. Why is she even here?!

Zuko gives a sigh and glances back up to her. “What?”

“What do you mean?” Azula questions from where she sits on his bed. 

“What is it? Why’d you come?”

Azula rolls her eyes. “I came to check on you and your studies.”

Zuko scoffs. “Isn't this a challenge to see who can win father’s favor for the throne? Why would you come see if I need help?”

“I said I came to check on you and your studies, not if you needed help with them. I want the throne just as much as you do, brother, and just wanted information on how my competition was faring.”

Zuko gives a snort with a small smile. “Alright then.”

He grabs another scroll and opens it. This one is about Fire Nation history, specifically about the Fire Lord’s. Just as he begins reading, the scroll is ripped from his hands.

“Azula, give that back!”

“Hmm… no. I’m tired so we’re going on a trip. Besides, Ozai is allowing a break for the group that killed the avatar. I wouldn’t decline his generous offer.”

He glares at her half heartedly before slumping. “A vacation does sound nice… Ember Island?”

“Where else would we go, Zuzu?”

He hums, deep in thought. Was this just another one of their father’s tricks? If they accept, will they be denied the throne?

It would be easier if they just… didn’t have to worry about him. If his father didn’t exist… life would be better for both him and Azula.

“Zuko, what are you thinking?” Azula questions quietly, face neutral.

He runs his hand through his long hair. “Something I shouldn’t.”

Azula nods, quiet in her own contemplation.

“We leave at dawn,” Azula informs, leaving his room.

Zuko stares after her. He could tell her what he was thinking. He knew she would do it and that she wanted to but… could he?

Could he do that to his father?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azula doesn’t get jealous. Jealousy is a weakness.

But denial… that could be a bigger weakness.

She recognizes her feelings for Zuko as love now. No, not the icky romance, but love for her brother . Azula is protective over him and wants no one she deems a threat near him. But she’s also jealous of the connections he’s had.

Azula loves her brother for always being there. She loves him for being the competitor she constantly needs in life, for being the one person who may actually genuinely care for her in her family. 

She’s jealous of him for bonding with the rest of her family, while the only reason she wasn’t “daddy’s little girl” was because of her bond to him in the first place. She was never able to connect to her Uncle like Zuko, much less Lu Ten. She… she had never been able to feel as cared for by her mother as Zuko had been.

The one feeling she felt was actually a multitude in a big, swirling ball. It was complex, just like her.

But her feeling of jealousy right now was not towards Zuko, nor was it her overprotective streak bursting forth. Only Mai was with him right now, and they seemed… well, they were arguing over a shell. When will Zuko learn that all he needs to do to impress Mai is be himself?

Her feeling of jealousy right now, though, was over Ty Lee. She was being fawned over by three guys. 

No, she didn’t want to be Ty Lee, being fawned over. As the Fire Princess, she already received enough attention. Azula wanted to be the guy .

The only guy.

That was a peculiar feeling in itself, one she didn’t want to think too much about. Her solution? A volleyball match.

Perfect!

“Mai, Ty Lee, Zuko!” she calls. “Get over here, I know what our next activity is.”

It wasn’t long before everyone agreed to the game of volleyball. Thankfully, it had successfully squashed her feeling of jealousy.

Ty Lee was her friend.

But she couldn’t help but watch her friend play volleyball. She could jump higher than Azula, if she didn’t use her bending, of course. Her aim was perfect and her balance when she landed on the net… along with the pose.

Azula shook her head. Her focus would be on the game from now on.

Not surprisingly, they won. What was actually surprising was the fact they were invited to a party… by a guy who didn’t recognize they were royalty.

Azula watched as Ty Lee’s eyes twinkled in excitement, Mai actually looked at the guy inviting them, and Zuko’s eyes widened as he straightened. She grinned at the guy.

“We’ll be there.”

Chapter Text

Azula rarely has regrets in her life. Coming to this party was definitely her biggest regret. Jealousy swirled in her gut as Ty Lee was practically swarmed by guys, all fawning at her. They were practically bowing to her feet!

Meanwhile, for all the charm Azula could muster at political meetings, she was superbly failing at this teenage party. She had scared off each person that had managed to talk to her. Now, she was totally not pouting in the corner.

At least she wasn’t the only one dealing with jealousy. She could practically see Zuko steaming over the guys talking to Mai. She gave an amused smile, before her own feelings overtook her again.

Azula scowled and turned back to watch Ty Lee. Why does she feel like this? She doesn’t own her friend. Ty Lee can do as she pleases. 

After a moment, she spots the guy who invited them. Maybe she can do as she pleases as well, but she’ll need help.

“Ty Lee!” she calls with a small wave.

Ty Lee peers up and over the crowd of men before smiling and bounding over. 

“Azula! Thank you for getting me out of there,” she breathes.

Azula blinks, finally reading all of Ty Lee’s body language. How could she not have noticed how uncomfortable she had been over there?

“Of course, those guys looked musty anyways,” Azula sneers.

Ty Lee giggles, hand slightly covering her mouth. Her face is pink from exertion and she straightens. 

“How have you enjoyed the party so far, Azula?”

Azula shrugs. “It’s… more lively than I expected.”

Ty Lee, ever perceptive, deflates a bit. “Is there something wrong?”

Azula crosses her arms. “No.”

“Azula, please,” Ty Lee pleads, taking Azula’s own hands into hers.

How… how are her hands so soft? As such a talented fighter, she didn’t expect…

She huffs. “I’m… jealous ,” Azula spits, face contorting at the word. 

Ty Lee’s face scrunches in confusion, before her eyes widen. “Of… me?” she whispers.

Azula nods, looking everywhere else but Ty Lee. 

“Well, why didn’t you say so?!” Ty Lee exclaims with a grin. “Here, which guy?”

Ty Lee pulls Azula around the pillar they were behind to peer out at the crowd. She can smell the floral perfume Ty Lee loves.

Azula shakes her head and releases her grip on Ty Lee’s hands. She wanted to be able to talk to people like Ty Lee; wanted to flirt like her and be comfortable around people her age like her. This works.

“The guy who invited us,” Azula answers, pointing with her chin. “Chang?”

“Oooo, you got good eyes,” Ty Lee coos, before grabbing Azula’s arm and pulling her back behind the wooden pillar. “Ok, so to woo a guy you have to do two things.”

Azula blinks. “Only two?”

Ty Lee nods enthusiastically. “Yup! Ok, first, every guy likes a girl who can smile.”

Smile? Really ? Ugh, fine. Azula slowly curled her face into a smile. Judging by Ty Lee’s face, it was less than stellar.

“That’s more… your ‘I want you dead’ smile. How about your ‘happy-go-lucky-smile’?” she asks, tilting her head.

Azula huffs and schools her face into a wider smile, a bit more teeth and scrunching her nose. Ty Lee hums and places her hand under her chin.

“Lose the nose scrunch and less teeth… that’s better!”

Azula sighs and releases the smile. “What’s next?”

“Ok, the second way to a guy’s heart is making him think he’s funny. Is he actually funny? Probably not, but it’s part of the charm,” Ty Lee informed with a shrug. “Let’s hear your laugh!”

She internally cringes at the request and then takes a deep breath in. The laugh she lets out is too loud and definitely strained, even to her own ears.

Ty Lee winces. “Ok, so… maybe try a giggle?”

Azula rolls her eyes and lets out a breathy chuckle. It’s a bit forced, the spaces in between each giggle a bit too long but she watches as Ty Lee smiles regardless.

“That’ll work! Maybe try and hide your smile with your hand while doing it? Like this!”

Ty Lee grabs Azula’s hand and begins modeling it like it’s clay, before positioning it right in front of her mouth. She takes a step back to admire her work, waving Azula to continue.

Azula begins her fake giggle, turning her gaze to the floor. “You’re so funny.”

Her voice lacks character, but it’s enough to have Ty Lee nod. 

“I certify you in the ways of boy charm! Now, you just need to go practice,” Ty Lee says, pushing Azula out from behind the wooden pillar. “Go get’em!”

Azula glances back at Ty Lee, who shoos her forward with a grin. She takes a deep breath and finds her target. Time to do this.

Maybe it is jealousy for Ty Lee’s way with guys and people her age. The way she flawlessly interacts and makes friends… maybe that’s why her skin crawls every time her friend is surrounded by others.

Azula can’t be sure. She hasn’t exactly been the best at reading her own emotions.

Besides, she doesn’t want to think of the implications if she was jealous of the guys .

Azula prowls forward and taps her target’s shoulder. The guy turns around, eyes wide when he sees her. She knows it’s because of her looks and her… smile, however it looked.

“Yeah?” the guy asks.

She forces a giggle. “I was hoping to get to know the son of a Fire Nation general, but if he’s too busy…”

One of the guys her target is standing with pushes him forward. “Chan can totally show you around.”

So his name is Chan… good to know.

“Of course I can. Would you like to go to the balcony? I've heard it’s gorgeous out tonight… though not as gorgeous as you,” Chan grins, offering Azula his arm.

She forces a laugh again, internally chastising herself when the laugh is too loud. It’s not like this Chan person is bad looking. No, he is objectively cute, but cute doesn’t mean he also isn’t target practice.

“That's a sharp outfit, Chan. Careful. You could puncture the hull of an empire-class Fire Nation battleship, leaving thousands to drown at sea, because it's so sharp,” she says, ignoring the weird looks around her.

Chan just shrugs, still holding his arm out.

Azula slips her arm into Chan’s and smiles up at him as he begins to regale his life story, his father’s life story, and his grandfather’s life story. She allows her focus to slip away from the boy leading her to the balcony, laughing when he pauses and looks at her. While she appreciates him showing his loyalty to the Fire Nation, especially when he doesn’t know she’s his superior, these long and boring tales are ridiculous.

She allows him to carry on a bit longer once they get to the balcony. Chan was right, tonight is beautiful. Azula doesn’t always have time to look at the beauty of her nation, always hopping from place to place with important duties to attend to, but nights like these are when she can let her guard down and appreciate the twinkling stars above. Even the moon and ocean the savages of the Watertribe worship are encaptivating tonight. 

Looking back over to Chan, she forces a shiver and leans closer to the boy. She wants to know for sure that this is her target, that this is what she was originally after tonight. Besides, being a normal teenager is not exactly a hobby of hers. The ability to kick back and do what she assumes to be teen things at a stupid party, well… Azula doesn’t waste opportunities.

Chan blinks down at her in surprise. She smiles up at him again, deciding to take the plunge before she can reason her way out of her decision.

Slowly, she pushes one of Chan’s shoulders back so they’re face to face. Azula leans in and can feel Chan’s breath on her lips. She pauses, looking at the boy in front of her. His breath stinks and his lips are chapped. He could definitely use a shower and… his eyes are gold.

She’s unsure why that disgusts her, as she has gold eyes herself.

Chan closes the gap and his lips are against hers. His eyes are closed. Are her eyes supposed to be closed? What is this..? It’s like energy jolted straight through her body. Lightning bending without the… bending .

Azula doesn’t think she likes it.

They both pull away at the same time, staring at each other. Kissing means one is connected, right? They’re entwined now. Azula smirks and takes a step back.

“You’re pretty,” Chan whispers.

“Together,” she starts, just as soft. “we will be the strongest couple in the world!”

Chan takes a step back. But he kissed her, did he not? He thought she was pretty! That’s what a kiss meant, right?

“We will dominate the earth!” Azula shouts, grin wide as blue flames lick her palms.

She watches as Chan pales in the blue light, trembling. What…?

“Uh… I got to go,” Chan spits out.

As he leaves, Azula feels confusion crawl up her spine. Was it something she said? Did she misread stupid teenager cues again?! Her nails curl into her palm. Why was it so hard for her to be normal ?!

She had done what Ty Lee said! Maybe she should’ve clarified what a kiss meant? Growling, Azula stalks back into the party. She completed her mission, so why was she so upset over a guy she didn’t even like ?!

Her heart stopped. Kissing was supposed to be romantic. She had just wasted her first kiss on someone she didn’t even like . 

Azula doesn’t care for romance. It’s a weakness. Just look at where it had gotten her mother! But… if she truly didn’t care, why did this upset her? It was just a kiss…

Yelling and the sound of something breaking caught her attention and stole her away from her thoughts. Zuko…?

“What’s wrong with me ?!” Zuko yells.

“Your temper is out of control. You’re always on edge!” Mai scolds, standing up and off the couch she was sitting on to face Zuko head on.

Well… this is unexpected.

“Well at least I feel something! You’re… you’re just a big blah !” Zuko retorts, gesturing to all of Mai in frustration.

Ty Lee shows up at Azula’s side, eyes wide. She doesn’t say anything while she joins Azula and watches.

Mai school’s her face down from her slightly aggravated look to completely neutral. “We’re done, Zuko. It’s over.”

Ty Lee’s jaw drops and Azula takes a sharp intake of air. At least she wasn’t the only one having relationship problems… Wait, she wasn’t even dating Chan! It didn’t count as a relationship.

But they had kissed… ugh, this was too confusing. Azula decided then and there she hated teenagers.

She locked eyes with Ty Lee, feeling the girl’s grey eyes calm her down from her inner turmoil. At least Ty Lee smelled good, unlike Chan. Her lips didn’t even seem to be chapped…

“Who broke my Nana’s vase?!” Chan shouts, sounding absolutely devastated. Someone points to Zuko. “You! You guys are nothing but trouble. Get out, all of you!”

Azula scoffs, before grabbing Ty Lee’s arm and heading towards the door. Zuko and Mai trail behind, glowering. This was one way to end the night…

Ty Lee waves to the party goers as they leave through the door.

Chapter Text

Of course her brother is sulking up at the house. Of course she had to walk all the way up here to get him. Azula had a bad day too, but no one sees her sulking.

Ty Lee suggested a campfire on the beach to which everyone had surprisingly agreed to. Well, Mai had hummed, Azula had shrugged, and Zuko wasn’t present. Ty Lee decided that was enough of a yes to start the plan.

Azula climbs up the stairs to see Zuko sitting there, staring out at the wilderness yet eyes completely unseeing. She wonders what he’s thinking about.

There used to be good times here. There were even times that… that she felt like her mother had even cared for her here. No, the woman had never loved her but… maybe she had been cared for. Azula scowled at the thought.

“I thought I’d find you here, Zuzu.”

Zuko sighs. “The time we spent here… it was so long ago. So much has changed…”

Azula nods and then offers her hand down. “Yes, but not everything.”

Zuko gives a wry smile up at her and takes her hand. “No, not everything.”

She pulls him up. “Come down to the beach with me. This place is too depressing.”

Zuko snorts and they walk down the beach. They’re silent as they walk down.

Azula tries not to reminisce in the memories she's made here, but she can feel Zuko get lost in them. Whatever, to each their own.

When they reach the bottom, Azula goes and leans up against a rock while Zuko sits next to Mai, obviously trying to save whatever friendship may be left. From what she sees, she’s unsure if it’s working. Thankfully, Ty Lee cuts in.

“I’m freezing!” she exclaims, a sheepish smile on her face.

“I got it,” Zuko immediately responds, sending a quick smile over to Ty Lee. “There’s tons of stuff to burn up there.”

Azula’s eyes widen at the remark. Zuko is going to… purposely burn things from their old vacation house? Has she hit her head? She looks back to Mai and Ty Lee and finds their faces to match her shock as well.

Zuko’s trip back to the vacation house and back down is spent in comfortable silence. Apparently everyone was too tired to talk about what conspired tonight.

They watch as he slowly throws things in a pile, setting each item ablaze. The item he saves for last, though, puzzles more than one person in the group.

“What are you doing?” Ty Lee asks, looking at the picture in Zuko’s hands.

It’s a painting of her, Zuko, their mom, and Ozai.

“What does it look like?” Zuko replies, tone unusually calm.

“But… it’s a photo of your family!” Ty Lee protests, looking back and forth between Zuko and Azula.

As if she’d do anything. She doesn’t care what happens to the paper in her brother’s hands. 

“Am I supposed to care?” Zuko asks, throwing the painting into the fire.

Ty Lee frowns. “I think you already do.”

“You don’t know me,” Zuko growls, glaring over to the girl. 

Azula watches, interested in what may unfold. Zuko and Ty Lee must fight their own battles.

“I do! I’ve known you for a long time!”

Zuko scoffs. “You’re too stuck in your own world to know me. You think everything’s so great all the time.”

“Zuko,” Mai interrupts. “Leave her alone.”

And there goes everyone fighting their own battles… Azula sighs, but still says nothing.

Zuko smirks. “Don’t like that?” He gets up and does a handstand, walking forward on his hands. “Whee! Look, I’m Ty Lee and I’m so pretty!”

Azula feels her eyes narrow at him. Zuko catches her gaze and he flops over with a huff.

“Circus freak,” he mutters, no heat behind the words.

“That’s a compliment!” Ty Lee cries out, startling the group. “Do you know what it’s like to have six sisters that look the same as you?! It was like I didn’t have my own name!” She stands up and looms over Zuko, now half sitting up and wide eyed. “I joined the circus so I would stand out, so I wouldn’t be like them ! I’m different now! Being a Circus Freak is the best thing I could be!”

Her words echo through the night sky and her huffs of breath emphasize the silence that has overtaken the group. Azula watches as Ty Lee sits down and rubs her wet eyes, unsure of what to do or even say for the second time this night.

It’s alarming how she’s been feeling lost more and more often.

From where she sits, Mai says something Azula can’t hear.

“What?” Ty Lee whispers.

“Guess that explains why you need ten boyfriends,” Mai drawls. “Attention issues.”

Ty Lee scoffs, offended. “Then what's your excuse, Mai? Your aura is dingy and muddy even though you were an only child,” she sneers.

“I don’t believe in auras,” Mai responds, her shoulders rising an inch.

“Yeah, you don’t believe in anything,” Zuko mutters, glaring over to the black haired girl.

“I’m sorry I’m not as high-strung and crazy as all of you,” Mai responds, gesturing to the group.

Azula blinks as even she was referred to. She hasn’t even joined the conversation yet. If anything, she’s being a good friend by letting her friends figure out their problems by themselves. 

Zuko growls, standing up. “Well, I’m sorry too! I’m sorry that you can’t muster up the energy for literally anything . Ty Lee just insulted your aura! Are you really just going to… to sit there and take that?!”

Mai crosses her arms and stands too. “What do you want from me? Do you want a sob story about my childhood? Well, my childhood was good . I was a rich kid who got anything she wanted as… as long as I behaved. We had to worry about my dad’s political career and image, so my mother told me to behave.”

“That’s it, then,” Azula interrupts.

All heads swivel toward her. What? They didn’t really forget she was here, did they? She’s an observer. She had to at least get some information before joining the conversation her friends were suffering in.

Besides, Mai couldn’t recognize her own battle. That’s when Azula needed to step in. There needs to be some progress here and Mai finally understanding why she is the way she is may help.

“You were under a lot of pressure from high expectations.Your mother shut down anything that she deemed ‘off-the-rails’ and now you’re too afraid to care about anything, much less express your own feelings and opinions on things,” Azula states as neutrally as she can.

Mai trembles regardless, turning back to face Zuko. “You want me to express myself? Leave me alone!” she shouts.

And, even though Mai just screamed at her brother , Azula feels nothing but pride for the amount of emotion Mai just showed.

Zuko takes a step forward, eyes locking with Mai’s. “I like it when you express yourself,” he whispers.

Mai huffs and takes a step back from him. “I’m still mad at you.”

Azula watches as she sits and Zuko runs a hand through his hair. He nods and he just sits down in the sand where he was standing.

“Let’s calm down, guys,” Ty Lee says. “All of this negative energy is bad for your skin.”

Azula gives a snort before she can smother it and Zuko glares at Ty Lee.

“Z-zuko! I’m sorry, I-“

“Normal teenagers have that luxury,” Zuko whispered. “I don’t. My… Ozai decided to teach me a permanent lesson on my face .”

Azula felt her brows furrow. Zuko has never called their father Ozai before. Only she has done that. Her brother locked eyes with her and then looked back away.

“I thought I’d be happy to be home, and, in a way, I am. I have you guys but… And I thought that after what I’ve finally been able to do to the Avatar, I’d have my father too. But I don’t. Nothing I do will ever be good enough for him. I’ll always be in danger. No matter where I go, no matter who I’m with, I’m always one step away from the executioner.”

“You’re safe with me,” Azula states defiantly.

“With us!” Ty Lee adds, Mai nodding along.

Zuko gives the saddest smile she’s seen from him, and then he sighs. 

“I’m so scared,” he whispers, chuckling bitterly.

Mai slowly gets up and sits down in the sand with Zuko. She wraps her arms around his frame and then pulls back, cupping his cheek with her hand.

“We all are,” she whispers before leaning in and placing her forehead on his. 

Azula rolls her eyes, only to be caught in the act by Ty Lee.

“Aren’t you scared, Azula?”

She freezes. Everything in her screams to say no. Azula cannot be weak. Being scared is a weakness .

“No.”

Mai lifts her head from Zuko and stares into her soul. “Yes, cause you’re his favorite .”

Azula glares. “Favorite?” she echoes. “I’m nobody’s favorite. Ozai spares me for my power, not because he loves me. My Uncle is a traitor and I never had a good relationship with my cousin. My own mother thought I was a monster!” Azula growls. She takes a deep breath and reigns herself in. “She was right, but it still hurt.”

She feels their stares at her and shudders. Azula said too much, hadn’t she? But how could Mai think that?! Favorite? She has never been anyone’s favorit-

“You’re my favorite.” 

Azula looks at Zuko, bewildered, and he nods.

“I love mom and she’ll always have a… a really special place in my heart, but you've been here longer. You’ve been with me longer. You know me, probably better than I know myself at times. Out of everyone I care about, you’re my favorite.”

Azula blinks what she swears is sand out of her eye. Oh .

What would she ever do without Zuko?

Mai grumbles from where she sits in front of Zuko, breaking her trance as she gives an amused scoff.

“I’m flattered, Zuzu, really, but maybe you should reserve that spot for your girlfriend ,” she teases.

They both turn an excellent shade of red, sending Ty Lee into a fit of giggles. Zuko turns back to Mai.

“Is this ok?” he whispers as he leans forward, but he wasn’t quiet enough because Azula heard.

Mai rolls her eyes and closes the gap. Ty Lee gives a loud whoop and jumps up from where she sat.

Her eyes lock with Azula’s and Azula swears that Ty Lee was wearing her own shade of pink. But then Ty Lee laughs and the moment is gone.

“Lo and Li were right! The beach really did help us learn about ourselves and each other!” Ty Lee exclaims.

“Ugh, I almost forgot about those old hags. Why’d you ruin it, Ty Lee?”

“Azula! That’s rude!”

Azula cackles. “Like I haven’t been that before.”

She watches as Ty Lee sticks her tongue out at her before beginning to squabble with Mai, Zuko inputting his opinion on whatever they were fighting about every so often. This… gives her an idea. An idea that would rectify the shortcomings of the night.

“For our final activity of the night, I have a proposal.”

Mai turns to Azula. “I thought this was our final activity of the night.”

Azula grins maniacally. “Not quite…”

Destroying the rest of Chan’s house was the perfect way to end the night.

Chapter Text

Zuko laid awake in his bed, listening to the waves crash on the distant shore of Ember Island.

Azula did have a perfect way to end the night. Destroying that guy’s house for kicking them out was great. He really had no idea who he was messing with.

But, as his adrenaline faded, his thoughts went to what happened before. He thought of what happened around the crackling campfire and wondered…

Did Azula see his decision?

Zuko apologized to Ty Lee. Just because he was going through inner turmoil didn’t mean he had to pass it on to her. He also apologized to Mai, who let him slide but told him to never do what he did again. Zuko nodded at that.

He had more people at his side than he thought. At one point in time, it was him and his family for the world, not shading it. The Fire Nation was supposed to bring their wealth and prosperity to everyone they met, so why would it be them against the world? They were for it.

But that quickly dimmed to him, Azula, and Iroh against the world. It was hard, danger lurking at every corner but he knew Iroh still held some power from being the Dragon of the West. They were safe.

And then it was just him and Iroh. And then it was just Zuko, all alone in the world and left to contemplate his decisions up to this point. He had even left Iroh behind . He had chosen to be alone against the world, and it was more against him than ever.

But then Azula was there, offering him a hand and opening another lane of life. One where it wasn't him against the world, it was him and Azula against the world. He took it, slowly accepting he wouldn’t have anyone else by his side.

Tonight had proved him otherwise. Mai and Ty Lee would be there for Azula and, by extension, himself. It was a relief that they weren’t alone but… what can 4 teens do against the Fire Lord?

Zuko had decided. He decided he didn’t want to be scared and paranoid all the time. He decided he didn’t like the person he became when those emotions churned relentlessly in his gut. Sometimes, they’d be there regardless, but having it suffocate him was horrible. He hated it.

The implications of his decision were also clear. He knew what he had to do to make himself feel safe. Did he want to? To a certain extent, yes.

Ozai was still his father. There will always be hesitation to go against him, whether from the fear instilled in him or the love that he couldn’t control that still existed for the man. If he had his way, he wouldn’t even love Ozai anymore.

Zuko knows he has more than enough reason not to.

He ran a hand through his hair. But how would he… get rid of his father? He’s the most powerful Firebender in the world , besides maybe the Avatar himself, if he were still alive.

And when could he get rid of his father? Technically, Zuko could kill him anytime he wanted, but did he want to inherit a 100-year-old war when taking the throne? No… he did not.

He wanted his reign to be peaceful. So, they couldn’t kill his father on the Day of Black Sun, even though it would be the most convenient. Zuko wasn’t sure the war would be over by then, the day only a few weeks away.

Zuko did know his father was planning something extra special for when the comet came back. If his plan was war ending… maybe he could kill him after. Ozai, if in the plan himself, would be tired and unsuspecting of his two children to attack.

He rolled onto his side and curled into himself. What was wrong with him? Was he really that desperate to feel safe that he was thinking the traitorous thoughts of killing his father ?

The answer was yes, and that unnerved Zuko even more.

He has plenty of time to dwell on this later. For now, he should sleep. Besides, maybe he could talk to Azula and get her input too. She is a strategy master, after all.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The past few days have been… interesting. 

Between Aang going to school and hosting a dance party and Katara dressing up as a spirit and then blowing up a factory with Aang to help a town… it had definitely been a wild ride. It was a ride that Sokka, of all people, hadn’t been too happy about.

No, Jet could tell he was glad that they could help the people around them. But Jet could tell Sokka was beginning to completely stress out about the time they had to get to their meeting point. One thing Jet has learned, though, is that when Team Avatar has a goal, they will meet it.

Like now. 

He watched as Appa flew over his head, Katara bending a huge bubble of water to put out fire from a meteor . This world still surprises him sometimes. Jet sat down and just watched the bending show in awe, the ground shaking every time Toph or Aang flipped over a patch of earth.

Honestly, that was impressive.

Jet had found himself slowly finding that, in this group of master benders, he wasn’t needed for jobs like these. He could feel the restlessness in his veins when he didn’t help, so he concluded that he was on the lookout for any Fire Nation citizens or soldiers.

Speaking of citizens… he found himself not glaring as much as he passed through different Fire Nation towns. After seeing what their own Fire Lord was doing to them… it just reminded him of himself and his own past experiences.

Everything happening here was just a lesser form of brainwashing and it made Jet sick. Apparently, even the Fire Nation needs their help.

Sokka plopped beside him, huffing. Jet blinks over to the sudden presence at his side. Sokka is sulking about something, diligently watching the benders ahead of him and… was he wet?

Jet snorts and Sokka looks over to him with a glare, before flicking his forehead. Jet shoves him back.

“What’s up?” he asks, putting his eyes back on the horizon as Aang and Toph clean up the mess of rubble.

Sokka sighs from his side. “Nothing important,” he mutters.

Jet raises an eyebrow and looks over to Sokka before deciding not to push. He has a feeling he knows what Sokka’s going through, but he’ll let Sokka talk about it when needed.

They sit there in silence until the group of benders climb up the hill and meet them. Toph bends the earth to push both boys up and on their feet.

“We’re going back to camp to catch a couple more z’s,” she informs, stifling a yawn.

Sokka nods in sync with Jet as Aang calls Appa back down. He sees Katara send a look to her brother, before climbing into the bison’s saddle. 

Hopefully, Sokka figures his problems out tomorrow, or Jet senses he’s going to get a brutal, sisterly interrogation.

Ok, who allowed Fire Nation food to be so good ?

Aang was greeting everyone who passed their table with a “Flameo, Hotman,” and Jet was starting to wonder how no one had burnt the kid’s eyebrows off yet. His constant chattering was almost enough to distract him from… whatever it was in front of him. Seriously, whatever he was eating was heavenly !

Everyone else seemed to actively agree, Aang immediately taking everyone’s vegetarian sides as his own and scarfing them down. Everything tasted perfect. 

So it was weird that the resident food critic had barely touched his food, much less exclaim how good it was and force his sister to try what he ordered.

“These people have no idea how close they were to being toasted last night,” Aang leans in and whispers.

“Yeah, and these disguises are the worst! I sorta miss the hero worship we got. The love was nice,” Toph chimes in.

Jet finds himself nodding along. “I could see how that would be nice.”

“Too bad you weren’t around for most of it, Treetop,” Toph teases, punching his shoulder.

He rolled his eyes in response. Could Toph even tell her was rolling his eyes? How far did her earth sense go?

“Boo-hoo,” Sokka snarks from the edge he was sitting at. “Poor heroes…”

Jet blinks. Huh?

Katara straightens in her seat, head tilted. “What’s your problem? I don’t think you’ve even touched your Sea Slug.”

Sokka shrugs and shakes his head. “It’s just… you guys can do a lot. I can’t put out forest fires or even make stuff fly around. Heck, I can’t even fly ! I can't do anything…”

“That’s not true!” Katara protests. “No one can read a map like you.”

Toph snorts. “I can’t read at all.”

“Exactly! And who keeps us laughing with random jokes and sarcastic comments all the time? I mean, uh, just look at Katara’s hair, right? What’s up with that?” Aang tries to joke.

“What? What’s wrong with my hair?!” Katara semi-frantically asks.

“Nothing! I was just trying to-“

“Ok guys. I appreciate the effort but… you guys are so special and amazing and I’m… not . I’m just the regular guy of the group,” Sokka mutters.

“And what’s wrong with that?” Jet pipes up, slightly defensive.

As the other regular guy of the group, shouldn’t he have a say in this?

Sokka groans, but before he can reply to Jet, Katara stands up and walks over to her brother.

“I’m sorry you feel so down, but I hope you know none of us see you that way,” Katara says gently.

Uh, wrong. Jet is a regular guy just like Sokka. They’re regular guys together! But, hey, whatever. 

“But,” Katara continues. “I do think I know what can cheer you up!”

He watches as Sokka turns his head to look at Katara. Toph and Aang glance at each other, and isn’t that weird? Seriously, how blind is Toph with her earth sense? Jet has questions!

“You do?”