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“I’m tired of living like this!” This food tastes horrible, I’m tired, and I'm covered in dirt.
“Aren’t we all?” I heard a voice behind me, I turned and there was this boy leaning against a fence post, he had a wheat stick in his mouth and he looked just as dirty as I did. He turned and faced me, he had this smirk on his face.
“My name is Jet, and these are my freedom fighters, Smellerbee and Longshot.” He gestured to two people, a short one with some armor and red face paint on, and the other had a bow and arrow with a hat covering his head.
“Hey.” Smellerbee replied and Longshot gave a small nod in greeting too.
“Hello..” I mumbled, and he began walking over to us.
“Here's the deal, I hear the captains eating like a king, while us refugees have to feed off his scraps. Doesn’t seem fair, does it?” He's not wrong..
“What sort of king is he eating like??” Uncle Iroh asked with an almost yearning tone.
“The fat, happy kind..” He walked even closer, he was still smirking and I could sense his determination even if I wasn't facing him.
“You want to help us.. ‘liberate’ some food..?” Jet was smirking mischievously. Like he was plotting. I looked down at the disgusting rotting green gunk and chunks of mystery meat in this horrible meal we were served. I'm starving. I tossed the bowl into the ocean and turned back around.
“I'm in.”
☆
It was late at night on the ship, we were quickly sneaking past guards. No one saw as we made it to the door where all the good food was being stored. Jet gave me one of his pointed rods, I lodged it into the door and pried it open. We got inside and began taking meat, bowls of rice and vegetables too. We put them into sacks and hauled them onto our shoulders.
“The guards coming!” The Smellerbee warned Jet and I. Before we could get caught, we rushed out onto the balcony overlooking the rest of the ship. Longshot shot an arrow into the wood. We slid down silently and the guards didn't see us. We were successful as we ushered off to the deck where we all had to stay.
“Gosh.. what a rush.” Jet smirked as Smellerbee and Loongshot walked off to the large group of people.
“You ever steal anything before uh- I never caught your name?”
“Oh uh- my name is Lee, the man I was with earlier is my Uncle Mushi.. and no.. not really.” He gave a smile and we walked over to the large group of people. Jet and I passed out food, and eventually I sat down with Uncle Iroh, Smellerbee and Longshot.
“So, Smellerbee, that's an unusual name for a young man?”
“Maybe it's because I'm not a man. I'm a girl!” She frowned and stormed off. Uncle Iroh gave a very sympathetic look.
“O- oh! Now I see! It's a beautiful name for a lovely girl!” He laughed nervously and the other freedom fighter boy rushed up to talk to her. He grabbed her arm and gave her a look. She nodded and sighed.
“I know..you're right. As long as I'm confident with who I am, it doesn't matter what other people think.” She smiled at him and nudged his side a bit.
“Thanks Longshot.” He nudged her back with a smirk as they walked off.
The food tasted so good, far better than the rotten gunk we were served earlier. I heard footsteps and Jet was walking closer.
“From what I heard, people eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se. I can't wait to set my eyes on that giant wall..” Uncle quickly butt in.
“It is a magnificent sight.” Jet perked up a bit
“So, you've been there before??” He sounded so hopeful.
“Once. When I was a.. different man.” When he was a general, leading armies and conquering region after region.
“I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of. But, that's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se..for a new beginning, a second chance.” He's like us, but in comparison to him, I feel like a wolf in sheep's clothing.
“That's very noble of you.” Jet seemed to beam a bit at Uncle's words.
“I believe people can change their lives if they want to. I believe in second chances..” Uncle Iroh looked over to me with a small smile. He wanted me to know that he wasn't just talking to Jet. He gave a thoughtful look and nodded.
“So do I. So, what brings you two to Ba Sing Se??”
“The same as you.. a new beginning.” I mumbled before drinking some tea. Jet nodded and fumbled with the wheat in his mouth.
“I think I'm gonna head to bed. It's been a long adventurous day.” He smirked and winked at me.
“Unless- you wanna join me Lee? For a walk before bed?” Before I could say no, Uncle spoke up.
“He’d love to.” He gave a shit eating grin and I glared before I could say anything, again, Jet stuck his hound out for me to take. I sighed and he helped me up. He began leading me to the back of the deck we were on.
“So why did you lead me back here..?” He leaned against the railing and tossed the wheat stick he had in his mouth into the water.
“Just wanted to get to know you better.. What, is that suspicious or..?” I scoffed and rolled my eyes and I leaned against the railing too.
“What do you want to know?” Why the hell am I being so open with this guy?
“Where are you from?"
“A uh.. Fire nation colony. You?” I have to seem friendly.
“A earth kingdom town near a fire nation colony. It was raided by the Fire Nation and my parents were killed.”
“Oh.. I- I’m sorry.” I feel like shit now.
“For what? You’re not like- a part of the Fire Nation, you aren’t a guard or general. You don’t need to feel sorry. Plus, they've hurt you too right? You aren’t with your parents, you're a refugee and you got that scar.” I guess he saw me tense up and he quickly backtracked.
“Sorry- probably a touchy subject..” He glanced over at me and he gently brushed his fingers over mine. He’s touchy.
“Yea.. When my.. town was raided, a firebending warrior burned me.” He hummed.
“I thought you said you were from a colony?” He was smirking. Like he knew I was lying.
“Trying to be slick huh? Or are you trying to be all mysterious? It's cute, really.” He snorted like he was laughing at me. He also called me cute? I’ve never been called that. I’m completely mangled, I’m not usually seen as anything attractive.
“I- I don’t like giving my information out to people I just met.” He nodded.
“Okay- but I literally just- basically poured my heart out to you. A question for a question? Can I ask you something?” He moved closer and smirked, he nudged his foot against my shin.
“Ugh. Fine..”
“Where’d you really get that scar?”
“I- my father. I upset him so badly that he felt the need to fight me and scar half of my face.” His smirk instantly dropped and he moved his foot away from my shin.
“Damn.. that's rough, man.. Sorry.” He looked even more sympathetic after he glanced at the scar.
“For what? Like you said, you’re not a part of it.. you don't need to feel sympathetic.” He smirked and he got closer.
“You sleeping on the deck? My friends and I were able to ‘borrow’ enough cash to get a room. Wanna join me? Cause- Smellerbee and Longshot usually walk around before bed.” He’s inviting me to his room, someone he just met, into his space.
“Uh.. okay…”
☆
When we got into the room, it was small and had a bunk bed and then a single bed. They had some old blankets that definitely wouldn't protect from a cold windy night. Everything looked old and rotting. He sat in his bed and kicked off his boots. He gestured for me to do the same, and I obliged. Why am I doing this?
“So what are you gonna do in Ba Sing Se?” He started taking off his other layers of clothing. I quickly looked away.
“I- my uncle and I don't know. We were just planning on finding work and a place to stay..” He nodded thoughtfully and sighed.
“We're probably going to do the same.. we want a fresh start, no more violence and loss. But we're gonna keep fighting for freedom, trust me.” He let out a snort as he sat beside me again. He was just in these black shorts and then a navy blue long sleeve shirt. He looked so comfortable and I know he isn't naked but this feels so intimate. I quickly got up and headed to the door.
“I- I should go. My uncle is probably wondering-” Before I could even turn the doorknob, he grabbed my arm and turned me to face him. The next thing I knew, he was kissing me. I tensed up and he gently pulled away.
“You do realize why I invited you here, right..? Why I called you cute..?” I shook my head and he put his lips to my neck. I shivered and I heard him chuckle.
“Maybe it's because I think you're cute?” He was holding my robes as he pressed me into the shut door. I could feel his breath against my face and neck. He pressed kisses against my jaw. I shut my eyes, I could feel him smirk into each kiss.
“You’ve never done this before, Lee..?” He began to play with the ties on my clothing. He was slowly tugging.
“I- yea.. I- I had a girlfriend so..” He chuckled.
“I bet she didn't kiss you like this right?” He pulled me to his bed and he kissed me deeper. He laid me down on the single bed and he hovered over me. I let out a whimper, an actual soft sound. Mei didn't even make these sounds when we kissed. The sound egged him on, he glided his tongue against my lips and he slid his hand under a fold of my robe. His hands were cold as they dragged against my side. I gasped and his tongue quickly tangled with mine. Everything got so heated so quick. I feel like my entire body is on fire. My arms were around his neck, I wasn't trying to pull him closer on purpose but I felt my arms tighten a bit. He chuckled and straddled my hips.
“Is this what you want..?” He whispered as he kissed my neck, then he started biting my collar bone. He was holding a hand on my chest like he was silently begging for me to stay. I was going to respond but he bit at a specific spot right above my right collar. I let out a full moan and my hips even shifted up.
“That's a yes then?” He was about to untie my robes but I grabbed his hand and shook my head. As much as I want to do this.. I don't think I can.
“W- we can kiss.” Jet moved back up and kissed me, softer and far more gentle than before. But.. I want just a bit more. I parted my lips and pulled him over me again. When he puta all his weight on me, I feel safe. Just as he was going to go back to kissing my neck, the door opened and Smellerbee let out a groan, Longshot put his hands over her eyes.
“I- I should go now-” I quickly got up, my robes were messed up and he grabbed my arm again. He undid my robes, tightened them and straightened me up as Smellerbee and Longshot got ready for bed. He followed me outside and shut the door.
“Catch you later, Lee..” He took my hand and squeezed it a bit. He adjusted the collar of my robes and smirked.
“Y- yea..” He nudged me and walked back inside, shutting the door. Agni. I- I can’t believe I did that. He doesn't even know me! Is this a normal teenage thing..? I groaned into my hands as I walked back to Uncle. He had already fixed up his bed that was really just a couple old blankets. He perked up when he saw me.
“Ah.. Zuko. I didn’t expect you’d be back..” He began making me my bed. Why would he.. Oh.. OH.
“No- Uncle I- no.” He laughed and yawned.
“Sorry! I remember what it was like being a teenager.” He shrugged and laid back down like nothing!
“You’d also might want to hide those marks with your collar..?” Iroh mumbled and let out another chuckle. Jet adjusted my robe collar before he left. I was assuming he was hiding them but he was just trying to show them off! That asshole..