Bitter Reunion

Chapter One: The Boy who Cried Wolf

If Jet were to hear his that one of his parents was alive and well, he wouldn't believe it, or slit their throat if it dared slip out of a Firebender's lips. He lived a rough life, and being locked away for being considered crazy didn't help deter the label that was now stapled to him as an anti-Fire Nation radical who terrorized the once peaceful Ba Sing Se because he believed that two of the peasant tea shop workers were firebenders. But as the old story goes, no one believed the Boy who cried Wolf until the Wolf shows His fangs. The truth was, the Wolves were firebenders, and one of them happens to be Prince Zuko nonetheless. The Wolf and His sister took over Ba Sing Se and betrayed their tea-loving, overly friendly uncle.

But where was the Boy who cried Wolf? Why, He's in Lake Laogai, half-dead. Sure, Toph knew that he was going to die but what she didn't count on was him coming back from the dead. The spirits above rejected him. He was told that he had unfinished business back on Earth and that he will never enter the Spirit World until he completes said unfinished business. If only he knew what it was that needed to be finished. When he was rejected he felt like he was falling, plummeting through time and space until his body collided with his soul after for what felt like eternity. When he opened his eyes, he felt excruciating pain in his spine and his legs refused to move. He felt silk beneath his body and pondered if he was buried in a luxurious coffin. He tried to sit up, but his body refused to move. He tried and tried but his body remained still, dripping sweat with exertion. He settled for making his eyes get a look around. He wasn't in a coffin, thank the Gods, for it was too roomy. It was a tiny little room with a window so small that even a butterfly would have to squeeze through. The walls were a royal red, with the Fire Nation insignia plastered all over. The floor was polished redwood with velvet rugs underneath his silk bed, where his pillow lies against the wall next to him. It was a beautiful prison. Not that he minded. It certainly was a better upgrade than all of the other cells he's been thrown into. But why was he being pampered like this, especially by the Fire Nation? His questions were answered when he heard the door open and shut, and the click-clacking of heels come his way. He strained his neck to turn and see the figure. It was a woman, or girl due to her physique covered with an armor made for a man. He made out her face, which was an ivory blotch and a red splotch where her lips should be. Her hair is pulled up into a bun. The closer she got, the more he got a good look at her. She had a pretty face if it wasn't so malicious in its intently smile. Her smile pulled into a cold calculating smirk. Her eyes of amber mislead the color of warmth, emanated a shadow of icy coldness. Jet felt his body convulses in what he hoped was not fear.

Her talon-like nail skimmed over his chest, a ruby-red trail followed willingly. She licked her lips in satisfaction as she knelt down to trace her tongue towards it. Jet sucked in his breath, his body convulsing even more at its violation of this unknown woman. Reptilian eyes stared up at her prey; her predatory smile grew even wider.

"Ah, I see you're alive. I was just about to play with you."

Jet's pupils shrunk in terror. Never before has he been this paralyzed by fear as this strange woman climbed on top of him, straddling his convulsing and shivering body. He began sweating, his body growing colder as his legs felt as though he was going through hell. He was slowly gaining feeling of his body, but couldn't will it to throw this bloodthirsty demon off of him and run. All he could do is stare into her eyes, trying to find some sort of humanity left inside of her. He opened his mouth, the rough vibrations of his voice scraped against his throat.

"Get. Off. Me."

Azula stared down at the supposed dead man that spoke to her. He was talking now? He can't! He's practically dead or a human vegetable, like the doctors said! How could he be talking after two days of death? Her plans on using this once cadaver into her little dummy for…purposes she'd rather not disclose were ruined. And to top it all off, he was starting to smell. He desperately needed a bath.

Jet didn't understand why the woman who tried to violate him was dragging his laden body out of the room, not caring to drag his feet away from the splinters and shards of things he'd rather not know. Sure he can't move his body but he can sure feel the pain! Azula kicked open the door and flung him into a cold, hard, and metallic bathing basin. She poured ice cold water over Jet's body, crinkling her nose as he reeked of bodily fluids and near-decay. Jet screamed in shock and tried to move, but his body remained rooted to the basin. She dug through the cabinets and found scented oils and a washcloth and began calling for the maids to come. A woman came rushing to Azula's aid.

"Yes, Princess Azula?"

Jet froze. This was the Fire Nation Princess…?

"Bathe him. He reeks and is stinking up my quarters down below."

"Yes, Princess Azula."

"You…" He croaked.

"You're Fire Nation…The Princess…"

"Yes, I am the princess you lowly peasant, what of it?"

"You and your savage…family sent…those…"

Azula snarled at the man that dared throw dirt on the name of the girl who tries to take care of him! But she let him continue.

"They…killed…everyone including…my mom…and Papa…"

Azula stared at him very sharply, trying to figure him out. So he's a man angry at her people killing his parents? Why should she care? They must've had it coming!

"You sent them…it's all your fault…I'll make you…pay…for it. I swear on my family…I will…avenge them…on my behalf…even if I die…in the process. You can…bet on it." Those were his last words as he slipped into unconsciousness. The maid bathed and scrubbed the filth off of Jet. Once he was presentable and didn't stink as much, he was lifted out of the basin and dried off by the woman's hands and the towel. He was dried and properly moisturized with the jasmine and peppercorn oil Azula left for him and was dressed into a mere pair of drawstring peasant pants. They were old, and two sizes too big, but Jet didn't complain. When he regained consciousness, he stared at the kind woman smiling at him as he was lifted into the bed. He wished that it was just an Earth Kingdom prisoner doing such kind things, but her overly warm hands and amber eyes told otherwise.

"Don't touch me." He barked out coldly, shocking the woman.

"Please," He added softly, to apologize for his hostility. She said nothing, nodding her head and walking out of the quarters. While he was in solitude, he willed himself to wiggle his toes. (AN: I know, cheesy reference to Kill Bill, but don't sue me!) He wanted to regain control over his feet and body so he'll be able to move and get the hell out of here.

"Wiggle," He silently commanded his big toe. It won't budge. He tried all of his strength, but it just won't give in. He sighed in aggravation and tried to think of something else to motivate it. He thought about the firebenders destroying his home, the strong stench of burning flesh and carnage and the piercing voices of women and children as they scream in agony and beg for mercy. He remembered the eyes of the man, the monster who he and his comrades were held responsible for the destruction of his village, the death of his parents…

He felt an uncomfortable heat fill up in his body, rage enveloping his body, his soul, and his mind… Blistering heat, scorching anger, pain so excruciating it makes him want to scream. He screamed in pain, agonizing tears of sorrow and loss of unsolved hurt bleeding through. All he could see is blinding white, then swirls of red, flashes of the man that killed his parents staring right back at him in a warped smirk. He hear things crashing, blood spurting everywhere, and metal being torn to shreds? He gave another cry of anguish before his world grows black, and the ground beneath him rushed up to meet him.

When Azula went to check up on Jet, what she came to find was horrific. An entire bed reduced to shreds, gaping holes of black decorated the once fancy walls, the iron bars on the window was torn off. Blood clawed on the walls and sheets of the once red sheets. There lies a heap of a boy, panting and heaving, sweating bullets. Choked sobs and gasps emanated the poor soul as he stood up. When he turned to Azula, she gasped in terror and stepped back, tripping over the sheets and falling flat on her butt.

His face was marred with his own blood; his coal-black eyes empty yet full of evil and malice. His smile was almost similar to a hungry wolf as his sharp canines showed themselves proudly. He looked at her, cackling psychotically as his smile grew from ear to ear.

"I wiggled my big toe."