I'm Not Moving
The pain in Longshot's chest was like a fire, tearing at his insides. He could imagine the flames; licking at his very core and melting away all the strength he had forced himself to grow since he became a Freedom Fighter. The heat from the fire caused tears to form in his eyes, threatening to spill onto his cheeks. It wasn't fair that Jet had to die that way.
It had been only seven hours since Jet had passed away, but this was the first time that Longshot had been able to stop and really think about what had happened. As soon as the Avatar and his friends had left, three Dai Li agents had attacked himself and Smellerbee. After all the years the two of them had spent fighting together, they easily brought down their opponents; although it did take longer than usual seeing as their opponents were expert Earthbenders from a very elite group.
Finally, Smellerbee and Longshot had been able to escape Lake Laogai, along with Jet's body. The two of them carried their leader to a small hill on the outskirts of Ba Sing Se, the location seemed ideal, there were even a few burnt-out incense sticks obviously left by another mourner. They buried Jet in silence, using two shovels they stole from a nearby abandoned farmhouse.
Once the two Freedom Fighters had said their farewells, they left the hill and walked back towards the abandoned farmhouse. Now here Longshot was, lying on a pile of straw with Smellerbee next to him and attempting not to cry.
Ever since his village had been destroyed by the Firenation years ago, it was very rare for him so speak and even rarer for him to shed a tear. He supposed that after the day he had just had, he was allowed to crumble just a little. After all, he had lost another family. As he was thinking this, he felt Smellerbee shift on the straw beside him. Her shaggy brown hair brushed up against his cheek as she pushed her frame against his.
Longshot flicked his eyes to the side and saw the younger Freedom Fighter staring up at him. Unlike himself, Smellerbee's eyes were clear and focused; no tears hung on her lashes and she seemed completely fine. It made sense that the girl was already coming to terms with what had happened because she had cracked as soon as Jet had died. If it wasn't for the Dai Li agents turning up, Longshot had no doubt that she would have just stayed kneeling beside Jet for hours, but instead she had converted her pain into rage and fought valiantly. The images of Smellerbee screaming with anguish and wielding her dagger ferociously as she attacked the Dai Li men flashed across Longshot's mind as he stared at the now calm girl.
"It's alright to be weak sometimes," Smellerbee said quietly, her breath tickling Longshot's ear.
Longshot shook his head and flicked his eyes back to the ceiling of the barn. He refused to let her see him upset.
Smellerbee huffed impatiently, "You saw me cry."
The quick gaze he gave her made her smile ironically: That's because, despite what most people think, you are actually a girl.
"And you think it's different for boys?"
Longshot nodded once, unsure of where Smellerbee was going with this.
"Well it doesn't count when you lose a family member."
Once again, Longshot trained his eyes on the roof. He knew she was right, and he hated it.
"Fine, I'll drop it," Smellerbee whispered.
To Longshot's surprise, she didn't move away from him. In fact, she did the complete opposite and snuggled further against him, offering him her strength. The older boy's eyes grew wide and he tensed up stubbornly.
Smellerbee sighed and placed her head on Longshot's shoulder. "I said I'd drop it, I didn't say I'd let you suffer alone," she nuzzled further against his neck and breathed out, "You can't make me move."