Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar

Warning: Rated for a reason, contains explicit male/male scenes

Noting Displacement

Chapter 4

Prince Zuko, once heir to the Fire Nation Throne had a problem. The name of that problem was Jet. Zuko liked Jet, in principle. This was rare for him. Zuko also found Jet infuriating, which was a much more natural state of affairs. While Jet was, in Zuko's eyes, an above average fighter, considering his lack of formalised training, he seemed to have unnatural abilities regarding… other physical things.

Zuko shook his head. Every other sentence out of Jet's mouth also seemed to be a thinly veiled accusation. He kept hinting about 'knowing' Zuko and other things that put the banished prince's teeth on edge. Zuko knew he was being slightly irrational.

Part of his current mood was due to the fact that Zuko missed bending. Jet's sideways comments invariably reminded Zuko of what he had lost. Bending was a fundamental part of his composition. He still felt the heat inside, he still felt his Chi and could regulate his temperature, but it wasn't the same. Without being able to practice bending, to produce and control flames, Zuko felt like he was missing a limb. He hadn't quite realised how integral it was to him. His Uncle claimed that meditation was sufficient to release the frustration, but it wasn't enough for Zuko. His calm shattered and his slow, even breathing would rasp until he felt like setting something alight. Preferably something that would run around in circles, yelling.

It was proof that the world had a twisted sense of humour that Jet, the main source of his annoyance, was also the source of the limited relief that couldn't quite replace fire bending.

Zuko was quite pleased that he had finally managed to take the lead with Jet. Of course, it was inevitable. Zuko was born for command and he was Fire Nation, where as Jet was not and therefore could not possibly retain control over these matters. However… however… Zuko tried to suppress the thought but it snuck under his guard. However, he had sort of, maybe, kind of, almost, preferred it when Jet was in charge. Only a little.

Zuko huffed and tried to ignore the traitorous thought. He was being unreasonable. He was always in charge. For years he had commanded a ship full of sullen, rebellious soldiers and had gone to great lengths to pursue the Avatar and his honour. Purpose was the hallmark of his life and he certainly wasn't about to let a mere peasant take control. And yet…

Zuko fumed inwardly at him self, his situation, but most of all at Jet. It was a lot easier to be annoyed with Jet. Well, he was going to address these traitorous thoughts and he was going to address Jet. After all, he was in charge now. He was always in charge.

(-)

Jet was instantly on guard when Zuko marched over to him. Zuko noted the combat preparation. It wasn't a proper fighting stance, but Jet was clearly ready and also on the defensive. Zuko's gaze flashed toward Jet's face and then down at the water, before finding refuge on the surface of the deck. Jet relaxed minutely, but caution was still rolling off him in waves. Zuko wondered if he suspected something.

"Hi, Li," he began warily.

Zuko winced inwardly at the name. He was thankful that 'Junior' hadn't stuck with Jet, no thanks to his uncle, but any pseudonym carried danger. It was hard to respond to a name that wasn't his own.

"Hi."

Zuko didn't raise his gaze. It was a lot easier not to look at that feral grin and that infuriatingly all knowing demeanour. Even tensed as he was, Jet still looked like he was slouching. Zuko decided that it was an insolent sort of slouch. It was worse than that spirits-cursed grass stalk. He didn't know where Jet kept getting them, only that when his lips stretched around it with that grin of his, Zuko's heart would start beating harder, as if he were about to firebend.

Zuko cursed his wandering thoughts and tried to regroup. He didn't really know why he had approached Jet like this. He hadn't planned anything and it would be easy for Jet to get the upper hand. Quite easy, in fact.

Zuko didn't back down as Jet took a step forward. But his hands curled into fists of their own volition as he looked up at Jet's grinning face.

"You seem a little worried, Li. Is something the matter?" Jet asked lazily.

"I'm never worried."

"But you're always on guard," Jet countered.

"I should… we should," Zuko cursed his incoherency. However what was much worse was that Jet seemed to understand exactly what he was hedging.

Jet snorted. "Just because I let you try out something new, don't think that it's going to change anything at all."

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Zuko demanded.

Jet grinned at him. That feral little smile made Zuko's mouth go dry. Jet leaned in closer to him, his grin remaining firmly in place.

"You're not in charge anymore. Whatever you were, you aren't that now," he whispered.

Zuko felt a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was reasonable to assume that Jet didn't actually know anything. But if his loss, if his fall from favour, was obvious even to Jet… Zuko didn't even want to finish that thought. How often had lain awake, wondering whether he would ever regain all that he had lost. He had no honour, no home. He had failed one too many times and now he was a fugitive from his own spirits-cursed sister.

"Stop it!"

Zuko's head snapped up when he heard the anger in Jet's tone.

"What?" Zuko demanded, temporarily distracted from his thoughts.

Jet ran a hand through his hair. He seemed… exasperated? Annoyed? Zuko wasn't very good at reading others.

"Stop looking like I've just gutted you. I– arg!" Jet turned away for a moment and concentrated on demolishing the end of his grass stalk between his teeth. He was looking very distressed now. Zuko watched him with mild curiosity.

"Yes?" the banished prince prompted.

"Never mind," Jet ground out.

Zuko just stared at him. He had found it was a good tactic to provoke Jet and when he was annoyed, the tanned youth was more likely to blurt something.

"Okay, I know you were a noble. You radiate it."

Zuko wondered if that 'radiating' comment was a sideways reference to his fire bending.

"Go on," Zuko tried to keep his tone neutral.

"I don't like nobles."

"Well you are a peasant."

Jet looked ready to punch him. Zuko smirked.

"Was that a joke? From you?" Jet asked suspiciously.

Zuko shrugged.

"Anyway, I think it does you good to know that you aren't some little prince anymore, but not, not if you're going to be like that."

"Like what?" Zuko was honestly lost. He even let that highly suspicious 'prince' comment slide.

"Like all, defeated… and mopey and, oh I don't know." Jet sighed. "I guess I just like to think you can hold your own. Obviously I win, but like that you're fierce and… fighty."

Zuko glared at him, trying to find the insult.

"Yeah, like that," Jet grinned.

Zuko's scowl deepened. He looked away for a moment before clearing his throat.

"Well, I won't just give in, but… well…"

"I get it. You don't have to say it."

Zuko huffed. "Fine. Thanks. I guess."

"My pleasure," Jet purred. "So now that that's settled, it looks like I'm in charge again."

"You wish," Zuko scoffed.

They made their way below deck

(-)

Zuko felt his temperature rise as Jet's hands snaked under his top and began to stroke lightly up and down his sides. When Zuko tried to shift aside from the touch, Jet's hands clamped down on his waist and drew him in for a kiss. To Zuko, this was cheating. He conceded, albeit grudgingly, that Jet was a better kisser and that, essentially, he had no hope as soon as Jet brought their lips together.

When Jet pulled back his eyes were glazed with lust and his grin had very smug undertones.

"You're getting better at this you know," he pointed out.

Zuko narrowed his eyes, but he couldn't deny how pleased he was at the compliment. There was something so sincere about Jet. It was an easy charisma that Zuko had never really encountered. It was to do with the way he treated people, as if they were his equal, while still somehow suggesting that is was just natural for him to lead. While Zuko knew you couldn't run a nation like that, the technique was certainly worth noting.

Then Jet's hands slid down his waist and Zuko lost his concentration.

"Jet," he breathed.

Jet's grin sharpened and he began to slide Zuko's pants down. When Zuko realised this he summoned a final measure of restraint and pulled off Jet's top. He had a sneaking suspicion that Jet was allowing this, but oddly enough, it didn't bother the banished prince. He ran his fingertips lightly down Jet's chest and felt an incredible rush of satisfaction that the well muscled chest arched to meet his touch.

Things dissolved from there and Zuko found himself on the floor with Jet leaning over him. Jet ever-so-casually seized his lips and let his hand wander over to Zuko's erection. A few firm strokes had him bucking and Jet let him go. Zuko glared at him but Jet simply let his hand slip down further behind him. Zuko shifted down onto Jet's finger. Jet was clearly surprised and wasted no time in stretching him out.

Zuko let his eyes close because it helped him relax. Of course Jet had to interrupt his peaceful state by going in deeper and brushing against that spot. Zuko's eyes snapped open and he utter a hoarse moan. He turned his head to look at Jet's grinning face.

"You really enjoy doing that, don't you?" Zuko growled.

Jet shifted until his own arousal was pressed against Zuko's thigh.

"You tell me," he murmured. That would have annoyed Zuko a lot more if he wasn't so impatient for things to continue.

Jet removed his fingers and positioned himself. Zuko closed his eyes again, after shooting a quick glance at Jet to make sure that he wasn't going to try anything unexpected.

Jet slid in gradually and Zuko held himself still. Only his panting betrayed him. Then Jet began to move and Zuko leaned his head back. After a few thrusts, Jet wrapped a hand around Zuko's arousal and began stroking him again. This time Zuko could not hold back a particularly loud and throaty moan. His consolation was that Jet was crying out too.

Then he lost himself completely and spilled into Jet's hand. Jet groaned and his thrusts became erratic as he too was swept up in the inevitable sensation.

"Li!" He called out.

A part of Zuko flinched at the name, but he gave no outward indication of his discomfort.

Zuko stretched out beside Jet in the aftermath. The tanned teen played with some unruly strands of Zuko's hair. It was surprisingly relaxing. This relaxation was predictably short-lived however, when Jet broke the silence.

"You know, we're going to be landing in a day or so," he began.

Zuko gapped. He had forgotten about that.

"I see."

"You know my group and we're all looking to start a new life in Ba Sing Se. You're welcome to join us. If you want."

Zuko experienced something that he hadn't remembered feeling in a long time. It took him a moment to place it. It was indecision.

"Look, your uncle, or whatever he is, is welcome to come too. I know how to survive and I can recognise people who have the same attributes. You would be a valuable addition," Jet ploughed on.

"And… Spirits curse it! I also want you there for more personal reasons." Jet swallowed. "And not just because you're fun to fool around with."

It was tempting. It was very tempting, in fact. As Jet had said earlier he was no longer what he was. But there was always a sick sense of hope. Zuko could not let go of the idea that he would be able to find the Avatar; that he'd somehow claim his honour and be welcomed back to the Fire Nation.

"There's no going back, Li," Jet explained very quietly.

Zuko wouldn't meet his eye. He knew if he was anything less than he was, then he would be shaking. "It's more than that. It's an impossible situation and running from it isn't going to make it any better."

"Spirits, Li! You're not running. You're just learning to live a different life. Is everything always a battle or a challenge to you?"

Zuko uttered a bitter laugh. "I thought that's what you liked about me."

Jet glared at him but held his peace, for a moment at least. "This isn't over."

"No, it isn't." Of course prince Zuko wasn't talking about Jet's proposal.