They decided to start with the easiest task: figuring out who had taken Jet.
They noticed many of the guards, now that they were looking for them; they seemed to slide through the city like serpents; appearing and disappearing at the edges of crowds, on top of buildings, and along the walls that divided the city.
The healer had cleared Smellerbee to go back to work the next day, but she and Longshot decided they'd rather take advantage of the time they had to watch them.
Posing as nothing more than somewhat brainless refugees, they were able to learn that the Dai Li was the police force and the security, known and often feared for their stone gloves they wielded as weapons, especially against the non-benders. That was straightforward enough; neither Longshot nor Smellerbee were terribly afraid of police. They'd spent too much time running from the ruthless Fire Nation soldiers to be too worried about mere police force.
No, what bothered them was how little everyone seemed to know about them. Nobody seemed to know where their headquarters were or where they took those they arrested. It explained their lengthy journey through the city; the Dai Li wanted to keep their secrets. But it didn't get Longshot and Smellerbee any closer to their friend. And why keep such secrets unless there was something nefarious going on?
They didn't like it at all.
:–:–:–:
The day after Smellerbee's burn, they tried to follow various agents around the city, but they never made it far. They always seemed to vanish around corners and into buildings, and it wasn't hard to figure out that there had to be some sort of underground road system, accessible only via earthbending. It had never irritated Smellerbee before, not being able to earthbend. Not really, anyways. Chihiro had always taught her that bending was no more than one of many possible tools. But this time, it was key.
When the night got late, they returned to their apartment, defeated and deflated. Longshot changed the bandages on Smellerbee's hands and cooked them a simple dinner of rice and vegetables, which they ate quietly. Smellerbee found herself staring out of their window absently, and it wasn't until she felt Longshot nudge her foot with his that she realized how long she'd been out of it.
What are you thinking?
"He could be anywhere," Smellerbee said quietly. "And I don't know… I guess I kind of thought maybe he'd just come back?"
He might.
Smellerbee looked at him.
He might. Longshot's eyes were steady, boring into hers, ordering her not to give up.
"I hope so," she said quetly.
:–:–:–:
Smellerbee had nightmares that night and awoke, gasping and shaking, on the floor of their apartment in her sleeping bag. They had decided not to bother buying beds, and since the one room was all they had, they always slept as they had in the woods.
She looked for Jet and for a second her heart leapt before she realized her eyes were playing tricks on her. It was not his form that lay just feet from her; it was his sleeping bag.
Her movement must have woken Longshot because when she turned to look at him, she saw his eyes blink open and he sat up, looking around and then at Smellerbee.
What is it?
"Nothing. Go back to sleep," she said.
But Longshot sat up straighter and moved closer.
What is it?
"Nightmares," Smellerbee said, feeling the familiar creep of shame.
Longshot reached out a tentative hand and placed it on her shoulder. Smellerbee leaned her head down onto it instinctively. It was comforting to have him so close. Longshot shifted slightly, and Smellerbee thought of the nights they'd spent in the woods with Longshot's arms around her. She nodded, and he understood.
:–:–:–:
They woke up to the sounds of rain on the roof. They went to work again, the foreman barely noticing their return. Smellerbee was a bit slower and clumsier than usual, and she and Longshot frequently took breaks so he could check on her bandages, but other than that, the day progressed normally. Or as normally as it could under the circumstances.
It made Smellerbee want to scream.
:–:–:–:
By the time Jet had been gone for three days, Smellerbee was starting to feel desperate and trapped in her own skin, unable to do anything. She recalled painfully those few days after their encounter with the Avatar where Jet had vanished and reappeared, distant and ill, and called for the disbanding of the Freedom Fighters.
More than once, Smellerbee wondered if Jet had indeed taken this opportunity to leave them. She didn't like to think of that, but the thought seemed to catch at the edge of her mind, gnawing away at her focus and resolve not to raise such a traitorous thought to Longshot. But little could be hid from Longshot's observant eyes, by Smellerbee even less so than anyone else.
One night as they ate a quiet dinner, watching the sun set out their tiny window, Smellerbee found herself in the midst of an internal struggle, asking herself if Jet had indeed left them.
"He wouldn't do that," she whispered to herself, trying to silence her mind.
Longshot turned to her, startled. What?
"Nothing," Smellerbee said, turning away from him.
Longshot reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. No, what is it?
"It's nothing!" Smellerbee insisted. "I'm just being stupid."
Longshot's gentle grip on her arm tightened for the briefest moment. Please?
"What if he left us, Longshot?" Smellerbee asked, her voice coming out smaller and more frightened than she expected. "What if he finally did what he said he was going to do when we left the gang?"
Longshot shook his head. He wouldn't.
"What if he thought that would keep us safe? What if the Dai Li said they'd hurt his friends? We don't even know why they're keeping him so long or what they want with him!" Smellerbee said, and she saw a shadow of pain flit across Longshot's pale face before he turned away. He was keeping something from her. "What is it?" she asked. "Did he say something to you? What do you know?"
Longshot shook his head, avoiding her eyes. No. It's nothing.
"Because if you thought he was going to leave and didn't tell me –"
Longshot turned and stared at Smellerbee, horrified. No! I didn't. I wouldn't.
Smellerbee looked at him for a long moment. He was still trying to avoid telling her something. But about this, she felt certain, he was just as lost as she was.
