Chapter 28

Wowww avatar is really popular right now! So many new people are getting into it seeing as its back on Netflix in the US. Every time I open social media I get SO MANY POSTS about it (not complaining of coarse XD) but it's been on Netflix for ages in the UK so there's not much hype here!

-oOo-

After Katara left, the tension in the room had eased slightly. Jet's small table he had occupied had been replaced by the innkeeper with one that was large enough to accommodate the group.

Sat round the table was Aang, Sokka, Toph, Ty Lee, Suki, Mai and an incredulous Zuko. Last time he had seen Jet, he was being dragged away by the Di Lee. Next thing he heard, the boy had died. The feeling that enveloped him when the answer to his anxious "did Jet just die?" was met with assent from Sokka still haunted him.

Despite Sokka's assurances that she would be alright, Joy had followed Katara out of the door. The Water Tribe girl was perched on the edge of the docks, gently swirling the water with an idle hand movement. The older girl waked across the wooden boards and came to sit next to her.

"I haven't experienced what you have, but I do know what it's like to be abandoned."

Katara hadn't seen the pale girl's approach and so her words were unexpected. She lifted her orb-like blue eyes to the more slender green ones facing her.

"You do?"

"My own parents sent me away to be in a prison. I wasn't dangerous. I was just broken. And why would they want a broken child?"

The bitterness that filled her voice was cutting, and almost made Katara wince. Noticing her effect on the girl, Joy tried to smile in a comforting way.

She hadn't meant to bring her own story into this. Just thinking of her parents brought on uncontrollable rage.

"I… didn't know. I knew your parents were overprotective of Toph, but…"

She stopped, another question occupying her mind.

"How did you deal with it? After Toph found you I mean."

She expected a long answer, a more complex one, but the words that came next weren't anticipated. But they… meant something.

"I let people help me."

-oOo-

"Why did you ask us to come here?" The original question Aang wanted to ask Jet was to elaborate on how he survived, but what if the mission was urgent? He wanted to the point but apparently Jet didn't.

"I didn't ask the Fire Lord to come here. Haven't the Fire Nation done enough?"

At this, Mai spoke up and gestured at Ty Lee. "We're Fire Nation too and we're here to help with your mission. You're lucky to have the Fire Lord helping you." Her glare made it clear that those who mistrusted her boyfriend would pay.

"Maybe I don't need your help." Jets face was set, eyes locked with Mai.

Sokka stood up, breaking the tension. "Mai, Ty Lee and Zuko are our friends. If you won't let them help you, then we won't either."

Now Jet's hard stare ware fixed on Sokka. "You never trusted me, did you?"

"That's nothing to do with this, what's wrong with you?" The two boys' faces were inches apart, faces tense.

Aang knew if he didn't change the subject, a fight could break out.

"Jet, why did you ask us to come here?"

The freedom fighter sighed and sunk back into his chair.

"I heard that when Princess Azula took over Ba Sing Se, the Dai Li moved into her control, and Long-Feng was powerless. But after the war ended, the Dai Li began to serve him again. The problem is, they've spread out from Ba Sing Se. They're trying to find the Earth King and… assassinate him."

Eyes widened. Mouths gaped.

The Earth King had left to travel the world with his bear, Bosco shortly before the war ended. They were due to return within a few months, but clearly had to be found and protected.

Momo took advantage of everyone's stillness to grab hold of the fake apple in the display fruit bowl in the centre of the table.

Suki also seized the opportunity to speak. "How do you know this?"

Momo chewed enthusiastically at the wooden fruit.

"Me and a few of the freedom fighters made it our mission to keep up with the Dai Li's plans. We knew they'd try something else. So, we hung around Lake Laogai trying to pick up all the information we could."

The flying lemur spat painted wood across the table and discarded the apple.

The Avatar's brows had been furrowed the for the entirety of Jet's story. When he stood it was with an air of finality.

"We should start looking then."

-oOo-

So I may have brought Jet back because (unpopular opinion) I actually really like his character XD I know I wrote him as being a bit of a biased jerk, but I think he genuinely tries to do the right thing.

Oh and thank you for all the reviews!

They honestly make my day