Soon they were all gathered in a small room Iroh had managed to find for them. Using a few kind words and some copper coins.
It was honestly impressive how he managed to make a suspicious man just turn the other way and let them use his room.
Now they had Jet seated in a chair and his eyes nervously darted all around the place. "Guys… I'm not sure what you're trying to prove." he said. "I didn't do anything. I swear."
Katara frowned as she bowed down to get in eye heigh with Jet. And Jet wide-eyed looked back at her.
"Jet… I need you to tell me about the war." Katara said.
"What… What war?" Jet asked. "There is no war in Ba Sing Se. What are you talking about?"
"Jet! I need you to remember!" Katara said. "In the past. You've seen the war, try to remember!"
Jet hissed. "I don't know what you are talking about." he said as he squinted his eyes.
"Try to go back." Katara asked. "You've seen it. You have to remember."
Jet hissed as he turned his head and then he suddenly started to sweat. "No… Nooo." he hissed.
"Fire bending. What does that make you feel like?" Katara hissed.
Jet hissed as he grabbed his head. "Stop it." he asked. "It… It's to painful. I can't." he hissed.
"Jet." Zuko suddenly spoke up and Jets eyes snapped open as he looked up at Zuko. "Look at me." he said and then he held out a hand and a flame erupted from his palm. "What does this make you feel?"
Jet halted, he was frozen as he wide-eyed looked at the flame in Zukos hand.
"You are facing a fire bender. A real one." Zuko said calmly. "What does that make you feel?"
Jets eyes were on the flame in Zukos hand. He inhaled a deep breath, then gasped.
"You've been burned before. Haven't you?" Zuko asked. "When was that? How were you burned?"
Jet looked up. "They burned it down…" he whispered. "They burned it all down. We hadn't done anything." he swallowed.
Zuko stood stern while the flame stayed in his hand.
"The entire village… It's gone." Jet whispered. "And they were laughing… THEY WERE LAUGHING!" he screamed as he stood up. "STOP LAUGHING!" he shouted at Zuko and then he without a warning launched forward grabbing Zukos neck and they fell down on the ground. "All fire benders must die!" he hissed. "DIE ASH MAKER!" he screamed as his fingers dug into Zukos throat.
"JET!" Katara and Sokka screamed as they ran forward and grabbed Jets arm trying to pull him back.
"No! Let go of me!" Jet shouted. "Do you know what they did! They killed them!" he shouted tears running down his face. "People were trapped in the house! They wouldn't let them out! They wouldn't let my mom and dad out! I heard them scream! And the fire. The fire wouldn't stop!"
"Jet please! Calm down!" Aang asked as he helped pushing Jet backwards and Zuko sat up. Holding his throat while Iroh rushed to his side.
"Are you all right?" Iroh asked concerned.
"Yeah I'm fine." Zuko replied as Zhau-Li and Toph stepped forward creating a wall between Zuko and the struggling Jet.
"Urgh. ARH my head!" Jet cried grabbing his head. "It hurts!" he hissed.
"You remember right? The war?" Katara asked.
"Fire… There's so much fire." Jet cried. "Make it stop. Make it stop!" he begged.
"Zuko. I think It's better we leave the room now." Iroh whispered and Zuko nodded as he allowed Iroh to take him outside. "Zhau-Li please come too." he asked and Zhau-Li nodded as all three fire benders left the room allowing the others to concentrate on Jet.
"Jet. I need you to calm down." Katara said in her best soft voice. "Listen to my voice and breath." she asked.
Jet hissed as he shook his head. But finally did what he was told and Katara guided him back towards the chair.
"I'm so sorry about this." Katara whispered. "No one deserves this. I hope this will help." she said as she moved behind Jet and lifted her hands. Allowing water to glow from her hands.
"Man…." Sokka muttered. "I can't believe I am feeling sorry for Jet." he admitted.
Toph and Aang was quiet as they looked at the boy who hissed now with Kataras hands on his tendrils.
Outside the door Zuko was quiet as he leaned against the wall. Zhau-Li was crouched on the floor and Iroh had sat down with crossed legs. Breathing deeply and rhythmically.
Zuko glanced at Zhau-Li and his burn scar. And was reminded of Zhau-Li's story… He had been in the army. He had been ordered to burn down a village but he had refused.
It was clear what Zhau-Li was feelin. The village Jet had been from. It had been one of those and… Just how many?
As if to confirm Zukos thoughts Zhau-Li reached up to touch his own scar and he swallowed.
"You didn't do it." Zuko said. "You weren't the one burning down his village."
"I almost did." Zhau-Li whispered. "I don't know if it was his village. But it really doesn't matter does it?" he asked. "I was about to follow orders it's just… when it was time to send the fire blasts.. I couldn't." he closed his eyes. "I just couldn't do it."
"That only speaks volumes of your heart and your honour." Iroh replied. "Zuko truly has found himself good friends and allies. It does bring an old man hope to see such fine young men as yourself."
Zuko sighed deeply. "Do you even think it's possible uncle?" he asked. "To restore the fire nations honour? We brought so much death and misery." he squinted his eyes. "Do we even have a right to go home and act like things are fine?"
"It wont be easy Zuko." Iroh said. "But it's possible. And it must be done." he said. "You know. Not all fire nation are evil. And those who just wish to live their own life deserves a chance."
Zuko nodded. "Yeah…. Yeah you're right." he said.
"Prince Zuko." Zhau-Li hesitated. "You know that… I wish to serve you. Right?" he asked. "I want to help! In what-ever way I can."
Zuko looked up at Zhau-Li and Zhau-Li's eyes were honest. Very honest.
"I appreciate it." Zuko said. "Really. I know that… There's not a lot of people I can trust. So having one more. One who is actually fire nation. One who understands. It means a lot to me." he said.
"It's an honour." Zhau-Li gasped.
"No. Seriously. It's not." Zuko tried awkwardly. "You don't need to."
Iroh smiled amused. "See Zuko. Making friends is its own reward in many ways."
"Heh. Ones again you're right." Zuko had to admit.
Just then the door opened and Katara stepped out.
"He has remembered some things." Katara said. "And he is going to try and take us where they took him. How-ever… Now that he knows Zuko is a fire bender. That makes the situation delicate." she said. "As you could see Jet is.." she swallowed. "Disturbed. He truly hates fire nation. Deeply. And espcially fire benders." Katara poke quietly. "We have tried to explain to him that you are Aangs fire bending teacher and that the avatar needs a fire bending teacher if he is to restore balance to the world. He doesn't know you're the Prince. Or that you two are also fire benders." she looked at the other Iroh and Zhau-Li.
"He doesn't know it's two fire benders we are trying to rescue either I assume." Zuko replied and Katara shook her head.
Iroh frowned as he stroked his beard. "Poor boy." he said he finally said in a sad tone. "So much suffering in someone so young... Ones again."
Katara swallowed as she rubbed her arm. Not looking to comfortable either.
Zuko swallowed. "Can I ask you two to just go and makes sure that everyone of the refuges are safe. That the Dai-Li wont take them?" he asked Iroh and Zhau-Li. "Then I'll make sure that we get Ming and Kulai."
"Prince Zuko." Zhau-Li hissed.
"I know. I'm sorry I keep leaving you out of the action." Zuko said. "The thing is that the Dai-Li will be watching them and we'll be poking the hornest nest. I need to know that they will be safe." he said. "And we need Jet. We don't know how he will react if anyone but myself fire bends. Heck I probably shouldn't fire bend again either while being next to him."
"We'll do like you ask." Iroh said without missing a beat. "If you promise me that you will stick close to your friends. The place you are going will be dangerous."
Zuko smiled amused. "Of course Uncle." he said.
"Come on then." Iroh stood up as he lightly touched Zhau-Li's arm. "The Prince has given us an order."
Confused Zhau-Li looked confused at Iroh but Iroh kept calmly walking and was soon through the door.
Finally Zhau-Li shook his head. He made one short bow for Zuko and then ran after Iroh who kept walking at such a calm pace out on the street.
Outside on the street Iroh kept walking calming and Zhau-Li walked with a straight back though he couldn't help keep stealing glances at Iroh. Every time he caught himself he straightened himself out and looked forward. But then he couldn't stop himself again.
"I sense you have questions." Iroh commented in a amused tone.
"Well… Erhm." Zhau-Li hesitated. "I understand you are Prince Zukos teacher and his uncle." he said. "You are though a Prince yourself right? You have a greater right to the throne than Zuko has. Why would you… Take orders from him?"
"Because that's what I choose to do. Like you choose to do it." Iroh said. "You need not take orders from him either. He is wanted for treason and neither of us carry rank. Anyone who follows Zuko now will be doing so out of choice."
Zhau-Li halted and then he nodded. "I see… I think."
"It really is remarkable." Iroh continued. "It is not so long ago that Zuko wouldn't trust anyone. Not even me." he said. "I'm so glad to see him put his trust in good people."
"You think he trusts me?" Zhau-Li asked.
"Certainly." Iroh replied. "And Zuko has learned not to trust anyone easily. I sincerely hope his trust wont be miss placed now."
"No!" Zhau-Li exclaimed. "I promise! It wont be."
"I didn't think it would." Iroh assured. "I just wanted you to know how remarkable this is and…" he halted. "How much damage it could cause if his trust was broken now. It is only so recently that he started putting his trust in anyone."
Zhau-Li nodded. "I swear." he said. "I'm with him!"
Iroh smiled. "That's very good to hear. Zuko is going to need all the help he can get in the future."
Zhau-Li nodded. "I'm ready for it."
"Relax." Iroh chuckled. "Let's go to your house and then perhaps. A nice cup of tea. That should help settle everyone down."
Zhau-Li blinked as he walked with the older shorter man back to their house.
Zhau-Li had to admit… He had grown up being told amazing stories about the Dragon of the West. The most feared general in the fire nation army.
This… Wasn't really what he had expected General Iroh to be like.
Then again Prince Zuko had barely ever gotten mentioned by anyone. As if he was just that unimportant. And honestly. While Zuko was younger than Zhau-Li by just a few years.
Zuko had the air of a much older and much more seasoned man. As far as Zhau-Li was concerned. Prince Zuko was one of the most impressive men he had ever met.
It just went to show you really couldn't trust all of those stories Zhau-Li supposed