As they walked through the city. Katara and Toph had made sure to place themselves firmly between Jet and Zuko. Not for the first time trying to create that human shield while Sokka kept strict eyes on Jet as to make sure he wouldn't cause any trouble.
Sometimes Jet would glance at Zuko. His eyes would be filled with hate… Distrust… Disgust.
Thing just was. Zuko had been very used to that exact kind of looks from many different kinds of people.
His own fire nation soldiers… Earth kingdom citizens. The very group who was now acting to protect him.
In the past those looks had gotten to Zuko. They had made him angry and resentful.
Now he didn't feel either of those things. Honestly Zuko just felt sad and that was kind of it.
Suddenly Aang was right next to him and he looked up. "You're okay?" he asked.
"Yeah." Zuko replied in a whisper.
Aang frowned. "Zuko… I don't really need Tophs abilities to know you're lying."
"Sorry I just." Zuko sighed deeply reaching a hand up to touch his throat where Jets fingers had been digging into his flesh less than an hour ago. It was still sore.
Even back then. As Jet had been on top of him. His eyes burning with rage as he had been looking into Zukos eyes. He had clearly wanted murder.
Zuko had seen it. The hate and disgust and even then… He just felt sad.
"Do you need Katara to look at that?" Aang asked.
"No." Zuko replied. "It's fine. Just a little sore."
"We wont let Jet hurt you again." Aang said in a firm tone.
"I know." Zuko said. "And that's not." he sighed as he closed his eyes.
"What?" Aang asked.
Zuko sighed deeply. "I don't actually blame him." he finally admitted.
Aang frowned deeply. "You never did anything to Jet." he pointed out.
"I know but." Zuko frowned. "I destroyed villages. I destroyed Katara and Sokkas village. I destroyed Sukis village." he pointed out. "And I…"
"Stop!" Aang demanded and Zuko looked up meeting his grey eyes. "This wont help anything or anyone." he said. "I know you would never allow anyone to be burned alive. Not even back then. And beside, you are doing the right thing now." he stated. "Jet is… not right in the head. He wasn't when we met him the first time either. He was willing to kill an entire village just to get rid of fire some nation citizens. Fire nation citizens who had never done anything wrong and was just living their own life! And you…. You never tried to kill anyone. You're not even remotely the same."
Zuko knew that was supposed to make him feel better. But it didn't. The reality was that the cruelty of the fire nation had created the person Jet was now. And Zuko just felt sad.
Then Aang reached up and grabbed Zukos hand. "Come on." he said and pulled Zuko forward. First now did Zuko realize the others had gotten ahead by quite a bit and they picked up speed to catch up. Aang not letting go of Zukos hand.
Finally they arrived at the shore of a large lake in the upper ring. Jet hissed as he grabbed his head. "It…. It was somewhere around here." he hissed. "There was water. Lots and lots of water."
Zuko looked around. There didn't look to be anything around here. Then he looked at Jet. Jet didn't look good. He hadn't from the start really. Covered in cold sweat and his body shaking even when he was just standing. Now though he also started to look ash grey.
Zuko though knew better than to try and move in to ask if he was all right. Any one else than Zuko would be a better choice right now to ask about Jet's well being.
Thankfully Katara was already on it as she lifted a glowing hand and touching the back of Jet's head making him relax as his shoulders slumped together. "Sorry. All I can do is try to dull the pain." she said.
Jet barely even nodded. Now looking drowsy as his eyes were dripping.
Sokka sighed deeply. "Looks like a dead end. There's nothing here."
"Wait." Toph stepped forward. "Yes there is. You guys just can't see it."
Zuko looked up and so did everyone else who looked to Toph that stepped forward and took a stance. She stamped on the ground and suddenly a new platform emerged from the water complete with a tunnel.
Everyones eyes widened as Zuko smirked.
"A secret tunnel that can only be opened by an earth bender." Toph smirked satisfied.
"It was there!" Jet gasped. "They dragged me down and… It's dark down there." he swallowed. "Except. A green light." he hissed grabbing his head again. "It's wrong. That light is wrong… There… There is no war in Ba Sing Se." he gasped.
Zuko stood still. A green light? Like the flames in Long Fengs library.
There was more to those flames… There was a reason for their green sick colour.
Zuko was already shivering by the idea of seeing more fire like that down there. Sick fire.
But he swallowed his pride and as Toph took a step forward he followed with the rest. Down a small and indeed dark passageway.
Without even thinking Zuko turned on a little flame in his hand only for Jet to hiss like a cat and immediately Zuko thought better off it and extinguished his flame making Sokka sigh disappointed.
It didn't take long though before another light came from the end of the tunnel and true enough… It was green.
As they stepped into a massive underground hall, it was all illuminated by these green flames casting long shadows across the walls and Zuko wrapped his arms around himself.
He had know fire to be destructive, burning and painfull. He had never known it to be sick. Like this.
Sick like the city. Sick like the Joo Dee's and now jet. Like a virus spreading deep below the city, swallowing it up from under ground.
One thing Zuko knew was that he hated this place! And this had to be the worst part of Ba Sing Se. Deep underground. Cut off from the sun and only having the light source of this sick green fire.
Quietly they made their way through the halls only to suddenly hear monotone voices speaking. A chair of young women and Zuko looked in through a door that had been left slightly open to see a whole group of young women.
All of their eyes were wide and their pupils tiny.
A Dai Li soldier was standing in front of them spoke. "I am Joo Dee."
And all the women repeated. "I am Joo Dee." in the same monotone voice.
"Welcome to Ba Sing See. Where the walls keeps us safe."
"Welcome to Ba Sing See. Where the walls keeps us safe."
Zuko wanted to vomit. He felt sick beyond belief and tore himself away from the opening.
"I remember." Jet breathed as he looked up. "I was definitely here."
"Let's try and find where they are holding the prisoners." Zuko whispered and the all nodded as they rushed down the halls.
They kept moving forward, through big halls. Sometimes having to hide in the shadows from passing Dai Li soldiers.
Then as they had gone through a huge door into what looked a cave suddenly the door behind them shut closed as well as the door in front and Zuko gasped.
"We're trapped!"
Sokka how-ever was looking up and he gasped as he pointed.
They all looked up and there were Dai Li soldiers. A lot of them. Hanging from the ceiling.
"Well… That's new." Sokka commented.
Zuko twirled around to look up on a high platform and there was Long Feng himself standing with a stern look on his face.
"Long Feng!" Aang gasped.
"You have made yourself enemies of the state." Long Feng informed them.
"You took two of my citizens!" Zuko exclaimed pointing a hand forward. "Two innocent! Give them back. Now!"
Jet's eyes widened. "What?" he asked.
"They were in our city." Long Feng stated. "And thus were to follow the rules of Ba Sing Se. The rules were broken and thus punishment is required. You as well, were welcome as long as you followed the rules. All of you are now enemies of this very city." he nodded his head. "Take them into custody."
And on Long Fengs command all the Dai Li jumped down as Sokka pulled out his boomerangs and Jet pulled out his swords.
The other four took their bending standses and all at ones it was a big battle.
Zuko yelled as he ended up dodging and jumping. Using kicks to kick away boulders. He had a problem. A big problem.
This was a very small enclosed space and he couldn't afford ending up burning one of his friends on accident.
Suddenly Zuko found himself standing back to back with Jet as he pushed boulders back.
"What's wrong Ash maker?" Jet hissed. "No fire today?"
"I don't want to burn any of you." Zuko exclaimed bitterly.
If that pleased Jet. It didn't show. "They didn't tell me it was your people we were saving. Fire nation citizens."
"Refuges. A two year old and her mother who is a pottery maker!" Zuko hissed. "LOOK OUT!" he shouted as a big boulder came right towards them and Zuko slipped in front of Jet now sending a blast of fire sending the boulder back.
Jet hissed but there was no time to reply as another Dai Li came.
A thing became apparent though. While their own group was outnumbered. The Dai Li were outmatched. They were the avatar and three bending masters. It helped too that the two none benders didn't really need to be saved and could hold their own.
Zuko was the first to notice that as the Dai Li soldiers were almost all defeated. Long Feng turned around to run and he immediately followed.
Jet who had had his eyes on Zuko at all times were quick to follow and the last one who managed to slip through before the door closed behind them was Aang as they were now all chasing Long Feng into a separate room until finally they hit a dead end.
"Where's Ming and Kulai?" Zuko shouted. "They are under my protection! And I will not stop until they are safe!"
Long Feng lifted an eyebrow. "Very well then." he said. "A final proposition. Take your citizens. Prince Zuko. Every single one of them. Take the Avatar and his friends and leave this city. Do not ever come back."
Jets eyes widened and he turned to Zuko. "You are?" he asked.
Zuko how-ever ignored him. "If it was only up to me I would take you up on that offer." he said. "But I am merely the avatars teacher not his master. He is to decide what he intends to do or not do in this city."
Aang nodded as he stepped in front of the other two. "You've gone to far." he said. "And we will not be allowing this to go on any more. Your reign will stop. Now!"
Aang took a bending stands and Zuko did the same. This time he was more than ready to burn. Jet as well had pulled out his swords.
Long Feng how-ever was smirking. "Jet." he spoke. "The earth king has invited you to lake Laogai."
Zuko blinked. What… What was this about?
And then suddenly Jets monotone voice. "I am honoured to accept his invitation." the next second Jet was attacking Aang and Aang dodged.
"AANG!" Zuko shouted as Jet kept attacking and Aang screamed as he kept dodging around. Zuko lifted a hand now with fire in it but then he halted. He couldn't attack! He couldn't attack either of them.
"Jet! It's me! AANG!" Aang screamed. "We're friends! You don't have to do this."
"I'm afraid Jet no longer has a choice." Long Feng smirked and Zuko gasped as he noticed. Jets eyes were dilated. Covering almost all of his iris.
Zuko swallowed and then suddenly he got an idea. An insane idea. He put two fingers into his mouth and whistled earning their attention. "Hey! Jet!" he shouted. "Look at this!" he held out a hand making a flame erupt from it. "It's fire! I'm a fire bender!"
Jet gasped as he staggered backwards.
"Those fire benders. They were laughing right?" Zuko asked. "Now I'm laughing to! Hahahaha!" it had to be the fakes laughter ever made. There was absolutely nothing funny about this.
But it worked and Jet screamed at the top of his lungs as he came running for Zuko with his swords.
"Zuko!" Aang gasped.
"Don't worry about me. Go for Long Feng." Zuko shouted as he easily dodged. Twin swords! It was familiar and Jet was out of control. He really had this.
Aang nodded as he jumped up to reach Long Feng only for Long Feng to hiss as he called out a boulder and threw Aang back.
Then he looked down at Zuko locked in combat with Jet. How-ever that was the moment Zuko managed to bow, make Jet trip. Get on Jets left as he grabbed Jets hand and disarmed him so now Zuko was the one holding the swords in his own hands.
Long Feng hissed. "Useless." he stated as he lifted a hand and in the next second a massive boulder dropped from the floor and was about to land right on Jet.
"NO!" Zuko screamed as he got above Jet and using his own blades send a flaming ball which shattered the rock and left them both unharmed just as Aang fell to the floor as well.
And that was all the time Long Feng needed to turn around and escape through a tunnel closing the hole behind him.
"HEY!" Aang screamed as he jumped up. "Come back here you coward!"
Zuko how-ever was lowering his swords and then looked down at Jet who was holding his head as his body was shaking.
Aang halted. "Jet?" he asked.
A pathetic sound came from Jet. Wheezing, hissing. Crying. And then a drop of water fell from his face and down on the floor.
"Why?" Jet finally asked and he looked up. His eyes huge and red rimmed. "Why did you safe me?" he asked Zuko.
Zuko looked down at him. "I know. You would not have done the same for me." he said. "Here's the thing though. I don't want to be like you."
Jet silenced. His entire body growing stiff, his eyes were wide and then suddenly he grabbed his head. He was shaking and then he let out a scream that echoed through the caves. "AAAARGH!"
The scream was raw and full of nothing but pure pain and agony and then he broke together in tears just as the door behind them opened and the rest of their group ran in.
Wide-eyed they all looked at Jet who was a sobbing mess on the ground. "What happened?" Katara asked as she ran to Jet and fell down on his knees. "Jet? Are you hurt? Jet?!" she asked.
And then Jet grew silent. He slumped to the floor making Katara gasp. As she turned Jet around his eyes were… Weird. They looked empty. Like there was nothing in there.
And Zuko swallowed as he felt it. The flame inside of everyone. The flame inside of Jet it was like… It was barely even there. It almost felt... cold.
"Jet… Jet!" Katara shouted as she slapped his cheeks.
Zuko swallowed. "He… He's not going to respond." he whispered.
"But. Why?" Katara asked.
"I don't know. But we don't have the time right now. There are going to be more Dai Li in a second." Zuko stated as he put Jets swords into his own belt and then he walked over to Jet. Pulling the boy over his own shoulders so he was now carrying Jet on his back.
Sokka looked up. Shivering by the sight of Jets dead empty eyes looking at absolutely nothing over Zukos shoulder. Somehow Jets eyes right now seemed to see less than Toph's.
"Toph. Can you get us out of here?" Aang asked. "Please?"
"With pleasure." Toph said opening up a tunnel. "This way. Come on hurry!" she gestured and they all followed her.
"Zuko. If you need me to take over just say the word." Sokka asked as he looked at Jet on Zukos back.
"It's okay." Zuko replied pretending he was not struggling with the near dead weight on his back. "I got this."
"Okay." Sokka nodded. "We can take turns though. If you need it."
"Yeah… Thanks." Zuko replied as he closed his eyes.
Why was this place just so…. Sick.