Genre: Angst/Canon Divergent AU
Rating: Teen
Summary: Jet tries to navigate this new environment.
Jet doesn't belong here, in this palace bedecked in red and gold and black, in these robes that hide his figures beneath the same colors and the gray of the steel that peeks through on the shoulder piece. He doesn't deserve or want the carefully clothed servants that trail him with needless amenities. The long, winding hallways, even with their high columns, are nothing like the forest he called - calls - home, and he wants to go back in time from before the mess, from even before the dam.
"It's almost time for your proper debut," the man beside him hums, crown glinting in the torchlight. "Are you ready, Jet?"
But of course he can't go back.
He's not ready, but that doesn't matter. Fire Lord Ozai shoves him into the bright lights anyways, and his body moves on his own, the way he's trained it to for weeks now, back straight and hands tucked into his sleeves. The topknot tugs at his scalp. He doesn't let any of his worries show on his face, a skill he's been training all his life, but it's still hard in the middle of what was enemy territory. Thankfully the ceremony goes quickly. Lost child of Fire, new palace ward, in line for the throne. He's been made to practice this for months. As he walks back, keeping a careful eye on the crowd rustling below him (Tui and La, how high are these balconies), he thinks he sees a flash of red scar, blue mask, black clothes.
But no. Li isn't here. Li's still in Ba Sing Se, held by the Dai Li, if he hasn't broken out by now.
What an odd place they've ended up in. Li, Prince Zuko, traitor to his nation, helping and teaching the Avatar. Jet, the nobody from Gaipan who'd despised the Fire Nation, now the replacement for the traitor Prince.
But there's no time to reflect on it. Ozai's hand, now on his back, guides him to a new courtyard, and Jet manages to stretch his face into a polite smile. Ugh. Adults. This was gonna be a long day.
I might switch fandoms for these monthly flash fictions again. I've recently been getting into a few different animes, and AtLA isn't on my mind as much anymore. (Should I have just made these multifandom in the first place? Should I discontinue it on here and just do it on Ao3 where the tagging system is easier and more flexible? Eh, who knows at this point.)
Also one of these days I will write an actual oneshot (or more!) featuring these two