Recap:

Zuko makes a foolish deal with Jet, or so what his uncle says to him. But Zuko remains calm and assures his uncle that everything will be fine. As the two teens battle their way to the top, Jet leaps into the water and heads to shore. Zuko jumps after him in attempt to get him back...

"Closing his eyes he found warmth being beside the other teen's body as he felt his arms unconsciously wrap around Jet's torso."

Chapter Four: The Soul You Cut the Soul You Adore

The gentle and warm sunlight caressed both of the teen's relaxed faces as they both laid there together on the golden beach. The rebel shifted slightly and made a small groaning noise in discomfort before opening his chestnut eyes. All he saw was a relaxed face from the firebender which made him even agree more with his mind…he is a god. Jet was about to get up when a rushing pain engulfed his left arm; looking down at his arm he came with the conclusion that he broke it. But what surprised him even more than his injury was that an arm was wrapped around his waist and it wasn't his own.

The hold on his waist was firm and tight, Jet didn't dare to move too much or the firebender would awaken. The fact that their hips, thighs, chest and legs were pressed against each other made Jet feel uncomfortable and unclean. If anyone saw this…they would think I just slept with the enemy. Then again…I think I just did. Jet noticed the soft smell of charcoal on the firebender and something about this scent made the rebel feel light-headed and dazed. "…Avatar…" murmured the firebender as Jet felt the arm on his waist release him and their bodies leaving each other's touch. Amber eyes stared at Jet with alarm and anger as the firebender sat up, "What the hell…now I remember…you jumped off the damn ship. Well then, we should start heading toward the nearest port-"

Jet broke out his thoughts about the firebender's arm and replied hotly, "I don't think so; I'm not your prisoner anymore!" Zuko stood up and looked down at him with determination, "Do you want to start our conversation off again just like the first one by the tree? Now get up and shut the hell up!" Jet growled and wanted to bring up the whole arm situation to tick off the firebender but reason told him 'no.' "I can't…my arm is broken." the rebel replied softly as he averted his own eyes from Zuko's. Admitting weakness to the firebender felt like a dagger going through his pride. Zuko watched the rebel sit up painfully but finally nodded his head, "I'll be back."

Zuko walked a couple of yards and began to observe his new surroundings. Trees towered over him like giants and the bushes' arms could be seen reaching out to cover the whole area of sand. The air smelled fresh and new unlike the strong stench of salt which could be smelled when near or on the water. Caws and chirps could be heard as he entered the forest-like area with curiosity that soon died down as he remembered the rebel. Going over to a tree he grabbed one of the lower branches and began to break it, after a few unsuccessful tries he snapped it in half. Tearing the leaves off the sturdy stick, he made his way back to the rebel.

Jet watched the firebender drop the stick beside him, the rebel was about to protest and tell him he couldn't set his own wound but fell silent. He watched with fear as the firebender began to take the upper half of his armor off. The metal armor was soon tossed to the ground and now what was left was two shirts that were over each other. The firebender quickly took off the first layer and then the second silently. The rebel watched Zuko go on his knees and take his second layer of clothing and rip it into long strips. Jet sighed softly for he was expecting quite a different outcome. The firebender gently grabbed Jet's left arm and began to take of the small plate of armor that seemed to be dented and slanted in an odd way. After it came off, Zuko rolled up Jet's sleeve until it reached his elbow.

Jet to this opportunity to admire the firebender's torso, it was very alike to his own: bulging with muscles and flawless. The firebender's torso was lined with beads of water that managed to seep through his attire from last night. The golden-orange sun beamed down on the bender and it seemed to make his body shine softly. "So…what's your name?" the firebender spoke as he ran his thumb and index finger across his arm to check the bone. When he found the fracture, the rebel hissed in reply, "Jet…and yours?"

The firebender continued to work on Jet's arm and replied in a calm voice, "Zuko." Jet wanted to cry out in pain as Zuko began to set the bone but the rebel just bit his tongue. "Almost finished…so tell me, Jet, why are you angry at the Avatar?" asked the firebender as he recalled Jet's comments about the Avatar when he found him. "Because…that kid and his friends screwed up my plans…the worst part is that I trusted them and they turned their backs on me. I want my revenge, it took me at least a couple months to get everything planned out and ready." Jet replied to Zuko in a sour tone.

As Jet reflected on what Zuko said, then it struck him like a blow. Zuko…why is that name familiar. Prin- whoa! No way, no way, no way. This can't be him; he's a prince then…which means he should be getting pampered in his own nation. "You're a prince then? Why are you are here or even after the Avatar?" asked Jet in a curious and wary tone. Zuko frowned and was beginning to wrap the teen's arm up, "Of coarse I'm a prince… I'm after the Avatar to regain my honor." Jet could see a vein throbbing in the prince's neck but he had to keep asking on before his own courage deserted him, "Why?" Zuko paused and looked up at the rebel before going back to wrapping the arm up, "It's a long story…but all you need to know is that I need the Avatar to gain what I lost."

Jet frowned and had the urge to beat Zuko to a pulp for being so secretive. I'm stuck with you…just tell me the damn story! Before Jet could tell his thoughts to the prince, he was suddenly pulled upward to stand with his good arm. "Let's go." the firebender grunted and when the rebel looked for his weapons he saw them with the prince. "Clever." Jet muttered underneath his breath as he waited for the prince to put his armor back on.

Jet followed Zuko silently; he was forced to follow him if he wanted to survive. It seemed that he was now going a wild goose chase, except it wasn't quite wild yet…except when he woke up to see a prince pressed against him. I will never understand royalty. Hours and hours went by and Jet found himself missing the familiar weight of his twin tiger-head hook sword on his back but he knew he had to deal with it. The sun began to dip, or what Jet thought for the forest began to get darker and darker. The rebel leader had the sudden urge to grab the prince's hand but remembered about the incident this morning. If I do that…it would seemed childish and also give him ideas. Jet shivered in disgust and he desperately wanted to wash Zuko's touch off of himself but another part of him embraced the touch with delight.

"We'll camp here for tonight." Zuko's words cut through the air sharply but to Jet's ears it sounded smooth and clear like a lake. Jet mentally slapped himself and cursed silently his never-ending hormones that pestered him like a bee. Jet leaned against a tree and slid down until he was sitting on the ground. The prince already started a small fire and Jet finally noticed that they were in a small clearing. "I don't really know about catching food in the wilderness…I was hoping you would help me with that. But with your injury I doubt you will be able to do much." sighed Zuko as he sat down across from Jet and the crackling fire.

Jet wondered if he was sympathizing or making a sarcastic comment, but he ignored both choices and replied, "If you give back my swords…I will be glad to kill something for you." Now it was Zuko's turn to wonder if Jet was serious or making a threat. Suddenly Zuko letted out a soft laugh which startled the rebel for he would never have imagined Zuko, of all people, to ever laugh. "You know what Jet…I like you. I don't think I ever met a person who is so stubborn and determined like me. Maybe I was wrong about you…just maybe. However in these circumstances…it is required you get some food or we will die here." Zuko spoke in a light-hearted tone until he reached the end he spoke in a deadly and threatening voice.

The rebel felt his heart suddenly jump into his throat as he heard the words, 'I like you.' Part of him felt a sudden fear of what he would be getting himself into if he told Zuko the same thing. He did like Zuko…but as an equal or comrade. Zuko proved to be caring and supportive through helping his injury. The other part of him embraced those three words and held on to them tightly. "What am I, you manservant? Go get food yourself." answered the rebel in a haughty tone as he crossed his arms across his chest. Zuko raised an eyebrow but shrugged his shoulders, "Very well then…we will starve. I'm not at all worried though…if worse comes to worse I guess we can eat each other."

Jet cringed at the thought, I don't need him to be hugging my waist let alone biting me. "Spoiled prince." Jet muttered as he got up and trudged through the darkness of the forest and night. Zuko took in a deep breath and released softly as he watched the rebel disappear into the darkness. He admitted to himself, maybe he did have a liking for the rebel. But he knew it was more than that…and it made him wonder if his uncle was right when they were having tea a while back. 'That rage of yours will never help you get a woman.' echoed the exact words from his uncle in his head. "Maybe so…maybe so but it is helping me get a rebel." Zuko pondered softly. What surprised him was how calm he was about this but he knew it was the fact he never been in any physical contact with a woman. For so long he has been in the presence of men and the only time he ever really talked to a girl was rarely. But part of him didn't consider the Avatar's friend as a girl more as an enemy or bait to lure the Avatar. Rubbing his neck he bit the inside of his lip in determination as he once again thought of the events at hand, "I'll get him if that's the last thing I do."

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