"A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live."
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

"From what I heard; people eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se. I can't wait to set my eyes on that giant wall."

"It is a magnificent site."

"So you've been there before?"

"Once. When I was a ... different man."

"I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of, but that's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se: for a new beginning. A second chance."

"That's very noble of you. I believe people can change their lives if they want to. I believe in second chances."

Jet woke up just like he always did after that dream: with a gasp and a shake of his head. Why that fire nation prick was stuck in his nightmares, he wasn't sure. All he knew was that he was sick of it.

Tikka was fast asleep this morning. He sat up gently as to not wake the bundle next to him. He unrolled the map in the grass a few feet away and studied it for a bit longer than he had to. He just wanted to get his head away from that dream.

They'd completely traveled through Siaw Jong, over the river into the Rong Yanhai region, and currently were halfway through Shamu, which meant Gaipan was only a half day away. A little longer with Tikka. Well, this map was calling it New Gaipan. He mouthed the words, feeling a sinking feeling in his stomach. So, the town he'd flooded had rebuilt. New Gaipan they were calling it. He supposed he should be happy, but all he felt was guilt.

But he had to check the old hideout before he went anywhere else. Longshot and Smellerbee may have returned. If they weren't there, well, time to look for the Avatar again. It was his only lead, and besides the avatar, his only hope. New Gaipan it was.

The daylight was beginning to dim when the land started to become hauntingly familiar. They trotted up through the wheat field that surrounded the forest that was once his home. He ran his fingers through it, popping a piece to stick into the corner of his mouth. He stopped at the barrier of trees, running his eyes down the endless wall that had once marked the edge of The Freedom Fighter's territory. It was bittersweet to say the least. It'd been months since he'd been here. He'd never thought he'd ever see it again. He thought he'd die before he ever had the chance. There was a sign planted now on the side of the trail, one that hadn't been put there by his gang. It inaccurately read "Jet's Forest. Use Caution." He supposed he'd become a bit infamous in the region. Too bad they waited until he was gone to put up a warning. He wanted to rip it from the ground and burn it.

He followed the game trails he knew like the back of his hand, figuring the main road might be a bit dangerous to take. It was faster that way anyway. It wasn't long before they came to redwood with the missing bark. He looked up from his spot in the saddle and swallowed the lump in his throat. The treehouses were still there, though a little more beat up than they were back then. With no one to maintain them, they were falling to pieces. It made his heart shatter.

He whistled into the forest, causing Tikka to jump a little a sudden sound. There was no answer to his call. He tried again but to no avail.

"Bee! Longshot!" he tried at the top of his lungs, because he didn't know what else to do. Silence was his only reply. Mocking, damning silence. He felt a new lump form in his throat and tears prickle in his eyes. He balled his hand into a fist and tried to hold it back.

"Dammit," he murmured through gritted teeth. He'd never felt more lost. He was completely and utterly alone. And he'd done it to himself.

Well, mostly alone.

Tikka wiggled her arm from the makeshift carrier on his chest. She reached up and patted her little hand against his cheek. He looked down and finally let a tear run down it. Tikka was too innocent. Too young to know the things he'd done… to her people. Her people. He pondered on that for a moment as she patted his cheek over and over, probably more so for her own enjoyment than as a caring gesture. But he let her, feeling the warmth of her hand flow through him. He reached up and let her wrap her hand around his finger, and she giggled a little and pulled it as hard as she could.

He let himself smile as the tear began to dry on his cheek. She was just a kid, a completely defenseless one at that. Regardless of where she came from. She hadn't a mother or a father. She hadn't a home. This war had hurt her like it'd hurt him. And perhaps that's why he was drawn to her. He saw himself in her. He saw his gang members in her. He saw every one of the kids he'd previously failed in her eyes.

This was his second chance, not Ba Sing Se. This was his chance to do what he'd always wanted to do. The right way this time. Tikka was the tiniest Freedom Fighter of them all, and Fire Nation or not, she was one of his kids. The only one left. He couldn't squander the opportunity. Not again.

They made camp near where the dam used to be, and Jet sat for a good while peering over the cliff side. The lights from the newly built town were brighter than ever before. All the people he'd made homeless weren't anymore. The damage he'd caused had been undone. He cried unapologetically to himself as Tikka slept without a care in the world.

Gaipan had rebuilt. So could he.

Autumn fell into winter seemingly overnight. The days went by quickly when kept on schedule. Jet wasn't used to being a 'schedule' type of person, but it was necessary when traveling with an infant. The snow was beginning to flitter down from the sky. Perhaps it was time to finally sleep inside.

He spoke to some townspeople at an inn. There was word of an invasion of the Fire Nation, a failed one at that. He wondered if Smellerbee and Longshot had been a part of it, given it was the Avatar that had led it. He wondered if they were okay, if they were with the avatar at all. He told himself they definitely were. It made it easier to imagine them with the most powerful person on Earth. Less worrisome than imagining them out in the world, even though he was sure they could take care of themselves. But he missed them. A lot. He hoped he'd get the chance to tell them how sorry he was.

In the morning, once the weather had settled, he wrapped Tikka in an extra layer and hit the road once more. Rosebud left paw marks in the blanket of snow as they made their way towards the shore. There was a port not too far from where they were, and word around town was that a fleet of water tribe ships were stationed there. He wasn't sure exactly how he'd do it, but he knew what he had to do to reunite with his gang. He knew what he had to do to play his part in the war. The right way. The Avatar's way.

He was going to set sail for the Fire Nation.

The boat rocked underneath him. By the spirits, he'd done it. It was a little easier than he'd expected. He just… kinda' asked to go with them. It was cold as fuck over the ocean though. A water tribe man spotted the makeshift coat he had wrapped around Tikka and furrowed his brows.

"What the hell is that?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" Jet asked.

"That. That isn't gonna' do anything. The Fire Nation is colder than you'd think," he said.

Jet tapped his hand on the wooden boards underneath him. Man, what a guilt trip.

"Got anything better?" he asked.

"Yeah, actually," the man said simply. He left without another word, leaving Jet a bit confused. The Fire Nation was cold? He'd never been anywhere other than the Earth Kingdom. He didn't know what to expect… but it wasn't cold. He supposed it should have been obvious. Where they were going was north of where he'd been before. The Fire Nation wasn't some hellish, fire and brimstone nightmare like in his imagination. It was just land, after all.

The man returned and tossed a small bundle to him; a tiny fur coat and pants dyed water tribe blue.

"Why do you have kid's clothes?" he asked as the man sat next to him on the deck.

"We have a lot of furs and a lot of time on our hands," he said conversationally. "We sometimes hand them out the kids we come across. My names Tiguaak, by the way."

"Names Jet," he answered. "And thank you."

"No problem," Tiguaak said. "Why you going to the Fire Nation?"

"I'm looking for the avatar," Jet said.

The man chuckled a bit. "Yeah, aren't we all. He escaped, so he's out there somewhere. Is this your daughter?"

Jet looked down at Tikka, who was currently fumbling a sock octopus (water tribe was big on giving gifts, apparently), and smiled. "No, not really," Jet said honestly.

"Not really? She either is or she isn't," he said.

"Well, I'm taking care of her. But she's not mine," Jet said. "She's an orphan."

"That doesn't matter. You know, in the water tribe, it's pretty common for kids to be taken care of collectively. Sure, there's the parents. But we all play a part. It takes a village."

Jet smiled a sad smile. He didn't really have a village anymore.

"She won't remember," Tiguaak said.

"Remember what?" Jet asked curiously.

"Her parents. She'll only know you, if you stick around that is. So, there's no real reason to not call her your daughter," he said reassuringly. "If you want to, that is."

"I don't know," Jet said. "Feels weird."

Tiguaak chuckled a little. "Being a parent is weird. But do right by them, and trust me, there's no better love in the world."

Jet looked down at Tikka once more. Perhaps he was right.

Another sailor called from his spot on the telescope. They were approaching a Fire Nation island. It wasn't a war zone or anywhere particularly important, so Fire navy fleets weren't protecting it. They sailed smoothly to shore, and Jet had to force himself to step onto the black sand. It was beautiful against the white snow that was forming on it.

A few water tribe sailors stepped ashore too, but they were on a completely different mission than he. They didn't say what, but he knew they had to separate. Whatever they were doing, well, they may not be coming back from it. They parted ways, and Rosebud's feet sunk into the sand as he trotted into Fire Nation territory.

The blizzard was brutal, and the trio was hopelessly lost with no map of the Fire Nation wilderness. It wouldn't matter anyway. They couldn't see fifteen feet ahead of them. Even Rosebud's long legs were struggling to lift and pull out from the snow. It caked to the fur on her legs, and Jet feared that even if this was her original terrain, she may not be able to bear much longer.

But she marched on, Jet and Tikka on top of her wrapped in fur and every inch of clothing they had. He feared that even with the little water tribe coat, that Tikka was still cold. He himself was cold. His gloved hands felt numb against the reins. But they pressed forwards. The second they sat still; they'd certainly freeze to death.

Tikka coughed against his chest. She was running a fever on top of everything else. He'd been out trying to find medicine when the storm erupted out of nowhere. When she cried, no tears came down. She was dehydrated. She needed help. He needed help. But there was no help in sight.

Rosebud's legs buckled underneath them, causing them to slide forwards on the saddle as she fell to her knees. She laid exhausted in the snow, and Jet felt as if he should just lay with her.

"I'm sorry, Tikka," he whispered, and the words were lost amongst the ripping wind. A tear fell from his eyes. This was the end.

No. Not like this.

A fire burned in his belly. Not like this.

They were not going to die. NOT LIKE THIS.

He dug his boots into Rosebud's sides, and she made a defeated guttural noise from her throat, the air leaving her mouth creating a fog in front of her.

"Come on, Rose!" he desperately called, using the last of his vigor to whip the reins against her. She rose defiantly to her legs, and a couple steps in and they buckled underneath her once more. It was too much weight for her. He had to ease it.

He slid off the saddle, his feet sinking into the snow almost up to his knees. He snatched the reins and pulled the steed to her feet. He walked, one foot in front of the other, leading Rosebud behind him and carrying Tikka on his chest. If they were going to die, then spirits damn him, he was going down swinging.

His willpower alone carried him forwards for what felt like a lifetime in the bitter cold.

Then suddenly, a ray of hope. Something red in the distance. A stark contrast against the sea of white, he easily spotted it through the storm. He marched forwards, leaving a trench in the snow behind him. They were not going to die. Not today.

Upon getting closer, he could distinguish what it was; some type of balloon with a Fire Nation insignia. He wondered what it was doing all the way out here. It didn't matter. They could use the gondola for shelter.

He looked inside, and there was only an inch or so of snow settled at the bottom. It couldn't have been there long. Which means whoever brought it here was still nearby.

He surveyed and spotted where the mysterious person had gone; A cave no bigger than half a doorframe with somewhat fresh tracks leading to it. He trudged towards it. And if anyone tried to stop him once inside, he'd slice their throats. Or die trying. He ducked under the opening, Rosebud having to crawl to get inside behind him.

"Who's there?" a voice called from down the way. Someone had a fire going, and Jet couldn't see the owner of the voice behind it.

His gloved hands went instinctively to his swords at his hips, but perhaps that wasn't the best idea with Tikka on his chest. He released them but kept them within reach.

"Please," he pleaded as calmly as his dry, cracking voice would allow. He wasn't used to deescalating a fight, but he was going to try. "We just need shelter."

The mysterious person approached slowly, and Jet could tell he was in a fire bending stance even in the dim light.

"Please," he said again. "I have a kid. We need help."

The figure paused and lowered his stance, and Jet could feel the heartbeat against his chest. The figure tilted his head and looked to him, but it was hard for Jet to distinguish his features. His eyes were tired from squinting, and the cold had made them dry and foggy. There was a long silence. Or perhaps the adrenaline just made it seem long.

"Jet?" the voice asked in an astonished tone, and Jet's heartbeat sunk to his stomach.

He'd heard this voice before.

"Li," he breathed. Hopefully he hadn't held a grudge. "Li, please don't attack me. Please. I – I – I need help. Please, the kid, the kid needs help," he pleaded, and he'd never heard his voice sound so desperate. Fuck it. He was desperate. No room for pride when Tikka's life was in his hands.

Zuko's eyes fell to Jet's chest where Tikka had begun to cough under the furs. He inhaled a sharp breath and tried to steady his breathing. As much as he didn't trust Jet, it wouldn't be right to put the kid in harm's way.

"Okay," he said amiably. "I won't."

Jet felt his shoulders relax just ever so slightly, but that wasn't going to stop him from keeping an eye on him. After all, he'd lied before.

"You can… sit by the fire. If you want," Zuko said plainly. He walked backwards towards it, keeping his eyes trained on Jet as he did. He stayed standing by the fire, even though his legs were begging him to sit after a long day of leading the air balloon.

Jet was much quicker to get to it than he. He hastily shook the snow off himself and untied the fur coats. He unlatched Tikka from his chest, making sure to look up and eye Li, no not Li, Zuko every few seconds. He quickly failed in his task as Tikka began a coughing fit, the smoke surely irritating her already fragile lungs. His eyes fell to her and stayed on her with concern.

"Shit," he murmured to himself as he tried to calm her, rubbing his palm against her back in a bit of a panic. He told himself to keep calm too. He was no use to her if he panicked.

"She's sick," Zuko observed.

"Obviously," Jet said a low plain tone, not quite having the energy to spit the venom he normally would. He couldn't hide the worry in his voice even if he tried.

Zuko looked around and stayed quiet for a moment, and Jet couldn't help but wonder what he was up to.

"I – I have something that might help her," Zuko said suddenly, backing away and grabbing his bag.

Jet felt a ray of hope despite himself, but his distrust was still prevalent. "Why would I trust you to give anything to her?"

Zuko furrowed his brow but continued to dig from his bag. "Well, either trust me, or she stays sick. Your choice."

Jet's ground his teeth together, wishing he had a stalk of wheat right about now. He inhaled a deep breath and let it fall from his lungs. "Okay," he said simply. "What is it?"

"Tea," Zuko answered.

"Tea?" Jet questioned.

"Yes, tea," Zuko spat. "It might help the fever. Worst case scenario, it'll just help the cough."

Jet watched as Zuko stepped around Rosebud and filled a pot with snow from outside, setting it on the fire once he returned. He didn't even have the energy to glare at him. Just watched and waited as patiently as he could. Tikka sat in his lap, sucking her thumb with reddened cheeks as she watched the fire. Poor kid didn't have the energy to even cry.

They sat in silence as the tea came to a near boil. Zuko lifted the pot and set it aside to cool. There was a tiny elephant in the room, but maybe now wasn't the time to mention it. What is Jet doing in the Fire Nation? And why… why does he have a baby?

Jet had questions too. Why is Zuko in a cave? Shouldn't he be off doing, I don't know, prince stuff?

"Here, it should be cool enough," Zuko said and slid the pot towards Jet from the opposite side of the fire.

Jet didn't look to him, just reached and grabbed the handle. He shimmied Tikka's cup from his pocket and poured the tea. He made sure it was, in fact, cool enough before handing it to her. She eagerly took it and drank the whole thing without protest. He poured another, and she drank it again. At least she wouldn't be as dehydrated now, but Jet hoped it could break the fever too. He knew kids faired pretty well with illness from his time at the hideout, but this time was different. He was more worried than he usually was. She snuggled against him and passed out after a long day in the storm. He wanted to pass out too, but he wasn't yet willing with the prince sat across from him.

Zuko was the first to speak after a long silence. "What are you doing out here?" he asked. This guy tried to kill him, but he did kind of have to give him props for surviving that storm. With a baby, at that.

"You first," Jet answered.

Zuko arched his brow. So, he hadn't changed a bit. Still stubborn.

"I'm looking for the avatar," he answered.

Jet made a noise that was somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. "Of course, you are. Isn't that what you're always doing? Katara told me. I'm not stupid."

Zuko's eyes went a little wide in surprise. "You know Katara?" he asked.

"Of course, I know Katara," Jet answered, not quite willing to explain as to how. "She told me you followed them all over the world. Trying to capture the avatar. I know who you are," Jet said.

Zuko fell quiet for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. He didn't know why he felt to need to explain himself to the likes of Jet, but what else did he really have to do at the moment?

"I'm not trying to capture him anymore. I'm going to join him," he defended as he looked into the fire.

Jet smirked and made the same little noise he had before. "Yeah, I bet you are."

Zuko's face fell into a scowl. "How the hell are you going to tell me? You don't know anything about me!" he spat.

"Hey, man. Keep your fucking voice down," Jet spat, gesturing towards the sleeping infant.

Zuko inhaled and tried to calm himself. Jet was right. For once.

"You think I'd be in the middle of the woods in a cave for no reason?" Zuko asked, this time in a lower tone.

Jet didn't answer. Because well, he was right. Didn't seem like very Princely behavior. But still. It didn't mean much when he was known for traveling around.

"Why the hell do you have a baby anyway?" Zuko asked. "Trying to build up your little gang with infants who don't know any better?"

Jet grit his teeth. "I found her, asshole. Her parents are dead, because your father decided to send colonists into the Earth Kingdom. And earth benders don't fuck around with colonizers. I saved her."

Zuko fell quiet, mulling over that information. "So, she's Fire Nation?" he asked after a moment, a bit astonished. He thought Jet despised anyone Fire Nation.

"Yes! She's Fire Nation! What of it?" he spat.

Zuko's patience was wearing thin, but he held his breath and steadied his breathing. He couldn't get riled up. They were all stuck together in his cave. Jet was lucky he had the kid because they'd probably already would have thrown fisticuffs by now. "You never answered my question," he said as calmly as he could.

Jet paused for a minute. "Joining the avatar," he said, as if finally cementing the idea.

Zuko's shoulders fell. Of course, he was. He couldn't get rid of him no matter how much he tried. He just kept showing back up. Like a splinter that wouldn't edge out. Mother fucker even came back from the dead to bother him.

"You are not traveling with me," Zuko said sternly.

"Who said I was, pretty boy?" Jet said, knowing it would get a rile out of him. He was always fun to piss off. He supposed not much had changed.

"Don't call me that!" Zuko spat.

Jet smirked. He made it way too easy.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Prince Pretty Boy," he corrected.

Zuko's face went hot. "You're impossible. You know that?"

"Oh, I'm impossible. At least I'm not a liar!" Jet spat.

"You tried to kill me!" Zuko spat back.

"No," Jet argued. "I tried to have you arrested."

"Oh, like that makes it any better. And is that how you remember it? Really?"

Jet smirked. "Yes."

Zuko laughed. "Yeah, but who ended up getting arrested? Huh?"

Jet's face fell into a scowl. "Fuck you, they brainwashed me!"

Zuko's face fell too, but not in anger. "They what?"

"You heard me."

Zuko picked a thread on his robe. "Is – Is that why you were under the lake?" he asked, a little softly.

Jet inhaled a breath and let if fall slowly from his lungs. "Yeah, it was," he said. He paused and picked at the fur. He vaguely remembered Zuko dragging him out. He supposed he should thank him. "Why were you under there?" he asked instead.

Zuko thought for a moment. Should he tell the real reason? He supposed not much was a secret anymore. "I was going to take the Avatar's bison, but I set it free instead."

"Appa?" Jet said. "You set Appa free?"

Jet pondered. Maybe… maybe Zuko wasn't so bad after all.

"Yeah, I did," Zuko answered.

"Then… then you saved me?" Jet asked.

Zuko looked away. "Yeah."

"Why? I tried to kill you," Jet asked.

Zuko thought for a moment. "My uncle thought it was the right thing to do," he answered. He thought it was the right thing to do, but he wasn't going to let Jet know that.

"Well," Jet paused and swallowed his pride. "Thank you."

Zuko twiddled the thread but stayed silent.

"And thank you for," Jet continued as he gestured towards Tikka. "Helping."

"I didn't do that for you," Zuko said stubbornly.

"Still," Jet answered.

Zuko finally met his eyes, and there was something different about them this time. They were calmer. The last time he'd seen them was wide eyed and panicked as he was drug away into the Dai Li's cart. He didn't get to see them at all after he'd drug him out from under the lake. He thought surely, Jet was going to die. He didn't like to think about that too much.

But… he was happy that Jet had seemed to find at least a little peace. He seemed more settled. Equally as much of an asshole, but… less angry. Less reckless. He wondered what had caused the change, but all questions need not be answered at once.

"We should probably get some sleep," Zuko said, his legs weary beneath him. He had a long day of following the Avatar in the morning. And he supposed, Jet did too. But not with him.

"Yeah," Jet agreed, even though he stayed pressed up against the opposite wall of the cave. He leaned against it, and as much as he wanted to wait until Zuko had fallen asleep for him to do the same, the exhaustion from his hellish day was telling him otherwise. His eyes fluttered shut unconsciously, and he fell fast asleep with Tikka curled in his arm.