A. N. : It really is a good thing I write my chapters in my notebook in advance now, because today was an absolute mess. For one, I forgot it was update day, so I started writing it down at 8pm. For two, this was actually supposed to be a much longer chapter, but in the end I decided to cut it in two so it would flow better. Of course, that meant I lost 30 minutes on finding a new title. Oh well. At least it's out on time.

This is stupid.

This whole idea is stupid and is never going to work and why the hell is Zuko the reasonable one again ?

Is this how Uncle felt during these last three years ? If so, he deserves many, many medals. And more apologies still. Zuko is sorry, very, very sorry, and he swears he's learned his lesson now, so could the world please stop putting him in these situations ? Please ?

The world of course doesn't give a single fuck about what Zuko wants, because Katara still looks just as determined, and Jet's smile is still too wide. Zuko wants to punch him.

For the last time, there is no way they can blow up that factory and get people to think a spirit did it. No way. And no Jet, Zuko isn't being hypocritical, no one thought the Blue Spirit was a spirit in the first place. This and that are different things.

And this – this is not going to work. Ever. The villagers will get accused no matter what. Katara could leave a note literally saying a spirit did it, and it still wouldn't change a thing. Unless they somewhat manage to leave an actual supernatural proof – which they can't because they're not fucking spirits – the army won't care.

Why is Jet's smile even wider than before ? This is creepy. Even Katara looks unsettled. Not disgusted like she usually does when Jet has an idea, just weirded out.

Oh spirits, Jet has an idea.

Jet has a plan that sounds so impossible, it might very well work. It will take some time, but they have the whole night to them if they start now.

But first Zuko decides to readjust Lin, and strap her to his back. He will need as much freedom of movement as possible, and she won't wake up right now anyway – night is never easy on firebenders, and she just can't power through it on sheer stubbornness like Zuko does. Yet. Zuko prays her Earth blood won't make her as headstrong as Toph, otherwise he will suffer a lot in the future.

Oh. Oh Agni, he just imagined himself parenting Lin – is it really parenting if he refuses to be a father – until she's all grown up. Oh.

Now is definitely not the time for this – if it was up to him, never would be the time to think of this and realize exactly how attached he is and how the world doesn't have to do anything to put him in impossible situations because he does that perfectly on his own – but here he is, frozen, with a sleeping baby in his hands, having an existential crisis when he should be blowing up a factory.

Katara hovers around him awkwardly, asks if he's alright – the answer is something like not really, but there's no way he can tell her, or anyone really, why he feels like his entire life has stopped making any sense. So he just mumbles that it's nothing, exhales, and starts moving again.

And spirits, why won't Katara stop looking at him like that – Zuko doesn't need people worrying for him, and he certainly doesn't need a girl he's known for what, three weeks, to do that either. He answers her glare with his own and –

And his swords are on his back. And of course they are, he put them there himself.

And he could tie Lin over them, he knows that could work but – but the last time he used them it was when taking that ship, and he –

Zuko breathes. Closes his eyes. In – and out. Opens his eyes again.

He hands his swords to Jet – it's a bit awkward, getting them off his back while holding Lin, but he manages – and tells him to try not to use them if he can.

Jet blinks. Looks at the swords, then at Zuko, and his face changes to something Zuko can't read – but he knows those eyes, knows Jet probably got everything that's going on inside Zuko's head, and it's both infuriating and comforting.

Jet nods – sure – equips the swords and unsheathes them, testing their weight. He whistles and remarks they're pretty good – he misses his hookswords though.

And now that Zuko thinks about it, he has no idea where in Ba Sing Se Jet's old swords got lost. Maybe Smellerbee and Longshot managed to get them ?

It doesn't matter. He finishes tying Lin to his back, then nods to the two others.

Time to blow things up.