Jet is called Lion-heart by Zuko until he learns his name which means I'll be referring to Jet as that when it's Zuko's POV. I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender.

"Where did you learn that?" she had gasped,

Zuko blinked, unsure if what he'd said was bad, "I – a boy, he told me some Fire Nation soldiers had raped the women in his village - ."

What his Mother had explained to him that day had left the young Prince sick to his stomach, unhinged, and perhaps a little worried for the boy dubbed Lion-Heart who had witnessed such atrocities before his village was razed – but the raven-haired boy could no longer think on such things while he was waiting for his Uncle to drop off his companion. Noticing the family of turtle-ducks swimming closer and closer to the grassy edge, a small smile stretches across Zuko's lips, without a second thought he digs into the basket containing food his Mother had persuaded him into bringing along for the boy and himself, grabbing a hold of a freshly baked loaf. He tears a piece off and gingerly tosses it into the water where the turtle-ducks descend upon it with wriggling tails.

Giggling to himself, the Prince tears off more bread, but before he can cast it into the water, he spots a baby turtle-duck sitting at his side, staring up at him with beady brown eyes, blinking, Zuko places the piece of bread before the bird hybrid, and just like that, the rest of the family waddles out from the pond in a miniature wave of feathers and shell, to stand before him, all eyes trained on him as well. Waiting.

"Ah ~ Prince Zuko!"

Startling violently, the Prince whips his attention towards the source of the voice, subconsciously aware of the turtle-ducks making a quick escape for the safety of their pond – back to the intruders at hand, his Uncle and Lion-Heart are standing side by side, the latter peering at him curiously, most likely having seen, what his Father calls, moment of weakness.

"My apologies, Nephew," Iroh begins with a grin, saying he was anything but sorry, "But I had to accompany young Lion-Heart here to meet a few of his teachers. I'm sure he will be a fine guard one day."

"Yeah," Zuko murmurs, plucking blades of grass that grows before him, "I'm sure."

"Right then," Iroh continues as he gingerly pushes the wild boy forward, earning a glare from said youth in the process, "I must be going young ones, I have business to attend to, so play nice ~ !"

The same as the day before, both boys watch Iroh leave the garden until he is well out of sight, only then does Zuko turn back to the turtle-ducks to continue feeding them, that is, until he realizes that the boy still hadn't sat down. Nibbling on his lower lip, he casts an unsure glance at Lion-Heart, who happens to be staring intently at the pond.

"So," Zuko begins awkwardly, "Are you going to sit down or - ?" Lion-Heart plops down in his spot, he's a good five feet away, by now it's pretty obvious to the Prince that the boy isn't going to speak, but he figures he'll try anyway, "Are you going to tell me your name?" silence, just as expected, "Okay. I guess I'll just keep calling you Lion-Heart." more silence, sighing, Zuko figures he'll just do all the talking, "So uh," he reaches for the basket, "My mom had me bring this out here for us, if you're hungry, you can have whatever you want. I just took the bread, unless you want the bread?" Zuko offers the loaf, Lion-Heart merely glares at the opposite end of the garden, "Okay, I'll just have it." he tears a piece from the loaf and continues feeding the turtle-ducks, "Sometimes, my mom and I will sit out here and watch the turtle-ducks. It's nice, calm. I don't have to worry about my dad or sister - ," Zuko hadn't realized he'd said that until he feels eyes on him, looking up, he meet's Lion-Heart's gaze, eyes widening as his mind catches up with his mouth, he looks away, "Err – I mean – well, uh, you probably didn't know that I have a sister." he changes the subject to his sister, "Her name's Azula, she's – she can be mean, she's uh, two years younger than me I think? Anyway, just watch out for her, she'll get you in trouble if you do something she doesn't like. And, now that I think of it, I should probably tell you about my family huh?" Lion-Heart isn't even looking at him, he's playing with a singular blade of grass, but Zuko talks on, "Well, there's my Grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon, I – really don't know much about him, but he's the father to my Uncle and my dad, I think you already met him actually. And I think you already know about Uncle Iroh, he's the one who brings you here, he's funny, but he drinks a lot of tea, I don't think he ever gets sick of it. Then there's my dad, Ozai, he's uh – strict, but he teaches me about things I'll need to learn before I take the throne, both my dad and Uncle are Princes. Oh, and there's my mom, Ursa, she's nice and really pretty, she wasn't from royalty though, I don't know much about her side since no one will say anything, not even her – and then there's Azula, my little sister, but, I already told you about her." Zuko mulls over his train of thought before picking up again, "Oh! And there's also my cousin, Lu-Ten, he's a soldier in the war, sometimes I miss him, he's usually the only one who plays with me – well, that isn't a girl."

And so the hours go, with Zuko talking about whatever crosses his mind and Lion-Heart merely sitting there, pretending not to listen as he eats whatever the Prince had brought in the basket. Oddly enough, the sun was beginning to set, and somehow, Lion-Heart had scooted a little closer so he was about four feet away, of course, the young Prince hadn't noticed for his attention was divided between talking and watching the family of turtle-ducks.

"Oh, and I don't think I told you, but I'm seven." Zuko pauses, "And I'd ask you how old you are, but I don't think you'll - ,"

"Eight."

"Huh?" Zuko turns his head to meet Lion-Heart's gaze, but the other is looking at the ground once more, "Eight?" the boy nods, Zuko opens his mouth to say something when another boisterous voice cuts in:

"I'm sorry boys, but I got caught up in some official business." Iroh chuckles, "So, how was your day ~ ?"

"Good, can you bring him again tomorrow?"

"Of course ~ ," Iroh beams, he turns to the silent boy, "Alright Lion-Heart, it's time to go ~ ."

Lion-Heart nods in confirmation as Zuko rises to his feet, the young Prince reaches out for the basket only for a tan hand to stop him in his tracks, blinking, Zuko watches the Earth Kingdom boy as he places some of the contents they'd taken out, back in, before handing the entire thing over to him.

"Thanks." Zuko's a little bewildered, but he pushes it aside as he grabs the basket, "I'll see you tomorrow Lion-Heart."

Lion-Heart whispers a mumbled, "Yeah."

oOo

Sneaking a look around the corner and in to the kitchen, Zuko watches the cooks scurry back and forth in an attempt to get the dinner prepared in time for the royal family, looking down at the basket, the young Prince steps out from around the corner, but before he can so much as step one foot within the busy kitchen, a cook stops before him, seemingly out of nowhere, making him jump back. Wide yellow eyes look up in silent questioning – it was an elderly woman with graying hair tied back in a topknot, she looked weary, but kind nonetheless – Azula always said the woman was secretly a witch who was just trying to fatten him up so she could cook him and eat him up, thus gaining her youth back.

Zuko knew Azula lied, a lot, but the thought was still disconcerting all the same.

"What are you doing here young Prince?"

"Uh, well - ," Zuko looks to the ground shyly, "Here's the basket back."

"Oh, thank you young Prince." the woman smiles as she gingerly takes the wooden basket, "Now, off you go dear ~ dinner will be done soon."

Nodding, Zuko spins on his heel and hurries down the hall trying to keep his footsteps as quiet as possible as to not alert anyone else to his presence, especially his Father, whose been in a pretty foul mood ever since dinner last night when Uncle Iroh had happily shared the news about the young Prince and peasant's growing friendship – Zuko was pretty sure he was the only one who saw the metal bending in his Father's overheated grip, followed by the disapproving look sent his way. Shivering at the thought, Zuko sped up the pace, basically running down the halls – all he had to do was get to his Mother's and he would be safe from his Father's ire for the time being, but as it was, luck was against him. Turning the corner, he bumps into someone a lot taller than him, staggering back, Zuko looks up only to catch his Father's cold stare, the little Prince swallows the squeak that threatens to escape from his lips and bows before his Father respectfully.

"F-Father! I – I didn't know you were – I'm sorry! I didn't meant to - !"

"Stop your incessant babbling, Zuko," his Father spits, causing Zuko to tense, "I have no time for your nonsense, seeing as you failed to get that boy executed. My patience with you is thin as is."

Zuko falters, his Father knew about the execution and still wanted him to get the boy in trouble, he looks up, "But – I – they were going to kill him - ,"

"And your point being?"

"He's just a kid." Zuko can't help but gape, "He's only a year older than me."

"He's just an Earth Kingdom brat!" Ozai shouts, causing Zuko to flinch, his head snapping back down, "He he has no place in the Fire Nation, let alone the Fire Nation palace! He's a peasant who has no right gallivanting about the gardens with royalty!"

"Yeah but - ,"

"You've seen firsthand how utterly savage he can be! He's like a feral animal that must be put down!" Ozai barrels on, "You are a Prince! You are better than him! You can't show compassion for those weaker than you! Life is only kind to those who are strong!"

"But I – he's still alive, even after his home was burned down, wouldn't that make him strong?"

"It was dumb luck." his Father hisses, "He's already proven he can kill without a second thought, and now he will be trained by the top non-bending weapons masters we have to offer, he will become our personal guard which means he will have access to the palace and every room it holds. He will take what we offer and use it against us, he will murder us all while we sleep and we will have you and your compassion, your weakness, to thank for the downfall of the royal family, of the Fire Nation itself." Zuko thinks he feels his heart drop, "Azula would have never done such a thing, she would have done as she was told without second thought." Zuko only swallows the lump in his throat, "Your kindness will be your downfall Zuko."

"But - ,"

"Enough." Ozai snaps, "You have already wasted enough of my time."

With that, Zuko remains silent as his Father side steps him and continues on his way. Staring at the ground, Zuko fights the urge to call out after his Father, exhaling a little shakily, the young Prince changes his course for his room, his mind a whir with thoughts he'd rather not think of:

Would the boy really kill them all?

But he was so young, he was no older than Zuko.

But he'd already killed a man, a high-ranking soldier at that, and said he liked it.

If so, was all of what his father said really going to happen?

Just because he wasn't like Azula?

Azula who was like their father in every way; she wouldn't have shared random knowledge with the Earth Kingdom boy like they were friends, she would have done as their father said. Sighing, Zuko pushed open his door and shut it, walking towards his bed, he fell face first on the red silken sheets causing the pillows to become askew and blankets ruffled, closing his eyes, he decided he'd think about all of that tomorrow when he had a little more energy.

There was something I was going to explain but I forgot what it was :I review please :3