I needed more fluff ~ music dictates my writing and as you can probably tell, love songs were a major key part in this piece ~ I tried not to let the fluff overtake me, but it was too strong! But I'd like to thank mercurybloodedlokison for alerting me to some mistakes, thank you ~ ! And finally, this is just a simple filler chapter ~ I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender.

Raring to have the first decent fight he's had in a while, Jet is about to take his place on the opposite side of the ship's deck when someone tugs him back by the tail of his cowl. Throwing a scowl over his shoulder and all but ready to start throwing curses, and fists, his words die once he sees who it is, taking a step back so the neckline of his cowl no longer chokes him, he places a closed fist upon his cocked hip.

"Please don't tell me you're backing out."

Zuko shakes his head, "No, that's not it."

"Then what is it?"

"I want you to use these."

Curiously, Jet watches Zuko pull a decorated scabbard from behind his back and hold it out to him as though it were the most precious thing the Prince had ever held. Feeling his brow tic, the earthen teen gingerly grabs on to the glossy sheath – Zuko was going a little overboard with this whole keeping you safe thing he's got going on for him as of late. Besides, something this nice feels almost foreign in his hands of all people. Especially when he sees that he's already mucked the gloss with his fingerprints.

"This – looks vaguely familiar."

"These are the broadswords that hang in my room."

"I – then why are you giving them to me!?" Jet asks, expression dumbstruck, "These are yours! And they're too much for me; I wouldn't feel right using them!"

"Jet," Zuko murmurs, he places his hands over Jet's own and pushes the scabbard towards him, "Please." Jet resists the urge to grind his teeth, he swears to God or whoever is out there that Zuko knows his weakness, "It would make me feel better."

Fuck.

He can't believe how tame he's become the past few days, "Fine."

"Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah."

He isn't pouting, he swears he isn't. Placing his newly acquired swords against the metal wall, he removes his cowl and drops it unceremoniously in a heap beside the sheathed weapons, grabbing the scabbard; he secures it to his back and starts making his way to his side of the deck – Jet knew how to use broadswords, but he was mildly miffed that the Prince touched him in such a tender way. Pulling the swords from their home, he stares his friend-turned-opponent down, twin fire daggers shoot from the firebender's fists. Truth was - he makes the first move - he was touch starved.

Ducking under the fire dagger that swooshes over his head, he swipes at the Prince's legs, Zuko manages to get out of the way. Back when they were kids, he'd had enough contact thanks to Ursa, Iroh, and Zuko. Swinging the broadswords for Zuko's neck, Jet's surprised when the Prince holds his arms up, the swords bounce harmlessly off the firebender's metal bracers. Ever since Zuko had been banished, with Iroh and Jet following after him, he refused to touch or be touched. Zuko uses his position to move towards his core, Jet tries to step back only for the Prince to step on his foot, keeping him in place. But there were those rare moments. Jet drops his swords and wraps his arms around a mildly surprised Zuko, if he's going down; he's taking his friend with him. When Zuko allows it.

Taking the brunt of the fall isn't nearly as bad as he thought it would have been, especially when he's rewarded with a clearly flustered Zuko lying atop of him. Contrary to belief, this hadn't been about getting close to the Prince or impressing him, it had been about stretching his muscles and making sure his skills as a swordsman hadn't dulled, but this is a nice turn of events.

Jet leers at his friend wrapped within his arms, "Hello there, Prince Zuko ~ ."

Zuko's blush intensifies, "I thought you wanted to spar!"

"Mind not yelling in my face?" Jet hums, he manages to roll them over so his head lies upon the Prince's chest, body weight keeping him from moving, "And I did. Still do. But I realized there was no way I would be able to escape with you so close, sure, I could've fallen and got back on my feet a second later, but you would've been on me before I knew what was going on." he snakes his hands around the younger's midsection, resting his chin on his chest, "So I decided to take you with me."

"So neither of us wins."

"Exactly ~ ." Jet grins, "At least, that's what my teachers taught me. I don't win, but I don't lose either."

"Right." Zuko frowns, he shoves at Jet's shoulder, "Now get off of me."

Jet moves so he's nose to nose with Zuko and purrs, "Make me, Prince Zuko."

There's an odd feeling beginning to stir in his chest – he figures it's just Jet's weight smashing him, constricting his chest with pressure or something, but it sets an unknown feeling within him on fire and it warms him, he feels safe. It feels – good.

"Fine," Zuko smirks, he wraps his legs around Jet's hips – the surprised look on Jet's face is priceless, "I guess we'll both be here for a while, Jet."

Jet swallows the lump in his throat, he's getting hard. And he doesn't have his cowl to hide behind. Fuck. Abort! Abort!

"My oh my ~ ," both teenage boys look up into the faces of Iroh and three crewmembers, "Is it possible I'm looking at my future in-law right now ~ ?"

"I swear it isn't what it looks like," Jet begins frantically as he rolls off Zuko, he closes his legs, "I – we were sparring."

"We're only friends." Zuko hisses, he's entirely red, "So get your dirty old minds out of the gutter!"

"Ah-h-h ~ ," one of the men begin anyway, "The bedroom spar ~ that's quite the intense battlefield."

Both boys blush brighter – Zuko lets out an exasperated sound and storms into the ship with flames trailing after his fists, Jet only hopes this doesn't scare his friend away for long.

oOo

It has been three days and two nights since that embarrassing fiasco on deck, but that didn't stop some of the men from making ridiculous romantic gestures at him or Jet whenever they were in the same vicinity as each other. It didn't stop the shame Zuko felt when he thought back on that warm, fuzzy feeling he'd experienced when the older teen moved closer, so close the Fire Prince could feel his cool breath wisp past his lips, so close he could see the flecks of green in his friend's mischievous eyes. There it was again. That stupidly soft feeling again. Letting out a groan, he turns on his side to stare at the Fire Nation banner hanging beside the bed – how can he face Jet now that he feels ashamed of liking the way their bodies were pressed flush together, and how Jet's weight held him down?

And to think, Jet is only next door – that really shouldn't make his body all tingly like this.

Lying on his back, he stares at the ceiling of his room, his heart begins thrumming faster and his breathing becomes short, childishly, he looks down at himself. Realizing with horror that he was becoming aroused by the thought of his best friend, gulping, he lies on his side once again and curls in on himself – he hasn't really done things like that, his mind always focused on finding the Avatar and redeeming his honor. Sure, he's thought about kissing once or twice, but it was always with Mai or some other pretty girl. Has it ever given him the rush it does when he thinks of Jet?

Shutting his legs as tight as he can and closing his eyes, he tries to will his arousal away, he's the Prince of the Fire Nation; he can do anything he sets his mind to – images and imprints of his best friend/bodyguard flash across his mind. The feel of his skin, how warm it is, how firm his muscles are. The feel of his hair, soft yet unbelievably wild. His crooked smile and dark humor. His voice. Agni no. Shakily, he sneaks his hand to his waistband.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Spell broken. Zuko hurriedly sits up before remembering his little problem, placing the blankets over his lap innocuously; he lets out a shaky breath.

"Come in."

"Zuko."

"Uncle." Zuko watches the older firebender close the door, "Is something wrong?"

"Eh-h-h, in a manner of speaking." Iroh moves to sit at the table, "It's Lion-Heart."

"Lion - ," the weight of what he'd been about to do before his Uncle knocked hits him, he frowns, "What's wrong with him?"

"He knows that you've been avoiding him." Iroh begins, "He thinks you hate him and won't stop sulking. In fact, he just lies around the ship in various places – literally. A couple of the men nearly threw out their backs after tripping over him."

Zuko feels his face twist up in confusion, "That doesn't sound like him."

"I know, I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't been one of the men who tripped over him!" Iroh states dramatically, "You best talk with him Nephew, or the men will throw him overboard."

"They can't do that!" Zuko snaps, problem forgotten as he jumps to his feet and storms towards his door, "He's a member of the royal guard!"

Iroh watches his Nephew slam the iron door, once in the clear, the retired General smiles to himself. Mission accomplished.

Sure, carrying spices seemed like a pretty easy task, but in reality it was heavy as fuck, muttering venomously to himself for being suckered into the task by Iroh, he stops and fixes his hold on the wooden box before continuing once again – or, he would have if someone hadn't grabbed his wrist and tugged him after them. He watches, with something resembling dismay, as the box falls to the floor and the spices roll out. All that hard work, and for what!?

He turns to the perpetrator, "What do you think you're doing!?"

"I need to talk to you."

It's Zuko but that doesn't matter. The spices. "In case you didn't know, I was busy with something."

"That can wait! This is important!"

Only then does Jet realize Zuko is shirtless, and he himself in a state of dressed down. What it must look like to anyone who sees them – and with the rumors of him and Zuko circulating like wildfire on the little vessel?

Jet snatches his wrist from the other teen, "If it's so important then you can tell me now."

Zuko stops, refusing to meet his gaze, "It is important. But – it's also private."

"You realize everyone thinks we're an item now, right?"

"Who cares!?" Zuko shouts, Jet blinks, "You're my friend! My only friend! They can say what they want and it won't matter! What matters to me, what I care about is what you think! I – I want to know if we're alright."

"Of course we're alright," Jet frowns, "What made you think we weren't?"

"I - ," Zuko pauses and takes Jet in for the first time; the other isn't sulking at all! "Uncle."

"Iroh?" Jet arches a brow, "What did the old man say?"

Zuko blushes and looks away, "Nothing. It doesn't matter now."

"Should I pay him a visit when everyone's sleeping ~ ?" Jet grins, "Poison, or my personal favorite ~ blade?"

Zuko watches Jet twirl the dagger expertly, half wondering where he got it from, he sighs, "No. Never. I'm just – I'm just a little tired."

"Want me to walk you to your room?"

"I'm not a girl!" Zuko snaps heatedly, Jet holds his hands up, the firebender deflates and bites on his lower lip, "Can I – lay with you, in your room?"

Jet reels back in shock, "My room?"

"I mean – you don't have to, but, I don't know!" Zuko spins on his heels to cover his blush, "I just thought - ! Like when we were kids!"

A kind smile crosses Jet's lips, he reaches out and slips his hand into Zuko's, the moody Prince turns to look at their hands with surprise in his eyes, said eyes meeting his own. Jet's smile softens even more, he gently tugs on Zuko's hand, gingerly leading the younger in the direction of their rooms.

"You never have to ask with me."

Zuko hurries to walk by his side, "I know, but – I mean we're both older, so I thought - ,"

"I've changed?" Jet supplies, he lets out a soft chuckle, "I could have had so much more back in the Fire Nation, being the Fire Nation's greatest weapon, but I left it all so I could follow you." he squeezes Zuko's hand and looks at him, "I promised I wouldn't go anywhere."

They reach the room at a leisurely pace. Zuko tucks himself under Jet's chin, allowing his childhood friend to wrap his arms around him – this thing they had, it was soft. Neither had to fight or worry about the other's wellbeing. Zuko grabbed onto Jet's shirt, his best friend. How could he think of such impure thoughts about his beloved ally when said teen was such a good friend to him?

Zuko realizes he's got a little something-something for Jet but he doesn't quite realize it's deeper than a passing interest or those darn teenage hormones. Jet, on the other hand, has already come to terms with his own feelings towards the dense, but lovely, firebender ~ the ending was kind of a reflection of their childhood.