Man, I feel so bad about this chapter – then again, I didn't get much sleep. Tell me what you feel, yay or nay? Thank you guys for the reviews, they make me feel good ~ I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender

Starry skies, warm weather, and mollifying music makes for a calming Music Night which Jet was currently attending, it almost makes the past couple of days worth it. The teenager sitting alongside the older men as they played 'Four Seasons for Love', a song that was rapidly becoming a favorite of his thanks to the beat of the drum that seemingly awakens something primal deep within his core. Letting his lids drift shut, he focuses solely on the beating of the drum – it is because of this that he hears an out of tune sound. Reopening his eyes, he scans the men sitting around the small fire, they're in perfect sync with one another, even the dancing duo. Casting a glance over his shoulder, he spots two masked soldiers approaching with someone behind him, once they draw closer, they part to reveal Zhao. Jumping to his feet, he narrows his eyes on the man while the sound of Lt. Jee's lute being plucked out of place announces the newcomers' appearance. Iroh steps up beside Jet.

"Admiral Zhao," the old General begins cordially, bowing in respect, "To what do we owe the unexpected pleasure of your visit?"

"I am recruiting all able-bodied men for a venture to the North Pole."

Jet bristles, "Which means you're taking the crew."

"I am." Zhao smirks, turning his attention to Jet, "But of course, Lion-heart, you're welcome to join as well. Sadly, not many Fire Nation soldiers hold the same fabled tenacity as you when in battle. I would love seeing if truth lives up to rumor. And General Iroh, I do find myself in need of a General if you're willing to join a worthy cause. Surely the both of you will be more productive in a real battle rather than," Zhao scans the small ship, "Wandering the seas with a temperamental Prince."

Jet bears his teeth but Iroh holds him back, "We are humbled by your offer, Admiral, but we are content where we are."

"If that is your decision."

"It is." Jet snarls, "Now get off the ship."

"Oh, but Lion-heart," Zhao begins airily, "Shouldn't Prince Zuko be notified of the whereabouts of his crew ~ ?"

"He will be once you get off the ship and out of sight!"

"Lion-heart!" Iroh snaps, "That's enough!"

Jet growls but turns his glare to the deck, "Yes, Sir."

"Admiral Zhao is a guest upon this ship and will be treated with respect."

"Yes, Sir."

Iroh turns to Zhao, "We would be delighted to show you to Prince Zuko's chambers, Lion-heart, if you will lead the way."

With a quiet snarl, Jet brushes past both men and starts making his way towards his sovereign's sleeping chamber, behind him, he can hear the two men converse about something or another – mainly Zhao's victories. Of course that would be a way to keep the man from making rude comments about anyone else, the vain, side-burned, Fire Lord's lapdog! Knocking thrice upon Prince Zuko's door, Jet twists the handle before entering the dark room, he thinks he hears Zhao let out an amused noise but he forces himself not to snap, and instead, moves to stand beside Zuko with Iroh stepping into the room soon after.

"For the last time. I'm not playing the tsungi horn and I'm not going to listen to the men play their instruments."

Jet whispers, "It's not that."

"No, it's about our plans." Iroh begins tentatively, "There's a bit of a problem."

Zuko looks to his two allies, "Like what?"

Zhao finally steps into the room, "I'm taking your crew."

Zuko's reaction is instantaneous, he jumps to his feet, "What!?"

The Admiral steps closer to Zuko but Jet steps forward as well, eyes trained on him with a clear-cut aggression in his stance, Zhao merely glances at him in his annoyingly holier-than-thou look before turning his attention back to Zuko who was still glaring at him.

"Prince Zuko, please control your pet or send him outside."

"He stays Zhao." Zuko snarls, "Now tell me what is this about taking my crew!"

"Honestly, Prince Zuko," Zhao continues, ignoring Zuko, "How do you expect Lion-heart to strengthen his skills if you force him into pretending to be your friend?"

Jet turns absolutely livid, he shoves past Zuko and storms up to the Admiral – actually posing a threat, "Shut the fuck up! Admiral or not! I will kill you if you continue belittling Prince Zuko! Banished or not, he is still our sovereign! You have no right or authority higher than his! Now say your piece and leave!"

Zhao growls but concedes, "I've recruited them for an - ," he pauses, seeing a pair of broadswords – Blue Spirit. He wants to comment on it, but he can feel Lion-heart bristling with a rage only firebenders were known for, a threat hanging heavy in the air," – an expedition to the North Pole. Where I will be capturing the Avatar."

"What!?" Zuko shouts, "You can't - !"

"I've said my piece." Zhao says, cutting Zuko off midsentence, he looks to Iroh, "General Iroh, my offer to join the mission still stands." he turns his gaze to Jet, "You as well, Lion-heart. You are a fine soldier, loyal to a point and just as lethal."

"I will escort you out." Iroh says.

The elder firebender gives both teenagers a pointed look before he follows the Admiral out and shuts the door, all is silent, and once the sounds of muffled footsteps fade away, Zuko turns to Jet with an unreadable expression, he opens his mouth a couple of times before frowning:

"What was that?"

"I lost my temper okay!?"

"Oh really?" Zuko sneers, "What makes this time different than any other?"

"I – he's taking your crew!" Jet snaps, "Not only that but he thinks he can say whatever he wants about you!"

"So you're only mad because he's taking your friends?"

"I didn't – that's not," Jet lets out a frustrated groan, "That's so far from what I'm saying that it actually hurts!"

"Then what is it!?" Zuko shouts, "It can't be the way he speaks to me! You've never reacted so – defensive about it before!"

"I have!" Jet snaps, "But each time I do you tell me to shut it! And like a fool, I listen!"

Zuko growls, "There's something else! Tell me!"

"There is nothing else!"

"Jet!"

"I don't - !"

"Don't fucking lie to me!"

Jet pauses, heart beating faster and body feeling limp, "I – I just didn't like the way he was insinuating that I'm friends with you because you ordered it."

Zuko stares at Jet, the latter feeling himself hating it, "So – you pity me?"

"What?!"

"Is that it!?" Zuko's eyes flash, "You think I can't make friends! That I'm lonely!?"

"No! No, no, no!" this was going downhill fast, "That isn't – I don't pity you!"

"Then why do you stay with me!?" Zuko bellows, Jet reels, feeling raw, "I heard Zhao! He offered you and Uncle a place in his mission! But you declined! I knew Uncle would, because he's blood! But you! You're not! You have no reason to stay here, and I know Zhao would have given you anything you wanted! I can't offer you anything! Like you said! I'm banished!"

"We're friends - !"

"No!" Zuko turns from Jet, "I can't – he's right! How can you expect to improve yourself when you hang around me all day!?"

Jet spins Zuko around to jab the Prince's chest, "No one! And I mean no one can force me from your side if they tried! I don't care if they offer me all the riches of the world, an entire kingdom, or even my parents! I'm. Not. Leaving!"

"Why!?"

"I fucking love you!" Jet's heart was racing faster, Zuko's mouth dropping open in quiet surprise, Jet swallows in an attempt to moisten his mouth, "I – and don't ask when I did, because I don't know, what I do know is, it's been a long time coming – I, if I had to place a time, I'd say when I was 13, or maybe the final months of my 12th year, I don't know and I guess it doesn't really matter. I stay because I love you, I want to see you happy, to succeed, and, I don't really care if you love me back, I mean, it would be nice, but that's not the point – I don't want you to think I'm forcing you into anything. And – please say something before I say something even more stupid and embarrass us both."

"I – I don't," Zuko felt a heat creeping up into his features, he sits upon his bed, "Leave."

"What?"

"Leave!"

Startled. Hurt. And hesitant, Jet pivots on his heel and makes for the door, shutting the metal separating the room from the rest of the ship, he heaves a shaky breath before pushing himself off the door, perhaps he can wrangle Iroh into teaching him how to play pai-sho, and preferably with soothing cup of Ginseng tea. The next night found Jet standing on the deck alongside Iroh, both males watching the crew gather in a formal group.

"Good luck ~ !" Iroh shouts, waving at the men who bow before leaving, once they're out of sight, Iroh turns to Jet, "Perhaps we can convince Prince Zuko to take an evening stroll with us, he's been so quiet since Zhao had informed him that he would be taking the crew."

All day, Jet hasn't seen hide or hair of the moping Prince, and while it hurt to be pushed aside so thoughtlessly, he knew Zuko needed some space, some time to think things over – that didn't stop him from worrying ceaselessly about his friend, if they were friends at all after last night. Drawing closer to the Fire Prince's room, Jet watches Iroh gingerly push the door open before sticking his head into the room, his words are muffled and Jet doesn't mind terribly, but he can hear Zuko's angered tone as he snaps something at his Uncle, it falls silent before Iroh sighs and mutters something else. More silence. The old General looks to Jet with a look, silently asking Jet to do something. But at this point, Jet doesn't think he'll be any better at coaxing Zuko out of his shell, especially since Jet had a hand in scaring him into it.

"I will wait for you on deck."

Jet purses his lips before shaking his head, "This might take a while, go ahead without me." he moves to Zuko's door, "I'll catch up with you."

Watching Iroh nod and leave, Jet resists the urge to run after the man, to run as far away from the Prince's room as he possibly could, instead, he takes a steadying breath and knocks three times, his signature knock announcing that he was coming in. Pushing open the door, he peers into the dark room before spotting the Prince's pale skin, hesitating, Jet steps into the room:

"Zuko?"

"Leave."

"I – just want to say I'm sorry."

"For?"

"Last night."

"Jet," Zuko sighs, he sounds worn and weary, "Please."

Without another word, he leaves the room as quietly as he came, unaware that as he crosses the deck he scares some intruders – he felt like a complete and utter fuck-up, but in all honesty, he couldn't be blamed as Zuko was the one pushing for an answer, Zuko couldn't be blamed either. Or maybe, they were both to blame. He was barely reaching the outskirts of the town when a loud explosion goes off, the aftershock ruffling his cowl, eyes wide, he spins on his heel, he can see the ship on fire. His heart sinks.

Oh Gods no!

"Zuko!"

oOo

Following Iroh through Zhao's ship, Jet kept his features neutral, even if he wanted to scream until his voice was ragged and torn, although Zhao didn't rub it in that Zuko was deceased and no longer flung thinly veiled insults his way, he was now ordering him around nonstop! Each time he did, Jet spit out the same retort over and over, hoping the man would get it through his thick skull – he was under General Iroh's command. Still didn't stop the guy. Perhaps he got enjoyment out of sending Jet to do menial things, but each time he did, there was always someone in the room. The bastard was showing off. Iroh soon stopped, Jet copying his actions:

"The plan is working perfectly, Zhao doesn't suspect a thing."

The soldier beside them removes his faceplate, "Neither of you had to do this."

"Nonsense. No Nephew of mine is going to stow away on a ship without some backup."

"And I promised that I would watch out for you."

"Just don't start following me around."

Jet can't help but crack a grin until a noise at the end of the hall captures their attention, the humor evaporating as quickly as it had been created.

"Stay hidden until the North Pole and the Avatar will be yours. Good luck." once Zuko is out of sight, Iroh gestures for Jet to follow, "Now we must deal with Zhao as he has called on us."

Jet can't help but groan, "Do I have to, the guy's driving me crazy, it's always: Lion-heart do this or Lion-heart do that."

Iroh chuckles, "I understand, but I've been hearing that you are becoming a legend within the Fire Nation army."

"Great-t-t." Jet rolls his eyes, "That's just what I wanted."

"Devil of the Fire Nation." Iroh says dramatically, using his hands for flair.

Jet laughs as he elbows Iroh's ribs, "Better than Dragon of the West, eh ~ ?"

Iroh laughs as well, the two quieting once they enter the control room where some men stare before quickly averting their attention once receiving a dirty look from Jet, the duo move to the outside balcony where Zhao stood with his hands clasped behind his back:

"My fleet is ready. Set a course for the Northern Water Tribe."

Hope you enjoyed this chapter ~ !