Another chapter. My love for this fic is returning. Also I hope you'll have better days Ominous07, this chapter is dedicated to you ~ I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender.

"Mind helping me?"

Turning to face Zuko with both ends of his sash held in one hand, he gives Zuko an imploring look, one the Fire Prince can't really ignore. Zuko, for the most part, rolls his eyes, a small smile playing on the edges of his lips, and moves to tie Jet's black obi. And it's odd to think that even after all that's happened, that as they share an intimate space, Jet still finds it's fairly easy to lose himself in their little world, to forget the kids currently tottering amongst their ridiculous cave/home ensemble:

"I don't know why you're asking for my help," Zuko says as he loops one end under the other and tugs opposite directions, "When we both know I still need help attaching my armor."

Jet scoffs and lolls his head back, enjoying the stretching of his neck muscles, "I still don't understand why you royals need all that armor. Little pieces here. Worthless pieces there. Not like you guys go anywhere beyond the palace – and don't get me started on those ridiculous robes. They look like dresses. Do you were garters and corsets underneath tho – oof!"

Looking down, Jet's mildly surprised to see Zuko's face several inches in front of his own, face twisted into a snarl with brows drawn together; the Prince is still holding the ends in a tight grip that slowly gets tighter and tighter, constricting Jet's midsection and making it fairly hard to breathe – he was never one to back down though.

"They are not dresses." Zuko hisses, the entire menacing effect ruined by the splash of pink coating his cheek, he tugs on the obi's ends once again making Jet wheeze a little. Both teens unaware of their now audience. "And you know damn well we don't."

Jet grins breathlessly, "'s cute how you have to stand on your toes just to r - reach eyelevel."

That statement alone starts an intense staring contest between both friends, Jet grinning unashamedly and Zuko bristling to make himself look bigger:

"Should we – step in?" Sokka murmurs to the others, "Or something?"

"I don't - ," Aang starts before one of the older members move, instantly catching his attention. It's Zuko. The firebender finally letting his tight grip loosen, allowing Jet to suck in a breath of air, and continues tying Jet's sash like nothing happened, "No, I guess?"

They're still tense though, anxious and ready to act, all except Toph who'd lost interest fairly quickly and went on with her own business; after all, she had no qualms against either. Seconds after Zuko tucks the ends into the sash and smoothes it down, he thumps his head against Jet's chest and, apparently, says something that they can't quite catch, but Jet, he hears loud and clear and begins laughing.

Like actual, swear-to-the-Spirits, laughing. And not because of some ill-fated spectacle, but because of light-hearted amusement brought on by something innocent. And it wasn't one of his cruel, nasty laughs, or one of his condescending, mocking sniggers – it was real. And the sight he made, it was amazing, to see him lose that razor's edge, to see that hateful, jaded mask light up into something that makes him look fresh, young. Handsome. The weirdness factor is upped when Jet, eyes sparkling and grinning so wide that it looks like it hurts, throws his arms around Zuko and practically snuggles the guy, like it isn't the same snarling Prince, whose as cuddly as a boarcupine, with a temper that's a mile-wide, and replies to whatever it was that was said.

All in all, it's weird to see the two former villains acting like any other person their age would, to see them acting so friendly with one another – although, Aang recalls seeing them interact amicably during their attack back in the forest. It was just weird.

"No." Sokka starts, tearing both Aang and Katara's attention away from the two friends who are now talking like normal people, "They are not allowed to do that."

"What?" Katara's brows knit, "Be friends?"

"No." Sokka stresses, he turns to his sister and friend, "They're not allowed to – to act like they're actual, living, breathing, feeling human beings. It's - ! It's too weird!"

"Well," Aang smiles sheepishly, "They're human too. In the end, we all are. Even the Fire Nation."

"No, no, no, no." Sokka shakes his head and covers his ears with his hands, "Don't make things harder than they already are! I refuse to believe anything you're saying!"

Aang shares a look with Katara and shrugs, Katara sighs, "Sokka, you can't just - ."

"Nope!" Sokka turns his back on Katara and begins walking away, "Can't hear you! La, la, la!"

Katara sighs once again, "He's such a horse-mule sometimes."

"Uh-h-h?" Aang blinks, "You mean stubborn, right?"

"That's exactly what I mean." Katara huffs, her composure slackens, "What did you think I meant?"

"N – nothing. Nothing." Aang blushes, rubbing the back of his head, setting his gaze resolutely on Jet and Zuko, "But – you have to admit it's kind of weird. Seeing Jet laugh, and Zuko being – cuddly."

"Well I think it's adorable." Katara says, her face twists a little before backtracking and tacking on, "Jet laughing. Not Zuko being cuddly, now that iskind of weird. The jerk is as cuddly as a feral tiger-dillo and with a temper as mean as one too."

Aang feels something in his chest twist uncomfortable, "You think Jet's laugh is – adorable?"

And since he's watching Katara's face, he sees the burning red flare across her cheeks and how her eyes widen noticeably before she turns to look at him, he notices how her body language tightens and becomes defensive, he – noticed the way Katara stares at Jet. He's noticed. But he always hoped that he was overanalyzing, over-thinking his friend's, crush really, behavior towards their oldest team member.

"Well – I mean of course," Katara sputters, face burning bright, "You'd think so too if you were a girl," she turns back to Jet and Zuko, or more accurately, Jet, Aang can't help the fact that it's jealousy tugging his lips downward, "He's just – different."

"Katara." Aang frowns, he can't ease the creasing of his brows, "He hurt Sokka and used you."

"I – he did all of that because Zuko told him to." Katara defends, she turns her annoyed blue eyes on him, "And back in Ba-Sing-Se - ,"

"Zuko didn't tell him to hurt Sokka." Aang retorts, both he and Katara are facing off now, "Katara. You remember what Sokka told us. Jet was going to kill him if it weren't for those soldiers showing up and telling him that Zuko didn't want any of us dead. Jet was going to kill Sokka because he wanted to, and he still would havekilled Sokka, even with those soldiers there."for some inane reason, he can't stop the words spilling from his mouth, "It was because of Zuko saying otherwise that stopped him. And you know Jet wouldn't have come with us if General Iroh hadn't ordered him to, he didn't come with us because he wanted to, he was distant on the ship and he was mad, he made it clear that he didn't want to be there."

"You weren't even conscious when Jet came with us." Katara hisses, Aang is a little more than surprised that no one has noticed their standoff, and even if they did, it seems they were willing to watch what would unfold, "How would you know what he felt and what he did?"

"Because Jet said as much."

Katara reels, eyes wide in surprise before her anger returns tenfold, "Why do you even care!?"

Aang surprises himself by raising his own voice, "Because you're my friend and I care about you and I don't want you to get hurt!"

If the others haven't noticed their argument, they certainly have now, Aang can feel all eyes on them and the tension, which had originally been shared between both benders, spreads beyond their own bubble to the others and stifles the air in the cave. And for some reason, Aang looks at Jet who's now watching, expression cloudy – Katara's scoff brings his attention back.

"I can't believe you!" she starts, "I already have an overbearing brother! I don't need another! And let me tell you what!" she stabs her pointer finger into his chest with enough force that it hurts, making him wince, "I can handle myself!"

With that said, she spins on her heel and storms out of the cave, all the while rambling angrily incoherently, Aang watches her go, with Sokka sending a quick look his way before running off after his sister, leaving him with the remaining members. All is silent, awkward and tense, when someone finally breaks the silence, much to Aang's relief.

"Trouble in paradise?" Toph blabs, Aang hears a huffing noise come from his right where both Jet and Zuko are, he isn't sure who made the noise, but he knows that he wishes the silence were back, "What happened? Sugar-Queen looked pret-ty steamed."

Jet snorts, "I'm more surprised that Aang can actually yell at somebody."

Aang sighs wearily as Toph utters I'm not, "I don't want to talk about it guys."

Aang knows Toph is going to say more, he even sees the brash earthbender opening her mouth, but apparently Jet beats her to the punch:

"'kay, whatever."

The fact that Jet lets something like that slide has Aang blinking wildly, turning his head to face the older boy, because usually Jet would jump on a chance like that to tease and torment someone, he did it plenty of times back on the hijacked navy ship, enough so and so meanly that it often caused rifts and wrinkles between members on that boat – but when he sees Jet's attention taken up by Zuko once more, already forgetting the whole thing, he's once again, amazed by this new side of Jet, but this new side is apparently what Katara likes.

And oh great, he's gone and made himself annoyed again.

"Any of you hungry?" Toph asks.

"Sure am." Jet nudges Zuko's shoulder, grinning, "You?"

"I could – go for something to eat." Zuko murmurs, he's been a little awkward around them, "But what about the Water Tribe pea – uh, siblings?"

Jet's grin turns catlike, "What were you about to say ~ ?"

"N – nothing. Shut up."

"You were about to say peasants ~ ," Jet sing-songs, "Weren't you ~ ?"

"I was not!" Zuko shouts, "I was going to say people!"

"Then why did you correct yourself, hmm ~ ?"

"Because it sounded weird!"

"I can tell you're lying ~ ." Toph joins in, "Your heart is racing ~ ."

"I – only because of L – Jet!" Zuko flusters, "It's his fault!"

"Oh-h-h," Toph drawls teasingly, "Do you like him ~ ?"

"N – no!"

"Of course he does." Jet throws his arms around Zuko and pulls him close, obnoxiously rubbing Zuko's head and making his hair stick up at odd angles, Aang can't help but chuckle, "He loves me ~ ."

"I – I do not!" Zuko rips away from Jet and glares at him, then Toph, "I don't love him! My heart is not racing! I wasn't going to say peasants! I'm not lying! And I'm leaving!"

As Zuko begins to storm out of the cave, Toph cackles and Jet panics a little, rushing after Zuko with apologies on the tip of his tongue. Aang is smiling at the entire absurdity of what has happened, but it soon disappears once Sokka and Katara reenter the cave. Both wearing matching expressions of confusion.

Sokka points his thumb over his shoulder, "What's got Prince angry-brow angry?"

Toph shrugs, "Beats me."

"We were all just talking about going out for lunch," Aang says, "Want to head out?"

"Sure ~ ," Sokka grins, "I've been craving meat all day!"

"Pf-ft. What are you?" Toph grins, "Pregnant?"

"I didn't mean it like that!" Sokka squawks.

Aang notices how Katara doesn't bother looking in his direction.

Jet and Zuko adorableness just makes me smile ~ also it was like a day off from school for Aang :I