I'm so happy that some of you actually visit my tumblr and leave messages and recs, it makes me so happy ~ ! I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender ~ !

Eyelids fluttering open to the rays of oranges and yellows shooting across the skies, he begins scanning the surrounding area from his spot upon the dirt-covered ground, or what little he can see beyond the lump that was Jet – zeroing in on the sleeping face of his boyfriend, he takes a moment to let the warmth of being near someone he loves so dearly flood his veins and prod him into smiling just the smallest of smiles. One would consider Jet's face almost peaceful if it weren't for the slight scrunching of his brows.

He's simply breathtaking – Zuko promptly bats his cheek like a playful saber-moose-lion cub, the action startling a snort from the once sleeping teenager who instantly makes a grab for his hidden weapon, his hazy brown eyes clearing into a lighter shade and falling upon the smirking firebender. The startled teen looks around, but upon realizing there is no danger to be seen, the corner's of his mouth pulls down into a frown:

"What the fuck?"

His voice is rough, hoarse with sleep and what sounds like confusion intermixed in there.

"You looked so peaceful."

"So you decided that I needed to be woken up?"

"If I can't sleep in during the mornings, then neither should you."

A smile stretches across Jet's lips as he rests his weight upon the hand closest to Zuko and reaches over with the other to push the firebender's dark fringe aside, "Says who?"

Zuko smiles softer, reaching a hand up to cup Jet's cheek, "Says me."

"Alright." Jet chuckles quietly as he rises to his feet, "If that's the case, then let's work on your hand-to-hand."

Zuko groans and shuts his eyes, "Says who?"

"Says me." Jet prods Zuko's waist with the toe of his boot, "Now come on."

oOo

Waking to the sight of a few clouds overhanging their makeshift camp, Katara immediately directs her attention in the direction she'd last seen Prince Zuko, the others and Jet may believe Zuko meant well but she couldn't be too sure – he'd turned his back on them once, he could do it again. Just like Jet a voice in the back of her head says, a voice that sounds suspiciously like Aang. Shaking her head, she decides to check up on Appa.

"Hey Appa," she greets quietly, rubbing the bison's upper lip, "How are you doing? Mind showing me your tongue?" the bison makes a deep rumbling noise before doing as asked, Katara pulls his tongue out. It's definitely purple. She smiles brightly. Jet has changed she thinks happily, mentally challenging the Aang-like-voice. "I think you could use a bit more purple."

Moving towards the bush Jet had picked the berries from, she inspects it before kneeling down and pushing aside some branches and leaves until she finds what she's looking for.

"Yes ~ !" she celebrates quietly, picking as many as she can, she returns to the bison and holds out the handful, "Alright Appa," she starts, "I'm going to need you to act sick, you got that?" Appa rumbles and opens his mouth, allowing Katara to deposit the berries on his tongue, "Thank you, Appa ~ you're the best."

Another rumble.

oOo

Having found a relatively secluded spot overlooking the disgusting river and the rinky-dink town, Jet watches Zuko wipe away some sweat that was beginning to roll down his temple, his hair is clinging to his skin, he's hunched over and panting, a little battered, a little dirty, but he looks amazing regardless.

Jet bends his knees and brings his fists up once more, "Ready?"

Even from this distance, he can see Zuko's frown, "I'm ready."

Hunkering down, Jet allows a smirk to make itself at home before he rushes forward, it's as he's a good five feet in front of Zuko does something catch his attention, his mind immediately registers it as a threat, but Zuko doesn't look, in fact, he takes it as an opportunity and grabs Jet's wrist, the touch startling him back into their fight, but by then, Zuko has swung him around, kicking the back of his knee, and pinning his wrist to his back, pressing on the awkward angle.

Jet glares over his shoulder, but Zuko only smirks, "Bowing before your Prince, how kind."

Jet opens his mouth to retort, but Aang interrupts, "Guys, Appa is sick."

Zuko lets up on the pressure and lets Jet go free, but damn if he wasn't an all or nothing guy, Jet swings his leg, swiping Zuko's feet right out from underneath him, the latter yelping as he goes down, falling flat on his ass.

Zuko glares at him, but by then, Jet is standing, dusting his hands off and replying with, "And what are we supposed to do about it?"

Katara steps forward, "We're going back into town to find some medicine."

"So are you two coming or what?" Toph asks.

Jet shakes his head before Zuko can even say anything, "Got too much work to do." he jerks a thumb in Zuko's direction, "Prince Zuko needs some more brushing up on his hand-to-hand."

"This is a little ridiculous." Zuko hisses from the ground, "Who in the Fire Nation will know how to fight like you of all people?"

Jet simply pats Zuko's head like one would do with a polar bear-dog pup, "Gotta be ready for everything, and it's not like you knew everyone in the Fire Nation."

Zuko crosses his arms and definitely does not pout, muttering under his breath, "It's not like I'm going to be taking on the whole Fire Nation army all by myself."

"Well, alright - ," Katara trails off.

"We'll pick up something to eat." Sokka says, before adding on an afterthought, "But if you guys happen to find something, anything really, better, feel free to share."

Jet narrows his eyes, "I highly doubt we'll find anything out here."

Aang waves, "We'll be back."

oOo

After seeing the entire town faring better than yesterday, Katara couldn't help but feel like she were walking on air the rest of the day, her heart fluttering with the knowledge that Jet had a hand in this – with the help of Toph, Katara separates the water from the earthen sludge and maneuvers it to flow into the large pot settled above a small fire Zuko had a hand in creating, the flames appearing to fluctuate in a calm manner, as if breathing. Although taking in to account that a firebender was in their midst, it wasn't too hard to realize that it was simply following Prince Zuko's own intake.

A low chuckle captures her attention, her eyes immediately landing on Jet who was sitting with his body angled towards Zuko, a cup in hand and using it to subconsciously cover his smile, a smile she knew had to be there with the way the fire created a sparkle in his eyes, a smile she found herself desperately wanting to see, enough so that she was almost tempted to lower his cup.

Hiss-s-s-s.

Hearing and seeing steam rising from the fire, Katara realizes that she's letting the stream of water fall into the fire, blushing from her little blunder, she quickly redirects it back to its original destination – she hears that familiar chuckle once more, but it has taken on a different tone:

"Everything all right over there, Snowflake?"

It's a nickname she hasn't heard in a long, long time – back when Jet revealed that he was on Zuko's side, back when he'd been the first boy she's ever kissed. She doesn't register anything beyond the frantic beating of her heart and Jet's presence, which means she doesn't see the way Aang flinches, the way Sokka groans, Toph's silence, or the way Zuko glances at Jet.

"I'm – I'm fine, just, tired is all."

"I wonder why."

And his voice is what gets her, smooth and teasing, he's obviously in a good mood.

"Please tell me there's nothing going on between you two again." Sokka groans, throwing his head back, "I don't want to know you're making out with my little sister again!"

Zuko tenses and the fire flares, Jet rests heavily on the hand closest to Zuko, shoulder brushing against the firebender's as he waves Sokka's statement off with the other hand, "Don't worry. It's nothing like that."

"Yeah, Sokka." Katara's willing her blush away, "We're just friends."

Sokka huffs, "Doesn't seem like it."

Jet snarls, "I said don't worry."

"Excuse me if I don't feel particularly safe when you say that."

"Excuse me if I don't particularly care what you feel."

"So the village didn't have any medicine," Aang says loudly in an attempt to dissuade the two boys, "I mean we could go again tomorrow and see, but so far it looks like he'll have to get better on his own. What do you think, Toph?"

"I think that's a great idea, going in to town." Toph directs the attention to Zuko, "Are you going to come with us, Sparky?"

"Uh," Zuko thinks about the water surrounding the place and the sad looking people that inhabit the town, "No, I think I'll stay here again – and I think I'll go to bed early."

"Here," Jet starts, he's about to get to his feet, "I'll go with you."

"No." Zuko pushes him back, Jet blinks in surprise, "I can get there on my own just fine."

"But - ,"

"Good-night everyone."

The Fire Prince sends him one last glance, giving Jet enough time to catch that familiar spark in his eyes that gives away his anger. Sucking on his lower lip, he allows himself to remain still as he and the others watch Zuko leave for their sleeping area.

That night as he approaches their claimed area, he notices a sizeable gap between his and Zuko's bedroll, the Prince sleeping with his back facing him. Feeling dread fill his chest, he slips underneath the cover and stares at Zuko's back, refusing to move even as he hears Katara get up and head for the town.

Waking up the next morning, he sees that Zuko is gone and that both Katara and Aang are awake, feeling the dread that had filled his chest create a pit in his stomach, he sits up. Immediately feeling tired all of a sudden.

"Morning ~ !" Aang calls out.

"Good morning, Jet." Katara says a second later.

Jet only closes his eyes, he feels sick, "Where's Zuko?"

Katara answers, "I think he's practicing some firebending moves."

"I don't think you should bother him," Aang starts; Jet grits his teeth and glances in his direction, "When I asked if I could watch, he told me to go away and leave him alone - along with everyone else."

Jet feels his lips curl into a snarl, practically ripping the cover off the roll he gets to his feet, "I'll talk to him if I damn well feel like it."

Aang bites the inside of his cheek but decides to let the older boy do as he wants, "Well, tell him that we're heading into town after we wake Sokka and Toph."

The angered teen ignores this.

Nearing the spot both he and Zuko had claimed as their sparring ground, he hears the sounds of flames shooting through the air, angry and hungry. And for a moment he falters, wondering if he should really be bothering Zuko, but when he hears the crackle of fire, the thought is pushed aside and he steps forward:

"I'm beginning to think you like having me chase after you."

Zuko thrusts a fist forward, a large spray of fire shooting forth, "That's what you think."

"Is this about last night?" Jet frowns upon receiving nothing but the swooshing of fire, he growls, "I don't see why you're so upset about this, you know there's nothing going on between Katara and I. All those things Sokka said was just Sokka being – Sokka."

Zuko throws his fists down and turns to glare at Jet, "I know nothing's going on between you and the waterbender! It's just - !" he lets out a loud groan, hands moving to grip at his hair, "I thought you would have said something to her by now!" he sweeps his arms in a wide arc, "I don't care if you tell her about us or not! It's just; the least you could do is tell her you're not interested!"

"I was going to!"

"But?"

"But I got distracted and I hadn't really – thought about it since."

"Jet," Zuko hisses, "Why is this so hard for you to do?"

"I don't know." Jet shuts his eyes and runs a hand through his hair.

"Do you like her?"

"What?!" Jet's eyes snap open, "No, of course not!"

"Then what is it?!"

"I don't know!"

But he does know, on a subconscious level rooted deep within his own insecurities and fears – as of now though, he's too wired to even bother giving himself a self-diagnostic.

"Look, I'll – I'll tell her," he lets his shoulders relax and meets Zuko's gaze, "When we leave this place. I'll tell her I'm not interested in her the way she is with me. Okay?"

Zuko narrows his eyes but nods, "I'm holding you to that."

I kind of want to get through this episode but wow it's taking a long time, like three chapters - feel free to leave a review or a song rec, I thrive off of both. And if you want to drop off an ask/message/song rec on my tumblr, it's AVENGERSLoki-Zuko!