Been a while, but here it is!
Funny how earlier that day, Jet had been uncertain of his relation to Zuko – but after the firebender had revealed what he loved about Jet, now he couldn't quite keep himself away, drawn in by some invisible force, always having to be near the fire-wielder, always had to be touching him, whether it was a light brush of the shoulders, or holding hands, it didn't matter, so long as he had the firebender in his sights.
"Hello, Handsome ~ ."
A surprised noise escapes Zuko when Jet grabs his hand and twirls him out before pulling him back with a gentle tug, the firebender tripping over his own two feet and bumping into Jet's chest. Their eyes meet and Jet has never felt so weak in the knees, as he does looking into a pair of amber irises. Grinning, Jet turns them and dips Zuko, the pale-skinned male tense and uncoordinated with the movements he's thrust into, as proven by the way his fingers dig into the meat of Jet's shoulders so he won't fall.
"J – Jet?!" Zuko splutters, face turning a dashing red, "What are you - ?!"
Another shocked sound rips itself from Zuko's throat when Jet pulls him back up and against his chest in one quick movement, nose to nose, the taller sees the other's eyes search his face a moment before his expression turns sheepish, a shy smile beginning to paint his lips. Smiling himself, Jet moves forward with Zuko copying his movements, they meet halfway in a chaste kiss – their kisses were always as enchanting as the previous, and just as thrilling, making his blood sing and his heart flutter, the feelings he gets from spending every moment with the firebender is a gift, one he didn't know he'd ever wanted until that moment.
It was safe to say that he was addicted to this silly, little, thing called love.
An annoyed groan rips their world apart, "Really, guys?!"
Both Jet and Zuko pull away from one another to look at Sokka, the Water Tribesman is tending to the care of his weapon, looking at the two of them from underneath lashes with one brow arched in obvious judgment.
Sokka sighs, "It isn't like I'm not happy you guys have – worked things out, but, I don't know, it just seems like you're both as mushy as you were before. Worse even!"
Zuko starts to puff up, "Like you and Suki don't have your moments!"
Jet buries his nose underneath Zuko's jaw, grinning as he says, "Don't mind him, Sweetheart, it's just you," he trails the tip of his tongue up the side of Zuko's neck, relishing in the way the firebender's temperature rises, and nips at the flesh, "And me, that's all that matters."
"Gross!"
"I don't know," says Suki, she's helping Aang and Katara carry the food they'd foraged, "I think they're kind of cute like this, in a not so life-threatening kind of way."
"Yeah, Sokka." Aang chirps, "It's always nice to be reminded that love is still alive and well ~ ."
Toph huffs, "So long as they don't start fooling around where we can see them, it's all good."
Jet's grin turns lascivious, hands falling to Zuko's hips and purrs in the firebender's ear, "Now there's an idea worth considering, Sweetheart, say, sometime today ~ ?"
Zuko blushes, ducking his head and attempting to hide his flustered face.
"Spirits, Jet!"
Katara.
"Get a room!"
Toph.
"There are kids present!"
Sokka.
Jet sticks his tongue out at all of them.
The firebender gently extracts himself from Jet's hold, the latter allowing it and choosing to stick by his side as the former helps with maintenance of their camp, offering off-handed quips that draws amused or annoyed puffs from Zuko. As he's watching Zuko and Sokka laugh, he is hit with the feeling that he's the outsider and his only connection is the firebender – the feeling of loneliness is batted to the side by the soft smile Zuko sends him, it uncoils the tightly knit feeling of dread in his gut. When night falls and their bellies are filled, Zuko somehow convinces him that sleeping where the others are is best, while it does give him an opportunity for – something to do with his mission, he'd rather keep the firebender away from the rest, but he finds he cannot deny Zuko something as simple as sleeping where the others stay, so they set up a couple of bedrolls and pillows, Jet forgoing his and laying it on the ground before setting Zuko's atop it, using it as padding for Zuko's bedroll.
Once settled, Jet falls asleep with a warm body pressed against his front.
An explosion and the shaking of the temple wakes him, his own body reacting all on its own accord by covering Zuko and holding a dagger at the ready, a couple more explosions rock the temple, Jet curls his body over the firebender to protect him from the falling debris. Their eyes meet amongst the chaos, and Zuko looks determined, determined for what is lost on Jet, the dark-haired male slips out from underneath Jet just as the others start to get to their feet, Aang shutting the large shutters – this jumpstarts a war inside his head.
What did he just do?
What was Zuko planning on doing?
More explosions rock the foundation causing more debris to fall, a particular large piece of the ceiling falls, time seems to slow, but Jet is fully aware of the way his heart threatens to beat out of his chest and the cold chilling his body as Zuko races towards Katara and tackles her out of the way in time – at least he hopes so, the way his heart races is ridiculous, even as his body stands, ready for action, to protect.
Toph and Haru create a tunnel, the blind girl telling him to hurry as several of the others run through, but Jet's attention is focused solely on Zuko who is staring resolutely out at the rising airships, Jet tugs on Zuko's wrist, unaware that he had grabbed him.
"Come on, we need to go."
The look Zuko sends him makes him freeze, the firebender pulls from his grasp.
Someone shouts behind them, "What are you doing?!"
"Go ahead, I'll hold them off. I think this is a family visit."
Someone shouts at Zuko and all Jet can do is watch the firebender run towards the explosions, towards a seemingly endless chasm – he doesn't even take a step when someone touches his shoulder and pulls him back.
"He'll be okay." the person assures.
Absently, Jet helps Aang and Sokka pull on Appa's reins, Katara joining them not a second later – before he knows it, they're on the bison and flying out of the collapsing temple, and the world becomes clear when he spots Azula of all people – he feels a weird mix of emotions, especially when he spots Zuko on a rising ship, he must move forward because someone grabs his wrist and tugs him back, the tall male feeling helpless when he sees red and blue fire shooting back and forth at one another, his view ruined when balls of fire are being shot at them. Aang pulls hard on Appa's reins and it sends them flying vertical, forcing the passengers to hold on tight lest they fall into the foggy crevice below.
They swing by when both firebenders shoot fire at one another at the same time, creating a large blast of fire that sends both flying, Katara is the one to grab Zuko because while Jet absently reaches out for Zuko, his eyes are pinned on Azula's freefalling form.
"She's – not going to make it."
Zuko's voice startles him, making him tear his eyes away from the Princess.
Zuko then mutters, "Of course she did."
The way the male firebender words it makes Jet feel – a strange mix of concern and being offended on behalf of the Princess, the way the firebender turns away from the Princess' direction with a troubled look on his face, and lips turned downward, he feels like he's missing something important.
They're an hour or so away from the temple when Zuko attempts to hide at his side, the sudden touch from the firebender startles him enough that the others notice, even Toph who cannot see, Zuko immediately pulls away from him with wide, searching eyes, looking him over as if he'd physically hurt him, staring at him with those eyes of his.
Dipping his head, embarrassed for losing himself, he murmurs, "Sorry."
But when he goes to wrap an arm around Zuko, the firebender pulls away sheepishly, "Me too."
The ensuing silence is – awkward, to say the least.
Feeling worse than he had previously, he keeps to himself and stares out at the endless field of clouds, by the time they find a place to settle for the night, Jet has twisted his thoughts in impossible knots – the others are designating each person a job, conspicuously leaving both Jet and Zuko free of such things, something the firebender attempts to weasel his way out of, but to no avail, his parting jab at the ground had been:
"Toph can't even fish!"
But they're left to their fate.
"About earlier - ,"
"Don't." Zuko interrupts with a sigh, "I get it, I really do. Azula must have done – terrible things to you, it isn't your fault we share - similar traits."
Jet lets it fall at that, but it feels wrong.
When the others return, they know something is up but cautiously skirt around it, tents are set up, a fire started, and food cooking, when Aang attempts to break the awkward silence:
"Wow camping ~ it really does feel like old times, doesn't it?"
"If you really want it to feel like old times," Zuko starts, "I could uh, chase you around for a while and try to capture you."
The others laugh, but Jet is just confused.
After dinner, the other five start to get ready for bed, but Jet's attention is focused solely on Zuko, the firebender seems to fiddle with his hands a moment before he sighs and gets to his feet. Shutting his eyes, Jet urges himself to stand and follow the other, but his body stays rooted to the spot stubbornly, clinging to the ground like a life-raft, terrified of facing Zuko despite the fact that the firebender made him feel things he's never felt before. The earth underneath him starts to rumble, and suddenly, he's tossed aside, he hisses at the sudden pain blossoming in his thigh.
"Just go!" Toph orders.
Deciding not to incur another bruise, or what's sure to be one, Jet gets to his feet, rubbing at his thigh as he does so, he finds Zuko's tenet and is about to call out to the firebender when the flap suddenly opens, soon he's face to face with the person who scares him more than anyone or anything else on this world, Princess Azula included.
"Um, Zuko, hey."
"Jet, hello."
"Uh, can I – come in?"
Zuko's lips purse, but he nods and backs into the tent with Jet following, they sit face to face in silence, Jet feels – he can't describe it, ashamed, embarrassed, angry, thrilled, and terrified. And Zuko doesn't look any better, his expression tense and eyes downcast.
"I'm - ," Jet starts,
Just as Zuko says, "Jet - ,"
They both stop, staring at one another.
"Go ahead." Jet says.
"No, you speak first."
Jet sighs, "Zuko, I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I hurt you, I can't – help how I react, it was - ."
"Jet, it's okay, there's no reason for you to apologize about something you can't help."
"But - ,"
A hand covers his, "I understand, okay?"
Jet meets Zuko's eyes, "Do you?"
"I have to," Zuko smiles helplessly, almost painfully, "Even if I don't, I'll be here, waiting for you until you're ready to talk."
Staring at Zuko, searching his face for any hint of deception, even if the firebender has given him no reason to hesitate, Jet lets his body take control of itself and surges forward, grabbing Zuko's face and slamming their lips together. The surprised squeak Zuko makes only fuels his sudden desire to touch and feel. Moving to stand on his knees, he pushes the firebender down by the shoulders, lips still attached, when a hand grabs at his right deltoid, he forces himself to pull away, allowing a small breadth of space between their faces.
"What?"
"What are you - ?"
Jet lays his lower half against Zuko's, muttering, "Isn't it obvious?"
"Are you sure?" whispers Zuko.
"I'm sure."
"Okay."
The word is nothing more than a quiet exhale, hands roaming over warm skin, he ignores the part of him that feels a sense of familiarity, he ignores it when he's holding himself up with shaky arms, dripping sweat, breathing hard, and nestled between Zuko's thighs with the firebender's arms wrapped around his neck, one hand tangled within his hair, he ignores it, until his breathing shudders and muscles quiver with words of love leaving his mouth in quiet breaths.
The brunette doesn't dream, until he does:
"Stop."
Zuko's voice echoes within the endless, dark void.
Turning towards the direction he thinks the source is coming from, he does indeed see the firebender, he's standing near the ledge of a rocky cliff overlooking a dry forest of trees. At first his mind doesn't register the dark blot hovering beside the dark-haired teen, but it moves, and when it moves, it moves with confidence paired with a dangerous grace, a heavy feeling surrounding it that orders the most basic instinct of his fight or flight to flee, to flee and never look back.
Zuko swipes at the mass, "Stop it."
Paired with the feelings he got from the dark mass and Zuko's words has him tossing a small knife, one he'd used – earlier that day? – it flies through the air and pierces the figure, he hears the thud of the weapon burying itself in its target, he even thinks he hears a body fall –startling awake, he finds himself staring at the cloth ceiling of their tent, body drenched in a cold sweat, before something had woken him, he could have sworn Zuko looked surprised to see him there, as if he didn't see him to begin with.
Speaking of – he turns and finds the firebender snuggled rather contently in their weird nest of blankets and pillows, where in the Spirit World the others had these stored was unknown to Jet, but beyond Zuko is an unusual lump with his knife sticking out of it.
Feeling a sudden spike of fear, his mind uselessly dredging up images of the dark mass in his dreams, he slowly sits up and peers cautiously at the foreign lump – it's an animal, with white wool that was rapidly turning red. Confused, and the tiniest bit terrified of his own reflex, he reaches out and over the firebender, grabbing the animal and hurrying out of their shared tent, absently glad that he had put his pants back on after last night's activity – carrying the animal away, he stops what he feels is a good distance away and sets the animal down, his legs giving out on him for some odd reason, forcing him to sit and stare at the evidence of his nightmare, he – he must have killed a curious animal, one that must have been bothering Zuko which prompted the sudden dream, this also addressed something that had happened yesterday at the Western Air Temple, his body's immediate response to the attack had been to shelter Zuko with his own, that same dagger in his hand ready to defend the – the Prince.
"Damn it."
Grabbing the dagger from the animal's corpse, he hides it within the bushes and starts for the camp. Once he lies at the firebender's side once more, Zuko stirs, eyes opening sleepily in a charming manner, and the way dark hair falls over the pillow is a sight Jet finds he rather adores.
"Hey." Zuko smiles, his voice raspy with sleep.
Jet reaches out with a hand, cupping Zuko's jaw, "Hey."
"How long have you been up?" Zuko murmurs.
"Not long."
"I had a weird dream."
Jet wills his body to not tense up, "About?"
"I don't remember, I just know it was weird."
"Same."
A very nice person gave me the idea of the animal/dream part, it'll play into something later on because Jet loves to torment himself