Jee was not a stupid man. He had been a Captain before being demoted, had run a ship himself right up until he had mouthed off to his Admiral two days before the Prince's banishment. The sadistic gleam in the bastard's eyes when he had handed over the damning scroll was burned into his mind and Jee's resentment of the brat had only grown within the first few weeks of their voyage. Over the years, however, Jee had started to notice a few things.
The Prince was like no other noble Jee had ever met. The first few weeks, sure, he had acted like the stuck-up teenage brat that Jee had had the pleasure of dealing with in the past. With the mysterious disappearance of Sergeant Yoshi and Private Kaene leaving them short-staffed had only increased his ire with the brat, who refused to say what had happened to them. However, about two months into their search, skirting the edge of the Fire Nation and wallowing in waters around the Western Air Temple, his night shift had been interrupted by a blood-curdling scream, originating from the Prince's quarters. A scream that Jee had not heard since his last naval battle. By the time he reached the boy's quarters however, the screams had stopped, replaced by faint sobs. When he had knocked, querying whether everything was alright, he had been shouted at to go away.
Neither of them had spoken of that night, or the subsequent ones after.
When they had gone to search the Southern Air Temple, Prince Iroh returned looking troubled and Prince Zuko had been pale. The Prince had stomped away to 'meditate' in his rooms and Iroh had brewed tea in silence. Jee never asked what they had found, nor what had taken them so long. The next day Zuko ordered that they leave, and they hadn't returned, not for the next two years. Not until they had caught up with the little miscreant that was the oh so feared Avatar. In those two years, Jee had observed just how different Zuko was, retreating into himself while somehow still keeping up a prickly exterior. One that he had become more and more convinced was simply to protect himself from further mutinies.
On the Prince's fourteenth birthday half the crew had risen up, attempting to kill him in the night. Jee, while not the most approving of the boy, was certainly loyal to the General and, knowing he would be sad to see his nephew dead, had rushed to help the moment it was discovered. He arrived to three corpses and a shaking teenager whose walls were immediately raised the moment he noticed Jee. The strikes were precise, no signs of hesitation, no sign of shock from a boy who had supposedly just made his first kills. He had surmised that the shock was not death, but that the attack had come from those he had once placed trust in. Never again had Zuko attempted any kind of damage control of his image after that attempt, nothing like what had occurred after his trip to the Southern Air Temple. So instead, Jee had learnt to read the boy.
And that was probably the only reason why Jee had noticed the grim defeat in the boy's eyes when he had given those last orders.
Zuko was a lot of things, but a defeatist was not one of them. He didn't simply give up- that they were still looking for the Avatar all these years later could attest to that- and he had a tenacity that Jee hadn't seen the likes of elsewhere. That the Avatar had supposedly agreed to go with him into enemy territory ought to have been cause for celebration. The Prince should have looked happy that they could finally go home. Instead, he looked like a man signing his own death sentence. Like a man who knew what the consequences of such a lie would be.
"Sir?" the quiet voice of Private Akiko asked, glancing around at the other crewmembers rushing abut the deck, oddly silent and receptive to orders. The air was taunt with tension. "We're not going home are we?" Jee looked at her from the corner of his eye, wondering. Private Akiko was a relatively new member of the crew, having replaced Daisuke after he had gotten himself killed in port several months back. Her file had read that she had once been a part of the Home Guard but was thrown out for 'misconduct'. What that misconduct was, it failed to mention. What he did know was that she ought to be far more than a Private considering how deadly accurate her aim with a bow was. That she was rather quiet about her past and that that damnable file mentioned she had started her career near twenty years back at Pohuai Stronghold spoke volumes. She had been transferred back to the homeland ten years ago, no reason being given. He sighed.
"We wouldn't be heading north if that were so," he replied quietly. Of one thing he was certain- Akiko had a soft spot for the Prince, having lost her own son many years prior. She had mentioned something about him being stolen during a posting in a colony ten years ago, before her disgraced return, and no doubt the fact that Zuko was of a similar age to the boy probably led to some long dead maternal instinct raising its head. The woman dutifully stood straighter, eyes sharp. She didn't move to take her bow, but her hands did tighten at her sides.
"Do the others know?" she hissed. Jee considered this for a moment. That Zuko would return he had no doubt. Whether he would leave this ship alive was another issue altogether. From the sharp flinty way Iroh was watching the crew carefully, the General was also aware of this issue. But Jee may have a helpful ally here.
"I believe there are some who have worked it out," he started carefully. No doubt those who had served with him from the start, who had witnessed a few of the Prince's odd behaviours throughout the years, knew and accepted. Those who had come later were looking a little too overjoyed. "Should a fight break out…"
"You have no reason to doubt my loyalty," Akiko sniffed, but she nodded her understanding. Well, that was one less crew member to worry about. Now just for the rest. "So, where are we heading?" Akiko queried further, relaxed only a small amount.
"Gaipan," Jee answered shortly. Akiko made an interested noise, eyes firmly on Sergeant Turk who was using his downtime to gamble with his bunkmates. No doubt the money would eventually make it into the General's pocket later that day if he were feeling up to Pai Sho. "Know it?"
"Only briefly," Akiko stated lightly. "My boy's father was from Gaipan." With that, she turned away, off to continue in her duties. Jee watched her go, eyebrows raised.
Well, that was certainly interesting.
Zuko wakes to a campfire and the curious eyes of a stranger, his head pounding. He blinked, taking in the wrinkled features, the man's rich clothing. A merchant? He groaned and sat up carefully, a small frail hand helping him, rubbing his head. How did I get here? I was at… It came back slowly. The Temple. Aang. Junsuina. The anger that had destroyed the home of the Fire Sages. Where's Junsuina?
She is fine promised Roku gently and Zuko winced. Even in his head, the spirit sounded louder than warhorns.
"Are you alright there, stranger?" the old man asked, concerned. Zuko blinked, wondering how he had missed who he was. He glanced around then, taking in the sight of the discarded burnt armour, the blanket which had been gently laid over him, the gouges in the ground some space away and the aching in his joints not from bending burnout. Ok, probably not looking like a prince. Definitely not, if the brush of hair against the back of his neck and shoulders was any indication. "Do you remember what happened?"
"Um…" He didn't even know where to begin. How did one explain that they had destroyed a Temple and escaped on dragonback, accidentally leaving the Avatar to die a fiery death? I hope they got out.
They did.
You shush, he thought irritably to Roku, trying to concentrate on the merchant in front of him. "I… I'm not sure. I was travelling with my Uncle," he said uncertainly, not quite lying. "Where are we?" The merchant's face was soft with sympathy, patting his hand gently.
"It is alright. I am Izanagi. I'm travelling to Gaipan to meet up with my granddaughter and buy some new wares. You are welcome to join me," the man- Izanagi- invited. "Perhaps we can ask around about your Uncle…"
"Lee," Zuko said, making a snap decision. The longer he stayed incognito the better. It would bring this man less aggravation to know that he had been travelling with the Banished Prince over the ambiguous Lee. Izanagi gave him a warm smile.
"Well, young Lee, come, warm yourself by the fire. I have some soup cooking if you are up to food?"
"Yes, thank you," Zuko agreed, grateful for this small break from the spirits. When Izanagi was asleep, he would slip away for a while to find Junsuina. Most likely she had flown as far as she could, crashing in exhaustion and causing the deep gauges in the dirt. It would explain why his undertunic was so filthy.
The soup was good, warm and spiced like home. It had been three years since he had tasted such authentic Fire Nation food, outside of festivals. For a moment, despite how basic it was, he could imagine that he was sat, lost on a random island rather than in the Earth Kingdom, unsure of how he had gotten there. They were on the edge of a forest, a cliff behind him and the sea breeze, while cold, was refreshing compared to the heat of the volcano at Crescent Isle. It was quiet, peaceful. He wondered how long it would take the spirits to send something else his way.
It wasn't too much later that Izanagi was asleep. For such an old man he was surprisingly spry, but he still needed rest as much as most men above the age of eighty. Zuko didn't even have to pretend to rest- his sore limbs made movement troublesome, but he still forced himself up, staggering only slightly. He needed to find Junsuina, almost like breathing. Three years they had been separated, after spending every available moment together, and now that he had found her, Zuko refused to let her go again. What did it matter, if a dragon were too visible for one searching for the Avatar? She was his closest friend, had been there through all those terrible moments five years ago after Lu Ten was dead and Mother gone. She's more than a companion he thought to himself, limping through the trees.
Of course, she is Roku agreed, as if that would help find her. But you are both in dire need of rest. You must go back.
Not until I find her, he said stubbornly, leaning briefly against a tree. Tracking her was easy- in the dragon's exhaustion, she'd left quite the trail. He was amazed Izanagi hadn't investigated. Although, most people these days don't willingly go looking for whatever creature could cause such damage as this. Especially not after the rumours flying about due to Hei Bei. It wasn't the most comforting thought, but it was useful.
Junsuina had curled up under the canopy of trees, hidden from sight of the road, scales bruised. Zuko half fell against her, sighing contentedly, absorbing the warmth she gave off in the cool night air. His clothes were dirty from the crash, his armour now unusable from what he'd seen but she'd made sure they were safe. And free. She opened one sleepy golden eye, trailing feeler brushing relief and love as he held onto her side. It seemed that she was mostly unhurt, despite their terrible landing and he let out a soft smile.
He could rest here for the night…
Katara couldn't believe her brother's attitude right now. First, he had been angry that she had stolen that scroll from the pirates and now he was insisting that they flee, as far and fast as possible. What did it matter that they hadn't paid for it? Aang needed to learn waterbending, and if she managed to learn from it too? Well, that was just a slight perk.
"Sokka, we still need to practice," she insisted as Aang directed them further north. After the fiasco at the Temple, they hadn't stuck around for the other Sages to come to their senses. And Sokka had been odd about that too, insisting on saving them after they had betrayed them. It wasn't right- the Fire Nation had struck first, only Shyu had been decent and don't even get her started about what had happened with Zuko! Aang had been strangely silent about that too, more sad than scared. She hadn't thought anyone could interact with the spirits like the Avatar, but apparently the Fire Prince had found a way. Because of course he had.
"You guys can practice when the pirates can't find us," Sokka snapped. "In fact…" He reached over and tapped Aang on the shoulder, pointing towards the forest. "You think you can put us down there? Away from the water and where no one can see?" Katara scowled, annoyed, especially when Aang just agreed.
"Sokka!"
"Not now, sis. I think you've done enough!" Sokka half shouted. "I'm not letting them get back at you." Not like Mum. He didn't say it, but she heard it all the same. It startled her enough to pull back and let him take the lead in this moment. Unlike before, Aang made no move to join in the conversation, waiting instead for them to finish arguing.
Appa landed in a small clearing, disturbing a few leaves as he did. Winter hadn't quite reached here yet, the leaves still red and slowly turning brown, the weather warmer than it had been in the Hei Bei village. It didn't seem like the Fire Nation had reached here yet, considering that everything was still intact. It was a good sign and she smiled at the thought. Sokka wasted no time in unpacking the saddle and setting up tents as she and Aang went off to look for firewood as well as someplace to fill their waterskins. She was delighted to find a small pond, the water clean and clear and devoid of dirt when she tested it with her waterbending. One of the good things about being a bender was knowing if your element was contaminated. The spirits were smiling on them today.
"Hey, this looks like a great place to practice too!" she said, grinning at Aang. He gave her his signature grin back. Ever since Kyoshi Island, he had been more focused on them, rather than the attention of the people they stayed with. It was good for trying to teach him the basics of what little she knew. "Here, I can show you how to push and pull the water if you like?"
"That would be great!" Aang agreed, dropping what little firewood they had found. "Maybe later, Sokka will let us have a look at that scroll?" She made a slight face. Maybe, if Sokka would stop being unreasonable, but she didn't say that out loud. I don't know what's gotten into him. After those lies Zuko fed us… She shuddered to think that he might actually believe him. As if his own people would kill him.
She had to admit, at one moment she had almost been convinced. Zuko had seemed pretty glum about returning to his crew and the way he spoke about his own people… She'd had to fend off Aang's questions on what 'whoring' meant. It was bad enough that the Fire Nation was slowly taking over the Earth Kingdom, it was awful to think they might be doing… other things, to the poor women here. It was only after he had half agreed to let that vile Commander try to get a hold of Aang that she realised it was all a ruse. Most likely, they were working together especially after Zhao had turned up only hours later. Must have had some kind of secret code in there somewhere she thought, but she couldn't quite work out where.
And then there had been the dragon.
She still had nightmares about leaving the Temple. Spirit-glowing eyes combined with fire and lava, hot enough to slough meat off the bones of very dead soldiers had left her feeling sick for days. She was glad Aang hadn't seen that before leaving the Inner Sanctum. She hadn't wanted to, and she had seen what was left after the Fire Nation's raid when… Is that what he did to Mum? She had wondered, Fire Nation men replaced in her nightmares with Water Tribe blue. Sokka had held her all through that first night. It didn't matter anymore whether Zuko and Zhao had been working together- the Prince had a dragon and now it didn't matter that they had a flying bison. There was no way they would be able to outrun him should he find them again.
And the spirits knew, the number of times they'd run into him, they would most likely do it again.
"Hey, are you alright Katara?" Aang asked, breaking through her reverie. His grey eyes were large and full of concern.
"Yeah," she murmured, giving what was hopefully a reassuring smile. "I will be. Just… still shaken up a bit from the Solstice." Aang's face darkened a little, the corners of his mouth in a frown.
"Oh." He was looking down now, watching the fish in the pond. "They shouldn't have done that. It's… it could have driven him insane." He shuddered and she was surprised to see tears in his eyes. "Why would anyone do that?"
"Because that's what they do," she spat, angry. How dare they upset Aang like this? And she had thought that it was only the pressure of their end-of-summer deadline that had been keeping him quiet. "They hurt and enslave and kill."
"The Fire Nation never used to be like that," Aang said quietly. "They used to be the most honourable people you could ever meet. And they revered dragons as sacred. How could it all go so wrong?"
"I don't know," she replied, frustrated. "But they aren't like that any longer." She clenched her fists, thinking about that awful day and Dad's devastated face as he swept them both up, crying. It had been the only time she had ever seen her father openly weep before. Behind Aang, the water in the pond trembled and she calmed herself, remembering the accident that had gotten this whole thing started. No need to disturb this place. Aang didn't look entirely convinced but he gave her a small smile, bouncing back quickly as usual.
"Well, then I guess I'd better start on learning waterbending!" It felt good to laugh with him.
Walking, Aang found, was incredibly boring. There was nothing to see, just trees, trees and more trees. It was infuriating. However, it did give him plenty of time to think, which wasn't a completely bad thing at the moment. Both Sokka and Katara were at odds near constantly right now, Sokka still angry about the theft of the waterbending scroll. Aang did sort of agree with him- those pirates had been scary- but he could see where Katara was coming from too. It had helped to add to what she knew, helped Aang start off with some of the basics and that could only help with their end of summer deadline. He couldn't afford to lose time.
There was one niggling problem, however.
He had tried not to look at the carnage caused by Zuko. Roku had insisted that the prince was a 'gentle soul' but that didn't match up with what he had seen. Then again, the Avatar State was influenced by the Avatar Spirit and had little to no care for the lives of mere humans. Whatever drove Zuko's state, it understood humans as well as the Avatar Spirit. Add in the fact that the Temple had been housing his own animal guide and Aang decided it could have been worse. That didn't make the scene any less horrifying though.
But Aang didn't think Zuko had wanted to do that. His own experience with the Avatar State showed that it had no care for the body's feelings either. At the Southern Air Temple, Aang had had no intention of nearly blowing Katara and Sokka off the cliff, but he had done so anyway. Because he didn't know what was happening. He wondered if Zuko did, how the other boy was feeling. Where he had ended up. They hadn't heard anything about the Fire Nation Prince since they left, not even in the market where they had stolen the scroll. All the merchants had to say was that a small, rickety old Navy ship had sailed in, resupplied and sailed on a day or so ago and that was that. Nothing more.
Which meant either Zuko had given up or was missing entirely.
He had stated he would meet his crew at Gaipan and Aang got the feeling Sokka was heading that way in agreement with him. Katara still seemed angry about Zuko and what had happened, but Sokka was a little harder to figure out. It seemed he agreed with Aang that Zuko wasn't allied with Zhao but he was also still wary of the Prince. It was little wonder why, however. Sokka had been facing the entrance to the magma chambers and would have gotten full view of the attack. It made Aang feel bad- his friends had had to see exactly what the Avatar State could do and how dangerous it could be to those who even accidently slighted the spirits. If Hei Bei hadn't been terrifying, then Zuko's spirit-touched state most definitely had been.
Sokka was currently walking backwards, boasting to Katara how good his instincts were. Aang gave a small smile watching them. They were all the family he had. He wondered where Zuko's family were, how he was getting on finding his Uncle? It seemed odd that the Crown Prince was banished so he figured that Zuko probably had a sibling or two, otherwise the Sages would never have let him leave the Fire Nation. Odd, that they had tried to tie him down just like Zhao. He wondered what it was that Zuko had done to get himself banished.
He didn't have too long to think about that though.
Sokka had just walked backwards right into a camp of very startled firebenders. The soldiers gaped at them for a moment before springing into action. Luckily, Appa hadn't been seen yet, so news of the Avatar being here might not spread. He was about to jump out to help when they were interrupted by the entrance of several people descending from the trees. It took Aang a couple of moments to realise they were mostly other children, led by one very acrobatic teen with hooked swords.
Zuko woke to the alarmed shouts of an old man. At first, the cries didn't register in his mind, too confused by a lack of warmth next to him. Then, it was the unfamiliarity of the name. Lee was a too familiar name- why did this old man think he was going to find a Lee, especially in the Earth Kingdom?
It was about then that he remembered Izanagi.
Jumping to his feet immediately had been a bad idea. He swayed, blinking rapidly as the world greyed around him. Thankfully, a few essential deep breaths and the stubborn will to not faint kept him on his feet. Junsuina was gone but that was to be expected. They both knew that she was too noticeable, and definitely too recognisable within the Fire Nation, to be seen with him right now. It still hurt though, to be separated so soon.
"Lee!" Izanagi was calling, thin reedy voice full of concern. "Lee!" Zuko stumbled forwards, sagging to the side slightly like the injured teenager he was. On his ship, he had hidden such weakness from those planning mutiny. That would do him no good here however.
"I'm here," he managed to croak. It took a couple more replies before the old man heard him, clearly relieved that he hadn't gone too far.
"Lee, where have you been?" Izanagi asked, rushing over to help him limp back to the campsite. "It is dangerous out here in these woods. I hear there are bandits." Zuko grimaced. As are half of the roads in the Earth Kingdom, he thought, but did not say. Not all of them Fire Nation soldiers either.
"I didn't mean to wander so far," he murmured, sagging just enough into the old man's shoulder to make it believable, but not enough to be detrimental to the man's health. "I thought I saw something…" he trailed off, allowing the words to slur. He was tired. He didn't know what had happened back in the Fire Temple. Zuko would have preferred curling right back up next to Junsuina again, but the campsite would have to do for now.
She has not gone far Roku chimed in, as if to be helpful. Zuko was just lucid enough to broadcast a general feeling of contempt at the man's presumption to tell him where his own companion was, especially since the man had never had to hide his dragon guide. Doubly so, since there was no record that Avatar Roku had ever even been separated from Fang.
Zuko was grateful to collapse back into the small make-shift bed Izanagi had set up for him, despite that it was missing the warmth of a dragon. He was too tired to think too much, but aware that the man probably didn't have the supplies enough to stay here too long. Any protest he put up regarding that though was shot down.
"Gaipan is, but a day's walk from here," Izanagi said, cutting through his weak protests. "You don't worry about anything except getting better." Zuko sighed and nodded, deciding for once that arguing here would be pointless. Izanagi had been kind enough to give shelter to a complete stranger, feed him and give up some of his precious resources. That was a rarity in this day and age, especially from a Fire Nation native wandering the Earth Kingdom. Many of his people were attacked, even those who were merely civilians just trying to get from place to place, and he had even heard whispers of those trying to escape the war that had also been ambushed on the roads by Earth Kingdom resistance groups. The world believes us to be nothing more than murderous monsters, and so become as such themselves to protect their own.
A grim view to take, Roku noted, his voice sounding grim. Zuko frowned as he closed his eyes, watching through his lashes as Izanagi settled once more by the fire, rubbing his thin hands for warmth.
This man isn't a firebender, or a warrior, or even part of a militia. He's a merchant visiting family. But there are those out there who would attack him anyway for his nation and you know it, Zuko thought back grimly. He wanted to get up, to offer the man one of the blankets he had so easily given up to a stranded teenager, but also knew from the earlier argument that it would be futile. The people of the Fire Nation were proud- they did not like having their charity seemingly thrown in their faces, no matter how good-natured or respectful you were trying to be.
The Fire Nation attacked first, under Sozin.
And that gives the world the right to attack those fleeing that very same war? Zuko thought angrily. My people are demonised for the actions of madmen, and you would have me let the world do it? I don't think even Aang would want that.
Aang has his own path to follow, Roku noted almost calmly, yours is to help him.
I'm not helping him destroy my people, Zuko thought fiercely. And with that he closed his eyes to the world and fell back to sleep. In the morning, he would be adamant that they make for Gaipan. After all, despite Izanagi's words, Zuko knew that the man needed more supplies than he was letting on and that Gaipan was further away than a mere day's walk.
Sokka did not trust Jet. He probably trusted the smarmy teen even less than a certain Fire Nation prince, and it frustrated him that his sister just could not see this. Katara insisted that there was nothing wrong with a hooked-sword wielding teenager who was the leader of a bunch of feral children living in the woods and had a deep-seated hatred of all things Fire Nation.
Perhaps he should never have brought up Mum in their last conversation. But since they had escaped the temple on Crescent Island, Katara was ever more convinced that Zuko had been up to no good, that the Prince had planned to double-cross them all along. Sokka was sceptical- no one would like a slimy eel-hound like Zhao, not even Zuko. And the way that the Prince had acted around the man, the stiff shoulders, narrowed eyes, the way the Commander just had to rub things in… Sokka couldn't imagine them working together.
Which was why he was going to get to the bottom of this Jet character. There were just too many things off with him, starting from the all-too-convenient offer for him to join their scouting party in the morning right after he and Katara had been having an argument about leaving. Katara, in her ever bleeding-heart ways, wanted to stay and help. Aang was no doubt happy to just play about in the trees with the other kids, and Sokka didn't begrudge him that. But after that stunt she had pulled with the pirates and the later near-miss her jealous 'practising' at the lake had caused, meant that Sokka was anxious to get along. Especially considering there was as yet no news of angry Prince ponytail.
"You think Zuko's ok?" Aang had whispered a couple of nights ago after Katara had fallen asleep. It was after he had sent them to collect water and he just knew Katara had been badmouthing the Prince again. He hadn't known how to answer.
"Sure," he had eventually whispered back, as jovially as he could. "The guy followed us all the way to Kyoshi Island- anyone who can not get eaten by an annoyed Unagi is hardly going to become volcano fodder."
"That's not what I meant," Aang had murmured, somehow quieter than before. "You've seen what the Avatar State does to me- Zuko isn't the Avatar. That amount of spiritual energy…" He had trailed off and Sokka had swallowed, feeling all the more guilty that they hadn't thought to follow the dragon. Then again, he had been more concerned about keeping everyone else alive in the firey hellscape the Fire Prince had created.
"We would have heard by now if he were dead," Sokka had reassured him, but the words tasted like ash. Aang didn't know all that much about spirits, he had all but admitted it when they were facing off against the Hei Bai spirit. Who was Sokka to just assume that a normal bender could survive an Avatar-State-like condition?
So, Sokka was going to find out for sure and he was going to keep his small tribe safe while doing so. Fine, let Aang play with the kids and take his mind off Zuko, while he goes off to catch out Jet and Katara plays mother.
He rose early that morning, packing all of his weopans and making sure a couple of them were hidden away. Usually, he kept a couple hunting knives in the packs, not wanting Aang or Katara to grab him and accidently hurt themselves or something. He was used to having a parka over his tunic, but the weather in the Earth Kingdom was too warm for that, so he was forced to make-do with less. Which meant less space for knives, boomerang and his machete. This morning, however, he was taking all of them, even if he had to hide a couple in his boots. The lion-seal skin would be thick enough to conceal any odd bumps and he should be fine so long as he didn't jump or land oddly.
Jet met him at the hut entrance, smirk and wheat stalk in place.
"You ready?" he asked, keeping his voice down. Behind him were two of the Freedom Fighters that Jet had introduced as Smellerbee and Longshot. A feral looking girl and boy too silent for Sokka's tastes.
"I was waiting on you," Sokka muttered, shoving past him. His instincts were screaming at him that something was very wrong with these kids. Jet didn't seem bothered by his hostility, just shrugging and insisting he follow them.
Jet led them through the forest, lauding the fact that they were taking the 'ground route' for Sokka's sake.
"Since you aren't used to the trees yet," Jet said, still grinning, "we're taking the easy route. We don't want to worry Katara by you breaking a leg after falling from a tree branch."
"Funny, the Duke never mentioned a ground route," Sokka threw out casually. "He was excited to tell me all about his first mission with you." Something twitched in Jet's face, the first sign that he was annoyed with Sokka. Clearly, he hadn't been expecting him to have spoken with the younger kids, which was exactly why he had done so.
"Ah, well, the Duke's been living in the woods even before we found him. I thought he was already well-acquainted with tree-running," Jet replied. "Now come on, up this tree. I'll go up after you just in case you slip. It's hard your first time." Sokka gritted his teeth but didn't argue. He knew better than to insist on trying something he had never done before- not after the humiliation of being defeated with the traditional spear by fists.
He made it up without help, thank Tui and La, but Jet hadn't been wrong. Getting a grip on which branches were safe to use as handholds, and which were too weak, had taken some trial and error, let alone figuring out how to climb the trunk below the canopy where there were little to no hand or footholds at all. At one point, he had been forced to do an awkward and undignified polar-dog hug wiggle before reaching the branches, ignoring the sniggering going on beneath him.
"Good job on your first try," Jet said, climbing nimbly up. Sokka pretended to be mollified by this compliment, which wasn't hard since the other boy sounded genuinely surprised that Sokka might be competent at something.
"Thanks," he said. They sat in silence for a while, broken only by the occasional bird calls that marked the Freedom Fighters signals. Eventually, Sokka was bored enough to try out the Water Tribe's tried and true hunting method- also known as using the vibrations of the earth to give away what was coming. It worked reasonably well through his knife on the trees, although it was far better on ice where not even the occasional Arctic fox-cat could trot over without causing a single noise. Jet looked impressed at that and Sokka pretended that he hadn't just given the boy a new method to attack people.
"There's someone coming," Sokka muttered, frowning. "Can't tell how many right now…" Jet was already calling to the others spread out over several trees. The vibrations were odd. Two… maybe three feet? Nothing has three feet, unless someone is hopping. Who would hop down a road like this? Evidently, no-one. Two figures came into view, a cowed old man and a taller figure carrying what seemed to be most of their belongings. Probably a family member or private guard with how silent his steps had been through the ground. "False alarm," Sokka noted, resting back on his heels. "Do you know if-" He was cut off by Jet shooting off a signal and the hiss of an arrow through the air.
It took Sokka a moment too long to register that the fact that these people were clearly harmless had evaded the other boy entirely. Before Sokka could say anything more, he was gone, jumping to the ground and knocking the old man into the rotting leaves below. Sokka scrambled down, hearing alarmed shouts as the younger figure fought back, the Freedom Fighters not having expected an attack from such feeble opponents.
How often do they do this? Sokka thought, disgusted. How often do they attack innocent bystanders rather than the patrol we saw the other day? This man was nothing more than a merchant, it was obvious in the way he was pleading with Jet. His wares were now scattered about the ground, an array of spices and herbs, light-weight enough for the man to carry and clearly nothing of great quality considering he had no transport with which to aid him. Nothing except a fellow traveller…
"Let the man go!" came a familiar demanding voice, raspy and tired for all that it was commanding. Sokka swallowed, wondering whether the Freedom Fighters were any good against fire. Jet, the idiot, smirked.
"And what are you going to do about it, Scarface?" he asked. Zuko's face twitched and Sokka had enough sense to grab the Duke, nudge Pipsqueak and jump the hell out of the way before it seemed half the forest was set ablaze.
I am going to kill this smarmy shit, Zuko thought viciously, enjoying the brief moment of surprise before the bandit had enough sense to move or get roasted alive. And not because he thought calling me names was a good idea.
He is a child, Roku admonished, as if that somehow excused the idiot's behaviour. No doubt, he has a reason to act as he does.
Like Sozin? Zuko thought sarcastically, batting away the ridiculous hook-swords and swinging the broadsword one of the other bandit children had dropped. It wasn't his speciality, but it would do, especially when idiot bandit thought swinging his swords together was a good ploy against a master swordsman.
"You see this Sokka? The Fire Nation wants to kill us all!" smarmy idiot yelled and Zuko spotted the Water Tribe boy poke his head out from behind a not-on-fire tree. Oops, Zuko thought guiltily. That first blaze had been fuelled by anger and had been far more powerful than he had intended. Sokka had had more sense than the others and even managed to get the youngest combatant out of the way.
"I don't think the Fire Nation is made up of one teenager and an old man," Sokka noted dryly, making brief eye contact with Zuko. He gave him a minute nod, and Zuko returned it. He wouldn't have to worry about the others getting involved again. Izanagi had shuffled against a tree, gathering what wares he could as he went. Zuko made note of everything the man thought was salvagable, miserably little as it was- everything else and more would be repaid he had decided. If I can survive the first few hours back on board my ship he thought dully.
"Well what would you know about the Fire Nation? You've only just left your ice caps, while we've been out here fighting-" The boy had yanked his spare hook free and levelled it, pulling a dagger out from somewhere. Zuko narrowed his eyes, noting the elaborate design concealing a small cavity for poison within the handle.
"Nice knife," Zuko cut him off. "I will be glad to pass on to the local authorities that one of the Yu Yan have passed through recently. Colonel Shinu will be most pleased to have the rogue returned to barracks." There was a twitch from the trees and Zuko mentally raised an eyebrow. So someone here does know what that dagger means. And evidently, did not tell the leader exactly what was in their possession. The boy's eyes had widened a fraction, before narrowing again.
"You're a soldier," he hissed, "not even a mercenary, a filthy-"
"I'm not a soldier," Zuko denied calmly, delicately flipping the pinned hook into one hand. Well forged, even if they are made of Earth Kingdom materials. A master blacksmith made these and would not have been cheap. So, someone else with a backstory they're most likely not sharing. Roku was silent about that observation. "But I know the army well enough. I'm sure your eyes in the trees knows it too." There was a strangled gasp from the feral-looking girl, her face pale. Ah, she knew. And kept it secret.
"Longshot's got nothing to do with your imperial army," idiot hissed, half-growling. "And you'll leave them alone!" With that, he lunged, eyes wild with rage Zuko had seen only once. For a brief moment, he was back in that dark alley, angry hazel eyes pinning him down with hatred while frightened green looked on, unsure as to who to trust.
Zuko spun away, catching the hook with it's twin, raising the broadsword to the throat, just barely stopping himself from catching the artery there. Cut here, Prince Zuko, and your opponent will be dead. But only if you wish to cause a mess. The cleaner way to do so is… He shook off that awful voice, ignoring the alarmed concern of the old Avatar and focused on the fight. He was still tired after that last spiritual rage, and if he wasn't careful, Junsuina would be here to help save him from perceived danger.
"Leave us alone," Zuko snapped, "and I'll let you live." It would be a poor choice, but they were in somewhat of a rush. Jee would have arrived at Gaipan by now and Uncle would no doubt be fretting as to where Zuko was. He wasn't prepared to let down the only member of his family that still cared for him.
There are others who care for you too, Roku murmured quietly, saddened by the memory. Zuko ignored him- the spirit had always tried to make it seem like his family loved him more than it did. So what, if he loved Azula more than she was capable of loving anyone? That was his burden to bare, and her life to live.
Brown eyes had narrowed. "Fine," the boy snapped. "I'll let you go." Zuko gave him an askance look- the audacity to suggest at knife-point, a blade to the most vital artery to the brain, that he was letting Zuko go was astounding. He dropped the hook sword anyway, tossing it to one side, but didn't lower the broadsword as he backed up towards Izanagi.
"Are you alright?" Zuko asked the man quietly, not taking his eyes off the bandit. The boy glared at them the whole time. Sokka and the younger bandits were long gone, he noticed.
"Yes, thank you my young friend," Izanagi stammered, hauling himself to his feet. One of the bandits had broken his walking staff, so Zuko helped him up and supported him, despite the protest of still-recovering muscles. "It seems I will need more supplies than I thought," he carried on sadly, cluthching the small handful of wares he had picked up. Izanagi's herbs and spices were scattered and too little could be salvaged from the mess to be worth the effort. Zuko nodded, only lowering the broadsword when they were far enough away from the bandit, that even a mad dash would be preventable.
"I should have known they were there," Zuko said, cursing his inability to keep focus on the ground through boots. Had he been walking barefoot, he might have sensed them in the trees. Izanagi gave him a reassuring pat on the arm.
"I don't think even the fabled Dai Li could have known they were there," he tried to assure Zuko. He just smiled in reply. I know someone who would have known they were there and crushed them for their audacity to attack her. That didn't matter here though, and she was miles away from them. "However," Izanagi intoned, more serious this time, "I don't think your name is Lee, is it?"
Katara waited anxiously for the warriors to return, cursing how she had missed the fact that they were heading out in the first place. Aang had thought it was a good thing that Sokka and Jet were getting along now, as was she, but she hated being left behind again. She was a waterbender, a warrior unlike all others in the Southern Water Tribe since the Fire Nation stole them all away. She could have helped in a new raid. Sneers had tried to alleviate her worries, to let her know that this was nothing more than a routine patrol, the likelihood of them coming across trouble low, but that didn't stop her wondering. Especially considering how suspicious Sokka was of the others.
He had been mad that she had brought up the Fire Nation again with Aang, blaming her for him being worried about the Fire Prince. As if Zuko of all people needed worrying about. She had argued back that it didn't matter, these people broke their promises all the time. It wasn't until he had brought up Mum that Katara had lost it completely.
"Just because you want to believe liars and traitors, doesn't mean I will! At least I haven't betrayed her memory by trusting one of them!" She had regretted the words immediately, watching as Sokka's face went blank. But they were out in the world now and there was no way to take them back. Ever since, Sokka had been curt, snapping at most everyone except Aang. Some of the younger kids had been baffled and Katara did her best to smooth ruffled feathers, all the while trying to think of a way to reconcile with her brother.
Sokka, the Duke and Pipsqueak were the first to return. He had passed her in a black rage, barely noticing she was there, the Duke pale and clinging to Pipsqueak's head from his perch on the large boy's shoulders. Neither would speak to her either. This could not have been a routine patrol she thought, chasing after Sokka. She found him in their hut, shoving their things higgledy-piggledy in bags.
"What happened?" she asked, keeping the shakes out of her voice. "Where's Jet?"
"Getting what he deserves," Sokka growled, cursing as he tore his spare parka that he had been using as a pillow, since the warm climate meant they were currently unneeded.
"What?" She blinked in surprise. Not even after their last argument, had Sokka been this angry. She didn't think she had ever seen her fun-loving, sarcastic and caring brother so mad.
"Help me get packed, or go find Aang. We're leaving tonight," Sokka stated firmly, still not caring that he was packing so inefficiently, there would be no way all their things could fit in the bags they had. "Or get Appa ready. I'm not staying with that arsehole any longer than we have to."
"Excuse me?" Katara squeaked, surprised at Sokka's language. It wasn't so much that Sokka didn't swear, but that he did it so rarely it caught everyone's attention. "Do you not remember that it was Jet who saved us from your grand plan of walking?"
"Yeah, the same Jet who just attacked and beat up an old merchant guy for being Fire Nation," Sokka ground out. "I told you there was something off with the guy, but you insisted there wasn't. Now that poor merchant is going have to buy all fresh new wares because your boyfriend felt like going on a power trip!" Katara stared, unwilling to believe it. There had to be something more to this story than what Sokka had just seen.
"I'm going to talk to Jet," Katara said firmly. "I don't believe that's everything."
"Katara," Sokka started but she glared at him.
"Jet wouldn't attack the innocent!" she insisted. "Look at all he's done here, all these children he's helped. That man… he had to have done something! Maybe you just didn't know, I mean we haven't been here that long and-"
"Katara, listen to yourself!" Sokka shouted, one hand fisted in Aang's spare robes. "You're making excuses for something you didn't even see. The guy was old, he needed a walking stick, what exactly do you think he could have done? He was a herb merchant." Sokka's face was grim, unhappy and he shoved the orange clothes into a bag that no doubt she would have to re-organise later. "I'm telling you, there was nothing that the guy could have done to deserve being attacked like that." Katara frowned and turned, head in the air.
"I'm going to talk to him," she sniffed, annoyed. He hadn't even listened to her. "I'm sure Jet will be able to explain." Sokka made a noise of disagreement behind her but she was gone before he could start ranting again. Besides, she thought, Jet would never do something that would endanger the kids.
Attacking a man unable to defend himself, would not endanger the children, a traitorous little voice piped up in her head and she scowled, burying it. Jet would never, he was Earth Kingdom, steady, dependable, reliable. It would be like saying that Prince Zuko liked to spend his free time feeding baby turtleducks. Inconceivable, that Jet would do something like this.
She found his crouched in his own little hut, dabbing at a cut to his throat. Katara's breath caught in her throat, staring at how close Jet had come to death. Defenceless, huh Sokka, she thought angrily, rushing over to help. Jet looked surprised to find her there.
"Katara!" he said, standing and wincing, hand clasping the cut on his neck. "What are you-?"
"Sit down," she insisted, pushing him back towards the chair. "Let me look at that." He followed her actions willingly and tried to ignore the hard muscles of his shoulders as she tilted his head to see his neck better. The cut was shallow, no doubt made by a blade, but thankfully not deep enough to have even nicked to artery there. Lucky, whoever he was fighting was either a really good or really bad warrior. Gran-Gran had showed her on a tiger-seal, killed by a whale-shark, what even a small cut could do when it affected an artery. "You'll be fine," she murmured, taking the cloth to wash the wound, wishing she could do more. There was honey on the table which she took up, remembering vague advice from Kysohi Island that honey was used as an antiseptic here instead of ice. After all, it was too cold at the South Pole for hornet-bees. "But you're lucky it wasn't deeper."
"You're a healer?" Jet asked, sounding surprised, a soft smile on his face. "You are a woman of many talents Katara." She blushed, ducking her head as she dabbed honey on the wound.
"I did come to ask what happened," she murmured. "Sokka said…" she trailed off, hearing angry footsteps outside.
"Ah, he told you about the old man." Jet sounded grim, all humour wiped from his face. Katara stiffed, waiting for the answer.
"Yes," she said as he dipped his head, just as Smellerbee shoved the cloth opening aside, followed by Longshot and Sokka. Her brother had one hand on the silent boy's shoulder, eyes hard.
"Jet, you give it back!" Smellerbee demanded, scowling, hand reaching out already. "You give that knife back to Longshot right now!" Jet's eyes narrowed.
"What knife?" he asked, sounding genuinely confused. Smellerbee barely twitched, scowling further.
"You know not to go through our things, Jet!" she growled, eyes narrowed. "You promised after the last 'inspection' you'd lay off. You never know what will get us in trouble!"
"You mean like this?" Jet noted, pulling a knife out from his waistband. It's handle was a deep red, thick and decorated with the damning flame of the Fire Nation. "You don't think after that soldier's recognition of it, that this might have gotten us in trouble?" His eyes flickered between the two Freedom Fighters. "Bee, I don't have anything against Longshot for owning a Fire Nation knife, but I'm sure he didn't know about this." Jet suddenly turned the flame decoration and a small compartment within the guard came free, an almost clear liquid rolling within the crystal. Katara felt her breath catch.
"Poison," she whispered. Sokka's eyes narrowed further.
"If the knife was Longshot's, then how did it even link back to the merchant? He didn't recognise it." Somehow her brother was still sceptical.
"But that soldier did," Jet noted almost mildly. "He threatened us, Sokka. He made sure you had left before doing so, to cause this kind of division in our ranks."
"Doesn't sound much like Zuko. Never struck me as much of a 'planning' kind of guy," Sokka muttered mulishly. A cold hard ball settled in Katara's stomach.
"Zuko was there?" she asked, frowning. "You didn't mention this before."
"I barely recognised the guy!" Sokka half-shouted, frustrated. "He looked pretty banged up, more interested in getting to Gaipan than staying on the road. Didn't even have the stupid ponytail!"
"Or he was just waiting for you to leave, so he could follow you and get to Aang!" Katara shouted back, her hands curling into fists. Sokka was right, they did need to leave, because of his stupidity. No doubt Zuko would be on his way with the crew any hour now. And the children…
"You know this solider?" Jet asked, as Smellerbee glanced over towards Longshot. The other boy was gripping his bow tightly, probably terrified now he knew who he had stolen from.
"He's not a soldier," Katara spat, fuming with Sokka. He had had the audacity to say that she was the loose cannon after the pirates incident! And now look at this situation he had put them in! "He's the Prince of the Fire Nation! He wants-"
"He's banished." Katara jumped, as did Jet who stared at Longshot in surprise. The boy had practically hidden under his hat, but there was no doubt he was the one who had spoken. Smellerbee was glancing between him and Jet, face betraying the worry for her friend. "He'll be here for the Avatar."
"How do you know about this?" Jet asked, suspiciously. Longshot said nothing more, shoulders tense. Smellerbee bit her lip. The silence stretched and Katara couldn't take it.
"It doesn't matter. Zuko will be in Gaipan by now. There… there has to be something we can do," she pleaded, turning beseeching eyes on Jet. He had mentioned a plan or something before this patrol, that they had an idea of how to stop the Fire Nation from plaguing Gaipan, surely it would help stop Zuko as well? Jet frowned at his friends but turned away, leaving that for the time being.
Like a true chief of a tribe.
"Yeah, seems we'll have to move the plan up… Katara, can you and Aang help us? We're in need of two master waterbenders," he said, confidence settling around him like a rug. Katara breathed a sigh of relief, ignoring the way Sokka stiffened, eyes narrowing.
"Of course."
Three days. They had sat in the port of Gaipan for three days, watching and waiting for their spitfire of a Captain, while the General spent more and more time in odd bars and teashops, gambling more money to find his location. Nothing.
News had arrived that the temple on Crescent Island was gone. Some whispered the Avatar had blown it up, others that Agni and spawned firey vengeance on those working against the Avatar through a dragon. The General had twitched at that one and Akiko had given that grin she had when she knew something no one else did. Jee knew better than to ask.
They hadn't been fruitless days though. It was easier than ever when alcohol loosened one's tongue to gauge which soldiers they would be leaving here, which would be coming with them and which would need culling because their lips were too loose. It would leave an irritating shortage of men, but Jee knew the General would probably come up with something plausible for their need of more men when it was requested.
If the Prince ever came back that was.
Jee was starting to believe that they would never see the brat again when he caught a flash of a familiar scar. He glanced over again, just to double check. The boy was helping a bowed old man, armour gone and clothing ripped. Hair fell in a messy tangle around his face, but it was undoubtedly him. He was arguing with the Captain of the Guard here, something about bandits in the woods and the compensation owed to merchants fallen foul of them. The Captain looked about three seconds away from turning the impertinent teenager out of town altogether.
Jee stepped in before that could happen.
"Prince Zuko! Thank Agni, you made it!" he shouted, striding over to save the poor man before he did something monumentally stupid. Jee had seen the kid breath fire in anger, and he could already see the tell-tale signs of smoke coming from his ears. "The crew are ready to leave when you are!" The Captain paled and the curious onlookers stepped back. Zuko blinked at him a moment.
"Good. Ensure they are packed and ready to go at a moment's notice. I need to make sure Merchant Izanagi is able to regain his lost wares before rejoining his family." The Captain was busy nodding and shooting off frantic order to see to just that. Jee let the poor bastard stew, nodding his assent.
"General Iroh is at the Watchful Dragon teashop, should you have need of his assistance," Jee informed him, watching as a muscle under Zuko's eye twitched. Thankfully, the teenager just nodded and Jee finally noticed the dark circles under the boy's eyes. It wasn't just bandits he faced in those woods, Jee thought darkly. No man got in this shape from mere bandits. And Jee knew one target they were chasing that would. As, evidently, did the Captain, who cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ah, Your Highness?" he stammered as Zuko turned back towards him, practically vibrating in anger. "W-would you be able to stay long enough to help inspect the Dam? It's just, these bandits, we fear they have plans to destroy it and… well…" The man trailed off in the face of Zuko's signature angry glare.
"Jee?" Zuko snapped. Jee grinned on the inside.
"I have just the men for the job," he said in lieu of orders. "Is there anything else of interest for you, Your Highness?" Zuko narrowed his eyes at him but shook his head.
"No, that will be all Captain."
There was something going on with his crew. That thought stuck with Zuko all day as he wandered from tavern to tavern, gathering up the last vestiges of his crew and his Uncle. He had practically fallen into Iroh's arms after having dropped Izanagi off, wares refilled and grateful, to his daughter's house, her own daughter staring up at the strange boy her grandfather had brought home. The woman had insisted he stay for tea, as thanks for helping her father with the bandits, hardly seeming to care that she was inviting the banished prince into her home. Uncle had been warm and comforting after that confusing debacle.
More confusing, was his treatment from certain members of the crew. Private Akiko and Sergeant Turk stuck more closely to him than ever, odd considering neither of them had much care to do so in the past. Jee had sent Privates Hirato, Wan and Fukiko to see to the Dam, which had made Akiko grin coldly. Zuko knew from instinct that that was never good. The rest either stared at him aghast when he finally stumbled on board, while others seethed. It was Turk who finally let slip why he was still alive.
"I knew we should never have trusted the Water Tribe savages not to attack you behind the Avatar's back," the man growled as he stood guarding Zuko's door while he strapped his spare armour on over fresh clothes. Zuko blinked, mid-way through tying a perfect phoenix tail.
"What?" he asked.
I believe it's rather simple Prince Zuko, Roku said, sounding too amused than the situation deserved. I told you that you should have more faith in your crew.
Faith, maybe. But this… Zuko frowned at Turk, tugging the ribbon to completion.
"That's enough, Sergeant. We have a Dam to tend to." The man snapped to the sharpest salute Zuko had ever witnessed from him before following him out of the ship and into town.
He did not expect the loud shouts of a boy dressed in blue, held by the scruff of his neck by Lieutenant Jee.
"Look, I'm telling you the truth!" he was shouting, struggling futilely against the man's grip.
"What are you doing here?" Zuko snapped, eyes narrowed. Blue eyes stared at him a moment as Sokka gaped in surprise. He recovered somewhat quickly.
"They're going to blow up the Dam! Jet got Katara and Aang to fill the reservoir-"
"The reservoir is depleted at the time of year boy," the Captain of the Guard growled. "That's why we're checking it now, not three months ago." Zuko ignored this bit of stupidity.
"Not if you have a waterbender working with you," he noted dryly. "The time of year doesn't matter." The Captain paled and Zuko eyed the peple in the town, thinking of Izanagi, his daughter and granddaughter. These people could lose everything… "How long ago did you find this out?"
"'Bout an hour ago," Sokka said, relaxing somehow. Zuko nodded.
"Captain, get these people to high ground. Have them take wares and valuables, but nothing they can't move quickly. Ensure the men help to move livestock: we're not going to give these bandits anything to celebrate." The Captain stared until Jee coughed harshly.
"And this one?" the Lieutenant growled. Zuko barely spared Sokka a glance.
"He's bought these people their lives. Set him loose in the woods. And Sokka," Zuko stated, turning to meet wary blue eyes head on, "let your sister know, that had you not warned the town, the blood of 1500 Earth Kingdom citizens would be on her and Aang's hands. And for what? The sake of not even a hundred Fire Nation guards and merchants." Sokka paled and gulped while Roku tutted disapprovingly.
They should not have been here in the first place, Roku muttered.
So I should have let that idiot do as he pleased, just to get rid of my people? Not a chance. Zuko turned away, ignoring the awed glances of the townspeople, or his crew, praying they would have time enough to salvage all they could. These people became mine the moment Gaipan became a colony. I won't abandon them just to appease some bandit idiot's of 'liberation'. That would be like Sozin.
Yes, Roku mused, and Zuko got the sense that he had surprised the man. Yes, it would.
Katara threw herself at her brother the moment Sokka dismounted Appa. Aang had gone to greet his friend, visibly relieved that not only were the people ok, but that Zuko was as well. And stayed there for a moment, tears leaking through closed eyelids.
"T-The people at the Dam…" she stuttered, swallowing, "did they get out too?" Sokka said nothing, his lips pressed together in a thin line and hugged her tighter. Sickened, she ducked back into her brother's embrace.
"It wasn't your fault Katara," he murmured, leading her away. "Jet used you."
"Sounds like he used a lot of people," a female voice drawled from behind them. Katara jumped, as did Sokka. Aang was tense on top of Appa as the woman appeared from behind the tree she had frozen Jet to. The boy struggled viciously and the woman grinned coldly at him, stroking a hand down his face. "You'll meet a lot of people like him all over the world. Not just in the Fire Nation."
"Who are you?" Sokka asked, shoving her behind him. Katara frowned at that, but she was now out of water and the river was now much lower, it's water working through the drowned houses of Gaipan, too low for her to reach for now without concentrating hard.
"I wouldn't worry so much about the idiots at the Dam. They were rapists, murderers and scourges. If you didn't kill them, Jee or maybe even the Prince would have done away with them. I heard he did it before," the woman said, not answering Sokka's question. "I'll be taking this back now." She tugged something out from Jet's belt, breaking the ice as she did so. Not enough that he could get free, but enough to get what she wanted. The knife. "And Shu, you know where to find me, if you ever feel like coming home," she stated, much louder than before. With that she was gone. They waited a long time, Katara wondering if she had come just for the knife.
The trees rustled as Longshot and Smellerbee dropped into the clearing.
"I think you need to leave." It was Longshot who spoke, but Smellerbee who was gripping her knife tightly in one hand.
"You know what they'll do to this forest, don't you?" Katara murmured, swallowing. _Her fault, her fault, she had done this… _
"We know," Smellerbee ground out. "We've always known what the Fire Nation is capable of. We thought Jet did too."
"We'll take care of him." Katara wasn't sure in what capacity he meant that but she allowed Sokka to lead her away. It would be good to get on the road again after all that had happened here.
She didn't look back to see what the Freedom Fighters would do to their fallen leader.
Sooo, for a filler chapter, this went on for a while. And then influenced what will be happening next chapter because one of my theories for Zuko just snuck its way in here. So once again, the story decided to change itself, sort of for the better, but also to give me a headache.
I hope you enjoyed this installment, not really got much to say really, other than to say sorry it took forever! Every time I think I'm getting more on track with this particular story, it just slips right out of my hands again. And why did I spend so long on Jet, you may ask? Errr... I liked the character and thought he and Zuko needed to spend more time together? And that Zuko at full-running capacity would have had no challenge against a (seemingly) self-taught upstart from the woods? Also, because I wanted to write about Jet getting his arse kicked because he always seems confident that that swinging sword tactic works (which it did against Aang because he wasn't intending to harm him and the Fire Nation soldiers when not attacking are usually played for comedy. And we've seen Zuko take down Jet's sword recovering from being half-starved, tired and having worked a full day around people, despite not being a people person. It's hard interacting with people if you're an introvert, man do I have respect for Zuko and his mental fortitude in that moment... I may have ranted for a while, I'll shut up now.)
I won't give a promise for when the next chapter will be, but I will say that it is in the works!