thank you guys so much for your thoughts!

so no Jinko, haha, and we'll be seeing more of our yellow-eyed stalker soon (i'm glad i've made them intriguing enough x3)

and lastly, Kinri can't go on a normal human date with Zuko because she can't take a physical human form

what does that even mean?

the answer lies in the walls ;)

enjoy~!

Chapter Thirteen:

If only he knew

The large, distant shape of Ba Sing Se's walls loomed out of the thick fog surrounding the ferry, giving Zuko a sense of isolation from the rest of the world.

Well, maybe not entirely the rest of the world.

The prince shifted his gaze to land on the dragon, who was curled inside his shirt and around his waist like a warm scaly belt.

She didn't seem to like the fog and the lack of sun very much, not that he blamed her. It felt downright creepy...

His thoughts switched back to the night before, the yellow eyes watching him in the dark, and forewarning trickled through him like a heavy fog.

Those eyes were the same ones that belonged to one of those two strangers he had seen in the woods with Kinri, and he had yet to find out whether they were friend or foe.

If he was lucky he wouldn't have to.

But then again fate had a funny way of screwing him over.

Kinri stirred quietly and a second later he heard the footsteps coming up behind him.

He tensed, yellow eyes flashing malevolently in his mind before the confident voice of the young man with the hook swords reached his ears.

"You know, as soon as I saw you're scar I knew exactly who you were."

Zuko's eyes widened a fraction in surprise before narrowing, his fists clenching at his sides as he resisted the urge to reach for his swords. Did he know?

"You're an outcast, like me," Jet continued, and Zuko felt himself relax if only a bit as the other boy kept speaking. "and us outcasts have to stick together. We have to watch each others backs. 'Cause no one else will."

Zuko wasn't looking at Jet when the boy glanced at him, his dark golden eyes were focused on the unnatural lump around his stomach.

"I've realized lately, that being on your own isn't always the best path." Zuko stated calmly, and as the words left his mouth he felt the truth in them. Ever since he'd found Kinri's egg and reunited with his uncle, everything didn't seem so...dull as it had in the past.

Sure, Kinri was a handful. She spat fire at the bags he tried to put her in for her own safety, and even set his own pants on fire not long ago. She also ate quite a lot for a creature her size, and he had to be careful with his fingers lest she snap them up with the rest of the meat he would hand her. Not to mention that most of the time she was either underneath his feet or getting herself trouble when he wasn't around.

But despite all that, she had taken his entire world and turned it all upside down and inside out.

Even though he liked to complain about taking care of a baby dragon-he certainly wasn't ready to become a parent yet in any sense-, there was something about her that brightened his days just a little bit more than it used to be.

And for that, he couldn't help but find himself, albeit grudgingly, growing more and more attached to the creature.

.

Jet put a hand on his hip, watching with sharp brown eyes as Lee and Mushi stepped up to the ticket booth.

He wasn't blind, he knew Lee and his uncle were hiding something. It was quite obvious if you had trained eyes like his own. He'd pilfered a few things in his past and he knew a suspicious lump of clothing when he saw one.

But there was something intriguing about Lee that put his curiosity and suspicion to the side.

"I think Lee would make a good Freedom Fighter." He proclaimed, a grin sliding across his face as the two persons of interest made their way towards the monorail platforms. "He's just trying to find his way in the world, like us."

"You don't know anything about him, Jet." Smellerbee retorted flatly, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked away.

"I know he didn't get that scar from a waterbender." Jet countered, rolling his eyes for good measure.

The boyish girl ignored his comment, looking back at him with a furrowed brow. "Besides, I thought we were going straight now."

"We are," He stressed, twirling the strand of wheat in his fingers. "And the new freedom fighters could use a guy like Lee." Jet turned toward the other Freedom Fighter with searching eyes. "What do you think Longshot?"

The archer blinked as he watched him wordlessly; the silent language that only Freedom Fighters seemed to understand.

Jet nodded slowly, leaning back. "I can respect that."

.

"Here. Take her."

Kinri blinked in surprise as her person pulled her out of his shirt and hastily shoved her into Iroh's, looking around to make sure no one had noticed the transaction.

At first she squirmed, wanting to be back with Zuko, but one of the old man's calming hands rested over her and she stilled. It was still pretty uncomfortable though, expecially with the Uncle's rotund belly taking over most of the space.

"That Jet guy keeps sniffing around. I don't want him to get any ideas." Her person growled under his breath, then jumped as said boy appeared suddenly at his side and slid into the seat next to him.

Kinri restrained the urge to growl. She couldn't see him, but from her person's reaction and the scent going through Iroh's shirt she could tell who it was.

She hadn't thought much of Jet before, seeing him as just another human who interacted with her person, but if Zuko didn't trust him, then she would have to be on guard too.

"So, you guys got plans once you're inside the city?" Jet asked casually, though a loud call from another man caught their attention.

"Get your hot tea here! Finest tea in Ba Sing Se!"

"Oh!" The Uncle exclaimed, waving a hand to get the tea-seller's attention. "Jasmine please!"

A diluted, yet pleasant aroma reached Kinri's nose and her wings ruffled slightly in curiosity. Though the next moment she nearly jumped out of her scales at the old man's noisy complaint.

"Blagh! Urgh. Coldest tea in Ba Sin Se is more like it." He grumbled, sending a dissapointed glare in the direction of the tea-seller. "What a disgrace."

"Hey," Jet said suddenly and Kinri turned her focus back to him and her person, "can I talk to you for a second?"

No! Don't go with him! The fur along her spine bristled at the thought of her person getting taken away from her when she couldn't do anything about it.

Zuko let out a heavy sigh and she relaxed. Of course he wouldn't leave her, he didn't trust the other guy anyways.

But when he did get to his feet and walked out of her hearing range she nearly threw a fit, straining against the Uncle's clothes until he had to lay his hand over her to calm her once more.

"He'll be fine." He rumbled pleasantly and Kinri sunk back down uneasily, her tail tip flicking back and forth as she waited.

.

"You and I have a much better chance of making it in the city if we stick together." Jet declared, putting his hands on his hips and smirking at Zuko. "You wanna join the Freedom Fighters?"

If only he knew. Zuko thought wryly, glancing back at his uncle and the ungainly lump of fabric that was Kinri.

But him knowing about her existence would be bad for all of us.

"Thanks," Zuko replied drily, "but I don't think you want me in your gang."

"Come on," Jet urged, grinning and holding out his arms, "we made a great team looting that captain's food. Think of all the good we could do for these refugees."

"I said no." Zuko quipped over his shoulder as he turned around and started walking back, leaving a disgruntled Jet behind.

"Have it your way."

.

It was only when a warm delicate scent made itself known did her thoughts stray from what could have happened to her person.

Her curiosity grew until she decided a little peak wouldn't hurt.

She ran her nose along the cloth until she found where the two edges met and tried to poke her snout out of it.

It wouldn't budge.

Frustrated she pushed harder, not being able to prevent her head from flying out of his clothes and smashing into the cup the old man was currently bringing up to his mouth, sending it splashing down to the floor.

.

Zuko's heart nearly stopped as he walked back to his uncle and saw the glittering golden head of the dragon sticking out of his uncle's shirt.

With a few quick strides he reached Iroh and hurriedly pushed her back inside his uncle's clothing.

He glanced over his shoulder, wondering if Jet had seen Kinri, but the other boy had turned, walking back to the other waiting Freedom Fighters.

"What are you doing?!" He hissed angrily though clenched teeth as he turned back to Iroh. "What happened to making sure Kirni isn't seen?!"

His uncle wasn't even looking at him, instead he was gazing down sadly at the tea puddle on the floor.

"I know you're not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but..." Iroh sniffed, his eyes shining with unshed tears, "It's just so sad!"

.

"I'm telling you," Jet articulated, glaring suspiciously at Lee and his uncle through the crowd as the monorail screeched to a halt on the tracks. "There hiding something, I saw it. It looked alive, and it sparkled!"

Smellerbee and Longshot gave him disbelieving stares before looking back at one another.

"So maybe they smuggled in their pet. Big deal."

"But it didn't look like any animal I've seen before!" He snapped, turning his glare on Smellerbee and the girl merely sighed, sharing another look with Longshot.

They made it to the train, and Jet steered them towards the car right behind Lee and his uncle's, turning up his collar so he wouldn't be recognized. The other two did the same, with Smellerbee hunching her shoulders and Longshot using his hat to hide his face.

As they took a seat, Jet stared down into his battered and scarred hands, his brows lowering as the golden horned head of the creature flashed through his mind again.

He clenched his jaw as he tried to recall what the animal might be, but it remained just out of reach.

Snapping his head up he glared in the direction of the two he'd met on the ferry, the familiar ugly feeling of suspicion worming its way through his gut.

I'll find out your little secret...just you wait.

so close yet so far

i'll try not to keep you guys waiting for too long, there are a lot of things that will be covered in Ba Sing Se, so sit tight!

and thanks for reading~! ^-^