Inbetween the Lines
Rating: M (for alcohol use, language and sexual situations)
Summary: All the lines are starting to connect.
A/N: Just want to note that I tinkered with the events in season two (book Earth) a bit. By 'a bit' I mean a lot. Also, there is in the past Zuko/Jet action as well as Katara/Zuko and even some mild Jet/Katara.
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what if the way we started made it something cursed from the start
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Didn't see that coming, Katara thought, her mouth parted in surprise.
"You can't be serious," Zuko chimed in. "And how is that simple? That would just complicate the fuck out of everything."
Jet gave Katara a quick once over and grinned. "I don't see any betrothal jewelry on her that actually belongs to her, so she's not officially spoken for, meaning she can see whoever she wants, even if it's two guys at once. That's why it's called dating."
Katara shook her head. "This is crazy. I can't do that, I'm not that kind of woman."
Jet reached over and placed his hand atop hers. "Katara, haven't you ever thought of the possibility? Of us trying to pick up where we left off? You gotta admit, it's funny that fate threw us together again."
Katara looked at him, her cheeks a little pinked. "Jet…"
He leaned in just a tad but before he could advance further, Katara was whisked away from him and as Jet watched in shock, Zuko pulled her flush against him to deliver a searing kiss on her mouth.
Katara's gasp was muffled by Zuko's lips. She basked in it for just a moment before pulling her head back, looking up at him in astonishment.
"What was that for?" she breathed.
"Insurance."
Before she could ask him what he meant, he went on to say, "Alright, Jet, I'll try this…arrangement."
Jet stood, dumbstruck. He did not think Zuko would actually agree to it. However, it really hinged on the woman in the middle of it all, who looked equally stunned.
Zuko let her go and there she stood, eyes darting from one guy to the other, knowing the final decision was left to her. For the life of her, her heart swayed both ways, though more so to Zuko, if she were completely honest, but Katara wondered how this could ever work. She knew from experiences and observations that they were both possessive, headstrong and fiercely loyal; and she really did not want to ruin her bubbling friendship with Jet by rejecting him outright, nor jeopardize her romantic entanglement with Zuko. The fact that Zuko even agreed to it had her a little interested, if only to see what he truly wanted out of it.
Still, Katara was at odds on what to do.
"Uh…Can I sleep on it?"
"Of course," Zuko answered.
"Wouldn't want it any other way," Jet followed with a grin. He seemed pleased the offer was even considered by the two of them.
"If you'll excuse me…"
Katara departed, walking back to her temporary quarters in the west wing of the palace, shutting the door behind her, which she leaned on as she exhaled a long breath.
Needing something to calm her overworked emotional nerves, she pulled on the thick dangling rope, signaling for a servant. When one came, Katara requested some jasmine tea.
And a bottle of fire whiskey, just in case the tea did not do the trick.
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Zuko personally showed Jet a room where he could reside for the night in the south quarters of his home, but he made it clear it was only for the evening. Jet shrugged, stating he did not want to stay longer than necessary anyway, for he could stomach all the red and gold for only so long.
"You know she's never going to go for it," Zuko voiced.
Jet smirked. "I wouldn't be so sure, old friend."
Zuko shook his head, moving onto something else that bothered him since Jet's arrival but at the time he could not bring up in front of Katara.
"Why didn't you write?"
Jet sighed, his smile waning. "Didn't have the nerve to pick up a brush. When I learned you were the prince, I couldn't deal with that. The jutted boulder Long Feng threw at my chest was nothing compared to learning that."
Zuko looked away, old guilt brimming up to the surface. It was not just Katara he betrayed during his time as refugee. First it was Jin, the girl that he went on a date with one night, ending with a kiss. He thought she was decent person and that was why he could not string her along, so he ended it. Around that time he befriended Jet, who, at that time, was trying to restart his life in the Earth Kingdom. Zuko did not want to be his friend, not immediately, but there was definitely a magnetic pull between them. It also did not help that Jet was borderline relentless on having Zuko join in on various misadventures.
Still, Zuko thought Jet had a (mostly) good head on his shoulders and his moral compass was sound enough, helping people that could not help themselves and so forth. One night, when Zuko was finishing up closing his uncle's old tea shop for the evening, Jet was waiting for him outside, a bottle of alcohol in hand. Confused but intrigued Zuko let Jet lead him away to a tavern where they sat a ways from the other patrons, Jet picking up a couple of cups from the bar along the way. Pouring both their drinks, Jet began.
"You would make a great Freedom Fighter, Lee," he stated, taking a swig. "Why won't you join us?"
Zuko took a swig of his own drink before answering, "It's not in the cards."
"Aside from tea, what else do you have going on in your life?" Jet asked bluntly.
Zuko glanced down at his drink, briefly wondering what kind of alcohol was in his cup.
"I don't know," he told Jet honestly. "I didn't really picture this kind of life for myself."
"I hear ya, buddy." Jet took a long pull from his drink, loving the burn going down his throat. "Aside from trying to recruit people for the cause, this is what I do in my free time. Well, most times, anyway."
"What else is there?" Zuko asked, almost bitterly.
Jet cast him a sly look. "Girls, of course."
Zuko simply raised his brow.
Jet rolled his eyes. "Lee, c'mon now. Sure, breaking into kitchens on ferries gives a certain rush, but for release, girls are needed."
"Haven't had much time for them," Zuko replied coolly.
Jet paused, then asked, "What about guys?"
Zuko spit up some of his drink he was just ingesting, taken aback.
"What."
Jet simply shrugged. "Not judging or anything, but you can't sit here and tell me you've been letting your hand get all the action."
Zuko wiped his tunic off. "Like I said, haven't had the time."
"Well, no time like the present," Jet stated as he stood up, taking another swig before walking over to the bar where a tall woman, probably in her early twenties, stood, her long brown hair cascading down her back, a few locks braided here and there; her green, gold trimmed dress clinging to her form, flat black shoes encasing her feet.
She was definitely stunning, Zuko admitted, but she was out of their league and he could not afford to get to know her in any regard. Before Jet could possibly persuade her to come over, Zuko slipped out of the back, going home.
The next night Jet corned him after work again and roughly pulled him into a deserted alley next to the shop.
"What the fuck, man? Why did you leave?"
Zuko pulled away with a frown. "Nothing was going to happen with her, so why bother?"
"You didn't know that for sure. I was just trying to help you out."
"Well don't, I don't need help in that department," Zuko said, frustrated.
Jet stepped forward, placing his hands on the wall behind Zuko's head.
"So it's guys after all."
"What?" Zuko looked at him in bewilderment until he realized what Jet meant. "No, that's not it."
"Are you sure? Because I can help," Jet countered, leaning in just a hair.
Zuko's eyes widen. "Whoa, whoa. Why are you so hung up on me getting laid?"
"Ever thought that maybe, just maybe, I want to fuck you?" was Jet's forward answer.
There was a weighted pause where Jet leaned in closer, his eyes dilated just slightly in the slanted evening sun. Zuko could see the sweat on him, smell his fresh boyish musk and feel the heat radiating from where his arm brushed Zuko's neck. There was an excited, nervous wild glint in his eye.
It was strange to notice the sensations through a slowly spreading haze of lust. Zuko felt frozen, yearning for something, some contact, but too overwhelmed by the implications to make the first move. Jet grinned, sensing the inner struggle.
"Just close your eyes."
Zuko glanced down the alley and seeing that it was still clear, he took a shaky breath and let his eyes flutter closed. There was a pause and then warm arms sliding around his neck and a pair of soft but firm lips pressed to his.
Zuko thought Jet told him to close his eyes to disguise the fact he was kissing another boy but if anything it only accentuated it. The wild flavor of his barley-chapped lips, the way he pressed Zuko back against the wall with an experienced certainty, holding him up and down at the same time.
The unmistakable swell pressed firmly against Zuko's inner thigh…
All of it rushed through Zuko in an instant and he surprised himself by moaning into the contact and the sudden spike of need striking through his core. He did not know he could experience that sort of rush with a guy and he felt himself responding, pushing up against Jet's weight, kissing back with a desperate intensity that reflected the long years of isolation. His banishment left him sorely lacking in more than one department.
Jet chuckled, making their kiss vibrate before he pulled back for a real laugh.
"I knew it, I knew you needed this," Jet gloated.
Zuko wanted to snarl something back but could not quite get his breathing under control with Jet's hips still grinding hard into his. He felt wild, out of control, something unlocked in him that he had been denying for so long there was no way to recage it.
He grabbed Jet's hair and tugged him close, kissing him again while his other hand gripped at his clothes, pulling at them to gain some purchase. Jet went right along, kissing back and putting an edge of teeth into it; his hand slithered between them and dipped beneath Zuko's belt, tugging at the knot.
Zuko wordlessly helped him undo it, letting out a soft surprised gasp when Jet's warm, rough palm wrapped around his cock. He gripped it tightly but it was not too much and once he began to move Zuko was glad for his reassuring weight holding him against the wall.
"How long has it been, Lee?" Jet murmured, his voice low and husky.
Zuko could barely speak, his hips were twitching against Jet, completely given over to the steady pulling rhythm of the hand.
"I – I've never…"
"What? Been with a guy or gotten a handjob?"
"Neither…"
"I'm honored, in that case we should go somewhere better than this alley –"
"I swear, if you stop right now I'll-"
"Don't worry, I got it. There's nothing wrong with a couple of friends helping each other out, right?" As Jet said it he took Zuko's wrist and guided his hand over his groin.
Zuko felt dizzy grabbing the heated length through his clothes, feeling it grow and twitch beneath his palm and feeling Jet tense and press close.
"See? It can be nice."
They both tugged one another, grinding against each other, friction and calluses pulling exquisite shocks of pleasure through their cocks.
"Fuck!" Jet growled and without warning he dropped to his knees. He licked at the head of Zuko's cock, one hand going down to continue pumping his own. Zuko gasped and grabbed at Jet's hair, shocked by how forward he was being.
His shock did not last long as Jet enveloped him in his mouth, bobbing his head and sucking hard. He obviously had experience, automatically covering his teeth with his lips and taking his time licking up the underside and sucking at the sensitive head.
Zuko felt the need in him roar in approval, and he pulled Jet deeper on his cock, delighted and impressed when he opened his throat and steadily took him in all the way. He bobbed there, letting Zuko's penis press into the tight confines of his throat before pulling back to breathe and lap hungrily at the head.
Jet only had to bob his head four times before Zuko grabbed him and shoved deep, until his wiry hairs pressed against Jet's nose and he shook as thick white coils of pleasure surged through him. Jet let him come in his mouth but pulled back and finished milking him with his hand, slowly standing as he pumped the last spurts of come from Zuko's cock.
Zuko felt boneless and heavy and as he slowly opened his eyes, he witnessed Jet pumping his hand up and down on his cock.
Feeling motivated by the sight, Zuko took ahold of Jet's penis, moving his hand the same way Jet did, finishing what he started.
Jet groaned, moving his hips in time with Zuko, bracing his hands on the wall behind him once more.
"Faster," Jet grunted out, knowing he was almost there.
Zuko obliged and within a moment felt Jet's warm release on his hand. As Zuko watched Jet's face slack in bliss, he suddenly felt powerful, and that was not something he felt in a very long time since his banishment. Wiping his hand against the wall, he then righted his pants, Jet following suit a few seconds later.
They finally caught each other's eyes and instead of any awkwardness or rejection, Jet was grinning like the cat-owl that got the cream. It was enough to crack a rare smile out of Zuko too. Jet slapped an arm over his shoulders and together they walked out of the alley as if nothing had happened. As if nothing had changed.
Their brief interlude only happened a few more times, and just when Jet was on the cusp to asking for something more long term and just when Zuko was sensing something on the horizon, Jet witnessed Zuko's uncle warm his tea with his bare hands and from that moment on, Jet vowed to expose him for who he really was.
As Jet looked at the man in front of him now, he shook his head, amazed at how fate like to twist things around.
"So you and Katara, huh?" he inquired Zuko.
Zuko brought his eyes up to look at him. "Yeah."
Jet shook his head again, putting a hand on the doorknob. "Gotta say, didn't see that coming," and with those words, Jet entered the bedchamber, shutting the door behind him.
"Neither did I," Zuko whispered.
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After some time, Katara started adding the fire whiskey into her cooling tea. As she sat in a chair next to a vanity, her feet propped up on the surface, she was just bringing the cup to her lips when she heard a distinct tapping pattern on the wall.
Seeing as how only two people, herself included, knew about the secret passageways throughout the palace and still used them, Katara braced herself.
"Come in," she called out quietly.
Zuko emerged from behind the wall, closing the pseudo door behind him.
"Hey."
Katara looked down into her cup. "Hey."
Zuko walked over to her bed and took a seat. His eyes landed on the bottle of alcohol resting on the vanity.
"Having a nightcap?"
She took a sip. "Something like that," Katara replied, glancing his way.
"Mind if I partake?"
Katara shrugged, picking up the bottle to pass it over. Zuko grasped it by the neck and took a long swig.
"What a day, huh?" Katara asked, looking down into her cup again.
Zuko swallowed, watching her face take on a contemplative expression.
"Indeed," he agreed.
Katara used her free hand to swirl the contents in her cup with waterbending, thinking. "Zuko," she started, then paused. "You surprised me. I didn't think you would go along with Jet's idea."
Zuko wondered why he did as well. He figured, at the heart of the matter, he was curious. Then the next thought was, if he could have relations with them both at separate times, would combining them make it all work out a second time around, having Katara act as some sort of catalyst? He knew he hurt them both, but he could not help being Fire Nation anymore than the rain could be wet. If someone were to ask him if he could go back and change it, he did not think he would want to. However, it did not change how he felt about them in the past or how he still felt lingering attraction to Jet; and his newfound lust for Katara was borderline all consuming.
Instead, he told her, "I didn't, either, but he did have a point," almost begrudgingly. "And I don't want to get in the way if you wanted to pursue something with him."
"So I should take him up on this whole dating both of you deal?"
Zuko merely shrugged.
Katara stopped waterbending her drink to spare him a look. "What if, down the road, he wants more than I can give?"
Zuko stood up, walking the couple of feet from where she sat, coming to a stand in front of her. He placed the bottle back on the vanity before grasping the arms of her chair, effectively caging her in from the waist up.
"Open your legs," he demanded, voice low.
Katara's cheeks tinged pink, her eyes widening. "How does that answer my question?"
"Do it and find out."
Katara put her cup down without looking for her eyes were locked on his, doing what he instructed.
Zuko briefly glanced down to take note of the splits on the sides of her dress. He reached with one hand to push the flap of material from between her legs to atop her left thigh. He licked his lips, his nose catching a very familiar scent.
Zuko tugged on her bottom sarashi wraps, knowing which corner to pull in order to have it unravel just enough to show off the source of the smell. He then knelt down and nudged his head in, sliding his tongue along her slit in one, languid drag of his tongue.
"Zuko!" Katara moaned as she immediately placed a hand on the back of his head. She knew from recent encounters how much he liked to give oral. He once told her, after a meeting, that he would rather have his mouth be put to better use than talking about politics and diplomacy. When she had asked what he meant, he showed her later in his bed.
Four times.
As it were, Zuko was letting his tongue get a workout on her and Katara did not mind in the least. She pushed his head forward, her back arching up out of the chair. He kept at it for a solid twenty minutes, if the candle-clock on her nightstand was indication, before finally pulling away, licking his lips of remnants.
"That's just it, Katara, you always have enough to give," Zuko replied, standing up. "Not just physically, but emotionally too," he went on to say as he pulled off his other robe, and then his tunic.
Katara watched through a cloud of post-orgasm, her mind barely registering what he said.
"That's something we have in common," she commented after a moment as she stood. "For as long as I've known you, even before we were friends, you'll never give up… "
"… Without a fight," Zuko finished for her, smiling a tad.
Katara tugged on the tie that held his pants up, noticing the bulge within them.
"We should take care of this."
Zuko grinned. "Oh, we shall, but first," he asserted before lifting her up, to which she let out a squeal, carrying her over to the bed, plunking her down on it. "I need to finish my dessert."
That night he proved to her that she was a giver through and through; and he convinced himself that he would not lose.
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The following morning, Katara awoke to sunshine in her face, then her eyes as she opened them blearily. When she was able to focus, she noticed Zuko was gone, which was something she was used to by then. Being the Fire Lord did not allow many mornings to sleep in.
Katara sat up, running a hand through her tangled mass of hair. After trying to untangle most of it with her fingers, she gave up and pushed the covers aside to climb out of the bed.
She collected her robe that hung on the back of the vanity chair, catching her reflection in the mirror.
Katara's cheeks reddened at the sight in front of her as she slowly shrugged on the garment. Her hair was a mess, despite trying to tame it, the kohl she used around her eyes was smeared and she counted not one, but five bite marks scattered over her neck, right shoulder and atop one breast.
Katara fleetingly wondered why Zuko gave her body such extra treatment last night. However, she had a suspicion that it had something to do with their unexpected guest yesterday.
She glanced at the armoire behind her, thinking about which outfit was the most conservative to wear.
But first, she needed to wash up.
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Feeling presentable and ready for the day, Katara emerged from her bedroom and walked down the hall. Seeing that it was almost midday, she hoped the kitchen was ready to serve lunch, or at least a snack.
When she entered the dining area, the sight before her gave her pause.
There at the table sat her current lover and her ex-crush, both laughing at something, the plates in front of them long since devoid of food. They laughed like they were old friends, which Katara found mystifying because Zuko never said anything outside of his first meeting with Jet on the ferry all those years ago, and Jet only stated how he knew Zuko was Fire Nation hiding in plain sight in Ba Sing See all those years ago.
In unison, their mirth quelled when they noticed her standing in the entrance. It was unnerving having their undivided attention, but Katara pressed on and passed by the two guards posted at the door to take a seat on Zuko's left since Jet was on the right.
"Good afternoon, Katara," Jet quipped with a smirk. "Sleep well?"
Katara jolted inwardly, panicked that he could somehow see through her high collar, long sleeved dress at the marks on her body and just know what kept her in bed for so long. She gave a quick glance at Zuko, who shook his head ever so slightly.
Relaxed, she said, "Can't be helped, I grew up in the South Pole," as way of an explanation.
Zuko's face was impassive as he signaled a servant over who was hiding somewhere in the dark recesses of the dining room. They bowed, asking their lord what they requested. Zuko told them to bring another round of lunch and right away, the servant bowed again, collected the empty plates and left silently, almost mysteriously.
Katara did not think she could get used to that way of life, but her stomach agreed, so she chalked it up to perks of having a good friend that was royalty. However, as she looked over at Jet, she could tell by the scowl on his face he did not care for being waited on.
"What were you guys laughing about when I came in?" Katara inquired.
They shared a look, neither one saying anything for a moment, but it was Jet in the end that spoke up.
"Just remising about the good ol' days back in Ba Sing Se."
Katara cast Zuko a look. "So you two were friends back then?"
They shared another look, which made Katara frown, not liking the idea of being left out.
"You can say that," was Zuko's cryptic reply and just then three servants came in, all carrying trays of foods and drinks, each laying different items in front of the three young adults.
As they made their departure, Jet was distracted enough to give up on the conversations as he started eating without preamble.
Katara kept her frown throughout most of lunch since the guys seemed more interested in the food than telling her anything else.
Just when Katara was working up the nerve to end the silence, an advisor came in and after a brief whispered conversation with Zuko, he stood up, bidding them good-bye for now and together they left.
"That's the third time he's been called away and the day is barely half way over," Jet remarked, "how do you stand it?"
Katara shrugged, picking up the last of her potatoes with her chopsticks. "That's just how it is, and it's not like I wait around for him. I have my duties just like he does."
Jet's brow hitched. "Do you have any duties any time soon?"
"Not until the evening. Why?"
Jet stood up. "Feel like showing me around this city?"
A potato morsel fell off her sticks.
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It was surreal, showing Jet around the Fire Nation; and it was kind of ironic too. There was a time they both had a personal vendetta against the very country in which they stood. As it were, Katara showed Jet the various sites that were becoming quite the tourist attractions.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Jet asked as they walked on the stone streets.
"What is?"
"How beautiful this place can be on the outside but internally it's a whole different story," Jet said, passing by a man trying to swindle potential customers into playing a game of chance with the three cups and a rock challenge.
Katara glimpsed at him from the corner of her eye. "And yet here we are, me being involved with its leader while you used to be his friend."
Jet fell quiet at that, neither denying nor acknowledging her use of the word friend. Instead, as they walked by a garment shop, he ventured inside, Katara following suit.
She let him drop the topic yet again, but she was determined to found out his history with Zuko, one way or another because she had a good hunch there was more they were not telling her.
Katara examined all the pretty colorful fabrics, most of them made in the country, but when the war ended slowly but surely other materials from around the world started to mix in with the rest.
A simple dark blue dress caught her eye and as she felt the soft sleeve, she felt a presence behind her.
"You always did look good in blue," Jet whispered, which sent a shiver down her spine. "Want me to buy it for you?"
Katara looked over her shoulder at him. "It's way too pricey."
Jet reached around her waist to pinch the price tag, letting out a low whistle. "You're right about that, but luckily for you, my job pays well, so I can."
"And what exactly do you do?" she could not help but asked. Katara never did get chance to discuss much about his life past his recovery. Last week he kept the conversation focused on her, which she found a little odd.
"Best you don't know," Jet dodged, picking the dress off the rack and walking down the aisle.
Katara huffed, rolling her eyes. Why is he being so secretive now? she thought. How was she supposed to be friends again if she could not get him to open up on even the basic things?
She made her way over to him at the counter, stating he did not need to buy the garment, but he insisted, saying that he was trying to make up for lost time. Not knowing a good enough comeback, she let him. It was just a dress anyway, what harm could it do?
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Later on they went to a quaint restaurant for an early snack, sitting on stools by the long countertop. After they gave their orders, a small noodle bowl and water for Katara and a sample size of stir-fry and tea for Jet, the latter began speaking.
"I know you have questions and I'm sorry for being tight-lipped about 'em. It's just been… difficult adjusting to all the changes."
Katara peered at him, surprised, waiting for him to continue.
Jet rubbed his chin in thought. "After the Long Feng incident, I spent roughly half a year recovering from the blow to my torso. The first few weeks were excruciating, it was like I could feel the bones mending themselves." Jet placed a hand on his chest, as if he could still feel the breaks. "I kept passing out from the pain, but thankfully, eventually, my body healed itself. Smellerbee looked so worried, so scared… Even Longshot looked uncertain, but when I came around, the relief on their faces… " Jet smiled reflectively.
"Anyway, the healer, Miki, nice lady. She let us stay at her home for a while and we all worked odd-end jobs to pay her back and to save up since we couldn't stay there forever. By then it was over a year later and Smellerbee told us she had enough money to move on, so she was the first to go, went to Omashu last I heard. Longshot was next, he left to join the Yu Yan Archers."
Jet watched the cook in the back milling around the kitchen for a moment before continuing.
"As for me, I traveled here and there, eventually making roots in a small village where I took a job as a cook. That only lasted a short while because they paid next to nothing, though the people were nice." Jet glanced her way with a grin. "My next job was a model. A lady saw me on the street and really liked my eyebrows, of all things and wanted to paint me. Did that for a while before moving onto the stolen goods market. Now that was a lucrative job. Still is, actually."
"Wow," Katara replied after a moment. By the time he laid it all out, their food was delivered, but it was forgotten about in lieu of listening to his life in the last four years. Katara noticed that he did not mention anything about Zuko, though.
She plucked a pair of chopsticks from a wooden container, breaking them apart. "So how did Zuko enter the picture?" she asked casually.
Jet's eyes darted over to her before letting them drop down to his tea, watching the steamy wisps. "We met on a ferry going to Ba Sing Se."
Katara nodded, knowing that part at least. She ate her noodles, attentive to the rest he had to say.
"I don't know what exactly drew me to him, exactly. Maybe it was the scar? I thought he was an outcast, like me, I thought he fought off a fire bender or somethin'. Anyway, on the ferry we helped liberate some good food for ourselves and the other refugees. I was impressed by his skills and for helping the people. I guess you can say I was… really determined to have him join the Freedom Fighters after that. He kept dodging me, and while I wasn't able to get him to join, we did become friends… of sorts."
Katara looked at him questionably, and he in turn gave her a smile, though it was feeble.
"We were what you two are now," Jet told her and when he saw it start to dawn on her face, he looked away. "I'll spare the details, unless you really want to know, but yeah. There you have it."
Katara stopped eating, leaving her sticks in the watery broth. "Jet… "
He simply shrugged, taking a drink from his cup. "Keep in mind I didn't know he was the prince, he went by Lee back then, but when I found out after everything we did together… All the rage and hatred came flooding back into my veins. I wanted to expose him for the fucking sheep-lamb in wolf-bat's skin that he was."
Katara understood that feeling all too well, at least she did years ago when she was naive and had misplaced her sympathy in the wrong person. However, things changed and she became friends with Zuko and because of a drunken night, something more.
Shaking her head of her straying thoughts, she said, "I understand, ya know, probably more than anyone. He definitely has a way of grabbing your attention, even when you don't want to be drawn to him." She smiled wistfully. "Something you two have in common, I might add."
Jet smirked at that. "Oh really? Are you saying you're still attracted to me?"
Katara looked away, a blush staining her cheeks.
Intrigued, Jet faced her on the stool, placing a hand on her knee. "It's okay if you are, Katara. You're only human." He edged his hand ever so slightly up her thigh. "But if you truly aren't feeling the pull between us, tell me to stop," he challenged.
Katara swallowed. "I… This isn't right, is it?" she asked, turning to look at him. "I shouldn't feel a desire for you anymore, but I do. I didn't want to admit it because it feels like I'm betraying him."
Jet removed his hand, giving her a thoughtful look. "Katara, he betrayed you first. He betrayed both of us, so why? Why are you with him?"
She sighed. "It's like you just said, I'm only human. And he really has changed. You've seen him, talked to him. Can you really tell me differently?"
"But-"
"But nothing, Jet," Katara cut him off. "It's contradicting to expect me to give you a second chance when you're not giving him one."
That made Jet fall silent for a while.
"You got me there," he finally admitted. "So does this mean you really are giving this a try with me?"
Katara tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I guess so."
"Good, because I really want to kiss you right now," Jet declared.
Katara bit her lip before giving a small nod, and that was all he needed to lean in for a kiss that was six years in the making.
It was long overdue.
.
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Katara could barely pay attention to the meeting she was in later that evening. Her mind kept replaying her outing with Jet. It started off amicable enough, but it quickly turned into a date before she realized it and when he kissed her… It was like all the residue feelings she had for him when she was fourteen unleashed inside her and she freely gave into the appeal of his lips, and then his hands he used to pull her out of the eatery, lightly jogging to an empty alley to kiss some more. They did so much more than when they were younger, both having more experience and knowledge on where to place hands, lips, and even legs, for hers, at the time, were wrapped around his waist as he pressed her into the wall, grinding their sexes together.
Their clothes stayed on, but it did not stop Katara from getting off anyway when Jet kept kissing her lips and running his hands along her thighs and butt. It was quiet euphoric, but the spell was broken when he started to tug her dress collar down. She stopped him, saying she was going to be late for her meeting if they did not quit. He had let out a sigh, gently lowering her back onto her feet. He gave her a nip on her ear and then whispered in it to visit him later at the Agni Inn that night. She had asked why he did not simply stay at the palace and for that, he just gave her a look.
Which brought her to another train of thought. If Jet and Zuko used to be together, it would explain why things were tense upon their first meeting yesterday, but just that morning they were laughing, so Katara wondered what that was all about. Even more pressing was how well she accepted it when she felt like she should feel something else entirely. Jealousy? Hurt? Confused? She was definitely at a loss.
What a mess we are, Katara thought, catching Zuko's eye from the head of the table. One of the first things he changed upon his inception as Fire Lord was the removal of the dais, stating he was not above his people nor did he want to figuratively and literally look down on them.
He gave her a tiny smile before averting his attention to the leading merchant of Gaoling, who was going over new exports from his country he was willing to trade for Fire Nation goods.
Katara did not return his smile, shame bubbling up within her.
When the meeting wrapped up, Katara intended to make her escape with the others, trying to blend in with the handful of merchants from around the world exiting the room.
"Ambassador Katara, a word," Zuko called out.
Katara cursed inwardly, plastering on a neutral face as she turned back around to walk over to him. She heard the doors closed, the sound echoing around the room.
"What's up?" she asked.
Zuko stood up, clasping his hands behind his back. "Enjoy your date today?"
Katara's eyes widen. "How did you-"
"Find out?" he finished as he walked toward her. "Overheard a couple of servants gossiping in the hall, one saying something along the lines of, 'the young lord's friend, the waterbender, was seen kissing some guy at that noodle place,' and then, 'I thought she was with the avatar?'" He stood in front of her, his expression unreadable. "And the last snippet I heard was, 'nah, that ended long ago, I always thought she left him to be with our lord, but never mind that huh?' So, I ask again, did you enjoy your date?"
Katara looked up at him, biting her lip. "I…"
Zuko reached out slowly to cup her redden cheek, his thumb ghosting over her bottom lip. "Wasted no time, huh?" he asked, his eyes alight with interest and something else she had no words for.
"But you said you were okay with it," Katara said around his digit.
"I know… Just didn't expect things to go that far," Zuko confessed, moving his hand to grasp her chin. "How did he kiss you? Was it like this?"
He leaned in to kiss her chastely before she could answer.
"Or was it more like… " he trailed off to press his lips firmly on hers, sliding his hand to the back of her neck to pull her closer.
"Zuko… " Katara started but never finished since Zuko effectively cut her off, maneuvering her to lean back against the long table, following her down.
She sub-consciously parted her legs to accommodate his body on top of hers, groaning at the feel of his tongue entering her mouth, letting it slide back and forth against hers.
There was something nagging her through the haze of desire, however, and when she pushed at his chest, Zuko immediately pulled back. When she looked into his, she saw so much heat in them and it finally clicked.
"You still have feelings for him," Katara stated softly.
For a second Zuko looked confused, but it connected for him too and it propelled him off of her.
Katara sat up, glad she was able to put all the pieces together.
"He told you."
She nodded. "Yeah, he did."
Zuko let out a frustrated growl, running a hand through his hair. Or at least, he tried to, but was impeded by his crown. Annoyed, Zuko pulled the pin that held it in place and tossed it, along with the crown itself, to floor.
"This is all so fucked up," he acknowledged, taking a seat in his chair.
Katara slid off the table to sit in a chair next to him. "You can say that again. So where do we go from here?"
Zuko shot her a bemused look. "Hell if I know," he told her honestly, letting out a sigh. "Sure could go for a drink right now, though."
"Isn't that what got us into this mess?" Katara chastised before breathing out a sigh of her own. "Oh, who am I kidding… It's my fault for agreeing to this situation."
Zuko shook his head. "That's not true."
"Isn't it?" she questioned.
"No. You can't help how you feel, Katara. No more than I can… "
Katara placed a hand on his. "I think there's one question we should ask ourselves honestly before this spirals out of control."
"And what would that be?"
She squeezed his hand before letting go. "Who do we want to truly be with?"
.
.
Jet was reading a scroll about a young warrior that fell in love with a peasant girl from a faraway land; and just when Jet was reading about the night they were finally going to consummate their love, there was a knock on his door.
"Who is it?" he called out, unrolling more of the reading material.
"It's me."
Jet felt the scroll fall out of his hands.
.
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A/N: Chapter title credits goes to Banks's "Waiting Game."