Candrala: Obviously, I do not own Avatar or the ideas from Harry Potter tied to this story.
Chapter 8: Need a Second To Breathe
Zuko had left the dining hall immediately after Sokka's departure. He didn't feel like sitting around by himself, so he decided to take a walk. His hands were deep in his pockets as he kicked at the fallen leaves on the ground. The night was chilly, but his body heat was flexible so it didn't really affect him.
Zuko looked up, to the stars scattered haphazardly across the inky night sky. He couldn't see the moon from where he was standing but assumed it wasn't full yet. It was too dark out. Zuko perched himself on a nearby rock, resting his arm against a propped up leg.
He had royally screwed up, he knew that. How was he supposed to fix it though? He silently prayed Jet didn't come along in order to make things worse. Jet had a talent for that.
Unluckily, he turned his head towards light footsteps he had long been accustomed to. Jet was pulling at his bottom lip nervously, then, glancing up to see Zuko staring at him, he put his arms behind his head, smirking like nothing had been bothering him.
His voice was arrogant, nagging at Zuko's ears and his lack of patience that had already been slowly thinning. "Hope you and Sokka didn't have a little lovers quarrel over little ol' me." the grass that was typically between his mouth had been replaced by a toothpick but it still twirled between his lips like the grass would.
Zuko should have smiled, shouldn't have let Jet know that his snarcky comment was actually quite true. He was over with pretending tonight. Instead, he turned his head away from Jet to look at the largely lit up rock pile Boomie called his calssroom, his chin resting against his hand.
Jet nibbled curiously on his toothpick, a disinterested look covering his face. If Sokka and Zuko were fighting already, it was only more fuel for his fire. He would have Zuko back in no time at this rate. Shoving his hands in his pockets and poking his hips forward, Jet made a sort of grunting sound. "What kind of boyfriend is if he gets upset about you just talking with me, anyway?"
Zuko turned his head towards Jet, who was now rubbing the tip of his index finger into his toothpick, wiggling it around more. Zuko smiled, thankful it was hidden behind his fist. Jet had some qualities Zuko could still apreciate. "Because you're a pompous ass." He quoted himself from when he had tea with his uncle and Sokka.
Jet looked at him with a sort of look that seemed to say 'well duh'. He scuffed his foot into the dirt of the path, kicking up a pebble, bouncing it off the bridge of his foot and bringing his leg forward in time to kick it against a tree. "So? Never stopped you."
Zuko sighed, running his fingers though his hair. "First of all, he isn't my boyfriend. Second of all, he probably thought you were going to destroy me or something."
Jet's eyes widened, making him seem almost mystified as he kicked up another pebble and casually bounced it off his ankle towards Zuko. Zuko swatted the pebble away. It was quiet for a few more minutes.
"I..." Jet ran his fingers through his bed mused hair, embarrassed that he was going to even admit this, "I told him I wanted to watch you burn into tiny pieces." His voice was barely audible now.
Zuko's lips pursed and his eyes widened, slightly startled by the news Jet had just shared with him. No wonder Sokka had hesitated leaving the hallway today. He would have been terrified too. Zuko cleared his throat, rubbing at the back of his neck awkwardly. "Well... that would explain his suspicions."
Jet nodded slightly, kicking a pebble into his hand. He tossed in his palm lightly, letting his fingers run over it's smooth surface. "It was out of envy. He has what I want."
The two hadn't noticed, but Sokka had been walking down the same exact path, to the same exact location. He had heard voices and scurried over behind a tree, the same tree that Jet had kicked the pebble at earlier. Now as he peered out, all he could see was Jet tossing a rock in his hand and Zuko just sitting there. He screamed inwardly at Zuko, 'You dumbass! He's about to throw that rock at you!'
Zuko ran his hand tentaively over his scar, not seeming to care what Jet had to say anymore. Jet advanced on him slowly, still tossing the rock in his hand. Sokka stiffened as Jet got closer to Zuko. His throat made this weird bubbling sound from his inward panic and he bolted.
Jet was on the rock Zuko sat on now, leaning farther in. Sokka scooped up a handful of rocks as he ran towards them and began his assualt. Rocks flew across the night sky and hit their target, amazingly, accurately.
Jet hissed, covering his head and screeching, "What the fuck!" He hopped off the rock beside Zuko and turned, facing Sokka. "You fucking creep! What is wrong with you?" Sokka steadied his feet into the ground, signaling he wasn't going to back down.
Jet looked back at Zuko, whose face had been possed by readible amazement. Jet clicked his tongue, spinning on his heel and running back up to the school. He wasn't done. He would get them back.
Sokka watched Jet run up the path. When he was gone, Sokka sank to the dirt, a large gasp of breath exiting his mouth. He hadn't even realized he hadn't been breathing that whole time.
Zuko smiled at him genty. He wasn't sure if he should approach Sokka but he suspected this was his way of forgiving him. Still, he stayed perched on his rock, watching Sokka catch his breath.
Candrala: I apologize for the shortness.
