*Almost forgot the important disclaimer! I don't own any of the characters mentioned. Whether their from the show, or the real world. I did this for fun. It's actually the first story I've had the nerve to post. Characters a mostly OC, a bit of my alter ego's might slip in here and there. I ask that any reviews be clean. I hate it when people just send stuff on how stupid it is or was. I often ask "How is that helpful?" Also flames on the pairings or how Emotional Aang might be will be totally ignored. This is a Zutara story, I never cared for KatAang even when the show was going on. Aang will grow up I promise so please bare with me. Any helpful suggestions are appreciated. All haters and flamers please take your mean reviews and use them to thaw your cold hearts.*
The club was large. Music blared as Katara sat with Suki waiting for Toph and Zuko to come on. Suki was ecstatic because another friend of theirs Jet had managed to get into town just in time. "He travels around in this banged up old RV, he calls the rust bucket. He is a tattoo artist by trade, but he could make a living playing the base." Suki explained as the lights dimmed and the announcer called out the band name "J Z T". Toph sat behind the drums looking confident as always. She wore a dark green shirt that tied behind her neck with black jeans and of course no shoes. Zuko seemed to be adjusting everything from his guitar strap to the microphone. Katara then noticed a small part a tattoo on his arm sneaking out from under his shirt. And the face Katara didn't recognize had to be Jet. His dark hair looked like a messy, fussy Afro. He wore a burnt orange tee shirt with black leather pants and black leather boots on his feet. He smirked with a toothpick in his mouth as he held his base waiting for Zuko to stop fidgeting.
Katara felt herself blush as he glanced her way and wink. Suki snorted and whispered into her ear, "don't let him bother you. Jet is a major player sometimes." Katara turned so she was nose to nose with Suki and smiled. "Do I detect a bit of jealousy?" Suki laughed and play shoved her closer to the stage till they were looking right up at Zuko. Suki wore a emerald green tank top that read "I'm with the band". Zuko smiled down at them and nodded before he spoke into the mike. "Hello Aunt Wu's!" The crowd screamed and cheered. "We're J Z T, get ready to rock! This first song was written by my base player here Jet. The bastard still wont tell me what possessed him." The crowd snickered as Jet rolled his eyes and body away before speaking into his mike. "I told you Z..." he paused for dramatic affect. "You." Everyone laughed as Zuko flipped his friend the bird.
Soft base cords began to play as Toph joined in on the drums. Zuko began to play and sing.
'I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his-chest
Now, he takes off her dress
Now, letting me go
And I just can't look its killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr Brightside
I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his-chest
Now, he takes off her dress
Now, letting me go
Cause I just can't look its killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr Brightside
I never...
I never...
I never...
I never...'
During the song Katara felt a strong emotion from the base player. The look on his face was pensive yet sad. Zuko sang beautifully, Katara wondered if he'd ever taken voice lessons. After a few more sets the band left the stage and recorded music from the DJ booth resumed playing. Zuko, Toph and Jet joined Suki and Katara at the booth. Suki hugged Jet who sat next to her, "You guys where awesome! That song you wrote Jet is the best opener!" Jet returned the embrace before he asked as he motioned to Katara, "and who is this lovely creature?" Then Jet grimaced and sunk a little deeper into the seat. Katara felt the earth settle under the table.
"She's my friend and roommate, Jet-lag. Hands and eyes off." Toph spat as she took a swig of her drink. The group laughed and talked for a good portion of the night. They walked out of the club and Katara glanced at her cell only to find eighty six new texts and fifteen missed calls. A slight growl escaped Katara's lips. Toph smiled, "Something the matter Sweetness?"
"Just Aang. Eighty six texts and fifteen calls. I'm getting a little sick of it." Suki put a supportive arm on Katara's shoulder. Toph nodded and Zuko scowled slightly. Jet put another toothpick in his mouth. "Then why not dump him?" Zuko cuffed him while Suki glared as she responded. "Because Jet, it's just a hitch in their relationship. They've been together for almost five years." Jet "tsked" as he rubbed his head. "Time to cut and run I say. Being tied down is never fun..."
"Funny since that song you wrote makes it sound like you want to be tied." Katara replied annoyed with the whole conversation. Jet smiled through his toothpick. "Yea, there is one girl I'd quit my nomad lifestyle for. But she made it clear, I was a one time thing." Zuko glanced at his friend with a raised eyebrow, "and who would that be?" Jet smiled in return, though Katara saw the raw sadness in it. "It doesn't matter any more. We still gonna work on you back tonight?" Zuko nodded yes. Suki retired for the evening, she had a business class early in the morning. Toph left too claiming, "Metal is hard enough to bend Jet-lag but you want me to see in it. Later loser!"
Jet turned towards Katara, "well lovely lady? You wanna come too?" Katara felt torn. She'd had so much fun tonight, she really didn't want it to end. But Aang was obviously panicking. Katara took a breath and nodded. They were off. Suki hadn't been kidding when she'd described Jet's RV as a beat up rust bucket. When Katara commented Jet only smiled and said it got him where he needed to go. The inside was drastically better. Fresh white linoleum floors with sandy brown walls. A small booth was next to the kitchen/cabinet/refrigerator area. A small bedroom was in the back, and the front was a regular driving area. The middle of the RV was stranger. There was a tattoo artists chair with a small cabinet that held all kinds of tools on top and inside.
Jet walked towards the bedroom, "let me get changed Z. and then we'll get started. You guys are welcome to the beer in the fridge, Z. I know you need one or two before we start." Katara turned to ask Zuko why only to be confronted with his muscular chest. He crossed the room oblivious to Katara's gaze. He had absolutely no baby fat on him. Part of his chest was also scarred by burns but it appears to have slight tribal marks making their way down to cover it. Zuko opened the fridge and Katara got a look at his back. It was stunning. The tattoo work and artistry. On his back was an epic battle between a dragon and a fox spirit it looked like. All done in tribal style is took up almost all his back. "It's beautifully done." Katara commented. Zuko turned slightly and smiled, "yea, it's Jet's baby. He just keeps adding to it every time he's in town."
Jet returned wearing an old pair of denims and a white shirt. "Okay lover lets get this started." Zuko flipped him off and laid on his stomach on the chair. Jet adjusted it accordingly and straddled Zuko's waist. "I think he secretly loves this part Tara. I mean wouldn't you want this straddling your waist." Zuko said something that was muffled by the chair and Katara couldn't help but laugh. About twenty minutes Zuko asked Katara to give him his beer. With a bendy straw Katara held it up to the hole in the chair. He took his sip and thanked her. Jet had a look of concentration as he outlined the fox with what appeared to be fire. Or lightning. Katara wasn't sure but she could tell Jet had a talent for this occupation.
She sat in the chair closest to the work chair. Next Katara's chair was a laminated book of Jet's work. She glanced through it and was amazed. "I see you prefer water tribe style art?" Jet muttered a yes and continued to tattoo Zuko's back. "Don't mind him, he goes into a trance when he works." Katara smiled and nodded. She and Zuko chatted a little while Jet muttered to himself about perfection or something. After about an hour and a half Jet stood and stretched. "OK that's all for right now." Jet bandaged Zuko's back and helped him put his shirt on. Both men sat down with beers in hand. They continued to chat for the remainder of the night.
Katara awoke in the booth near the refrigerator. It appeared she'd fallen asleep. Zuko slept in the tattoo chair on his stomach while Jet's soft snores came from the small bedroom area. She stood stiffly, her phone flashed she had a full in box and several more missed calls. As quietly as possible Katara crept outside and dialed her voice mail. The first fifteen calls were Aang either begging her to pick up, Aang getting angry she was avoiding him, or Aang apologizing for snapping, that the separation was hard on him. Two more were from her father, wondering if everything was alright because Aang had called. And the final two were from Sokka and Gran-gran. Both congratulating her for obviously going out and having some fun.
The door opened from behind her and Zuko stepped out with a cigarette in his mouth. He jumped slightly, but smiled slightly and nodded with his thumb and index finger he lit the cigarette. "Morning sleeping beauty." Katara stuck her tongue out but smiled after, " when did I pass out?"
"Not long, though I might need to rethink drinking with Jet again." Zuko replied with the cigarette in his mouth. Katara cocked her head slightly and Zuko smirked. He lifted his red shirt and on his nipples were little silver studs. Katara gasped as she gazed at his chest. Zuko lowered his shirt and rubbed his nipples lightly, "I can't decide if they itch more than they hurt."
"I'd say they hurt, they look like they hurt." Katara replied with a smile. Zuko shrugged as he took a long drag. "You'll die sooner with those you know," Katara muttered as she waved the smoke out of her face. Zuko smiled, "you sound like my cousin. He's always warning me about the side effects it'll have on my training." "Training? What kind of training?" Katara asked as she leaned against the RV. "My cousin and I train for the Nations Bending League." Katara nodded in understanding, "My brother Sokka watches those. He was so jealous when I found out I was a water bender. Said if it was him he'd own the league." Zuko nodded as he slowly inhaled and seemed to savor the smoky vapors. Katara could not help her next question. "So was that how you got your scar?" A darkness came over Zuko's eyes when he replied. "You could say that." Katara understood that his scars wasn't something Zuko wanted to talk about.