A. N. : Long chapter today, I honestly thought about cutting it but... well, I just couldn't find a good place for that. I think it's alright like that, though. There's a lot of things to deal with right now, with the emotional fallout of the events at Tenuht and the addition of a few people to the Gaang... On the bright side, Jet isn't causing trouble for me this time ?

This is a disaster.

Sure, they're all alive, but Jet has seen enough shit to know that a technical victory doesn't mean much in the face of broken spirits.

Aang is silently handling Appa's reins, Toph is holding the hand of Sokka's girlfriend – Suki, her name was Suki, right – who stopped crying a while ago and is now just staring intensely at Sokka's unconscious body. Katara also stopped crying, but she hasn't moved from her curled up position near her brother, with Momo sleeping snug against Sokka's other side.

She didn't make a single move to heal him from his burns, not after – after Jet made her do –

He sighs.

It's not the same as Gaipan, he thinks. Back then, he'd made her use her bending to do something she didn't want to, for goals he knew she didn't agree with. Here, he – she agreed with the goal. It's not the same as making her fill the reservoir, not the same as making Longshot light the blasting jelly, not the same as twisting the both of them to drown kids.

It still doesn't feel good. He bent her the same as before, with the same promise as always – Jet will take care of everything, there's no need to shoulder all that weight and responsibility, all that's needed is to lean on him, trust in him, and let go.

But it was a lie, of course it was a lie, he can't shoulder whatever this blood-bending thing does to her, same as he can't shoulder Longshot's guilt over killing people, no matter how much he wants to.

And now Katara isn't moving, isn't bending, and there's nothing Jet can do except keep his hand on her back to ground her in this world, and remind himself that this was the right choice.

He looks away, to the back of the saddle, to Zuko and Lin and – Zuko's uncle. Not-Mushi, the same as Zuko was Not-Li. The Dragon of the West.

It makes Jet's skin crawl to think about, so much that he put that off for as long as he possibly could, until he had no choice but to face the man along with reality.

This is the Dragon of the West, the general who laid siege to Ba Sing Se for 600 days, who broke its walls for the first time in history, who has as much blood on his hands as the fucking Fire Lord.

This is Mushi, Zuko's tea-loving uncle, a man who betrayed the Fire Nation so hard he was almost executed for it, the person Jet desperately wanted to believe in when he found out about Zuko's fire and needed an excuse, anything, to live with himself when he couldn't kill Zuko.

Both of these people are as inseparable as Li and Zuko are, the same as Li was Zuko's shadow strung on the walls of Ba Sing Se, that Jet only mistook for the real thing. But where Zuko was still just a lonely kid who wanted nothing more than to be loved, even at the cost of killing, who doesn't like this spirits damned war, who didn't even have the time to do any of the terrible things his father would've pushed him to – the Dragon of the West is the Earth Kingdom's nightmare.

Jet doubts anyone in the Fire Nation can really, truly be innocent. If that was the case, these people would've long since revolted, overthrown the Fire Lord, anything. Even Zuko – even Zuko isn't innocent of trying to get rid of Aang, of the Avatar, of what little chance the world still has at putting an end to this without drowning everything and starting over.

But even if no one is innocent, Jet came to understand that there are still degrees of guilt. And the Dragon of the West stands right next to the Rough Rhinos in Jet's hierarchy of people who don't deserve to live through the war. They should pay for what they did, for all the blood and suffering and the nightmares that won't stop, even if by some miracle Aang manages to save the world.

And Jet can't reconcile this with Mushi.

He wants to puke.

Aang speaks, for the first time since they took off, says Appa is getting tired and they'll have to make a stop soon. Not enough rest after the long flight to Tenuht, and excess weight on the saddle, apparently.

That wasn't planned, but maybe it's for the best. Doesn't look like anyone is following them, not that the Fire Nation really has any way to follow a flying bison, and Jet thinks every one of them needs rest. Plus, they can actually eat something warm this way, and that's always some comfort.

Do they even have anything worth cooking in their reserves ? Somehow, Jet doubts rice crackers and cured meat will raise anyone's morale. Except maybe Lin's, but she's happy with anything even vaguely edible, so long as it isn't bitter or spicy. Not that Jet is any better on the latter front but hey, it's not his fault Fire Nation cooking tastes like literal fire.

Appa lands in a clearing, then walks some more until they're sort of hidden in the woods. There's some discussion over what to do with Sokka, whether it's better to leave him on Appa's back in case they have to fly away quickly, or if they should unsaddle Appa to let him rest as much as possible. Toph thinks Sokka would be safer on the ground, where she can see him, than on an already tired Appa, and Suki adds that she doesn't – she pauses, looks at the sword previously stuck inside Sokka, seems to count something on her hands – she doesn't think they'll be followed anyway.

Huh.

Katara disagrees – she straightened up when they landed, slowly, but didn't shake off Jet's hand at her back – and says Toph should remember that time Zuko's sister chased them all night long – and wow, that sounds shitty. Mu – the – Zuko's uncle says that he doubts his niece would give up that easily either. And Zuko –

She won't come.

Ah. Jet was wondering what was up with his silence and the way he seemed too lost in his own thoughts to really react to his precious uncle being out of harm's reach. He guesses that's the answer – there's something raw in his voice, something brittle, as he goes on. She failed, he says, it's too late now – his uncle makes a move to pat his shoulder comfortingly, but Zuko shrugs him off, and Lin makes a displeased sound.

She was scared.

The others are confused at that, Katara makes an angry and sarcastic remark, Aang scratches his head and Toph shrugs, and Jet can only think that they don't get it, they can't get it – they've never heard Zuko talk about his asshole of a father, never seen him lose himself inside his head from that, and they don't know –

Lin lets out a whimper as Zuko snaps that they don't understand and angrily gets up, shaking, and so out of it that he doesn't realize how tight his arms are around Lin and how uncomfortable she looks.

Jet makes his decision quickly.

He straightens up, claps his hands to get everyone's attention. Zuko is right, they'll settle here for the night, with Sokka down with everyone else, and let Appa rest without the saddle – he raises his hand as Katara tries to argue, not letting her interrupt, and stares straight ahead, keeping his eyes on Zuko – and speaking of rest, Jet adds softly, Zuko should hand Lin to his uncle right now, he seems tired and she seems cranky.

Zuko freezes, looks down at Lin like he'd forgotten she was there – he takes a shaky breath, loosens his grip around her body. Turns to his uncle, who welcomes Lin into his arms with a smile, and then Zuko bows down abruptly, excuses himself, and all but jumps down from Appa to run away.

Jet thinks for a second, as Aang wonders aloud what that was about, and decides to give Zuko some space for now. He'll go check on him after they've set up camp, give him the time to sort himself out and to not blow up at Jet if he doesn't want company at all.

Not that Jet thinks he will, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Especially when they've already had to take a sword out of Sokka today.

Grabbing some bags, Jet prepares to leave Appa's back as well when Suki asks Zuko's uncle if he knows why the Princess and – she glances at the forest, where Zuko disappeared – why they're so – upset ?

Zuko's uncle sighs tiredly, adjusting Lin's position to be more comfortable. It's a long story, he says, and he can't really be sure about Azula's state of mind himself, but as for Zuko, he does believe he knows the reason behind his behavior. His nephew – he looks pained, and Jet knows what he's going to say and – his nephew has been through much, after all –

No.

Four pairs of eyes and Toph's ears all focus on Jet, and he has to take a deep breath before he goes on. He doesn't – still doesn't know what to think of – of you, old man – but that's just – that's not your story to tell.

He won't get angry, he knows Zuko's uncle only means well with this, but it's – it's not his place. Zuko might tell them about it someday, or he might not, but he sure as hell wouldn't like to know someone he trusts just – talks so freely about it. Zuko has to be the one to decide who learns about it, and when, and how, or else it just – it –

Jet closes his eyes. Breathes.

Just let Zuko decide, and choose for himself, for once.

There's a beat. Zuko's uncle slowly nods, opens his mouth –

Jet jumps down with the bags.