A. N. : It would seem freakouts are contagious. Thankfully, Zuko is not as far gone as Jet. Please compare this chapter to the precedent, I tried making small references with the phrasing and all.

Jet is gone.

He left with Smellerbee and yet Zuko can still see his expression, terrified and ready to kill.

He's shaking and Uncle has to pry his arms open to take the baby and try to soothe it – when did it start sobbing and just how long had Zuko been sitting there ?

His eyes drop to the ground, to the charred straw, and he has the strange urge to pick it up. But what would be the use – he can't fix this, just like he can't fix the life he's lucky to have. Can't fix his face, can't fix his honor, can't even fix a little kid's life. And if he hadn't drawn Jet's attention, nothing would have happened, the child wouldn't be in danger and –

This is all his fault.

He's going to lose Lin, just like he lost mother – why didn't he stop her – just like he almost lost Uncle – if only he'd been a little faster – just like he always lost everything.

And this time it won't be Azula, no, this time it will be Jet and he knew he wasn't safe, why did he let him close –

Uncle gets him up on his feet and he guesses they are getting on the train. Right now the world is a huge blur and the kid is in Uncle's arms – it's safer than with him – and he can't hold it to keep a grip on reality – really, he's depending on a child, how low has he sunken – but if he can just stop and think for a second –

Jet won't hurt a kid. Probably. He seems to care for them and – he was so close at the station, he could've done it then. At the time, he looked like he'd found a viper-lizard in his shoe, but he didn't move. He didn't react, which means if he acts he will think about it. The child is safe.

Zuko lets a shaky breath out – he should be more careful, this one was almost smoke – and blinks a few times, to focus on what's in front of him.

He's in a wagon. With a lot of people. Next to him, Uncle is speaking with a couple and – that baby can't be older than a few days. Did the mother give birth on the ferry ?

Speaking of children, his own – there's no use in denying his attachment to the kid at this point – is trying to escape Uncle's hold and go back to the one usually carrying it. At least the love is mutual.

Spirits, he is in deep shit, as Lieutenant Jee would say.

The child – maybe he should start calling it by its name – moves its hands in his direction and Zuko sees the sparks – so that's why. He guesses frustration can be an effective fuel.

He gestures Uncle to give him Lin before she sets his beard on fire again, and once he has her, the attention of the couple – scratch that, the attention of what feels like the whole car is on him.

The young mother smiles kindly at him, in what he supposes is understanding, and why would she –

Oh.

She thinks – like the rest of them surely – she thinks he is Lin's –

Oh. Oh no. No he's not ready for this and Uncle is looking at him, faking innocence and what did he tell them –

He would set something on fire, preferable Uncle's stupid smile, but there's a baby in the way.

Someone get him out of this nightmare.