A. N. : I finished this chapter at like, 1:30 am. I regret nothing. But I really wanted to post it this week. Side note - this chapter was supposed to be lighter, but then everything changed whan Jet hijacked it. Curse you Jet.

The Jasmine Dragon opens today.

Jet is stretching his arms, still trying to get used to the uniform and those damn long sleeves. At least he doesn't have to wear the hat.

Mushi probably knows the counter by heart now, but he keeps looking at it adoringly, touching each teapot, one by one, playing with the spark-rocks, like a child discovering a new toy.

Now if only Li was here.

Jet sighs. His jaw still hurts from Smellerbee's punch, but at least it didn't leave any obvious mark. Damn. She was – angry doesn't cut it – she was furious. How could he hide something like that from her. From them – Longshot's disappointed stare hurt like hell.

But they were right.

After that fuckup at Gaipan he promised to tell them if he risked slipping again. But he didn't explain what happened at the station. Didn't talk about the sparks or the fire in his head or how afraid he was, afraid to burn and fucking terrified to lose his mind and kill a child.

Spirits, if they ever learn about Li they will beat him to death. Smellerbee will, at least. Longshot will just watch with these sad, sad eyes that can make a rock bleed.

To think he pitied Li for not having friends, when in fact he just has no fucking idea how to trust and not just – lie and manipulate and use people again and again and again, hurting them until they either break or leave.

Not thinking about this now. The other employees will arrive soon, and he has to show himself in control. He is in control. What happened happened, he is sorry, he will tell Bee and Longshot he's sorry as long as he needs to, and then… He'll just pray Li never slips up. Yeah.

The door opens and – well, it is another employee.

How odd to see Li with clothes that fit. He looks more noble than ever. Earth Kingdom noble, which is great. Except he's going to serve tea all day, and Jet can't wait to see him handle snobby customers with that short temper of his.

This day is going to be great.

Mushi smiles brightly, Li softens, and Jet smirks. The Jasmine Dragon opens today, and so does the gate to a new life. No more running away from his own mind, no more ash in the heart and fire in the head, and no more bending people. Well, not too much.

This is the start of a new life, full of tea, Pai Sho, food, heat, and safety.

But even as he switches between brewing and waiting tables, charming the customers with a smile and some sweet words, he can't help but be terribly bored. Safety is so overrated.

Not doing anything interesting lets his mind roam free, and that leads him to very dangerous territories, full of his kids' deaths and Katara's words and he feels so cold, spirits, he hurts when there's fire, he hurts when he's safe, it just never stops –

What the fuck is wrong with him ? Why can't he be like Smellerbee or Longshot, able to accept easily a firebending war child because, hey, even if they never imagined the possibility, the kid isn't responsible for any of this, why must he be the only one to relive this fucking nightmare over and over again, without being able to escape the screams and the burns on his feet ?

Killing them all doesn't help, or just for a moment, being safe doesn't help, what's there left ?

They're cleaning up the shop and Li looks at him with tired eyes, and he knows, he is the same, and right now Jet can't talk about any of this, but someday he'll be able to do it and Li will be there to listen – he knows it, that's why he couldn't kill him, because Li is his last chance.

Mushi talks to some guy and them makes an excited announcement.

They are going to serve tea to the Earth King.