A. N. : I don't know if any of you have noticed, but there has been something going on with the titles of each chapter in this arc. It was accidental at first, but you know me, when I see something looking like a theme... well, it had become harder and harder to find appropriate titles with this constraint, but thankfully, as of last week, this arc was officially completed in my notebook - along with the notebook. That makes it 6 ! And also 6 more chapters after this one... Funny how these things work out. Now instead of suffering over titles I'll just suffer over everything else haha
Jet looks like he's about to snap.
From the second the doors closed, his posture changed and turned defensive. Tense. Alert and ready to answer any threat – no, anticipating these threats. Zuko could see his eyes go from the main building to the forge, to the wall, taking in the situation.
This is not that. This is focus, hands gone from nervous to perfectly still, slow breathing. The same pace, but a body just slightly lower, footsteps just slightly lighter. Like a puma-cat about to pounce.
Like a killer.
It's the first time Zuko has seen him like that, calm and composed and cold-blooded. He's seen Jet murderous before, but it was always in a fit of rage, guided by nightmares and fear, or almost mechanical from reflexes and instinct. But this – this is calculated, cold, and definitive.
It reminds Zuko of Azula, when she decided her firebending teacher needed to go and planned for ways to get him fired. Of father's calm walk toward Zuko, pace steady, sure, and he slowly lifted his hand and –
And Zuko takes two large steps and breathes, for the love of Agni, breathe, and he places himself between Jet and Master Piandao – between Jet and another mistake, one Zuko can stop for once.
If Jet sees Master Piandao as a threat, Zuko will prove him it's not the case. If Jet attacks anyway, Zuko will be prepared to stop him. Hopefully he won't have to resort to drawing his swords.
He glances back at Jet, who seems – surprised and a little taken aback, but is hand is on his dagger still.
Zuko calls to Master Piandao, who turns his head and looks at him, and Zuko – Zuko feels a little shy all of a sudden, like he is five again, hoping to not disappoint. But he can't pay attention to that, not now, so he says it's been a long time and ignores Katara's strangled gasp and Toph's snicker, and he can't look but he hears Jet's steps abruptly stop.
This is either really good or really, really bad.
But Master Piandao answers before Jet can do anything too stupid – he smiles gently and yes, it has indeed been long, Prince Zuko and you've grown a lot, and Zuko feels his throat tighten and he can't help but scratch his neck in embarrassment.
He really feels like a child again.
Katara is gaping at him like a dying fish. Master Piandao has stopped walking now, and he seems to think for a moment – his eyes focus somewhere in the distance, Zuko notices, to where Jet is – and he offers that all of them come in to have some tea – Phat can take the meteorite to the forge, though a little help from the earthbender would be appreciated. Toph of course takes this as a challenge to do everything by herself, and Phat can only jog behind her while shouting directions.
The Avatar only then seems to notice something happened, because he takes one look at Toph, then turns back to the rest of them and he guesses they're not hiding anymore ? And that unfreezes Katara, who shakes her head – no, apparently they aren't – and gives Zuko a very pointed look. The one that says you have some explaining to do young man. Zuko is sure that's the one, Mother did the exact same that one time he skipped class as a kid. It had been history, and since he was hopelessly terrible at it anyway, he had figured he might as well use that time to try and practice his bending.
He never did that again. It just wasn't worth it.
He is however not about to explain Jet before making sure no murder will be attempted today – somehow, he feels like talking about it would jinx everything – so instead he settles for a hesitant remark on the White Lotus tiles all over the mansion – not a lie, he wouldn't have dreamed of doing this if not for these patterns and that spirits damned old people club, but it still feels close to one and he stumbles on the words way too much to be convincing.
Thankfully – mercifully – Master Piandao interrupts him before he can dig himself deeper – by cooing over Lin. Apparently he heard about her through the White Lotus grapevine and is delighted to meet her. She is tied to Zuko's back. Master Piandao is making baby noises right next to Zuko's ear. This is incredibly embarrassing. And awkward.
If Jet decides he still wants to go through with that murder, Zuko is honestly thinking of joining him.
Anything to make this stop.