A. N. : It's Jet time ! You're all allowed to think "ah shit, here we go again", I'll be honest, that was my reaction too. It had been a while though, he's getting better... I think ? Somewhat ? (Recovery Isn't Linear, I tell myself continuously while trying not to give up on him.) Anyway, today's title has been brought to you by Apollo ! God of divination among other things, one of his attributes is the laurel. Also, fun fact, one of the current theories regarding the Pythia (oracle of Delphis) has her inhaling oleander smoke... and as it stands, oleander in French is called "laurier-rose", literally rose-laurel. We've come full-circle on the Apollo thing ! (Another reading would be that laurel, especially laurel wreaths, is a symbol of victory. If it ends up in smoke, well... that's not a good sign now, is it ?)

Jet can't believe he has to explain that.

Or, no, he can believe it, he just wishes he didn't have to. Sokka probably knows already, he's not stupid – just blinded by how much he cares about that Suki girl, and Jet gets it, but he can't let Sokka sacrifice them. Not for love, not for anything, and especially not for nothing.

There is no way in hell the targets, date, and place just so happen to be the most inconvenient to them. Why get rid of Mu – the Dragon of the West now ? Why not earlier ? And at the same time as a girl who got captured months ago ?

Whatever is waiting in Tenuht might be an execution ground, but it's theirs.

This is a trap, designed for all of them – maybe even counting Aang, Jet can't be sure, but right now he'd rather consider the worst possible outcome so that they don't all die. If they send two people, no, even three, even if one is Toph, these three won't make it. They'll fail, and die, for nothing.

It's not worth it.

The second Jet finishes talking, Zuko loses it – he jumps to his feet, grabs Jet by the collar, and starts screaming that he doesn't care if it's a trap, there's no way he can abandon his uncle, and he doesn't care if he has to go save him alone –

And Jet hears that, kind of, from very far away, but there's a screaming, angry firebender in his face, with hands that are burning hot and way too close to his neck and he can't think – he's going to die, if he doesn't do something he will die, using his swords in this position is too awkward to be efficient he needs to put some distance between him and the firebender – ashmaker – death –

He thrusts his palm upwards, strikes the throat – no breath no fire less dead kids – takes advantage of the momentum to rise from his knees, puts a foot forward, grabs a sword and –

Freezes. Not – not literally, Katara's water is still at her hands, too slow to stop him if he – if he –

Fuck.

Sokka grabs Jet in a chokehold, drags him back, and that stupid bird screams and flaps its wings at about the same time as Toph creates a wall in front of him – they were on time, they would've stopped him if he hadn't already, they wouldn't have let him –

Ah, the map is ruined. Pieces of it are falling down, whatever survived being stomped on by Zuko was torn up by Toph's rocks. They'll have to buy a new one.

Lin is crying. Probably from the shouting. Zuko had left her near Appa during the emergency meeting. If he'd been holding her, maybe he wouldn't have been so quick to anger, or maybe Jet would've managed to keep his head and not –

Breathe. In – and out.

Jet gently taps Sokka's arm – he can let go now, Jet won't say it's fine but he's, he calmed down – and Sokka seems to hesitate a bit – he's shaking, his breathing loud and fast, and Jet can't see his face but he's probably furious – before relaxing his hold and breathing out a very tired what the fuck.

And it's not that Jet doesn't have the answer to this – fire and death and habits – but he has no idea how to phrase that in a way Sokka would understand and not tie Jet up and throw him in a barrel for.

Zuko would understand. They're the same.

And Jet almost killed him on reflex.

He sighs. Drags his hand across his face. Fuck.

Toph lowers her wall, letting Jet see the rest of them again – Zuko is holding a hand to his throat, looking like he's choking and hurt. Katara is offering to heal him. Aang went to Lin and is currently doing his best to calm her down, like the somewhat decent babysitter he's grown into. Toph's face is rock hard, fists closed tight, probably ready to punch anyone who even dares think about doing something stupid.

Not that Jet was thinking.

He should probably keep his mouth shut, not add fuel to the almost literal fire, but he doesn't have this luxury. Planning under time constraints is awful, even more when whatever he comes up with won't be blindly followed, or when there isn't any good solution.

They have to make a choice.

Sokka grabs Jet's ear and twists it – don't you think you've done enough already – but Jet refuses to stop now. They can't do both, the invasion and the rescue, that's just sending people to die a useless death, and Sokka knows it.

Either they all go and follow the plan they've outlined for over a month now, the plan that's putting dozens of lives on the line – or they all willingly step into a trap and save two prisoners that will certainly die otherwise. Anything else and the rescue will end in a massacre.

Jet doesn't say what he thinks should be the only right thing to do – not a good thing, but right.

For one, abandoning the invasion plan without so much of a warning to the others is fucking dirty, not even talking about how that would mean letting slip their best chance at finally putting an end to the war, at finally bringing what he deserves to the Fire Lord. It's obvious what the right choice is.

For two, he doesn't want a repeat of Zuko's outburst. Hell knows how that would end.

If Zuko doesn't bail on them to go on a suicide mission on his own, Jet will have to apologize. He's not sure if the fact he didn't actually want to hurt Zuko makes things better or worse.

Still. Jet can't decide for the others, not like back then, not even if there's only one correct option. The others, bar Zuko, will follow Sokka. That much is obvious. Jet just hopes Sokka will be able to put his emotions aside for once.

And as for Zuko – well. Jet already lost his trust, if not back in Awa, then definitely with today's stunt. If he has to guilt Zuko into staying alive, has to twist his will and bend his thoughts and won't you think of Lin –

If it comes down to this, there is only one right choice. Even if it means betraying both Zuko, and Jet's best attempts at being decent, even if Jet will be forever hated for that.

Jet will not let someone he cares about die anymore.