A. N. : Transition chapters are hard. But anyway, Zuko is back on track, Jet is calm, and I need to work on my scenario. So much is changing (to think I had plans. To think I dared believe a story of mine wouldn't get out of hands as I considered the consequences of actions. How naive).

Jet is sorry.

Or that's what he says. Zuko honestly doesn't care, can't care, not after that, not after Jet mimicked father's actions – and he knew exactly what he was doing, how could he –

Uncle said he needed more water and went outside with Lin, but Zuko is sure he just wants to give them some space so they can talk.

Well Jet can talk all he wants, he won't get any answer.

It took a few hours for Zuko to come back to reality. He vaguely remembers Uncle talking to Jet and convincing him not to sell them out. Other than that – a hand on his face and pain pain it burns –

No. He is not going back.

Jet is still apologizing, bowing so low his head is touching the ground, and Zuko really wants to set his hair on fire and make him pay – but it would put Lin in danger, so he resists the temptation.

He wants to see her. He doesn't know what would've happened if he didn't have to take care of her. Would his fire have died out ? Or would he have held ? He doesn't know. All he knows is she has somehow become his fuel.

Oh well. Protecting a child is a much better goal than trying to get father to love him no matter the cost. At least it isn't hopeless.

It still hurts to think about, but not as much as when he first realized the truth. Maybe he dealt with it while he was unconscious. From what he gathered, he had a lot of nightmares and – well, he doesn't remember what most of them were about. There was something about the Avatar ? And dragons too, maybe ?

Anyway, they couldn't have been worse than what he woke up to.

And yes, he might have kind of acted like an asshole by making Jet babysit Lin, but that didn't give him the right to –

To what ? Make Zuko relive the day he lost everything ? Just like Jet does when he faces a firebender ? Maybe he deserved this and Jet just wanted to get even –

But Jet is apologizing. So – not Zuko's fault. Not this time. Right ?

Right.

Now why can't Jet just shut up and leave him alone for once ?

Zuko snaps his head toward Jet, ready to kick him out if he doesn't shut his mouth and – Jet isn't bowing anymore. No, he is looking straight at Zuko, and his eyes are so honest and he says he's really, really sorry, he knows what he did is inexcusable, but he was – he was afraid.

And Zuko knows Jet isn't the type to just admit these things easily, so he must really regret. He goes on with the apology and, damn, Zuko got it already !

Jet looks startled, but before he can manage to utter an intelligible answer, the door opens on Uncle and Lin – plus Smellerbee and Longshot ? Just what time is it ?

It's midday and the two of them decided to use their lunch break to check on him. That's… nice.

And suddenly the house is full of life and Smellerbee punches him in the chest – you had us worried, you idiot – and Longshot smiles and rolls his eyes before getting into a non-conversation with Uncle. They start cooking and Zuko can finally – finally – hold Lin in his arms and she giggles and spirits, he missed her.

He sees Smellerbee snickering and she is probably thinking he looks like a doting father. She is wrong.

He can't be Lin's father, can't have that kind of power on her, wouldn't be able to bear it. And maybe it's egotistical on his part, but that's just how it is.

Lin smiles anyway.