A. N. : Headaches are a pain. But I live, so yeah, hurray. I hesitated with 'Blue beacon' for the title, but I liked the rhythm of this one better.

Smellerbee and Longshot have gone back to work.

They'll be back though. Uncle invited them over for dinner, to celebrate Zuko's recovery and the future opening of the Jasmine Dragon.

Zuko expected Jet to return to his flat, but he apparently has better things to do, like playing Pai Sho with Uncle. And he isn't too bad at it, if Uncle's comments are any indication. Not that Zuko cares – he doesn't have the patience required to play and enjoy the game.

Who would have thought Jet could have such patience ?

Lin is crawling on the ground, trying to figure out how to get on Zuko's lap, and he watches closely to make sure she doesn't get too frustrated. He doesn't want to help her too soon, though – she has to learn how to do some things on her own.

Uncle is talking about philosophy now – why ? – and Jet is apparently listening attentively – though his eyes say otherwise.

Lin sneezes – no sparks this time – and Jet grips the bucket so hard the water almost flows out. As for Uncle – he seems to have decided that it is now tea-time, and asks the two boys to make some space on the table.

They both open their mouth to ask… something – anything to help their confusion a bit – but Uncle is already outside for water, so they just shrug.

They put the Pai Sho board and the tiles away, and the silence is awkward.

Jet is wiping his hand on his shirt, even though it's probably dry by now, and Zuko looks everywhere except at him. What is he supposed to say ? Yeah, I still haven't forgiven you but Uncle apparently wants to adopt you or something so I can't really punch you in the face either, also thanks for watching over Lin when I was off being an idiot ? As if.

What he'd give for something – anything – to happen. Why can't the Avatar cause disasters when he needs it ? Well, technically he is supposed to solve them, but that kid has a gift for getting in trouble almost as great as Zuko's.

Jet plays with a tile, opens his mouth, closes it, opens it again – he swears and calls to Zuko – Li – and starts firing questions.

Li is Fire Nation. Yes. Exiled. Yes. Why ?

Zuko takes a breath.

He… disrespected someone important – don't raise the hand, no, Jet already knows too much –

He is the Blue Spirit. Yes – wait what ? How does Jet –

And he starts grinning, the moron, with a childish glee in his eyes. Talks about how he saw the wanted posters. How Longshot told him Pohuai Stronghold is full of people as good as him and yet the Blue Spirit humiliated them. How stealing from the rich is always nice, they don't deserve it anyway. And of course, he never thought it would be a Fire Nation guy, but it's Li, and it's an exile, so he can deal with it. So long as no fire is involved, at least.

And it is perplexing, hearing Jet sound so… in awe – especially about the stealing part, there's nothing to admire about that – but at the same time it feels good to have someone see some kind of worth in him.

Plus, Jet seems to think is balances the whole Fire Nation thing, and Zuko doesn't plan on bending in front of him anytime soon, so that whole thing might actually be some kind of messed up offer to stay friends. Maybe. Zuko still sucks at people, even if he gets Jet a bit better than others.

It's up to him now to know if he can bear it. If he can somehow… accept that Jet played with his mind once, and yes, if he does it again Zuko will burn him to ashes, but if he doesn't – can they still act like they did before ? Like almost normal teenagers who watch out for each other's wounds ? Hanging out, sharing food, with the occasional storytelling ?

Maybe. Maybe they can, or maybe it won't work and they will end up strangling each other. Still, it's worth a try.

Zuko nods.