A. N. : Did you know that there are fishes that live in hot water ? Like, 40-45°C ? Nature is wild.

Zuko can't whistle.

Jet thinks he's going to die. He's going to die and it will be Zuko's fault, because Zuko can't whistle and all his attempts make him looks like a drunk squirrel-frog.

It's ridiculous. Jet is going to die.

Really, all Jet wanted to do was ensure that a situation like the one at the Master's doesn't happen again. He wanted to teach codes, not how to whistle. Ah, well, on the bright side, the code part went over pretty well. Mostly.

Aang and Sokka mastered the basics real fast, even if Sokka kept complaining that he wanted to train instead, and Toph has a little trouble hitting the right notes but she has the rhythm down, which is what matters.

The sound rang a little too much in his right ear, and Jet thinks if this lasts a few more days he's going to ask Katara to take a look. Can she even heal this stuff ? It's worth a try in any case, Jet would hate to spend the rest of his life with an ear that either half-hears or hurts when it does hear, all because of a stupid pipe.

But well, he can live with it for now. And more importantly, he has Zuko and Katara to deal with and – well, Jet enjoys not getting frozen to the nearest rock, so he won't make fun of them, but seriously. Seriously.

He tries, again – three sharp notes and an undulation, the cry of a red-tailed forest dove. Zuko raises his hand instantly, while Katara stares blankly at Jet, the same as the two past hours. If it was anyone else, Jet would make her repeat the sounds to help her remember their meanings, but Katara sucks just as much as Zuko when it comes to whistling, with some added anger and frustration that makes the temperature go down way too much.

So they're all stuck repeating the same exercise over and over, probably forever.

Zuko had the correct answer again – retreat – but he still can't do it himself. Jet needs a break.

There's a hot spring half a li to his right and it's horribly tempting to just give up on these two and instead join Aang in the water. Maybe he could convince Toph to give it a try too if he carries her on his shoulders. Something tells him she would love ostrich-horse water fights.

Maybe a break would help him find a better way to teach Zuko and Katara too. And figure out how to have his talk with Zuko. Maybe that would be –

Wait. Wait wait wait – Aang is in the water !? Does that kid never think ? What if someone comes and sees his tattoos ? He better get his ass back her right the fuck now, and put some clothes on. Yes, there's no one around for now, but there's nothing stopping someone from showing up any second either, spirits damn it, Aang !

No Katara, Jet is not overreacting, this is just common sense – if they're trying to hide in plain sight, the best way to do so is to not show off the obviously-not-Fire-Nation stuff.

Sokka chimes in to agree – I hate to say it, but Jet is right – and while Jet is glad someone here actually uses his brain sometimes, it would probably have a lot more weight if it wasn't the guy fishing in a hot spring.

In any case, if Aang wants to bathe, he should do it with his clothes on. Wait, that would be just as suspicious, fuck.

Katara groans, and she looks like she wants to strangle Jet while also knowing he is right. She doesn't say it though, instead calling Aang to help with the cooking – it is almost midday after all.

And so, Jet is left with only one student, who looks just as motivated as he feels to continue the lessons. And there's still time to kill until lunch is ready.

He turns to Zuko. So –

Want to help throw Sokka in the water ?