Two Hearts, One Soul Prologue
Title: Two Hearts, One Soul
Rating: Hard R/nc-17 to be safe
Chapter: Prologue
Summary: AU Jet survives Lake Laogai and Zuko sides with Team Avatar during the Crossroads of Destiny. But old prejudice and unresolved self hatred and shame are only some of the few obstacles facing these two. Jetko
1.
He never honestly expected to wake up from Lake Laogai.
It was the most painful experience of his life as he awoke from the peaceful darkness that had surrounded him.
His mind was a thick white haze as flashes of his final memories fluttered through his mind too quickly for him to grasp any in particular. Somewhere far off in the distance he could hear voices, and hands on his body, the pain being soothed away. But consciousness was still coming with a heavy price, and so he fell blissfully back into the darkness as he locked away the white flight in exchange for the numb respite from the pain of living, a pain he had never expected to feel again.
Later, he would learn that after the Avatar and his friends had reunited with their bison, they had immediately returned to rescue Smellerbee, Longshot, and himself. Katara had used her freaky voodoo spirit water on him and all that sacrifice crap he had been trying to do had been completely thrown out the window.
His injuries still hurt like a motherfucker, but he would live.
And that would be the last time anything made any sense.
2.
So, apparently the fucking Fire Nation Princess had infiltrated the city, and there was going to be a big showdown over the fight for the city. Jet was still just barely alive, but dammit he was a freedom fighter, and no matter how much Katara had protested he had still followed the “Team Avatar” to the catacombs of the city, where all hell broke loose. Turned out the Dai Li were traitors to their own Kingdom, and things were looking pretty bleak, with agents and one crazy-ass firebender hell-bent on taking over the city.
And then there had come a second blast of fire, orange this time, that alerted everyone to a new arrival…
Li.
It couldn’t be Li, but it was, it fucking was and it hurt to see Jet’s own accusations were true, but there you go. Karma.
“I knew it!” Jet had shouted, and Li had glanced at him, confusion etched in his face. It was then that Jet realized that everyone faced Li expectantly, waiting for his move as Li drew his arms up in a familiar pose.
And then Li attacked.
But not the Avatar, and it took Jet a whole ten seconds to realize what was happening.
Li was dueling the princess. His own kind. Fire against fire.
And he was good, but it was clear even now that she was better, and the Dai Li were still closing in. Jet fought, adrenaline fueling his attacks, hatred and desperation erasing the pain he should have been feeling from his injuries.
It still wasn’t going to be enough…
More fire, out of nowhere, as another man, Mushi, Jet thought in complete disbelief, blocked the princess’ attacks with a wall of fire and hello, Jet had called that days ago, unfreaking believable, and shouted for everyone to flee, that he would hold them off. One firebender versus an entire army.
They crowded on Appa and took off, Jet watching as Mushi was captured before they flew out of sight. He might have felt bad for the old man if he hadn’t been Firenation, but as it was he could feel a low burn of hatred in his gut.
“The Earth Kingdom…has fallen…,” Came the stunned voice of the Earth King. His voice was what made Jet turn around, and realize with a start that Li was with them. A rage had boiled in his chest, extending to every center of his body. How dare he. How dare that little Fire Nation Scum think he had any right to be here.
“Li,” Jet hissed quietly, dangerously. The boy with the scar, that horrible scar, lifted his eyes to stare back at Jet.
His eyes…
Jet remembered every face of the fire nation he had killed. He remembered the faces of the ones who had destroyed his village. Their eyes always betrayed their identities. They always had that fire, that defiance.
But Li…
Li looked…lost. So terribly lost and afraid and familiar that for a moment Jet thought he was eight again, his own face reflected in the destruction of his home.
Fuck.
In that moment, Li was Li again, a lost refugee seeking hope in Ba Sing Se.
Jet had to remind himself that Li was not Li. If anything, the Li he knew was dead. Li had never existed.
But as the group flew over the forests, headed towards the sea, Jet chose to close his eyes. His retribution could wait. For now, he lost himself to his still recovering wounds. His adrenaline burned as he shut out those eyes. Those eyes that wore the expression Jet had mastered years ago.
Author’s note: ok so I’ve always been a fan of A:TLA but this is the first time I have every really got into jetko. I started rewatching season 2 reruns and now I can’t get this pairing out of my head. I know I changed a lot in the plot but bear with me, Zuko still is going to have his character arc (and Jet too of course). Any kind of support or critique is appreciated. I’m still working out the overall details of the plot but I do plan to update regularly. This is only a prologue so the other chapters should be much longer. And there will be more back story on these two because come on, we all know something happened on the ferry ;)
Rating: Hard R/nc-17 to be safe
Chapter: Prologue
Summary: AU Jet survives Lake Laogai and Zuko sides with Team Avatar during the Crossroads of Destiny. But old prejudice and unresolved self hatred and shame are only some of the few obstacles facing these two. Jetko
1.
He never honestly expected to wake up from Lake Laogai.
It was the most painful experience of his life as he awoke from the peaceful darkness that had surrounded him.
His mind was a thick white haze as flashes of his final memories fluttered through his mind too quickly for him to grasp any in particular. Somewhere far off in the distance he could hear voices, and hands on his body, the pain being soothed away. But consciousness was still coming with a heavy price, and so he fell blissfully back into the darkness as he locked away the white flight in exchange for the numb respite from the pain of living, a pain he had never expected to feel again.
Later, he would learn that after the Avatar and his friends had reunited with their bison, they had immediately returned to rescue Smellerbee, Longshot, and himself. Katara had used her freaky voodoo spirit water on him and all that sacrifice crap he had been trying to do had been completely thrown out the window.
His injuries still hurt like a motherfucker, but he would live.
And that would be the last time anything made any sense.
2.
So, apparently the fucking Fire Nation Princess had infiltrated the city, and there was going to be a big showdown over the fight for the city. Jet was still just barely alive, but dammit he was a freedom fighter, and no matter how much Katara had protested he had still followed the “Team Avatar” to the catacombs of the city, where all hell broke loose. Turned out the Dai Li were traitors to their own Kingdom, and things were looking pretty bleak, with agents and one crazy-ass firebender hell-bent on taking over the city.
And then there had come a second blast of fire, orange this time, that alerted everyone to a new arrival…
Li.
It couldn’t be Li, but it was, it fucking was and it hurt to see Jet’s own accusations were true, but there you go. Karma.
“I knew it!” Jet had shouted, and Li had glanced at him, confusion etched in his face. It was then that Jet realized that everyone faced Li expectantly, waiting for his move as Li drew his arms up in a familiar pose.
And then Li attacked.
But not the Avatar, and it took Jet a whole ten seconds to realize what was happening.
Li was dueling the princess. His own kind. Fire against fire.
And he was good, but it was clear even now that she was better, and the Dai Li were still closing in. Jet fought, adrenaline fueling his attacks, hatred and desperation erasing the pain he should have been feeling from his injuries.
It still wasn’t going to be enough…
More fire, out of nowhere, as another man, Mushi, Jet thought in complete disbelief, blocked the princess’ attacks with a wall of fire and hello, Jet had called that days ago, unfreaking believable, and shouted for everyone to flee, that he would hold them off. One firebender versus an entire army.
They crowded on Appa and took off, Jet watching as Mushi was captured before they flew out of sight. He might have felt bad for the old man if he hadn’t been Firenation, but as it was he could feel a low burn of hatred in his gut.
“The Earth Kingdom…has fallen…,” Came the stunned voice of the Earth King. His voice was what made Jet turn around, and realize with a start that Li was with them. A rage had boiled in his chest, extending to every center of his body. How dare he. How dare that little Fire Nation Scum think he had any right to be here.
“Li,” Jet hissed quietly, dangerously. The boy with the scar, that horrible scar, lifted his eyes to stare back at Jet.
His eyes…
Jet remembered every face of the fire nation he had killed. He remembered the faces of the ones who had destroyed his village. Their eyes always betrayed their identities. They always had that fire, that defiance.
But Li…
Li looked…lost. So terribly lost and afraid and familiar that for a moment Jet thought he was eight again, his own face reflected in the destruction of his home.
Fuck.
In that moment, Li was Li again, a lost refugee seeking hope in Ba Sing Se.
Jet had to remind himself that Li was not Li. If anything, the Li he knew was dead. Li had never existed.
But as the group flew over the forests, headed towards the sea, Jet chose to close his eyes. His retribution could wait. For now, he lost himself to his still recovering wounds. His adrenaline burned as he shut out those eyes. Those eyes that wore the expression Jet had mastered years ago.
Author’s note: ok so I’ve always been a fan of A:TLA but this is the first time I have every really got into jetko. I started rewatching season 2 reruns and now I can’t get this pairing out of my head. I know I changed a lot in the plot but bear with me, Zuko still is going to have his character arc (and Jet too of course). Any kind of support or critique is appreciated. I’m still working out the overall details of the plot but I do plan to update regularly. This is only a prologue so the other chapters should be much longer. And there will be more back story on these two because come on, we all know something happened on the ferry ;)