Two Hearts, One Soul Chapter Five
Title: Two Hearts, One Soul
Rating: Hard R/nc-17 to be safe
Chapter:Necessity of Deceit
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.
Breakfast with Jet had to be one of the weirdest experiences Zuko had ever experienced. Somehow, and Zuko was not sure, but Jet had rearranged the seating so Zuko ended up pressed against the Earth Kingdom boy's side, with Uncle across from them. And somehow, every time Zuko moved, his arm would brush against Jet's. The same would happen to Jet, but somehow Zuko just knew that Jet touching him was no accident.
Like when Jet tried a sample of the sweet rolls Uncle had somehow found, and after obscenely expressing his delight over the food, he leaned over so his lips just barely touched the firebender's good ear, and whispered lightly, "Li, you have to try this."
If there was supposed to be some kind of innuendo in there, Zuko wasn't sure, but there was no mistaking the hand that briefly rested on his knee or the way Jet held the bread out to him, no doubt hoping to entice Zuko into feeding off of Jet's hand. Zuko glared. After all, Uncle was right there, so he smacked Jet's hand away. "Cut it out," he muttered, though he doubted the other boy would listen, and hastily snatched the roll out of Jet's hand before he could be force fed or something equally embarrassing.
What was worse was that the roll was really good, or at least tasted like heaven compared to the garbage he had been forced to eat the past couple of days, and he could tell Jet was ever so smug when Zuko ate a second one. But what was he supposed to do? He was hungry, and that was that.
Uncle remained cheerful, keeping the conversation light and upbeat the entire time. He and Jet chatted back and forth, and that was another thing Zuko just couldn't get used to. Jet was just so…charismatic. Zuko had never seen something like that before. Azula had some of it, but her persuasion was much more twisted, more manipulation than charm. What Jet radiated was pure magnetism. He drew people to him and had an ease with people Zuko had never felt.
Well, Uncle was a little like that. But more wise, and yet at times Zuko felt like he was the adult and Uncle was the one who needed looking after. Jet had been alone for a while, on his own for a long time, and it showed in the way he carried himself. Zuko supposed they had that in common, but he really did not want to share anything with this boy. He was an Earth Kingdom peasant, and Zuko was a prince. Well, ex-prince, but royalty was in his blood.
And yet Zuko couldn't get rid of him. And here he was, an ex-prince living like a commoner in the poverty-stricken area of a great Earth Kingdom city, sitting next to a boy who believed they had everything in common.
You're an outcast, like me.
Those words shouldn't have mattered. Jet couldn't be any more wrong about who Zuko was, and yet somehow, he was right at the same time. It was that confliction that Zuko hated the most.
Thankfully, Jet's voice broke through Zuko's brooding.
"So you never told me," Jet said, and there was something in his voice that made Zuko start, made a shiver go down his back and his hand formed a fist beneath the table. He was even more startled when he felt Jet's hand join his, smoothing out his fingers and rubbing a thumb almost soothingly against his wrist.
Zuko glared at him, but Jet continued, "What was your home like?"
Uncle, thankfully, contained any surprise at the question. Instead he smiled knowingly, and said, "It was a small town, but we are certainly glad to have left."
A pang of homesickness shot through Zuko. He gritted his teeth. Home was something that was always on the back of his mind. He had grown used to missing it over the years, but there was still a dull ache that remained.
"Ah," Jet said, taking a sip of tea. "So you guys are city people then?"
"You could say that," Zuko said quietly, and he felt Jet's hand tighten around his. If Uncle noticed anything strange about their close contact he did not let on, but for some reason Zuko felt like Iroh could see right through the table where their fingers intertwined.
"Well then," Jet said, and then he stood, forcing Zuko to quickly break their hands apart. "I think this just means we really have to go check it out then right?" He laid a hand on Zuko's shoulder, but he shrugged it off quickly and rose as well.
Uncle remained seated, but he beamed at Jet in a way that almost made Zuko sick. He sighed. "We did that yesterday."
Jet snorted, and wrapped an arm around Zuko's waist this time to drag him closer. Zuko would have struggled, but the way Jet's grip squeezed his hip made it clear that resistance was pointless.
"Come on Li, you can't always be this much of a kill joy."
Uncle chuckled. "You'd be surprised." Jet of course laughed at this, furthering Zuko's everlasting scowl.
"Don't we have work, Uncle?" Zuko said, casting a pleading glance in Iroh's direction.
"Why Nephew, the tea shop is closed on Sundays! Surely I told you that before?" Iroh stated, arching a brow and ignoring his own nephew's glared. Jet was shaking beside him, holding in his laughter as he thanked Uncle for breakfast and forcible pulled Zuko outside.
Once they were out on the streets, Jet set off quickly, winding his way through people with practiced grace, a destination clearly in his mind.
"Where are we going?" Zuko finally demanded after several minutes. Jet paused in his step and yanked Zuko against him, grinning against the protests and shoves he then received. He took a quick glance around, and while there were people all around them no one noticed or cared about two boys taking a walk amongst other refugees. But he eventually pulled away.
"So Li," Jet began, and again his tone of voice put Zuko on edge. "Tell me about where you grew up."
Zuko tensed, his thoughts flitting through his brain much too quickly to come up with a decent response.
"Come on," Jet said, filling in the silence, "I'm just curious."
"It was just…small," Zuko said, desperately trying to remember if Uncle had mentioned anything else that he could go on.
Jet snorted. "Yeah so I've heard. What were your parents like?"
This time Zuko answered before he could even think about it, and he didn't even have time to process his own shock. "I…haven't spoken to my father in a long time." He winced, not sure why he was telling Jet this. But there was something relieving about telling a person he hardly knew. Jet didn't know the whole story, but neither could he judge Zuko for his failures as a son and with that lifted the pressure. "I haven't seen my mother in years."
Jet grew silent at that, and he stopped in the middle of the streets, causing a few people to bump into them. He stepped to the side and glanced at Zuko, giving him a look that he couldn't understand. It was an odd mixture of pity, understanding…and confusion? Zuko wasn't sure.
"I'm sorry," Jet finally said, and Zuko just nodded, turning away so Jet wouldn't have to see his face. A moment later and he felt Jet's hand brush his elbow, and he expected some kind of embrace or comfort.
Instead the brush turned into a grip, and then Jet was leading him through the crowd again, hastily shoving through the crowds of people.
"Come on," He said. "I want to show you our apartment."
Zuko was then dragged along again, and while he wanted to resist he grumbled and let Jet lead the way through the streets, passing vendors and children playing and men on their way to work.
Finally Jet stopped in front of a typical apartment building, no different from the others that housed all the refugees of the city. The stair well was dilapidated, sagging under their weight, and of course Jet lived on the top floor. They climbed the steps gingerly, avoiding a particularly ad looking section that looked as if it would crumble any second. The door creaked when it opened, and Jet stepped back to allow Zuko to precede him into the room.
He blinked in the darkness (the shades had yet to be drawn) and resisted the almost automatic urge to flick his hand out to light a candle. Jet strode to the window to allow the natural light of the morning in, and Zuko glanced around, noting how similar it looked to his own. There was already clutter, despite the short time of the Freedom Fighters actually living here and their lack of many possessions. But clutter happened, especially in cramped spaces like these.
"It's…nice," Zuko offered when he noticed Jet watching him take it in. Jet's lips quirked in a smile, and one day Zuko would figure out why everything he did seemed to amuse the boy. "Where are the others?"
Jet shrugged. "Working."
"Don't you have a job too?"
Again Zuko's question was answered with a smirk. "Of course I do, Li," Jet said, but did not elaborate in favor of crossing the distance between them to grab Zuko's hand. "Come on, I'll show you my room."
Zuko frowned. "Of course you will."
Jet laughed and pulled him towards the only door. "Bee and Longshot like to sleep out here, and I got the only bedroom," He noticed Zuko's continuing apprehension. "I'm just giving a tour, I promise." But he didn't resist the urge to lay a quick peck on Zuko's cheek before pushing the door open.
It was small, with one tiny window where a faint breeze drifted in to stir the musty air. The bed was unmade and the sheets were tangled. Jet's swords lay against the left wall, and Zuko was surprised to see them there and not on Jet's body. He had become so accustomed to the Freedom Fighter always being armed that he had not noticed his lack of weapons today.
"So that's about it," Jet said, gesturing around with a sweep of his arm. "Not exactly a tree house but it will do."
"A tree house?" Zuko asked, confused.
Jet shook his head, another odd half smile playing at his lips. It was a little disconcerting that Jet always found a reason to make that face, despite the complete lack of humor (as far as Zuko could see) in most of their conversations. Zuko always felt like he was missing something, and it drove him crazy. "I'll explain later," Jet said, and began to pull Zuko away.
"Where are we going now?" Zuko asked.
He felt Jet shrug as they left the apartment, the decrepit door closing shut behind them. "Wherever we want."
0_0
They ended up on the rooftop of some kind of restaurant. Jet had wanted to get lunch, but after Zuko had pointed out their financial situation splurging on lunch seemed kind of stupid. Instead they lounged, basking in the afternoon sun as the yellow globe rose to its highest peak. Jet still had his wheat stalk (one day Zuko would find out where he kept those) and every now and then he would take it out to twirl it between his fingers before sticking it back in his mouth. Zuko's shoulder was pressed against his. He had begun on his back with his arms crossed over his stomach, but somehow Jet had slowly crept closer without his noticing, and now they held hands as well, Zuko shifting so that he almost lay sprawled across Jet's chest. Almost, but not quite yet.
And since when had he allowed this much bodily contact anyways? If Zuko wasn't so close to being content, he might have freaked out over how close he was to the other boy, but as it was he was nearly at peace and not quite willing to break out of that yet. Lying in the sun like this reminded him of home. And while that thought brought back an ache in his stomach, it was also sort of comforting. The sun wasn't quite warm enough, the rough tiles of the roof were no replacement for the soft grass of the palace, and the boy beside him was stranger still.
But yet, it felt kind of nice, so Zuko gave up his protests and tried to pretend that this right here, right now, was an adequate substitute.
It was Jet who broke the silence. "You know," He began, and there was a hesitance in his voice that was so counterpoint to how he normally was that Zuko felt that creeping, disturbed feeling that kept haunting Zuko. He couldn't figure out Jet's angle, his motives, or why he put Zuko on edge.
Zuko lifted his head, hoping a glance at the boy's face would help, but he had never been one to analyze expressions (that had been more Azula's way) and Jet's face betrayed nothing. "Yes?"
"Well," Jet's fingers twitched, and Zuko let them go. But Jet didn't pull away like Zuko expected, and his hand instead went to Zuko's back, pressing him closer. Jet tilted his head, and his mouth brushed Zuko's chin.
The firebender stiffened and tried to pull away, but Jet moved again and pinned him to the roof with his hands on Zuko's shoulders, his knees on either side of his hips. Again Zuko had every opening to push him away, but instead he lay back, going completely still. Then his golden eyes snapped up and locked onto brown, defiance burning in them. "Why?"
"Why what?" Jet asked. "You asked that before. Why what?"
"Why do you keep doing this?" Zuko spat.
Jet studied him, really studied him, and Zuko shut his eyes against the scrutiny. "You really don't know anything, do you?" That snapped his gold eyes open so he could glare, but Jet was leaning down to press his lips against Zuko's.
Zuko squirmed and gasped, startled, and then a tongue was taking advantage of his surprise to press inside, and Zuko made a tiny noise of protest in his throat. This was odd, this was disgusting, and why would anyone ever…
Oh.
Before he knew it, Zuko was responding, if someone clumsily. When Jet pulled back, the anger had been replaced by a dazed look. Jet grinned down at him, and pulled the stalk from his mouth. How Zuko had not noticed it was a mystery, but it didn't really matter now.
"What I meant to say," Jet said, sounding like himself now. "Was that Bee and Longshot are not coming home tonight."
Zuko was about to ask, but Jet already cut in, "They want alone time. So, that leaves us an empty apartment."
Zuko said nothing, and Jet tilted his head, trying to see what his response would be. Finally he nodded, just once.
The wheat stalk was back and Jet was on his feet before Zuko could comprehend it, and then he was being pulled to his feet and across the line of roofs that wound through whole city.
"Come on," Jet said. "I'm starving."
The odd feeling was back, and again he didn't know why. He ignored it in favor of following Jet, their bodies moving in sync above the streets below.
0_0
Zuko wasn't sure where this passion, where this boldness was coming from. Not that Zuko was ever one to back down from a challenge, but this was a whole new game with a new set of rules. He'd reacted shyly to all of Jet's advances, but tonight he was himself again. He wasn't sure how or why, but he had never let his inexperience stop him from going against a master before.
So when Jet led him back to his apartment and into his bed, Zuko found himself responding with equal vigor and determination. He was not some shy maiden on her wedding night, he was a Prince to the Fire Nation, and fear of the unknown was something he had mastered a long time again.
He still let Jet take the lead, not quite certain how to go about all of this. But he was no passive girl. He fumbled with Jet's clothes but eventually got them off, and all that tanned skin lay bare against his. He shuddered into the other boy's touch, arching when hands traced his cock. He was making odd sounds, sounds he didn't even know he could make. Jet ground into him, and it felt good, so good.
Hands drifted to his legs, teasing before pulling them wider as Jet settled between them. This part felt odd, but the pleasure was still there and Zuko allowed it, panting into the Freedom Fighter's mouth as he pressed harder against him.
Hands drifted to his cock again, the then lower, and Zuko stiffened without meaning to. Jet mouthed his ear and whispered, "Relax." How many times had he said that to Zuko? He wasn't sure and wasn't quite in the right state of mind to count. And Jet's finger was slick, when had that happened? He wasn't so used to being so unobservant.
Zuko grunted when the finger pushed in. "What…?"
"Relax," Jet said. "You should trust me."
That feeling again surfaced, clenching at the firebender's stomach, but then the finger was pushing in even further and it became the center of his world.
A second finger was added, and it burned, it really did. Zuko growled and was about to push Jet off when the boy pressed his full weight against him and crooked his fingers and-
A high noise tore itself from Zuko's throat, and he thrashed blindly, seeking more, more of that jolt of pleasure, and Jet delivered, fingers brushing that spot again.
"Ag-" Zuko caught he curse just in time, a cold fear spreading through him when he realized how easily he had just betrayed himself. "Ahh…" He covered, tossing his head back and doing his best not to form any distinct words. He hardly noticed anymore how long it took Jet to stretch him, but then the boy was shifting again and something larger, more obtrusive began to push in and noises rolled off Zuko's tongue. Thankfully none of them seemed to be coherent.
A hand brushed the sweaty hair back from his face and Jet's mouth descended, kissing everywhere but his scar. He could feel Jet moving against him, but his mind was spiraling out of control. He was torn between feeling the pleasure and grabbing hold of his inner fire. It was all too much, too intense, and he needed a release. He was so close, so close to simply breathing fire, it was building up and….
He came instead with the touch of Jet's hand, and somehow while his whole world was exploding but it was enough for the fire to recede even as his body lost control and contorted beneath Jet's. He heard panting and grunting, little puffs of air against his ear, and then an odd sensation as the other boy found his own release before collapsing on him.
There was a heavy silence, and he heard Jet curse. "Dammit, Li."
Zuko didn't say anything, and Jet was silent once more. Zuko shifted, his own semen drying on his stomach and while he was feeling more relaxed and loose he needed to move. But when he shifted to get up from the bed, Jet's arm shot up and wrapped around his waist.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jet slurred sleepily, tugging their bodies impossibly close. Zuko almost pried his arm off. But then he shrugged and gave in, his mind whirling with too many thoughts to process. Instead he gave in to sleep as the moon rose in the night sky.
2.
Jet woke up some time in the middle of the night, aware of every rocking motion he boat made. If he listened hard enough, he was sure he could hear the sound of the water. It was a strange sound, and Jet missed hearing the animals of the forest; the wind rustling through the leaves. He missed the smell and the feel of it, and all at once his old frustrations returned.
How much could the Fire Nation take from him, until he became nothing but an empty shell?
But the Fire Nation wasn't the only guilty ones. As much as Jet hated to admit it, the Earth Kingdom had betrayed him too. He still couldn't exactly remember what had happened underneath the lake, but he could still feel the terror as his own country took something from him, too.
Being betrayed was such an ugly feeling. It coiled bitterly in his stomach and made him want to run, run far and never stop until the world could make sense again.
But he was on a boat with a Fire Nation prince, the Avatar, and his own Freedom Fighters with absolutely no where to go.
It was then that Jet decided he wouldn't get any sleep tonight, so he cursed and rose from his been, sliding on a shirt and shoes. He ran a hand through his tangled hair, and vaguely wondered when he had brushed it last before stumbling to the door.
He made his way quickly through the dark; thankfully his hallway that led to the upper deck was straight until he hit the stairs. He took them two at a time, desperate to breathe in some fresh air.
It hit him all at once as the wind whipped at his body, and he welcomed the shivers that ran down his back. He stood just like that for a little while, breathing it in and letting the night wash over him, before he noticed a dark figure leaning against the guard rail. The silhouette was cast by flame held in the boy's palm, and Jet had to swallow down bile when he realized who it was.
As silently as possible he made his way over.
Zuko acknowledged him with a tilt of his head, but didn't turn around. Jet hovered somewhat off to his side (the scar side, he realized) and would have immediately moved if Zuko didn't start speaking.
"How is he?"Jet was unsure of who "he" was. He remained silent. Zuko sighed. "I know it's weird that I'm asking about him, but I just saw the bandages and…" The fire flickered "…I mean, I know he's powerful but fuck, the Avatar's a child."
Zuko sighed again and turned, meeting Jet's eye and quickly leaping back, the fire completely extinguishing and plunging the two into darkness. Jet heard some cursing before the fire was back, illuminating Zuko's face. After all this time, it still brought Jet some relief that he knew he could now read the boy's expressions.
"Sorry," Zuko said, beginning to back away. "I…I thought you were Katara," At this Jet was again at a loss for words, "I…she likes to come out here sometimes at night. Waterbender thing I guess and…" And then Zuko was at the stairs and the fire was gone. Jet listened to his receding footsteps. It took him a few moments to realize that there was still a strange, uncomfortable feeling clawing at him. He grumbled sleepily and decided to return to his room to fetch his swords. He needed to stop his thoughts before they drove him mad again.
Wow I am sorry guys, this chapter just did not want to get written. The next chapter will cover up the rest of Jet/Zuko during Ba Sing Se (but the flash backs will still happen, just to different events). I'm trying to keep as cannon as possible, but obviously this story is very AU. Comments are appreciated
Rating: Hard R/nc-17 to be safe
Chapter:Necessity of Deceit
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.
Breakfast with Jet had to be one of the weirdest experiences Zuko had ever experienced. Somehow, and Zuko was not sure, but Jet had rearranged the seating so Zuko ended up pressed against the Earth Kingdom boy's side, with Uncle across from them. And somehow, every time Zuko moved, his arm would brush against Jet's. The same would happen to Jet, but somehow Zuko just knew that Jet touching him was no accident.
Like when Jet tried a sample of the sweet rolls Uncle had somehow found, and after obscenely expressing his delight over the food, he leaned over so his lips just barely touched the firebender's good ear, and whispered lightly, "Li, you have to try this."
If there was supposed to be some kind of innuendo in there, Zuko wasn't sure, but there was no mistaking the hand that briefly rested on his knee or the way Jet held the bread out to him, no doubt hoping to entice Zuko into feeding off of Jet's hand. Zuko glared. After all, Uncle was right there, so he smacked Jet's hand away. "Cut it out," he muttered, though he doubted the other boy would listen, and hastily snatched the roll out of Jet's hand before he could be force fed or something equally embarrassing.
What was worse was that the roll was really good, or at least tasted like heaven compared to the garbage he had been forced to eat the past couple of days, and he could tell Jet was ever so smug when Zuko ate a second one. But what was he supposed to do? He was hungry, and that was that.
Uncle remained cheerful, keeping the conversation light and upbeat the entire time. He and Jet chatted back and forth, and that was another thing Zuko just couldn't get used to. Jet was just so…charismatic. Zuko had never seen something like that before. Azula had some of it, but her persuasion was much more twisted, more manipulation than charm. What Jet radiated was pure magnetism. He drew people to him and had an ease with people Zuko had never felt.
Well, Uncle was a little like that. But more wise, and yet at times Zuko felt like he was the adult and Uncle was the one who needed looking after. Jet had been alone for a while, on his own for a long time, and it showed in the way he carried himself. Zuko supposed they had that in common, but he really did not want to share anything with this boy. He was an Earth Kingdom peasant, and Zuko was a prince. Well, ex-prince, but royalty was in his blood.
And yet Zuko couldn't get rid of him. And here he was, an ex-prince living like a commoner in the poverty-stricken area of a great Earth Kingdom city, sitting next to a boy who believed they had everything in common.
You're an outcast, like me.
Those words shouldn't have mattered. Jet couldn't be any more wrong about who Zuko was, and yet somehow, he was right at the same time. It was that confliction that Zuko hated the most.
Thankfully, Jet's voice broke through Zuko's brooding.
"So you never told me," Jet said, and there was something in his voice that made Zuko start, made a shiver go down his back and his hand formed a fist beneath the table. He was even more startled when he felt Jet's hand join his, smoothing out his fingers and rubbing a thumb almost soothingly against his wrist.
Zuko glared at him, but Jet continued, "What was your home like?"
Uncle, thankfully, contained any surprise at the question. Instead he smiled knowingly, and said, "It was a small town, but we are certainly glad to have left."
A pang of homesickness shot through Zuko. He gritted his teeth. Home was something that was always on the back of his mind. He had grown used to missing it over the years, but there was still a dull ache that remained.
"Ah," Jet said, taking a sip of tea. "So you guys are city people then?"
"You could say that," Zuko said quietly, and he felt Jet's hand tighten around his. If Uncle noticed anything strange about their close contact he did not let on, but for some reason Zuko felt like Iroh could see right through the table where their fingers intertwined.
"Well then," Jet said, and then he stood, forcing Zuko to quickly break their hands apart. "I think this just means we really have to go check it out then right?" He laid a hand on Zuko's shoulder, but he shrugged it off quickly and rose as well.
Uncle remained seated, but he beamed at Jet in a way that almost made Zuko sick. He sighed. "We did that yesterday."
Jet snorted, and wrapped an arm around Zuko's waist this time to drag him closer. Zuko would have struggled, but the way Jet's grip squeezed his hip made it clear that resistance was pointless.
"Come on Li, you can't always be this much of a kill joy."
Uncle chuckled. "You'd be surprised." Jet of course laughed at this, furthering Zuko's everlasting scowl.
"Don't we have work, Uncle?" Zuko said, casting a pleading glance in Iroh's direction.
"Why Nephew, the tea shop is closed on Sundays! Surely I told you that before?" Iroh stated, arching a brow and ignoring his own nephew's glared. Jet was shaking beside him, holding in his laughter as he thanked Uncle for breakfast and forcible pulled Zuko outside.
Once they were out on the streets, Jet set off quickly, winding his way through people with practiced grace, a destination clearly in his mind.
"Where are we going?" Zuko finally demanded after several minutes. Jet paused in his step and yanked Zuko against him, grinning against the protests and shoves he then received. He took a quick glance around, and while there were people all around them no one noticed or cared about two boys taking a walk amongst other refugees. But he eventually pulled away.
"So Li," Jet began, and again his tone of voice put Zuko on edge. "Tell me about where you grew up."
Zuko tensed, his thoughts flitting through his brain much too quickly to come up with a decent response.
"Come on," Jet said, filling in the silence, "I'm just curious."
"It was just…small," Zuko said, desperately trying to remember if Uncle had mentioned anything else that he could go on.
Jet snorted. "Yeah so I've heard. What were your parents like?"
This time Zuko answered before he could even think about it, and he didn't even have time to process his own shock. "I…haven't spoken to my father in a long time." He winced, not sure why he was telling Jet this. But there was something relieving about telling a person he hardly knew. Jet didn't know the whole story, but neither could he judge Zuko for his failures as a son and with that lifted the pressure. "I haven't seen my mother in years."
Jet grew silent at that, and he stopped in the middle of the streets, causing a few people to bump into them. He stepped to the side and glanced at Zuko, giving him a look that he couldn't understand. It was an odd mixture of pity, understanding…and confusion? Zuko wasn't sure.
"I'm sorry," Jet finally said, and Zuko just nodded, turning away so Jet wouldn't have to see his face. A moment later and he felt Jet's hand brush his elbow, and he expected some kind of embrace or comfort.
Instead the brush turned into a grip, and then Jet was leading him through the crowd again, hastily shoving through the crowds of people.
"Come on," He said. "I want to show you our apartment."
Zuko was then dragged along again, and while he wanted to resist he grumbled and let Jet lead the way through the streets, passing vendors and children playing and men on their way to work.
Finally Jet stopped in front of a typical apartment building, no different from the others that housed all the refugees of the city. The stair well was dilapidated, sagging under their weight, and of course Jet lived on the top floor. They climbed the steps gingerly, avoiding a particularly ad looking section that looked as if it would crumble any second. The door creaked when it opened, and Jet stepped back to allow Zuko to precede him into the room.
He blinked in the darkness (the shades had yet to be drawn) and resisted the almost automatic urge to flick his hand out to light a candle. Jet strode to the window to allow the natural light of the morning in, and Zuko glanced around, noting how similar it looked to his own. There was already clutter, despite the short time of the Freedom Fighters actually living here and their lack of many possessions. But clutter happened, especially in cramped spaces like these.
"It's…nice," Zuko offered when he noticed Jet watching him take it in. Jet's lips quirked in a smile, and one day Zuko would figure out why everything he did seemed to amuse the boy. "Where are the others?"
Jet shrugged. "Working."
"Don't you have a job too?"
Again Zuko's question was answered with a smirk. "Of course I do, Li," Jet said, but did not elaborate in favor of crossing the distance between them to grab Zuko's hand. "Come on, I'll show you my room."
Zuko frowned. "Of course you will."
Jet laughed and pulled him towards the only door. "Bee and Longshot like to sleep out here, and I got the only bedroom," He noticed Zuko's continuing apprehension. "I'm just giving a tour, I promise." But he didn't resist the urge to lay a quick peck on Zuko's cheek before pushing the door open.
It was small, with one tiny window where a faint breeze drifted in to stir the musty air. The bed was unmade and the sheets were tangled. Jet's swords lay against the left wall, and Zuko was surprised to see them there and not on Jet's body. He had become so accustomed to the Freedom Fighter always being armed that he had not noticed his lack of weapons today.
"So that's about it," Jet said, gesturing around with a sweep of his arm. "Not exactly a tree house but it will do."
"A tree house?" Zuko asked, confused.
Jet shook his head, another odd half smile playing at his lips. It was a little disconcerting that Jet always found a reason to make that face, despite the complete lack of humor (as far as Zuko could see) in most of their conversations. Zuko always felt like he was missing something, and it drove him crazy. "I'll explain later," Jet said, and began to pull Zuko away.
"Where are we going now?" Zuko asked.
He felt Jet shrug as they left the apartment, the decrepit door closing shut behind them. "Wherever we want."
0_0
They ended up on the rooftop of some kind of restaurant. Jet had wanted to get lunch, but after Zuko had pointed out their financial situation splurging on lunch seemed kind of stupid. Instead they lounged, basking in the afternoon sun as the yellow globe rose to its highest peak. Jet still had his wheat stalk (one day Zuko would find out where he kept those) and every now and then he would take it out to twirl it between his fingers before sticking it back in his mouth. Zuko's shoulder was pressed against his. He had begun on his back with his arms crossed over his stomach, but somehow Jet had slowly crept closer without his noticing, and now they held hands as well, Zuko shifting so that he almost lay sprawled across Jet's chest. Almost, but not quite yet.
And since when had he allowed this much bodily contact anyways? If Zuko wasn't so close to being content, he might have freaked out over how close he was to the other boy, but as it was he was nearly at peace and not quite willing to break out of that yet. Lying in the sun like this reminded him of home. And while that thought brought back an ache in his stomach, it was also sort of comforting. The sun wasn't quite warm enough, the rough tiles of the roof were no replacement for the soft grass of the palace, and the boy beside him was stranger still.
But yet, it felt kind of nice, so Zuko gave up his protests and tried to pretend that this right here, right now, was an adequate substitute.
It was Jet who broke the silence. "You know," He began, and there was a hesitance in his voice that was so counterpoint to how he normally was that Zuko felt that creeping, disturbed feeling that kept haunting Zuko. He couldn't figure out Jet's angle, his motives, or why he put Zuko on edge.
Zuko lifted his head, hoping a glance at the boy's face would help, but he had never been one to analyze expressions (that had been more Azula's way) and Jet's face betrayed nothing. "Yes?"
"Well," Jet's fingers twitched, and Zuko let them go. But Jet didn't pull away like Zuko expected, and his hand instead went to Zuko's back, pressing him closer. Jet tilted his head, and his mouth brushed Zuko's chin.
The firebender stiffened and tried to pull away, but Jet moved again and pinned him to the roof with his hands on Zuko's shoulders, his knees on either side of his hips. Again Zuko had every opening to push him away, but instead he lay back, going completely still. Then his golden eyes snapped up and locked onto brown, defiance burning in them. "Why?"
"Why what?" Jet asked. "You asked that before. Why what?"
"Why do you keep doing this?" Zuko spat.
Jet studied him, really studied him, and Zuko shut his eyes against the scrutiny. "You really don't know anything, do you?" That snapped his gold eyes open so he could glare, but Jet was leaning down to press his lips against Zuko's.
Zuko squirmed and gasped, startled, and then a tongue was taking advantage of his surprise to press inside, and Zuko made a tiny noise of protest in his throat. This was odd, this was disgusting, and why would anyone ever…
Oh.
Before he knew it, Zuko was responding, if someone clumsily. When Jet pulled back, the anger had been replaced by a dazed look. Jet grinned down at him, and pulled the stalk from his mouth. How Zuko had not noticed it was a mystery, but it didn't really matter now.
"What I meant to say," Jet said, sounding like himself now. "Was that Bee and Longshot are not coming home tonight."
Zuko was about to ask, but Jet already cut in, "They want alone time. So, that leaves us an empty apartment."
Zuko said nothing, and Jet tilted his head, trying to see what his response would be. Finally he nodded, just once.
The wheat stalk was back and Jet was on his feet before Zuko could comprehend it, and then he was being pulled to his feet and across the line of roofs that wound through whole city.
"Come on," Jet said. "I'm starving."
The odd feeling was back, and again he didn't know why. He ignored it in favor of following Jet, their bodies moving in sync above the streets below.
0_0
Zuko wasn't sure where this passion, where this boldness was coming from. Not that Zuko was ever one to back down from a challenge, but this was a whole new game with a new set of rules. He'd reacted shyly to all of Jet's advances, but tonight he was himself again. He wasn't sure how or why, but he had never let his inexperience stop him from going against a master before.
So when Jet led him back to his apartment and into his bed, Zuko found himself responding with equal vigor and determination. He was not some shy maiden on her wedding night, he was a Prince to the Fire Nation, and fear of the unknown was something he had mastered a long time again.
He still let Jet take the lead, not quite certain how to go about all of this. But he was no passive girl. He fumbled with Jet's clothes but eventually got them off, and all that tanned skin lay bare against his. He shuddered into the other boy's touch, arching when hands traced his cock. He was making odd sounds, sounds he didn't even know he could make. Jet ground into him, and it felt good, so good.
Hands drifted to his legs, teasing before pulling them wider as Jet settled between them. This part felt odd, but the pleasure was still there and Zuko allowed it, panting into the Freedom Fighter's mouth as he pressed harder against him.
Hands drifted to his cock again, the then lower, and Zuko stiffened without meaning to. Jet mouthed his ear and whispered, "Relax." How many times had he said that to Zuko? He wasn't sure and wasn't quite in the right state of mind to count. And Jet's finger was slick, when had that happened? He wasn't so used to being so unobservant.
Zuko grunted when the finger pushed in. "What…?"
"Relax," Jet said. "You should trust me."
That feeling again surfaced, clenching at the firebender's stomach, but then the finger was pushing in even further and it became the center of his world.
A second finger was added, and it burned, it really did. Zuko growled and was about to push Jet off when the boy pressed his full weight against him and crooked his fingers and-
A high noise tore itself from Zuko's throat, and he thrashed blindly, seeking more, more of that jolt of pleasure, and Jet delivered, fingers brushing that spot again.
"Ag-" Zuko caught he curse just in time, a cold fear spreading through him when he realized how easily he had just betrayed himself. "Ahh…" He covered, tossing his head back and doing his best not to form any distinct words. He hardly noticed anymore how long it took Jet to stretch him, but then the boy was shifting again and something larger, more obtrusive began to push in and noises rolled off Zuko's tongue. Thankfully none of them seemed to be coherent.
A hand brushed the sweaty hair back from his face and Jet's mouth descended, kissing everywhere but his scar. He could feel Jet moving against him, but his mind was spiraling out of control. He was torn between feeling the pleasure and grabbing hold of his inner fire. It was all too much, too intense, and he needed a release. He was so close, so close to simply breathing fire, it was building up and….
He came instead with the touch of Jet's hand, and somehow while his whole world was exploding but it was enough for the fire to recede even as his body lost control and contorted beneath Jet's. He heard panting and grunting, little puffs of air against his ear, and then an odd sensation as the other boy found his own release before collapsing on him.
There was a heavy silence, and he heard Jet curse. "Dammit, Li."
Zuko didn't say anything, and Jet was silent once more. Zuko shifted, his own semen drying on his stomach and while he was feeling more relaxed and loose he needed to move. But when he shifted to get up from the bed, Jet's arm shot up and wrapped around his waist.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jet slurred sleepily, tugging their bodies impossibly close. Zuko almost pried his arm off. But then he shrugged and gave in, his mind whirling with too many thoughts to process. Instead he gave in to sleep as the moon rose in the night sky.
2.
Jet woke up some time in the middle of the night, aware of every rocking motion he boat made. If he listened hard enough, he was sure he could hear the sound of the water. It was a strange sound, and Jet missed hearing the animals of the forest; the wind rustling through the leaves. He missed the smell and the feel of it, and all at once his old frustrations returned.
How much could the Fire Nation take from him, until he became nothing but an empty shell?
But the Fire Nation wasn't the only guilty ones. As much as Jet hated to admit it, the Earth Kingdom had betrayed him too. He still couldn't exactly remember what had happened underneath the lake, but he could still feel the terror as his own country took something from him, too.
Being betrayed was such an ugly feeling. It coiled bitterly in his stomach and made him want to run, run far and never stop until the world could make sense again.
But he was on a boat with a Fire Nation prince, the Avatar, and his own Freedom Fighters with absolutely no where to go.
It was then that Jet decided he wouldn't get any sleep tonight, so he cursed and rose from his been, sliding on a shirt and shoes. He ran a hand through his tangled hair, and vaguely wondered when he had brushed it last before stumbling to the door.
He made his way quickly through the dark; thankfully his hallway that led to the upper deck was straight until he hit the stairs. He took them two at a time, desperate to breathe in some fresh air.
It hit him all at once as the wind whipped at his body, and he welcomed the shivers that ran down his back. He stood just like that for a little while, breathing it in and letting the night wash over him, before he noticed a dark figure leaning against the guard rail. The silhouette was cast by flame held in the boy's palm, and Jet had to swallow down bile when he realized who it was.
As silently as possible he made his way over.
Zuko acknowledged him with a tilt of his head, but didn't turn around. Jet hovered somewhat off to his side (the scar side, he realized) and would have immediately moved if Zuko didn't start speaking.
"How is he?"Jet was unsure of who "he" was. He remained silent. Zuko sighed. "I know it's weird that I'm asking about him, but I just saw the bandages and…" The fire flickered "…I mean, I know he's powerful but fuck, the Avatar's a child."
Zuko sighed again and turned, meeting Jet's eye and quickly leaping back, the fire completely extinguishing and plunging the two into darkness. Jet heard some cursing before the fire was back, illuminating Zuko's face. After all this time, it still brought Jet some relief that he knew he could now read the boy's expressions.
"Sorry," Zuko said, beginning to back away. "I…I thought you were Katara," At this Jet was again at a loss for words, "I…she likes to come out here sometimes at night. Waterbender thing I guess and…" And then Zuko was at the stairs and the fire was gone. Jet listened to his receding footsteps. It took him a few moments to realize that there was still a strange, uncomfortable feeling clawing at him. He grumbled sleepily and decided to return to his room to fetch his swords. He needed to stop his thoughts before they drove him mad again.
Wow I am sorry guys, this chapter just did not want to get written. The next chapter will cover up the rest of Jet/Zuko during Ba Sing Se (but the flash backs will still happen, just to different events). I'm trying to keep as cannon as possible, but obviously this story is very AU. Comments are appreciated