Chapter Eighteen

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Hey babe,

I'm coming over after class. If you're not there, I'll just let myself in, OK? Haha, as usual.

Love you,
Jet



"Hey, beautiful, wake up," said Jet, brushing Zuko's hair back from his forehead, then leaning down to kiss the exposed skin.  "It's time to go."

Zuko's eyes flickered open warily. "Already?  But I just got home."

"Yeah, and then you collapsed on the futon and slept for a few hours."

"Really?  Sorry, I didn't mean to.  You should have woken me up."

"You work too hard.  I thought you needed to sleep."  He was crouched down beside the oatmeal-colored futon, and he moved his hand through Zuko's hair again, this time intending to mess it up.  It didn't take much.  "You get the worst bedhead ever.  I think your hair is a separate entity and it's trying to escape."

Zuko scowled and playfully batted his hand away.  "You leave me and my hair alone.  We're happy together."

"Then I guess I'll go to the party by myself," Jet laughed, "so you and your lovely hair can have some alone time."

"We had enough of that at work today," said Zuko. "No one came into the shop all morning." He yawned a little, stretching his bare arms above his head.  "No, my hair and I can both go."

"Okay, I'll just be the third wheel then."

Zuko sat up and smiled at him, joking along.  "More like my arm candy, handsome," he said, in a voice that was probably supposed to be suave but mostly just sounded ridiculous.

All the same, Jet felt a little twist in his stomach.  There was still a tiny bit of pain in it, and worry, but it was faint now, the faintest it had ever been.  It grew fainter day by day.  Every day the past was farther away.  He reached out, offering Zuko his hand.  "Come with me, I'll help you get ready."

"Jet, I don't really need your help," Zuko protested, but Jet persisted, pulling off the now wrinkled shirt Zuko had been sleeping in.  He kissed Zuko's shoulder; it was warm.  There was one tiny dark birthmark there, and he gave it another kiss of its own.

"You can pretend I'm your servant or something."  One more kiss seemed in order.

"I don't think this is going to get us to the party on time," said Zuko softly.

Jet ran his hands over the other boy's bared chest.  "I, uh, kinda have a confession."

"What's that?"

"I maybe woke you up a little earlier than I needed to."

"Oh yeah?"

"And I kind of lied about it being time to go."

Zuko made a disapproving noise, but Jet knew he didn't mean it.  Jet knew him too well.  "I'm still gonna get you ready, though," he promised.  "I'd better take these off, too."  His hands went to the waist of Zuko's jeans.  "You're not wearing these to the party anyway."

Zuko didn't protest, and he didn't seem to mind when Jet pulled him back down onto the futon he'd so recently vacated.

The year was drawing to an end--or the school year anyway, which was more important--and the Gay Student Union was having one last party.  It wasn't an "official", on campus party, since those were subject to more rules and less fun.  Someone had volunteered the use of their house, and by the time Jet and Zuko arrived, a little later than Jet had originally planned, the rooms were full of club members and their friends and quite a few people Jet had never seen before.  These things had a way of growing rapidly, but hopefully it wouldn't get out of hand.

In spite of the crowd, Jet knew most of the people there, and he couldn't get away from everyone who wanted to say hello or ask him something.  Sometimes people acted like it was the end of the world instead of the end of the school year.  It was true, a lot of them were graduating, and who knew where they'd be next year.  Besides that, summer separated people for months, and who knew what would happen in that time.  So in a way, it was like a world was ending.  And a new one was beginning.

Zuko tagged along good-naturedly, a small smile on his face.  He didn't know a lot of the people here, but he didn't seem to mind, saying hello to the few that he did know.  Zuko had been coming to the club meetings with Jet since they'd started dating again.

"You want a drink?" Jet asked him.

"Sure," Zuko said.

"I think I see some stuff over there."  He elbowed his way gently through the crowd, which gave way easily, since people kept noticing him, saying hi, and stepping aside to let him pass.  A few hugs did slow him up, though.

"Look at you, being fashionably late as usual," said an unexpected voice close to his ear.

Jet turned his head to see Kuruk grinning at him.  As flashy as his ex looked, he was mysteriously good at sneaking up unnoticed.  Kuruk was usually conspicuously absent from the meetings, but he was suspiciously present whenever there was alcohol involved.  "I'm only late because I'm so lazy.  The fashionable part just kind of happens accidentally."

"Yeah, right.  I bet I know why you're so late."  Kuruk winked at Zuko, who blushed.  "Trying to keep Jet all to yourself?" Kuruk asked him.

"Ha ha, don't be a dick," said Jet dryly.

Kuruk leaned in, his gaze still on Zuko.  "I'm still trying to convince him to try a threesome."

Zuko's blush deepened.  "Um," he said. "I don't think…"

Kuruk took a step forward, pressing his advantage. "I mean, you've never been with any guy other than Jet, right? Seems like such a waste, young stud like you."

"Oh, he's not going to waste, trust me," said Jet, although his tone was cheerful enough. He didn't pay Kuruk too much mind.  He'd gotten into the habit of flirting with Zuko outrageously--largely, Jet thought, because Zuko's awkward, stuttering reaction was mildly hilarious.

"Jet would be there to take care of you," Kuruk purred, leaning even closer. "I don't bite, I promise."

"Um," Zuko said again.

Jet curled one arm around Zuko's waist, the other reaching out to give his ex a gentle shove.  "That's enough for now," he said.

"Yeah, yeah.  Zuko knows I'm kidding."

Jet snorted.  Kuruk was only half-kidding.  He'd probably jump at the chance for a threesome.  In his dreams.  Jet didn't like sharing. He'd waited long enough to have Zuko all to himself.  "You're standing in the way of the booze," he said to Kuruk, and the other boy laughed and moved obligingly to one side.

"So what are you two doing this summer?" Kuruk followed them to the table where various bottles containing different types of alcohol and mixers were jumbled in half-consumed disarray.

"Just hanging out together.  You know."  Jet still lived with Bee and Long, but he spent more than half his nights with Zuko, either at his place or Zuko's.  It was nice staying at Zuko's apartment because they could sleep together - Zuko insisted on the couch at Jet's place, for reasons Jet could understand. But the crowded apartment was more fun from a social standpoint, and things with Long weren't so awkward anymore.

"How domestic," said Kuruk.

"Yeah, that's me."  Jet decided that he and Zuko could have vodka and orange juice, for a start.  He wasn't sure about some of the other offered combinations, particularly since Zuko didn't like anything that was too sweet.  Fortunately, there were still plenty of clean cups and not all of the ice had melted, so Jet could feel some measure of pride in his bartending.

Zuko smiled as he accepted his drink.  "Thanks, Jet."

"It's good for you," said Jet.  "lots of vitamin C."

"Does that balance out the alcohol?"

"Let's say it does."

"Maybe you guys should do something," Kuruk suggested.  "Over the summer, I mean."

"Maybe."  Jet shrugged.

"You've been back together for what? Six months?"

"Seven," said Zuko automatically.

"Then you should go on some cute little couply minibreak, right? Bed and breakfast in the mountains or some shit?"

Jet rolled his eyes. "Hey, don't you have someone to hit on?"

"No, not right now."

"Haven't picked one out yet, huh?"

"But I have."  Kuruk smiled meaningfully at Zuko.  "Wanna dance?"

Zuko was already red, so any further flush wouldn't have made any difference.  The music that was playing sounded danceable, but it was difficult to hear over everyone talking and laughing at once.  Jet couldn't recognize the song.  He raised an eyebrow at Zuko.  "You can dance with him if you want."

"Thank you but no."  Zuko smiled at Kuruk politely. "I'll keep wasting myself on Jet for now."

Jet chuckled. "See?  Guess you have to look elsewhere."

Kuruk made a face, putting his hand on his hips.  "He's not any fun."

Jet would have said, Oh, he's fun all right, but he didn't want to embarrass Zuko any further, so he made do with a smugly knowing smile.  "He just doesn't like you like that."

"I guess there had to be one out there, at least."

"Yeah, right."  Jet turned to look at Zuko fondly.  Jet could tell he was making an extra effort to look relaxed and happy, which was cute.  It wasn't that he was faking, but he wasn't much of a party guy, to say the least.  "Uh, by the way," he asked Kuruk, "why is Chan looking at you like that?"  He had just noticed the other boy across the room. The way Chan was glaring at Kuruk was even less friendly than usual, which was saying a lot.

The smile this brought from Kuruk was a familiar one to Jet, reminding him of cats and cream.  "Him?  He's mad about the whole Ruon Jian thing."

"What whole Ruon Jian thing?"

Kuruk's answering hand gesture didn't give the matter much weight.   "They're already back together.  It's no big deal."

Jet rolled his eyes.  "You need somebody to keep you out of trouble."

"You volunteering?"

"I don't need a full time unpaid internship, thanks."  He took a sip of his drink and stepped closer to Zuko.

"There's a stipend," said Kuruk, his voice dripping with so much innuendo that Jet had to laugh.

"Yeah, I'm sure."

"A large stipend."

Jet pushed him in the chest, laughing even as he shook his head. "All right, enough! Go play with the other kids for a while."

Kuruk flashed a dazzling smile. "Anything for you, baby," he said. Then, too Zuko, "Think about it," before he sauntered off into the crowd again.

"Sorry about that," said Jet once Kuruk had gone.

"No, I don't mind.  He's kind of nice, once you get used to him."

"True.  He can be a pretty nice guy."  It was funny, thought Jet, how things that had once seemed so impossible were now commonplace.  Standing next to Zuko like this, laughing with him.  And about Kuruk, of all people, who Zuko hadn't even met until the fall. A year ago, Jet never would have believed something like this could happen.  But it had.

Zuko was sipping carefully on his drink.  He'd probably nurse it for a while, mindful of the fact that he had work in the morning.  "You having a good time?" Jet asked him.

"Yes."  Jet knew him well enough to tell that he meant it.  His smile was slight, but his eyes seemed happy.

"Good.  That's what I want."  It was all he wanted.  He put a hand on Zuko's shoulder, then kissed him on the cheek.  They stood together like that for a moment, and Jet almost forgot about the crowd.  Then someone laughed loudly close to his ear, and he turned away to see another friend grinning at him and saying hello.  He kept his hand on Zuko's shoulder.

The next morning, Jet awakened to the sight of Zuko pulling on his pants.  It was a nice sight, and he savored it.  The morning sun made Zuko's pale skin seem brighter.

Once Zuko had his pants, shirt and shoes on, covering up all that attractive skin, Jet realized that he was going to leave without waking him.

He fought against the sheet and managed to sit up.  "Hey, where are you going?"

Zuko turned towards him, blinking in the sunlight.  "Oh, you're awake." He smiled and came back over to the bed, sitting on the edge of it. "I thought I'd let you sleep since we were out so late."

Jet reached out to tug at the hem of Zuko's shirt. "Maybe you should sleep in too, then."

"I promised I'd meet with Hahn for breakfast this morning." He chuckled. "I'm actually running kind of late," he said softly. "But you clung on pretty hard this morning. It made it hard to get up."

Zuko had told him, before, of his tendency to wrap himself around Zuko's body in the morning. He wished he could remember it - it seemed like a nice way to wake up. "Don't you have work? I thought Piandao had you on the morning shift this summer."

"I'm meeting Hahn before that," said Zuko. "I guess he has something he wants to talk to me about."

"Oh yeah?"  Jet wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand as he glanced over at the clock.  No wonder he was still so tired, it was only just past seven. "What's that?"

"I'm not sure." Zuko sighed, a little wearily.  "He said he couldn't discuss it over the phone, but you know how he is.  It could be anything."

"True," said Jet. "What was it last time?"

Zuko groaned, remembering. "His stylist had taken a job in another city and he had a function to go to before he could hire a new one."

"Are you serious?"

"I think he actually used the words 'fashion emergency.'"

Jet grinned. "Well, tell him I said hi."

"I will."

"And if you're going to some fancy restaurant, you have to order something extra fancy in my honor."

Zuko nodded, serious now.  "I will.  I'll take a picture of it with my phone." He ran his fingers back through Jet's hair.  "Any more requests?"

"No, not really."  Jet paused.  "Hey, you have all of next week off, don't you?"  The chess store where Zuko worked was run by Piandao Shi, an old friend of Zuko's uncle, and had crazy hours that seemed to change on the man's slightest whim. But it had a few Go boards in the back, as well, which made it one of the few places in the city where Zuko's professional board game skills were in demand. Jet hadn't even realized they had stores like that one in the city, but then, he hadn't been paying attention until Zuko gave him a reason to.

Zuko arched a curious eyebrow. "Yes, why?"

"No reason.  I was just checking.  We'll have to do something fun."

"I do like fun," said Zuko mildly, with a wry smile.

"You are fun."

"That's high praise, coming from you."  Zuko bent down, bringing their faces close together.  "Since you woke up, I'll give you a good-bye kiss."

Jet accepted it eagerly.  It was good.  He wanted it to last, and it did, Zuko's hand cupping his head and his own arms coming up to circle Zuko's shoulders.  When it ended, he was sorry that Zuko had to go.  "For future reference--you can give me a good-bye kiss while I'm still asleep. You've got my implied consent."

"Implied consent?  That's good to know."

"Yeah, I don't mind if you take advantage of me, baby."

Laughing, Zuko shook his head.  "I'll keep that in mind, then.  In case it comes up."

"It'll come up, all right."

Zuko was still laughing as he kissed Jet again.  "I'm only working until two.  Do you want to stay here, or are you going home?"

"I guess I'll go home.  I've got one more exam to go--I should probably try to study or something.  Or at least sit on a book and try to soak up some knowledge."

"You should," said Zuko, momentarily stern.

"Which one.  The soaking?"

"No, the studying."

Jet sighed dramatically.  "I was afraid you were going to say that."

"You're the one who told me to bug you about it."

"I'd hoped maybe you'd forgotten about that."

"I don't forget anything you tell me," said Zuko, and though his tone was casual Jet felt a silly little flare of warmth in his chest. "Be good and I'll reward you later, okay? Promise."

Jet thought that seemed fair.  He managed to steal one more kiss from Zuko before the other boy finally took his leave.

They didn't see each other every day, but they saw each other on most days, at least for a little while.  It was good.  It hadn't happened all at once, which Jet was thankful for. He'd told Zuko he needed the space to take things slow, and Zuko had followed all his cues without complaint or question.  Their lives had changed little by little, moving closer together by degrees until it seemed okay.  Normal.  Good.

Going home to study turned out not be the greatest idea.  Not that it was a bad idea, but it sure wasn't the responsible idea Zuko had had in mind.  Studying was difficult when Bee and Long were home.  They'd already had all their finals, damn them.  They could lounge around, being lazy and having fun with no consequences.  Jet tried to study in his room, but the sound of laughter and yelling was distracting--and then he heard the door bang open and shut, and the yelling increased, a sure sign that Toph had come over.

Jet shuddered and tried to keep his attention focused on political systems and forms of government, but they couldn't compete with his best friends and video games.  Within ten minutes, he hauled himself and his books out into the living room.  Ten minutes after that, he exchanged his books for a PlayStation controller.  After that, it was easy to eat some chips and and forget the exam looming on the horizon.  He could concentrate on more important things, like defeating Bee once and for all, because she kept beating him at Soul Calibur, and he was going to teach her a lesson.

Then someone--Jet later thought it might have been him--remembered the old board games they'd bought at the thrift store a few months ago, and by the time Zuko texted him to ask if he could come over, they were deep in the middle of a heated Twister tournament.  Jet and Bee and Toph were competing for the crown of Twister King, with Long as the wheel-spinner and Toph's assistant, coaching her through the moves. Once the three of them had collapsed in a heap, he texted Zuko back and told him that he'd better come over.  He was trying to train Zuko to drop by whenever he wanted, but Zuko remained stubbornly polite.

Once Zuko arrived, Toph decided to sit out, plopping herself down on the couch.  "I'll let you losers have a shot at winning," she said.

"I don't really understand the appeal of this game," Zuko said as he surveyed the mat dotted with colored squares.  "There doesn't seem to be any real strategy involved."  He was smirking slightly, however, so Jet knew he didn't really mean it.

"That shows what you know," Jet laughed.  "Watch and learn."

"Yeah," said Bee, stamping her foot on the mat.  "Jet has a strategy that I like to call 'cheating'."

"Very funny.  You're just mad because it works."

"Not on me!" Toph declared, reaching into the giant bag of chips they'd been eating out of, which she'd found sitting on the couch near her.

"I'm not playing either, cheater," Bee sniffed, winking, as she sat down next to Toph and snaked her hand into the chip bag.  She stuck her tongue out, then stuffed her mouth full of chips.  "You guys play."

"Come on, Zuko, it'll be fun," Jet and Long urged him.

"Fine, fine."  Zuko sighed and stepped up to the mat.

Bee and Toph laughed evilly, and Bee snatched up the spinner.  "This'll be good.  I like bossing you all around."

"Yeah, me too," Toph laughed. "Zuko, have you seriously never played this before?"

Zuko scowled, although Toph couldn't appreciate that detail. "We weren't really a board games family, okay?"

Jet had only seen photos of Zuko's dad, but he remembered Azula. He tried to imagine her playing Twister, but it seemed too undignified for her even consider. Iroh and Zuko were a different sort of Xi, apparently. "Don't make fun of his handicap," said Jet, "it's rude."

Toph snorted. "Yeah, he's 'differently abled,' all right."

"Are we done?" Zuko asked wearily. "Can we just get to the part where I suck at this and everyone laughs at me?"

"Zuko, you wound me," said Bee. "Obviously we're laughing with you."

"Uh-huh," said Zuko dubiously. But then Jet was explaining the rules - it really was a miracle how little Zuko knew about these things - and Zuko couldn't help but listen as sincerely as he did to all game-related discussion.

In the end Long fell first, whether by accident or design, it was hard to tell.  Long was sneaky.  That left Zuko and himself, which was a pleasant state of affairs.

"Right hand, yellow," called Bee, and Jet shifted his hand.  This brought his face into close contact with Zuko's neck.

"Think you can take me?" he whispered, his lips almost brushing Zuko's skin.

"Seeing as this is a game for preschoolers? Yes, I think so."

"Sure about that?"  It was very easy.  He parted his lips.  His tongue flicked out, tasting the skin just below Zuko's jaw.

"Jet," whispered Zuko warningly.

"Left foot, green," Bee announced, seeming not to notice.  Jet moved, pressing his body deliberately against Zuko's, his hips very close to Zuko's thigh.  Maybe too close.

No, definitely too close, as Zuko almost instantly spluttered and collapsed. Jet fell on top of him a moment later, laughing.  "I win!" he crowed.

"That was low." Zuko poked Jet sharply from his place beneath him. "Bee's right, you do cheat."

"I do not."

"You did that on purpose."  Zuko had a knack for stating the obvious when it came to Jet's intentions.

"It's not my fault," Jet protested. "I was born with a natural charm.  I make men fall to their knees."

"Yeah, right," said Long, from his place beside Bee on the couch.

Zuko poked Jet again, more strategically this time, and he began to laugh so hard he almost choked.  "Stop, you're killing me!"

"You'll live," Long said, and then Bee threw a handful of chips at them, and everything descended into madness.  All in all, it was turning out to be a pretty good day.

"Jet, what are you doing to me?"

"Just hold still, baby."

"It feels weird."

"If you keep moving around like that, it's not gonna help."

Zuko frowned and gripped the porcelain. "Okay, I'm still. But the smell is making me light-headed."

They were interrupted by laughter from the bathroom door.  Bee was hanging on the door frame, making faces at them.  "Are you two done yet?  I'm starving."

"Yeah, almost."  Jet drew away from Zuko, who was sitting on the edge of the tub.  He examined his handiwork.  In one hand, he crumpled the piece of foil he'd just removed from Zuko's hair.  "Looks good."

"Maybe I shouldn't have done this," said Zuko.  "It's stupid."

Zuko's usually black hair was now marked with a bright, red streak.  "It's just for the summer.  And it's supposed to be fun.  You need a streak of fun in your life."

Zuko looked up at him with one of his joking little scowls.  "I think I already have one of those."

"Ha ha, I guess you mean me."  Jet tossed the foil into the trash can.  "Now you've got two.  Don't worry, I'll dye it back if you get tired of it."  He reached down and mussed the hair that they were discussing-or the non-dyed parts anyway.  "Okay, hop in the shower and rinse off, and then we'll get something to eat."

"Finally!" Bee scolded when they were at last ready to go.  "You didn't have to get in the shower with him."  She elbowed Jet in the ribs.

Jet pretended to wince in pain.  "I didn't.  I was just playing around." She didn't look convinced. Which was fair, as "playing around" had involved poking Zuko through the shower curtain, followed by "helping" him towel off once he was clean.

"Hurry up," Bee growled, "I'm hungry."  He could tell by the look in her eyes that she meant it.  If they didn't go now, he would be the one on the menu.

The night was mild, warm but not too warm.  They decided to walk to the restaurant.  Jet kept playing with Zuko's hair.  It was too much fun not to.  On such a nice night, everyone was out, and the streets were crowded.  Jet wanted to close his eyes and listen to all the voices of people as they passed by, all the different languages, so he could drink them all in.  If he did that, he'd probably walk into someone, so he kept his eyes open and kept getting distracted by Zuko.

"Where are we going, by the way?" Zuko asked.

Jet, Long, Bee, and Toph had made this decision beforehand, while Zuko had been finishing up in the bathroom.  They answered now in unison.  "New Big Wong's!"

Zuko rolled his eyes, fondly.  "You guys don't always have to say it like that."

"But we love New Big Wong's," Jet protested.

"I think you just like to say the name."

Zuko had a point, but Jet was loyal to his favorite tacky Chinese restaurant.  "Maybe that's part of it, but the food is pretty good."

Bee and Long and Toph backed him up, and Zuko shook his head, outnumbered.  "Don't worry, I won't separate you from your special restaurant."

"Say the name, Zuko," said Bee.  Jet was on one side of him, and she closed in on the other.

Zuko pursed his lips.  "You already know what it's called."

"But it's better when you say it," sighed Bee, grabbing Zuko's arm.

"Yeah, say it!"  Jet took hold of his other arm and pulled gently.  "Come on, Zuko, we all want you to say it."  Toph grabbed his wrist in order to better target him when she punched him in the arm, which she did with relish.  Even Long was in on it, smiling in his quiet way.

"Fine, fine.  New Big Wong," said Zuko, his tone both disgusted and amused.  Everyone else burst into laughter, and it wasn't long before Zuko was laughing with them.

The restaurant's decor was about as cheesy as its name suggested it would be.  There were paper lanterns and fans on the wall, and the wallpaper suffered from too much gilding.  It gleamed.  There was a fishtank in one corner, and the bright, tropical animals swum slowly and a bit abashedly, as if embarrassed by their surroundings.

"Oh hey, I forgot to ask, what did Hahn want to talk to you about?"  Jet asked after the waiter handed them their menus and promised to bring them tea and water.  Zuko had shown up in the middle of the Twister tournament, so he hadn't thought to question him at that point, and afterwards they had all been too distracted by being ridiculous, and it hadn't come up.

"That's right, I didn't tell you."  Zuko paused, as if considering the best way to phrase things.  "Well. He and Zhao are getting married…"

"No way, really?"  Jet laughed.  He should have seen it coming, but somehow it was still something of a surprise.  Those two were the oddest couple, but somehow they made things work.  It was kind of comforting, really.  If those two could manage to find common ground and stay together, anyone could.  "That's great!"

"And…" Zuko sighed. "He wants me to be his best man."

"What wrong with that?" asked Bee.

"This is Hahn," said Jet.

Bee nodded. "Good point."

Jet turned his attention back to Zuko, his chin resting on one palm. "I bet you'll look hot in a tux."

"I guess I will have to wear one," said Zuko unhappily, as if the idea hadn't previously occurred to him.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Hahn will pick it out for you."

"That's what I'm worried about, actually."

"Maybe he'll put you in like an organza sarong or something," said Bee. "Or a kilt."

Zuko pushed his glasses up over his forehead, rubbing his temples. "He wants me to help," he said. "With everything."  His words were simple, but evocative.  Jet's eyes widened as their import struck home.  Zuko was going to "help" Hahn plan his wedding.  Meaning that he would be mired in talks about florists and caterers and tablecloths and china for months on end.

Jet tried not to laugh.  He didn't do a very good job of it.

"Yes, I know," Zuko sighed. "It's hilarious."

"I'm sorry--it's not that I don't feel for you, Zuko.  But I'm glad it's not me."

They talked more about Hahn and Zhao, all of them sharing their favorite Hahn anecdotes and trying to predict what kind of things he'd have at the wedding, which would probably cost more than all of them made in a year.  Jet hoped that the food would be in towers, to which Zuko replied, "I'm sure some of it will be."

Jet leaned back in his chair, listening to the stories.  He caught Zuko's gaze and smiled.  It was nice, hanging out with everyone like this.  Nice and normal.  "I like your hair, hot stuff," he said.

"Thanks," Zuko replied.  "I've got the best hairdresser."

"That's true, you do!  And I've heard he's pretty handsome, too."

"Stop flirting with Zuko and yourself," Bee chided.  "There are more important things going on.  We have to congratulate Hahn.  I propose that we call him up and yell 'congratulations' in the phone all at once when he picks up."

"Good plan," said Toph, "but I think we should get drunk first and then call him."

"Shit yes!" said Jet.  He'd been looking for an excuse to order the outrageously stupid fruity drinks they sold at New Big Wong.  "We'll eat and get drunk, and then call up Hahn."

Zuko looked dubious about the plan, but he kept any misgivings he had to himself, instead saying diplomatically, "That's an idea."

"Just look at these drinks," said Jet, excited.  He was leafing through one of the menus.  It was bright and shiny laminated paper, complete with photos of the most impressive dishes, and, more importantly, the most insane drinks.  Blue and yellow and purple and pink, they made a rainbow of stupid alcohol.  "Oh god, I can't decide, they're all too great.  I want them all."

Everyone had joined him in his perusal, joking about the names and the accompanying blurbs that attempted to be witty, Toph demanding visual descriptions from Bee.  It was Zuko, however, who made the first truly great observation.  "I don't know about these," he said.  "I mean, look at this one.  It's called 'Buddha's Revenge'.  That's completely wrong.  Buddha wouldn't want revenge on anyone.  And why are they referencing Montezuma's Revenge for something you're supposed to want to drink?"

"Buddha's Revenge?" Jet hadn't noticed that one.  "Fuck yes, I'm getting Buddha's Revenge!"

"Jet, don't get that one," said Zuko.  "It looks awful.  You're going to get sick."

"I don't know about you, Zuko, but I don't fear the Buddha."

Zuko groaned.  "I do," he said. But he found Jet's hand under the table with his own, and Jet laced their fingers together.

Their waiter returned just in time to be treated to a confusing frenzy of enthusiastic drink orders.  He took it with good nature, nodding and writing everything down.  In all the excitement, they almost forgot to order food.

Three Buddha's Revenge's later, Jet was unsure if he'd actually managed to consume any of the food they'd ordered, although he must have had something, because there were smears of grease and sauce on his plate.  "Now I think we're drunk enough to call Hahn," Jet announced, pulling out his phone.

"Motion seconded!" agreed Toph, bringing her fist down on the table with a loud bang. Fortunately, it was a slow night at New Big Wong, and the staff was being indulgent of their behavior--perhaps because they'd ordered so many overpriced drinks.

"Hahn won't like it," said Zuko ominously.  He had had two drinks of his own, named something silly that Jet couldn't remember, his brain was so full of Buddha's Revenge.  "Seriously, he doesn't understand this kind of thing." He stood up and reached across the table, trying to snatch Jet's phone out of his hands.

"Hey, no, wait--"  Jet tried to elude him, dodging, but Zuko persisted.

"I'm the one who has to listen to him later," said Zuko, making an impressive lean-lunge. But his aim was off, and instead of grabbing Jet's phone, his hand knocked over the glass nearest to Jet, which happened the one that contained the remainder of his latest Buddha's Revenge.  The large glass was only a little less than half full.

Sky blue liquor splashed out onto Jet's arms and phone and shirt as Zuko's eyes widened and he drew back.  "Shit," he said, laughing a little despite himself. "Jet, I'm sorry."

"Don't be--I got a Bodhisattva Bath.  That's awesome."  Jet wiped at his shirt, but it didn't do much good, only spread and rubbed in the blue stain.  "Damn, this stuff is toxic."

Their waiter came over, offering help, but Jet waved him away, getting to his feet.  "No, it's okay.  I'll go to the bathroom."  Toph and Bee and were busy laughing, but Long took his phone and started to wipe it off with a napkin, for which Jet was grateful.

"Here, I'll come with you," said Zuko, solicitous.  Jet was a little wobbly as he stood up, but Zuko came up next to him and slid an arm around his ribs, keeping him on a steady course for the men's room. "I'm sorry," he said again.  "I was just messing around."

"I know, baby.  I was feeling a little too hot, so it's nice to cool off, you know?"  He patted Zuko's head, saying again, "I like your hair."

Zuko smiled.  "You're pretty drunk, Jet."

"I'm not that drunk." He paused, considering, as they turned into a little corridor.  "But those drinks were a lot stronger than I thought they'd be.  Shouldn't have underestimated the Buddha, you know?"

"No, you never should."

There was no one else in the bathroom.  Jet leaned back against the sink, and Zuko helped him pull his shirt off, laid it over the edge of the sink, then wiped off Jet's chest and stomach with a paper towel he pulled from the nearby dispenser.

"This is kind of hot," Jet observed.

Zuko made a noncommittal noise instead of replying, but Jet could tell he agreed.  He reached up and stroked the side of Zuko's face.  "Is that why you spilled that drink all over me?  So you could get me alone and undress me?"

"No, Jet."

"I bet it is."  Jet pulled him closer, kissing his lips, his cheek.

"Jet," Zuko protested, although he didn't pull away.  "Someone could come in here."

"I know.  That makes it hotter."  He put his mouth to Zuko's again, this time kissing him deeply, tasting his mouth.  Zuko didn't protest again.  In fact, his hands came up, and he stroked Jet's chest, which still felt a little sticky from the sweet alcohol.  "You'll have to rub me down," Jet murmured.  "Clean me up."

"I don't think you want to get clean," said Zuko, but nonetheless, his hands moved downwards, skating over Jet's waist and settling on his belt. He was a little drunk too, it seemed. Not that Jet minded. He kissed Zuko again as moved his hips forward into the touch, already starting to grow hard.

Zuko was in the process of unbuckling his belt when the door swung open, and they were presented with the sight of the waiter's startled face.  He stood there for a few moments that seemed much longer than ordinary moments, before backing away and letting the door close behind him.

"Shit," said Jet.  "We got caught.  That's Buddha's second Revenge.  And I had three Buddha's Revenges, so that means he gets revenge on me three times."

"I don't think that's real, Jet."  Fortunately, Zuko didn't seem that embarrassed.  Good--it seemed he was a good influence on Zuko after all.  At least they'd only been making out.  It was lucky that the man hadn't come in minute or two later.

"Yeah, it is."  He nodded sagely.  "Trust me. I know all about this religion stuff."

Jet wrung his shirt out over the sink and decided it looked good enough to put back on--what was a little blue dye between friends?  "We've still gotta make that phone call," he said.

"Jet, no--"

Jet wouldn't hear any argument.  "It's a very important occasion.  It's not every day a man chooses his best man.  We've got to congratulate him."  He put on his most convincing face.  Obviously, Zuko didn't have a chance.  He couldn't possibly resist.  To make extra sure, Jet kissed him again.

Zuko sighed, the heaviest yet, and leaned in until their foreheads touched. "All right," he said wearily. "But only because I love you."

He was definitely drunk. Usually, he avoided saying that kind of thing, knowing that it still made Jet a little uncomfortable. But Jet was feeling warm and easygoing that night, and enjoyed the moment for what it was. His boyfriend of something like seven months, tasting of Blue Curacao in the bathroom of Big Wong's.

The others were waiting, giving them suspicious looks as they returned from the bathroom.  "What took you so long?" Bee asked.

"Buddha's revenge is profound," Jet replied, which was the best he could think of in his somewhat inebriated state.

"I'm glad you're finally back--we've been waiting to call Hahn."  Bee smacked him as he sat down.

"Hey, what was that for?"

"Stop scaring the waiters."

"I'll stop, I'll stop."

After that, the evening was something of a blur.  They shouted into the phone at Hahn, who was confused by the chorus of voices, at which point they passed the phone to Zuko, and he offered one of his usual polite explanations.  Then there was more alcohol, and more food in the form of dessert.  The waiters were beleaguered but polite, though they were probably glad when the noisy group finally left.  At least they'd tipped well - they were classy trouble-makers, after all, and had good reason to keep the Big Wong's staff appeased.

Outside the restaurant, they separated.  Bee, Toph, and Long went back the way they'd come, loudly debating the issue of getting a cab. Jet decided to head back to Zuko's place, and as they were in Chinatown already it made sense to walk.

Jet liked playing with Zuko's new hair streak, which shone enticingly under the street lamps.  Zuko fended him off a few times, then gave in.  "I think it looks cute," Jet said as they climbed the stairs to Zuko's loft.

"Yes, Jet, you told me that several times."

"Sometimes you should repeat things a lot if they're true."  He slid his arms around Zuko's waist as Zuko tried to unlock the door.

"This isn't getting us into the apartment any faster."

"Mmm," said Jet.  He'd been interrupted back at the restaurant, but there was no one to interrupt him now.  His hands moved down.

If Zuko was good at one thing--and he was good at a few things, certainly--it was focus.  He managed to get the door open without faltering.  Once they were inside the apartment, however, there was no need for them to focus on anything but each other.  Zuko's keys fell to the ground with a clatter.  Zuko's bed up in the loft seemed too distant just then, but Jet got him to the futon as quickly as he could, where they collapsed into a heap of drunken kisses.  Zuko's skin tasted like liquor and also faintly of hair dye.  He tasted good, but then he always tasted good.

Jet stripped Zuko of his clothes, and somehow his own shirt and pants came off in the process.  They hadn't even managed to turn the lights on, but Jet didn't need to see to know what Zuko looked like.  He looked beautiful.  Jet smiled up at him, and he was sure Zuko must have known somehow.  "Want you so much," Jet murmured, his finger's on Zuko's lips.

They knew each other's bodies and each other's wants so well now.  It didn't take long before Zuko was above him, ready for him, lowering himself onto Jet's cock.  It felt so good, amazing.  Zuko was amazing.  Jet held him up as he moved.  It was slow and hot and perfect, and when it was over, Zuko collapsed on top of him, and that was perfect too, both of them sticky and covered with sweat.  It was summer, after all.

It had been summer then, too. Almost four years ago, in Jet's bedroom in Gaoling, the two of them biting back their moans to keep from being heard. The room was dark, but Jet closed his eyes for a moment and let himself remember. He waited for the familiar twist of pain in his chest, held Zuko close and tight until it passed. That had happened, and he would never forget. But this was different. This was good.

Zuko kissed Jet's forehead.  "Hey," he said softly. "You should get to bed. You said you just have one exam left, right?"

Jet nodded.  "Yeah."

"When is it?"

"Nine," said Jet. He remembered all at once.  He hadn't studied.  No, he'd stayed out with his friends drinking.  He was such a damn genius.

"Jet!" Zuko sat up, straddling Jet's hips.  "You didn't tell me that! I would have gotten us home earlier."

"I forgot."  Jet started laughing, and once he'd started, he didn't stop.  "Buddha's Revenge strikes again!  You can't say the Buddha doesn't have a sense of humor."

Fortunately, Buddha's last revenge was only a half revenge, as Jet had only drunk half the last drink.  Jet was sure he did well enough on his exam to insure a decent grade, though it was a good thing he specialized in bullshit and educated guesses.  He wasn't worried about it.  He was done with school for the semester, and he'd had a much easier time of things than in the two years before. He'd kept up with his reading, gone to most of his classes, turned all his papers in on time. No drama, and only the good kind of distractions.  Now he could concentrate on more important matters.  Like Zuko.

Zuko had wrangled an entire week of vacation.  That was an important matter, which Jet hadn't forgotten.  He had made a plan.  Zuko didn't know about it yet, but he was about to find out. With style, of course - Jet did these things properly or not at all.

Jet pulled up to Zuko's place in his car on Monday morning.  Good old car, it was still dying, but it would hold on for another few months, at least.  Jet had faith in it.  He patted its driver's side door fondly as he climbed out.  He hadn't called ahead.  He hoped Zuko was at home and he hadn't missed him.  He pulled out his phone now, holding down the "2" key until the speed dial kicked in..

Zuko answered.  "Hi, Jet."

"Hey babe, are you at home?"

"Yes."

"Good--come outside."

Zuko paused, already suspicious.  "What do you mean?"

"I'm waiting for you outside."

"Oh! I didn't know you were coming over."

"Of course you didn't.  It's a surprise."

Zuko laughed a little. "I'll be right out."  There was still confusion in his voice, but not too much of it.  He was growing used to Jet's surprises, apparently.  That wasn't good. Jet had to keep him on his toes.

Zuko was a man of his word.  In a minute or two, he appeared at his door, and hurried across the space that separated him from Jet.  Jet gave him a quick, tight hug and a kiss.  "Get in the car."

"What? Right now?"

"What can I say? It's time to go, baby."

Zuko didn't hesitate.  Jet had to give him credit for that.  He got right in and put on his seatbelt, as if there was nothing unusual about Jet being awake this early on a vacation day, let alone picking Zuko up with the car.

It wasn't until they were underway that he looked over his shoulder and noticed the luggage in the back seat.  "So where are we going, exactly?" he asked.

"You'll have to wait and see."

Zuko was growing wary.  "I promised Hahn I would go over his place later and talk to him about wedding tablecloths or something.  So this isn't going to take too long, is it?"

"No, not too long."

Zuko sighed in relief.  "That's good."  He smiled, and they laughed and talked as they usually did, until Jet merged onto the highway, going in the direction that would undeniably take them out of the city.  At that point, Zuko grew suspicious again.  "Jet, seriously.  Where are you taking me?"

"I'm afraid I have a confession to make," said Jet, feeling a lot less guilty than he sounded, since he was hamming it up.

Zuko leaned back in his seat, no doubt expecting nonsense of some variety. "And what's that?"

"I'm kidnapping you."

Zuko looked at him over his glasses, lips turns into a frown of warning, but it made him look too much like a sexy librarian to be particularly effective. "Jet."

"I'm completely serious, Zuko.  I am taking you away from the city for an undisclosed amount of time, to an undisclosed location."

"But I don't have any clothes.  Or a toothbrush--"

It was so like Zuko to think of his toothbrush at a time like this that Jet laughed.  "I packed extra clothes for you.  And I bought you a toothbrush.  Don't worry, I thought of everything!  This was an expertly planned kidnapping.  I'm a master kidnapper.  And I'm taking you across state lines, so I'm going to be in a lot of trouble with the law."

Zuko looked up at the highway signs with his lips pursed, mulling all of this over. "I promised Hahn," he said, still unsure.

"Hahn will get over it.  You know how he is.  Just text him and tell him you can't make it because you got kidnapped.  It's a really good excuse."

Zuko shook his head, but Jet could tell that he was more amused than irritated.  He pulled out his phone, which fortunately he'd brought down with him.  "I'll just tell him something came up.  He might not get the joke."

"Oh, it's no joke," said Jet.  "This is an official kidnapping."

"All right, I give up."  Zuko leaned back in his seat again as he began to text someone--presumably Hahn.  "I'm your captive.  Now, can you tell me where we're going?"

"Yes," said Jet.  "I think I can tell you that."

"Where?" Zuko prompted, when he didn't reply right away.

Jet had been waiting for that question, as he liked to have cues to answer to.  "We're going on a road trip," he said, with all the gravity such an announcement warranted.

It made sense, really.  It was a road trip that had got them in this mess in the first place, years ago, when they'd first met.  Then it had taken another road trip to get them together again, however clumsy and stumbling those days may have been.  Clearly it was time for another, now that things had changed again for the better-settled into a place where he felt comfortable again. There was something about the road, so open and free before him, that made him feel hopeful.  Maybe things wouldn't work out--you never could tell--but there was a good chance.  More than he would have dared to hope for, not so long ago.

As for where they were going--they had a week, and there was a lot you could see in a week.  He had ideas, of course but he tried to keep them vague, light and open-ended. He was content to see where the road would take him.

Jet didn't let himself worry about money too much, because he'd been saving up for this - the idea had struck him just after New Year's, when the two of them were driving home after visiting their families in Gaoling.  They stayed in cheap hotels or slept in the car, curled up together in the passenger seat with a sleeping bag thrown over them.

Eventually Zuko stopped asking where they were going. They stopped at every roadside attraction Jet saw a sign for.  Halls of fame, boring monuments and weird museums, the World's Smallest Church, and the World's Largest Ball of Twine.  After a couple days, Jet got the idea that they should go to Mount Rushmore.

"I wouldn't think you'd want to go to Mount Rushmore," said Zuko.

"I know, it's politically sensitive," said Jet, rubbing his chin in an appropriately sober manner. "But it's so huge and cheesy.  I feel like if I appreciate it somewhat ironically, I won't be supporting the suppression of Native Americans.  Plus, we'll see the Crazy Horse Memorial, too.  What do you think?"

They were sitting in a Waffle House, pamphlets spread between their syrup-covered plates. Zuko took a bite of sausage as he shrugged. "I'm the kidnap victim, remember?  I don't have a choice."

"Oh yeah, that's right!" Jet pawed through the little booklets, shaking his head at his own lapse in protocol. "Why do I keep asking you for your input?"

"I don't know. You're the kidnapper, you tell me."

"Good point." Jet selected one of the pamphlets and held it up at eye-level.  Most of the cover was taken up by an enormous, clipart horseshoe. "Since I'm the kidnapper, I decree we should go be cowboys in South Dakota."  He looked Zuko over critically.  "But you don't look much like a cowboy with that streak in your hair.  We'll have to cover it up with a hat or something."

Zuko lay down his fork, his expression grave as he leaned in across the table. "Jet. I draw the line at cowboy hats."

Jet reached out to tug at the streak. "You forget," he said, "that I'm the kidnapper. The line is a slave to my will."

Zuko let him tug, for once. "I think the line has some company," he said drily, but Jet could see that he was pleased. Zuko kissed him once they were back in the car, tasting of breakfast and black coffee.

He didn't buy Zuko a hat, but when they drove into Keystone, not far from the big mountain with the president heads, he insisted on buying him a fanny pack - the kind tourists wore on the ferry back home.  Zuko sighed but agreed to wear it for the day, and Jet amused himself by smacking the small pack just above Zuko's ass whenever he had the opportunity.  Keystone was full of tacky shops and an array of velvet animal paintings.  Jet laughed himself sick, and Zuko had to physically restrain him to prevent him from buying a giant velvet panther.

It was still relatively early when they drove in to Mount Rushmore National Park.  The mountain itself was expectedly big.  Jet stared up at the faces of the four giant stone presidents, waiting to be moved by the weight of history. He found he was considerably more interested in Zuko's ass, which he smacked again with great enthusiasm.

Zuko retreated, though he was laughing.  "Jet, why don't you get a snack or something?" he suggested.

"Distraction tactics, huh?  I think you've been looking at those presidents for too long."

"It's hard to look at them at all when someone keeps smacking my ass."

Jet held up one hand, pointer finger extended. "Technically, it was your fanny pack."

"I don't know why I agreed to wear this thing." Zuko turned around to regard it woefully.

"Because I'll make it up to you later, baby." He winked, his hand sliding over to rest on Zuko's hip.  "I wish we could get that thing embroidered with your name or something."

"Jet, no."

The great thing about the food at Mount Rushmore was that it had theme names.  Monumental Breakfast, Jeffersonian Salad, and Teddy's Bison Chili.  "What are Melting Pot Noodles?" Zuko asked curiously.

"More like Manifest Destiny Noodles," said Jet.

"Ha ha, very funny."

"I know what I'm getting," Jet said.  He was tempted by the Bison Chili, but nothing could stop him from following his true American dream.  "A hot dog."

"Do you ever get tired of hot dogs?"

"Not really."  He ordered two of them, and Zuko got a burger.  They went outside to eat.  Somehow, the food tasted better while they were standing in front of a giant mountain carved into the shape of four dead men.  Jet saluted, which was made difficult by the fact that he was holding hot dogs, and ended with predictably poor results.  "That wasn't a good idea," he said, as ketchup oozed down his wrist.  "Oh well."  He licked his wrist clean, then ate the rest of the first hot dog hurriedly.  He looked over at Zuko and noticed that Zuko was staring at him in a particular way.  Jet laughed.  "Am I giving you ideas?"

Zuko's smile was quick and small, just the kind of smile that drove him crazy.  "Maybe."

"Oh yeah?"  Jet brandished his remaining hot dog.  "You want me to put my hot dog in your fanny pack?"

Zuko looked like he was trying to hide behind his hamburger. "No, that is not what I meant."

Jet jabbed at the small, black pack with the end of the hot dog.  "Come on, you want me to put it in there."

Zuko scooted a few steps away, the burger still held up like a shield. "Jet, you're getting relish on me."

"I know you want my relish, baby."

Zuko made another attempt to get away, positioning himself on the far side of a trash can, but Jet's pursuit was relentless.  If the other tourists minded these antics, they didn't say anything about it, although they did make sure to keep clear of Jet and Zuko as they ran around the visitors' center.  In the end, sadly, the noble hot dog was destroyed, as Jet accidentally dropped it in the dirt.  He gave it a state funeral in the nearest trash can, as Zuko did his best impression of a 21-gun salute. It sounded more like Zuko doing an impression of fireworks, really, but that was good, too.

Then Jet cleaned off Zuko's ass with a napkin, and they went to look dutifully at the mountain again.  "Oh fuck yes, look at this."  Jet had picked up a free tourist guide inside the visitors' center, and he had started to leaf through it idly.  "I have our next stop right here."

Zuko tried to look over his shoulder, but Jet quickly hid the brochure.  "Oh no," he said.  "Just wait and see.  You are going to love this.  And it has nothing to do with fanny packs, don't worry."

From the park, they drove the car to Deadwood.  With so many signs along the road, Zuko quickly guessed at his intent. "This has something to do with cowboys, doesn't it?" he asked with mock weariness.

"Maybe."

Zuko grunted as they parked in front of Woody's Wild West Old Time Photos.  "I knew it," he said.

"Come on, we can't come all this way and not get a souvenir photo of us dressed up like gunslinger outlaws of the Old West.  Jet Cassidy and the Zuko Kid!"

"Jet, that sounds absolutely awful."

"Yeah, I can see you smiling over there.  You love it."

"Besides, why can't we be Zuko Cassidy and the Jet Kid?"

"Because that really does sound awful, that's why."

Jet got his wish, and Zuko looked hot in those Old West clothes.  It would be a treasured memory in the years to come.  "I'm going to hang this over the mantelpiece someday," he announced.  "If I ever have a mantel, anyway.  This is definitely going right over it."  He hugged the picture to his chest.

Zuko chuckled and kissed his temple. "Until then, we can put it on my fridge."

"Oh no," said Jet. "It's going on my fridge. I want the maximum number of people to see my boyfriend dressed as a sexy cowboy."

"So, what's our next stop, kidnapper?" Zuko asked as they climbed back into the car.

Jet coaxed the tired old engine to life and shifted it into gear. "Now we're going camping."

Zuko laughed. "Camping."

"Yes."

"Do we even have a tent?"

"I hid it in the trunk," said Jet as they pulled out of the parking lot. "The element of surprise is key in a proper kidnapping. And I'm a professional, as we've discussed."

Zuko propped his elbow up on the ridge below his window, his chin resting in his hand. "You never stop, do you?"

"I stop sometimes," said Jet.  "For the right reasons."

He had borrowed all the gear from Long, whose parents were camping buffs, and done enough research that he had a specific place in mind: the Sage Creek campground in the Badlands National Park. Jet had always wanted to see the Badlands, even as a kid, if only because the name sounded cool.  Standing there now-looking out over the rolling green plains and the wide, pale sky-he knew this was what he had needed, although he couldn't say precisely why. It was so different from the city that Jet wondered if he'd just wanted to get away-to drive until he reached the most different place possible. A completely new start.

He supposed maybe that was it.  They couldn't go back and keep crossing old ground.  They had to move on to new things.  Jet took in a deep breath and gazed across the prairie.  It was even more open than the road. Everything seemed possible.

They set up the battered but sturdy tent, filled their water bottles at the spigot and set out on a trail that looked promising. They followed the winding progress of the creek, then turned off onto another path and climbed one of the low, grassy hills. This early in the season, the campground was almost empty, and once the little clutch of tents was out of sight they were completely alone. Jet stripped off his shirt, enjoying the feel of the sun on his skin. Zuko watched him as he walked, a goofy smile on his lips, and Jet enjoyed that, too.

They didn't talk much as they walked, although now and then Jet swatted at Zuko's fanny pack, which he had continued to wear even though Jet would have let him take it off--he was endearing like that sometimes.  When Jet got hungry, it turned out that Zuko had stashed some granola bars in his fanny pack-the first time it had been put to its intended use-which they shared as they sat together in the grass.

"Pretty exciting, isn't it?" Jet asked.  "No showers or flush toilets or anything."

Zuko rolled his eyes, teasing. "Only you would think no showers is a plus."

"The other campground in the park had flush toilets," said Jet, shaking his head sadly at such excess.

"It's a good thing we didn't go there, then."  Zuko rolled his eyes harder.  Jet knew for sure that he was joking, though, as he laid a hand on Jet's back.

Jet sighed and leaned in toward him, his head on Zuko's shoulder and his arm coming around to rest lightly on Zuko's hip. The sun was low and heavy, now, and the light was starting to fade.

After a time, he felt Zuko shift to kiss him softly on the forehead. "Thank you," Zuko murmured  He was so close.  Jet could feel the heat of Zuko's body against his, the soft puff of breath against his hair.

Jet smiled, though Zuko couldn't see. "What are you thanking me for?"

"I don't know.  Everything, maybe." He squeezed Jet a little tighter. "Being here."

Jet chuckled quietly. "I want to be here."

"I know," said Zuko, though there was a hint of wonder in his voice. As if he couldn't quite believe it. "I'm glad. I want to be here, too, Jet." Another kiss, at the corner of Jet's eye. "Wherever you are."

Jet watched the sun as it dipped below the hills. Above them, the blue of the sky deepened behind the faint crescent of the moon. The evening breeze was cool on his skin. He turned his head to bring their mouths together, his hand on Zuko's cheek. Zuko held him close, warm and solid and his alone.

That night, before retiring to their tent, they lay under the stars, side by side.  The sky was more open even than the prairie.  They didn't talk at all.  They gazed up at the stars together.  Sometimes they didn't need to talk, especially at times like this, when each of them knew what the other was thinking.  Jet closed his eyes and wished--not on a star, but just wished--that this, like the road or the prairie, would go on and on.

End