Fic: Why Zuko Likes Jet.
Sep. 14th, 2007 11:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
foxysquidalsoThe counterpart to Why Jet Likes Zuko. Exciting!
[Yes, I need professional help.]
Title: Why Zuko Likes Jet
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Pairing: Jet/Zuko
Spoilers: Mild, up to "The Serpent's Pass"
Characters: Jet, Zuko, Iroh
Word count: 1,228
Notes: The title is self-explanatory.
Why Zuko Likes Jet.
He pretended not to notice when the Earth Kingdom boy started following him, but in truth, it was impossible not to notice. The boy stood out among the other refugees: lanky and tall, with his ridiculous head of hair and his mismatched clothes, not to mention the hook swords he carried with him. In spite of the peasant's ragged appearance, his weapons were well cared for, and Zuko guessed the double edged weapons must be dangerous in his hands.
In spite of his practically outlandish appearance, Zuko had to admit that the boy was skilled in stealth, and he might have managed to remain undetected, were it not for his overconfidence.
Or that was what Zuko thought at first, that the boy was overconfident. Later, he began to wonder. One afternoon, in the midst of the refugee camp, he found himself watching in bemused silence as the strange boy came to a halt right in front of him mere paces away, turning towards him as if about to say something. Zuko felt his heartbeat quicken, his fingers tensing his hands into loose fists. He waited.
The boy didn't speak, and Zuko looked away. When he glanced back, it was just in time to see the red cloth disappear into a sea of green and brown. Red reminded him of home, but the color of the bright tunic was in no way welcoming. It was clearly a war prize; the boy had murdered its rightful owner.
"Uncle," he said later that evening, having caught a glimpse of the boy yet again. "I think there's someone following me." They were sitting together on the cave floor, sharing a meager meal of broth and a few limp greens.
"Is that so?" Although he raised his eyebrows, Iroh neither looked nor sounded surprised.
Zuko rolled his eyes. Sometimes he didn't know why he bothered talking to his uncle. It was superfluous at best. "Yes," he replied flatly.
"What are you going to do about it, Nephew?"
He snorted, then shrugged. "I don't know. What should I do?"
Iroh took his time considering the matter. Zuko wondered what he was thinking, but at the same time, he was not sure if he wanted to know. "Perhaps," Iroh said finally, "in this case, it would be best to wait and and see."
"That's what I've been doing."
"Then I would say you have chosen the proper course of action."
Zuko scowled and fiercely resumed spooning broth into his mouth.
He'd begun to wonder if the boy wanted to be noticed. But if that was the case, why? At first he'd feared he'd been recognized. The wanted posters had been posted throughout the Colonies and the contested regions of the Earth Kingdom. But if someone wanted to kill or capture him, giving him warning would be a mistake. What, then, did the peasant want with him?
They ended up traveling on the same ferry. Zuko doubted it was a coincidence. By this point, he was beginning to grow used to his shadow. The boy didn't seem to intend him any harm. Zuko hadn't expected to be curious about him, but he found himself wondering where the boy had come from, who he was. Wondering if the boy was ever going to talk to him.
When he did make his approach, Zuko was unsurprised, turning at the sound of his voice. The boy spoke to him with ease, talking as if he knew him, which was true in a sense. They were already almost acquainted. Now they were introduced. He said his name was Jet.
Zuko wasn't quite sure why he agreed to Jet's proposal, joining him and his friends in their raid on the captain's larder. He was used to working alone. He didn't trust strangers. He should have told the boy to leave him alone. Yet his first impulse was to say yes, so he did.
There was something oddly compelling about Jet's clear gaze, his smile, his facile way of talking. Zuko had never been like that. He didn't find conversation easy. He struggled to find his words, or else the wrong words came all too quickly. He had never been able to draw people to him the way Jet seemed able to do. Jet's friends looked to him for guidance. When he was speaking, it was clear from the way they listened that his words had weight with them.
"I want to get to know you," Jet said to him later that afternoon, grinning broadly. They were alone together, or as alone as any two people could be on the deck of the ferry.
The statement surprised him. "Why?"
Jet shook his head instead of answering. "You're funny, Li."
His uncle was seated several feet away, and Zuko glanced over at him, but Uncle wasn't paying any attention, engrossed in cheerful conversation with a stranger. Probably discussing tea or Pai Sho or old family recipes. That was what Uncle did.
"I'm not funny." Zuko narrowed his eyes.
"I didn't mean it in a bad way."
"Oh. Good."
Jet laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" Zuko demanded.
"Because you're funny," Jet said again as he gazed into Zuko's eyes.
Zuko turned away, fighting to keep the blush from his face. Blushing was foolish, but the boy's frankness embarrassed him. He turned back, and Jet was only smiling. He didn't seem to be making fun. Zuko couldn't remember the last time he'd had a friendly discussion with a boy his own age. The child in the Earth Kingdom village had been different. Children were different. Quick to trust--and also quick to hate.
Zuko gave a cautious nod, and Jet's smile broadened.
During the raid, Zuko had his first opportunity to see Jet use his hook swords. Those weapons were relatively uncommon and difficult to master, but in Jet's seemingly careless hands, they flowed easily; the precision of his movements seemed effortless. Zuko admired his technique with the eyes of a fellow swordsman.
Everything they stole was doled out fairly. Jet saw to it, directing his friends as well as handing out food himself. He paused frequently to laugh and joke with the people. Zuko didn't mean to watch him, but he found himself doing so regardless. He wondered if there was anyone who didn't like the other boy.
That night, when Jet tried to kiss him, Zuko allowed it. He closed his eyes. He had heard of such things happening between men, especially among soldiers and sailors, but as he had been a prince, no one had dared to touch him. What did it matter now? Now he was no longer a prince.
It had been a while since he was last kissed. It felt good. He hadn't realized he was lonely until he'd been alone for so long. Jet's tongue slipped between his lips, and Zuko thought, with a sense of relief as his confusion was ended, So this was what he wanted.
Jet's fingers were long and narrow, like the rest of him. They stroked the underside of Zuko's jaw, slid down his throat, and Zuko allowed that too.
Zuko rested his hand on the front of Jet's tunic. It was dark, and he could not see, but he imagined he could feel the color of the cloth. It was warm to the touch.
[Yes, I need professional help.]
Title: Why Zuko Likes Jet
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Pairing: Jet/Zuko
Spoilers: Mild, up to "The Serpent's Pass"
Characters: Jet, Zuko, Iroh
Word count: 1,228
Notes: The title is self-explanatory.
Why Zuko Likes Jet.
He pretended not to notice when the Earth Kingdom boy started following him, but in truth, it was impossible not to notice. The boy stood out among the other refugees: lanky and tall, with his ridiculous head of hair and his mismatched clothes, not to mention the hook swords he carried with him. In spite of the peasant's ragged appearance, his weapons were well cared for, and Zuko guessed the double edged weapons must be dangerous in his hands.
In spite of his practically outlandish appearance, Zuko had to admit that the boy was skilled in stealth, and he might have managed to remain undetected, were it not for his overconfidence.
Or that was what Zuko thought at first, that the boy was overconfident. Later, he began to wonder. One afternoon, in the midst of the refugee camp, he found himself watching in bemused silence as the strange boy came to a halt right in front of him mere paces away, turning towards him as if about to say something. Zuko felt his heartbeat quicken, his fingers tensing his hands into loose fists. He waited.
The boy didn't speak, and Zuko looked away. When he glanced back, it was just in time to see the red cloth disappear into a sea of green and brown. Red reminded him of home, but the color of the bright tunic was in no way welcoming. It was clearly a war prize; the boy had murdered its rightful owner.
"Uncle," he said later that evening, having caught a glimpse of the boy yet again. "I think there's someone following me." They were sitting together on the cave floor, sharing a meager meal of broth and a few limp greens.
"Is that so?" Although he raised his eyebrows, Iroh neither looked nor sounded surprised.
Zuko rolled his eyes. Sometimes he didn't know why he bothered talking to his uncle. It was superfluous at best. "Yes," he replied flatly.
"What are you going to do about it, Nephew?"
He snorted, then shrugged. "I don't know. What should I do?"
Iroh took his time considering the matter. Zuko wondered what he was thinking, but at the same time, he was not sure if he wanted to know. "Perhaps," Iroh said finally, "in this case, it would be best to wait and and see."
"That's what I've been doing."
"Then I would say you have chosen the proper course of action."
Zuko scowled and fiercely resumed spooning broth into his mouth.
He'd begun to wonder if the boy wanted to be noticed. But if that was the case, why? At first he'd feared he'd been recognized. The wanted posters had been posted throughout the Colonies and the contested regions of the Earth Kingdom. But if someone wanted to kill or capture him, giving him warning would be a mistake. What, then, did the peasant want with him?
They ended up traveling on the same ferry. Zuko doubted it was a coincidence. By this point, he was beginning to grow used to his shadow. The boy didn't seem to intend him any harm. Zuko hadn't expected to be curious about him, but he found himself wondering where the boy had come from, who he was. Wondering if the boy was ever going to talk to him.
When he did make his approach, Zuko was unsurprised, turning at the sound of his voice. The boy spoke to him with ease, talking as if he knew him, which was true in a sense. They were already almost acquainted. Now they were introduced. He said his name was Jet.
Zuko wasn't quite sure why he agreed to Jet's proposal, joining him and his friends in their raid on the captain's larder. He was used to working alone. He didn't trust strangers. He should have told the boy to leave him alone. Yet his first impulse was to say yes, so he did.
There was something oddly compelling about Jet's clear gaze, his smile, his facile way of talking. Zuko had never been like that. He didn't find conversation easy. He struggled to find his words, or else the wrong words came all too quickly. He had never been able to draw people to him the way Jet seemed able to do. Jet's friends looked to him for guidance. When he was speaking, it was clear from the way they listened that his words had weight with them.
"I want to get to know you," Jet said to him later that afternoon, grinning broadly. They were alone together, or as alone as any two people could be on the deck of the ferry.
The statement surprised him. "Why?"
Jet shook his head instead of answering. "You're funny, Li."
His uncle was seated several feet away, and Zuko glanced over at him, but Uncle wasn't paying any attention, engrossed in cheerful conversation with a stranger. Probably discussing tea or Pai Sho or old family recipes. That was what Uncle did.
"I'm not funny." Zuko narrowed his eyes.
"I didn't mean it in a bad way."
"Oh. Good."
Jet laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" Zuko demanded.
"Because you're funny," Jet said again as he gazed into Zuko's eyes.
Zuko turned away, fighting to keep the blush from his face. Blushing was foolish, but the boy's frankness embarrassed him. He turned back, and Jet was only smiling. He didn't seem to be making fun. Zuko couldn't remember the last time he'd had a friendly discussion with a boy his own age. The child in the Earth Kingdom village had been different. Children were different. Quick to trust--and also quick to hate.
Zuko gave a cautious nod, and Jet's smile broadened.
During the raid, Zuko had his first opportunity to see Jet use his hook swords. Those weapons were relatively uncommon and difficult to master, but in Jet's seemingly careless hands, they flowed easily; the precision of his movements seemed effortless. Zuko admired his technique with the eyes of a fellow swordsman.
Everything they stole was doled out fairly. Jet saw to it, directing his friends as well as handing out food himself. He paused frequently to laugh and joke with the people. Zuko didn't mean to watch him, but he found himself doing so regardless. He wondered if there was anyone who didn't like the other boy.
That night, when Jet tried to kiss him, Zuko allowed it. He closed his eyes. He had heard of such things happening between men, especially among soldiers and sailors, but as he had been a prince, no one had dared to touch him. What did it matter now? Now he was no longer a prince.
It had been a while since he was last kissed. It felt good. He hadn't realized he was lonely until he'd been alone for so long. Jet's tongue slipped between his lips, and Zuko thought, with a sense of relief as his confusion was ended, So this was what he wanted.
Jet's fingers were long and narrow, like the rest of him. They stroked the underside of Zuko's jaw, slid down his throat, and Zuko allowed that too.
Zuko rested his hand on the front of Jet's tunic. It was dark, and he could not see, but he imagined he could feel the color of the cloth. It was warm to the touch.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 04:15 pm (UTC)Hurrah for intelligent commentary!
What, then, did the peasant want with him?
Oh, Zuko.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 04:22 pm (UTC)Oh, that naughty peasant! He's up to no good.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 01:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 04:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 04:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 06:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 01:45 am (UTC)I'm always pleased to happy up the pants, so to speak. ;)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 07:04 pm (UTC)that's all I really have to say
no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 01:51 am (UTC)It's appreciated!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 08:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 01:39 am (UTC)Well, kissing is nice too, but--GAZING!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 09:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 01:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 01:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 03:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 02:22 am (UTC)And I'm so pleased you liked it. I'm honored to have inspired a hand-over-heart!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 01:18 am (UTC)OH SQUID.
I STILL FAIL AT INTELLIGENT COMMENTARY, INCIDENTALLY.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 02:19 am (UTC)Regardless, your commentary is much-appreciated!
I'm so glad you liked it. <3
no subject
Date: 2007-09-16 05:24 am (UTC)