Zuko is getting up, grimacing- his hair’s black and messy where it spills out from under his cowl, knocked askew. He keeps his distance this time, and there’s some of the old, wary Lee again.
“I didn’t come here to hurt you, or to take the baby. I came here to try and keep you both from getting killed.”
“Oh no. You don’t get to throw me away, then decide I’m worth saving when you’ve got an army on your side and I’ve got your precious royal heir! She’s not, you hear me? She’s not Fire Nation, she’s not going to be a part of you scumbags, and I don’t want you around!”
“You don’t have to have me around. You just have to stop raiding the troops.” Fucker is standing there sounding reasonable, like that’s even an option now that he brings it up-
“Why would I do that?” Jet says, not fighting Longshot anymore but not unclenching his fists either. The archer wisely does not let him go. “The war’s over, it’s a brand new world, yeah, yeah- but even in this brand new world, I’m a wanted criminal for trying to drive off the invaders who burned down my home!”
Zuko’s staring at him, yellow eyes boring in like he’s trying to find a weak spot.
“I left an Imperial pardon back at the prison- saying you were to be forgiven your crimes and left alone, so long as you returned the favor. If you stop- if you don’t attack people anymore, then you’re safe. The baby’s safe.”
His breath is coming hard, and the crisp winter air is hitting him where it tickles with every outburst, but he’s trying to hold off another fit-
“Well, yippee! The Great and Powerful Firelord has once again reached across the seas and helped himself to whatever the hell he wants! Did you ever think I didn’t want to be forgiven? That I don’t think I committed any crime?!” He’s baiting Zuko, he knows it and he can’t stop and he doesn’t want to. The other boy won’t bite, and Jet wants to curse him back to his farthest ancestors for that calm, hurt look, wants him to go away because the cough’s rattling up inside him again and he can’t stop it…
“It’s not about you anymore.”
Longshot’s relaxing his grip and it’s a good thing, because Jet’s doubling over and coughing like there’s no tomorrow; and they’re all gathering around him even that bastard and he sweeps out an arm to try and fend him off-
Longshot and Smellerbee are holding on to him, crouched in the snow, and if he hadn’t slapped him away Lee- Zuko- would probably be on him too, holding him up until he stops shaking…
“Go-“ he gasps, stifles a cough- “-away. I don’t want you around here.”
“Jet-“ Smellerbee’s saying, gloved hands on his shoulder as he wheezes.
“No. No- I don’t care what argument you’re gonna try on me. I don’t want his help. I don’t want him here. I won’t- I’ll abide by the pardon, but I don’t want him anywhere near me, near us. Okay?” he says raggedly, tired, so tired.
Late!late!Bonus!fic- After The War 8/?
“I didn’t come here to hurt you, or to take the baby. I came here to try and keep you both from getting killed.”
“Oh no. You don’t get to throw me away, then decide I’m worth saving when you’ve got an army on your side and I’ve got your precious royal heir! She’s not, you hear me? She’s not Fire Nation, she’s not going to be a part of you scumbags, and I don’t want you around!”
“You don’t have to have me around. You just have to stop raiding the troops.” Fucker is standing there sounding reasonable, like that’s even an option now that he brings it up-
“Why would I do that?” Jet says, not fighting Longshot anymore but not unclenching his fists either. The archer wisely does not let him go. “The war’s over, it’s a brand new world, yeah, yeah- but even in this brand new world, I’m a wanted criminal for trying to drive off the invaders who burned down my home!”
Zuko’s staring at him, yellow eyes boring in like he’s trying to find a weak spot.
“I left an Imperial pardon back at the prison- saying you were to be forgiven your crimes and left alone, so long as you returned the favor. If you stop- if you don’t attack people anymore, then you’re safe. The baby’s safe.”
His breath is coming hard, and the crisp winter air is hitting him where it tickles with every outburst, but he’s trying to hold off another fit-
“Well, yippee! The Great and Powerful Firelord has once again reached across the seas and helped himself to whatever the hell he wants! Did you ever think I didn’t want to be forgiven? That I don’t think I committed any crime?!” He’s baiting Zuko, he knows it and he can’t stop and he doesn’t want to. The other boy won’t bite, and Jet wants to curse him back to his farthest ancestors for that calm, hurt look, wants him to go away because the cough’s rattling up inside him again and he can’t stop it…
“It’s not about you anymore.”
Longshot’s relaxing his grip and it’s a good thing, because Jet’s doubling over and coughing like there’s no tomorrow; and they’re all gathering around him even that bastard and he sweeps out an arm to try and fend him off-
Longshot and Smellerbee are holding on to him, crouched in the snow, and if he hadn’t slapped him away Lee- Zuko- would probably be on him too, holding him up until he stops shaking…
“Go-“ he gasps, stifles a cough- “-away. I don’t want you around here.”
“Jet-“ Smellerbee’s saying, gloved hands on his shoulder as he wheezes.
“No. No- I don’t care what argument you’re gonna try on me. I don’t want his help. I don’t want him here. I won’t- I’ll abide by the pardon, but I don’t want him anywhere near me, near us. Okay?” he says raggedly, tired, so tired.
…