We were finally out of those flower pots and onto the ferry leading to Ba Sing Se. I wasn't entirely sure how to feel about heading to the city.

Sure, it was a perfect hiding place, but something seemed off about it. Like something horrible would happen there. I'm sure that it was in that show I watched back in my world.

My world. Wow, it's been so long. It seemed like such a distant memory now. Where had the time gone? I remember so much about it, but small details seemed to be escaping me.

And that show. I should remember more than season 1, but I couldn't. Why not? Everything from before I got here was clear. I just couldn't remember more than that.

I had long gotten over the fact that those I live with- my true family- used to be nothing more than drawings on a screen.

"Who would have thought- after all these years- I'd return to the scene of my greatest military disgrace... as a tourist!" Uncle pulled out a hat from nowhere, and put it on his head with a big cheesy grin.

"Look around. We're not tourists; we're refugees." Zuko replied bitterly, before taking a sip of something that smelled awful. I think it was supposed to pass as stew.

He promptly spit it out with a disgusted look. "I'm sick of eating rotten food and sleeping in the dirt."

I laughed at his misery. "Oh, lighten up, Lee. It can't be that bad." I took the bowl from him, and took a small sip. My eyebrow twitched in disgust, before I spit it out.

This stuff tastes like someone had poured of pot of Zuko's attempt at tea all over my school's cafeteria food. "I finally agree with you on something. That was worse than the cafeteria food at my school." I paused for a moment. "I didn't even think that was possible! Just once, I'd like to not get food poisoning when I eat something." I groaned, and slid the bowl back over to Zuko.

"Wouldn't we all?" The three of us turned to see a boy leaning against a pole with really extreme eyebrows and a creepy coy smile and wheat hanging from his mouth.

His voice sounded vaguely familiar. "Do I know you?" I asked, before I could stop myself.

He chuckled lightly. "I don't think we've met. I'm Jet, and these here are my freedom fighters: Smellerbee and Longshot." He pointed to his two friends behind him.

I furrowed my brow. I've heard that name before. Where from?

I was brought back to the conversation when Jet began talking again. "Here's the deal: I hear the captain is eating like a king, while us refugees have to feed off of his scraps. Doesn't seem fair does it?" He had a point...

"What sort of king is he eating like?" Uncle asked. I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes.

"I doubt it's the scrawny, malnourished kind." I snapped.

He had a dark look in his eyes. "No, the fat and happy kind."

I could see Uncle drooling out of the corner of my eye. "You two wanna help us... liberate some food?"

Zuko chucked the bowl into the sea. "I'm in."

Jet turned to me. "What about you?"

How could I resist? "As tempting as that stew was... I'm in, too." Someone just remind me to never mention this to mom. She'd flip!

☆¤☆¤☆

That night, we met up with Jet and his friends. I could see him smiling eerily. I didn't trust him at all, but I wanted the food.

"You ready?" Hey whispered. Zuko nodded and pulled out his dual Dao swords just enough to show them off.

We ran up the stairs to the second level silently, before stopping as a guard passed by. I was up ahead to be scout, so as soon as the guard passed, I motioned for them to follow.

As I ran, I turned back in time for me to see Zuko leading them out of the stair well. I actually had to keep myself from laughing at him. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was whispering, "I'm Batman."

I led them up to the quarters where food was stored. He used the end of one of his hook swords (that I just noticed) to open the door leading inside.

Once inside we got right to work grabbing what we could. I grabbed a few containers of some sort of snack that I didn't entirely recognize, while Zuko took what he could of some sort of stew.

As soon as we had the food, we could hear smellerbee call to us with a warning of a guard's approach.

I saw Longshot shoot an arrow at the rail we were standing at, with a rope leading down to the first level. We sent the food down first, and then Jet used his swords to glide down.

Zuko followed suit using his swords. I wasn't entirely sure how I was going to do it, but I had a crazy idea.

I quickly climbed into the rope, and used my feet to latch on. The moment I let go with my hands, I began racing towards the bottom where Zuko and Jet caught me before I could fall.

Longshot retrieved his arrow just in time for the guard to pass without noticing.

As we tiptoed back to where the rest of the passengers were, Zuko began whispering harshly to me through gritted teeth. "What were you thinking? That was incredibly dangerous!"

I smirked. "T'was fine. No one got hurt." He rolled his eyes in annoyance, but said nothing.

"You guys go eat. I'll pass out the food to the rest of the refugees." Jet offered. I nodded in thanks and met up with Uncle, Longshot and Smellerbee, who were sitting on some mats laid out on the floor.

"So Smellerbee." I heard Uncle begin as I sat down. "What an unusual name for a young man."

She looked up at him in frustration. "Maybe it's because I'm not a man, I'm a girl!" I had to keep myself from laughing at Uncle's mistake, as she walked off in irritation.

"Oh, I see. It's a beautiful name for a lovely girl." I rolled my eyes in amusement.

"Stop talking while you're behind, Uncle. You'll only dig yourself into a deeper rut."

He blushed in embarrassment. "Good idea."

Jet came up to us, just as I began eating. "From what I heard, people eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se. I can't wait to set my eyes on that giant wall."

He sat down on the mat next to me. Great, now I'm stuck between Scar and Creepy. "It is a magnificent sight." Uncle commented without thinking.

"So, you've been there before?" Jet inquired.

Uncle looked down in shame and sorrow. "Once. When I was a different man."

"I've done some things in my last that I'm not proud of, but that why I'm going to Ba Sing Se. For a new beginning. A second chance." Jet admitted.

"That is very noble of you. I believe that people can change their lives of they want to." Uncle caught Zuko's gaze. "I believe in second chances."

I couldn't stop myself from smiling at Zuko. Uncle had already changed for the better; who's to say that my brother was incapable doing the same?

Jet ruined my happiness when he began talking again. "How do you three know each other?"

"Lee's my brother, and Mushi is my uncle." I pointed out. I'm not going to lie, he irked me. I don't know what it is yet, but he most definitely annoyed me just by gracing me with his presence.

He nodded at me with a smile. "Do you want to go for a walk, Aiko?" I nervously glanced at Uncle, who have gave me an encouraging thumbs up. Thanks, Uncle. I really needed that.

Zuko, on the other hand, seemed a bit more suspicious. He didn't trust Jet anymore than I did. I sighed.

"Sure, why not?" I stood up and walked over to him. I needed to stretch my legs out anyways. His smile widened slightly as he hooked his arm around my elbow.

If I was your typical teenage American girl, I might have actually blushed at the gesture, but I'm not, so I didn't. I smiled politely, though still annoyed. "Buy me a drink first."

Apparently, he didn't get the blatant sarcasm, because even in the dim light I could see his obnoxiously coy smile. "I might just." Oh dear.

"So, Jet." I began, desperate to change the subject. "What did you want to talk to me about? I doubt you just wanted a walk."

He smiled at me. "I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone." Wait, What? "You and your brother seemed to have lost a lot. I've lost a lot, too. My parents were killed by firebenders right in front of me."

Wait, lost his parents? Freedom Fighters? Annoying wheat stalk? Oh my Spirits! It's Jet! How could I forget him?! He tried to drown a village because he let his anger get the best of him.

Suddenly, being around him made me extremely uncomfortable. I rolled my eyes, trying to play off my fear. "It's war. Everyone's lost a lot. We aren't special."

He looked at me pleadingly. "But it doesn't have to be this way! We could really use a couple of people like you and your brother."

I didn't trust him, and neither did my brother. That was not going to happen. "Um... I'd love to. I really would, but I have to look after my uncle. He and my brother are all I have of my family. We don't leave anyone behind, especially the one who kept us together through thick and thin..."

He sighed. "That's okay. I understand." He smiled tiredly, before turning to give me a quick peck on the cheek. My eye twitched in anger as I stood there shocked.

He did not.

He walked away with a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow." I growled at him.

He better hope I don't see him, or I'll rip out his throat. Then, I'll remove his organs in alphabetical order. Slowly and painfully.

I walked back to where Zuko was, probably looking like I was going to hurl. I might just.

Zuko came to me with a worried expression. "Are you alright? What happened to you?" I smiled maniacally.

"A reason to hurt someone. That's what." Zuko looked at me funny.

"Are you okay?" I grumbled.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I'll talk to you in the morning, bro." I hugged him before walking off to where I would sleep.

I could go another three lifetimes without Jet being near me. That would be nice.

Sadly, I wasn't that lucky.

- - - - - - -

How long has it been since an update? 2 weeks? Sorry it took so long. I was dreading writing Jet, but I had to muscle through it. Here it is!