For the Want of the Sun • Zuko

chapter 18: The Heist

When night comes, I'm ready. I'm ready to sneak around, I'm even hoping I'll get to chi-block one of these guards. I'm practically tugging on Zuko's arm to get him to our designated meeting place.

"Come on, they're probably ready!" I whisper. He's dragging his feet to annoy me, I'm sure. When we round the corner, Jet is there, leaning against the wooden post of the deck. His eyes lift lazily to greet us, and his mouth curls up in a smirk.

"There you are. We ready?"

Zuko and I nod. I feel the excitement thrumming through me, pushing me up onto my toes and keeping me bouncing. It's been too long since I've done a good heist.

We discuss quietly under the heavy cover of the night, murmuring between ourselves as the adrenaline grows. Jet finally nods and gestures for the group to start forward.

"Smellerbee, you take the lead. Scout out the area."

I watch as she scales the wooden post, hopping above deck and disappearing. It's a minute, two, before she pops back over the edge. "All clear," she whispers.

Jet looks at Longshot, who raises his bow and situates an arrow with a rope attached to it. He fires at the tallest beam, just above Smellerbee's head, who hisses in annoyance. The arrow burrows into the wood, and Longshot tugs on the rope, the material holding strong.

"Okay," Jet breathes. He looks at me. He lifts his arm toward the rope. "Ladies first."

Feeling a bit nervous with everyone's eyes on me, I walk forward. I try to meet Zuko's eyes as I pass, but he's looking upwards. I wrap my hands around the rope and pull, lifting my feet, the strain on my arms becoming evident as I wobble. Hey, it's been a while.

I feel a warm hand placed on my shoulder, and Jet's looking at me with a grin. I flush, a bit embarrassed, and a bit annoyed by his look that suggests he didn't expect anything from me. He tilts his head to the side. "Need a boost?"

"Yeah, please," I say begrudgingly. He kneels down beside me, cupping his hands and reaching for my foot.

"There you go," he whispers, his voice gravelly. "One, two, three." I'm pushed upward, and I scramble to grab the rope as I pull myself the rest of the way. I reach for the floor of the upper-deck, grabbing onto the planks and shimmying onto my stomach. Smellerbee offers her hand and I grab it, using her to lift myself up.

"Thanks," I say, watching as Jet pulls himself up effortlessly behind me. Then Longshot, then Zuko, who of course makes it look easy.

When we're all standing, Jet points forward in a "let's go" gesture. The captain's quarters are lit with lanterns, and there is the soft muttering of dinnertime chatter. We hurry single file, Jet in front, followed by Zuko and Longshot, and me in front of Smellerbee. We sneak around the corner, waiting for Jet to give the "OK" signal. When he looks back at us, we reach inside the windows, sweeping the food that rests on the windowsills, just taunting us. I pull out a box, smelling the familiar aroma of spicy chicken that has my mouth watering. I hand it to Longshot, who hands it to Zuko, who hands it to Jet. When we have all the dishes out of the room, we sneak below the windows, back to Longshot's rope.

"Hey!" A voice booms, and a heavy man rounds the corner where Jet is crouching. Quickly, I head the other way, going as fast as I can around the square structure. "What are you-" the man says, but he's on the ground before he can finish his sentence. I jam my fingers into his pressure points, sending him crashing to the ground, silent.

I look up, standing over him. "They probably heard that."

Everyone's looking at me with surprise, except for Zuko, who looks unphased. When no one moves, I hurry forward, picking up a box and running for the rope. "Let's go!"

I bring the box close to my body and grip the rope with one hand, pushing myself off the ledge and hissing at the burn on my skin. When my feet touch the ground I set the food down, and gesture for Longshot, who's at the top, to hand me his box. I reach and grab it, and he slides down the rope, offering a hand to help Smellerbee with her's. Soon, we're all down, and we conceal the boxes of food with our bodies, walking quickly to where Iroh waits for us.

"Not bad, sweetheart," Jet whispers in my ear. I jump from the proximity, and he grins. For some reason, I find myself grinning back.

—

"Oh my spirits," I groan, shoveling another dumpling into my mouth. My words are hardly audible, but I can't bring myself to care. "This is so good. I could cry."

"I think I am," Iroh says, gazing fondly at his serving of green curry. He's right, I think I see the sheen of tears in his eyes.

"From what I've heard, people eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se," Jet says. "I can't wait to set my eyes on that giant wall."

"It's a magnificent sight," Iroh sighs.

Jet looks at him. "So you've been there before?"

"Once," Iroh glances down. "When I was a different man."

Eager to stop this conversation from progressing, I lean forward. "So, what brings you all to Ba Sing Se?"

Jet meets my eyes, surprisingly serious. "I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of. That's why I'm going to the city: for a new beginning. A second chance."

"That's very noble," Iroh speaks sagely. "I believe people can change their lives if they want to. I believe in second chances."

My eyes find Zuko, not even purposefully. He's staring out at the ocean, looking tense. "Yeah," I say softly. He glances over, finds me staring, and looks away.

"What about you?" Jet asks. "You're all traveling together?"

I nod, giving him a smile. "Yeah. I guess you could say we're going for the same reasons. Just a chance at a safer life."

"Hmm," he muses. "Come to think of it, I didn't catch your name."

He's speaking to me, not Iroh or Zuko, and luckily I'm not important enough to have my name reveal anything incriminating about myself. "I'm Y/n."

"Y/n," he repeats. He smiles, not the cocky, teasing one I've grown used to in the past few hours, but a real one. "It's nice to meet you. You're not a bad fighter."

"Well, yeah, she could've told you that," Zuko scoffs, his voice startling both Jet and I out of our focus. Jet sends him a look, and his mouth curls up knowingly. I glare at Zuko in annoyance. If he has a chance to be hostile, he'll take it, even to the person that just gave us the best meal we'd had in months.

Jet stands. "Come with me," he gestures to Zuko. He walks along the ship's railing, and Zuko stares after him for a moment before following.

We all watch as they leave, curious.

I turn to Smellerbee and Longshot. "So, where are you guys from?"

They share a look, and Smellerbee turns back to me. "The forest."

I nod. "Oh. That's cool. You guys have known each other a long time?"

"Yeah. Basically forever."

I smile. "That's nice. Same with me and...him." I stop myself before I say the name of the Firelord's son, instead pointing in the direction where he and Jet went. Nice save. "What do you want to do once you're there?"

She rolls her eyes, but I can tell it's not directed at me. "I just want to, you know, live my life. Without the fighting. Without the Fire Nation."

I look down at my lap. I play with the string of fabric from my shirt. "Yeah. That would be nice."