I came here from Tumblr, where there was a fun post about Jet and Zuko's potential friendship and someone linked back to this fic. I intended to only read the first chapter or so. I read it, then read the next chapter and the next. I haven't even bothered to stop to give a review (I apologize for that btw). But like. I love this. I mean... just... and my favorite thing about this chapter by far is Jet getting Zuko kind of out of trouble with Iroh.

Also, when Jet realized Zuko was out all night and Iroh was worrying the whole night and his response was just, "I know." Prefect. I love this.

I am so disappointed in myself for how long it took me to realize this was updated. I love the chapter and how your portraying everyone here. Can not wait for the next one till then!

There are so many things happening and it’s impressive how you juggle it all!
3 love your fic

This is an excellent chapter.

It starts with Aang experiencing once again the weight of being the Avatar, a peace maker when the world wants blood, and having to be delicate involving his friends, relation, and a former enemy, all before they even depart for the tea house. He is a kid forced to realize to early that fact that, "Heavy is the Head." He will find his way, but the yoke on his shoulders will only get heavier, hopefully if this meeting goes well it might lighten in the long-run.

Then there is Shen, the merchant of woe. His connections are . . . concerning. Long-Feng can't touch him without a major scandal, and he is involved with some of Zuko's trauma. I hate to say it but he might be the driving force to Zuko being more Li than in cannon, an though I like Zuko being Li, I feel my skin crawl at the implied means. At least it seems that he is not trusted entirly, and Toph seems to beontop of the situation. The caution I see from Aang is either from fear of exposing Zuko and Iroh, or from understanding that though Shen is of Air-nomad dissent, he was not raised in the way of the monks, and is thus not bound to their ways. In short Aang understanding that bloodline is not what determines good or evil, but rather actions that decide it,and having not known him long enough to make a judgement on what to do concerning his relation.

Next comes them dinner with former enemies. Awkward would be an understatement. It is good to know that trust is not freely given in exchange for just one's first words, but it is unnecessary to provoke people right off the bat. If you show animosity that you will receive it in return. Go in willing to listen and then make a call, if you going with earmuffs and blinder already on than they will try to rip them off so you can hear their point. The end result is more mess than you started with. As always the agitators (Katara 7 Bee) agitated. The personas non grata (Zuko Jet) are trying to keep things from falling apart while also wanting to protect their friends and are on the brink of actions they might regret, Sokka is Sokka, and the level heads are the General, the Avatar, and the Keen-eyed.

I must say that you chose the perfect time for Long Shot to speak. He is wise, and has a mind as sharp as his arrows. He has observed much and speak now when it is necessary to reach the end. A fine young laconic man possessed of many talents. By keeping one's mouth shut until it's needed one can keep themselves from saying things they would regret later on. If he were an earth bender, I think he, Toph, and Bumi would be in the same ballpark, based on the concept of Neutral Jing. That said the bow does him more justice to mach his precise mind.

Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Sobek

the gay is strong with this one

Mitigating discord, introspection of past faults, longing to see former friends, and trying to find a way to get Aang up to snuff, all while having to foil so many plans, impressive. if this keeps up jet and Zuko would make fine field commanders, not that at that point they would be needed for such a roll, but still.

I wonder if Zuko will find his sister and the others, and if so what will he choose to do, if anything. Iroh admitted she was crazy and needed to be taken down, so will he leave her to the Dai Li which are humbling her by having her be shown to be an arrogant teenager with a superiority complex right to her face, or will he try and save her and risk what he knows is most likely to happen. Stabbed in the back as Azula cackles and the lower ring burns. It just reminds me of a song from the animated Return of the King, the Rankin/Bass production, The Towers of the Teeth.

"Win the battle lose the war,
Choice of evils lie before for your feet
Retreat! retreat! retreat!"

"If you win, then you will lose,
Choice of evil's yours to choose, retreat!
Retreat! retreat! retreat!"

"You are standing in the eye of the storm.
Move an inch, and you'll be dead!
You are standing underneath the towers of the teeth,
And the eye blazes red!"

"Win the battle, lose the war,
Choice of evils lie before your feet.
Retreat! retreat! retreat!"

"You are standing in the eye of the storm.
Move an inch, and you'll be dead!
You are standing underneath the towers of the teeth,
And the eye blazes red!"

So much to be gained and equally as much to be lost, war is the one fools game humanity will never be rid of, as to gain what we wish we will forsake all that we hold dear. Realizing only to late what we sacrificed was to steep a price and was the true form of what we sought to gain by force of arms in the first place.

Stay strong in heart and mind my friend, as these time just keep getting more hectic.

Waiting for more fine tales,

Sobek

I'm so happy I found this fanfic, I've been looking for something similar after having read FoxFire and Embers both which are about Zuko in Ba Sing Se. I have to say you've done brilliantly going into the darker side of Ba Sing Se and bringing more characterization into each individual. I loved learning about how each character interacts with each other and being left on the edge of my seat whenever something nerve-wracking happens. Again, thank you so much for writing such a wonderful story!

And the 3-dimentinal game board has just begun its decent into the water. The threads are being woven into a grand rug. This is going to be entertaining on all fronts.

Blasting jelly in Ba Sing Se, WOW. I would say that the last time that happened was during the siege by the Dragon of the West. It being in the upper ring is truly concerning, as the leaders seem to be insurrectionist bent on increasing their power. That leaves 3 options for the use of those explosives.
1) Strike the people to make a panic in which they can grab more influence, by fear or chicanery.
2) Strike the leader(in name of deed) to make a power vacuum for similar purposes.
3)Strike the powers that keeps order (the Watch, Dai Li, and or Army) to cause both a power vacuum and incite panic to more easily influence a mob.
Good on Jet tough, one of the most critical aspects of effective operations is secrecy. Others are information control, planing, and resolve.

I wonder how the tea party will go. 2 rolls of toilet paper says someone gets their heads knocked together by either Iroh, Toph, or Longshot. The first two are understandable,but with Longshot it would be the equivalent of his expansively expressive body language saying, "I've had a long day, and the social friction and your petty squabbles have eroded my cherub-like demeanor!" I wonder what tea they will all have, what will they eat with the tea, and will they doctor the tea or drink it as is. One's choice of food and drink can tell a lot about a person, and with such an eclectic guest list I can't help but imagine what each would order. It is possible that it will simply be a few pots of tea instead of individual servings so that route is not set in stone.

I think far to deeply into your chapters, but that only shows how fascinating I find them.
Keep up the good work, and avoid the flames of the riots.

Sincerely,

Sobek

I am so happy you updated! This has got to be one of my favorite fanfiction books ever. I have a request, though. Lately, we haven’t seen many jet x zuko fluff so can we have more in the upcoming chapter?

There are so many disasters-in-progress here, and I would really like you to know that I appreciate that. Thank you for sharing!

I just want to say how much i love this story. I check in every now and then to see if it updated and it never disappoints. Can't wait for the next chapter. :)

This story is excellent! Your characterizations are impeccable. My only "complaint", so to speak, is that Jet shouldn't be tagged as a character; he's only in about every fifth chapter.

Anyway, I eagerly await an update.

Yes another excellent entry in to the saga. I am fascinated by what it to come in the coming chapters. I utterly tantalized.

I like the wisdom that Zuko shows in saying that Aang needs a teacher that respects the other elements and that he is already some what in touch with the meaning of fire as life from refining to it as part of himself. That said he does know that it hungers, and must be tempered.

It would be interesting if Zuko actually did the teaching, as he would likely be taught as much by Aang as he would teach Aang. Now Iroh is simultaneously the most and least strategic choice, the former from his skill and wisdom, the latter from this current way of life. All else that is present within and without of the wall these two are the only real choices.

That said and Aang's optimism ever naive, I think their will be more resistance to Zuko being around than he expects. It would make the perfect dichotomy actually. While members of the group reject him he is embraced by Jet and co. It would be interesting,but if not already planned would be another unnecessary and sticky plot contrivance, so if you didn't already have a plan like this don't include it, it will cause a great pain between my ears.

Waiting & Watching

Sobek

I love that Aang still drops by to bother him. And I can only imagine what the guards are thinking, watching this Lower Ring refugee kid put the Avatar to work doing dishes and cleaning. Not to mention all of Zuko's don't-be-so-trusting advice, and soapy head-rubs.

Great conversation between the two, and rather needed. Man I want him to tell Aang about Shen, but he's got some nice traumatized reasons not to.

That ending!

Thank you for sharing!

I was so waiting for this update ! And now in end in this sort of cliffhanger...
You're killing me ! (In the best way :D )