The Phoenix

Risked

Jet slid down against a chimney as he and three other people were on the roof tops, he put his face in his hands with a small sob escaping his lips as he felt like curling up in a ball.

"Let go! Let me go!" Smeller bee screamed as Zuko held her back and covered her mouth and hid behind the large chimney with her back pressed against his chest keeping his hand over her mouth. She yelled but it was muffled and broke down into cries gripping his wrist. Zuko closed his eyes not caring that nails were digging into his skin as Katara sat farthest away from them in shock.

"Katara," he hissed as he held smellerbee close letting them cry but he held her up so she didn't fall.

"Katara!" Zuko snapped and she jumped with a gasp surprised, not hearing him the first time.

"I need your help getting them back to the ship, see if it's clear," he told her sternly as smeller bee sobbed harder against him.

Kataras body shook with wide eyes, a few tears ran down her face in pure terror. Zuko gritted his teeth together frustrated.

"Kat I need a fucking answer," Zuko said again harshly.

"Okay.."

-two hours earlier-

"I'm so glad we get a day to stretch and walk a little more," smellerbee beamed brightly stretching their arms up walking through a village as Zuko stayed next to Katara bringing her with.

"Get what you need guys, you know I don't like staying on land to long," Zuko sighed as Jet pulled long shot with him to the side to a stand with food.

"Come on long shot when's the next time we're going to have fresh baked food, a good warm meal, no offense captain," Jet smirked back at Zuko as longshot picked up some fresh vegetables and put them in a basket.

"Thank you long shot," Zuko called as the silent teen nodded softly and Jet rolled his eyes at his friend.

"Kiss up," he huffed and smellerbee cackled getting in jets way to pick out her own food she wanted to bring.

"So no handcuffs?" Katara asked as she stayed with Zuko. She remembered what happened to ty Lee, and without her bending she's completely useless right now.

"Behave and you'll need them less and less," Zuko nodded glancing at her.

"Are they okay to be alone?" Katara noticed the three friends stayed back while they kept walking.

"Those three were together when I found them, I trust they'll be good without me," Zuko looked back at them.

"You trust Jet too?" She made a face.

"Smeller bee is one hell of a tracker and a sturdy fighter, jets a good soldier, and long shots the best Damn archer I've ever met, they've earned my respect," he smiled gently in pride of his crew.

"All three of them were there when I got kidnapped," Katara remembered. And ty Lee.

"I send my best," he hummed looking around the market. "Let's hurry, nothing good ever happens on land,"

"I just wanted to find other medicines that might help xan," Katara clasped her hands behind her back looking curiously.

"We'll see what there is, it's good to have backup before we go back to oak," Zuko agreed.

Katara gasped when she felt someone grab her behind and immediately trapped zukos arm as two larger men passed them chuckling as Katara was shocked that she was grabbed like that. Zuko pulled her close glaring at the men seeing what happened.