Saturday. 1350. Chicago, Illinois.

"Name's Jet."

Zuko didn't even react as the cool, smooth voice addressed him. He had heard the three teenagers sneaking up behind him but he had hoped that they would just move on and leave him in peace. No such luck.

Now the tallest one had slunk into his peripheral vision. A bit taller than him, messy brown hair and chewing on what looked like a wheat stalk.

"And these are my Freedom Fighters, Smellerbee and Longshot," the teen continued with a slight smirk pulling at handsome features, indicating the two behind him. Zuko didn't even turn around.

Leader. With an attitude. Great. Just great.

Caught in the attentions of some charismatic would-be gang leader.

Just what I needed to make my day perfect.

Zuko chose not to react, continuing to stand at the balcony railing, hands clasped behind his back, and gaze staring out at the city beyond. He hoped the other boy would get the hint and leave.

But since when had Zuko ever gotten what he wanted?

"So, you're new 'round here," the boy continued, leaning casually against the railing, charismatic smile in place. "What's your name?"

"Lee," said Zuko before he could stop himself. Had he been alone, he would have indulged in a face-palm.

Stupid, stupid.

Yeah, he didn't want to give the teenager anything to work with, but he was alone, in an orphanage. He wasn't in hiding. He wasn't with Uncle. People here already knew his name. He didn't need to use the alias he had been using for the past couple of months to stay hidden from certain persons of an unsavory nature who wanted nothing less than them dead.

He must have been more unsettled from his interaction with Toph and her friends than he had believed if he was making slip-ups that could be disproved with just a brief inquiry to the right person. Oh well. Doesn't matter anymore.

Not like the kid could actually do anything about it, except maybe feel insulted…or get suspicious. Zuko wasn't exactly a common name. And if he looked up the right sites and found the right info he could connect the dots and…

No. Kid can't be that crazy. And even if he was, there really isn't anything he could gain from knowing.

With that slightly calming thought, Zuko let himself mentally relax.

"Lee, eh?" Jet continued, twirling the wheat stalk between his teeth. "Nice to meet you."

Zuko chose not to respond. Okay, maybe that was being a little rude. But at the moment, he couldn't care less. He really wasn't in the mood.

"So, I hear the caretakers have been eating like kings while we orphans have to scrape by on their spoiled scrap."

Really not in the mood.

"Tell me about it," he said dryly, just to indulge him and get the conversation moving faster so it would be over sooner.

"So, what do you say you help us…liberate some food?"

Really really not in the mood. Had Toph punched this one in the face, too? If she hadn't, he was sure he would soon unless he got out of this conversation. The Jet kid seemed to get on his nerves simply by breathing.

Handsome. Charismatic. Knows how to find peoples' weaknesses and exploit them…

Like Azula.

But nowhere near as subtle.

Sorry, kid. Not today. I am so not in the mood to deal with this.

"I've dealt with bad food before. This is nothing."

Conversation closed.

Too bad Jet didn't seem to take the hint.

"But it could be better. Besides they're never gonna miss a little food."

"You've done this before." It wasn't a question.

Jet smirked. "Yes."

"So you don't need my help."

As Zuko turned around and stalked away, he felt slightly satisfied of the look on his face.

Like he swallowed a lemon. Not used to rejection, are you, Jet? Well, unless you want to get used to it, leave me the hell alone.