#this is also a sequel to my other jetru ficlet btw

[dont-leafmealone]

wild cherries | read on Ao3

a moment of peace under a cherry tree, two years after the end of the war.

Pairing: Haru/Jet

Words: 678

Warnings: None

[ID: a watercolor painting of Jet and Haru from Avatar: The Last Airbender sitting beneath a wild black cherry tree. Jet sits on the left, shirtless and wearing gray pants, with a scar visible on his solar plexus. Haru sits on the right wearing a short-sleeved green shirt and pants. They look at each other, smiling. Branches covered with cherries hang down from above, and tall grass grows around them. End ID]

Jetru fic/art combo for @atlararepairmonth Week 5, prompt - Free space!

Haru thinks that if he could freeze a moment in time, it would be this one: covered in mosquito-moth bites, bare feet purple and red from stepping on the cherries scattered on the ground by the wind. His shoulders ache from reaching above his head for the clusters of shiny black fruit, his thighs burn from the uphill climb to get to this place, away from the world. His hair's already escaping the ribbon he used to tie it back, sweat-soaked strands hanging in his face. The hot grass itches the backs of his calves and neck where he lays under the sun.

He doesn't think he's ever been more at peace. 

Beside him, Jet leans back against the tree, skin glowing golden-brown in the patches of sun that make it through the leaves. His silhouette looks remarkably altered without his ever-present armor — because, despite his assertion that he doesn't get hot, he stripped out of armor, shirt and boots as soon as they reached the summit of the hill. Without them, Haru can see the slightly uneven set of his shoulders, the wiry muscle in his arms, the ripples and dents of broken ribs that never quite set properly. Presently, there's a relaxed slope in his posture, labored breaths giving way to slow, even sighs as he rests in the shade. In the sky overhead, clouds drift lazily in the breeze, the sun beating down on the hill. 

Haru smiles, reaching over to twine their fingers together. Jet's gaze shifts over, dark eyes heavy-lidded, smiling lips stained purple. He squeezes Haru's hand, searching his face. 

"Something on your mind?" he asks softly. It's gentle — not in the way he'll whisper when Haru's awake too late at night, or like when he croons at the pig-hens to get them off their eggs. It's the rare voice of Jet, completely relaxed and at peace.

"I was thinking," Haru begins, bringing Jet's hand up to his lips. "About this. Us, right now."

"Good things, I hope?" Jet asks, a blush darkening his cheeks as his eyes fix on Haru's mouth. Haru smiles.

"Only good things," he assures him, pulling his hand out of Jet's grip to tangle it in the soft brown hair, a little damp from sweat. Jet leans into the touch with a soft hum of content, resembling nothing as much as a content foxcat as he preens, before slipping out from under Haru's hand to smack a kiss on his cheek. Haru laughs, winding his arms around him.

"I wish we could capture this," he says. "Keep it somehow."

"I think the bug bites are here to stay," Jet remarks. He rests his head on Haru's shoulder, lips brushing his neck. "I know what you mean. It's nice. Peaceful."

Haru smiles. A year ago, it would have been hard to imagine Jet being so content with peace, but the time and space to heal, let the sharp edges of that grief inside him soften a little, has changed so much of him. He still has that fight inside of him, and Haru still loves that about him, but this new side is nice, especially in moments like this.

"I think we've earned it," he says, kissing Jet's forehead — easier than usual when they're sitting like this, without their difference in height. Jet's eyes drift closed as he pulls Haru down for a proper kiss. Haru leans in, taking in the taste of sweat and cherries on his lips. 

"Mmh. We should probably take those cherries back for your mom," Jet says when they break for air. "She's gonna have our hides for taking this long."

"It'll be fine, she loves you." Haru kisses him once more for good measure. "You give her that pretty smile of yours and we're forgiven." 

Jet ducks his head to hide the blush creeping up his face. Haru laughs, kissing his cheek and pulling him up. 

They gather their things — Haru the basket of harvested cherries, Jet his pile of boots, shirt and armor — and together walk back toward the farm, hand-in-hand.