Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
So, after all the voting, this ship and plot won. Congrats to all those who chose it, I'll be sure to have a similar poll soon! -
XXX
After Lake Laogi, Jet gets his memory wiped out, but is forced to join the Earth Kingdom army. He is captured and then sent to the Fire Nation. He doesn't mind it too much, he's a great fighter. His rankings got higher and higher and today, he was to be assigned a task. He was unsure of what it was, but he would accept it from the fire lord. It couldn't be that bad…right?
XXX
Azula walked into the war room.
"What is it, Father?" She got on her knees and bowed.
"Stand up, Azula." He demanded from behind the flaming throne. She grunted, but obeyed. "Ty Lee and Mai have been locked up for good, correct?"
"Yes, Father." She said obediently.
"You will need protection if you intend to go after your brother."
"I can take care of myself!" She snapped then took in a deep breath.
"Princess, you couldn't handle Zuko at the Boiling Rock, why would you be able to now, without backup?" She picked up the hint of impatience in his voice. "I have assigned you a soldier that has learned in two months what takes some soldiers twenty years."
"Father, I assure you I do not need his help." She tried to convince, but she knew he already had his mind made up.
"Princess Azula, I give you Jet." Out of the shadows walked a man…no. A guy that was probably no more than a year older than her! He had his hands on his hips as he casually walked over to her. His smirk irked her, but not as much as the piece of grass that was held between his lips. He had a cocky expression, but it got serious when he clapped his left fist into his right palm and bowed his waist to Ozai.
"You cannot be serious." She twisted her face in disgust.
"He is very strong and wise, Azula. He will help you defeat Zuko." Ozai said firmly.
"It's an honor." He stood upright and looked at Ozai, then through the corner of his eye winked at her. She growled under her breath.
"I will argue no more of this. Figure out when you are leaving and take him with you." Ozai shooed her and she stormed out. Jet right on her heels. After a few sharp turns around hallways and there were no servants, or anyone for that matter, around, she faced him. He had that cocky look again.
"Listen to me. I have no idea how you even got into the Fire Nation army-"
"Simple, I was in the Earth Kingdom and was…transferred over." He smirked.
"But" She got annoyed by the interruption. "Somehow, you managed. I don't care about you and I don't care what my father says."
"But you listened." He began to play with that stupid piece of grass, directing all his attention on it. She clenched her fists at her sides and squeezed her eyes shut. She took in a deep breath and continued, ignoring the comment.
"You still need to…help me. And you will…by staying out of my way." She opened her eyes. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Huh?" He put his grass back in his mouth and looked up to her. She snarled and snatched it from his mouth. His expression went from calm to angry in less than a second. He grabbed her arm and swung her into the wall. He held her arm to her back and her growl. "Yes…I was listening." He grabbed his grass and leaned into her ear to whisper. "And sorry, Princess, you daddy thinks you need me to watch over you, so that's exactly what I'll be doing." He said just audible to her. "And do yourself a favor…doesn't touch the grass." He went to let go, but she used her free elbow to hit his gut. He fell on his back.
"No, you will stay out of my way and you will like it." She said through her teeth as she looked down to him. She pointed her index and middle finger. He smirked and kicked his leg to the side, hitting both her ankles and causing her to fall to her side. He jumped on top of her in an instant and smirked down to her. He pinned her wrists to the side of her hips and had his calf sideways to hold down her knees. The other allowed him to keep his balance.
"No." He snickered. "You still don't get it." He shook his head in disbelief. "Your father, Fire Lord, has taken me out of battle to protect you. His 'oh-so-precious' daughter. Me, I think you're an ungrateful bitch and I've barely spent ten minutes with you. I don't want this little expedition to be a long one. I like to fight; it's what I was born to do. So you'll make nice, I'll help you take out your wimpy brother, and we'll move on with out lives." He slowly got off and stood up straight. He offered her a hand, which she slapped away. She got up on her own and walked away, he followed.
"What do you want now?" She barked as she turned around.
"Nothing." He shrugged.
"Then why are you following me?" She asked through her teeth.
"I got nothing better to do." He said lazily as he yawned. "Plus, I'm like your body guard."
"What will happen to me in the palace you moron?"
"I've seen a lot of crazy things, Princess. There could be an ambush just outside your window waiting…watching…" His expression was calm, but his face showed excitement. "People could want the causer of the fall of Ba Sing Se…dead." He said the last word as if it were venom. "Or, maybe they'll just torture you…being Ozai's daughter…I bet they could get a lot of money for you…if you're as precious to him as you think." She rolled her eyes and looked at her nails.
"Done yet?"
"Yup…"
"Good, leave me alone." She continued to her room and he smirked. She definitely wasn't what he expected.
XXX
Azula opened her eyes in the morning. She still didn't believe Ozai. She wasn't as stupid as Zuko, she really could do it on her own. It would be much easier with a more…obedient soldier. Jet. The name of the scruffy-haired, grass-chewing, good for nothing idiot. She would see just how great he was. She would prove her father wrong…but how? She shook her head and went to wash up.
XXX
Azula opened her door and sighed.
"Morning, Princess." She jumped and looked over her shoulder. There he was…waiting. He had his back leaned against the wall and his head bowed. He crossed his arms at his chest.
"Why are you outside my door at sunrise?" She demanded.
"I'm an early riser." He sighed and walked out of the shadow a pillar cast over him.
"We aren't leaving until next week." She said as he walked alongside her.
"Great, so I get a whole week to get to know the darling princess of the Fire Nation." He said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Don't worry, I hate you, too." She rolled her eyes.
"Really?" He mocked. She slapped her forehead. "So, what's there to do in this place?"
"Not much. I'm going to breakfast…then I'll check the order of my crew…then work on my firebending…" She shrugged. His muscles tensed at 'firebending'. He didn't mind being in the army…he actually liked it. But there was something about that one word. Funny…he didn't remember much…he didn't remember anything before joining the Earth Kingdom those short months ago. He knew his name, but no one else's. He saw faces in his mind, but couldn't remember their names. "Are you ok?" He snapped out of his daze to see her staring at him quizzically.
"Fine." He tried to reassure her.
"May as well come to breakfast…then I'll test you with the rest of my men." She led the way to the large dining room that was empty.
"Is it always like this?"
"No…usually my father has his generals and such around…since the others…left, its not as occupied." She shrugged and sat at the head of the table. He sighed and sat at the side of her. "I have a question." She broke the silence.
"Shoot." He stopped eating and looked up to her.
"You aren't from the Fire Nation…you don't even look like you're Earth Kingdom…who are you?" Her face was cold and serious, he smirked.
"You dig me." He said smugly.
"Excuse me?" She asked in a bored tone.
"You. Dig. Me." He repeated slowly with a smirk.
"I heard you; I just want to know what makes you assume that." Her face was still serious.
"Why else would you care about me and my background?" He resumed eating as if nothing happened.
"Because you will be working under my order. Because my father insists you are better than the other soldiers and because I need to know what I'm dealing with." Her answers got louder and quicker as she finished. She stood up and had her hands rested on the table and her head leaned closer to his.
"You shouldn't rush things…I mean, I know you like me and all, but kissing already?" He whispered. She took her glass of water and dumped it over his head before storming out. Jet just chuckled to himself. She was a piece of work.
XXX
Jet walked aimlessly through the halls. She said something about checking up on her crew…whoever they were. He was deep in thought as he walked. She asked him where he was from…he couldn't answer that question if he wanted to. He sighed and walked into a small room. She wasn't there either, but something got his attention. He walked by the cushions and to the wall. There were countless pictures that looked like they hadn't been touched in ages. One had Fire Lord Ozai, he still looked the same, only in this picture his lips were twisted into a smile, then he assumed the Fire Lady that saw aside him, he wasn't sure of her name, then there was a younger version of Azula, she actually was a cute kid, what happened? He laughed to himself; she was a pretty girl…just very violent. Then there was a little boy, it must've been her brother. He brought his hand to Azula's face.
"The princess is outside." A voice said from behind and his body jumped.
"I'm sorry." He turned around and saw a servant.
"It's alright, but the Fire Lord doesn't like anyone in this room…just be grateful I found you." Was everyone in this place depressed and angry? He sighed and walked to the doorway.
"Can you take me to her?" He asked politely.
"Follow me." The woman seemed to know her way through the palace. She was quick on her feet and knew exactly where to turn. They reached the back of the palace and there were about fifty men standing in rows with the princess inspecting them. Jet nodded in thanks to the woman that brought him there and she quickly scurried to do her chores…he assumed.
"Sup?" Jet walked behind her and she glared daggers over her shoulder.
"I want to see you spar." She said in a calm tone. He smirked.
"With whom?" He put his hands on his hook-swords.
"Me." She faced him. The army behind her had emotionless expressions, but hers was enough to get him going. They started to circle each other. He learned she was good at covering up her emotions, but if you looked into her eyes, you could see them all. Right now, she was glaring at him with hatred…anger, rage. He was familiar with those.
"Well, I'm waiting for you to make the first move." This wasn't how he planned to spend his morning…but when did he ever plan his mornings?
She growled and shot fire from her fingertips. He just ducked to avoid it. "That the best you can do?" He slid on his back and wrapped the hook on his sword around her ankle. She fell on her back, but without hesitation, jumped to her feet. "Pretty quick on your feet."
"Just shut up." She spat.
"And demanding." He smirked. He ran at her and used the points below the handle of his sword to cross at her neck. "Give up yet?" She grunted and kicked her foot to his stomach. He fell back a little, he hadn't expected that.
"You will give up before me." She whispered.
"We'll see." He smirked and nodded. She cocked her eyebrow at him but shook her head. He ducked, rolled, and jumped to avoid every shot of fire that came at him. Her impatience with him was really starting to show. "Hehe…calm down, Princess, you seem to get a little sloppy when you're angry." He taunted. She shot fire at him. Right at his head. He smirked and side-stepped. It missed his ear be an inch. He lunged at her and once again held her down. "Now, I don't want to embarrass you in front of your crew that badly…well, maybe I do…but the point is that this is over. You just don't like to admit that I have equal power to you…and that's without bending." He stood up and she did the same.
"You are not equal power to me you Earth Kingdom scum." He opened his mouth but immediately closed it. Was he Earth Kingdom?
"Watch where you're going with this." He warned and picked up his swords.
"Or what?" She challenged.
"Just stay silent, Princess, it looks a lot better on you." He laughed to himself.
"My name is Azula! A-zu-la!"
"Fine, fine, Azula." He rolled his eyes.
"Princess Azula!"
"Oh, come on."
"You will refer to me as that and you will like it."
"And you will kiss my ass." He walked to the front of the men. She growled. He studied their posture…it was familiar now. He knew it, these were the strongest men Ozai could provide.
"Don't test me."
"Fine, Princess Azula." He finished studying the man. He walked to a tree and sat at the base. He spread his legs out and crossed them, resting his hands behind his head. "Go ahead, get your men ready." He yawned and closed his eyes.
XXX
I think this is one of my longest intro chappies. Please review! XD