Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Ok, another crack ship! (Anyone who has read my stories before is probably sighing or rolling their eyes, I have many crack ships) But this is after the Boiling Rock, Mai is in jail, and needs to get out. Jet is alive too, I'll go more into his story in the next chappie!
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Mai sat in the corner of her cell as she had done for a whole week now. He wasn't coming back for her. She risked her life for Zuko, and he couldn't even come get her? Azula purposely separated Ty Lee and her. She wasn't allowed to leave at all because Azula was around, and until she went back to the Fire Nation, Mai would only see light when she was brought food. The door open and she snapped out of her daze.
"Who's there?" She demanded. She just received 'breakfast' less than an hour ago. A familiar man stepped out of the shadows. "Uncle?"
"Mai, are you alright?"
"I'm fine I guess." She sighed.
"Princess Azula is leaving next week, but she has asked me to put you to work. You will need to be treated like a prisoner, but then I can get you out of here." He hugged his niece.
"I can handle it." She smirked as she returned the embrace.
"You start tomorrow at sunrise with the rest of the prisoners. You'll work, eat, and all that with everyone. I don't want to do this to you." The warden frowned.
"It's ok, honest." She waved as he left. She sat back down. At least she wouldn't be cooped up.
XXX
The next morning, Mai's cell door slid open. She woke up and walked into the hallway. Every prisoner seemed to be doing the same. She put her hand above her eyes to let them adjust to the light. She looked down the row of people and saw them all standing up straight with their hands at their sides. Did she really need to be humiliated like this? She sighed and did as they did. A few guards gave a few, what she thought was, inspections before barking an order at them.
"Section 121!" A guard yelled.
"That's us." A guy on the side of her whispered in her ear. She cocked her eyebrow, but nodded in thanks.
"Quiet!" The female voice ordered. "You get to mop up the basement level. Make it look nice or your punishment will be given to you by the princess! Go!" She pointed and 'her section' ran in the direction. She gave a quizzical stare before shaking her head. She didn't plan on taking orders from these people.
"Let's go." It was the same guy that spoke to her just a few minutes ago. He was tall, his skin was tanned, and he had longer hair.
"I don't want to mop." She said in a bored tone and he chuckled.
"You don't have much of a choice unless you want to deal with Azula." She grunted but followed him in her slow-moving pace. "So, I never thought I'd meet my neighbor." He said as they walked down the steps.
"Huh?" She looked at him.
"I'm in the cell next to yours. You've never been out, have you?" He smirked.
"No…" She whispered. He didn't even know her, why did he have so questions?
"You must've really done something. What are you in for?"
"Don't worry about it." She snapped and then inhaled a deep breath.
"Alright, alright." He held his hands up in defense. "What's your name?" He asked kindly.
"Why do you need to know?" She gave him a harsh glare.
"I guess I don't, but mine is Jet." He offered her a hand to shake. She stared at him a moment before shaking it.
"Mai." She nodded.
"You two! Get to work!" The same guard yelled.
"Come on!" He grabbed her forearm and ran down the rest of the steps. She struggled until they reached the basement.
"Let go of me!" She yanked her arm away.
"Fine, next time, I'll let you get caught." He said proudly. He grabbed two mops and handed her one. She rolled her eyes and took it. "Lunch is in a half hour." He said as he scrubbed alongside her.
"So?" She said as she viciously scrubbed and kept her eyes on the floor.
"You're going to need a place to sit…unless you want to eat in your cell again." He smirked and heard her growl. "Find me when the bell goes off. You can sit with me and a few people I know." He walked away. She wanted to find Ty Lee, but she knew her friend was probably on the opposite side of the prison. She looked up and saw the princess that kept her here walking around the second floor. Mai moved her eyes back to the ground; that was the last person she wanted to see.
XXX
The bell went off and made her jump. She looked up and saw everyone walking in one direction; they seemed immune to the sound. She glanced through the crowd and couldn't find Jet. She didn't depend on his company; she just needed to adjust to the routine before she could be on her own. She felt a finger poke her shoulder and she turned around on contact.
"Looking for me?" He smirked.
"No." She crossed her arms and looked away.
"I'm sure. Follow me." He began to walk away. She didn't like him. He was proud, cocky, and talkative. It was like Azula and Ty Lee combined…well…a guy version obviously. She reluctantly followed him.
XXX
"These are a couple other prisoners. Kenshin, Isamu, this is Mai." He introduced as they sat. She nodded.
"Where'd you meet her?" One of them asked.
"Oh, she's the one that we bet about…you know the cell next to me?"
"You bet?" She cocked her eyebrow.
"Yeah…I thought you died…" Isamu raised his hand.
"I thought you escaped…" Kenshin frowned.
"And I bet she was alive, you both owe me!" Jet laughed.
"So…what did you do?" One of them asked.
"It has nothing to do with you…" She whispered.
"Hm, she doesn't seem like your type, Jet." The other smirked.
"Hey! I'm right here you moron!" Mai tried to stay calm.
"Calm down, they're assholes." Jet smirked.
"Like you?" She challenged.
"Ouch." One of them said.
"Look, I'm done." She got up to leave. Jet got up and walked behind her. "What are you doing?"
"You only have twenty minutes left on your break, unless you know how to get to your cell, you'll be lost for double the time." She grunted but didn't say anything. "You know…this place is escapable." He whispered.
"Yeah, if you have backup." She mumbled back.
"Look, those idiots don't have it in them, but I think you do." He smirked.
"And what makes you think that?" She glanced at him through the corner of her eye.
"You have something you aren't telling me. I want out, and I'm sure you do, too."
"I will be out. Once Azula leaves, the warden will let me out." She rolled her eyes.
"I knew it! You were one of those girls who went crazy on the princess!" He whispered.
"What?" She played dumb.
"The warden is your uncle. You fought against her the day the prince and Sokka escaped!"
"How do you know?" She stood in front of him.
"Who didn't hear about that?" He smirked. "The princess isn't leaving for a while."
"I have more information on that than you do." She turned around and kept walking.
"Just wait. She'll be here, and if she does leave, the warden will be replaced." He smirked. She looked back at him. "Here you are." He pointed to her cell and turned around. She didn't like him, not at all.
XXX
Night came quick, and for the first time in a while, she was tired. Her muscles ached slightly because of the work, but it was better than sitting around all day. Jet's words had really gotten to her. Her door opened and she looked up.
"Mai…"
"Uncle?" She stood up.
"Mai…the princess has decided to leave tomorrow." His expression looked deeply saddened.
"Isn't that good?" She asked with her bored voice.
"I'm afraid…the Fire Lord has decided that I can no longer keep proper control of the Boiling Rock…I'm leaving tomorrow, too." He frowned. Mai felt tears coming on and quickly faced her back to him. "So…I'm stuck here?" She whispered.
"I'm sorry, Mai." He said from behind her.
"I'll be fine." He nodded and left. She knew what she had to do.
XXX
The doors slid open and Mai walked out. She stood up straight properly and her 'section' worked outside today. Jet held a smug look, but to her own surprise, didn't say anything. They walked outside and she grabbed his arm and pulled him in a narrow alley.
"What's up?" He asked casually.
"I am going to help you, but you need to help me in return." She whispered.
"Alright, I'm in." His smirk grew wider.
"We need to find my friend, Ty Lee, before we do anything. She was separated from me."
"That'll be easy. So, allies?" He held out his hand. She hesitated, but shook it. "I'll meet you tonight." He said as he stood up and walked away. She watched him. She was putting her life in the hands of a stranger. Once Ty Lee was around, she would feel better.
XXX
It was already noon. Mai had used any break time she was given to find Ty Lee.
"Mai?" She turned around and saw the grinning girl with her braid.
"Ty Lee." She smirked a little and nodded.
"Oh, Mai!" She hugged her friend. "I never thought I'd see you again!"
"I know." She patted her back. "Ty Lee, we are getting out of here."
"How? Your uncle is gone?" She frowned a bit as she let go and looked at Mai.
"This guy, he has a plan I think."
"Does Mai have a new boyfriend?" She winked.
"No, I don't even know if he's mentally stable, but he's the only hope we can have right now…" Mai looked to her feet. She didn't want to talk about boyfriends; that only brought memories of Zuko.
"Ok!" Ty Lee clapped her hands.
"Meet me here tomorrow at noon. I'll bring him with me." She bowed her head and left.
"Alright!" She waved. One task down, one more to go.
XXX
Mai tapped his shoulder as he walked away. Everyone was being sent to bed; she felt like a child.
"Hey." He turned around and greeted her.
"I have a lot of questions before we do anything. I found my friend earlier; tomorrow you'll meet her at noon. I don't trust you. I need an ally, that is all you are." She got an inch away from his face as she angrily whispered. She backed away and walked to her cell.
"Don't worry; I don't trust me either…" He sighed and followed.
XXX
Well, this is not one of my top priorities, so I'll update eventually. Please review.