A/N: The title of this is, at the moment, "Untitled." Creative, huh? I may or may not change in the future, depending whether or not if I add on to this. A random plunny for Mai/Jet.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender.

Warnings: Season two and three spoilers, hints at various pairings. Mostly canon except for the main ship.

Untitled
Prologue
By: Nuit Songeur

"Not very much farther until we get there," Bee said reassuringly as she and Longshot hauled him back to the apartment. Although, Jet couldn't remember which apartment they were going to, the one he used to share with them or the one he was given after being brainwashed by the Dai Li.

He didn't know. His head was hurting too much for him to think. And the tight pain in his chest made it impossible for him to concentrate on anything, the faint jostle as his two friends carried him, the plunging dangle of his legs as they fell limp, the gurgling bubble in his throat that threatened to spill over. When it did, Jet was completely unaware of the occurrence. The choking sound made Longshot stop and feel the dampness of his chin. He pulled his hand back, something darkening his fingers. Longshot looked to Bee meaningful.

"Just a cough," Jet tried mumbling through the thickness of his tongue and the wetness in his mouth.

"Blood," Bee affirmed grimly, an ominous darkness seemed to flash over face, a darkness that Jet could even catch in his incoherent state. He began panicking.

"Wha-what's happening?" he tried screaming, but his voice only ended up in sounding like a series choked coughs. He tried moving, and Longshot began restraining him. In the back of his mind, Jet was mildly surprised at how strong Longshot was. Vaguely, Jet could feel that their walking had stopped.

He saw Longshot's hand reaching toward him, and then Jet's eyes closed as he felt himself falling.

As the Firelord's consort, it was Mai's duty to travel the world with Zuko. Stand pretty as the Firelord gave peace speeches. Look happy, serene. Despite the fact that Mai thought she was over Mother's influence, her words still rang in Mai's head. So Mai stood, without smiling. But, she didn't frown either, making sure her features exuded nothing but placidity.

They were invited to some governor's house for dinner. However, the Earth governor's house was nothing like her father, nothing like she expected of a governor. The interior decorating was homely, humble and did nothing to show their wealth. It had hints of Fire Nation touches, the dark oak furniture, the crisp paintings of the West, making Mai think that this had been a previously occupied village.

The governor's son, no more than six years of age, approached her with a sheepish smile and a white flower, a gift for her.

"A Panda Lily," he explained. A rare flower only available in volcanic chasms. Mai smiled a rare, genuine smile and pulled the child into her lap. The Earth children always seemed fascinated by her.

"Your hair is pretty, blacker than Father's important ink."

"Thank you," she said, keeping her smile. The boy threaded the flower's stem through her hair.

"Do you know about the Freedom Fighters?" the boy asked, his eyes wide. Mai froze, her smile faltered, and she glanced sideways at Zuko who, fortunately, appeared too engrossed in his conversation with the governor to notice them. She took a deep breath and bent low next to the boys ear.

"Yes. I knew them. I even knew their leader, before he died." The eyes grew impossibly wider.

"You knew Jet? The shadow?" Mai stopped herself from smirking at the coined nickname and nodded.

"Let me tell you a story. The story of how I met Jet and of his last days."

There you are! I hope you enjoyed! Please review and if you like this, you may want to subscribe to this story.

-NuitSongeur