Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. And I'm too lazy to come up with any other comment regarding that sooo....enjoy XD

okay, so, the more reviews I get, the faster I'll update. And the SECOND I get 6 reviews to a chapter I'll sit down on my ass and start writing the next one. So...if you want me to update fast, get people to R&R. If i dont get 6, then ima just update whenever I feel like it XD but, im being nice this time and posting this now, even without 6 reviews, just because I made you wait soooo long for the last one, hehe. anyways...fulfill my selfish desires and get people to review so i write sooner XP

"Please, let me in."

The female guard eyed Jet up and down, considering, "We're not supposed to allow visitors in to see Level E patients, unless they're direct family members."

"Look, can't you make an exception? This is really important," although serious about the whole matter, Jet couldn't help but notice how amazingly hideous the female guard was.

"This patient, especially," she scratched at the wart on her nose, "no one is to see her if not royalty."

"I'm a friend of Fire Lord Zuko's," Jet pulled out his name-tag, "and I work for Iroh of the Fire Nation."

She glanced at the name-tag and business ID with her beady eyes, "Ah yes, the Earth Kingdom greatly admires Iroh and everything he has done to help us."

"So can you let me in?"

She debated, biting her dried-out lip with blackened teeth, "I suppose I could make an exception...but I'd have to give you a time limit of 30 minutes."

"I understand, thank you," Jet would take what he could get.

"Wait a second," she placed a hand on his shoulder, "since I'm doing you a favor, I expect a favor from you in return."

Jet raised his eyebrows, "From me?"

"Yes, after all," she arched her unibrow in return, and licked her lips hungrily, "it's been a while since a young, handsome man such as yourself has been this close to me."

Jet gulped.

"Ah, nephew," Iroh greeted Zuko from behind the register as he entered the Jasmine Dragon, "come to help me with work?"

Zuko shrugged.

"Luckily we aren't that busy today," Iroh's eyes skimmed over the two employees working the tables, "although Jet still hasn't shown up so I've been having to cover both the register and the tea-making. Chen's been covering his tables and some of the cooking, but it's a bit much."

"Jet didn't show up?"

Iroh looked back at his nephew, "Was he still sleeping when you left?"

Zuko frowned, "He left before I did."

"Well that's odd," Iroh adjusted his apron, "do you mind giving me a hand again, Zuko?"

"Oh, um, sure, Uncle," Zuko took Iroh's place behind the register.

"Thank you," Iroh gave him a pat on the shoulder, then hurried off to the kitchen, muttering to himself that he'd have to yell at Jet later.

Once Zuko was left alone at the register his thoughts consumed him, and he tried to hold back the wave of depression and nausea that threatened to overcome him.

Jet hurried down the hall to the staircase at the end; it would bring him deep underground, where the Level E patients were held. Level E was used to refer to those who had lost their mind in a way that made them dangerous to themselves and others. Although the best at retaining their life-long memories and the most able to hold conversations with meaning behind them, they were actually the most insane. They personally feel as though nothing is wrong with them, and for that reason they are more inclined to lose themselves at times and later assume that whatever actions they took were what they meant to do.

Jet's footsteps slowed as he entered the Level E floor.

Azula's cell would be the one all the way at the end. Hopefully, she would be able to tell him what he had come for. If not, then he'd have to think out another way to give Zuko the one thing he wanted. Even if she didn't know, Jet wouldn't regret doing all this for his Fire Lord.

Well, maybe he'd regret the whole guard thing...

Jet tried not to barf.

There were very few patients on this floor, and also very few lights. There was one torch on each side every three cells; enough light for visitors and guards to find their way, but not enough for the patients to be comfortable.

The five or so patients Jet passed watched him curiously, not saying a word as he went by.

Jet paused halfway down the corridor; the pattern of torches ceased, leaving the second half of the hall melting away into the darkness.

However, at the very end Jet could make out the flickering of a last and final torch.

Azula's cell.

Laughter echoed in his direction as he stepped into the shadows, taunting him, threatening him.

Someone in the corridor coughed.

What was only seconds of walking felt like hours. What was only darkness due to lack of torches felt like darkness due to evil. What was only the laughter of a woman who had lost herself felt like the laughter of death.

Then, with a final breath, Jet stepped into the slight glow from that final torch, and stared into the eyes of Azula.

She sat in very center of her cell on her knees, back straight, hands cupped together on her lap. Her face looked calm, serene, kind. She cocked her head at the sight of Jet, and giggled. Girly, innocent, embarrassed giggles. The kind that would seem as though the sight of Jet quickened her heart beat and made her stomach flutter.

Then, she stopped, and held her cupped hands out towards him, as though she was holding something.

"Do you want to see?" she whispered, in the voice of a child.

Jet was taken aback, his initial reason for being there forgotten, "See what?"

"Why, what I hide within my grasp," Azula smiled at him, as though smiling at a young child who didn't understand anything.

Jet couldn't pull his gaze from her eyes; they were completely different from when he last saw her.

She slowly stood, walking over to the cell bars, hands still cupped in their delicate way, as if she held life itself between them.

Jet stepped up to the bars, eyes falling on her hands in curiosity.

Azula slid her cupped hands between two of the bars, holding them out to Jet, "Put out your hands."

Jet did as she said, placing his hands under hers as if to catch whatever she held.

Suddenly, her expression changed; her eyes narrowed and her smile widened to a manic grin. She pulled her hands apart and red liquid splashed to the ground; Jet had pulled his hands away just in time. She smiled down at the blood, dropping to her knees and reaching out, trying to scoop it back up.

"What the fuck," Jet looked at her in horror as a thin trail of blood found its way out the corner of her mouth, "what the fuck."

She gave up on scooping up the fallen blood, and stood, positioning her face near the bars. One hand reached out and caressed Jet's cheek before he could back away.

"I'm so lonely," Azula smiled evilly, "I remember you, Jet. You escaped my grasp, Jet. The Blue Spirit helped you, Jet."

Jet glared into her eyes, "I came here to ask you something."

Azula laughed, her eyes bulging in their sockets. Jet cringed at the sound of it.

Then, she started to cough, cupping her hands around her mouth. Her cough sounded just as wild and maniacal as her laughter. But when she moved her hands from her mouth, fresh blood coated them.

Jet swallowed hard, "What happened to your mother?"

Azula's head snapped up to stare at him angrily, "Don't talk about that woman before me!"

"She's still alive, isn't she?"

"I said don't mention my mother!" Azula screamed.

"Where is she?"

"Fuck you!" Azula threw herself at the bars, clutching them in her blood-stained hands, "Fuck you!"

Jet's brow narrowed and he grabbed onto her hands, holding them tight to the bars so she couldn't move them, "Tell me!"

"Never!"

More laughter spilled from Azula's throat; her head rolled around with it, as though she couldn't hold it still. Her tongue lolled in her mouth, and her eyes darted left and right as though trying to find something to fix their gaze on.

Then, suddenly, the laughter stopped and Azula focused on Jet's face with a manner so normal it seemed that nothing had ever been wrong with her.

"Why should I tell you?"

Jet let go of her hands, "So you know?"

"Of course I know," she smiled evilly, like she used to, "but why the fuck should I tell you?"

Jet knew she wouldn't tell him if it didn't benefit her in some way, "What do you want?"

She coughed, and a drop of blood found its way to the corner of her mouth.

"What do you want?" Jet asked again, firmly.

She smiled, licking her lips where the blood had coated, "I want my proper place as Fire Lord."
"No. What else."

"Zuzu's head."

"No. Something else."

She frowned, "Those are the only two things I see as equal to what you are asking me."

Jet stared at her, determinedly.

She sighed and rolled her eyes dramatically, "Fine, fine. Hmm. Let's see...what do I want," she cupped her chin in her hands as though thinking, "I want to be free."

"I can't do that."

"You escaped from your prison. Now it's time to help me escape from mine."

"I had help."

"Well, duh, that's why I'm asking you to be my help. Shit you're dumb," when Jet didn't reply she went on, "well, let's see, I hate that goddamned Blue Spirit for making a fucking fool of me. So why don't you go kill him and bring me his mask or something as proof."

Jet's eyed lit up; he could do that.

"Fine. I'll bring you the Blue Spirit's mask."

"And how do I know you actually killed him?"

Jet cursed, "You just told me the mask would be proof."

Azula held her hand out and admired her nails, "You really are annoying, did you know? Well, bring me his identity too then. I'm curious to know what fuck screwed with me last time I was here."

"Fine." The mask he could get easily; Zuko always took it with him. After all, it was a large part of who he was. As for the identity, Jet could just make that part up, or steal someone's passport or ID.

Azula was laughing again, eyes focused on Jet's, "See you soon, Jetty."

Jet turned without a word and left, making sure not to make eye contact with any of the Level E's on the way out. He could do this; he could find out where Zuko's mom was, go get her, and bring her back to his love. The one thing that had always been missing from Zuko's life, the one thing he cared about that wasn't there... Even if Zuko wasn't his, he loved the Fire Lord and wanted to do whatever it took to make him happy.

Jet smiled to himself. Soon, so soon, he would be able to give Zuko his gift.

The only problem that lay ahead...

...was whether or not he'd have to give the female guard another foot-rub just to get back in.