Genre: Suspense
Rating: T
Summary: Jet meets a mysterious woman in Ba Sing Se and, of course, just has to pursue her. (Jet/Mai first meeting, hints of Jetko and Maiko)
The night's dark and he's keeping an eye on not-Li like he usually does, like he's been doing since he saw the old man firebend his tea. Clouds block out the stars above and the moon only barely shines through. But something tells him tonight will be different. The gossip filtering down to the streets now whispers of infiltration in the palace, and should one find someone particularly brave, they'll tell you about how the war that no one talks about has slipped into the very palace of Ba Sing Se.
It seems those rumors aren't totally unfounded. A young woman has just landed on the roof of the teashop, all shiny black hair and fluttering skirts and sharp eyes, and Jet can pick out hints of dark red among the black. Fire Nation.
He moves quickly, jumping from his rooftop to the teashop's and bringing his hookswords down on the girl - but before he can properly slice her she ducks out of the way, knives in her hands. The part of Jet's brain that isn't caught up in the rage and hysteria that always comes with fighting one of these ashmakers marvels at her grace and speed. But he doesn't get long - soon he's the one ducking out of the way, narrowly avoiding death by the flashes of metal that leap from her sleeves.
From rooftop to rooftop they leap, ducking in close and weaving away, both struggling to get the upper hand. Jet takes a bit of fabric from her sleeve and she nicks Jet's thigh, the cut only bleeding a little. It's a long fight and a hard fight, and it ends with them at an impasse, Jet's blades at her neck and hers at his.
"Who the hell are you?" she spits, eyes blazing from a cold, dispassionate face.
"Could ask the same thing of you," Jet retorts, breathing hard.
They stand in silence for a few minutes. Then:
"Mai," she muttered. "My name's Mai." The knife retreated from Jet's neck - not all the way, but enough for him to breathe comfortably. He returns the favor. There's no way for him to beat her.
"Jet," he replies easily, inspecting Mai's form and face. She's pretty, Jet has to admit. Pretty like Li.
"Well, Jet," she says, quiet and dangerous, "next time I catch you stalking my husband, I won't go so easy on you."
"Husband?!" Jet yelled after her, but she was already gone.
Inspired by Darkside by blink-182.