Author's Note: On Tumblr, an 'Avatar Sunken Ships' Week is celebrating those ships that didn't get their own event week this year. It's been a while since I've written Maikka, so I'm indulging, and you get to come along with me. (I also have a short Maiko thing in the works for later this month...)

01 - Forbidden

Mai leaned against the wall, still and silent, one with the shadows. Her only movement was an occasional blink of her eyes, and even that was carefully timed to be neither slow nor fast and so invisible to the casual observer.

The rest of the alleyway behind the Jasmine Dragon was empty, but the sound of Iroh's enthusiastic customers wafted through the air from the building's open windows. Anyone who passed by and even noticed the alley would have sworn it was completely devoid of life.

Mai waited in mimicry of death for her illicit rendezvous.

She had friends within this building, people she loved, but sometimes she needed a little something more.

It came in the form of Sokka climbing out the first-floor windows, slipping on the frame, and crashing down to the ground in a tangle heap right next to her.

She looked down at him. "You're late."

"I know." He untangled himself and stretched his limbs. "I had a hard time getting away. But Toph is covering for me, so no one should know what we're doing."

Mai felt herself coming alive again at the prospect of the coming fun. She injected a bit of sass in her posture, the kind that always gave Mother fits, and smirked down at Sokka. "I'm ready whenever you are."

He answered her smirk with a toothy grin. "Ready and willing." He reached for his belt.

Mai reached into her vest.

Sokka unhooked his club and gave it a practice wave. "How far?"

"Half." Mai took out one of her thin throwing-razors. "Every round, we get closer."

Sokka trotted about halfway down the length of the alley and took a wide-legged stance. He held up his club in a two-hand grip that positioned it straight up right next to his head.

Mai licked her lips. "Go?"

"Go."

She flung the razor with all her strength straight at Sokka's heart.

He swung his club in a smooth arc that batted the blade straight out of the air.

"Nice," Mai hissed. "My turn!"

Sokka tossed the club to her and did a little victory dance. Then he slid his boomerang out of its sheath.

Mai gripped the club with both hands, but unlike Sokka, she took a crouching stance and held the weapon so that it was pointed down at the ground at an angle. "Go."

Sokka threw the boomerang at her head.

Mai rose from her crouch as she swung the club upwards, catching the boomerang solidly on a flat side to knock it out of its curving flight. Instead of breaking her nose or her cheekbone, it twirled up in the air for a hand-span before dropping to the ground with a metallic tingle.

Mai felt the urge to hug herself, and gave in with relish. "I love this game."

"Yeah, well," Sokka snorted, "don't love it too much. We're still kind of in public." He gestured with his chin behind Mai, where someone Upper Ring pedestrian was ambling past their alley.

She smoothed her hair and clothes and tried to look as respectable as she could with a Water Tribe club in hand and her entire body tingling with the electricity of forbidden pleasure.

Once the guy was gone, she tossed the club back to Sokka, and then picked up the boomerang and sent it to follow the other weapon. It didn't curve the way Sokka could always make it, but that was a skill she fully intended to learn soon. "Bolt this time."

Sokka sheathed his boomerang before taking a long step forward, shortening the distance between them, and once again assumed his ready-stance. Mai shook her sleeve back off her right wrist to expose her bolt-launcher, and took aim at his left eye. Half the fun of this game was the risk of grievous injury. At least, for her. Sokka didn't get his thrills in the same way, as far as Mai could tell, but he was always up for this whenever they got the chance.

As for the other half of the fun-

"Sokka!" came a screech from a window somewhere above them. "You know you're not supposed to play that game with Mai! I am not reattaching your ear again!"

"Slush," Sokka hissed. "It's my sister. Run!" He took off in a mad, ungainly dash out of the alley, and grabbed Mai's hand as he passed. They weren't done having fun yet.

She smiled and let him pull her along.

END