"Wait. You're the new Governor? You're Fire Nation?" Jin pointed at Zuko accusingly.
Zuko's jaw dropped as if he intended to say something to defend himself, but nothing came out.
The group was led to the Palace's Throne Room by Azula. She insisted that Jin should get the ultimate tour, led by her.
"Yes, he is!" Azula walked past Mai and headed towards Zuko. She stretched her arm to feign patting Zuko's shoulder supportively. "The whole Nation is proud of my dear brother here. Only sixteen and already a governor of a colony. He will bend Ba Sing Se to the Fire Nation ways." Azula's sneer widened when she saw fear and hurt evident on Jin's face.
Under his robes, Zuko's fists clenched harder, his fingernails very close to breaking skin. He could not argue with Azula, that was the objective given to him by his father. Zuko shrugged Azula's hand off his shoulder and took a step towards Jin, "Yes, it is true. But I want all of Ba Sing Se's citizens to contribute to the changes we will be making to this city. I want to do my best to rule fairly." His amber orbs left Jin's and twisted his head to face Azula when he said the last sentence, indicating that it was for her.
"Is this ruling fairly?" Jin asked, "You've overrun our home. People's livelihoods have been burnt to dust back in the Lower Ring. And my family-" Jin's voice broke, "I don't think they'll ever come back for me." Jin swallowed a sob, "All because you've made this city unsafe for my siblings!" It shocked Mai to hear such a heart breaking powerful speech from an overwhelmingly positive girl.
"Don't forget who you're talking to." Azula's sharp voice boomed, shutting Jin up, "But yes, we do owe it to you to at least let you stay with us here at the Palace for a while. You can explore the Upper Ring further, how exciting!" Jin's mouth formed an 'O' as Mai's eyes narrowed. What is Azula planning? Is Jin even safe to stay here?
"You there." Azula nodded to Suki. Suki's shoulders straightened she was able to mask her fear of being recognised by the Fire Nation Princess, "Prepare our guest a bedroom. Oh, and give her one with a great view of the city." Suki nodded.
"Follow her. Go on, now." Azula waved Jin and Suki away. The Kyoshi warrior immediately obeyed, Jin hesitantly followed Suki. But Azula's dominating presence bent her will. Jin looked back at Zuko before disappearing into the hallway. Her face contained a variety of emotions, confusion, disappointment, pain.
"What do you think you're doing?" Zuko asked, his voice full of suppressed anger. He refuses to be Azula's puppet, she just gained control of the situation by letting poor Jin stay with them for reasons unknown. Mai was right. He had endangered Jin by letting her return to the Palace with them.
"What?" Azula asked innocently, "Don't you think she deserves to live like royalty after what our soldiers did to wreck her life?"
Yes, but-
Zuko's mind was arguing with himself. Who was he trying to kid? There was no way around this. There was no way around Azula.
"See? You think so too. Don't worry yourself too much, brother. You'll get worry lines." Zuko's lines between his brows only deepened, "And while you were out galavanting with peasants for a day, the council waited not so patiently for you to come back. I'd check on that if I were you." Azula's tone knew not to offend. The faux innocence she was trying to sell was what made it so offensive. Zuko growled, and without a glance at Mai, he stalked off.
Azula won today, but never again. Zuko promised himself that.
While Zuko's footsteps grew quieter, Azula assessed Mai's features and found nothing. The quiet girl blended so well with any environment; she was so easily ignored.
"So, Mai," Azula walked towards the throne and sat down, "How was yesterday? Ty Lee and I missed you."
"It was fine," Mai replied nonchalantly.
"What? Come closer, I can barely hear you." Azula snapped.
With a huff, Mai advance towards the throne, but stayed below the platform. "I said it was fine."
"How fine could it have gone when I just witnessed my brother bring home a stray?"
"She probably would have just gone back to the Lower Ring if you just let her. What do you intend to do with her here? She has no relevant position at court, a waste of space." Mai retorted.
"Did I strike a nerve?" The ends of Azula's pink lips curled upwards.
Mai stayed quiet. Her shoulders slightly drooped in exhaustion; she does not have the energy to play mind games with Azula today. She won't give her the satisfaction.
"Fine. Don't answer that. I see the way Zuzu seeks that girl's approval." Azula baited.
"He just wants to earn the people's trust and respect."
"Maybe so." Azula agreed, nodding slowly, "Or is that what you just tell yourself? Are you sure you're not just in denial?"
"I'm not." Mai expressed strongly.
Azula paused for a while, assessing the situation before speaking again. It seems that Mai cares deeply for Zuko - much too deep for Azula's liking- if Mai was actually jealous of an Earth Kingdom peasant. "Careful, Mai. You should know to always side with the winning team. And if I haven't made it clear, I'm the winning team."
"You have my full support and loyalty. When have I ever given you a chance to doubt that?" The last thing Mai needed now was Azula doubting her loyalty.
"Good point. You're a smart girl, but so am I. How do I know if you are even capable of..." Azula's voice lowered, "...proceeding with your... project?"
Killing Zuko, you mean.
Azula continued, "I mean, have you ever taken a life?"
No.
"Have you ever even seen someone die?"
No.
"Tell me. How do I know you're capable of getting the job done? You show so much promise, yes, but you can also potentially suffer a significant loss if you proceed with my plan."
"What are you saying?" Mai was genuinely confused. What did Azula mean by that?
"More likely than not, you have a chance to become Firelady if Zuko takes the throne." Azula was careful to find a trace of ecstasy on Mai's face. "An heir apparent's spouse is chosen through station, political power, wealth. You certainly have all that, not to mention Zuko has always been fond of you. Are you telling me that you are ready to give up that kind of power?"
Mai ignored her increasing heart rate, she forced herself to scoff, "That will never happen. I'm not a bender."
"Mai, my mother is Avatar Roku's granddaughter." Mai's eyes widened slightly, surprised by this, "Yes, big reveal, I know. Back to topic. Firelord Azulon wasn't fond of all things Avatar as well, but he still approved my parent's match. Rules are always changing."
Mai could not tell if Azula was lying or not. But she knew very well not to pet a tiger. "That is beside the point. How can I prove that I am loyal to you and to you only?"
Azula leaned back on the throne, "Hmm..." She hummed as she scavenged her brain for deliciously wicked ideas. She quietened for half a minute.
"Wouldn't it be so entertaining to cut dear Jin's visit short?"
"You want me to get rid of her?" Too simple, Azula must mean something else.
"You didn't think I'd make it that easy for you, did you? No, silly." Azula's eyes slanted as she voiced Mai's mission, "I want you to kill her. And only then can you prove that you are capable of taking a life. A life of a worthless pathetic peasant, but a life nonetheless."
Mai's blood surged, she swallowed in attempt to control her breathing and her increased heart rate.
Witnessing the other girl's silence, Azula was satisfied. Yes, what better way to go about this situation? Mai proving her loyalty to her, one less peasant removed from the Palace, lurking in the near future is Zuko's look of betrayal as Mai drives a knife to his heart.
"But isn't that the easy route?"
Mai's flat voice startled Azula from her daydream.
Azula raised a brow, "And you have something else in mind?" What other plan could be better than delivering Jin to her tragic demise?
"In fact, I do."
The moon was at its peak, the Palace fell into a deep slumber once again. The sound of generous droplets of rain coming into contact with the pavement outside disguised Mai's light footsteps. She sneakily left her chambers and travelled to the Servant's Quarters located behind the kitchens of the Palace's ground floor.
Mai pitched her idea about what to do with Jin to Azula. She hoped it would be enough to spare the girl's life. And it was, Azula loved it. It was a twisted idea, and Azula was a twisted girl. Mai could only hope Zuko would never find out.
Now, Mai had to inform Suki. At the end of the hallway in the Servant's Quarters, Suki leaned against a masonry wall, holding a lamp. As soon as the Kyoshi warrior was aware of Mai's presence, she straightened up and led her towards an opened door.
Mai has never been inside a servant's room before. She was in awe of how tiny it was. Her closet is twice as big compared to Suki's room. Her room was plain grey, there was a small rectangular hole on the upper half of one of the walls, it acted as a window. The only objects in the room was a wooden bed, a small table to put a lantern on and a hook for the maid's robes. Mai thought prisoners had bigger cells.
Suki closed the wooden door behind them, "Sit down." She gestured at the bed.
Mai obeyed, "This is... cozy."
"It was either this or I get a bigger room and have to share with someone, and we can't afford that if we have to keep having these secret meetings." Suki smiled. She's experienced much worse back when she went on missions with her fellow Kyoshi Warriors.
"Fair enough."
"So, what do you have for me?"
Mai decided she should just blurt out the news, there was no way to sugar-coat news like this. "Azula ordered me to kill Jin." Suki's eyes widened and her posture tensed, "But, I managed to offer a better solution. It isn't good but it will spare her, at least."
"Well, what is it?"
Mai told Suki the same plan she told Azula.
"And Azula agreed to this?"
"I was scared it wasn't going to be enough. But it was apparently. She just laughed for a good ten seconds after I told her. Of course, she thinks I'm trying to get back at Jin because of Zuko. She's convinced I'm doing this for my own satisfaction as well." Mai explained.
"Are you?" Suki couldn't help but ask.
"No!" Mai said the words, but a small flicker of doubt tried to escape her chest. "Never. As much as I... dislike the girl, I would never."
Suki placed an arm on Mai's shoulder, "She won't know it but you just saved her life. This is better than the former."
"Yes. And I have to do it soon, before Azula gets bored."
A week passed since Mai has informed Suki, she still has not found a good time to go through with the plan. There were times when she had Jin to herself, but her conscience prevented her from continuing on. Mai now knew she could never take a life without a worthy reason; she couldn't even do this.
For the past few nights, her thoughts kept her up. Mai can sense that Azula was getting restless as Mai deprives her of entertainment. This stresses her out the most. But there were also other things like, Zuko and Jin living under one roof. It was a big roof, but Mai still could not shake the worried feeling. She has not seen them together. Of course, the Governor had to work longer hours to earn the favour of his court. Mai has not even seen him for a long while, she sometimes caught glimpses of him in the hallways, strides fast paced with two attendants holding armful of scrolls behind him.
Mai refused to hear Zuko's apologies several nights ago, and now that he has stopped, she longed for them. She told herself that if he were to apologise again, she would accept his apology and they can both put this behind them.
Mai also thought about what Azula said about how rules are always changing. Is it true that Zuko can marry a non-bender? Can he marry her? Mai thought these thoughts were silly, but no matter how she tries to act grown up, she is still only a fifteen-year-old girl. Her mind even drifts off to ridiculous things like, if rules are always changing and Zuko can marry a non-bender, does that mean rules can change so he can marry a girl from a different nation? Jin? No! Mai can only shake her head at the thought.
Ty Lee and Mai decided to walk around the courtyard of the Palace, away from the dry politics. The courtyard itself was green with shrubs and plants, but it was refreshing compared to the "green-ness" of the Palace's interior.
At first, a walk seemed like a good idea to Mai, but that was before Ty Lee started begging her to go shopping. "Please, Mai! Just this one time, please!" Ty Lee pulled on the girl's sleeve.
"Ugh," Mai pulled back her arm from the other girl's grip, "Why don't you ask Azula, instead?"
"She said she'd go if you go."
"She doesn't want to go either then, she knows I'd never go."
"Please, please, Mai! We've been here for nearly a month now and I can't believe we still haven't explored the Upper Ring!" Ty Lee clasped her hands together as she tried to convince her best friend.
"You haven't, but I have." Mai reasoned.
"What?! You went without me? When?" The acrobat pouted, she looked genuinely hurt.
Mai exhaled heavily before replying, "When Zuko and I toured that Jin girl. Plus, it's not that great. Caldera City has better shopping options, I'm sure you'd grow tired of it easily." It was true, Fire Nation fashion was very different compared to Earth Kingdom clothing trends as well. Mai doubted Ty Lee would fancy the clothing sold at the Upper Ring stores. But then again, Ty Lee loved playing dress up when they were kids.
"How can I get tired of it if I never go? You haven't experienced shopping the right way if you didn't do it with me." Ty Lee folded her arms against her chest.
"I didn't go shopping, I just looked." Mai defended.
"Window shopping?! That's worse! I can't fathom how you can just refrain from shopping while everyone goes on a shopping spree." Sometimes, Ty Lee wondered how she and Mai even became such good friends, seeing as they barely have anything in common except being friends with the Fire Nation Princess.
"No one went on a shopping spree, you aren't missing out." Mai sighed.
"I know for a fact that I am missing out! That peasant girl from the Lower Ring has this new woven necklace. I asked her about where she got it and she said it was a gift bought from one of the stalls from the Upper Ring. It was so pretty! You, me and Azula should all get one as friendship necklaces or some-"
Mai stopped dead in her tracks, "Wait, what did you just say?"
"Huh?" Ty Lee, looked back at her friend who stood a couple of strides behind her.
"A gift from who?"
"What?"
"Jin's woven necklace. Who's it from?" Mai dreaded the answer.
Ty Lee's eyes widened for a millisecond, eventually, she plastered on an innocent face. "Oh, um, you know what? She didn't say." Ty Lee scratched her head. "Uh, from one of the soldiers, maybe?" She tried to say convincingly.
"You're such a bad liar." Mai said monotonously.
Ty Lee dropped her shoulders in defeat. "Ugh, sorry Mai! I wasn't even going to tell you!"
Mai put her hand up to silence Ty Lee's apologies. "No, don't apologise. I needed to know." She took big whiff of fresh air to clear her mind, "I need to find Azula, I'm going to finish some business." And with that, Mai left Ty Lee to find Azula. Finally, Mai finally had the motivation to go through with the plan involving Jin. Let's get this done and over with.
The next day, Jin was nowhere to be found. She apparently left a scroll on her bed addressed to Zuko. It stated how she missed her home and longed for the environment she grew up in. It also said how she hoped to travel to find her family. The letter also mentioned how grateful she was to have experienced the life in the Palace. Governor Zuko didn't think much of it when it was delivered to him the next morning by the servant who cleaned Jin's chambers. He was disappointed she didn't say goodbye in person, but maybe it was for the best. He was glad he could make her happy, even for just a little while.
Mai knew what was in the letter, she wrote it after all. Just like that, Jin presence left the Palace. Like a ghost, she just vanished. Although, some Palace servants could have sworn they saw a feminine figure leaving the Palace before sunrise, limping and slightly bloodied. Her hair was missing, she was bald. But it was not a clean shave it was jagged with a very few strands remained long, but most of it was shaved off. It looked like it was done poorly by some sort of blunt blade.
A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry for this extremely late update. I finished writing it last week but the draft was deleted. So I sulked for a few days about it and eventually got to writing it again. What did you think about this chapter? I didn't want to kill Jin, she's a sweet girl. But I still prefer Mai for Zuko. In my head, Maiko is the ultimate OTP. I think they suit each other soooo well. Anyways, I digress.
I decided to have Mai shave Jin's hair. I think this concept is wicked in its own right. Jin is humiliated and won't go outside for a while probably. Shaving her hair also harmed her mentally and emotionally, definitely. Hope it was realistic enough!
Please review, drop a favourite and a follow! Thank you! Your reviews always encourage me to write more! I really appreciate it!