Under Cover

[Mai]

Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee were spread out in the city, learning as much as possible about the rumor of the avatars return. All of them were disguised in Earth Kingdom clothes, asking around and telling the story that the Avatar was back after one hundred years of hiding.

Mai ambled through the streets of Ba Sing Se just after the sun had set, stopping occasionally to ask a shifty looking merchant or maybe a hopeful earth nation resident if they had heard the latest news on the growing story. Killing this kid was going to take a lot of work if he had this many followers. Great. Just what Mai needed. More work.

"Have you heard about the most recent news concerning the avatar?" Mai asked a cabbage merchant. The man thought for a moment, rubbing his chin with one hand placed on a cabbage. "Er, yep. Just a load o' talk to me. Don't mean nothin'." The cabbage merchant said rubbing his cabbage. Mai nodded and moved on, the green cloak trailing after her and her hood falling just below where her bangs were cut off.

Mai stopped again a few moments later, Mai stopped again. "Have you heard recently about the avatar?"

[Chantrea]

Chantrea sighed softly as she stood as still as she possibly could while the seamstress was fussing over her. She didn’t know how she’d really gotten into this mess. Chantrea made her own clothes. The seamstress was an elderly lady who had been looking for someone to be a model for her eager work. She had spotted Chantrea, the sheen of her silver hair and her perfectly formed figure. She had to have her.

Chantrea sighed again, then sucked in what little bit of air she could get in before she was spun around towards the mirror behind her. Her breath caught in her throat. Who was that? That couldn’t possibly be her.

Her hair was gently curled, a set of light fuchsia colored ribbons holding her bangs from her pale face. Her cheeks had been dusted with a light pink powder, and a healthier glow was created by the colors she wore. The dress was something you might see in a high level household. It was long, red, and the sleeves were attached under the arm. The neck was raised and covered the long expanse of throat, held up by a choker necklace made of blue silver. A small tear drop shaped onyx rest just above the lavender corset she had been forced to wear.

It cupped her breasts, pushing them up a bit more than they already were and curved over them in a leaf like pattern. It hugged her trim waist and fanned out just a little at the tips of each leaf shaped point. The dress she wore reached her upper thigh, where it split on the left side and left a long length of waving fabric down to her feet. Under the outfit, she wore a pair of deep red shorts that felt more like a second skin than cotton. They covered the length from her hips to her lower thigh and a set of red stockings laced their way elegantly to meet them. Her shoes were really boots, riding up her calves up and stopping at the knees, the color a dark blood red. They were wedge heels.

She turned back to the woman with a smile. “It’s beautiful, I love it.” She spoke truthful, and the older woman gleamed with pride. She grasped Chantrea’s smooth, cold hands with her own soft, wrinkled ones and spoke.

“If you like it so much, then it’s yours.” Her green eyes crinkled at the corners from her smile and Chantrea bestowed a loving hug upon the woman, who was just a few inches shorter than herself. “Thank you so much!” Chantrea was quickly ushered out of the store, her black bag strapped to her back and her old clothes folded neatly inside. “Such a nice lady. It’s too bad. I--” She cut herself off when someone spoke to her. The voice was low, somewhat raspy, but she found herself pleasantly pleased by the sound. Not many women could pull those kind of vocals off without sounding odd.

“The Avatar?” Chantrea was disturbed suddenly. “The last I heard of him, he was in one of the Air temples. Word doesn’t travel very fast around here, I’m sorry I can’t help you more.” This woman. . . Upon further inspection, the gold eyes and dark hair showed what she really was. Fire nation. Chantrea’s silver eyes grew a little wider and her fingers twitched lightly, some water gathering from the air and forming on the tips. Just in case she had to defend herself. Though she doubted the woman would try to harm her, she was cautious.

[Mai]

Mai saw the girls eyes widen. Mais own narrowed slightly. "Well, last I heard, he's alive. Still. I'd advise you to let it get around some more." Mai told her, her golden eyes darting down to the womans fingertips, where water was forming. If Mai wasn't extremely and utterly emotionless, a smirk would have stretched itself across her face.

Mai had her shuriken blades packed in her kimono and gloves, ready to attack with. Though Mai itched for some kind of battle - just for something to do in this dull nation - she'd blow her cover. The last thing Mai had heard was from a homeless man, looking halfway insane that said the Avatar was last spotted at the Air temples and totally kicked Zuko and his troops butt.

"Well, if you hear anything, be sure to let one of us know." Mai told the woman quietly, the slightest hint of amusement in her tone, though her expression was as impassive as ever. The girl seemed afraid of her. Ha. Out of her three friends, the one you should be afraid of was Azula. Blue lightening plus the temper and insanity issue - yeah, you should be afraid of Azula.

[Chantrea]

If she heard anything, sure. Chantrea was more worried about seeing something. This Fire nation woman, she didn't show any emotion. She must be the one she'd heard of, the skilled weapons expert. She could hear the soft sound of metal against skin, also brushing against cloth. Mai. The water ran up her hand to her palm and she let it absorb into her skin, the pores opening quickly and gulping in the water.

Chantrea must have given the wrong impression. She wasn't afraid. In fact, because she'd mastered her bending, she could easily have pulled the water from Mai's own body or made it boil in her veins. But she wasn't that cruel. She'd heard of bloodbending, and there was only a thin line between what Chantrea could do and the forbidden power. Her stance relaxed and she straightened her sleeves.

"You look tired. Care to join me for some tea?" Her invitation was random. Despite her caution, she was curious about this woman. Besides, her mouth felt too dry, even though she knew it was moist.

[Mai]

The invitation was totally random. Yet it offered a chance for Mai to get off work and put off having to walk back to meet Ty Lee and Azula. If the girl attacked, Mai could take her down in an instant. If it was a set up, Ty Lee and Azula would come for her, knowing that Mai was always on time, no matter how much Mai hated to be. There was no possible way Mai couldn't escape and defend herself.

"Sure." Mai straightened up, the hood to her cloak falling over her golden eyes just slightly, her tall yet incredibly skinny figure blending in the crowd in the green cloak. Mai knew her golden eyes stood out from the crowd, everybody elses a shade of dark brown or green. It didn't matter though. Soon enough Mai would be back in the fire nation, being bored and remembering and dreaming of her past as a little child.

[Chantrea]

Chantrea began leading the way, her walk even and slow. She had been to the city before, but she was the type to settle down and enjoy the scenery. She looked down at her crimson clad feet, letting them lead her. She seemed almost distracted in a way. Finally, she looked up and gave Mai a small smile. "Chantrea. That's my name."

She dove into silence once again, waiting for Mai's answer. The girl was tall, taller than her, and the clothing the two wore clashed dramatically. "I've never seen a," she quieted a small bit so she wouldn't alarm anyone within hearing range, "Fire Nation person come into Ba Sing Se before. It startled me at first, and I apologize for my reaction earlier."

[Mai]

Mai followed, a step behind Chantera. Mai kept her eyes to her feet, beginning to lose herself in thoughts. I wonder what Ty Lee is doing. Probably round up another fifty boyfriends. And Azula... who knows, Mai thought, her thoughts taking up her whole mind, Mais feet just carrying on walking as she slowly lost focus. When the girl spoke again, Mai came back to reality. "My name is Yu Lin." Mai said as emotionless as ever. The three girls all had cover names and stories, just in case. They were prepared for anything.

"My father's an earth bender, my mother a fire bender. My mother never let me see my father so I snuck onto a ship and ended up here, where I wanted. I got to see my father again and he needed to know about the Avatar, to try and find some hope for the future. That maybe, one day, the fire nation will be defeated. It's why I asked you. It's hard having one parents in two nations, and both of which hate each other."

Mai was of course, lying. But it didn't show. Mai concealed every emotion, never expressed anything. So it was easy to lie to her as it was to show no emotion. It was virtually impossible to tell that she was lying... she even lied to a sheep pig owner that the only reason she stole his food was because her mother, father, and brother were all starving, when it was actually so Azula could get fresh meat. Azula and her food habits, Mai thought absently, looking to the stores lights and the somewhat merry looking merchants lined up and down the streets.

[Chantrea]

There is a physical reaction when someone is lying. Chantrea tried to avoid lying at all costs, but she did manipulate her words at times to make it sound like one thing while she meant another. Chantrea could tell, though it was very hard to see, that Mai was lying. That wasn't her real name. Nor was it her real past she was speaking of. Chantrea noted the slight tension beneath Mai's eyes, though she hid it so well, and the microscopic diluting of the black pupils.

Anyone else would have been fooled. Chantrea wasn't anyone else. She called the bluff. "Do you often tell blatant lies to people you've just met?" It was an innocent question, that much was obvious. She hadn't meant any offense by it. She just really wanted to know if it was a common thing with her. She understood that Mai was going under the table, keeping a low profile and innocent questions. Chantrea kept her pace relaxed, and before she really knew what was happening, she was leading the way into a small, but well known tea shop.

[Mai]

"Yes." Mai said as truthfully as Chantera asked her the question innocently, only Mais response had no emotions. Well it wasn't like Mai was just going to say something like; 'Hi, my name is Mai. I'm a Fire Nation chick and my best friend is a crazy fire nation princess who wants to kill half of you and make the other half her slaves and then destroy your homes. Nice to meet you.'

Mai entered the tea shop and silently moved a few steps to the left, crossing her arms. Mais golden eyes looked from one end of the shop to the other, resting on each person for half a second. Everyone looked somewhat happy. Mai wondered briefly if they put some happy drug in the tea or something, because everyone in here looked ten times happier then the people outside. It must be that the tea helps soothe them and forgets the world out there is one where they are living numbered days, Mai thought blankly.

[Chantrea]

Chantrea ushered Mai to a small table in silence. Waiting for Mai to sit first, she sat next, crossing her legs and folding her hands in her lap. The lightly clicked her tongue against her teeth, looking around. Chantrea, too, had noticed the people in the shop and how happy they looked. Though it could have easily been an illusion or something of the sort. The shop was small, a bit crowded, and Chantrea had second thoughts about coming into this particular one.

"What can I get you?" A waitress came by with a smile, though she seemed hesitant. Chantrea smiled lightly at the girl and nodded lightly. "I'll have some jasmine tea with a teasthingy of raw honey, please. M--," she stopped herself from saying the woman's true name. "Yu Lin, what would you like?"

[Mai]

Mai sat down gracefully and quickly at the table, her back completely straight and her intertwined fingers in her lap, standing out from everyone else. Mai looked proper and completely emotionless, while everybody else sort of slouched and laughed. Mai stood out like a sore thumb, and she knew it. Mai forced herself to slouch just lightly, and untwined her fingers, blending in.

When the waitress came, Mai acted like nothing was happening while Chantera ordered. Mai heard the first sound of her name, her head snapping sharply to Chantera, golden eyes narrowed slightly. Chanetra knew who she was. Great. She was famous. Just great. When it was Mais turn to order, Mai just simply said "Same.", not turning her gaze away from Chantera.

[Chantrea]

Chantrea tried not to notice it when Mai looked at her so suddenly, the topaz eyes thinning and practically glaring at the sixteen year old waterbender. Chantrea looked at her hands, strands of curled starlight silver hair falling over her face before she raised a calm hand and brushed it aside. Looking up, she finally met the firebender's spiteful gaze.

"Please don't look so surprised, miss Mai. It's hard not to know of the Princesses companions. She usually leaves a path of fire and destruction behind her, so it's easy to know where to avoid." Chantrea didn't know if she'd made a mistake or if she'd done something she should have done later on in the future. The future. . . it brought her thoughts back to the image she'd been seeing so many times, daily, for the past week or so. That streak of fire in the water. She furrowed her brows lightly in thought and tried not to think about it.

[Mai]

Mai listened t Chantera, frozen in place as if she was now a statue. Well of course Azula left fire and destruction in her path. Destroying peoples lives and burning random objects was Azulas thing. She was meant to be famous. Not Mai. Well, when Azula heard of her famousness, she was going to be happy. Installing fear in people was one of the things that made Azula just plain giddy.

"I have to go." Mai said, rising from her spot and dropping some money on the table, plus a few extra coins for the wasted tea and for the service. Mai may be on the 'bad side' but she was still somewhat courteous. Mai felt her shruiken blades in her kimono, and prepared to use them if needed.

[Chantrea]

Had she done something wrong? Chantrea's eyes widened and she watched Mai stand to leave. She must have said something wrong.

"You don't have to tell her." She blurted out. "The only way she'd find out is if someone else here told her, and they don't even know who we're talking about." She sighed softly. "But alright. Perhaps I'll see you again."

[Mai]

"I'm going back to the Fire Nation tomorrow. But, perhaps." Mai hesitated before sitting down quietly again. "But I can spare a little more time here." Mai nodded without emotion, gingerly placing the money dropped on the table back into her bag for when she was done with the cup of tea. Besides, it was tea. It couldn't be all that bad, even though it was with a girl that, honestly, had began to get on her nerves a little.