No change, they'd said. Just like the last time he'd been to check on Azula in the mental facility. No change, she wasn't ready for visitors, it's going to take a long time.
"It's been almost a year," Zuko sighed. "Some days I wonder if it'd have just been easier to put her out of her misery."
Mai frowned, her grip on his shoulder tightening almost painfully.
"What do you think, Zuko? Would killing your only sister really be easier than letting her live in madness?" she challenged.
"Yes, sometimes I think it would!" he retorted. "At least then she wouldn't be suffering anymore!"
"But you would be," Mai said. "If you killed Azula, you'd kill a little of yourself and then you would be the one going insane. Face it, Zuko..." She smiled a little. "You're way too nice to kill your own family members."
He sighed, looking down at his hands.
"You're right. But I hate this," he said. "I can stop a war and bring peace to the four nations, I can rule a country. But I can't do anything to help my only sister." He smiled sadly. "You know what my father said yesterday? He actually blames himself for what happened to Azula. Former Firelord Ozai, the most power-hungry jerk in the land, actually admitted feeling guilty. To the son he never liked, even!" Zuko laughed, but it sounded suspiciously like an oncoming sob. "I never thought I'd see the day, Mai, I...I never..."
"Damn it, Zuko." She released her grip on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him. "Stop doing this to yourself. Azula has to overcome this on her own, there's nothing anyone can do for her at this point. When she's ready, hopefully she'll be ready to see us again."
Zuko drew her close, burying his face in her hair.
"You think she'll come out of this a better person? Or at least not a psycho?" he murmured.
"There's always a chance."
He laughed, a more genuine sound this time.
"No wonder I love you so much. You always manage to make me feel better!" he said. Mai blushed, rolling her eyes.
"You're such a sappy dork, Zuko."
"Yeah, I know."
She closed her eyes, reaching up to ruffle the hair at the back of his head.
"I kinda like that about you, though," she said, and kissed him.