A/N: I wrote this forever ago and decided to post it today to celebrate the completion of my PSAT. Finishing big tests is always nice.
So I'm not going to lie: they're OOC. But they're also rather tipsy, so I think it's okay.
Make my day and drop me a line! Have a lovely day/night!
Disclaimer: not mine.
The Two Dragons Tavern was a dive wedged between a vacant inn and a corner apothecary. It was a somewhat-disreputable haven for anyone seeking a drink without questions. One might find clientele ranging from surreptitious nobility to bandits and outlaws. All regarded it as an asylum.
It was late afternoon when a young woman cloaked in black entered, drawing little attention from the patrons inside. She ordered a firewhiskey as she took a stool. Mai lazily eyed a poster depicting the new Fire Lord on the opposite wall as the bartender poured her drink. The man across the counter slid the glass to her and she sent a knife flying at at the picture before taking a sip. A couple other customers stared as the blade impaled the ink forehead.
Mai swallowed her drink quickly. "Another," she rasped, feeling her head lighten. The barkeep, who seemed remarkably unimpressed, filled the glass again. She took another sip, slower this time. It scorched on the way down, liquid fire licking at her throat.
Mai exhaled heavily, setting down the tumbler. She still wanted to hurl her best knife at Zuko's more sensitive parts, but that urge would fade with time and more drinks.
"Hey."
Mai's head jerked imperceptibly, her eyes flitting to her addresser. He was a young man with a mustache, clad in the green of an earthbender and sitting a few seats over. By the looks of it, he was into the cups himself.
"Yes?" She deadpanned, already a bit too tipsy to ignore him.
"You're pretty." Mai was reaching for a stiletto when he continued, "Why'd he dump you?"
She blinked, the only indicator of her well-concealed surprise. "Who?"
"Your guy." The boy took a swig from the bottle in his hand. "I know it happened. It's the only reason a pretty girl would come to a crappy bar to get drunk before sunset."
Mai stared at him for a moment, unsure if his deduction stemmed from intelligence or alcohol. Then she shrugged.
"He wanted to 'see other people,'" she drawled. "Other person, more like. I'm not stupid."
He nodded. "Know that feeling."
Mai looked at him inquisitively, or at least made her best effort. It was, for the most part, a raised eyebrow and subtle twitch of the lips. "You?"
"Same old. Girl I've had a crush on forever breaks up with her boyfriend only to get with someone new. An old enemy, no less." He mimicked her previous shrug. "I dunno. Seems like everyone's finding love but me. Even my best friend hit it off with someone. This acrobat or something." He opened his mouth to say more, reconsidered, and took a gulp of his drink instead. Mai followed suit.
"Yeah," she agreed, and they sat in silence together. Mai had finished her third and forth shots and was holding her fifth when she leaned towards the boy, an idea sparking in her eyes. "You wanna show them why they're wrong?"
The boy grinned crookedly, revealing his teeth. "Oh he** yeah."