Prologue: "So this means you aren't mad at me anymore!"
Mai considered berating him more, but softened at his boyish anticipation.
He's like a puppy waiting for my praise.
Mai sighed, and a small smile slipped onto her lips. "No... in fact, I think this means I like you."
Mai let herself be enveloped in Zuko's arms. She was surprised at how different it felt. He was no longer the little boy she'd had a crush on. He was now... Firelord.
Zuko and Mai sat together in the garden, hiding away from their worries. Zuko had been crowned Firelord just two days ago, and they were taking the opportunity for a moment's reprieve. If only for that moment, they were glad to be alone.
"You know, I used to think of this scar as a mark of my shame... but now, I no longer feel the burden of trying to regain my honor. I think this scar is now a reminder that I've always had my honor, and I'll never lose it again."
Mai wasn't sure what posessed her to do it, but she found her arms wrapped around Zuko's shoulders, the fingers of her left hand touching the scar on Zuko's eye. They were both silent, Zuko shocked.
"Who cares about honor?" Mai felt her fingers trembling, but she continued. "Zuko, when I see your scar, I think "This is Zuko." Your scar isn't a badge or a curse. It's a part of you, and so I accept it as a part of Zuko, the man I love. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Mai..."
Mai turned her head and looked away, uncomfortable. Zuko suddenly felt guilty for ever even thinking of betraying this woman. He'd been attracted to Katara, and fascinated with her. The water bender was unlike any person he'd ever known. She was emotional, compassionate, and fiesty- all things that Mai was not. He'd wanted to forget about the Fire Nation, and all of the shadows of his past. But his one, greatest regret, was shunning Mai along with them.
She was blunt, hard to deal with, and even harder to understand... but she was the girl who'd forgiven and accepted him since they were children. And maybe he just hadn't tried hard enough.
"Mai... I love you."
She averted her eyes. "What are you saying, idiot."
He grabbed her hand and forced her to look into his eyes. He gave her a boyish smile.
"Just what I should have said a long time ago."