Chapter 1: Friends, New and Old

Mai lifted her head and pressed her lips together, feeling the warmth from Zuko's breath and kisses.

"What's wrong, Zuko?" she asked gently. "You're so… distracted today."

"What?! No I'm not!"

"Seriously, its like kissing a sloth-bear." Mai chuckled as she rolled her weight off of Zuko and sat next to him on the bed, looking genuinely concerned.

"I'm sorry I'm not meeting your expectations, Mai." Zuko spat and rolled away.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it." At first, she'd been worried about his frustration and anger since becoming the Fire Lord a week ago, but now his attitude was starting to grate on her and her own temper was rising to match his. "What's been going on with you, Zuko? I don't get it! You've fulfilled your destiny now, the world is at peace because of you and we're together. So why are you still so bitter and angry?"

Zuko got up and grabbed his shirt off the headboard. "I'm NOT bitter! I'm just tired! I've got cities to rebuild, military to bring home, and a rebellion to deal with, and now it seems like I can't ever make you happy!" Mai opened her mouth and lifted an angry finger in protest, but Zuko continued, "All day I hear 'Fire Lord, what should we do?' and the truth is, most of the time I don't know! Then I come to see you and I still don't know what to do to make you happy." Zuko put on his shirt and dropped his arms to the side. "I'm so tired! I haven't been able to relax since we left the Avatar and my other friends."

Mai's expression darkened. She got up and walked around the bed to face him. "No, you mean you haven't been able to relax since you left that Water Tribe girl!" The comment made Zuko grit his teeth.

"That's ridiculous and you know it! She's with Aang..." he trailed off as he sat back down on the bed. "Look, can we talk about this when I get back from Ba Sing Se. I have to leave early in the morning. Maybe we should just get some sleep."

"Thanks for telling me you're going to Ba Sing Se tomorrow." She looked at Zuko, sitting with his head down and his body drooped forward. He did seem really tired. She grabbed his robe and put it around his broad shoulders, letting her hand trace down the curve of his back. She sighed heavily, not wanting to say the next words: "Maybe you should sleep in your own bed tonight." She reached for the royal hair spike and started to place it in his hair, but instead she knelt in front of Zuko and put it in his hand, wrapping his hand in hers. "Here," she said, "I don't think your shoulders can support any more weight right now."

Zuko touched her face wistfully, but Mai turned away so he couldn't see the tears she could no longer hold back.

The next day, Zuko arrived in Ba Sing Se early and in time for dinner. A messenger hawk had been sent out to let Aang know he had arrived, and before long, he heard a rumbling growl in the sky that could only be Appa.

"Fire Lord Zuko!" Zuko turned around to see Aang already on the ground and deep in a bow. Zuko smiled and returned the bow before they ran together into a big hug. "Come eat dinner with us!" Aang offered. "We're staying in the palace. They'll cook you anything! Even banana-onion juice!" Zuko made a face. "You learn to like it," Aang added, still beaming. "Climb on Appa!"

Zuko was surprised that dinner was just he and Aang that night. "We didn't expect the Fire Lord until tomorrow," a food-bearer apologised. Zuko was happy for the reprieve, however. It gave the friends a chance to catch up, to talk about the past and the future, but eventually the conversation wound its way to the present.

"So, how are things with that gloomy girl?" Aang asked innocently. Zuko looked down and pushed his food around.

"You mean Mai? I don't know. Sometimes I feel like we're okay, and other times it feels like the universe is in the way."

"I know what you mean." Aang paused and picked Appa hair off his pants. "Katara kissed me on your coronation day, but then she kinda ran off. She said she wanted to see Gran-gran and help rebuild the Southern Water Tribe. First it was the war, and now it's the rebuilding. When's a guy gonna get a break?" Aang gave a half-hearted chuckle and Zuko smiled knowingly. It felt good to be with him, but the candle sparked midnight and all the tea had been drunk so the friends parted for the night with a warm hug.

When Zuko woke the next morning, the sun was already climbing the sky and his morning tea was stone-cold. As he got up, he politely declined the mob of attendants offering food, drink, and grooming services. He arched his back into a stretch and with a yawn began to dress himself, but as he put on his formal robes, he started to feel tired again despite the good night of sleep. He had a feeling today was going to be a long day as well, and on top of that, he couldn't stop thinking about Mai. He loved her, and he knew she loved him, too, but for some reason it just hadn't been right with them lately. Maybe it was like when he couldn't fire-bend as well after he joined the Avatar. Maybe there was just something that had to be found again. He reached for his cold tea and taking a deep breath, feeling the fire collect in his chest, he breathed into the tea, heating it perfectly.

"Sifu Zuzu!"

Zuko looked up to see Aang laughing on the window ledge. "I told you not to call me that!!" he growled in mock anger and shot a weak fireball several feet below the window. The attendants gasped in shock, but the two friends just laughed at each other. Zuko lifted his arms and two attendants tied his shoulder plates down, cautiously avoiding crossing his dangerous hands.

"Why didn't anyone wake me up earlier? I'm sure I have meetings and plans…" Zuko said to no one in particular.

"You looked like you could use the rest," Aang jumped off the ledge and stood next to an attendant holding what could only be a large schedule-scroll, "so I had your entire day cleared. First we'll go get some tea at the Jasmine Dragon. And oh! Don't forget the party tonight…"

Zuko cringed. "Party?"

"Of course! There usually is for this sort of thing. Even Sokka and Katara are coming for it." Aang tried in vain not to smile at the mention of Katara's name. "They should be here soon."