I honestly do not know how this idea came to be, but it all started with a 'what-if' sketch of Azula and Haru.
Mai sat alone at a small table, sighing out of shear boredom. It was nearing dusk, and Zuko was still helping his uncle at the Jasmine Dragon. He had promised her to leave a bit early this particular day. Obviously, he lied.
Staring at her empty teacup, Mai didn't notice the young man that walked in and stood abnormally close to where she was sitting.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked.
"I suppose not," Mai replied, briefly glancing up at him. He was somewhat tall with long, brown hair, and a mustache that did not suit him very well.
"You're Mai, right?"
She nodded wordlessly.
"I'm Haru, by the way. I'm a friend of Fire Lord Zuko's, actually," he said, sticking out his hand.
Mai raised an eyebrow, doubting that this man was actually friends with the Fire Lord, but shook his hand nonetheless. The two of them sat in a stilted silence; Mai not wishing to speak, and Haru finding it difficult to say anything.
"So, I've heard that you were close friends with Princess Azula," Haru said, trying to gouge through the awkward barrier.
"I was," Mai replied, trying to rebuild that barrier.
"It's a shame that she had to go crazy," he said, shaking his head.
"Oh?"
"I know she was evil, but despite that she was very pretty."
"You fancied Princess Azula?" Mai questioned, a smirking itching to grace her lips.
"Well," Haru's face grew warm and he had a sheepish look on his face. "Yeah, I suppose I did."
Mai couldn't help but laugh. She, however, quickly clasped her hands over her mouth to stifle the noise.
"Are you mocking me?" Haru asked indigently.
"Not necessarily," she answered, regaining her composer.
It was now his turn to look skeptical.
"Princess Azula fancies women over men," Mai said flatly.
The colour drained from Haru's face and immediate shock took the place of his tan tone.
"Sorry I took so long," Zuko came up to the table the two were occupying, fiddling with the knot on his apron.
"That's quite alright," Mai said, standing up to help Zuko.
"Who were you talking to, and why does he look faint?" Zuko muttered to her as they walked out of the teashop.
"I'm not entirely sure, but he claims to be a friend of yours,"
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, and he fancies your sister, too."
Zuko stopped in his tracks. "Does he know that she prefers women over men?"
Mai nodded. "I just hope he doesn't go trotting after Ty Lee next. I don't think he could handle two sapphic women, especially ones already in an intimate connection."
Mai was just a bit out of character ...