He'd never been good at emotions, but then neither had she. In fact, she was worse. At least he could feel anger, resentment, embarrassment, shame. All she felt was… Nothing. But it wasn't the same, he thought, when she was around him. Something changed in her that made her a little more lifelike. He knew she liked him, but he couldn't help but think she might love him. He wasn't sure of his own feelings.
Zuko watched Mai walk quietly across the room. Since the firelord had been defeated and life in the four kingdoms had changed dramatically, she no longer sulked. But still, she seemed… Empty. He wondered why that was. He knew that her family had bribed her to be quiet her entire childhood, but he had hoped things would shift once she was able to be whomever she wanted to be.
He walked slowly over to her; she still hadn't noticed he was even in the room. He watched her long, elegant, seductive form move in almost perfect motion. She was nothing like the tides of the ocean, which push and pull and sway in every direction, dancing before the eyes of those who gazed upon its dangerous beauty. No, she was more like the moon. She was a solid form, ever fixed yet unexplainably beautiful. She was perfect. He only wished she would show him who she really was.
He touched her shoulder slightly. In one swift motion she spun around and pinned him to the ground; he was never allowed to forget that she was trained by his deadly sister, Azula. A look of panic crossed her pale face as she realized it was Zuko she was attacking. She pulled him back to his feet and kissed his cheek with a slight smile, almost as if nothing had happened. He had to smile.
He took her by the hand and lead her to his room, which overlooked the ocean. The sun had already set and the moon was hanging low. It was a crescent. They sat on his couch on the balcony for what seemed like hours, watching the moon climb into the sky and then disappear from view, too far above to be seen from their sitting spot. They didn't say anything; they didn't have to. He watched her eyes, searching her for how she really felt. He cupped her face in his palm and watched her face shift from empty to something else. He watched as a tiny, silver tear trailed down her cheek. She pulled his face close to hers and kissed him passionately. He had never known this side of her, and he couldn't be happier to meet it. He kissed her back, encouraging her release of emotion. He felt her erratic heartbeat and knew that she loved him as much as he loved her. He held her all night as she smiled in her sleep, warm in his arms.