October Maiko Week, Day 5 - Reunion
A/N: What do you mean I loved seeing Mai working on a flower shop? I had this headcanon since reading Rebound, and yeah, it took me this long to write something down, so I hope you like like it (I could say Smoke and Shadow was a great inspiration). And yeah, I think all my fanfics with Mai from now on will have 'knives' in the title... Enjoy reading and please let me know if I made any mistakes.
Working at the flower shop was boring.
She always had to be behind a balcony, attending cheerful and vibrant customers. Happy couples celebrating special dates with their arms tangled and heads almost touching on an idiotic side hug, nervous boys trying to make a good impression with slicked hair and old men unwilling to let the spark of love die on their marriages.
She hated all of them.
Mai was probably the worst choice to work there, but her aunt would always welcome her help, thinking that being between so many flowers would made her less 'gloomy'.
It wouldn't.
She sighed. The place was boring, but at least it was a good one to be out of undesired sight.
At least for a while.
"Excuse me,", the most unwanted customer came in and stood before her with a forced goofy smile, "I'm looking for a bouquet that says 'I'm really sorry for being an idiot, please forgive me'"
"I have this one here that says 'get the hell out here', would it be fitting?"
Zuko swallowed hard, trying to be brave in front of Mai's unsettling glare and sharp knife, threateningly near his neck.
"I don't think so," he answered in a shaken but still happy voice, "but I'd gladly take that one that says 'please, can we just talk?', I think it would be enough for me."
She crossed her arms and he breathed relieved when she withdrew her weapon.
"Well?", Mai raised and eyebrow.
He blinked in confusion first. He had a full speech decorated for this entire situation, but now he couldn't even know where to start.
Damn Mai and that disturbing frown.
"You haven't talked to me in three days.", he started.
"I have ignored you in three days, that's different.", she cut him off.
'Well that wasn't a good start', he cursed himself and his terrible speech before trying another tactic.
"Can't we talk things through?", he pleaded.
"Oh, now you want to talk?", both of her eyebrows were raised this time
"But Mai-"
"I know what you're going to say, and I don't want to listen.", she turned her back at him and continued to work on the flowers. And despite the knife on her hand having no threatening purposes he became more nervous.
He abandoned his premade speech and grunted. Good grief, why did she have to be so stubborn, anyway?
"So what?" he murmured, "You will finish with me, then?"
She stopped her work and sighed heavily.
"No.", she said without looking at him.
A shy smile grew on his face.
"Then, what about that 'I'm really sorry for being an idiot, please forgive me' bouquet?", he tried, more optimistic this time.
Her face was still hard when she turned to face him, but she looked a lot more appeased.
"If you're smart you're going to take this 'I'll think about it' one.", she raised a single almost withered flower to him "Unless you'd want the-"
"This one is fine, I'll take it."