So, all you really need to know for this is that it's after the Firelord is defeated, and Uncle is the Firelord, and Ty Lee is dead (sorry guys), and Azula is out there somewhere…
Rated T for stuff in later chapters.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, probably never will. Also the title of this story came from the song "Inches and Failing" by the Format, which I also don't own. It's a good song though.
She was watching all of the high ranking generals and admirals and other nobles throw their daughters at him. It was pathetic. She didn't care of course. Prince Zuko hadn't talked to her since the day the war ended. He had comforted her when Ty Lee died, but it had been two months since then, and he obviously didn't bother to even try to contact her. How hard was it to just drop by and say hi or something. She lived right across the palace. To make matters worse, her parents had returned home, toddler and all. It wasn't that Mai didn't like her brother, he was just disgusting. All he did was puke and poop.
Luckily, she didn't have to deal with him tonight. Her family was invited to the Firelord's party celebrating "World Harmony" or something like that. One of the maids was taking care of Tom Tom, but Mai still had something peeving her. Her mother would not shut up about the prince.
"Mai, I thought you and the prince were dating?" Her mother asked for the umpteenth time.
"Yes mom, we were dating. And then he left me for the Avatar," she said in her usual dull tone.
"Well, he had to do what was best for the world. It's his duty. He is the prince after all," her mother nagged.
"You wouldn't have said that two months ago," Mai retorted.
"Ok you two, stop bickering. We're at a party. We're supposed to be having fun," Mai's father, the former governor of Omashu, broke in.
They were sitting with another noble family at their assigned table. The other family seemed to be in a deep discussion of their own and weren't paying any attention to the conversation being held between Mai and her mother.
Mai looked back at the prince who was currently dancing with one of the noble's beautiful daughters. In fear of regurgitating her dinner at the sight of the two, she looked around the enormous, elegant room and saw the Firelord in conversation with some generals, laughing and joking with one another. She never really knew Iroh too well, but her father and Zuko had always spoken well about him, and she remembers how nice he was to her and Ty Lee when they were younger. She really wished Ty Lee was here…
Subconsciously, she looked over at the prince, again, and saw he was done waltzing around with that girl. She saw an admiral approach him, daughter at his side, introducing her to Zuko. She rolled her eyes and looked away. She was ignorant to what her parents were talking about and stared down at her food. Something caught her attention as she heard someone approaching. Probably just one of her mother's or father's friends.
Her heart sunk as she heard her mother speak. "Prince Zuko, it's so nice to see you again."
She turned around and looked, as if she didn't believe what her mother was saying. As her eyes met his, they narrowed into an intense glare.
Zuko wasn't too surprised by this. He didn't expect her be so harsh so soon, but he probably deserved it. He cleared his throat as he started to speak. "Mai, I was wondering if I could have this dance."
She opened her mouth to say something, most likely a way of saying no in a dry and sarcastic manner, but received a swift kick to her shin by her mother who was sitting next to her.
"Of course she'd love to dance with you," Mai's mother answered for her. "Just excuse us for one second." Her mother grabbed Mai by the arm and pulled her so Mai's face was meeting her mother's and spoke very quietly and very strictly. "You will be polite when you dance with him. You will not ruin this. He's the prince of the Firenation and you are to treat him with the respect he deserves. You understand?"
Mai just rolled her eyes and nodded her head in response, as she stood up to and grabbed the prince's hand, in which he offered to her, and took her out onto the floor.
As he walked her out, he had to thank Mai's mother. He knew that Mai wouldn't have danced with him if it wasn't for her mother threatening her. He also had to thank her mother, because Mai looked beautiful with the make-up she had on. It wasn't on too heavy, but it really brought out her eyes and lips and cheeks and just everything. Her hair also somewhat resembled its normal style, except it lacked the buns on top and it was curled. He knew Mai would never do that on her own.
As they got onto the floor he placed one hand on the curve of her back, respectively, and the other he held onto her free hand. She only glanced up at him a few times, usually avoiding eye contact.
"You look nice tonight." Zuko tried to start a conversation, but when she just looked up at him and shook her head, he realized her failed. "Look, I'm sorry. I've just been really busy with everything…"
"I live right across from the palace," Mai broke in.
"Yeah, I know, but we've been working on settling this war. We've been meeting with kings and chiefs of the Earth and Water nations trying to settle everything. That's why my uncle didn't have the party until now."
"For two months straight without a break?"
"For two months straight without a break," the prince answered. "We're exhausted."
"So, you're apologizing to me about not being able to talk to me because you've been busy and this is your first break, then why did you dance with every other girl here before even showing any recognition towards me?"
"I can't help it! They just kept throwing their daughters at me. Every time I tried to go over to you, they just kept coming," he was starting to get excited, but Mai didn't care to calm him down.
"Oh poor Zuko. You're being forced to dance with rich, beautiful girls, before seeing me. Wow, I understand how hard your life is now," she sarcastically and coldly stated and threw in a glare with that too.
"I'd rather dance with you..."
"You'd rather dance with me than one of those gorgeous well mannered girls? Please. You don't have to lie. I'd understand if you just told me you didn't think of me like that anymore. I mean, I always knew you were confused when you first came back to the Firenation with Azula. I was just hoping you weren't confused about me, but I guess it's just my fault for telling myself that." Zuko could actually sense the anger and sadness in her voice, even though it was practically non-apparent.
"It said in that note I left you that you were the only thing I was sure of-" Zuko was cut off before he could finish.
"We've already gone over this. I never got the note. Either Azula took it, or you never actually left one." She was getting annoyed. She just wanted to go home at this point.
"Before you had a reason to believe there wasn't a note. I could've tricked you into helping us if you thought I had cared. What's the reason now? The war's over and I wouldn't keep bothering with you if I didn't care, but I do. Why can't you understand that?" Zuko pleaded with her.
Mai was silent as she was thinking this over. Zuko took this silence as a positive sign. And decided to speak again.
"Plus, you're more beautiful than any of those girls," Zuko tried to sweet talk her.
"You're pushing it."
"I'll stop."
"Good." Mai paused before continuing. "Look, Zuko, it'll probably take time before things get back to normal, if they ever do. I mean, it's been a while since I last saw you, and it felt like everything was going great between us, and then…you just left. I would've rather you told me than leaving a note."
Zuko looked into her eyes sincerely. "If I would've told you I was leaving, you probably would've convinced me to stay, or take you with me."
"You didn't want me to come with you?" Mai asked.
"It would've been too dangerous. Plus, do you think they would've accepted me if someone else from the Firenation were with me? It took them long enough to let me join their gang." A moment or two passed before either one said anything.
"It's getting late. My parents look like their ready to leave. My mom wants to get home to Tom Tom. I should go." Mai let go of Zuko's hand and walked towards her parents. Zuko watched them as they got up to leave. Zuko really wanted this to work between them. Zuko thoughts were interrupted as the former governor of an Earth Kingdom colony approached him.
"Prince Zuko, I was wondering if you'd ask my daughter to dance. I know you two would get along swimmingly."
"I'm sorry governor. I'm probably going to head to bed. I'm getting tired," Zuko replied, and left to go to his room, thinking of what he should do next.
And there's chapter one. Exciting isn't it? So, I'm not going to guarantee when the next chapter is coming, because I have softball practically everyday, and it's exhausting. Hopefully it'll be here by next week, but it might not be.