A/N: This is a modern day AU Mai/Zuko fic that started as a one shot. Writing Mai and Zuko as modern day teens was really fun, and it quickly became a multi-chaptered fic. It would be great to hear what you think, dear readers :)
Zuko sat in class, absentmindedly staring at the back of the head of the girl sitting in front of him.
She has really nice hair, he thought, not paying any attention to the voice of the teacher droning on about algebra. Her hair, pinned into two perfectly formed buns, was shiny and deep black. She reached a hand up and scratched the back of her neck, brushing the stiff white collar of her uniform shirt.
Nice skin too, he thought, just before the bell rang. He realized he was still staring at her, this girl whose name he didn't even know, when she turned and looked at him. She raised an eyebrow, taking in his dazed expression, before her lips tilted up into a small, barely noticeable smile. Before he could say anything she got up from her desk and left.
He spent the rest of the week staring at her during algebra, catching glimpses of her in the halls, and trying to learn who she hung around with. He learns that her name is Mai, and somehow it fits her so well, with her thick bangs and cool, sharp eyes. She was quiet and reserved. Her smooth ivory face was always composed in a stoic expression. When she did smile it was small; she never showed her teeth. The eyes beneath her black bangs remained cool and distant. While most would find her aloof and overly apathetic, Zuko was intrigued by her mysterious demeanor.
On Friday he snuck out to the parking lot to smoke a cigarette and discovered her there, doing the same. He smiled to himself, considering it the perfect opportunity to talk to her.
"Hey," he said, hoping he sounded as nonchalant as possible. She nodded toward him.
"Could I get a light?" he asked.
She produced a lighter from the pocket of the black leather jacket she wore. He leaned forward, letting the small flame light the end of his cigarette.
He inhaled as he looked toward the sky, thinking it might start to rain soon.
"You're Mai right? You're in my algebra class," he said, feeling irrationally nervous.
"You know who I am," she said, not a question but a statement of fact. "I've seen you staring at me," she went on, a triumphant smirk gracing her features.
"I— I'm sorry," he stammered quickly. Color rushed to his face and he felt his palms getting sweaty.
"I didn't say it bothers me," she replied coolly.
He could do nothing but stand there like a gaping fool as he watched her retreating form head back inside.
Later that night as he ate dinner with Iroh he couldn't help but smile over his bowl of noodles.
"What's got you so happy?" his uncle asked with a laugh.
Zuko blushed. "It's nothing."
The following Tuesday she caught up with him as he was leaving school.
"Do you live near Hayashi Park?" she asked, her hands deep in the pockets of her leather jacket.
"Yeah. How did you–?"
"I saw you get on the city bus at that stop a while ago. You're kind of hard to miss," she said, that slight smile still on her face.
He realized she was referring to the scar that covered his left eye and was momentarily shocked. But the ease with which she mentioned it put him at ease, and he smiled back.
"Anyway," she continued, "I live just a few blocks from there, and… do you want to walk together?" she cast her eyes downward.
"Yeah," he answered, beaming now.
"So, have you always lived here in the city?" she asked as they walked along the sidewalk together.
"My whole life," he answered. "You?"
"No, my family just moved here last year. My dad got promoted at his boring government desk job."
"Do you have any siblings?" he asked, trying to make small talk and get to know the girl who constantly occupied his thoughts.
"A little brother. Tom-Tom. He's only two. What about you?"
"I…" he paused, unsure of how to answer that question. "I have a sister. She's a year younger than us."
"Oh, does she go to school with us?"
"No. She, uh, she's in a mental hospital," he said quietly. He wasn't sure why he told her this. Only a few of his friends (not that he had many) knew about Azula, yet for some reason he felt as though he could trust Mai completely.
"Shit, I'm sorry," she said with sincerity, and stopped walking. He stopped as well.
"It's fine," he said. They walked the rest of the way in a somewhat uncomfortable silence, breaking it only to say goodbye when they reached his street.
Zuko awoke the next morning, springing from bed when he saw the time on the clock near his bed. He dressed quickly, rushing through the kitchen and out the apartment door, yelling to his uncle that he was late. He stopped abruptly when he got to the doors of the lobby.
Just outside of the entrance stood Mai, wearing her leather jacket with a pair of dark jeans. She also wore a pair of sunglasses, and a cigarette dangled from her lips.
Zuko pushed open the door and stepped in to the sunshine. It was a beautiful fall day.
"What are you doing here? Why aren't you wearing your uniform?" he asked, utterly confused.
"Today is the first nice day in weeks," she explained. "There is no way in hell I'm staying in that dumb school all day, stuck in a bunch of boring classes, and listening to a bunch of teachers I can't stand."
"So you're skipping?" he asked, already growing excited. She nodded. "And you want me to skip with you?"
"Duh," she said with an eye roll and a smile.
"I'm in," he said. "Where do you want to go?"
"The beach," she answered immediately. "It's perfect outside and no one will be there during school hours."
Minutes later they stood at the nearest bus stop. Zuko felt his heart racing.
She came to my apartment, to get me to skip school with her.
He couldn't believe it. She had to like him, even if it was only a little.
They boarded the bus and sat next to one another. Mai pushed her sunglasses onto her head and turned to face him.
"This will be fun," she said, her eyes alight. He smiled and nodded his agreement.
"Do you often stand outside of people's apartment to drag them away from school?" he teased.
"Nope. Just for you," she replied. Zuko's heart soared.
A half hour later they arrived at the beach. Mai sat down on the sand and took off her jacket. She was wearing a thin black t shirt, and Zuko realized that it was the first time he had seen her in anything other than long sleeves. He sat down beside her.
"Can I ask you something personal?" she asked.
"Sure," he said, already knowing what her question would be.
"Why is your sister in a mental hospital? How long has she been there?"
He breathed a slight sigh of relief. He feared she would have asked him how he got his scar.
"As for why, there are a number of reasons." He paused, thinking of how to phrase his answer. "Azula had always shown signs of psychopathy, even when we were little kids. My parents just didn't realize it was a mental disorder. My mom knew she had behavioral issues, she just didn't know how bad it was," he sighed again. Beside him Mai looked at him carefully, intrigued by his words.
"She was always manipulative. She never seemed to care if she hurt someone's feelings. She was able to make friends— hell, she came off as charming and likeable most of the time— but she felt no real emotional attachment to them. She was cruel," he paused.
"Things got really bad when our mom died. Azula was eleven, I was twelve. She lost it. She went into a fit and physically attacked my uncle when he told us. Our father had to restrain her. He and my uncle took her to the hospital the next day. She's been there for four years now." He turned to her and saw sadness in her eyes.
"Zuko, I…" she began.
"You don't have to say anything," he said quickly. She nodded wordlessly. The waves crashed against the shore. The two of them sat in the sun, staring out at the ocean. After a few moments Mai took his hand in hers, lacing her fingers with his.
A/N: Please review! There is more to come (and more romance)!