Maiko Fluff Series

Hey there! I am taking up the fiery challenge of Maiko fluff. I plan on making a whole series for different one shots centered on one couple. You guessed it… Zuko and Mai!

So here we go!

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the last Airbender, its characters, plots, yada yada yada

Theme: Cheating at Marco Polo

"Come on. It will be fun" Zuko said as he tried to drag Mai towards the back screen sliding door, which was being guarded at the moment. It could go without saying that many took the Firelord's safety very seriously.

"No, you and fun just don't mix," Mai said with an indifferent face, complete with a full eye roll. Perhaps if he realized how completely unexcited she was to participate in his antics, he'd just drop it. But Zuko had already grown accustomed to many of her tricks and just kept his eyes straight-forward, towards the door.

That's when Mai contorted her face into a cute, little pout she had probably used about twice in her lifetime and Zuko could have sworn he had spotted a pig fly.

He knew if he looked at her eyes, he would probably fall for it. Such a rare face on Mai just made him a little bit happier that only she would do that to him.

Mai was strong, but Zuko was stronger. The fire bender allowed the resistance for a few minutes, but anticipation had gathered in him and imploded with his own being, causing him to pick her up himself and take her outside. Mai projected a short bit of fuss by pounding on his chest in protest, but as they passed through the doors, all the guards did was salute to the King. She settled within his arms.

"If you don't put me down right now I will dig a shuriken dagger into your back" she threatened slowly, but again, Zuko ignored her, knowing she would do no such thing to him. Well, most likely. Finally, they had reached their destination. The royal pool, which glistened a fascinating gold in the evening sunbeams. Zuko called a servant to go fetch their bathing suits.

"I am not getting in"

"Oh yes you are", was his simple response as he placed her back on her feet.

The servant came back with their swimming garments.

"Make me", she hissed.

"Okay"

The Firelord snapped his fingers and suddenly Mai's maids were at her side, semi-dragging her into the tall tent by the pool side. Zuko smirked and gave a small wave at her aggravated figure as she was hustled away.

INSIDE THE CHANGING CHAMBER

"What in Agni's name are you people doing?" Mai yelled in distress as her servants tried to assure her that this was for her best.

"Really mistress, we are trying to help. Really" Sari, her favorite servant, repeated over and over again. She was probably nervous from going against the soon to-be-Queen's protest.

"Okay. Zuko can drag me out here, command you all to try and convince me to play these games with him, but nothing, AND I MEAN NOTHING, is going to get me into that", Mai said, pointing a shaky finger at the red bikini that had been picked out for her and was now draped across the arm of a young, agitated maid. As soon as she said those words, she regrets that they were ever uttered from her mouth, because judging from the look in the older servants eyes, Sari had shifted into commander mode.

"Listen, sister. I care for you very much. You are an honorable friend, but I will not, absolutely WILL NOT, let you pass up an opportunity like this. And over such trivial matters at that!" Fire in her eyes, Sari picked up the bikini and held it in front of her. "Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice" Sari said, her voice firm, but calm

.

"Yes, mam. I will take the easy way." Mai squeaked.

"Great!" Sari said returning to happy peppy mode again. "I will be just outside if you need me" she said with a smile, handing her the swim suit and exiting the tent.

Mai, for once, did as she was told.

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AFTER THAT…

Zuko, already changed, was blissfully descending the steps of the pool. Mai came out of the burgundy tent and spotted him. With no shirt. She might have drooled a little. Thankfully, Sari came by with a cloth in hand and with one quick swipe, the evidence was gone.

"Thanks" she muttered with a blush.

"Don't mention it" Sari replied smugly, not looking back.

Zuko signaled fro Mai to come join him in the water, but Mai shook her head.

"Ahem" Mai heard from behind her. Knew it was Sari, so she quickly changed her mind and walked towards him. He started to swim over to her.

"Come on. The water is great!"

"I don't know"

"Then I will make up your mind for you", he said with the grin that made something inside Mai twist and turn.

He grabbed her legs and dunked her in. At once, her black long hair came out of their two elegant buns. Now wet, Mai surfaced and looked at him with disbelief.

"You're gonna regret that, Firelord" she said as she tackled him. They went underwater for a few seconds, then came back up laughing. That's when Zuko noticed the watchers.

With an indignant flick of the wrist, he sent the servants away.

"Finally. Some privacy" he said with a sigh.

"Yeah" Mai said with a hint of seduction as she through all caution to the wind and treated herself with another long gaze at her bare-chested man.

Zuko saw that spark in her eye. Danger sign. In an instant, the boy (or rather, the man) remembered now what they were going to do.

"Have you ever played Marco Polo?" Zuko asked looking her in the eyes. It was an unusal activity not normally played in those areas of the world, but after meeting with water benders from the Northern tribes, Zuko felt a sort of anticipation to try it himself.

"Yeah, I am a master at it" Mai replied proudly, her long hair trailing behind her as she walked closer to him. She saw him stiffen up and put on that prize-winning smirk of hers.

"What, Zuki-poo? You want to play?" she said batting her eyelashes. She knew he secretly loved that name though he acted like he didn't. And if she was wrong…well, she still enjoyed getting under his skin. Either way was fine with her.

"Oh Agni", Zuko thought, "She's turning my own trick against me, but …". And with that, a slightly wanton scheme presented itself to him.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do." he answered darkly with his own little smirk. "And I'm 'it'"

"I'm fine with that" Mai said, backing away from him so he would not know which way she would be going. In truth, Mai had played it. A few times with a group rebellious kids she had met in her ever nomadic childhood.

"1,2,3," He started counting, but decided to skip numbers. "uh… 9, 10. Here I come"

Zuko's eyes were closed as that was the main rule. The traditional initial call of "Marco" sounded through the pool area.

The answer was a soft and melodic "Polo".

Zuko smiled he knew what she was trying to do now. But he had something up his own (nonexistent) sleeves too.

Zuko gingerly submerged his hands in the pool water and started to focus on his chi. The water started to warm up. "Marco" he said, sending a particularly hot wave through the water.

"Wow! Ow, polo" came Mai's answer. His cheating had helped relinquish the girls location, tanks to her yelp. He turned in that direction and peeked, then withdrew his hands to make sure he didn't manipulate the waters into becoming too hot. What he saw was her and her angry glare. There was no doubt she knew he was peeking.

They waded towards each other and pointed at each other and making accusation of not playing fairly. It wasn't long before the couple was bursting out laughing, though the reason why was unclear. After a good moment of gut-wrenching laughter, the sounds died down until all that was left was the incessant creaking of the early night crickets. They stole a moment to stare into each other's glistening eyes.

Zuko leaned in to kiss his wonderful bride-to-be, capturing her lips before they molded into each other.

Twice.

This time she put her hand on his face, just below his scar. And again. It was then that the two went underwater for a rather long time, coming up only for breath.

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ELSEWHERE…

"Okay, folks," Sari announced to the rest of the servants as the couple went under, "shows over". The woman waved them all back to their jobs. They had watched from the large window above the pool patio. Later, many of them could have been found talking about how they would never forget that pout, seeing as a seemingly emotionless person like Mai would not be caught dead doing that in public.

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BACK AT THE POOL

(Wait… those kids are still under. Hey, there they go, taking a breath! Wait, they went back down…)

Darn

THE END

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