Mai didn't mean to always be so devoid of emotion, at least on the outside. It became a habit, a façade, one that was convenient and familiar after years and years of hiding beneath it.
She did love. She did get angry, and sad, and very happy. She felt every emotion known to man.
She just hid it all.
When she was younger, a small child, all these emotions ran wild. She cried when she was upset or hurt or angry, threw small tantrums, laughed out loud, smiled and yelled. And she would have continued to grow up that way, living and breathing each emotion as it rolled through her, if it weren't for her parents.
It wasn't really their fault. Okay, so it was, but if they'd held different positions, weren't so high up socially and politically, Mai wouldn't have been forced to contain herself. They wanted much out of life; money, power, and not for their own needs, but for their child.
They wanted the best for Mai, the best education, the best friends, the best life the world could offer. And the best could only be offered at the highest price. To achieve the best, Mai had to be impeccably behaved, never speaking out of turn, never being too loud or rambunctious, never showing she was upset. A well behaved, calm, beautiful young girl born to a rich family could only marry someone of equal, or better status, and her parents aimed for 'better.'
And so, they made sure she never once acted up, that she always supported the royal family, and it paid off. Somehow, by some miracle, she had befriended the young princess Azula; perhaps it was only because Azula, even at such a young age, knew Mai could be manipulated, but it was no matter. Their daughter was spending time with the royal family, getting to know them, befriending them and being accepted by them.
It was all they could ever hope for, or dream for her.
But it came with a price. Mai couldn't express herself, not easily.
But, Zuko could see through that. That was one thing her parents couldn't plan for: having Zuko know and understand their daughter, to share with her that pain and frustration of being forced to become something he just…wasn't, not deep down. Even when she hardly showed it, he knew when she was happy, very happy, and when she was angry.
Of course, he misjudged sometimes, but that was the beauty of Zuko. He was hopelessly flawed, and so perfect for it. He said and did the wrong things multiple times a day, he made mistakes.
And Mai loved him for that. He didn't hide who he was. And slowly, with him, Mai was learning to do the same.
I hope you enjoyed this.
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