I don't own avatar but if I did...nah I've got nothing.
Zuko was in trouble. He gulped, the movement pressing the skin of his neck against the sai that was a whisper away from slitting his throat. His right arm was wrenched painfully behind his back, immobilising his movements. Zuko could feel his attackers fingers digging into him.
"I'm going to ask you this once," his attacker told him in a low, steely voice, "Where are we?"
Zuko tried to glance behind him, his golden eyes straining for a glimpse of his assailant.
"I'm waiting," there was a hint of extra pressure from the sai, with the promise of far more if the question remained unanswered.
"We're..." Zuko paused as he awkwardly gasped down a breath, "On a boat."
"Really?" his assailant said, their sarcasm almost drowned out by the noise of the ship's engine and the creak of the metal deck as it rolled with the tide. "You may want to volunteer a few more details fire lord if you want to walk away from this alive, presuming that still interests you. Because I'm seriously beginning to have my doubts."
Zuko mumbled something.
"What," the assailant said flatly.
Zuko gulped, then, with the air of a man signing his own death warrant said, "We're going to Ember Island."
There was a long, dangerous pause.
"I've changed my mind, I'm going to kill you after all."
"Mai!" Zuko protested.
Zuko was released, stumbling a few steps forward before turning around to face Mai. She was half illuminated by the light streaming in from a nearby porthole, her other half shrouded in the shadows of the room. Her normally perfectly pinned hair was loose and she was dressed in nothing but a light night robe, the crimson colour flush against her pale skin. Zuko's attentions were surprisingly elsewhere though, namely the weapon glinting in her hand and the infinitely more dangerous glint in her dark eyes. Mai wasn't usually an expressive girl but Zuko had gotten used to reading her over the years they'd been together and right now she was absolutely livid.
"Look, I can explain," Zuko held up his hands in a placating gesture.
"Explain what Zuko? You had me kidnapped!" Mai raised her voice.
"That's not really what happened..."
"You and Ty Lee broke into my family home, snuck into my room while I was asleep and spirited me away in the night. How is that not a kidnapping?" She emphasised the last point by ramming her finger into Zuko's chest.
Zuko started to back away, he knew she'd be angry but hadn't expected this. Things were not going according to plan, but when did they for him? Mai was not finished though.
"You even had Ty Lee paralyse me. I've been staring at the same patch of ceiling for the last three hours. Do you have any idea how boring that is?"
"She only paralysed you because you were about to turn me into a pincushion," Zuko said defensively, "Why do you even have that many weapons on you while you're sleeping?"
"Normally so I can defend myself if some maniac tries to assault me in the dead of night!"
Zuko studiously ignored this, "Besides that, where did you even get that sai from? We searched you while you were unconscious - " Mai raised an eyebrow, "I mean I had Ty Lee carry out a full inspection of your body – um – er-" Zuko's cheeks turned as red as his scar.
Mai sighed, "Look Zuko, just tell me what this is about."
Zuko grinned in relief, leaping quickly on the small respite Mai had given him. "The war ended three years ago and I thought we'd done all the hard work after we stopped father...Ozai," Zuko corrected himself, looking away and missing Mai's hand almost reach up to touch his arm, before pulling away, "But I was wrong, it's going to take a lot of work to rebuild the world after a hundred years of conflict and hatred and because of that I haven't been able to enjoy the peace with the people I care for. I know we haven't been able to see much of each other recently. That's why I wanted to do something special. I guess I – uh - "kidnapped" you because I wanted it to be a surprise."
"I'm surprised," Mai said dryly. The speech seemed to have had its effect though, as she'd calmed down to her usual, mellow mood. She brushed back a stray lock of dark hair behind her ear, her lips pressed into a small pout, "Why Ember island though Zuko? The place is about as fun as the boiling rock."
"It wasn't so bad. Well it was pretty bad, but I've learnt something important every time I've been," Zuko tried to remember what Li and Lo had told them what seemed like centuries ago, "Because we're big, strong rocks and the beach can erode and break down who we are into small, tiny, insignificant pebbles."
Zuko smiled victoriously, he was pretty sure that was the gist of what they'd said. His spirit swelled as he saw Mai begin to smile, uncle would have been proud of the wise advice he'd just given. He quickly deflated as Mai's smile twitched as she tried to contain her laughter.
"Are you sure you don't mean it can smooth down the roughest edges?" Mai said, still trying not to giggle.
"Maybe," Zuko admitted, a little shame faced. He didn't really mind, even if he had made a fool of himself. He hadn't seen Mai smile for a while now. She always looked so pretty when she dropped the mask a childhood at the Imperial court had crafted for her. Not able to stop himself he ran a hand through her black hair, ending by brushing his fingers over her cold cheeks. He was rewarded by a slight blush as their eyes met but then the mask came back on. She turned her face away and gently but firmly removed his hand.
"Its been a long day Zuko, I need to sleep."
"Of course, well I'll see you tomorrow," Zuko said stiffly, trying to keep his emotions under control. He wheeled around and left the room, trying to act as natural as he could. He waited until he was two decks and three corridors before stopping, breathing heavily as he tried to keep calm. He didn't understand what was happening. He knew they hadn't been able to see each other much recently, and thought Mai's coldness towards him these last few months had been a result of that, her patience after three years of constant separation running out. But there was something else, she didn't care any less about him, he was almost certain of it. Instead she was holding herself back. Why? It made no sense. He slamming his fist furiously into the side of the wall. The impact left a dent in the metal.
"Is everything alright Firelord?"
Zuko span around. It was Jee, his former lieutenant and now high admiral of the fire nation. Zuko was suddenly ashamed, Jee had already had to put up with enough of his temper when he'd been in exile, without this as well.
"Yes Admiral, I apologise, I let my temper get the better of me. Its nothing you should have to worry about."
"Yes sir," Jee said evenly, falling into step besides Zuko.
"Thank you again for the loan of the ship, I'm in your debt."
"You are the firelord, I wasn't about to say no."
"I know my position, but I meant this as a request, not an order. Furthermore I never asked you to personally accompany me," Zuko insisted, "So thank you."
They walked in silence. Then Jee said, "I have watch tonight. Perhaps if you do feel obliged to me, you could keep me company for a while. We still have your uncle's Pai Sho board."
Zuko hesitated for only a moment, "Thank you Admiral. I'd like that. I should warn you though, my uncle's taught me pretty well."
"You're not the only one he taught sir," Jee countered, a small smile cracking his usual stoic, military countenance,
Together the two men, now chatting amicably about the upcoming game, headed to the bridge.
Mai sighed as she examined herself critically in the mirror. What was she doing? She should have got the first boat home the moment her feet touched sand. Instead she'd been here for six nights, letting Zuko take her on a whirlwind romantic tour of the island as he tried to woo her. It had all been rather sweet actually but it hadn't made what she knew she had to do any easier. She'd resolved each night to go home, trying her hardest to remain distant.
Yet here she was again, dressed up and getting ready to go see a play of all things with him. This would be the last night though, Zuko had said so himself. Perhaps she could allow herself a small moment of happiness to treasure before they had to part.
It had been almost six months ago when it happened. Zuko returning after a seven week campaign with the water tribe against pirates that had been harassing fire nation shores. She'd been idling with a knife Zuko had brought back for when he'd overheard her talking to Azula's former advisers Li and Lo. Zuko had decided to keep them in his service, as they hadn't committed any real crimes despite their association with his psychotic sister and they still gave good advice. He really had learned a lot from General Iroh.
"For the last time, will you drop the matter about Mai!"
Mai had been about to call out a greeting, but at these words had dropped back into the shadows of a nearby column. She knew it wasn't right to watch like that, but some habits were hard to break. Back when she was child it had been her court rather than military training that allowed her to melt into the background as she watched and waited.
"Firelord Zuko if you truly wish to bring peace to the world you should find a bride from another of the four nations. Only this can truly bind us all together," the first said, probably Li, Mai thought. Her right ear was saggier.
"Even if you do marry within the fire nation it would be wise to choose one of the great houses. There are many who still resent your usurpation of your father. You must keep the nation strong," Lo continued.
"For the sake of all, you cannot continue your relationship with Lady Mai," they said in unison. Mai ran her hands over her throwing knives, repressing the urge to nail both of them between the eyes.
"Enough. Leave, now," Zuko had said coldly. A few years ago he would have exploded at them, somehow that would have been less frightening. She hated noticing it, but sometimes she saw there was still a part of Ozai within Zuko. Sensing his mood both advisers scuttled for the door. Zuko stood in silence for a few minutes before stamping out with far less self control than he'd just shown. Mai had felt her body's energy draining away as she slowly slid down the pillar.
However much she hated the old crones she knew there was truth in their words. One of the best way to take a step towards the peace Zuko was fighting so hard for would be marriage. The Firelord taking a bride from the water tribe or especially the earth kingdom would be a powerful symbol of international unity.
Even marrying within to one of the great houses made more sense. The court had become a hot bed of intrigue since Ozai's defeat. Zuko didn't really understand, he'd never really been exposed to the unpleasant side of aristocratic life. Oh he'd suffered the consequences of it after his exile, but he didn't know it as she had, as her father had desperately fought his way up the social ladder.
These days while Zuko was away dealing with foreign threats, she'd been dealing with assassinations, extortion and blackmail and lately it only seemed to be getting worse. The game had changed and no one was really sure of the new rules, meaning everyone was scrabbling for whatever scraps they could find. If Zuko was to take a wife from the great houses they would be able to keep internal order for him and the court would settle down again.
She knew he loved her, would protest and struggle against any attempt to make him abandon her, but in the end he wouldn't have a choice. Just like after the day of the black sun, if it was the right thing, if it was a decision for something greater than himself he would leave her again. The least she could do was make it easier on him. So she'd tried her best to avoid him, taking assignments abroad whenever he came home and acting as cold as she could possibly manage.
Yet here she was again...
There was a rap at the door. It was Zuko and judging by his dumbstruck expression her preparations had had their effect. She was dressed in a sheer red dress, decorated with an edge of gold thread. A slit down the side showed off her long, slender legs and the gap at the front of the dresses high collar a glimpse of her creamy, pale throat. Her dark hair was tied back in a simple pony tail. She knew he liked it when she wore her hair long and she'd ("subconsciously" she lied to herself) decided to indulge him.
Zuko shook himself out of his stupor and linked arms with her. Mai choose this time not to refuse him.
"Shall we go?"
"Lets," Mai said, keeping her voice even and trying to ignore how close the two of them were, the warmth of his body next to hers as they walked and most of all the conflict swirling inside her that was gradually breaking her heart in two.
Well that's the introduction kids. Set three years later I tried to make the characters a little more mature, or at least Zuko, because Mai was pretty sorted to begin with. Love to hear what you think, so gimme some of that review love :)