Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The last air bender nor any of the character used in this story.
Title: Useless Emotions.
Chapter 2: Fighting and Freedom.
A girl around the age of sixteen walked out of a steamy shower. The mist of warm air wrapped around her body, like her very own towel. She bent her head over and squeezed some water out of her long black hair. She thus whipped it aside to her back and walked out onto the garnet stone flooring in the bathing room. The walls made were from a glowing crystal found near the top of a volcanic mountain. The stone would glow a low crimson in the light. But the sun already set. Thus the crystals were at full bloom. Lighting the room up, showing off every detail of the fine bath room.
A sigh was carried throughout the room echoing into the chamber called her room. She sat on the bench in front of her bed and laid there gathering her thoughts. She learned to air dry when she was alone at times. She stared at the dark walls that created her room. Each wall was a slight different tone of red. She bent her head over the side of her bed frame. She thought about her lord. Her hair still dripping slightly wet. Not in it's usually form. A boring hair style she made up to impress the public. It was foolish and poor to wear your hair down or without any sign of royalty. She was taught. Plus women put time in their appearances. Mai did not apply makeup to her facial features. Just kept a stern expression. The woman stood up and looked at her stomach in a large mirror in her bath room.
Her eyes narrowed to see a scar on her abdomen. She traced the line with her right hand. The finger tips barely brushing against the imperfection. She brought her hair from the back to the front of her body, covering her breasts. She turned around and looked at herself in the back. Just agreeing in her mind. She exercised in the right places. What man wouldn't want her. She broke her thoughts about that. Thinking about her fierce moods that were held back by her monotone being. She didn't show much emotion. When she did, was it the right one? She then sighed and thought more about her intimate moment with Zuko just remembering his gentle touch. Ever since they docked on the royal island everything was peaceful. And boring again. She walked over to the rather long stone counter top and looked at the refillable sink. The marble that made up the sink was thin to be picked up. Replaced everyday by her servants. She throw her arms above her head. She stood tall and stomped her feet. She was done with royal life. At least she thought. It would just pass. Sighing again.
Mai opened a curtain that made up a sum of her outfits. She searched through many and didn't want to keep wearing her simple traveling robes. She just wanted to wear a simple dress, no hakamas or a heavy coat. Mai may have changed but she still lived where she was born. And loved someone that was the lord of her home. Never ending. In simple terms she thought this place was boring. She brought out a long strapless dress. She only thought of what her mother would say. "Mai cover up, you do not want to be treated like some street performer." Mai rolled her eyes to this thought. She slid the dress on backwards and zipped up the back. Her hands then moved the dress in the right position. The zipper in the back, usually covered by her hair. The dress was dark red with a golden trim around the top and bottom of the stitching. It sparkled in the sunlight. The fabric of the dress was a cotton feel. Plain as the fabric was the embroidery of the lava stones flared it up. Mai reframed from getting excited. She was merely dressing up for a dinner, she was going to meet the Fire Lord. But it did make her blush.
"Haa." She sighed.
Looking in the mirror, Mai didn't want to fix her hair. But found her hands combing through her entire body of hair. Getting it untangled and straight. Grabbing some pins she pinned some of her hair at the top into one large bun. Allowing a bit of the bottom hair to flow past her shoulders. Of course, her bangs remained in front of her eyes. Satisfied finally with her image she walked to her bed and sat there. Waiting.
Mai yawned though she had a craving for fire flakes. She put her hand on her stomach. Thinking lightly. She was a lazy person. But had an athletic body. Her body responded differently then other woman. Usually she got her period different from other girls. Fewer times a year. She noticed a change in herself lately, but didn't try to think about it. Mai didn't bother to think about her body, except her hunger.
It nearly has been a month and a half since they arrived home.
Mai spent little time with Zuko. Due to his schedule. Whenever she wanted to come over it was usually the worst time. Or when he wanted to plan something for each other she had to attend a boring public gathering for her father's political career. She sighed trying to have a little hope for the night. They would spend a total of six hours with each other a week. And the seconds turned into minutes. While the hours they had together nearly slipped away more and more each day. She stood up and looked out the golden trimmed window and saw men carrying a royal carriage. The honey gold roofing shimming in the night. The red dried wood was big enough to hold two. But it also incase one certain person that Mai cared about so much. Lately, Mai has been enjoying her time alone. Just thinking about her future. She guessed it was set on the right path. But something now bothered her. Ever since a week ago. Mai as been carving certain things. Hiding her feelings she would just tend to walk them off or practice spinning her knife on her finger.
Finally Mai stopped staring waiting to find out if Zuko was in the carriage, she went over to her jewelry box near the side of her king size bed. She brought out three pieces of contraptions for her hair and body. She laced a gold beaded necklace around her neck. The heaviest part on the thread of gold was a bright red color stone. The gem was more large then her eye and very polished. She ran her finger on the stone and felt it, smooth. Then put two hair clips on the side of her head in her hair. They were gold framed clips that held the same color gem on her necklace. There were three on each side of her head. She turned her head from right-to-left, viewing each side. She looked beautiful. Then walking over to her opened closet she grabbed a small blood stained coat. It would cover her bare shoulders as she left her home. She put the clothing on and sighed. Blowing her hair back in place she opened the large wooden door and walked out into the hallway. She was the only person in the long hallway. Except for certain maids going into rooms to clean.
Mai walked down the barren place and silently found her way to the staircase. She walked down the bright red case beautifully. Slowly she saw heads turn. What are they looking at? She thought angrily.
"Mai, you look very stunning." Her mother let out. Tom Tom sat in a crib waiting for some attention. He was blinking at his eldest sister and enjoyed the shining objects. "Yes, I agree with your mother." Her father said, placing his sake down. "Is Zuko here?" Mai said to them. Blinking more slow then ever. She basically stopped blinking, frowning now. Thinking. He ditched me again…She felt her heart slightly break a bit just then. She remained to keep a firm plain expression on her face. Awaiting an explanation for this.
"Oh yes darling, The Fire Lord is waiting outside for you!" Her mother exclaimed. She released her eyes grip more and found her face smiling now. She looked at her parents and bowed lightly.
"I'll be home soon mother and father." Mai coughed out a lie. She was looking to spend as much time with Zuko as she could. Her mother knew very well she was happy. They nodded their heads and let Mai go with her boyfriend. A servant opened the door for Mai and allowed her to walk out gracefully in front of the Fire Lord. Her long dress dragging along side. She picked her dress up and blinked at him.
Hearing the door close, she began to walk down the brief stairwell in her front yard. She placed her hand on a rather very large pillar in front of the home and leaned into her arms grip. "Hmmmph." Mai grunted at him.
Zuko turned around to see Mai. He had wide eyes and a gentle smile on his lips. He sped over to her and hugged her. She didn't hug him back just pushed him away. "Zuko." She whispered. He looked at her and smiled more. "I don't hate you." She said to him plainly. He blushed and kissed her now. This time Mai gave in and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She usually played hard to get with him.
"I don't hate you too." He smirked at him after breaking their kiss apart.
"Let's leave this boring place." Mai said wrapped her arms around Zuko's upper arm. He was wearing his normal royal garments. His hair brought up by a golden cuff wrapped around his hair loop. In that loop was his Fire Lord crown. The flat golden crown was plain, but rather attractive for him. She smirked looking away. Thinking about his wear.
"You look very pretty." Zuko said shyly. Mai blushed and looked at him now. Eyes locked.
"Thank you." She responded to him. Zuko earlier told the men to leave so Mai and him could just walk to their destination. He knew Mai would not complain. She was pretty easy lately with him. Even if they didn't spend a lot of time together. Which made him worry at times. They walked a couple miles into the dark evening sky. The red and purple mixed with the blue and orange so elegantly. Clouds mostly gray swam in the sky. Flowing like they usually do. Breathless, unimaginable and always the same, Mai and Zuko would never hate this time of day. Nor consider it boring. It brought them together as they spend their moments with each other. Mai frowned now and felt sick. She put her head into Zuko's chest. This caused Zuko to look at her with worried eyes. He placed a warm hand on her shoulders and brought her head away from his chest. "Are you feeling well?" He asked her.
It was obvious to her, but not to Zuko. She closed her eyes and did an inside eye roll and looked at him with a flushing face. "I guess, no…. Maybe." She gave him a scrambled answer. She didn't want to ruin their moment and go see the palace medical team. She was thinking about it a little now and sighed. "I think I'm sick but from something else." She said coldly.
Zuko looked at her and looked up at the sky without moving his head up. "What do you think is making you sick?" He questioned her.
She gulped a bit. Her fear didn't show through her empty eyes. Nor through her words. "Well, maybe I'm allergic to Fire nation food or I'm pregnant." She said crossing her arms looking at him with a bored stare. He didn't catch her last words. Just thinking he smiled at her humor. "You'll have some upper society food and feel better." he laughed a bit. She closed her eyes and put her hand against her chin. "Zuko." she said to him. Mai was not dumb nor did she need a doctor to tell her. She knew a month after they made love. She remained calm and started to notice Zuko's reaction time. He blinked at her and heard the silence.
Here it comes…Mai thought. How did that happen? She thought again. Then looked at him more intensely. "You're pregnant." He said. Then looked at her his eyes soft and his lips not smiling. No expression from either of them. Did they both hate thee idea? Reject it? Or ignore it? Mai didn't know what to think of it. Just it was disrespect against their nation and family. But She didn't worry about it because she told herself they were in love. Love saves all? She nodded to him then bent her head a little. "I might be, but the chances are high." She frowned now looking away. Just ignoring the fact he wasn't giving an exploding answer. Where's his hot headed temper? She blinked lightly after thinking.
This was growing on her nerves. Was he testing her? She started walking away to where they were going to eat at. But Zuko grabbed her hand and forced her into his arms. He was hugging her tightly. She felt his breathe against her ear. Her eyes were wide. Then she turned her face a touch and listened to him intensely. He was muttering words to say under his breathe. Nervous, Mai could tell. "Mai…Ah…I am so…happy." He told her in a whisper. She laid her head against his head and just continued to listen.
"I'm sorry." he said to her. She didn't understand why he said this. But just accepted it.
"Why are you sorry?" She said to him pushing him away lightly.
"For making you second. Being Fire Lord is stressful and I held you below all of that, I should have realized I was doing something very wrong." She put a finger on his lips and hushed him. "Zuko." She said.
Then he interrupted her again. "No Mai, I did this to you. I'm sorry." He said. "I didn't realize at that moment when we were together it would result into you being pregnant." He finished. She glared at him through her bangs that covered her eyes. She then slapped him hard.
"What was that for?" Zuko growled at her. Mai put her throbbing hand into a fist and sighed to the side.
"Zuko, You aren't sorry. And you shouldn't. This is not just your fault. Just because when I warned you it did not mean I did not want this. I love you." She looked at him now with a plain expression. Showing no emotion. She stood a couple feet away from him. 'I'm happy as long as you're happy." She closed her eyes now and tighten her shoulders together. Her appearance looked as if she said something horrible.
Zuko stepped over to him in one large motion. All this talking made Mai nauseous. She pushed Zuko away from her and ran over to the flowing river. She was quick at this. She bent over the wooden railing and tossed her food from earlier. This was the first time she had thrown up. She felt her stomach turn again as she put her back against the railing to look at Zuko, who was laughing now at her. "What's so funny?" She hissed at him covering her mouth. She wiped the remains away from her lips and looked at him sternly.
"Any more anger in that stare Mai and you'll release the chi for fire bending you have." Zuko chuckled. She loosened her grip on the world and sighed more. Wanting to cry she just sighed. Zuko walked up to her held her in his arms. "Don't be afraid. I promise I'll hold you above anything." He told her.
Mai sighed now and looked at him less. "Zuko, what should we do?" She said to him. Knowing exactly what everyone else would say and tell them to do, she wanted his honest opinion.
"Mmm, well we should get married." he told her. She looked down at the ground and nodded to him. Her silence made him nervous. "You don't want too?" He asked her worried. She closed her eyes now and thought. I knew it! I knew it! He was worried about his image! She thought. "You wouldn't be asking this because you do not want to look bad in front of your nation?" She scolded him.
She rolled her eyes as Zuko thought about his answer. "No, Mai I want to do this for us." He told her. She sighed and gave him a face that made his heart sink. "So why aren't you down on your knees?" She asked him glaring at him from her side. He looked up at her and smiled again. "Because I don't let you win." He smirked at her. She walked over to him now and just embraced him.
"Mai…" he breathed her name into her hair. Just pressing his face into her head a bit, feeling the strands against his scar. The dead skin still had nerves to allow him to feel. He looked at her now and smelt her breath, thinking. Eck! If I kiss her I'll have bad breathe. He thought.
What's he staring at? She thought. Glaring now she sighed lightly. He kissed her and smiled at him. Not tasting his lips. She looked at him and was disgusted. "Mm, Zuko you didn't have to do that." She looked at him and put her hand on his cheek and smiled lightly. They were alone. Mai held Zuko's arm and put her head against his arm. Zuko felt protective now. Mai was being gentle. He grabbed a full breathe of air through his nostrils and puffed his chest up. Feeling proud he marched through his nation. Besides his fiancée and heir. Zuko instantly thought is was a boy. All his fathers before him had boys. So he was proud. Mai still had second thoughts, but still remained calm. She snuggled into his arm and kept her eyes closed. After walking before and forth for an hour he brought Mai into the palace. Leading her into the garden where they first met. He had a table set up near the first pond where they fell onto each other as kids. Mai opened her eyes as she was seated. She blinked and blushed looking at the pond. The cat whiskers swaying in the gentle breeze. The flames were small, but still kept the area lit. She gazed at the location they fell in and smiled at him now. Watching the turtle ducks swim by and the water splashing behind them. She blushed and locked eyes on him. "How did you think of this?" She said plainly. Her face was turning orange as the candles flickered in the wind. Zuko coughed a bit into his fist and looked at her more. "Well Mai I just wanted to give you a night to remember." Zuko said.
She was growing bored now. Her stomach growled as her mood deepened in boredom. "Hah, the baby wants food." Zuko muttered to her. Mai blinked at him knowing he was joking. But she didn't find it funny or adorable. She just blushed and looked down at the red table clothe. She remained silent for awhile.
Zuko called upon a servant to fetch them their food. Mai was a eater, so you could not tell she was carving anything. Just when she had urges to call upon a servant she would. Ordering around is something she was good at. She sighed a bit, holding her chopsticks together and picking up her napkin, bored like. Zuko looked at her as she sighed, thinking she was going to talk. But realized she wasn't, just exhaling. He needed to speak up and get her to talk or he himself was going to be nervous and throw up if he didn't. She looked at him now and looked over to the pond again, then back to his face. Noticing he was watching her, seeing his face turn as she faced him.
"Why didn't you send a messenger hawk lately?" She let the lame thought escape her lips.
Zuko looked at her and felt strange. "I have been writing letters to the Earth king and the Water tribe working on a peace treaty. Plus I've been receiving messages from troops that were coming back to the nation. Mai you live less then half a mile from my home, you can drop a letter off or tell my servants to get my attention." He scolded her.
She didn't know he was working on a treaty with the other nations. But she did realize he didn't get her messages. "Zuko you didn't get my letters?" She frowned at him. He stared at her for a moment and realized on his one afternoon off he did receive a stack of envelopes addressed to him, signed by Mai. "No I didn't." he lied. Mai sighed. "It doesn't matter. My mother made me write those." She sighed again.
Zuko felt bad now, sighing he did put his career first instead of Mai. "Your servants probably do not like me for ordering you to order them around so much." Mai rolled her eyes.
"Don't blame the help." Zuko frowned now. But saw Mai's expression change rather quickly. She grunted and stood up. "Zuko, I am more important then more servants." She hissed at him. Then left her chair and walked over to the pond and played with the water. Remembering that magical moment where their bodies met in this very water. She sighed seeing her changed reflection.
"Mai." He whispered in her ear, as he pressed his chest against her back, hugging her. She blushed and lost control of her balance. "Zu-KOO!" She yelled as she fell into the water. As he followed and landed on her. She shivered at the cold water and looked at him. Glaring with a blush. He blinked at her and smiled lightly. He kissed her now hard and she kissed back. A couple of the servants brought the food and stood staring at them. Lovers quarrel. "Ah HEM! Fire Lord?" His advisor spoke aloud.
Zuko released from the kiss and looked over in his direction. He picked Mai up with himself. And put her on the ground. She felt embarrassed plus sick. "Milord you need new clothes." The servants told him. He figured he would, including Mai. But she didn't care. She just sat down now and wanted to eat her food. "We'll change after we eat." Zuko smiled at his help and nodded. Sending them off.
"I cleared my schedule to see you tonight, giving that mad man a day off and he's still here." he grunted in his usually laid back tone. She looked at him as he took off her coat and put it on his side of the table. Then removed all the food from the table and the candles. Grabbing the clothe and setting everything upon it again. Using the clothe as a blanket for each other. He also focused his warmth through fire bending to keep Mai and his body warm. He felt she was shivering as she began to eat. She ate most of her food as she noticed Zuko was just staring at her.
She gave him a plain face and didn't feel sorry for him. Keeping her warm was his duty, she thought. Then she sighed and took her chopsticks and finished her food and starting eating his. As a cynical joke and ate the first bite, then took another. But this time she put the food near his lips watching him open his mouth and eat it. She smiled lightly then fed him his food. He placed a hand on her belly and brought her close to him as he sat against her on the bench. She felt him keeping her stomach warm. Making Mai feel strange. But she just continued to feed him.
Mai finished giving Zuko his food which was Orange chicken with boiled cabbage mixed in noodles. She looked at him and smiled for a moment. Then placed a plain expression on her lips. "Thank you." She told him. She spoke so fast, Zuko didn't even see her lips move. He put his head in the hollow of her shoulder and breathed upon her bare chest. "Your shoulders are stunning in that dress." he felt her cheeks grow warm. "Your cold." She turned the opposite direction and huffed. He sighed with her. And just stood up now. "Come on. Let's go inside before we catch a cold." he told her. Then she stood up and walked beside him. Zuko had grown in the past mouth. She noticed he was slightly taller now. Just by an inch or two, usually she was the same height but now she was led to believe it was from his ponytail and his crown. She nodded in agreement to her thoughts.
"Really Zuko?" She looked at him as he brought her into the palace. Seeing their very own couch that they used to lye in before his father was dethroned. Nothing else in the grand room. The walls and flooring was red. The windows covered with dark red curtains allowing them to be alone. She smirked at him and the dessert sitting next to the couch. She walked up to the couch and saw the fruit tart with rose petals. This was her favorite. Zuko sat down but took his robe off and unlaced the sash that held his hakamas up. Getting nude he put his clothes on the floor neatly folded and put his hands on Mai. She felt his hands unzip her dress and slid it against her hips. Watching it hit the ground causing it to look like a velvet
shimmering body of red water beneath her feet.
"No bondage?" Zuko cocked his brows together now. In question to her. Did she want something like this to happen? He thought to himself.
She blushed at him and looked away. With her brows lowered and together. Giving an irritated look. She felt a hand being placed on her chin her vision being pulled to lock onto Zuko. As he also wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap as he laid down on the couch. He brought a thick bedded blanket over their bodies to saver the warmth. She shivered against his skin. She wondered how young her mother was when they felt love or acted like this. Now she remembered. Her mother didn't, because she was arranged to marry her father. But they fell in love with time, she sighed. Shaking the thought from her mind. "Mai." Zuko said.
The sky was entirely dark, close to black. But the stars were faded in the sheet of night. The air was silent and peaceful. Servants were in there quarters as Zuko and Mai just laid down and warmed up. "Do you think we're rushing this?" Mai asked him. She only felt him grunt and close his eyes. She sighed and listened to his heart beat.
"I don't regret anything I've done with you." He told her. She just closed her eyes also and felt at ease. "Tomorrow, we'll talk to your parents and have their condelences on our marriage?" He said plainly like a schedule event. She blinked at him now. "Who said I said yes." Mai countered.
Zuko opened his eyes slightly and looked at the ceiling. "Will you marry me?" He asked her now. No romantic tone put into it. She felt herself look at him and grab his chin forcing him to gaze upon her. She brought her lips to his and kissed him.
"I don't say no." She gave him an answer after their kiss. He blinked and refocused on her and hold a soft gaze upon her.
It was silent for a good while before Zuko grunted a laugh and mumbled a phrase from their night's adventure. "Why didn't you send a messenger hawk."
Mai was asleep in his arms and her body stuck to his. The sweat between the two bonded them. Zuko finally felt his thoughts slip away he was at peace with himself for right now. For once…
With Mai he felt complete. Like he knew he could do the right thing. This was the next step into finding himself. The wild adventures his mind went through when he was with Iroh. He made up his mind. They caught the pregnancy in the early stages, where he would marry her, having people believe it was a match made in heaven. A respectable Fire Lord and his beautiful Fire Lady.
His eyes opened wide as he thought now. "A child." He said lowly to himself.
Finally sleep took Zuko.
The morning came to fast for the two. Mai woke up first. Rushing slightly dressing herself. Realizing it was morning she sighed fast. This night definitely wasn't boring for Mai. She was on the tips of her toes the entire night. Zuko woke up rubbing his eyes. Looking around for Mai he sighed. Thinking it was a dream.
Mai cocked a brow at him and sighed again. Opening the curtains to the palace. She drew them into a string holder, by tying them in a knot. She walked over to him and stared at his sleeping body.
Mai sat down and pointed her finger into his chest. "Let's order some breakfast." She reassured him this wasn't a dream. Zuko grunted and pushed her away from him. She was forced off the small couch and landed on the ground. She winced as she hit the floor. "…." She remained silent and just stood up.
"Fine!" She grunted and throw his clothes on his couch. "I'm going home." She said lowly and walked off to find the entrance.
It was the afternoon before Zuko realized Mai was gone. "Mai!!" Zuko rapidly rushed up in a cold sweat. He grunted wiping the sweat off his fore head. He thought it was a dream. But soon found her hair clip and thee unfinished fruit tart. He sighed and looked at the impression of Mai on the soft couch. "She left…" he said in a low voice. He put his old damp clothes on and felt strange. Like everything was not real. He was Fire Lord. He had Mai. She was having his child. The nations were at peace. He put his hand on his chest and caught his breathe.
Zuko went to his large quarters and changed into new clean clothes. He watched the evening slowly as he was brought to Mai's home. He stepped out of the carriage and waved them off. Saying he was going to be here awhile. His advisor was sent in a madness. Looking all over for Zuko. But he didn't care at the moment. Mai was sitting in the front yard spinning her knife around her right index finger. She stopped looking at Zuko now. She was dressed in her usual garments and her hair back in the same three buns with some hair flowing from the back to the beginning of her breasts. She threw her knife at his direction and it landed into front of the door he was going to enter. Staring at the knife he felt she was angry at him. He gulped and entered the front yard. Mai walked into the house grunting.
Zuko shock his head as he walked up the pathway and up the stairs that led to her homes front door. Such a small home. He thought. But it was home to Mai and he smiled at it. Walking up to the door he gulped with a smile on his face and knocked on the door.
"Mai, may I please come in?" He asked her.
"What do you want." She opened the door plainly saying that.
"I want to discuss our engagement, wondering if your parents agree to it." he frowned at her. She wanted to slam the door on his face. But looked down at her feet then showed him into the house.
"Thank you, Mai." He sounded nervous. But sighed as he safely walked into the house. He turned around very quickly and kissed Mai. She didn't push him away, but laced her arm around his inner triceps to his back and kissed back. "I forgive you." She glared at him through her bangs.
He smiled at her and saw her parents walking through the large entrance. I should be forgiving you, Mai. He thought before saying anything to her parent. "Evening." Zuko bowed and greeted them. While Mai bowed also to her parents. "What do we owe the pleasure to seeing you, Fire Lord?" Her father smiled at Zuko. This was new to him, he just smiled and came up from his bow.
"Come come sit down, Milord." Mai's mother told them all has the table was prepared for afternoon tea.
"I have enough for all of us." She closed her eyes and bowed to him showing him the seat he could use.
Mai led him to the seat and sat next to him. From under the table laced her fingers around Zuko's finger for hope.
Mai's mother was in the kitchen gathering the hot water. She came in before Zuko breathed a couple of breathes before talking again. "Well?" He coughed slightly. Zuko watched everyone seated now and looked over at Mai. She looked at him and gave him a plain stare. When he needed her most she was giving him her usual bored stares. "Well I was going to ask you for the permission to take your daughter's hand in marriage." He said closing his eyes, focusing on the words. Mai's mother yelped for joy and her father silenced her by putting his hand on her lap. "Darling, calm down." His words were cold to her. She nodded and looked at Zuko now.
"You do, don't you?" he questioned him and shook his head. "Yes sir I do." He brought his head back a little, feeling nervous. Mai looked at her parents and blushed lightly.
"Well Fire Lord we accept your asking." Her father let out. Proudly he lightly slapped his shoulder blade and gave him a small cup of tea. "cheers?" He smiled at them all. Mai lazily brought her cup out to the center of the table and joined in with everyone. They all sipped their tea lightly and set it on the table because it was to hot to heave down in one gulp. Mai's parents were talking to each other before and toned out Mai and Zuko.
Zuko faced Mai and put his head near her ear. "Did you get sick this morning?" he asked her. She nodded lightly at him and he felt his brain freeze. But he brushed his finger tips through her black long hair and smiled. "We're getting married." Zuko said to her. She smiled at him slightly and quickly turned her expression to a frown.
"Well My Fire Lord, we should let you get back to your work." Her father announced. Zuko nodded and stood up. "Thank you deeply Sir." Zuko bowed. Before leaving the table. Mai stood up also and followed Zuko.
"Zuko?" Mai said to him. She was right behind him and followed him outside the home. Where they got some privacy now. "Yes." Zuko looked at her with soft eyes. His golden eyes focused on her abdomen for a moment. Wandering back to her face he blushed. "I-ah." She stuttered for the first time in her life.
"I love you." She looked at him now and wondered if he was going to say it. "I don't hate you." He smiled at her and walked all the way to the end of the walk way. She nodded and waved at him. He stared at the knife still in the door and pricked it off the door and threw it over his shoulder and didn't even look back. He walked back to his home. Allowing Mai to stare at him walking away.
She felt two tears slide down her cheeks as she saw him walk away. She drew her brows together and sighed loudly. Opening the door she paced slowly back to her room. Not showing her emotion again. She wrote a letter to Ty Lee back at Kyoshi Island.
To Ty Lee,
I got your letter the other day. And I have to say it was way too long for my comfort. I don't admit this a lot, but I am sad to not have an active life anymore. I miss you, my friend. I did read all seven letters, and they made me sigh in content. Wish you would come back, I am deathly bored. Oh. Remember in my last letter I told you I was sick. Well I guess I was so bored here Zuko and I made a child. Just kidding. Man my humor stinks. Who cares…Well You were right, I am pregnant. But I have been bleeding a lot. I haven't told anyone, but you. I think I'll be taking a trip to see you very soon. I'm so bored here.
Mai,
Ps: Zuko and I are to wed.
She sighed after writing her small letter to her best friend. She wrapped the paper and put the one piece into the hawk's pouch. She tied the cap on safely and told the hawk the direction. "To Kyoshi Island." She said and the bird of prey took off from it's post. She felt bored again. Sighing, she laid down on her bed. She looked at the ceiling and put her hands on her stomach. "I am pregnant." She moaned. She didn't want to mention this to anyone just yet. She sighed again and didn't think anymore.
Maybe this is why Mai was so bored. She didn't think about anything good. She was intelligent, just wasted her life on being a unspoken well-behaved lady. She wrapped the thin silk crimson covers around her and placed her head on a cylinder shaped pillow. Mai dreamed about living in the palace. Working with Zuko. But her time with him slipped away as she was forced away by Lo and Lee. She then felt a nightmare come to her thoughts. Her body was being drowned by a red fluid.
She woke up in a cold sweat and looked at her bed. The sun was setting as Mai woke up. She felt the bed and with wide eyes. She quickly moved to the bath room. She took her clothes off and took a shower. Rinsing the blood off of her thighs. She just stood there letting the water bathe her clean. She ordered the maids to change her covers as she took her shower. But she stood motionless at the brown stone that made up her shower room. "Bleeding, what does it mean?" She questioned her very body. Only thinking a bad thing was going to come to Mai's child. She blinked and regained herself. She walked out of the room to find the stains gone and sighed again. She placed a thin robe around her body and wrapped her usual bondage upon her breasts and lower private place. Mai looked at herself in the mirror from her bath room. "Gr. " She growled as she closed her robe again and walked into her room. Staring at the plain walls. But glanced at her picture that Zuko and her had drawn from them. The still life of them in black and white. She smiled at the piece of art and placed a hand on it.
"Zuko." She said silently. Will he still marry me, if we do not have a child together? She thought. She then glared at the wall and sighed. Mai didn't want to think about it anymore. She put a night gown on and kept her robe on She felt her necklace on from last night. She blinked at it in the thought. She smiled again. Then fixed a glare to an opening door. "Knock knock?" Her mother smiled to her. "Yes mother?" She looked at her put her hair down after combing it. "I came in to check on you, and Zuko is here." She smiled with closed eyes now. Mai looked at the sun dial. She couldn't tell the time anymore because it was night time. "I'm fine." She scoffed at thought that Zuko was here. But her heart did truly skip a beat. Her mother smiled again and waved her to come out. "Fine." She decided walking over to her mother and out the door. She found Zuko in there front room just sitting down with Tom Tom. He smiled at Mai as he saw her come down the stairwell with her mother. "Evening again, Mai." He bowed now. Her mother smiled and pushed Mai into the room and picked her child up down. "It's time I be going. Mai's brother needs his sleep." She sounded fake. She got the picture and knew her mother was going to give her some privacy with him. She nodded towards her mother and walked up to Zuko. "So why did you come?" She said to him coldly.
Zuko stood up and bowed at her a bit. "I wanted to tell you that you are to get your possessions and come with me." He smirked. She blinked at him and her heart rapidly sped up. "What, did my parents agree to this?" She looked at him firmly.
"Of course, I asked them before I asked your mother to bring you down." He smiled again.
Zuko played a card of fate on the table. He now looked at her plain expression and wondered what she was thinking. "Mai?" He asked her. She looked at him and did not any thing. I should tell him…She thought. But her eyes shifted to the ground.
"I can't carry all my clothes." She muttered to him plainly. He smiled and walked up to her holding her hands now. "Now, Mai I'll have servants get them tomorrow." he told her.
She looked at him and blushed lightly. "I don't suppose you are here to sweep me off my feet?" She brought a brow up and smirked lightly.
"Actually?" He smiled bringing her outside and wrapping his arms around her sweeping her off her feet and spinning her a bit. "ZUKO!" She yelled and pushed herself away from him. "Argh." She coughed and ran over to the pond and felt very nauseous. She threw her dinner up and coughed a bit. He walked by her side and began to say sorry. "I'm sorry, I just thought girls like that sort of thing." He apologized to her. She coughed again and wiped her lips briefly. "Only stupid girls do." She scolded him. "I have my own two feet." She muttered towards him. "Mai." He whispered to her. Worried now seeing her bleeding. "What?" She winced looking down gazing at what he was gazing at. "Emm." Mai sighed and closed her eyes. "I-I have been bleeding." she told him. "Mai. You shouldn't be moving so much." Zuko scolded her now.
She didn't bleed a lot this time, just a trickle. But enough to worry him. And herself. She didn't bleed this much in one day. "Carry me?" She stood up now looked at him. "Yes I will." Zuko admitted. He walked up to her and placed a hand on her knees and put thee other on her middle back. "I don't hate you." She muttered into his chest. He smiled lightly and carried her to their home now.
As he walked the rest of the way with Mai in his arms, bridal style. He felt she was a bit weak.
"I'm clearing my schedule tomorrow and take you to the palace doctor." He told her firmly. She was far too tired to disagree. But she nodded not objecting to him. She was fighting for her life. Losing blood like earlier, was a bad sign. But she was also fighting for her freedom.
Zuko laid her in his bed and watched her every movement while she was asleep now. Zuko only thought about how ill Mai could be. He thought lightly that she may be losing the child in her. He heard about this, hemorrhaging. Zuko caressed her cheek in the moonlight. He narrowed his eyes to look away from her. Then he thought a bit more and sighed. Falling upon the bed lightly, not to wake Mai. "Mai." He said her name. Just losing his thoughts in the night. Zuko now was taken by sleep again. Mai shifted in her sleep and woke up to find Zuko right next to her. She smiled gently and felt sorrow for their relationship. Mai now stood up and walked over to Zuko. Putting the rich thick blanket on his body and laid his head on a pillow. She kept a serious expression on her face and went over to the opposite side again. She tried to rest now on the other side of her fiancée. She looked at him sleeping. He was very touch in his sleep. His hair fell against his forehead. Covering some of his scar. She brushed the hair away from his scar and felt the warmth from his body.
"We're so young." She said. But she decided it was meant to be. She rested her head into the pillow next to her Fire Lord and fell asleep.
In the morning, turtle ducks quacked in the pond. Zuko found himself embracing Mai in his sleep. He now unwrapped his arms from around her and smiled at her sleeping. He was embarrassed but lifted the sheets up and check upon her mishaps. She shifted away from his because she was cold now. But he didn't find any more bleeding in his bed. He would hate that, but he knew Mai didn't have control of it. Zuko stood up and went into his royal closet and searched through many rows. Finding one that he choose. It was the same as usual. It would make Mai laugh to think he didn't have anything different. The difference was the trim on the double shoulder patting that spiked out at the end was golden instead of dark red. He then brushed his hair into a ponytail and set the golden hoop in it. Setting the golden flame in his hair cuff he was Fire Lord again. He smirked lightly at himself as he seen Mai raising in their bed. "Morning Mai." He smiled at her. She had a bed head and yawned lightly. But of course, Mai didn't care what she looked like first thing in the morning.
She was usually first to see herself and didn't mind herself. "Morning." She pouted her lips and crossed her arms seeing he was ready for a full day ahead of himself. "Going to work?" She said piercingly to him. But she forget that Zuko cleared his schedule for her today.
Zuko looked at her and tilted his head. "No, I plan to escort you to the doctors today." He sighed at her.
Mai looked at her and blinked again. "Oh." She blushed and looked away. Frowning now that she could have forgotten something as important as that. Zuko came by her side and sat on the edge. He just put his hand on her cheek and brought her face over to his lip to kiss hers. Lips pressed against his firmly. She released from his lip lock and shuttered lightly. "But I have nothing to wear." She said plainly.
He smiled at her and stood up then gave her his hand. "Just wear your robe tightened and I'll cover you most of the way." He nodded towards her. Zuko slowly forced her up and walked with her lightly. Thinking she would be in pain from the bleeding. She felt normal and walking slow bored her. She kept a frown on her face the entire time. Zuko ignored her pungent look and made his way to the infirmary. She was placed on a velvet patter bench. Waiting for the doctors to see her. It's not like anyone in the palace got hurt everyday. She was growing horribly bored now that she was being placed second again. Zuko walked into the quarters and startled the doctors and nurses. They were playing Pai Sho. He grunted at them and they messed up their game. "Milord!!" They exclaimed. The nurses blushed and rushed to a bowing position. "Yes well, I need your assistance." Zuko said to them, walking outside of the room and into the hallway. The group of medical workers followed him and exhaled loudly as they witnessed Mai on the bench being bored. She looked at them and sighed. What now? She thought.
All the doctors examined her gently and looked at the Fire Lord. "Milord, what is it you need our help with?" One doctor asked. He crossed his arms and flared his nostrils.
"I am bleeding." Mai just said. Ending what ever feeling Zuko was holding. The doctor walked over to a shelf with many scrolls and looked up a scroll with the branding of a B. "Tsk tsk, darling. Nurses get this young lady in a white robe to be able to examine her firmly." The other said to the two other nurses. They nodded and walked over to Mai and smiled at her. She gave them both a grave stare, as if saying if you touch me I'll hurt you with my throwing knives. "Mai go with them." Zuko said sternly to her. Mai got up and walked plainly to the changing curtains. The one brown haired nurse gave her a white robe to put on.
Mai grunted and looked at the simple see through robe. "What have I gotten myself into?" She muttered under her breathe. One doctor just kept a goofy grin on his face and looked Zuko. "So Fire Lord, what is this girl's status to you?" He injected to him. Mai listened to him and cocked her brow, wandering why a poor doctor would interrogate his lord.
Zuko merely looked at him and closed his eyes to answer him. "She is my Fire Lady." he spoke seriously. Mai put her hand on her chest and looked through the curtains now. She was ready to be looked at by the doctors. "I'm ready." She said bored like. The nurse helped her get onto the healing table. It was a cold marble stone which was held to have magical powers. But it was just mythical to Mai. She did not believe in anything. Much to her concern she should have some hope, if she would like to save her child.
The doctor smirked at the new Fire Lord and nodded his head. Zuko looked at him strangely and kept his eye on this doctor. "Now milady please remain calm." he chuckled. The other doctor was still looking for that scroll. He throw certain scrolls and went through corners of the shelf that hadn't been touched in decades.
Zuko was starting to think he was old and going crazy. He placed his eyes on the B branded scroll and bent down to pick it up. "Is this what your looking for?" Zuko told him. Then watched the crazy doctor come his way and pick it up. "Yes yes thank you Fire Lord." he said happily. He opened the scroll and gazed into it. Reading down the papyrus. His bony finger scratched through some few details and drawings of a females body. "Well let's begin." The doctor said as he was now examining Mai.
She closed her eyes and held her hands into fists. He brought his two hands out firmly and shot a couple of streaks of fire into each hand.
Zuko gulped and wanted to stop them but remained silence. Mai felt the heat against her skin and her forehead started to form sweat from it. "Breathe coolly child." he said softly. Mai breathed through her nose and opened her eyes a bit to look at Zuko. He came by her side and held her hand. The doctor was merely testing his fire bending and now brought his hands to her abdomen. He used heat to sonar on the problem in her body. Sensing all the heat and locating her organs. He brought his tips to her lower stomach and started to question his bending. "This is not a organ." He exclaimed to himself.
Of course, Mai and Zuko knew she was pregnant but the doctors did not. He looked at Zuko and smiled. "Your problem is this woman is with child." he grunted into a laugh. Happy Zuko guessed, but they knew that. "Oh really, Mai would you know your pregnant." Zuko looked at her laughing a bit. She grunted and hit his side.
"A fierce one, I see." The doctor smiled. Then continued to find the bleeding. He needed Mai to spread her legs for him to examine her. But she was shy at that. She kept them closed for her own dignity. Zuko pleaded her to open them for a moments time. "Please Mai." He looked at him with his normal emotional expression. Mai finally opened them and squirmed in her new position. "I see the seed is located in the certain tube in her body." The doctor said.
"The bleeding is from the clog in her tubes. Where the eggs are located." A doctor with a scroll muttered now. "The seed usually floats to a woman's womb and is developed there." he said. Rolling the scroll back up. "Our data only goes so far." he said gravely. Then looked at the couple. "The doctor examining took his hand away from Mai and sighed. "We would recommend you have bed rest for two weeks. After that we will examine you again and tell if the seed is safely in your womb." he smiled at her. Zuko smiled lightly trying to trust the crew of medics. "So is this your child, Fire Lord?" The doctor cocked a brow to Zuko. He grunted and looked away. Finding it annoying that they would think otherwise. "Of course it's my child." He confessed to them. But he exploded into a fit and pointed his fist at each doctor and nurses. "Do not tell anyone about this, I plead you." he said angrily. The nurses and doctors smiled at him.
"Of course Fire Lord, we understand." The head doctor smiled. The nurses bowed their heads. Mai got off the stone table and put her red silk robe back on. Mai walked over to Zuko side and nodded her head to them. They smiled at her and bowed also. "Take care Fire Lord and Milady." They ended.
Zuko took Mai's hand and led her out of the infirmary. "Well this is going to be boring." She sighed. After awhile of walking Zuko placed his arms on Mai's shoulders and hugged her. "Zuko." She muttered into his ear and lowered her brows. Get a grip. She thought. But Zuko did get a grip and it was on her. He hugged her tightly now and she just listened to his breathing. He let go of her and smiled at her. Like she could feel tears swelling in his eyes. Mai kissed him now and looked into his eyes a bit.
"You heard the doctor." he grunted now to her. She glared at him now and watched him open the door for her. She could get used to the affection Zuko was giving, by doing anything for her. But she was already used to it. So she sighed. Walking into the room he followed her now. "Get in that bed and rest." Zuko said to her.
She blinked at him and leaned against the bed with her arms crossed.
"I'm not if it's going to be boring and lonely." She retorted to him. But he picked her up and gently put her in bed. She kissed him and put her hand on his cheek and stared into his eyes. Trying to convince him to let her attend the rest of the day by his side. "No Mai.." he breathed into her lips and kissed her again. She blushed at him his hands wandering around her body. Then gently placed firmly on her breast and he leaned over her. He closed his eyes and gained control of himself. He placed a kiss on her forehead and crawled his way out of their bed. She grunted and lowered her eyes into her bangs and beamed a look at him. Unregretful. She sighed as she saw him leave the large quarters. It entirely took him a minute to leave the room. She lowered her brows together and had a pouting lower lip. "Great, what do I do now?" She sighed. TWO WEEKS!! She screamed in her mind and grabbed the sheets and dove into the fluffy pillows.
Alas to the next chapter.
