Mai sat on her bed, numb. She couldn't get the image of Zuko walking away out of her head. She had loved him for so long; things had started to look up between them. He seemed to finally see her as she wanted him too; then there was this, but she could really blame him because he simply being Zuko. Still, she wanted someone to blame for her tears, for this pain. She needed someone to blame. She bit into her cheek to keep the tears she felt trying to rise in check. She knew that this was only the beginning. She would miss him even more tomorrow and probably everyday after. Suddenly, there was a rough knock on her door.
"Mai! Azula's here. She says it's time for your daily training!" Her father's voice drifted through the door. Mai blanched at the thought. She already had enough burn marks from when she was too slow. She walked down into the training room to see Azula stretching.
"Hi, Azula." Mai greeted monotonously before she began to stretch as well. She would more than likely hurt enough later on tonight; she didn't need to add cramps to it. Little did Azula know she was fighting with her composure. Zuko's banishment had somehow triggered something she didn't know it would have: she felt so much hatred for the girl she once considered her friend. Why? Because she knew she was delighting in her brother's absence.
"Hey Mai. Aren't you glad Zuko's gone?" Azula drawled. Mai knew that Azula was trying make her angry. Though there were no outward signs, it was working.
"Can we start training now?" Mai deadpanned. Azula blinked, truly disappointed that she didn't get the reaction she had wanted. She fell into stance while Mai did the same. As always, Azula struck first. Hot, blue fire rushed toward Mai; at the last second, Mai side stepped and, with deadly accuracy, threw her knife at Azula's chest. The Princess dodge it barely. It grazed her sleeve, tearing the fabric. Her eyes narrowed on her friend, daring her to smirk as Ty Lee would have, but her friend remained impassive. It pissed her off. Azula's jaw jumped. She channeled her anger into her bending, fully intending to put her friend down, but Mai was proving to be a challenge today. Mai had found someone to blame. Azula was not the only one channeling her rage into something productive.
Within an hour, Azula was pinning to the wall tightly. Shock overcame her as she stared at her friend. Anger and pride warred. Mai had finally gotten the best of her, but Mai had gotten the best of her. That wasn't supposed to happen. The only thing that cooled Azula's rage was that-like always-Mai was out of breathe and had minor burns.
"You've got better," Azula complimented. "Now get me down." Mai let her down and began to walk into her room. Her eyebrow twitched as she realized Azula was following her closely. Normally, she wouldn't protest Azula's company, but right now, she didn't want her anywhere around.
"Azula, it's late. You need to go home and I need to sleep," Mai shocked herself as well as Azula with her bravery.
"Alright. I'll see you later." Azula said with a cold edge to her voice. Mai walked into her room and shut the door; not even bothering to walk the princess out. There were more than enough servants to do that for her. Her only concerns were her burns and her emotional turmoil.
She hissed each time the gel hit her burns. Azula had gotten her a couple of good times; but still she was prideful that she had won in the end. Vaguely, she wondered if Zuko's eye must have felt like her leg and waist were feeling now. She shook her head. No, these were minor compared to his; his burn was going to leave a scar. She thought back to the look on his face when he walked down the boat. He had looked so forgone and angry; but he had been so strong, still proud even if the face of his banishment. He made her so proud. He had made her fall in love with him a little more. She rolled her lips together and swallowed against the tightness in her throat. One day, she would tell him. One day, she would be able to stand at his side and mirror his pride.
"I'm going to be worthy of you someday, Zuko," she promised, "Even if I have cross Azula trying." She knew the severity of her words; she knew the promise that hung in the air was damning. To be worthy of Zuko would mean betraying the Fire Nation, but if that was what she had to do then Fire Nation be damned. Zuko was all that mattered. This knowledge was her motivation.
