"You know, this will come to pass."
Her words cut through the thick haze of his thoughts. When he turned to look up at her, he could see her face as nothing more than a silhouette against the window.
The shape of her lips moved again: "You worry too much."
"And you don't worry enough," he shot back.
At that, Mai turned her head. The jet blackness of her hair seemed to seep into the evening sky. Her demeanor was always calm and controlled, and even tonight she seemed oddly at ease.
"That's because there is nothing to worry about." She tilted her head to the side. "Why do you feel the need to dwell on this?"
Zuko didn't answer, only shook his head angrily. He squeezed his eyes shut, as if that would some how block out reality. It didn't. In agitation, he snarled and brought his fists down onto the couch, small flames dancing in the air.
"You wouldn't understand!" Zuko said, launching himself off the couch.
He went to the window, slumping up against the ledge broodingly. Mai studied him, her sharp eyes not missing a single word of his body language. After reading all she could, she sighed and drank another sip of her tea.
Steam curled around her and her hands warmed instantly at the touch.
"Thanks for making tea," she said dully.
From the sides of her eyes, she watched as Zuko seemed to pout even more. As if that was somehow possible.
Again, her voice cut through the thick haze of his thoughts once more. "Perhaps," she said, causing Zuko to stir, "it would help me understand if you would tell me what is worrying you."
For a split second, he considered telling her. Telling her about his fears, and his sense of shame. The shame of lying to everyone about the death of the Avatar, of the fact he might still be alive, anything… everything…
But then he cut those thoughts off.
"This is still about your honor, isn't it?" Mai asked, seeming to read his thoughts. She always managed to do that, somehow.
"Ya," Zuko returned, "I guess it is…"
"You really need to broaden your horizons."
Rising from her seat on the couch, she went over to him, laying her hands on his chest. Her eyes were set on him, unwavering, and Zuko suddenly felt uncomfortable under her gaze. He resisted the urge to shift around her.
"Ah! Zuko!" Mai said, and embraced him suddenly. Surprising him so that he stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do. Finally, he embraced her back.
With that, all his thoughts and worries just melted away, replaced by the very essence of her. The feel of her body, the smell of tea mixed with perfumes. The way she could comfort him, drag him out of his thoughts.
For now, everything was just her.
The only thing that could break the spell was the sound of snickering.
"You know what I am going to do?" Mai asked him, walking away, and taking her tea cup with her. Putting on her most innocent smile, she said, "One day, I'm going to get a cat. And I'm going to name it, 'Your Honor.'"
Zuko pouted.
"The only time you'll have to worry about Your Honor is when they've climbed a tree and can't get down."
His scowl turned bitter, and he was about to storm out of the house when Mai offered more to him.
"You know, if you ever need to talk, I'm here to listen."
Her sharp eyes had softened once more, and she offered him her most genuine concern. Still, Zuko eyed the door.
"Zuko," she said, and turned his face towards her. "There is more to you than your honor. I know you don't see it now, but I'm hoping that you will one day." She kissed him deeply, slipping her tongue into his mouth for a split second.
When they broke the kiss, he sighed and leaned up against her.
"Forget about your honor," Mai told him, ghosting her hands over his body. "Even if just for tonight, forget about it."