Why I Care

A/N: Okay...this time I made y'all wait. I've got exams next week, there's my excuse.

Disclaimer: (glass-shattering pitch) I DO NOT OWN AVATAR!!! (glass shattering) sound Oops...


"Zuko, she'll be okay, I promise," Katara said to him, trying so hard not to put her hand on his shoulder, thinking that Mai would take it the wrong way, when she was really just trying to make him stop pacing. "She'll be sore and weak for a long time, but she'll get over it. Remember Aang?"

Zuko stopped in mid-step, turning on his heel to face the waterbender. "Yeah, I remember."

"A few months ago, he could hardly move. Now look at him, it's like he was never hurt." She paused, then added, "You know, as long as you can't see his back."

"About that…"

"No, no, it's fine. If anything, it made him more determined to end the war."

It was quite for a minute and Zuko sighed.

"Why do you suddenly care?" she asked.

"I…I don't know. She appeared so helpless and I couldn't stand it, I guess."

Mai suddenly chipped in, sitting up straight in her chair, "But didn't you cause a lot of what happened to her?"

"Yes."

Silence fell, an awkward kind that made all three of them extremely uncomfortable because of what they'd said. Katara's eyes fell to the floor to avoid Zuko's, Zuko took a deep breath to avoid falling apart, and Mai played with her sleeve and focused on the detail of the vase beside her to avoid them both. The quiet in Azula's room seemed unbreakable, the only thing to be heard being Azula's breathing, now a little heavy like she was making up for the breath she lost. She was asleep, and they'd been whispering to make sure she stayed that way.

"I…um…I should probably go," Katara said to the floor. "It's getting late and I don't want to worry anyone since I've been gone so long." She looked up for barely a second and turned to the door, her soft footsteps echoing in the room before the door shut.

"Zuko…" Mai's words came in an extra-soft voice.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry I made you confess to having hurt Azula like that." Her dark eyes glanced up at him, and through the extensive make-up he could tell she ment it.

"It's fine, that's probably why I felt so bad anyway."

"I know, but in front of Katara…"

"Mai, don't worry about it." He smiled and walked up to her. "She probably knew that anyway. Besides, she's a sucker when it comes to troubled people."

She smiled. "Yeah, I suppose."

He held his hand out to her and she took it, standing. Mai wasn't standing too long before she dropped his hand and wrapped him in a hug.

"What'd I do?" Zuko asked, returning the hug.

"What didn't you do?"

It was quiet again for a minute and Mai placed her head against his shoulder. They were still all dirty and sticky from the fight, but it didn't matter to them; they were dirty and sticky together.

"Zuko? Mai?" Azula's weak voice said.

"Yeah, Azula?" Mai answered. They didn't move; Azula was pretty used to their relationship by now and Mai couldn't find it in her to let go.

"What time is it?"

"Really late," Zuko replied, his eyes looking to the window.

"Oh…"

"Why? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Zuko," her voiced seemed like she wanted to laugh. "I was wondering was all."

"Just go back to sleep, Azula. You need the rest."

And they never heard another word out of her the rest of the night.


A/N: Whoops...did I lose the drama? Erm...not completely, I guess. Part Four I promise after the exams I don't really study for! Oops again. There goes my excuse.