Later that day……………………………..

"Peace, my brother!"….. "Dude, totally. Peeeeeace!"….. " Oh yeeeeeah!!"

The Fire nation capitol was beside itself in pride over its newfound brotherly love. Almost everybody went around doing amusing, neighborly acts……hugging a tree, giving food to all the hungry, group therapy, free toys, singing sappy songs about peace and love. They were celebrating also. Parades, parties, song, drink…..lots of Drink.

In the Palace, there were two menservants. They were drinking. They were also arguing about some stupid thing or another. They were at the climax of their argument, getting ready to throw punches, when suddenly the first one looked at the second one and said,

"This ain't right!! Peace man! Remembur?" . The second one got tears in his eyes.

" Yo shur right….I sorry -hiccup-"

" Is alright -hiccup- Hug me brother!!" The two embraced, crying and hiccupping.

BANG.

" For the Love of Agni." Mai couldn't take it anymore, all this drunken sappiness.

Zuko came walking through the doors, and the two embracing drunken sots stood at attention. "Good afternoon, Mister Fire Lord, Sir!!" -hiccup-………-BURP-………Zuko grew visibly nervous and looked over at Mai "??"…..Mai rolled her eyes and dragged her boyfriend out of the vanity hall " Trust me, you don't want to know."

"SOOO." Mai drawled as they walked arm in arm through the grand hall. "Where are we going now?". She asked Zuko, as they turned a corner, heading toward the left wing of the palace. The left wing was wholly unused…..it was an newly finished part of the palace, repaired and refurnished after the damage caused to it in previous times. It was now occupied by the Avatar and his closest companions. Each member had their own room, bathroom, and so on. The rest of the Avatar's forces were stationed around the palace, in the nearby plains. They were also quite comfortably furnished, lots of food, good company, fine tents, warm fires…and bleh. " We are going to visit the Avatar!!". Zuko was about to knock on the door when, It opened.

Katara, the water bender, opened the door and stepped out. Her face lit up as she noticed Zuko." Hi Zuko!". he smiled warmly at her, " Hello Katara. Is Aang in his room? I'd really like to speak to him." "Of course, eh….but…Oh! Follow me, he's just outside". Katara giggled and grabbed his hand, she quickly reopened the door and half-dragged him inside. Mai followed them, annoyed. They went through the little hallway and out onto the porch which led to a gazebo, which led to the royal garden. Aang was there, conversing with the head of the Water Nation army. "Well, here we are!" Katara's hand lingered in the Fire Lord's, and she blushed.

"I'm sorry about what happened to your sister. Really." Again, he smiled warmly. Mai looked on, coolly observing that if Katara really was sorry, she would be respectfully wearing the colors of mourning. Not that cute little sarong-styled, sapphire-blue, outfit that played so well on her eyes and figure. Katara noticed Mai's quick look over. She grinned and said, "Oh. I bought it today…..do you think it looks nice? And Suki forced me to come with her to do my hair……how is it?"

'Hm. About time she talked to me. Her hair is….well, quite frankly, I think it sucks but…..'

Mai struggled with herself, she hated this kind of false flattery. She tried to smile. The attempt was pitiful. "Your hair looks…"…..pitiful….. She hid her face in Zuko's sleeve. "You're hair looks lovely". Mai's voice was muffled. Her boyfriend looked down affectionately. Katara was a bit confused. Mai regained her composure and tried another weak smile. 'Great. Half my dignity gone'

Katara resumed her light chatter with Zuko, and Mai resumed her cold analysis. She knew exactly what was happening. What was happening before her very eyes. The shy smile, the lowered eyelashes, the rosy blush. It was a perfect demonstration of HOW TO FLIRT WITH THE FIRE LORD. Zuko played along it seemed. Pretending to be innocent. Mai narrowed her eyes in disgust. She diverted her gaze and caught the gray eyes of someone else who was watching the scene. It was the Avatar. He motioned toward Katara & Zuko, and raised his eyebrows. Aang chuckled silently. He was not jealous or angry, as Mai would've expected. Instead, he smiled warmly at her and shrugged empathetically. The person whom he was talking to had left and he was now open to another person.

Mai sighed, "Zuko?". He turned toward her, "Hmmm?" "The Avatar's waiting." " Oh, yeah. Bye". "Bye, Zuko" Katara demurred. He smiled faintly and gave a nod, then he headed toward Aang, with Mai's arm looped through his. The Avatar smiled cheerfully again, " Hey Fire Lord Zuko!!" Zuko grinned, "Hello Avatar Aang." 'Hello Mai!. How are you!!" Mai smiled, "Good enough, thank you for asking." Aang gave a curt nod and adressed them both, " Back to the topic we were discussing at breakfast, I'm preparing to leave in a couple days." Zuko rubbed the bridge of his nose, "I still don't see why. Aang, I need you here. When you're here, my kingdom is happy, content. I don't want another riot." Aang patted him on the shoulder, "Well, you just have to be Fire Lord without me. there are three other nations that need me. I promise I'll spend my time among you guys evenly…….according to the seasons. Fire in the summer, Air in the fall, Water in the winter, and earth in the spring." Zuko cleared his throat, "Aang, what are you going to do about, well, your nation?" The Avatar looked away, "I don't know. I really don't want to be the last air bender…maybe there is some temple….or some person that knows……" He sighed.

And Mai looked on, silent. She felt a bit sad, and ignored. It seemed like she would always be that quiet little doll. Before as the daughter of a high ranking official, and now as the girlfriend of the Fire Lord. A pretty arm item, never to be taken seriously. Mai rolled her eyes. "Those jerks" she said, quietly.

But not quietly enough.

"Hmm?". Both boys turned toward her.

"Er, nothing. Just keep on talking." she said, sullenly. They looked at her, concerned. That irritated her even more. " I'm fine, really. I'm going inside to get ready for dinner, okay?"

They both nodded, Aang with a faint smile. Mai smiled back, surprising Zuko.

"I'll see you upstairs, I guess." Zuko said, venturing for her hand. She accepted the gesture, pulling him into a quick embrace. Looking over his shoulder, she saw Katara tilting her head. Mai slowly narrowed her eyes and gave the Fire Lord a kiss. Surprised, but not unpleased, he deepened it. They pulled away, Zuko blushing. The Avatar laughed and shook his head. He knew who that kiss was really for. Mai smirked subtly and left.

Walking through the Grand Hall, Mai sighed, 'When did the Avatar get so smart?'

She remembered the first time she encountered the Avatar. She remembered thinking that the twelve year old boy who stood in front of her couldn't possibly be the supposed savior of the world. It was a ridiculous idea. He was so young, and, and, slightly immature. He was too passive. Which, against the Fire Nation, against Azula, you could never be. He was naïve, always trusting in the supposed good in people. He was always pining after that water bender. Always. And wasn't he the coward who ran away for a hundred years? People everywhere had millions of complaints against him.

But now. But now…….. He was perfect.

He was everything.

He was wise, oh-so-wise. Strong, capable, smart, shrewd. He was still young, only 13! But he had the Wisdom and Knowledge of many, including his own. He was finally The Avatar, in name and in essence. Nobody could make a fool of him ever again. In Fight or in Love.

In Fight or in Love

She was walking away. Away from him. Her chestnut hair escaping from that silly azure ribbon.

She was only going to the grocery stall……but this was prophetic.

Her leaving him will be the Future. Is the Present. Has been the Past.

But will it always be like that?

Maybe someday he will have the strength to leave her for once…….

Who was he kidding. That 'someday' was to-day.

She did walk away from him, yes, but she turned back…didn't she! Always.

Always, always, always. It seems that when you were the salvager of the world you have some type of force that draws people in. And doesn't let them go. You draw them in to hate you. Or you draw them in…. in to love you.

For a time, she held the upper hand. She was more mature, physically and sometimes mentally. But he, now and forever, would be her superior. He was strong where she was weak. He was wise where she was foolish. He was the Avatar, master of all four elements, and a person who finally found the humility to separate from the human world. Whereas she was the water bender who finally found the humility to fall in love with the savior of the world……………………..

He twirled his flyer thing quickly between his fingers, and stared thoughtfully into the blur.

It was funny. Reeally funny. Finally, after so long, the world was in peace. After so long, Katara had kissed him. Not the other way around.

Finally she had decided that now was the time. Time for him and her.

Aang and Katara.

HA.

Author's note

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