Chapter Three
Suki, however, wasn't impressed. "So you let him distract you with sex," she said flatly, causing Mai to choke on her tea.
They were sitting in the Palace garden together, cross-legged, beside the turtle-duck pond. Further down, closer to the main yard, Zuko and Sokka sparred, punctuating the air with curses, crude insults, and the song of swinging swords.
Which was a good thing, considering Suki's blasé and less-than-amused observation.
Zuko had been Firelord for over two months. His first few days were spent with friends and family, while the remaining days were spent locating previously 'banished' citizens and councilmen and women and inviting them back to the Palace (including, Mai knew Zuko hoped, his mother – but so far there had been no sign of her). In between all of this, his time was spent re-writing treaties and working with Aang to ensure that no one was left as a prisoner of war.
This was the first real day that Zuko had to himself, and when Suki and Sokka called on them for a visit, he was so happy that he stuttered for an hour, relieved that they were there to just hang out and not discuss politics.
Even though he was glad for a break, he was still a good ruler. Even with his temper, he still managed to ease a lot of animosity between groups of former enemies. Mai was really proud of him, thrilled that she was able to watch it all, since he allowed her to attend the meetings (or had, for a while – for some reason after a few weeks he suddenly stopped inviting her along, but she didn't push it). At times he insisted on her presence, especially when it came to the rewriting of the treaty for Omashu since her parents were involved. Eventually, since she was already spending so much time at the Palace, he invited her to move in with him, and she said yes.
It had been a surprise, but it was also a relief; with her family back from Omashu and with how obvious it was that she was a different person than the one they had known, she had felt more like an outsider living there with them than ever before, and was glad to live with Zuko, instead.
That had been five weeks ago. Since then, there had been no talk of anything else – marriage, specifically – which also surprised her. While Zuko wasn't the most orthodox of Firelords, she had just assumed that, after a while, he would ask her. But not a word was said about it.
She confessed her worries about it with Suki, including the heated fight they had had that night in Ba Sing Se, which, in turn, had resulted in Suki's less-than-supportive comment.
Suki smirked in satisfaction at having her words cause such a reaction in Mai. Her sharp blue eyes pierced Mai's, and not for the first time Mai found herself thinking that although Suki was actually rather average-looking without her make-up, it was her eyes that usually made people stop to look at her, and it was her eyes that spoke volumes of her strength and extraordinance. They were unsettling and sharp, giving the uncanny impression that they were able to look deep into a person's soul when making eye contact. It unnerved Mai sometimes.
"I... did... not!" she protested, wiping her chin with her sleeve. "Honestly, it really felt like things were fine! But it's been weeks since I moved in and he hasn't said a word, so now I wonder..." She pressed her lips together, looking down into her mug.
Suki crossed her arms over her chest, chewing on her bottom lip in thought. From the corner of her eye she watched Sokka try to roundhouse-kick Zuko's head, only to yowl in sudden pain and hop around as he suffered a sudden pulled muscle instead. Zuko's mocking laughter made it much worse, especially when Sokka tripped and fell to the ground.
"You know," she said, her voice a trace absent. "Zuko used to tell me about you all the time, and one of the things he said was that you always took the lead, and that he both loved it and was grateful for it." Her eyes met Mai's again. "He's a dork, Mai," she said, rolling her eyes and gesturing to the two young men who were now slapping at each other and shouting obscenities. "He's probably waiting for you to bring it up."
"But... that's stupid. He was the one who asked me to move in with him. Why would he decide to leave the proposal to me? That's just dumb."
Suki laughed. "That's just Zuko," she replied, waving her hand at the man in question. Zuko had Sokka in a headlock and was yanking on his wolftail, and Sokka was screaming and trying to beat Zuko with the sheath of his sword.
Mai covered her face with her hands and groaned. Suki laughed again, full-bodied and unrestrained.
"Hey!" Sokka shouted, glaring at Suki from under Zuko's arms. "Stop laughing at me! I have him right where I want him!"
Zuko snorted and squeezed his arms around Sokka's neck, causing the younger man to make a strangled noise. Suki raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, you look really strong, there, tough guy."
"Just end his misery, Zuko," Mai advised, sounding bored.
"What?" Sokka spluttered out, but Zuko shot Mai a triumphant grin – and she found she couldn't suppress a responding grin of her own. What a dork, she thought affectionately, watching him make a show of releasing Sokka like he was dropping a sack of rice.
Suki applauded slowly, her face a mix of amusement and disgust. "Water Tribe," she quipped, drawing out the last word in a perfect impression of his voice. Sokka scowled at her from the ground.
Zuko held a hand out to him, and he took it. The older man pulled the younger to his feet, giving him a slap on his back and a smile. Sokka retaliated with a punch to the shoulder. Zuko slapped his back again, harder, only to get another punch.
And so it began again.
"Are you sure you even want to marry him?" Suki teased.
"Marriage?" Iroh blinked like a sparrow-owl, his eyes huge on his face. "Marry my nephew?"
Mai made a face, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. "You don't think it's a good idea?" she wondered, her hands tightening around her teacup.
Iroh grinned so wide that his eyes vanished into crescents. It was nice to see, actually; Mai's childhood memories of him were of a distant shadow of a man, saddened and shaken to the core by the loss of his son and his father in less than a month. Now, within his teashop in Ba Sing Se, he was practically glowing with his delight. The shadowy man was long gone.
"On the contrary, Mai. I think you would be a wonderful wife to my nephew. Already you act as if you are married to him," and here, to her embarrassment, he actually leered at her. She went bright red, both from shyness and happiness (but mostly shyness).
He went on, his face suddenly sombre with thought. "The thing is, Mai, that my nephew is something of... he's not very bright when it comes to women. He's like an ostrich-horse – stoic and hardworking, but easy to frighten. You would have to... be gentle, I suppose."
Mai cupped her chin in her hand, irritated. She knew he was right. "Suki suggested the same thing, that I'm the one to confront him. That's... so boring."
"Did you expect some kind of extravagant display of love from him?" Iroh wondered. She didn't miss the slight reprimand in his voice – nor did she miss the teasing. "Zuko is a simple, shy man."
"I'm shy, too," she protested.
"Ah, but when it comes to my nephew, you have the courage to speak, don't you?" When she blushed again, he chuckled. "Speak from the heart, and tell him what you want, Mai. It will make him see that he wants it, too."
"Make him?" Mai echoed doubtfully. "Sounds like I'm forcing him."
"Quite the opposite, actually – you're just opening his eyes."
Opening his eyes, Mai thought, her own eyes narrowed into slits. Or maybe I could just force them open with my knives.
"Zuko," she said slowly, her voice low with irritation.
He looked up briefly from whatever he was writing before looking back down again, his face a mix of confusion and frustration. "Mm," he replied distractedly. "Hi. Just give me a second."
She had, actually. She had been standing there for over twenty minutes, slowly getting madder and madder, feeling like a pot on an open flame. She had asked him if he had any paperwork that night, and he had said no. And now she found him with paperwork. It was enough to make her scream.
She had made an effort to look nice, dammit! She had pulled her hair into a formal topknot, wore dark green silk robes, and even showed a bit of skin around the neck and chest. All were signs that indicated that it was supposed to be a special night. All were signs that he missed!
"Zuko!" she hissed, unable to keep the fury from her voice.
"Yes, I know, I'm sorry," he answered in a low, completely toneless voice. "One of the treaties was rejected and I'm trying to renegotiate. It was completely unexpected."
Mai suddenly had to fight with herself. She was genuinely pissed off at him for ignoring her, but she was also incredibly curious about the treaty. Despite her irritation, she found herself joining him at his side, peering over and placing her hands on his shoulders, gently and absently kneading the knots out as she read over his shoulder. He sighed and leaned back, relieved.
Her eyes raked over the characters, unable to suppress her curiosity. Zuko shut his eyes tight, submitting to her ministrations as she read the proposal and took in the meaning of the words.
"'We want to be left alone, but we want funding,'" she read, her voice flat with disbelief. "'We want your support, but without your interference.'"
"Nrrrgh," was Zuko's reply to both her massaging and her words.
"Damn, that's ridiculous," Mai muttered. "They just want you to send bags of gold, and for what?" She leaned in closer. "Flowers?"
"Yeah," he grunted, leaning his head back. "They're botanists. Prettiest flowers in the Earth Kingdom. Very pretty."
"Stupid," Mai corrected. "Not worth it, Zuko. We can get flowers elsewhere. Reject their treaty and ask for a rewrite."
"This is the rewrite," he muttered, a slight whine escaping him. "The third one."
"Zuko," Mai leaned in close, her hands trailing down his back. He practically melted, a groan of relief escaping him so loud that she had to smile. "Reject it. They're toying with you, thinking you're an inexperienced teenager." She leaned in closer, unable to resist rubbing her cheek against his. "They didn't count on you being helped by me."
He reached up and touched her hair lightly. "That's true," he agreed softly, his eyes still closed, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Mai."
The words were so bare, so unforced and from the gut, that it instantly made her shy. "You'd do stupid things," she said, pulling her face away so that he wouldn't feel her sudden blush. It was annoying – how did he do that? How did he just worm his way into her blood and diffuse her anger with misplaced words?
He laughed, a quiet sound, his eyes opening and meeting hers. "Yeah, probably." He paused, looking surprised. "Why are you all dressed up? You look really pretty."
Mai hesitated. She didn't feel right, bringing up what seemed like such a frivolous topic now in comparison to peace treaties. "It's nothing. Would you like me to help you with the rewrite? All you had to do was ask, you know."
"I don't like bothering you," he admitted sheepishly.
"But it's boring otherwise," she chided gently, tugging his hair out of its topknot and combing it out with her fingers. This brought a purr out of him, which brought a giggle out of her.
"I'd love your help," he admitted finally.
"Want me to write the rejection letter?"
He nodded. "But be nice," he warned, grinning up at her.
"Mm..." she replied. "Can it wait until morning, do you think?" She knew it probably wasn't appropriate, but she couldn't help herself; when he melted like this, it was hard not to be affected by how adorable and sweet he acted. She just wanted to take the stress of the day away.
Slowly, Zuko reached for her, sliding his arms around her waist and dragging her down onto his lap. She smiled into his eyes, lopsided eyes that she adored. "It can wait until morning," he agreed against her lips, before he kissed her, holding her close, and she forgot about her anger.
"He distracted you with sex again," Suki burst out laughing, holding her sides and throwing her head back. "You coward!"
Mai's face burned. "He did not!" she protested. "I started it this time!"
Ty Lee leaned forward, her eyes huge. "I've always wanted to know, Mai," she said, her voice high with anticipation. She held out her hands. "How big is Zuko's-"
"Augh!" Mai covered her ears and shrieked, drowning out any possible end to that question. Suki's laughter intensified, now coupled with Ty Lee's, and she suddenly wished she had accepted Zuko's invitation to the Southern Air Temple instead of going to Kyoshi Island for a visit.
"Honestly!" Suki giggled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "The two of you are worse than Sokka and I ever could be."
Ty Lee grinned impishly. "Actually, remember when I caught you both in the closet -"
"No, I don't," Suki snapped, her smile vanishing.
Mai leaned closer, however, suddenly interested. "Oh?"
"Yup," Ty Lee replied. "The closet, the beach, the dojo -"
"We were wrestling!" Suki shouted, her face bright red.
Mai snorted. "So that's what they call it here?"
"Oh, come on!" Suki moaned, and both Ty Lee and Mai laughed at her.
"I'm not a coward," Mai said finally. "I just... he was so tired, you know? He's got a lot on his plate... maybe he just doesn't have time to get married right now."
"That's just stupid," Suki replied, getting Mai mad. Suki knew, but didn't care. She was tired of Mai balking on this, when it obviously meant so much to her. "Be a woman and get it over with, will you? I'm tired of Sokka pestering me about it."
Ty Lee nodded sagely. "It's inevitable," she agreed. "Might as well get it done while we're young."
Mai looked away, suddenly self-conscious. "Well, what if he says no?"
Both Suki and Ty Lee stared at her in disbelief. "He wouldn't," Ty Lee said with a chuckle, looking incredulous. "He loves you. He'd probably be so happy he would start crying or something."
Mai made a face, but Ty Lee was serious. "Zuko's like that, Mai. He's never afraid to show his feelings when he experiences them, and he's never afraid to be honest. He totally, totally adores you. It shows."
"It's pretty gross," Suki agreed.
"Meh," Mai answered flatly, but inside, she couldn't help but feel that her emotions were once again betraying her, and that deep down she hoped – yearned – for it to be true. "Whatever."
Both girls decided to let it rest, leading the discussion onto other things. They caught up; Suki and Mai discussed politics, Mai and Ty Lee discussed Azula, and Suki and Ty Lee told Mai about Kyoshi's new trading routes, resulting in a prosperous island, like it had been in its heyday.
It was soothing, being distracted by normal things. But she also wondered if Suki was right, and she really was a coward.
