Author's Note: Sorry for the late update. There have been a lot of new things happening in my life. I lost a relationship of two years and all family members tied into said relationship, but also gained a new relationship. Okay, so pretty much there has been a lot of relationship shifting in my life. Also, I pretty much have zero interest in this story now, as it's been so long since I've written anything on it. (This chapter isn't something I wrote recently; it's been sitting on my computer for months and I haven't had the time or the interest to upload it). So, all in all, I'm sorry guys. Depending on what happens next, I may choose to continue the story… But it may take me some time and a lot of effort to get back into it… Thank you all so much for your support and patience, and please don't hate me. - Fira
Seven
Over the next few days, Maya became increasingly worried about Zuko. He was beginning to act strange, disappearing now and then without telling anyone where he was going or what he was doing. And when he would come back, his arms were full of baskets of food and strange items. Maya knew he was stealing them, and so did Uncle, but neither of them quite knew how to approach him about it.
Then one day, Maya found something hidden in the roots of a tree that she thought she'd never see again. It was the Blue Spirit mask from all those weeks ago, back before the incident at the North Pole. She'd found the thing by following Zuko as he walked away into the forest after delivering more stolen goods to the camp they had set up. When she caught up to him, he was kneeling down, reaching for something, and that was when she saw it, nestled almost invisibly beneath the mossy roots.
She didn't know exactly what Zuko's connection was to the mask, other than the fact that it used to be his mother's, and that she had had a dream about him wearing it while chasing the Avatar. It was all very confusing. She didn't even know how he still had it in the first place. When his ship had exploded that night when she'd first realized she really loved him, almost everything on the ship had been destroyed or lost at sea.
"Hello?"
Zuko's voice made Maya jump.
"What?" she asked, a bit dazed.
"I said, what do you want?" he repeated.
"Oh…" Maya shook herself, wondering how long she had been standing there watching him. "What are you doing with that thing?"
"What thing?" Zuko asked, immediately on the defensive.
"That mask. That Blue Spirit mask. I thought it was destroyed when…" She stopped, unable to continue. It still hurt to think about that night.
"Oh. Well, it wasn't, okay?"
"But how did you find it?"
"I don't know. It just… floated to the top of the water at some point and I picked it up along the way to the docks."
"But I don't remember you having it that night."
"Probably because you were too busy screaming my name and crying."
Maya flinched.
Zuko sighed. "Why did you want to know, anyways?"
"Have you been stealing things recently?" Maya blurted, afraid that if she stalled any longer, she wouldn't have the courage to ask.
"What?" Zuko said loudly.
Maya couldn't tell if he was being defensive again or if he was just confused at the sudden change of subject. So she didn't say anything, waiting for his brain to process her question on its own.
Eventually, he sort of squinted at her, as if wondering how she had figured it out.
She scoffed. "Oh, come on, Zuko. Uncle and I both know you've been stealing things. Our only question is – why?"
He turned away from her. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Too bad," she said stubbornly, crossing her arms. "Tell me why. You should know better than to steal, Zuko. You're not a little boy anymore, stealing candy from a shop."
"And you," he began, spinning to face her, "are not my mother."
Maya sighed. "I'm not trying to be your mother, Zuko. I'm trying to help you."
"Yeah, you and Uncle both," he said angrily. "Do me a favor. Stop trying to help me for once." Without waiting for a response, he turned and stalked away deeper into the woods.
Many hours later, when the sun had started its descent in the sky, Zuko came back to the campsite and sat down next to Maya. She stole a glance at him from the corner of her eye. He was looking at her. She slowly turned her head to return his gaze. He looked down for a moment, and then looked up at her again and gave her a small smile, opening his arm for her to lean against him.
She took a deep breath and sighed. She was still bothered about him stealing things, but she didn't feel like arguing again. So she bit her tongue and snuggled into his side. She couldn't help but smile a bit. It had taken some time, but Zuko was slowly growing accustomed to things like this. Giving hugs and the like. He was still weird about it sometimes, and Maya made sure to give him space if he needed it, but otherwise, he seemed almost normal about it.
Uncle chose that moment to come into their little cave. When he saw the tea set on the ground beside the fire, obviously something Zuko had gotten for him, he sighed. As he sat down, he picked up the lavishly decorated teapot and said, "Looks like you did some serious shopping. But where did you get the money?"
Zuko avoided the question. He shifted position slightly, which was the only cue Maya had to know that he was at least a little uncomfortable with the situation. "Do you like your new teapot?" he asked, trying to keep a smile in his voice.
Uncle closed his eyes, thinking for a moment. And then he said, "To be honest with you, the best tea tastes delicious whether it comes in a porcelain pot or a tin cup." He stood and walked over to Zuko, sitting down beside him. "I know we've had some difficult times lately," he said gently. "We've had to struggle just to get by. But it's nothing to be ashamed of." He put his hand on Zuko's shoulder encouragingly.
Zuko closed his eyes and looked down, pulling away from Maya.
"There is a simple honor in poverty," Uncle continued.
Zuko looked up, his brows furrowed. "There's no honor for me without the Avatar," he spat.
Maya sighed and put her head in her hands. She had really, really hoped that Zuko had gotten past trying to capture Aang. He hadn't even mentioned it in weeks. Why was he bringing it up now?
Uncle closed his eyes when Zuko said this, probably thinking the same thing Maya was. "Zuko," he said, sighing. He opened his eyes again and looked his nephew in the eye. "Even if you did capture the Avatar, I'm not so sure it would solve our problems. Not now."
"Then there is no hope at all."Zuko turned away from Uncle, trying to stand up. Sorrow distorted his features, his normally bright golden eyes dimming.
"No, Zuko!" Uncle said quickly, grabbing onto his shoulders to keep his nephew from walking away. "You must never give in to despair. Allow yourself to slip down that road, and you surrender to your lowest instincts."
Zuko lowered his head.
"In the darkest times," Uncle continued, "hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength."
Zuko turned to look at Uncle over his shoulder. They stared at one another for a long moment. And then Zuko stood and began walking away.
"Wait," Maya called quietly. "Please don't go."
He turned and looked at her as well, only for a moment or two, and then he turned again and disappeared into the night.
The next morning, Zuko came back to the cave. Maya smiled at him, glad that he was safe, but Zuko was not even looking at her. "Uncle," he said. "I've thought a lot about what you said."
Uncle, who had been bending over the fire to stoke it, stood and looked at Zuko over his shoulder. "You did? Good, good." He was smiling.
"It's helped me realize something," Zuko went on. "We no longer have anything to gain by traveling together."
Maya, who was eating breakfast, choked on her rice. She coughed and spluttered for a few seconds, and by the time she was done, Zuko had already grabbed his pack and begun walking away. Maya stood up quickly, the bowl of rice lying spilled and forgotten on the ground.
Zuko paused momentarily, not bothering to turn around. There was a long silence. "Are you coming?" he finally asked.
Maya smiled, and then she frowned. She looked at Uncle, and then at Zuko. There were only two options, but it felt like a million bees were buzzing around in her head, clouding her thoughts. She sat on her haunches, clutching at her head, and shook it softly. "I… I don't know."
"Go with him, Maya," Uncle said quietly.
Maya looked up in disbelief. "What?"
"Go," Uncle repeated. "I will be all right."
"Uncle…" Maya murmured, looking up into the old man's eyes. "But…"
"Trust me, Maya," he said gently. "Go."
Maya felt the sting of tears behind her eyes and rubbed them as she stood up. She went to Uncle and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back for a few seconds and then pushed her away gently.
Before she could change her mind, she tore away from him and ran to Zuko's side, keeping her eyes on the ground. He handed her a pack and they made their way out of the cave and down the forest path.
"Wait!" Uncle called.
Maya and Zuko turned. Maya was hoping he was going to try and convince Zuko that he was crazy and that they should all stay together, but that's not what happened. Uncle was leading the ostrich-horse to them. He handed the reigns to Zuko.
Without saying a word, Zuko took the reigns and then climbed up onto the creature's back, holding out his hand for Maya. Maya took one last glance at Uncle and then climbed up behind Zuko. The Fire Prince also took a last look at the old man, and then turned forward in his seat and urged the creature into a trot.
Maya forced herself not to look back, instead burying her face into Zuko's pack and wrapping her arms around him. She did not think she was doing the right thing, but what choice did she have? She knew Uncle could take care of himself, but she could not say the same for Zuko, who was so prone to letting his emotions run rampant. She squeezed him tighter, finally letting the tears flow. Although she knew that Zuko and Uncle would always have a stronger bond, she had begun to think of Uncle Iroh as a sort of surrogate father. He was the only one in her life who gave advice and free smiles. Now, for the first time in months, she was to be without a parent figure. And what if she and Zuko got into a fight? Uncle would not be there to break them up and make them calm down.
Maya shook her head. She was exhausting herself. In another few minutes, she had allowed the trotting of the ostrich-horse and her tiredness from crying to lull her into a fitful sleep.
