K: Knives

"I honestly don't understand your attraction to those knives, Mai," Azula said. Her small hands wrapped themselves around the trunk of an apple tree, caressing it softly as she gracefully danced around it. To someone that didn't know her, the eleven-year-old girl gave off the impression of an innocent, harmless soul. Mai, however, knew otherwise. "It's just metal."

"Well," the one year older girl replied dryly. "I don't get your attraction to fire either."

Half smiling, the princess snapped her tiny fingers in order to create an azure, hypnotizing flame. It danced on her palm and Mai found herself unable to draw her gaze away from the flickering blaze."Metal is cold. Weak. Fire on the other hand… it burns. It destroys. It has power."

The twelve-year-old girl forced herself to look away, disgusted by the malicious expression on Azula's face.

Ty Lee whirled into the garden, where the two young girls were sitting. Her braid followed her twirls cunningly, dancing to the beat of her humming in synchronization. "Enough, you two. Let's play something."

"Like what?" The eleven-year old princess inquired.

"Dunno," the brunette shrugged. "Hide and seek?"

Mai frowned. "Boring."

The acrobat giggled, finding the girl's expression fascinating. "Everything is boring for you, Mai."

"Well, I'm playing and so is Ty Lee," Azula declared, crossing her small arms in front of her chest. Her stance, despite her young age, was imposing and threatening. Had she not grown accustomed to it, the black-haired girl would have been scared from the princess's attitude. "You can sit here and admire your metallic toys. Unless you want to have fun for once."

The princess's words were meant to hurt her older friend but, in fact, Mai had hoped that Azula would respond to her this way. That was because she would much rather sit under the cool shade of the tree, watching the butterflies jump from flower to flower and training with her knives than having to play a pointless game as a way of favoring her two friends.

Knowing that Mai would not succumb to her demands, Azula scoffed and waved a hand dismissively. "Very well. You are allowed to sit here with your boring self, then. Dismissed."

Mai watched with satisfaction and relief as Azula and the acrobat left that section of the private gardens. Standing up, she clasped a shiny blade adoringly and took some steps behind, stopping only when she was satisfied with the distance. The tree was now standing imposingly over her, an immovable aim that was almost begging for her shuriken. Smirking, the raven-haired girl threw a pointy knife to the trunk and then another and another.

When practicing with her blades, Mai felt whole, as if she regained a piece of herself she had long lost. When holding the metal between her slender fingers, her arms felt complete.

Soon enough, the branches were filled with tiny slits, permanent marks indicating her successful she finally stopped, her breath was coming out in puffs and her bangs stuck on her face due to her minimal sweat.

"You really are good," a voice commented hesitantly, as she was placing her weapons back into their holsters.

Mai jumped and bowed her head, just as her mother had instructed her to do in the presence of royalty. "Prince Zuko. Forgive me, I didn't see you coming."

Zuko bent his head curiously to catch her eyes, which were covered by her thick tresses. "You don't have to do that every time, you know. It's not like I'm Azula or anything."

Mai nodded. Despite the close relationship she shared with the older boy, she always stiffened at his presence, in a good way. In a non-Azula way. Straightening up, she relaxed her stiff stance. "How long have you been standing there?"

The thirteen-year old prince shrugged. "Long enough," he muttered. "You're skilled with those blades. I was…uhh, fascinated." Scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment, the young boy blushed.

Running a hand through her rich bangs in an attempt to fix them, the young girl tried to control the blood bumping in her veins. Mai had never been one of those that cared for, or were influenced by, the opinion of the folk. Zuko's opinion, however, was one she treasured and longed to hear. His fascination provided her with immense pleasure and satisfaction."Thanks."

A few moments passed, with Zuko looking at the grass and Mai staying immobile like a statue. "Join me." Her raspy voice was almost lost in the light breeze.

"What?" Zuko's head snapped up, surprise clear in his ochre eyes. "You mean…training with you?"

Mai bit the inside of her cheek, secretly hoping he wouldn't refuse her. "If you want."

"Of course I do," he replied, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. Stretching out a hand, he gestured for her to go first.

A shuriken flashed in her hand, as he ignited a flame. Mai smiled; his flames were different than Azula's. They were warm, cozy, comforting, while hers fed from her hate.

Mai worshipped Zuko's fire just as much as she loved her knives.

The title may be Knives, but it's not the main topic of this drabble. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing.

One big thanks to my awesome beta, NinjaKick.

Check the poll on my profile and please, please review!

~Dora