Zhao stood on the landing shouting out orders as his men hurried to finish the last of the packing. Ty Lee stood next to him silent and grave watching with those haunting grey eyes of hers. He was stupid enough to glance at her and for a fleeting moment he saw golden eyes holding contempt and uncontrolled anger. Blinking in surprise his vision cleared to see Ty Lee's eye instead and smell the apple blossoms drifted in the air around causing him to lose focus on what he was trying to accomplish. Finally the last of the equipment was loaded and there was the awkward silence where his crew waited for him by the vessel and his young wife stood there next to him.
"You're leaving then." Ty Lee commented in a low voice.
For some reason the tone of her voice and her question irritated him and he turned around scowling down at her. It was like she had asked that question before a long time ago and he had probably responded the same way as he did back then.
"What do you expect me to do stay by your side and hide?" Zhao accused in an irritated voice.
Her grey eyes widened at his words than narrowed until he thought for a moment he was looking into the eyes of a she wolf then the eyes of his wife.
"What?" Zhao finally growled out.
"I am not staying back and hiding." Ty Lee snapped.
"I never said you were." Zhao argued back.
"You certainly implied it." Ty Lee hissed back.
"I did no such thing." Zhao snarled.
"You certainly did, I have been fighting just as hard as you have been, and I would gladly go with you if you would let me." Ty Lee replied.
"Absolutely not!" Zhao replied firmly now he defiantly remembered her offering to go with him before. "After I heard you went trailing off with the Fire Nation's princess to who knows where, when I specifically said you were to return back to the Fire Nation and wait for me."
"So you do remember!" Ty Lee accused. "Then you also remember that you never came for me like you said you would."
"That is beside the point." Zhao seethed out between clenched teeth.
"It is very much the point." Ty Lee snapped back.
"We will discuss this later." Zhao said in a firm voice.
"That is if there is a later." Ty Lee retorted.
"Are you suggesting I am going to get myself killed?" Zhao asked his voice lighter than before.
"I never said that." Ty Lee snapped back quickly.
"No but you implied it." Zhao whispered in a low voice mischievous.
Ty Lee suddenly noticed the twinkle in his eye and the way his lips twitched. Zhao was teasing her again, with a bright smile Ty Lee threw her arms around her husband.
"Please don't forget to send for me when you get back!" Ty Lee whispered against his chest.
"I won't." Zhao whispered against her hair.
Zhao held her a little longer before he let his young wife go, vowing it would be the last time he left her. Ty Lee waved goodbye as Zhao stepped into the zeppelin.
"That looked like a heated conversation." Mai's voice was mono tone.
Ty Lee smiled as she looked at Mai. "No it was a very good conversation."
Mai shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of the apple she had in her hand.
"So what are we supposed to do?" Ty Lee asked. "Is your Father going to lead an army to the capital against the Fire Lord?"
"Certainly not." Mai said with wide eyes. "We have done our part it's up to your husband, Zuko, and the others."
"I don't feel we did anything to help." Ty Lee said. "I mean we were on the other side until a week ago."
"That's true, but we did free Zuko." Mai replied as she gazed at her apple. "That should count for something."
"Correction, you saved Zuko not me." Ty Lee whispered.
"Yes but you saved me." Mai replied with a simple shrug as she took another bite.
"Are you saying…." Ty Lee began than broke off.
"What I am saying is that I owe you my life Ty Lee and all I can give you is my gratitude and promise that if you ever need help I will do anything in my power to help you." Mai replied as she tossed her apple over her shoulder and looked at Ty Lee.
Ty Lee's eyes misted over as she threw her arms around Mai and hugged her. Mai stifled a sigh and gently patted Ty Lee on the back.
"So for the time being I am stuck here in this awful city again." Mai muttered.
Ty Lee laughed as she broke away from Mai. "Well at least this time you have me to keep you company."
Mai gave a rare smile as she linked arms with Ty Lee; the two began a leisurely stroll down the path from the landing. "That is true, you always make things interesting. Since my Father is the Governor of the city his family receives quite a few perks, I never took advantage of them last time I was here, but it might be fun to try a few."
"I'm listening." Ty Lee replied with a grin.
"Well let's see. There is cliff diving off Mt. Oma just outside the city. At the bottom of the Mountain there is the lake that King Bumi made just for himself, it's quite pretty. Or we could go prairie cat hunting, Father just received two hawks from King Bumi one for me and one for Tom Tom, but I am sure you can use it."
"That sounds like fun remember when we first learned how to use the hawks?" Ty Lee asked with a found smile.
"Yes, as I recall you wanted to just keep it as a pet, mine wouldn't leave my arm, Zuko's hawk attacked him, and Azula's hawk caught the most." Mai replied.
"Remember the time we snuck into Miss Lillies Spa house to spy on our Mothers?" Ty Lee said enthusiastically.
"That was a waste of time we didn't learn anything." Mai replied.
"Yes we did, we learned of your engagement to Zuko." Ty Lee said with a laugh.
"We should never have done that it made everything incredible awkward around Zuko." Mai muttered darkly.
"Like the time you fell into his lap?" Ty Lee said in a teasing voice.
"I did not do that on purpose." Mai snapped back.
"No but I am sure you didn't mind it." Ty Lee giggled.
"Really, how about the time you dared Zuko to kiss you and he refused you. Were you jealous?" Mai asked.
"Of course not, I was very pleased that Zuko was showing such loyalty to you." Ty Lee replied with a smile.
"What did you ask Zhao before he left?" Mai asked suddenly changing the subject.
"I asked him to send for me when he got home." Ty Lee looked down.
"I have a feeling he will Ty Lee you have nothing to worry about." Mai said simply.
"And neither do you Mai, Zuko will take the throne and you'll be right there next to him." Ty Lee said with conviction in her voice.
Mai just smiled as they continued toward the house.