Chapter 35

Mai stepped into the cold bathwater, sighing as she rinsed off the sweat from her morning workout with the Kyoshi Warriors. It was still early—neither Zuko nor Kazuto would be awake. But with Zuko still on bedrest from his injuries, there was so much for her to do. She dunked her head beneath the freezing water and yelled, creating bubbles that floated to the top of the tub and popped. It was ironic that she had left her family four years ago to escape a life of politics, and here she was, the Firelady. Her lungs started to ache, but she stayed underwater, wishing she could somehow escape her responsibilities.

The Avatar and all the foreign leaders would leave in the afternoon, so she would hold a final luncheon and then see them off. Zuko had wanted to attend, but Sokka's sister had fiercely insisted that Zuko rest, and Mai agreed. Zuko was no use to her dead. Breaking the surface of the water, Mai gasped for air and blinked the icy water from her eyes. She didn't want to think about Zuko dead. Not when it was a such a likely possibility with the New Ozai Society still out there.

She washed quickly, savouring the mixed numbness and tingling from the freezing bath. In the Fire Nation, it was easy to have a heated bath, but she had always stubbornly insisted on cold water. As a girl, she had wanted to be accustomed to bathing in the cold in case she ever ran away from home. But now her morning bath was just a habit—one that Zuko never understood. He was always volunteering to heat the water for her. Smirking, Mai got out of the tub and grabbed a towel. Showoff firebenders.

After Mai arranged her hair and makeup, she set off for the nursery to wake up Kazuto. She didn't have to, of course, but she liked spending time with the boy. So often she found the world unspeakably dull, while Kazuto was always excited about everything. This was the only part of her day she was looking forward to.

Kazuto's wordless scream burst through the hallway. Instantly, Mai broke into a run, slipping her knives into her palms. If the New Ozai Society had come for him, she swore… Kazuto screamed again as she slammed the door of the nursery open, ready to fight.

Akira tossed Kazuto into the air, and the boy laughed hysterically when the older man caught him. "Again, Akira! Again!" It took a few seconds for Mai to process the scene, and Akira turned to look at her.

"Good morning, Mai!" said Akira cheerfully. "I was just saying good morning to my nephew before I head out." He smiled winningly, looking disconcertingly like Zuko when her husband was trying to be charming.

"I—good morning," said Mai stiffly, surreptitiously putting away her blades. She couldn't believe Zuko had given Akira free reign over the palace. Admitting Akira was his brother was one thing, but letting Akira near Kazuto? They had known Akira less than a month. This had gone too far.

"Mai!" said Kazuto from Akira's arms. Akira put Kazuto down and the child ran over to her, arms uplifted. Mai couldn't help but smile.

"Morning, Kazuto!" she said, sweeping him up. She narrowed her eyes at Akira over Kaz's shoulder before asking "Did you have a fun time playing with Akira?"

"Yes! And I'm hungry!" said Kazuto cheerfully. He widened his golden eyes. "Can I have miya tang?" Mai snorted. She guessed Zuko had been feeding Kaz his childhood favourite candy—caramel and sugar melted together in a bowl.

"Not for breakfast," said Mai sternly. Kazuto pouted.

"I should probably go," said Akira.

"Yes, you should," Mai snapped. Akira scowled and moved towards the door.

"Bye, Kaz!" he said, ruffling Kazuto's hair while Mai glared at him. She let the child down, and Kazuto scampered off to get a toy. Akira turned to leave.

"Wait—Akira!" said Mai. He stopped in the doorway, one arm braced against the frame.

"I don't want you coming near Kazuto alone," said Mai harshly.

"You'll have to talk to your husband about that," said Akira, taking a step closer, forcing Mai to crane her head upwards to maintain eye contact. "Because Zuko said I was welcome to spend as much time with Kaz as I want." He raised an eyebrow and half-smiled as if to say "And who are you to stop me?"

Mai fumed. How dare Zuko make that kind of call without consulting her?

"Zuko's a kind man," she growled into Akira's face. "A trusting person. But I'm not." She poked Akira in the chest, hard. "And don't think just because my husband likes you that I won't slit your throat in your sleep if I even suspect you're up to anything. So stay away from my family."

Akira smiled with his teeth but not his eyes. "It's our family now," he corrected. "And I take my orders from Zuko, not you."

"I'm his wife," spat Mai.

"And I'm his brother!" said Akira, shrugging and stepping back, finally. "Let's see who wins out." It was all Mai could do not to take out her knives and run him through right there. He grinned mockingly and left.

"Mai!" said Kazuto, running over to her again. "I'm hungry!"

"Okay, Kaz," said Mai distractedly, still staring at the place where Akira had been. "Let's go eat." And afterwards, she needed to have a word with her dear husband.

Zuko was reading over Aang's proposal for an exchange of diplomats when Mai burst into the room. Immediately, he could tell she was practically steaming with anger.

"Good morning," he said warily. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Mai laughed. "What's wrong is your brother."

Zuko thought about asking which one, but decided Mai wouldn't appreciate the snark. He put his papers aside and pushed back his chair from his desk slightly.

"I found Akira spending time with Kazuto this morning," said Mai. "Alone. How could you give him permission to be around Kaz without asking me?"

"I told you I accepted him into the family," Zuko said testily. "What did you think that meant?"

"Just because you've decided to trust him—for reasons I don't understand—does not give you the authority to make that decision for all of us," said Mai angrily, her cheeks flushed. Inappropriately, Zuko noticed how attractive she looked, even as his temper rose.

"I'm acting as Kazuto's father; I think I do have the authority to decide who he interacts with," Zuko snapped.

"And what am I?" retorted Mai. "Do I not get a say?" She exhaled, frustrated, and started pacing. "This is just like a few months ago, when you kept consulting Ozai and shutting me out." Zuko narrowed his eyes.

"What, so are you going to leave me again because you don't like the decisions I make?" he snapped without thinking.

Mai stopped in her tracks. "That was a low blow." The air in the room turned to ice.

"I'm sorry," said Zuko awkwardly.

"I don't think you are," said Mai, her eyes betraying her hurt. "And you're ignoring the point I'm trying to make." She bit her lip.

"I'm sorry," Zuko said again, standing slowly. "You're right. I should have asked you before I gave Akira permission to spend time with Kaz."

"If you are going to keep cutting me out, this is never going to work," said Mai bitterly. "You may be the Firelord, but I'm your wife."

"I know that!" said Zuko, stepping stiffly towards her. "From now on, we make all our decisions about our family together. And I'll make sure Kazuto is accompanied at all times, like you said."

"So you'll kick out Akira?" answered Mai mockingly. "Good, one problem dealt with."

Zuko sighed. "You know I won't do that. The only reason I didn't trust him was due to fear, and I don't want to kick him out because of cowardice."

"It's not cowardice, it's a normal amount of caution!" said Mai, throwing up her hands.

"If we continue to alienate Akira, he'll turn against us anyways!" answered Zuko hotly. "So I either kill him or bring him into the family!"

"Well maybe you should consider the first option," snarled Mai. Zuko blinked, shocked.

"You don't mean that," he said slowly.

Mai stuck out her chin defiantly. "Maybe I do," she said. She crossed her arms.

"What's really the matter, Mai?" asked Zuko. "I've apologized for not asking you. I've conceded that Akira won't be alone with Kaz. What's your problem?"

"My problem is that you are taking a risk by trusting someone you don't know!" yelled Mai.

"He's family!" answered Zuko, frustrated.

"And family always betrays you!" A tear escaped from the corner of Mai's eye. "Think about it, Zuko. When has your family ever been good news?"

Zuko felt like he had been punched in the stomach. "Azula sent us those soldiers—" he started.

"Oh, don't even start on Azula," said Mai, her eyes wild. "If we go there, we'll be here all day!"

"Family doesn't always betray you!" said Zuko, finally closing the distance between himself and Mai. "Think of Iroh. Or my mother, or Kazuto and Tom-Tom."

"My family betrayed me." Tears crept down Mai's face.

"Mai," said Zuko, tentatively touching her arm. She looked away and tried to conceal her red face, but didn't shake him off. "Mai, I know our families are messed up. But we have a chance to start something new. To build a family without betrayal and backstabbing." Mai let out a sob.

"I still don't trust Akira at all," she said, her whole body shaking. "And I'm afraid—so afraid—that everything will fall apart."

Zuko wrapped his arms around his wife, and she let him.

"My father and mother are in jail. Your father's probably trying to take back the throne and kill us all. How can we—how can we build something new when we have them as our examples?" Mai cr.

"Iroh says we are who we choose to be," said Zuko softly into Mai's hair.

"What does that even mean?" said Mai wetly, still sobbing into his shoulder. Zuko took a step back and took her face in both his hands.

"It means I chose you, and you chose me," he said firmly. "And we keep choosing to love, and not to be afraid. Things can change, Mai. I know it."

Mai sniffed, but something steely crept into her eyes. "That sounds like a good way to die while trying to be noble," she said doubtfully.

"Maybe we will die," said Zuko, still holding her face. He wiped away a tear and smirked. "But you're a fighter. We'll fight together." After a few seconds, Mai nodded, and let out a shaky breath.

"I'm still keeping an eye on Akira," she said.

"That's fine," said Zuko. "We'll watch him for as long as it takes." Mai nodded again, and breathed deeply.

"Akira was a real ass to me this morning," she huffed. Zuko shifted his hands from her face to her waist, and she wiped her eyes.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yeah. He's an arrogant bastard," said Mai. Something shifted in her eyes and she scowled up at Zuko. "Akira thinks he's so charming, that he can get whatever he wants with a smile. He even suggested that he has greater influence over you than I do." As she spoke, Mai stepped closer, running her fingers lightly over Zuko's collarbone, up his neck and over his lips.

"Did he?" said Zuko, somewhat breathlessly. Mai grabbed the back of his head, her lips meeting his neck angrily.

"Yes," she murmured, drawing out the 'sss' against his skin. She kissed up his neck to his jawline, and Zuko shuddered. "But I think he's wrong."

Zuko found he no longer possessed the capacity for speech.