Mai groaned deeply. Everything was kind of a blur to her. She remembered Azulas shit eating grin and how great it still felt to piss her off.
And then Zuko was there… He really came for her.
He was not the only one though. Ty Lee had come too! And others. They had put Mai on a stretcher and run out while Ty Lee had clutched her hand.
Soon after that the memories became way more blurry. Mai remembered a young child like voice and a bitter liquid being forced down her throat making her almost gag.
A cooling pair of hands that seemed to be glowing running up and down her body and somehow that made her muscles relax. That's finally when Mai just gave in and lost conscious for good.
That was until now…. Mai groaned deeply as her eyes twitched. Her entire body seemed to be aching and her stomach seemed to have tied itself into three different knots. On the same time she really felt like she might vomit at any second.
"Urggh…" Mai groaned deeply. She felt like total shit. Could she just go back to sleep?
"Mai…" A raspy voice suddenly sounded through her haze. "Mai. Can you hear me?"
The voice was kind… warm… Safe… and Mai groaned deeply. "Zuko?" she asked as she turned her head and finally dared to crack an eye open to see the blurry outline of a fire nation Prince.
"Oh Thank Agni." Zuko gasped deeply. Clearly relieved.
"Urghh…" Mai groaned as she laid back.
"How do you feel?" Zuko asked.
"Like crap." Mai replied without even thinking.
"Oh. Right. Katara said you might." Zuko swallowed. "You should drink something! Katara said that would help! Here let me help you sit up." he asked as he reached forward and supported Mais back helping her up into a sitting position and Mai groaned deeply.
As Mai sat trying to get her swimming head to settle down Zuko poured tea into a cup.
"Here! I hope you like it!" Zuko offered Mai the tea in a flush. "I… I didn't know what kind of tea you liked. And I don't even know what tea is best for poison or nausea. But I'm going to figure that out when I can! Uncle would know. I'm sorry."
Stunned Mai looked at Zuko who was holding out the tea in out stretched hands. His cheeks flushing as he looked down.
Damn why did he have to be this handsome? Seriously? His mere presence felt strong, assuring and warm. And now he had made her tea…. Was it legal to be this adorable?
"Erhm… Thank you." Mai swallowed as she accepted the tea trying to hide her own flush. And that's finally when Mai noticed. He big outer dress was gone. She was in her thin black under dress. Weapons had been removed.
Her hair had become undone and now fell freely down her back.
Mais eyes widened as it all occurred to her. She felt like crap, she had to look at it too! The nail polish on her nails was a complete mess. Her stupid face that had always been way to sharp and angular had to look even worse now. She was a walking stick as it was and now without the dress Zuko could see her bony shoulders. Looking sharp enough to stab someone. She had to be looking like total crap!
As all of this occurred to Mai her heart rate seemed to speed up as all of the heat raced to her face… Oh shit! Oh-shit-oh-shit-oh-shit.
"Mai!" Zuko gasped and then without warning his hand was gently pressed against Mais forehead. "You're really hot. I think you're running a fever."
Mais eyes widened and somehow even more blood seemed to be rushing to her face.
"I should go get Katara." Zuko said as he removed his hand. "Katara can use waterbending for healing." he then explained. "Don't worry. You can trust her! I know what the schools always taught about water tribe, that they are savages and all that. But trust me. I've travelled with these guys for months. What those school teaches is bullshit. You can trust them all right?"
Slowly Mai nodded as she was unable to say another word.
"Ty Lee is going to be so happy too. She was super worried." Zuko smiled kindly. "She's been sitting with you for most of the night. At last Katara just ordered that she get some sleep…. That's kind of why she isn't here now. We almost had to drag her out though."
That finally made Mai glance around and she blinked as she realized she was in a room made of grey stone. Laying in a bed. "Where… Are we?" she asked.
"Oh… The Western air temple." Zuko explained. "We needed a more permanent place to hide. And Aang remembered this place wasn't far from our location. Also literately the only way to get in here is by flying. So we should be pretty safe for now."
"Ah. Okay." Was all Mai managed to say and immediately she wanted to kick herself. Why was she such an idiot? And then Zuko nodded as he stood up.
"Try to relax." Was all Zuko said. "I'll get Ty Lee and Katara they'll be here in a moment." he promised and finally walked out leaving Mai feeling like the worlds biggest idiot.
As Zuko walked out the temple to get outside… Man he wanted kick his own ass! How come he was such a big idiot!
Finally Mai was awake and he had only managed to look like the worlds greatest dork! Like he always did. Dammit!
And suddenly Zuko was painfully aware of his unkempt hair. His scrawny build and that stupid scar that covered half his god damn face!
That Scar had stopped bothering him a while ago. But right now the awareness came back in full force and Zuko pulled down in his hair in a failed attempt to cover it up.
Why did he always stumble over his own words anyway?! Mai was the most badass woman on earth who just said things the way she saw it. And then she laid there, her long black shiny hair falling down her face and delicate shoulders. Looking as pretty as ever… Agni dammit.
"Zuko." Katara looked up from the fireplace where she, as usual, was on cooking duty.
Zukos face was flushing as he looked down. "Mai is awake." he mumbled. "I think she's having a fever though. Could you please…"
Katara nodded as she stood up. "Of course."
"MAI!" Ty Lee shouted as suddenly she jumped up from where she had been sleeping two seconds ago and then rushed right past them.
"Ty Lee!" Katara called as she ran after the girl. "Ty Lee wait! She can't over exert herself!" and they were both gone.
Zuko groaned deeply as he face palmed himself.
"You all right there buddy?" Sokka asked from where he was sitting fixing his boomerang.
Zuko halted as he looked at Sokka. Then swallowed. "So erhm. Sokka…" he hesitated. "You erh. You have a girlfriend right? Ho-How…" he tried to ask.
Sokka smirked. "Oh you want some girl advice?" he asked. "About time you asked! I am an expert!" he grinned as he stood up.
"NOOOO DON'T LISTEN TO HIM!" Aang suddenly shouted as he tackled Sokka sending them both to the ground. "Sokka gives terrible girl advice!"
"Oh yeah?" Sokka asked as he pushed Aang back and sat up. "Then explain to my why I have a girl friend and you don't!"
"Explain to me then. How come I tried to follow your advice and it was a total disaster!" Aang exclaimed.
"If it didn't work. It must have been because you weren't doing it right!" Sokka snorted.
"That's not true!" Aang gasped. "It was bad advice!"
"No it wasn't!" Sokka argued as he finally stood up. "Okay Zuko! To get a girls attention. You gotta let her know you are interested in her. But you can't be too interested. That'll come across as needy! Remember to act like a man around her! Girls aren't looking for girls, they are looking for men! Real men! Make some push ups! Show some biceps!"
Zuko blinked. "That… Doesn't sound like good advice."
"Make them laugh!" Sokka said. "Try telling her some jokes! Girls loves funny guys!"
"Erhmm." Zuko halted. "Well erh there was this joke my uncle told me. Erhm… There was a salesman and clams… Or maybe it was oysters. Yeah oysters. And a woman walked in and erh… Two for one pearls."
There was silence as they all looked at Zuko.
"That… That was the punchline." Zuko swallowed.
"Okay new plan. Do not tell jokes!" Sokka exclaimed. "What-ever you do! Do not try to tell her a joke!"
"Maybe Zuko should just be himself. And just treat her like a regular person like he treats everyone." Aang suggested.
"That's a stupid idea that never works." Sokka snorted. "I got it!" he held up a hand. "Get her some meat! Show her you are a great hunter and she wont have to go hungry with you in the house!"
"I don't think that…" Zuko tried.
"Work out in front of her! Show her how strong you are! Take off your shirt!" Sokka encouraged.
"What?! No!" Zuko covered himself with his arms in spite of being fully clothed all ready.
"Why not? You do it all the time when we train anyway." Sokka smirked.
"That's not the same!" Zuko exclaimed loudly. "I don't want her to see that I'm…" he swallowed. "A stick." he finally whispered.
That made both Sokka and Aang look at him.
"Wha-What?" Zuko asked.
"Zuko… You're made of bones and muscles." Sokka commented dryly. "If we were to train in the middle of a city we would have to keep all the girls away with a stick."
And Aang nodded.
"But I got… You know." Zuko swallowed then finally whispered. "Scars."
Sokka looked up at Zuko. "So… You're having a big scar on your face, which she's all ready seen and she seems to be fine with it. But you don't want her to see all the minor scars on your body?"
"You don't think the face scar is bad enough?" Zuko asked in a hiss.
Sokka shook his head. "Zuko. The scar on your left shoulder. Where is that from?"
"It's from when my ship got blown up by pirates and I barely survived by the skin of my teeth." Zuko said.
"And the scar there. On your torso." Sokka pointed.
"From when I battled this group of earth benders that was threatening a junior unit." Zuko replied.
"And that one." Sokka pointed.
"Duelled a sword master in exchange for supplies." Zuko said.
"You know what all of those stories are?" Sokka asked. "They are pure badass!" he said. "You got badass scars from badass situations!" he said. "And you're still standing! You're badass! So stand up straight. Take off your shirt and do some push ups where Mai can see it."
"Erhmm…. Kay." Zuko swallowed. "Thanks… I… I guess." he turned around. "I'm gonna make some more tea." he finally muttered heading for their supplies.
Aang blinked as he looked after Zuko. "You think he'll be all right?"
"Oh Zuko?" Sokka asked. "Yeah… He's totally screwed."
"Oh." Aang blinked. "Sokka…" he finally sighed.
"Yeah?" Sokka asked.
"You're the worst!"