From a distance, Zuko watched his sister trail the countryside of the Earth Kingdom. He should have known his sister would be following him and his uncle, he just didn't know she would come with company.
It had been ages since he had last seen Ty Lee and Mai, and that was before both of them had grown up. Ty Lee had always been cheery and giggly, and even from far away, Zuko could tell that not much had changed.
His eyes were drawn to the dark figure that looked exactly like a shadow beside his sister and Ty Lee. It took him a moment to recognize her, but Zuko soon recognized the tall woman that stood beside Azula by the signature buns as Mai. Mai looked so different from when he last saw her, with her smaller form and the two little buns on top of her head with a small little smile and red cheeks. The young woman beside Azula was grown up in how she held herself to the length of her skirt. Mai's face was sullen and looked bored, so different from the cute little girl Zuko used to play with. It made sense that Azula wouldn't trust anyone but her two friends from childhood. Zuko found his mouth go dry as he sat there staring at her. He could not explain it, but he felt something weird down in his chest, as if something burned inside him. Zuko had to tear his eyes away. "No need to be dramatic," he muttered to himself. He needed to get as far away from his sister as possible. Being this close was too dangerous, but Zuko couldn't help but take one more look at his sister's companions.
A twig snapped under his foot, and Zuko froze, his eyes locked on Mai's. Zuko's brain practically shut off as Mai lazily blinked at him. This was the end. Zuko was never going to regain his honor. He would die out here in the wilderness of a foreign nation without even a thought. Death by knife; could be worse, Zuko thought to himself. He was too scared to break eye contact with the woman. He pleaded with his eyes, praying to Agni that she wouldn't reveal his location. Mai opened her mouth, and Zuko swallowed and wet his lips. This was the end.
Mai looked like she was saying something to Azula, and Zuko sat with baited breath. The muscles in his legs were coiled up, ready to run at a moment's notice. If he ran now, Azula would surely notice him. Azula nodded about something, but her gaze never ventured over to where he was. The group continued on their way, and Zuko's heart hammered in his chest. Mai hung back, and she cast her glance back at him. She said nothing and she didn't even blink, but Zuko had a feeling he was being given a warning. Zuko didn't give her a chance to reconsider. He ran the other direction, going as fast his legs could carry him without being loud enough to attract attention.
After running as long as he could, Zuko had to stop to catch his breath. The only thing on his mind was Mai. Why hadn't she given him away? Zuko didn't know how to feel about this. The last time he had actually seen her was the summer before his banishment when they had started to train casually together. He remembered her getting really good at throwing knives, but that was all he really remembered. For a moment, Zuko wondered what his life would be like if he had never been banished. Would he be dating Mai? Would he be a crown prince who held his head high and had tons of friends? Would he have been a son his father would have been proud of?
Zuko couldn't help but feel different. He shook his head. He had to get back to his uncle and get them some dinner. There was no use entertaining thoughts of a future he could have had. That past had gone up in flames as soon as his father had pressed a hand to his face. He was a banished prince. He didn't deserve anything.
—-
"It's name is Appa?" Teddy said skeptically, looking the enormous flying bison up and down. "I think a better name for him would be Geodaehan; he's enormous!"
Katara laughed at Teddy's reaction. "He's Aang's, so take good care of him. He'll lead you right to Iroh even before the sun sets."
Lu Ten shook his head in wonder. "Man, I nearly die twice, and the world has completely changed," he murmured. He climbed up the side of the bison and carefully sat down on the head of the beast. "So how do I get it to fly?"
Katara petted Appa's cheek, whispering softly to the bison to be careful and to fly fast. She looked up at Teddy and addressed his question. "All you have to say is 'yip yip'!"
"Yip yip?" Teddy repeated. Appa immediately leaped into the air, making Lu Ten grab on to all of the nearest fur to hold on. "How does he land?!" He yelled as he flew away into the horizon.
Katara giggled to herself, not bothering to answer the question. Appa knew what he was doing. He would be back soon with General Iroh and his son.
"Katara!" someone yelled from the skies.
Katara turned in the direction of her name being called and she squinted into the horizon. There was an airship heading directly to where she was and her mouth fell open as she spotted four figures standing on the deck of the ship. She frantically waved at them, a loss for words.
She was already running by the time the airship had landed. Her four friends were just running off the ship, or hobbling in her brother's case, when she came barreling towards them.
"Sokka!" Katara yelled, running to her brother and embracing him tightly.
"Woah Katara, watch out." Sokka easily caught her around the middle, but he stumbled backwards with his broken leg. Toph caught the two of them with a stomp of her foot, a slab of rock catching Sokka. He groaned at the impact of the rock on his back, but it was better than falling to the ground. Suki laughed at the scene, but helped Sokka stand up again.
"We did it! You're okay!" Katara cried. She pulled away from her brother and ran to Aang, tugging him into a big hug. "You did it," she said excitedly. Aang melted into her arms and smiled endearingly at her.
"Did you ever doubt it?"
"Sometimes, twinkle toes," Toph scoffed, but she hit Aang in the shoulder. "But you pulled through.
The gaang gathered around each other in a hug and grinned excitedly, taking comfort in being together again, but also taking comfort in the calming atmosphere that the end of the war brought.
A crumpled man growled in the corner at the group of young adults. Aang glared back, as did the rest of the group. It was pitiful to see such an old and crotchety man even try to seem intimidating. He may still have muscles and a dark look, but he had no bite. His fire was gone, as was his power over the world. Without another word from the Avatar, a set of heavily armored guards picked the former Fire Lord up and carried him away, under orders to take him away to the deepest dungeon of the palace where he belonged.
"I took his bending," Aang explained softly at Katara's curious look.
"You can do that?" she asked, shocked.
Aang smiled tiredly over at her. "That's where I was last night. I learned how to. I told you I wouldn't kill him."
Katara leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I knew there was a reason why I believed you as soon as I met you in that iceberg."
"Where's Zuko?" Suki asked, casting a glance around as if she was expecting to see him.
Katara sobered at the mention of Aang's firebending teacher. "He entered an Agni Kai with his sister, and he was hit….Azula's lightning hit him. The dumbass jumped in front of it to protect us."
Suki gasped and the rest of the group took on their own expressions of shock, worry, and fear.
"He's okay," Katara continued. "We were able to get him stable and capture Azula before she could do more, but Zuko's resting right now."
"Who's we?" Toph asked, pointing out the hole in Katara's story.
"Oh, it was the knife girl, Mai I think? And some older woman. They were here. Azula was going to k-shoot lightning towards me but both Mai and Zuko got in the way. I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for them."
Sokka's eyes widened and he pulled his sister close again, with Aang close behind and Toph and Suki not far behind.
"I elect we go and visit Zuko together and see if anyone in the palace can give us some food," Sokka said, holding the back of Katara's head, petting her hair lovingly.
"It's always food with you, Snoozles," Toph groaned.
—-
The sun was just setting when Lu Ten landed Appa on the grounds of the camp outside of Ba Sing Se. People gathered around the large animal in shock, probably expecting to see the Avatar. He slid down from the top of the animal's head and called to the person closest to him. "I'm looking for General Iroh."
"Who needs me?" asked a voice.
Lu Ten's chest lightened at the sound of the old voice; a voice he knew so well. From within the crowd of soldiers emerged an older man with a weary look in his eyes. He stopped short when he saw Appa and Teddy before him. He opened and closed his mouth, unable to form words. Lu Ten felt nervousness bubble deep within his stomach as his father said nothing for a long time. Finally, Iroh stepped forward and carefully raised his hands to cup the sides of Teddy's cheeks, cradling them in his hands. He traced the sides of Lu Ten's face, his eyes scanning his beat up face and ruggish clothes. "My son," he whispered finally, wrapping his arms around Teddy's middle, holding him close. "My son," he kept repeating.
"Father," Lu Ten said in relief, melting into his father's embrace. "I'm okay; I'm here."
Iroh pulled away for a moment, holding onto his son's face again. "You're alive. I thought-"
Lu Ten shook his head. "I'm here. Everyone thought I was gone with the rest of my platoon, but I'm here. I'm alive," he reiterated with tears streaming down his cheek, just like his father.
"How I have missed you, my Lu Ten," Iroh said happily through the tears. "You came back."
"I never wanted to leave you, Father." Lu Ten held his father close.
Iroh wiped his eyes. "First Zuko, and now you! In the past two days, my dearest have come back to me," he said joyously. His eyes widened. "Zuko-" he started.
"He's alive too," Lu Ten supplied. "He's a little tired and hurt, but he's alive. He won."
Iroh smiled. "It sounds like the war has ended. Come on, son. Let's go home."
—-
Mai entered Zuko's room the next morning with a groan escaping her lips. She rested against the closed door and slid to the ground. "Tag you're it," Mai said. "I don't want to be Fire Lord ever again."
Zuko and Katara looked up at her from across the room. Katara's hands were glowing with blue water as Zuko sat up in his bed with his chest exposed. Zuko's face lit up at the sight of Mai's face. It was like the room was the sun with how he lightened up the room with not only his smile but the sparks that always were around him. He opened his arms to her automatically, reaching out for her. His voice called her attention. "Mai," he exclaimed. Katara gently scolded him, and Zuko put his arms down with a slight wince. Mai noticed the wince and the way he held himself; it was clear he was still in a lot of pain.
After only roughly 12 hours after the Agni Kai, the burn was only barely healed, and so was the world. While Zuko had been resting, Mai had been running around acting as stand-in Fire Lord to get a coronation organized, surrenders sent across to the other nations as well as arranging rooms and places for the Avatar's army to stay. Word was getting around the world that the Avatar had won and they were bringing back Ozai in shackles. Mai was exhausted and was grumpy from having to put up with the council, but if her work meant Zuko got to rest a few more hours, it was enough.
"Hey" Mai smiled back, but it was a more reserved smile. She came up beside them and observed. "How is he doing?" she prompted Katara.
"He'd be doing better if I didn't try and get up every few minutes," Katara said. Zuko at least looked a little sheepish, but didn't seem apologetic.
Katara paused her ministrations and let the glowing water return to a basin beside Zuko's bed. She gestured to the chair beside the bed, offering it to Mai, but Mai shook her head as she went to sit at the foot of Zuko's bed. The waterbender collapsed in the chair instead and gave Mai a grim smile. "He will survive," she stated finally. Mai nodded. She turned her head to look at Zuko. Her fingers twitched and crept towards his hand. She wrapped one of his hands carefully in her own, feeling the slight warmth to them.
"Hey, I'm the one injured. Why don't you ask me?" Zuko lightly complained, his palm squeezing Mai's lightly. He still had that brilliant smile on his face, but he looked exhausted.
"Yeah, but you will just tell me you're fine, which I know you're not," Mai refuted. Inside her mind, she was fighting herself from wrapping her arms around Zuko and never letting go while also trying to keep up appearances while being around the waterbender.
"You're Mai, right?" Katara asked. Mai nodded numbly, letting her attention be drawn towards the Avatar's teacher. She looked exhausted and caked with dirt and blood. Her hands shook in her lap and she seemed like she had been walking on the surface of the sun. Katara rubbed her eyes and focused on Mai again. "I'm-I'm sorry I can't do more…" Katara whispered, finally articulating some of her thoughts. She looked apologetically at the both of them. "I'm not the greatest healer, but it's fixed, and-"
"Katara," Zuko said gently, stopping Katara. He leaned forward and used his other hand to grip Katara's shoulder. "You are doing the best you can. I can't thank you enough. You should be resting and celebrating, not staying here nursing me."
Katara shot him a look. She looked like an angry polar-dog mom with wetness pooling around her eyes as she glared at him threateningly. "I'm here because I want to help, dumbass. You saved my life; it's the least I can do." Katara spared a glance towards Mai and she smiled grimly up at where Mai stood. "You saved both of us."
Mai was at a loss of what to say. She never really liked giving speeches nor expressing her own emotions. It just wasn't her thing.
"Not like you two wouldn't do the same, or haven't done the same," Zuko said quietly. His eyes flickered over to Mai's and she felt her chest warm at that look in his eyes. Not knowing what to do with those sets of feelings, Mai had to look away.
"You best believe we would," Katara said with gusto. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. "Now stand up for me. I still need to bandage you. You want to help?" Katara offered, holding out a wrap of bandages to Mai.
Mai took the bandages and unraveled some of it. Katara had her apply the start of the bandages above the wound and wrap it slowly around his torso. Zuko obediently held his arms up, out of the way as Mai wrapped the bandages around him carefully, keeping one hand on the start of the wrapping. Katara applied some salve that the palace healer had given them for lightning wounds before giving Mai a few more instructions on how best to wrap the bandages so it wouldn't hurt him.
Katara dusted herself off and stood back, surveying Mai's slow work. "Alright, if you're okay with this and helping Zuko get ready without hurting himself-" Katara sent a threatening glare in Zuko's direction; "then I'm going to go and get ready for the ceremony. Call me if you need me." Before leaving, Katara caught Mai's eye over Zuko's shoulder and she winked, giving Mai a thumbs up. Mai scowled. Katara was almost as bad as Ty Lee with her antics.
Mai let out a low breath as she focused on wrapping Zuko's bandages as best she could, making sure they were tight enough to stay on, but loose enough to be comfortable. She could feel the heat of his gaze looking down on her, his chin brushing the top of her bangs. Mai swallowed audibly, her arms wrapping around his torso carefully, passing the bandage between her hands. "Stop looking at me like that," she said quietly. "You're making me nervous."
"Looking at you like what?" Zuko asked, fondness present in his voice. His hand grazed Mai's elbow, and a jolt went up her arm at the contact.
Mai glanced up and saw the intensity of his stare. She ducked her head down again, her cheeks warming like a little school girl. She hadn't seen him in a few weeks, and it was like she was a little girl again, not knowing how to handle herself around him. "Like that."
Zuko shifted, his hand purposefully resting on hers. Mai fiddled with the end of his bandages, tucking the end neatly under the top-most layer, just grazing the skin on his chest. Zuko took a quick breath in, making Mai unsteady.
"I'm just looking at you, Maisy," Zuko said. Contradicting his words, sparks flew around his head like fireworks, happily jumping around in the light of his room.
Mai looked at him tentatively before shaking her head with a smile pulling at her lips. "There's a difference between just looking and what you're doing."
Zuko hummed, still not taking his eyes off of her as she pulled away briefly to grab the first layer of his ceremonial robes that had been laid out on his bed. Zuko followed her silent instructions, lifting one arm and then the other to slide into the sleeves. "It's nice to see you again," Zuko murmured.
Mai couldn't contain her blush, nor her smile. Mai took the tie for his robe and swept behind him. "How much does it hurt?" She asked. She wrapped her arms carefully around his middle, pulling the edges of the robe together before carefully wrapping the tie around him. Her chin briefly rested on his shoulder as she wrapped the tie around his middle again. She could feel his heart beat against her chest, and the rhythmic beating calmed her nerves. Mai wanted to bury herself into his back just to make sure he was alright. Less than twelve hours ago he was lying on the ground, barely awake from a lightning strike to the chest. She couldn't quite believe that he was here standing. Mai knew it must hurt more than he was letting on.
Zuko fidgeted while giving her a shy look. "I'm fine." Mai gave him a knowing look. He sighed. "I will be okay."
A little bit of the wrapping around the wound peaked out from under his robes. Mai lay her hand on top of it, her fingers resting just below where his heart would be, her arm wrapping around him. She felt his heart beat rhythmically against her.
Zuko put his hand over hers and leaned into her touch. There was a deep rumble in his chest as he replied: "I'm glad you're back," he repeated, his lips barely moving.
Mai couldn't help the smile that lifted her lips. "I'm glad you're back too," she admitted. Mai squeezed him around the middle for a brief moment, light enough to not hurt him, but enough so he could feel it.
She caught his eye as she pulled away and circled in front of him, staying in his personal space. He had been taller than her last time she had seen him, but how he had to fully crane his neck to meet her gaze
Zuko had this look in his eye that Mai was not used to seeing. It was a look of full adoration and possibly something more. Mai ducked her head, but he reached out and tilted her chin up. "Are you here for good?"
"I don't see why not? Are you asking this time?" Mai quipped.
Zuko had a devastating smile that dazzled her. Mai felt something sizzling under her skin, the longer she looked at him. "Do you want to stay here? At the palace? I could use some help around here, but you don't have to of course." Zuko looked like he could continue talking but he pressed his lips together to force himself to stop talking.
Mai gave him a hesitant smile that grew into a beam. "I want to stay, but…"
"But what?" Zuko leaned forward, looking worried.
Mai lifted her hand to his rough cheek and rubbed her finger along his jaw. He closed his eyes and melted into her touch. "But you have to bring me next time you go adventuring," she whispered with a laugh in her voice.
Zuko blinked and blushed, looking appropriately sheepish. "I promise." Zuko pulled Mai forward, closing his eyes. Mai pressed forward, her hand sliding down to wrap around the back of Zuko's neck as their lips met. His lips were rough and chapped but they opened with ease. Mai gripped the ends of the hair on the back of Zuko's neck and moved her lips along with his, holding on like he would disappear. She could taste the same desperation on Zuko's tongue and feel it in how he held on to her waist. Mai tilted her chin up, her hand cradling the back of Zuko's neck oh so softly. Zuko pressed into her, his nose grazing hers. The smile on Zuko's lips melted seamlessly with Mai's own smile as they pulled apart. The air between them sparked with energy as they pulled apart, resting their foreheads against each other. They both let out a breathless laugh at the same time, and color reached its tendrils up Zuko's cheeks. Mai presumed her cheeks were just as red, if not rosier.
Zuko closed his eyes again and pressed against her, his thumb trailing patterns on the base of her spine. Mai tugged on the back of Zuko's head, playing with the ends of his hair. There were no words that felt ample enough to express the feeling of comfort, love, and admiration that was building up inside Mai's chest. Mai nosed Zuko's scar softly, murmuring: "You are going to be an amazing Fire Lord."
He let out a nervous huff. "I hope so," he said, worry evident in his voice. "I just want to try and be better than my father. I can't make the mistakes he did."
Mai pulled away from him and set him with a stern look. "You are not like your father." She touched the tips of his hair and traced some of his features. "You may have similar hair...a similar nose, and you may have some of his blood in you, but you will never be like your father."
"But-" Zuko protested. "But what if I do something wrong and I-"
Mai cut him off with a peck on his lips. "You are prone to mistakes," she said honestly. "And you tend to be angsty and sarcastic, but that's what makes you you." Mai traced his scar, thinking deeply. "You wouldn't be here without making mistakes; neither of us would be."
Zuko opened his mouth to say something, but paused when there was a knock on the door.
"Nephew?" Called Iroh from the other side of the door.
Mai stepped back from Zuko, her hands sliding off of his face. "I should probably finish getting ready. People will be arriving soon."
"See you later?" Zuko checked, his hands pausing on her waist, keeping her there close to him.
Mai nodded as she slipped away.
"Ah, Young Mai! What a pleasant surprise!" General Iroh beamed at her. "Not working yourself to death are you? Have you taken a break?"
Mai gave a soft smile to the older man. They had worked together in the past few hours pulling everything together the best they could before Zuko was officially Fire Lord and it was nice to spend time with the older man when they did not have a set of bars between them, like in the past few months.
"I've slept the best I can," Mai replied, not quite lying but both of them knew how she had yet to sleep since yesterday morning. "Your nephew is waiting for you." Mai diverted Iroh's attention and snuck away. There was a lot to sort through when it came to that family. General Iroh was truly more like a father than Ozai ever was, and Mai was glad Zuko now had a chance to appreciate that fact. In another part of the palace, Ursa was taking care of Azula as best she could for the moment with a team of healers. The older woman had not been given a chance to see her son since he was injured, but after the ceremony, Mai hoped Zuko would have some time to bond with his mother again. The fact that his mother was alive probably still hadn't dawned on him, but to be fair so much had changed in a span of a few hours. It could take weeks or months, or even years for things to settle in again, but at least it wouldn't be boring. It was the end of a war, but so many people and villages, and nations were left with loose ends and hurt pasts. Mai hoped that someday Azula would be able to feel welcomed and loved by her mother just as Zuko had, but that would come with time. Mai's mother had never been very affectionate, but Mai wished she could have one of her mother's rare hugs at that moment. She had always felt safe when she was a young child, wrapped up in her mother's arms, but those times had long since passed. However, Mai took some comfort in the ghost of Zuko's hug that lingered on her skin.
The next few hours were filled with hectic chaos as guests started to come in in flocks and the palace started to bustle with the upcoming ceremony. When the Avatar came, she was the one to come out to meet Aang and the rest of his group, Sokka, Toph, and a woman named Suki (also some strange animals that Mai was a little wary of close up, especially when the big monster they called Appa began to lick her). She was in charge as she led them to Zuko, Katara, and their rooms. After some last minute changes to the plans for the coronation, Mai was about ready to go into hibernation for an entire year, but there was still so much to do.
Closer to the ceremony, Mai headed out onto the plaza, in front of the palace where people were beginning to gather in great swarms to prepare for the event of the century: the new era of peace brought by the crowning of the new Fire Lord Zuko and a celebration led by Avatar Aang. Mai greeted a few people on her way to a seat in the front row that was close to where 'the good guys' would be sitting, but the seat was far away from the collection of Fire Nation citizens.
Mai felt a little alienated sitting in between some people she recognized as a part of the Avatar's team, but she was reassured when Ty Lee came over to sit next to her. Mai gave her friend a tired look, but still a proud one when she saw Ty Lee dressed in full Kyoshi Warrior regalia. "Where did you get that?"
Ty Lee did a little spin for her friend before sitting down. "I'm an official member as of two hours ago," she announced proudly. "I figured I would tell you when I got a chance. I know you were busy having fun running the country."
Mai rolled her eyes. "Yeah, helping Prince Iroh plan the ceremony and celebration was so fun. Love having to talk to all of the officials and Fire Sages," she said sarcastically. "But I guess it was actually nice to work with Prince Iroh and help while Zuko was sleeping."
"How's Zuko?" Ty Lee asked, getting straight to the point. She was good at reading Mai. Mai rather wished she could slither out of this question, because she knew Ty Lee wanted more than just a 'he's awake and fine.'
"He's awake," Mai said.
Ty Lee harrumphed. "And? Did you see him?"
Mai blushed, unable to control even the simplest of emotion at the moment. "He looks tired, but good...really good," Mai finally said. "I helped him get ready before his uncle came."
Ty Lee wiggled her eyebrows. "Any kissing?"
Mai suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "You're incorrigible."
Ty Lee turned into a ball of giggles and cooing. Mai poked at her to stop, but Ty Lee just smiled at her. "Did you tell him you loved him?"
There was a pounding of a drum, announcing the beginning of the ceremony. "Not yet," Mai murmured to Ty Lee just as the ceremony began. There was a rustling of clothing and from the corner of her eye, Mai saw Lady Ursa sit down beside her looking worn out but satisfied. Mai caught Ursa's eye and Ursa leaned towards her.
"How is my son?" she whispered.
"He's doing alright, but the waterbender, Katara, has been taking care of him. He will get better," Mai said.
Ursa visibly relaxed. She blinked slowly and smiled, the wrinkles around her eyes crinkling. She grasped Mai's hand and squeezed it softly.
A tsungi horn blasted in the distance and the wide doors of the palace opened to reveal Zuko in full regalia with Avatar Aang beside him in what looked to be traditional Air Monk attire. Aang looked like he was hiding a smile, but he looked like a young adult now instead of the child Mai had first met.
Zuko looked nothing like the lost teenager Mai had seen on the ship from Ba Sing Se. She could see parts of the young, child-like Zuko and the Zuko that told her he was going to join the Avatar. However, the Zuko that truly stood before her seemed like a changed person. He was also different from the boy she had met at Boiling Rock that seemed to exude confidence and pride, and dare she say honor. Mai felt a little disconnected from the prince who spoke to his nation as she stood off to the side, not quite fitting in with the entirety of the Avatar's army. However, she felt pride for who he had become without her as he bowed before the Fire Sages and his subjects, the Fire Crown, representing the weight of his responsibilities, was placed carefully in his top knot. When he stood up again, he looked above the crowd, and Mai joined in the cheers as Zuko was announced as Fire Lord Zuko. Zuko had memorized the speech Iroh had given him wonderfully, adding several lines of his own that were sewn seamlessly into the sentence structure. He bowed out of the center of the steps and ushered Avatar Aang out with him and Mai smiled, clapping her hands with the rest of the crowd to usher in the new era of peace.
—-
It was not until later that night that Mai was able to get some alone time with Zuko again. The celebrations lasted long into the night, lights filling the Fire Nation's sky like never before. The happy laughter and giggling from children and parents and older grandparents filled the hot sticky air that told of the end of summer. Mai and Ty Lee had escaped to the outer reaches of the capital, having fun doing random games. Mai even got closer to some of the Kyoshi Warriors that Ty Lee had dragged along after they had inquired about her knives. All in all, Mai was beyond exhausted and she just wanted to go home. However, as soon as she reached the inside walls of the palace a young servant came running up to her.
"The Fire Lord requires your immediate attention," the young girl cried urgently.
Mai's breath caught in her throat and she ran after the servant to Zuko's chambers. What if he had gotten worse after the ceremony? Was he okay? Where was Master Katara? All of these thoughts and questions spurt from Mai's mouth as she processed the situation. After preparing for the worst for the past 48 hours, dealing with emergencies felt as normal as breathing at this point.
Mai yelled at the guards outside of Zuko's room, barking at them to get out of her way. She burst into Zuko's room, knives in her hands, ready for anything. Zuko was sitting on his own bed, having not transferred to the Fire Lord's quarters quite yet. His outer robe was undone, revealing a sweaty bandage around his middle. Zuko's eyes widened in surprise at her entrance and the ensemble of servants and guards hovering over her shoulder peering in on him.
"Is everything alright?" He asked tentatively.
Mai rushed forward and ran her hands medically up and down his body searching for any new signs of injury or blood. "Are you okay?" she asked, looking at him with urgency.
Zuko laughed nervously, taking her hands in his and rubbing his thumb across the top of her hand. "Yeah of course I'm okay. Are you alright?" He asked, looking a little more worried now.
Mai gestured to the servant behind her. "Someone told me you require my immediate attention."
Zuko scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Oh, whoops. I just wanted to see you. I didn't mean to startle you." Zuko nodded to the gaggle of guards and servants gaping at him. "Sorry guys, umm you can return to your posts; sorry for bothering you."
The door to his room shut with some hurried foot shuffling and whispering and some coughs from the servant and guards who had relayed the message. "Sorry about that," Zuko reiterated.
Mai huffed and glared at him. She shoved him in the shoulder. "Don't do that. I didn't know if you were dying or something!?" she defended. "You don't just say you need my immediate attention if you're just wanting to see me."
"Hey, hey, I'm sorry," Zuko repeated, sliding his hands up her arms and rubbing her arms comfortingly. "I didn't think about it."
"Well you better. You were dying less than a day ago," Mai rebutted. Yelling at him felt better than dealing with the fact that she was once again scared for his life and losing him. "Don't do that." She pushed at him again.
Zuko pouted. "I'm alright now, though. You don't have to worry about me."
"I always worry about you," Mai said. She hung her head and took a deep breath. She noticed his state of undress again and noted his sweaty bandages around his torso. She pointed to his bandages. "Do you need help with that?" Mai asked.
Zuko sighed, but nodded reluctantly as if he was finally admitting defeat. "I feel bad. Everytime you see me, I'm in some kind of condition in which you have to help me."
Mai shrugged. "You told me to come see you, and Katara did say I could help you with it."
Zuko rubbed the back of his neck, nervously. "Yeah, ummm I wanted to thank you for finding my mother and bringing her back and...thank you so much Mai. Where did you find her?" Zuko grasped Mai's hands and pulled them into his lap, playing with her fingertips, but gazing at her deeply.
"It's more like she found me," Mai explained. She detailed her adventures in Hira'a carefully, describing how she had gone snooping, got amnesia, became a creepy, soulless version of herself before being cured and coming back to the capital in an attempt to stop the airships in Hira'a from destroying the Fire Nation. Zuko was attentive and asked questions at the appropriate times. Then it was Zuko's turn to detail his adventures with the Avatar and tell Mai about all of the field trips he went on. Mai insisted that he take her on a field trip in the future, making him laugh.
While they talked, Mai brought out the basket of bandages and dressings and carefully took care of Zuko's starburst scar. Her fingers lingered on the singed flesh on the edges, rubbing medical numbing salve before dressing the wound. By the end of their conversation, Zuko looked like he was moments from falling asleep. Mai poked him playfully. "Is this why you asked to see me? Just so you can fall asleep before throwing me out?"
Zuko laughed weakly, his voice muffled by the grogginess of coming of sleep. "Naah, just wanted to see you, and hug you. I don't know."
Mai shifted in her position on the bed, thankful that the light was low in his room. "I'll let you get to sleep then."
Zuko reached out for her and pulled her down beside him so they were laying side by side. "Stay?" he asked, his voice just loud enough to be heard, his words echoing the same words he said last night to her.
Mai cupped his cheek and smiled. She kissed the tip of his nose, and then his forehead. "Just go to sleep, Fire Lord. I'll stay as long as I can."
Mai could see the blush on his cheek as Zuko rolled onto his back and covered his eyes with one arm. He looked at her out of the side of her eye and delivered a devastating smile. Mai carefully snuggled up against the parts of his body that were not scorched and tucked one hand into the tufts of his loose hair. "Goodnight, Maisy," he whispered.
Mai closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "Goodnight, Sparky."
—-
In Uncle Iroh's tea shop, there was a warm atmosphere that permeated the air. Three months after the end of the war, and there was still an ample amount of things that needed to be done, but the Avatar gang and the nations were trying their best.
Sitting in the tea shop, Mai was reminded of simpler times back in Hira'a. Laughter rang through the shop and animals wandered around near their feet. Outside children ran and the sun set pleasantly, like it was finally at rest. One thing Mai was noticing was that she wasn't quite sure where she fit in with the group. She watched Zuko from afar laughing and smiling with friends, and Mai wondered for a moment or two if she would ever feel that comfortable again.
The Avatar seemed to feel her gaze and he turned his head away from the group with a questioning look in his eye. He smiled and waved at her. He walked over to her before Mai could make up an excuse to leave. He smiled at her shyly. "I'm Aang!" He held out his hand. "And you must be Mai. I don't think we ever got a chance to say hi."
Mai took his hand tentatively, watching his face carefully. He seemed tired but honest, and it was surprisingly refreshing. "Yeah, sorry about that whole thing in the Earth Kingdom. Wasn't the best first impression for me at least," Mai admitted dryly.
Aang shrugged. "I think we were all very different people at that time." His eyes showed wisdom beyond his years. "Do you want to join us? We were just discussing the best way to take a moose lion cub without its mother getting mad. Do you have any ideas?"
Mai blinked at him. It was the weirdest question she had been asked in a while, and she was dating Zuko. "Ummm give it food?"
"Why didn't I think of that!?" The young earth bender (Toph wasn't it?) yelled from across the room. "This is why we need someone with brains."
"Hey, I thought I was the brains," Sokka contested with a pout.
"I think you're just the planner," Suki patted him on the shoulder gently. "But we love you," she added at his forlorn look.
"Here, take some food." Mai offered him a plate of food she spotted beside her, holding out the plate to him.
"How did you know that was my favorite?!" Sokka cried, munching into the food instantly. He suddenly stopped and looked up at Mai suspiciously. "I see what you're doing." He finished his bite and lowered the plate as he narrowed his eyes at Mai. Mai raised her eyebrows innocently, kind of hoping it was okay if she teased him a little. From the way Zuko was shaking from laughter behind her as well as the choking sounds coming from Sokka's sister, Mai felt pretty confident.
Sokka took another bite of food off of the plate. "Can't say it's not working," he groused. "But I'm keeping my eyes on you!"
The group erupted in laughter and Mai let a little smile creep onto her face.
Hello Readers! Here we are at the very end. Wow, I never expected this fic to be so long, nor did I expect so many people to read it and love it as much as I loved writing it. I want to thank everyone who has stuck with me since the beginning or have just finished reading it all at once. I might post a sequel at some point or some oneshots here with a continuation, but I think this is a good place to leave this alternate universe of canon for right now. I hope I did Mai justice, as well as the other characters, and I hope you really enjoyed reading it. Thank you so so so so so much for reading! It means the world to me. Have a happy holidays, and until I write again, TTFN!