#2 History

"We're battling our hardest; Suki takes on Azula's chi-blocking friend, Dad, Chit Sang and the Warden are still in the gondola, Zuko and I are taking on Azula, and suddenly… the gondola gives a violent lurch; I am almost thrown into the boiling lake but Zuko pulls me back just in time but by the time we're back on it we realise….THEY'RE CUTTING THE LINE!", Sokka yells dramatically.

They were sitting in the Western Air Temple, while Sokka is recounting their escape from the Boiling Rock. Zuko had been quiet for most of the tale only chiming in when he needed to. The others obviously noticed this change but didn't say anything. Then Sokka turned to him.

"Uh, would you like to take it from here, buddy?" he asked.

"Oh, um, sure", Zuko replied.

"He could feel his cheeks heat up in embarrassment, but he held strong. He had to let the others know how brave Mai had been and how selfless her actions were.

"Mai stopped the guards from cutting the line. She fought off swarms of guards when they tried to attack her. She betrayed Azula for us. For me, he added in his mind.

"You're bluffing! Why would she do that?" Katara asked angrily, her voice somewhere between a snap and a yell.

"Uh, duh, because she loves him, isn't it Sifu Hotman?" Toph asked in a singsong voice. Katara shot the younger girl a useless glare. Zuko took a deep breath and answered calmly, surprising the newcomers, especially Suki, who had only witnessed his bad side.

"Mai and Ty Lee didn't have a choice, Azula forced them to-"

"They didn't have a choice? Azula forced them to do all the terrible things they did?!" Katara yelled.

Zuko fought to keep his cool."Yes, they did not have a choice. Azula forced them to do things they hated and if they hurt any of you, even if it was involuntary, I'm sorry", he said, looking at the group's stunned faces."Now, if you'll excuse me…" Zuko left his unfinished dinner on the ground, got up, and left. He needed some time by himself.

The left side of his face was covered in bandages, but Zuko made his way to the room where he overheard Mai was situated. Uncle had gone to prepare for their 'trip'. He opened the door quietly and saw Mai sitting in a chair, Ty Lee dozing next to her. She noticed him and made her way to him immediately.

"I wanted to say goodbye" Zuko said, hating how small his voice sounded. Mai paused before saying, "So, it's true; you're gonna go on this wild pigeongoose chase to find the Avatar, someone who's been missing for ninety eight years so you can restore your honor you neer lost" Zuko could hear accusation in her voice.

"But I did lose my honor."

"No, I don't think so; I thought you were very brave."

"I'll probably never see you again."

"Which is why I want you to have this" Mai pressed something into his palm. Zuko looked at it. It was a rock shaped like a heart."I picked it on Ember Island" Mai explained. "Oh, thanks" Zuko said. They were in the gardens now. Zuko looked at the fountain and felt a rush of nostalgia. He looked at Mai. He had to tell her how he felt about her right now.

"Mai,um, well you mean a lot to me...I mean I like you-" He did not need to talk as Mai's lips had covered his. They kissed, their fingers intertwined, before Mai broke it. "You mean a lot to me too" she murmured. She let go of his fingers and quickly walked away, leaving Zuko alone.

Zuko lay on his bed as he pulled out the small black rock that Mai had given him all those years studied its surface and wrapped his fingers around it, holding it close. There'd been so much between them, they'd had a history. And then he'd thrown it all away. Zuko promised that if he saw her again he'd make up for all he'd done to her. He had to. He closed his eyes and fell into a restless plagued him throughout his dreams.