Author's note:
In this story, I attempt to follow the events of the original show as closely as possible. I have included a few things from the comics, but not all of them. I apologize if it is confusing :) I have not read all the comics, too, so there are probably things that I am not aware of. I also may not necessarily follow the events or timeline from Legend of Korra, although I do try to answer a few of the questions LOK raised (like what happened to Suki). This is my first fanfic, so if it's bad, you know why.
Fire Nation Royal Palace
Around five years after the end of the Hundred Year War
Fire Lord Zuko
Turtle-ducks quacked softly as Zuko and Mai sat together at the small table overlooking the pond. The Fire Lord had decided that he wasn't up to a formal dinner in the main dining hall and wanted some fresh air, so he had the servants set up a table outside in the warm, early summer night. At least, that's what he said. The real reason he'd done it was a little different.
Mai pushed her plate back. "I'm stuffed," she said laconically.
Zuko studied her face, lit from the side by moonlight. It turned her already pale skin white as snow, contrasting with her thick black hair. Her pale gold eyes almost glowed as they met his…
"Why are you staring at me?" Mai wondered. Zuko snapped back to attention. "Oh…" he stammered "Uh. Yes. I… well, I was just thinking about how beautiful you are."
Mai smirked. "Well, put in more effort to look intelligent while you do it next time. You looked like your brains had taken an unexpected vacation."
"They did," Zuko smiled. He reached up unconsciously and fingered the gold flame in his topknot. Mai knocked his hand back down. "Don't do that so much. You'll get fingerprints all over it. And it makes you look insecure."
Zuko sighed. "What would I do without you, Mai?" he wondered aloud, and Mai's sardonic smirk melted into a more real smile. "Maybe you'd be able to finish a meal without gawping half the time," she teased.
He laughed out loud and stood up, pushing his own plate away. "Maybe," he agreed. Mai stood up as well, and the two of them wandered down towards the pond.
Zuko sad down in the grass at the pond's edge, and Mai sat next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder. They sat in pleasant silence for a few minutes before Zuko spoke. "What would I do without you?" he said softly.
"Well, you did fine when we broke up," Mai said in tones lighter than she felt. "And before that, when you broke up with me via a note. And before that when you were gone for three years. I think you'd do fine, Zuko."
Zuko shook his head. "I wasn't fine, Mai. I missed you more than I can say. It hurt so much… but whenever I found you again, it helped heal the pain of everything. You make me happy."
"You make me happy, too," Mai said softly, and Zuko put an arm around her. "Mai," he said, "I…" He cleared his throat with an odd expression on his face. "I wanted to ask… I mean, I wanted to see if you… well, I just…"
"Spit it out, Zuko," Mai said.
Zuko took a deep breath and looked over at her, meeting her steady golden gaze. "Mai," he said. "Daughter of Ukano and Michi. Sister of Tom-Tom. Most beautiful, graceful, smart, talented, dangerous woman in the world. Would you consider the possibility of a marriage arrangement with this poor, stupid, half-baked Fire Lord?"
Mai blinked slowly, let out a breath. "Wow, you don't beat around the bush."
Zuko looked down at his lap. "So… was that a…"
"That was a yes, idiot," Mai said.
Zuko looked up. "A – a yes? So you will -"
"Yes, I'll marry you already," Mai said in tones of mock annoyance. "I'm surprised you ever got around to asking."
Zuko stared at her in mild shock for a few minutes before a smile spread across his face. "I love you, Mai. Don't ever change."
"Not planning on it," she said, and kissed him.