Hey There,
Greetings fellow Avatar fans, DarcyBeDippy85 here with my first fanfic for this fandom. A brand new Halloween One-shot all about Zuko and Mai taking their little siblings trick-or-treating together. I'm of course talking about Mai's little brother Tom-Tom and Zuko's half sister Kiyi (From "the Search" comic). Only hilarity can ensue, as Team Avatar does their part to make this night one that no one will forget anytime soon. I really wanted to explore what this would have been like and I hope it adds to your enjoyment of this Halloween season (2022). I really believe that Zuko and Mai's relationship is one of the most underrated ones of the whole series. So I'm giving them and the rest of Team Avatar all kinds of love in this story. I hope it's as much fun to read as it was to write and imagine.
Standard Disclaimers apply, I do not own Avatar Last Airbender, I'm merely borrowing these characters and trademarked things for my own plots and premises. Most will be unharmed.
Dedicated to my friend Rose-Aki for her unwavering kindness and support. Without you, this wouldn't be possible, hope it makes you smile.
Enjoy!
"Halloween Babysitting Hijinks"
A Halloween Tale for Zuko and Mai
(Zuko's Perspective)
Today was finally Halloween, a thing I haven't been able to celebrate in the longest time. Not the way that I get to enjoy it today anyway. A lot of things had stood in our way, things that had tried to stop this night from happening. But it was finally here and I wasn't gonna let it pass me by.
When I was little it was my favorite holiday because I didn't have to be "Prince Zuko" on that day. I got to be just a kid and I could be whatever I wanted to be. I could be a war balloon pilot, a soldier, or a pirate. I could be a monster, a villain, a hero, a zombie, a beast, anything was possible. My Mother would always make it happen, whatever I had in my mind, I could be. I would be so deep into character too, I thought my clothes were magic, so when I wore them. I became whatever I was supposed to be.
In retrospect, that was probably my Mother's doing as well. Her bedtime stories were mostly made up by her and always imaginative like that. My costume magic idea probably came from one of her stories.
When we were small and our mother took us out trick or treating, she usually did it herself. She'd dressed up too and she'd hold our hands. She'd always been incognito, which I didn't fully get at the time. Because I sometimes forgot she was the Fire Lady. I just saw her as my mother, a mother… it never occurred to me that she could be putting herself in danger. That she was really taking a risk. It was just a fun night out for her as much as us.
When my mother had disappeared, Azula would still go out with her friends and go trick or treating. But even though I was old enough to probably go on my own, if I wanted to. I didn't… I couldn't go without my mother. It just wasn't the same and I always missed her so much more on those Halloween nights. I locked myself in my room till all of the fun was over for another year. Those years when I was still home, before I was banished just like my mother… There was always a bucket of candy sitting by my bedroom door. If not hanging by it, so I wouldn't miss it. When I asked Azula about it she always acted like she had no idea what I was talking about.
It wasn't till YEARS later when I finally got to return home. I found out it had been Mai who had left that bucket the three years I was home before my banishment. I asked her if she'd taken an extra bucket and collected it for a friend who couldn't come. I'd seen other kids do that before, some honestly and others just wanted more candy.
Mai had said, "Of course, that's what I did. I wasn't gonna give you all of my own candy. My parents only allowed me to have candy like two times a year. Halloween Night was one of them."
But then Ty-lee had let it slip, "That was tooooootally her candy, she'd left it for you."
Because Ty-lee had caught her doing it one year, and Mai had shrugged off her teasing saying, "She wasn't much for sweets and the only reason Zuko didn't go was because he misses his mom too much. Imagine if that was you."
Ty-lee remembered because she'd dumped some of her own candy into the bucket to contribute to the cause too. She said, "But I only gave you like a few good pieces and a handful I didn't want. Mai left her whole night's earning. If that's not love I don't KNOW what is."
I had to find a way to repay her kindness, to show her that I appreciated her. Not just as my girlfriend, or a friend who was a girl. She was so much more to me than all of that. I had to find a way to make a Halloween special for her. But my first year as the Firelord was too chaotic and hectic to plan anything like that. So when that first year had been impossible to do anything… I had promised myself I would make it up to her this year. The year happening right now, and I had gone to great lengths to keep this promise (even it was to myself).
I had sneakily cleared all of my scheduling for Halloween night by saying I had an event to attend in another kingdom. Even had Aang help me lie about it. He wasn't much help because he's not the best liar. But it helped nonetheless, and it was enough to convince the person who handles my schedule.
Anyways, I told Mai about this lie after i had gotten away with it. I really was expecting that we could have that evening free and clear… Boy, was I wrong.
As it turns out, Mai had been looking at my calendar. Hoping to get together sometime for some Halloween fun. It's her favorite holiday, but she'd seen my schedule and thought I wouldn't be around. So she had made plans, not being in on my scheme.
I was bummed, it had been such a great plan. Now it seemed ruined by simply not including my girlfriend from the start. I'd only done it that way because I didn't want to tell her and get her hopes up if I couldn't do it. I couldn't have promised her then cancel when I was expected somewhere I couldn't get out of. Like last year, I COULDN'T have done that to her again!
I wouldn't do it, not if there was some other way! There had to be another way.
I would have made it a night to remember…I realized there was still hope when I heard what her plans actually were for Halloween Night. Her parents were attending a benefit Masquerade that night. They had been desperate for a sitter for Tom-Tom, Mai's baby brother. So desperate that they'd stuck her with the little runt and now she had been planning to dress up and take the little troublemaker trick-or-treating for the first time. Knowing that it would only be in the care of a sitter or handler that Tom-Tom will ever know such fun. Mai had become quite serious about seeing this ploy through… even though she did say that she wished I had let her know beforehand. It could have gotten her out of it, if the Firelord had plans with her.
Mai had even questioned, "And how important can this Masquerade actually be if the Fire Lord himself isn't even attending? Were you even invited?"
"I was," I admitted, "I just really hoped for more important plans elsewhere. With less rich people, misery, and more… you."
"You and me both," Mai said flatly, but I could see how disappointed she actually was. Pouting, arms crossed and all slouched down against the wall.
"What if the idea to hang out together wasn't a complete bust?" I asked her.
"How is it salvageable?" Mai asked me mystified. "That little hellion has ruined everything since he was born. How is Halloween gonna be any different from that universal fact?"
"Because your boyfriend doesn't give up that easily." I clued her in, "What if 'we' were to still spend that night together? We just spend a good chunk of it introducing your brother to your favorite holiday. By showing him one of your favorite ways to celebrate it? Would that still seem like an unsavable situation?"
"Yes, to me." Mai rationalized, "Because that's still an evening I'm spending with that spoiled brat that I could be spending with my boyfriend. A guy who doesn't get a lot of free time these days." She'd teased, borderline complaining.
"I'm working on that," I pointed out, "Besides, I'm sure between the two of us we can figure out a way to still have fun. Come on… please, just consider it?"
Mai shook her head at me and said, "Alright, I'll consider it… but only if we go pick out our costumes together. When can you do that?"
"I'm free right now," I said as I put my hand out to her. "Would you like to go now, there's this great pop-up shop I saw in town. We're both dressed plain enough, we might just be able to pull it off."
She took my hand and smiled a little, "I can go now… but I don't want us to wear matching costumes. If we make so little sense in life our costumes together should make even less sense."
"Fair enough," I agreed before I snuck a kiss on her hand while I was holding it. Just to watch her fight the smile she couldn't help showing on her face.
Then I started leading her towards the place I'd seen. If we'd gone into that shop and it had been just the two of us, everything would have probably felt like a date. Kind of preview to what Halloween could be. But unfortunately, I forgot that when I saw this place. Aang, Sokka, and Katara were with me and had pointed it out… earlier today. (Toph was there too, but she couldn't see it for obvious reasons) So of course when we stepped inside… the gang's all here.
Toph, Suki, Tylee, Aang, Sokka, Katara, and Momo were all inside. Even Appa was peeking in through a window. Because of course Aang couldn't purchase a costume that Appa didn't approve of…
AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Katara read me like a book, stating. "Gee, you don't look too happy to see us Zuko. It's almost like you were planning on more of a date with Mai."
Toph felt the need to add, "Hell! I'm blind and even I can see that without Zuko saying a word. How is even your silence completely over the top, man?"
"Because I was hoping for a little more time with my girlfriend. Is that a crime?" I told them as they both smirked in my face. Why did these two friends who were girls have to be so smug?
Then Ty-lee appeared in a leopard print bikini (think cavemen chic or tarzan's jane), only existing in sight long enough to snag my girlfriend. Pulling her forceably into one of the curtained changing areas, claiming. "Some of these are BOUND to look better on you."
I had to sidestep the others to go over to that changing room and tell Ty-lee, "Give me back my girlfriend, Ty-lee!"
"Uh-AH!" Ty-lee defied. "You'll like what you see."
"Ty-lee! Do NOT make her uncomfortable." I demanded. Before I was pulled away from the curtain by Sokka and Aang.
"Duuuuuuude," Sokka began, "You're probably the one making her uncomfortable right now. Besides, Ty-lee is probably doing you a favor right now behind that curtain."
"Not if she's making Mai wear something she'd never pick for herself." I maintained.
Aang explained, "Look, I don't pretend to understand girls. Because I don't. But Sokka's right, Suki, Ty-lee, Katara and Toph are always disappearing into dressing rooms and picking out clothes for each other all the time. It's like a secret girl code among girls who are friends with each other."
"Yeah!" Sokka agreed, "Suki just went in there too. They've all gotten really tight, maybe they can help your gloomy girlfriend pick something perfect for her that she wouldn't have found otherwise. Or maybe they'll get her to wear something that shows a little more skin than usual-"
I cut him off with a small burst of fire, that made Sokka let out a high-pitched sound. "Call her gloomy or mention her in something skimpy again," I warned as smoke came outta my nostrils in warning.
Aang spun his staff to wave away the smoke as he calmly told Sokka. "I even thought you had that one coming."
Then out of nowhere this teeny dead looking hag jumped out of a clothing rack and cackled menacingly inches from my face. Scared the complete crap out of all three of us, until Sokka ripped the mask off the face of our attacker to reveal, "TOPH!? NOT-FUNNY-ANYMORE!"
She fell on the floor laughing, "Oh but yes it is, it SO is! Hahahahahahahha!" She rolled around and kicked her bare feet.
Katara came up to us in a victorian looking costume that made it look like she was headless. Because her head was set low, through a weird hole and somehow her head was in her hands. "Are you guys gonna stand here and be targets for Toph all night? Or are you gonna try on some costumes and find your look for this Halloween?"
"You're right Sweetie!" Aang smooshed, disgustingly. "That one, is sick, by the way." He thumbs-upped
"Thanks, sweetie." Katara winked, "But you all set the bar pretty high with your choices last year. You better get cracking if you want to top yourself this year. A lot of good ones are already sold out."
I circled the place looking at everything and being terrorized by Toph four more times… and a few workers who get paid to dress in different costumes every day. If Mai and I weren't such high society kids, I could have seen us easily working here. Possibly even falling for one another and our love for the holiday. But as I managed to make it back to the changing rooms without a single costume in hand… Suki caught me.
"What's the matter Zuko? Didn't you find anything that you wanted to try on?" Suki asked me and I had to pretend she was still dressed as the Kyoshi warrior who'd become a friend… instead of a girl wearing a burgundy nun's costume (so she was a fire nation nun).
"What's with the outfit?" The question was out before I could have stopped it.
"Trying to freak out Sokka." Suki shrugged, "Either he'll faint on cue, or he'll have been a very bad boy who wants to confess to some sins. Either way, it was just too much fun to pass up."
Toph added as she passed, "Or he'll take this as a hint and think he's lost his girlfriend."
"My money's on fainting," I (Zuko) wagered.
"You're on," Suki said as she swung her rosary. "Now what's up? Why aren't you even trying anything on, my child?"
"I know I did pretty good last year, but the conditions of that party were so different." I ended up confessing to the nun. "I chose well because at the party I was attending I had to still be seen as the Fire Lord. I couldn't have hidden even if I'd wanted to, but this year, this time. I'm trying to conceal who I am in a way that I won't be suffering or smothering myself all night. In a costume or mask that's completely ridiculous. I want to be completely incognito, the way my mom used to do it back in the day."
"And you don't see any potential in the thousands of possibilities surrounding you?" She asked with a wave of her hand.
"No!" I made it clear… a little too clear and a little too loudly. Not to mention I was still a little peeved that I hadn't seen my girlfriend in a while. DARN-YOU-TY-LEE!
"Okay, okay," she said patting my hand. "Take another lap with all that you just said in mind. If you make it back here again and still can't find a few things to try. I will help you, okay? But don't overthink it either. Just try to have fun with it."
"Okay," I agreed, just as Sokka stepped out dressed like a skeleton. Mask and all, took one look at Suki and fainted. Face planting right between us.
I announced triumphantly, "Told ya!"
Toph could be heard inside her changing room, "Aww MAN!"
"Yeah, it looks like I owe you," Suki just managed to say before Toph came bursting back out of her changing cubby.
"No! It's not too late!" Toph insisted, "Someone check and see if he's really knocked out or just faking."
But of course, Suki checked the same time Toph was listening to his chest. Both confirmed, "He's out."
Toph cursed all the way back to her black-curtained changing area. Suki stepping over Sokka and disappearing back into her changing room, shaking her head.
As I stepped away I heard Sokka say from the ground, "It's happened… hasn't it? I made her so mad… sh-sh-she's rethinking her life."
Before I was far from the changing areas, another curtain flew back and Mai came out calling, "Ty-LEE! Where did you and your Caveman disappear off to?"
I could hear Ty-lee correct her off in the distance, "Jungle Man!"
"What-EVER!" Mai bit back, "Get back with actual clothes I would actually want to wear."
I stood frozen to the spot as if I'd really been frozen solid. As if a water-bender had used their ability on me. Mai was wearing a witch costume, but it wasn't for a run-of-the-mill, green-faced hag witch. No one would be dropping any houses on her. This witch wore black lace, and the neckline wasn't a turtle neck. Mai was showing all kinds of the collar bone. If Ty-lee had picked this for herself, it would have been a much lower cut.
I couldn't move, she was too striking, too beautiful… and I think I may have been under an actual spell.
Mai obviously hadn't noticed me because she had her back to me, and she walked over to Sokka who was still facedown on the ground. "Sokka?" She asked, kicking at the underside of his shoe. "Why are you laying on the ground? Did Toph finally scare you that good? Are you petrified to a catatonic state?"
I love it when she' talks all smart like that. It just not the kind of banter you get to hear much when most of your teammates are so much younger than you.
Case and point, Sokka asked, "What?"
Mai sighed and explained, "Are you incapable of moving? Or are you just not moving, and laying facedown in the dirt, by choice?"
"No," He said getting up, "Suki was dressed like a- like a- DANG-GIRL!" Sokka exclaimed when he saw Mai's outfit.
Mai spun around and looked behind her locking eyes with me. "Zuko?" She spun back to face Sokka and ask, "Did you just say 'Dang Girl' to Zuko?"
"No! I said it to you." Sokka clarified as he took her hand and asked her to "Spin around!"
"Do I have to?" Mai asked right back.
"Yes! Spin!" Sokka insisted.
Aang stepped out too joining the party, "WOW MAI! You look beautiful in that dress." I probably should mention that Aang's costume was a Bumblebee-monkey when he reappeared.
"It's the Lace," Ty-lee insisted, "Softens her whole look."
"If only I felt beautiful in it." Mai complained, not meeting anyone's eye. Not even mine, and I really wanted her to. "What if I don't want to soften my whole look."
I was finally able to speak again, "Then you don't have to. Halloween's all about fun and darkness. Two of your favorite things, find the costume that you like best and go with that." I'd said as I walked over to her. Then I whispered in her ear, "But you are totally gorgeous in this too."
Mai scoffed, "The lace witch? Please. I met a few real witches before and they didn't wear frills like this. They were real women."
"Those witches wore all black and leather," Ty-lee recalled, clearly she'd been there too. She even told Katara, "That was back in our boiling rock days."
Mai crossed her arms and insisted, "Sounds like a good life to me."
Katara popped out of a curtain, dressed as a fortuneteller or gypsy. Crystal ball in hand she asked, "Wouldn't that be more uncomfortable and restrictive?"
Mai shrugged, "Some of us enjoy a little pain." Then she took Ty-lee by the arm and pulled her back in the curtained changing area.
When they were out of sight, for once Sokka and Aang were agreeing with me. Mai gets what she wants.
After that I tried to focus on my own outfit. But all I was still thinking about was black lace and I had to ask Ty-lee to make sure that one didn't get put back on the rack. That one had to go home with us. Even if it wasn't a costume she would wear anytime soon. It was just something we needed to keep.
After that, all of our friends became focused on helping me and Mai find our look. We tried EVERYTHING. We tried making our own costumes out of a bunch of pieces we liked. We tried all kinds of scary and ridiculous ones. I think the most fun moment for Mai had been right after she told Ty-lee that she was "giving up." She'd been dressed as a mermaid at the time and was about to kill Katara for suggesting it. When I stepped out dressed as a stereotypical masked, and leotard sporting wrestler (Think Nacho Libre). She was openly laughing so hard, her eyes started to tear. Sokka came out dressed as my caped rival and we were play fighting till I'd won. Katara and Toph were throwing black roses at me as I'd walked back into my changing room like a real wrestler.
It wasn't till I'd explained I needed something to cover my scar. That we finally struck gold, because that was what had made Aang bring me an Opera Phantom costume. I told him, "My mom loved this opera. Mai loves this opera, but I think it's the dumbest thing ever."
I couldn't see Aang but I could hear him shrug, "Hey! It's one of the only masks that won't cover your whole head. But will cover your scar, beggars can't be choosers, hotman. It's getting late and we still gotta eat. Aren't you hungry?"
"No, I'm not, and don't call me 'hotman;' it's just weird for a guy to say to another," I told the Avatar for the umpteenth time.
I had managed to change in the time it had taken him to say all of that. I was expecting everyone to laugh. I was thinking it was impossible for me to like this one. But, When I stepped out from behind the curtain. The entire group of people standing there. Even strangers were like, "ooooooooooooow!"
"What?" I demanded.
Katara began, "Zuko, don't take this the wrong way but-"
"You are HOT!" Ty-lee freaked out.
"You're kidding?" I said, completely unconvinced.
"No, you're definitely putting out a vibe here." Sokka thumbs-upped me.
I still didn't believe them, until I turned around and was walking back to my changing cubby. I saw Mai peeking out of her curtain, and she didn't say anything. But she was blushing at the sight of me. The same way the other girls just had been.
SOLD! I found my costume. I was going to have to tell my mother about this the next time I saw her. It was one of her favorite Operas that played at the big fancy theaters in the fire nation's capital city. It made her top five at least. I think she may be the only person possibly more thrilled than Mai right now.
The next costume that Mai came out in, had a similar effect on our team and strangers. I peeked out before stepping out and saw Mai dressed in a costume called the "Spiderwasp-mistress" It had been one of her favorite fairy tales growing up. The dark princess who didn't have any friends besides spiders. Till one day the Spider King came and swept her away from her miserable life and took her back to his webbed kingdom of darkness. Of course, she killed in that tight black dress, all trimmed in bright red. Her teeny hat to the side on her head. With a huge jeweled spider-wasp with a gauzy black veil. She looked deadly and gorgeous all at the same time, it was PERFECT for her.
She'd even said, "I think we've found it."
Then we all paid for our favorites, the team was headed for dinner. I really wished that Mai could come too. But she had to get back to her house and eat with her parents. This was always what it was like when she went home. It's why I insisted on her staying with me at the palace whenever we could get away with it. I let her be a free person and her family wouldn't.
I've barely gotten to see her at all since that day. I've missed her terribly and I have so much I want to talk to her about. One of the biggest things that happened since we've been apart. My mother, her husband Ikem and Kiyi discreetly came into the Fire Nation. I was thinking they'd come because of some business or other reason. But it turns out that my mother had remembered my story of how I always missed her more this time of year. So I'd still missed my girlfriend like a part of me had been missing. But spending this time with my new family had been really nice. Even if especially my Mother, it really felt like I was healing up all kinds of invisble scars just sitting with her and this new branch of my family tree. One that didn't want me dead and honorless.
The night before Halloween I had been talking up our kingdom's attention to Halloween. My little sister had been starry-eyed listening to it. Since I was taking Mai's baby brother trick-or-treating already, and to thank them for their visit. I told Mother and Ikem to attend the masquerade and have a night to themselves. Offering to treat my new baby sister to a night of trick-or-treating with Mai, Tom-Tom and me. My mother was reluctant because she loved this holiday too.
Ikem put a hand on my Mother's shoulder and said, "It could be their only chance to do something like this together."
Kiyi even made her own case saying, "Can I go with Zuko tomorrow night, mother? Can I please?"
How could anyone turn that down, so I dressed in my costume and knocked on my mother's door. I of course had all three staying with me at the palace. When my mother opened the door and saw my costume. She couldn't stop telling me how great it looked. Then she told me if I wanted to hide my hair was still too obvious so she and Ikem had both been slicking back my hair different ways till they found the right look. Where I no longer looked like me so much, and Kiyi came rushing around the corner in her teeny little fairy princess dress. She curtsied clumsily and nearly fell over she'd done it so fast (she'd been running and had never fully stopped). But she looked like a perfect little princess. Rosy cheeks, crown on her head, wand in hand and glittery wings that left a trail of glitter everywhere she went.
Before we left, I just had to see what Ikem and my Mother would wear. Of course, they matched each other perfectly as day of the dead skellingtons. A bride and groom, it really took me back seeing my mother dressed that way. So beautiful and free now, with the person she'd truly loved all along. My father would never wear such a thing, even to make her happy. It left my heart feeling light as I'd taken Kiyi's hand and promised to never let her out of my sight. Told them to have a good time over my shoulder, and "Not to worry about a thing."
I rushed to the place where Mai and I were supposed to have met. But she didn't show… that was really strange. After thirty minutes of standing there, I pulled on Kiyi's little hand and told her, "Come on. We'll come right back but let me check on Mai first."
"Is everything okay, Big Brother?" Kiyi did a good job of not saying my name while I was trying to remain hidden from the public. We were surrounded by people on all sides dressed in costumes. I doubt anyone looked at us twice, but it was still very good for such a little girl. Her favorite dolly tucked under her arm, bucket in hand, and her other hand in mine.
We headed to the governor's mansion, and the only way the guards had let me by was a glance at my scar. Looks like this look does do a good job of hiding who I am. When I got inside, I looked everywhere for Mai, even inside of her own room. But she wasn't anywhere to be found and my little sister kept asking me, "Big brother is this house haunted?" Or "Big brother did you hear that? I don't like this place."
I told her, "I don't like it either. That's why we gotta get her outta here for the night."
Luckily Kiyi liked this idea, she kept telling me. "It's like you're one of the princes in my storybook back home. It's like she's trapped in a tower and you have to let her out. Or no one will."
"You're strangely close to the truth, baby sister," I told her as we stashed ourselves behind some curtains when some of the house staff went by. So of the staff I didn't feel like dealling with.
I didn't even need to explain this to my sister, she held her nose and claimed, "They smell." That was all the answer she needed.
The last door I tried led to the nursery, where Tom-Tom lived all the time. It was connected to the Governor's private bed quarters, I'd only been inside of it once. When Mai took him with us for a walk (his parents never take him out and neither does his nanny).
I was that desperate at this point and I looked inside.
I did not expect what I found there at all. For one, it was a total mess inside, like completely destroyed. The walls were all colored on, in paint and crayon. Looking like it had been done by a child. The crib was turned on its side, curtains were all torn down off of the windows. There was white fluff everywhere. It looks like a couple of pillows had been razed. Toys were everywhere and sitting in the middle of all of this was Mai sound asleep with little Tom-Tom strapped to her chest in some kind of papoose that allowed Mai to carry him without touching him. Tom-Tom was sound asleep as well and from this view. You could actually see the family resemblance. Even though Mai would have killed me if I'd told her that. It was uncanny, and they looked like brother and sister.
Kiyi tugged on me and whispered, "Should we go, or should we wake them up?"
I whispered back, "Let me try, okay?"
She nodded and whispered, "Okay," then felt the need to add. "She's really pretty, Zuko."
I corrected, "She's beautiful, like you and mother."
She liked that answer and she busied herself at a tiny table near the window. She had to sit it back up and she plopped her dolly in a chair and started to quietly assemble a tea party on the fly.
I shook Mai's shoulder gently and called her name. She didn't wake up she didnt even really stir. She simply slid to where she was laying flat on the floor and curled herself protectively around her brother. Both remained soundly asleep. I don't know what happened in here but this sibling pair had really worn each other out. So I did the only thing that I could think to do. I picked Mai up, careful not to hurt her or her brother. I was going to put them both in the bed nearby. One of the only things left untouched in the whole room.
That was when Mai started to come around and ask me, "What do you think you're doing?"
"You're awake?" I asked and she glared at me.
"Yes, Fire Lord Obvious," Mai sassed. "What are you even doing here. We're supposed to meet after dark at the-"
"I know, I was there and you weren't." I pointed out to her making sure to stop right next to the clock and window showing how dark it was outside.
"No, I was supposed to meet you at…" That was when her amber eyes locked onto the clock and she realized. "Oh no, I stood you up."
"No," I shook my head, "You would have stood me up if it was on purpose and we'd gone without you. But I came here and it was just an accident."
"Why are you carrying me?" She asked, pushing at my chest and I cautioned her. That her brother was still strapped to her middle.
I shushed and answered her softer, "I'm helping you," I shrugged, "You seem too tired. So I was putting you somewhere better than the floor."
"My boyfriend shows up in my house, dressed as one of my favorite tragic characters, and wants to take me out on Halloween Night. You think I'm gonna miss it?" Mai asked pretty clearly for someone who just woke up.
"I understand if you're not up for it." I tried to assure, but Mai only fixed me with a glare and asked.
"You dressed like that on my favorite night of the year, are you kidding?" Mai asked, in her classic flat tone.
I sat her down on the flat surface of the bed and I recalled, "I thought you liked this play."
"I love that play it's tragic and unforgiving like most of reality and if that character you're wearing wasn't fictional. If he was a real person, he may be the only living thing to give you some solid competition." Mai told me matter a factly.
Kiyi nodded, "Schooled." And gave Mai a thumbs up.
"Who is that?" Mai asked in a hushed version of her normal tone as one of her hands rubbed her baby brother''s back while he slept.
"That's my new little sister Kiyi, I haven't seen you in the last few days or else I could have warned you. She's coming with us too, so we've both got baby siblings with us." I shrugged while her expression remained unreadable for a moment.
Mai got up and unstrapped her baby brother who was still sleeping. She managed to set his cribe right, put him in it and not wake him up. Turn back to my little sister and say, "So you're Zuko's little sister?"
"Uh-huh!" Kiyi answered, before she curtsied and said, "It's nice to meet you Mai. Your way more prettiful than big brother and Mother both said."
"And your a bigger girl than I was expecting." Mai complimented. "The way Azula and Zuko both talked about you I was expecting someone a little closer to my brother's age."
"I'm this many." She said holding up her fingers to indicate her age.
Mai complimented, "Wow you're already on your second hand. You know I've had to start counting on my toes. Because that's what happens when you get old."
I thought that when Mai was talking super smart she couldn't be hotter. But it turns out she's just that much more smoking hot speaking with my littlest sibling. Funny hearing her speak with Azula never made this kind of impact. I zoned out for a minute and the next thing I know Mai has come over close to me and she's whispering, "She's just like you when you were young."
"What?" I asked, "I didn't carry around dollies and have tea parties."
Mai reminded, "You forget Warrior Wayland and Your Uncles Tea parties when we were little?"
"I've blacked them all out, when I traveled with him every day was like that." I warned. Adding under my breath that, "Wayland was a warrior not a girly dolly."
"Right hot shot Fire lord, keep telling yourself that." Mai said patting my shoulder a little condescending. I crossed my arms and had a great come back, but instead Mai said, "I'm just gonna go get into my costume real quick. Just give me a minute, and try to stay quiet."
"Okay." I said, not expecting the second she left. Tom-Tom would spring to life, and start to wail and scream. Standing up in his crib, big tears rolling.
I tried to pick him up and calm him down but he didn't recognize me. So I did the same thing I did with the guards. I showed Tom-Tom my face without the mask. When he saw my scar he gasped and began to hug me saying over and over, "ZuZu…ZuZu…ZUZU!" Laughing, clapping, kicking his feet and pointing at my mask. Now that he knew it was me, I was funny… just like usual. Did anything not entertain this kid? Had Mai been this jolly when she was a baby? I wondered and I just couldn't picture that.
I called over Kiyi and sat next to her on the floor. Then I said, "Tom-Tom, this is my little sister Kiyi. Kiyi, this is Mai little baby brother Tom-Tom. This is his first time trick or treating."
Kiyi gasped and asked me, "It's his first time ever ever?"
"Yep, we gotta show him how it's done, so next year he's ready," I told Kiyi as she took hold of his hand and shook it.
He smiled up at my sister and called her, "KiKi!"
Kiyi was very polite saying, "Nice to meet you Tom-Tom. Gosh! He's so small… even smaller than some of my dolls. Is he even big enough to go?"
"Nope, he probably won't even remember it later. But we gotta show him while we've got a chance." I heard myself being honest. "He might not always have a chance to have fun like this. His parents are very busy and important people. They don't have much time for him the same way they didn't have time for Mai. So let's make it our mission to have lots of fun with him tonight, okay?"
"Okay," she agreed easily, before asking, "Can he walk?"
"Oh yeah," I answered confidently because I'd seen him walking weeks ago. I set him on his feet, but he immediately fell and crawled with an unnatural speed. "He can, he's just still better at crawling. Mai and Me are probably gonna have to carry him."
"Can I help?" She asked all stary-eyed. Before I could tell her no, Mai was back in her Spider-wasp maiden dress and slipping Tom-Tom's costume over his head. I have no idea how she'd managed to slip in that dress, style her hair perfectly and put on make up all so quickly. But Knowing her she's been practicing her makeup getting it perfect for days. She was GOREGOUS! And thankfully unrecognizable, no one would be bugging her about her status or parent's status tonight.
As she flew through dressing her brother, I noticed that he was dressed like a little purple spiderwasp. Against all of the black and red on Mai's costume his color popped. So he was like her pet, it was so perfect how they matched. The whole time Mai was putting his costume on he giggled and played with Mai's hands like it was a game. It looked like her makeup and hair hadn't been the only thing she'd been practicing since I last saw her. She had it all worked out. Then she strapped him back to the front of her dress and was walking out of the room fast enough to make me and Kiyi both stumble as we tried to keep up. Kiyi reminded me, "You need to take my hand, big brother. Because your little sister isn't in a carrier, cause she's big enough to walk."
"He can too," I defended and then I ended up picking up my little sister and running to catch up with Mai's speed as she sped out of the house. "It's just he still crawls easier. We were all like that before we were walking all the time."
Before we knew it we were back at the meeting place and where the crowds were still pouring in. But thankfully we were able to blend in the crowd pretty well. The best capital city experience was always found on the longest road in capital city. The street was really called Roku Road the rest of the year, but on Halloween night it was the most famous road for what was called, "The Ghost Walk." The whole street was closed off and covered in tents of all kinds of goodies and treats and tricks. Stepping into each tent you didn't know weather it was a treat or a trick. That was the fun part, at the end of the road there was a huge party with more tricks, treats, dancing, singing laughing and sometimes people had stayed there all night. But with these little ones. I knew me and Mai would have to turn back eventually.
I had Mai's hand in my left hand, Kiyi's in my right and we stepped into the first tent we came up to. The first one was just a welcoming tent. Explaining to anyone who didn't know the rules and had never been here before. Kiyi charmed our greeters so well with her glitter trail and fairy princess vibe. They were giving her candy already. Tom-Tom giggles were so contagious, he'd done just as well. It looked like this was gonna be a cake walk.
But four tents later, we stumbled onto the first trick of the night. I didn't know how that was gonna go. Kiyi ran right up to the box that said treats and an old man popped out and yelled in her face. I said, "Oh no it's a trick, we better run."
But Kiyi had other plans. She tapped the man with her "magic wand" and said, "That's not very nice mister snow beard." I guess she called him that because the man was as bald as Aang, except he did have a long scraggly white beard.
Tom-Tom even pointed and said, "Bad! Bad-Bad-Bad-Bad-BAD!" I had to let go of Kiyi's hand to pick her up again and run away. The man went back inside his box as we ran. I explained as we ran, "That's the fun, if it's a trick we gotta run. Okay? So the next person can walk in and be scared."
As Mai and me took hands again and I was still carrying Kiyi. She won Mai's approval completely when she said, "But that guy wasn't even that scary. He was just sad."
"Sad?" I repeated as Mai pulled me closer.
Mai said into my ear, "I never say this but, I like her."
"Of course you would like that," I gave my girlfriend a little attitude. "I remember what Halloween nights were like with you back when you were her age."
Kiyi was walking on her own and holding my hand again. "You knew each other when you were my age?"
Mai answered for me, "Yes we did, your fairy highness." That was the game we were playing all night to keep our identities secret. I was "big brother" to Kiyi and my character's name to Mai which happened to be "Lee." It wasn't to difficult to act like that was name again. Tom-Tom was still calling me "ZuZu." but if anyone understood him they probably just thought it was all baby talk. Kiyi was "Fairy Queen" and "your fairy highness." Mai was "Spiderwasp Lady," "Spiderwasp Queen" or simply "the Dark One." She was enjoying this way too much.
"You were both my age once?" Kiyi asked mystified.
"Yes," I said, squeezing her hand. "I even had to hold mother's hand the way that you're holding mine now."
Kiyi smiled, "Mother always makes me do too." but she waved me down to her height and said, "but I'm glad to be holding your hand tonight, big brother."
"Me too, your highness." I said as she kissed me on the cheek. This kid has got me wrapped around her little finger.
The next three tents were tricks and we were running too much to talk. But we were laughing too. Kiyi had screamed at the last one, but it had become a laugh as we ran. When she could talk she was saying. "That one… w-was a little…be-better, it shocked me… though it didn't scare me."
I complimented her, "You're a very brave little fairy queen."
Mai grinned at me impishly as she threw over her shoulder, "Let's just say your brother wasn't quite so brave back then." My girlfriend just had to tease me.
"Were you scared big brother?" She asked with a smile that made me worried. Would I be losing big brother points if I share that I had been an easy target for the tricksters when I was little?
"Not just now." I felt the need to clarify. "But when I was your age, I used to go with Mother, our older sister (Azula), Ty-lee and the Dark One (Mai). All of them are pretty un-scare-able, so compared to them I was easy to get a sceam or reaction. So I usually got terrorized half the night and none of them even blinked."
Mai boasted proudly as we were waiting to enter the next tent, "I think you may be as unshakable as we were, Fairy Queen."
"Yay! But I can imagine big sister scaring more people than the other way around." Kiyi shared matter a factly. Gaining a laugh from both me and Mai.
"Then you would be imagining exactly right," Mai nodded, smiling easily. I had been so worried that Mai and my sister wouldn't be able to get along. Thankfully things were turning out much better than even I had expected.
We had been letting Kiyi, pick the tents we visited, Mai had picked a few and so had I. Tom-Tom had noticed this and decided it was his turn to pick. He pointed to a tent. The same way we had and said, "AHHHHHHHH!"
Mai laughed and said, "I think my pet wants us to check that one next."
Kiyi reasoned, "It's only fair, he's the only one who hasn't picked yet. But when we entered the tent he'd picked. There was nothing there but an average wooden cart full of cabbages and a heavy blanket of fog. Kiyi asked me, "Is this in the right place?"
I shared, "I don't know," and we all started to walk around when we heard a voice moaning and groaning loudly like a ghost behind us. We turned to look at the cart and on the otherside of it. Buried deep in the heads of cabbage was one human face that was spinning and saying, "My body… my body… Has any one seen my body?"
Then a headless body came busting through the side of the tent and we all ran out screaming, "TRICK!"
Thankfully the next few were goodies and candies. Kiyi even offered to take Tom-Tom's hand and lead him up to where the sweets were being handed out. He took her hand so happily and watched Kiyi so carefully for what to do. Then copied her best he could, while me and Mai took just a second to sit on a bench nearby. I took her hand and asked, "Are you having more fun than you thought you would?"
"I'll admit," she gave in easier than I thought she would. "This is all going much better than I thought it would. But the night is still not over and you know I hate to jinx anything before it's over."
"But you are having fun?" I had to confirm. She let go of my hand to take my arm and lay her head on my shoulder saying. "This has been the best halloween I've had in ages. Even if that ends right here. It's been the best night. Thank you for being here."
"Thank you for not standing me up for real." I teased gaining a quick kiss before the little one's came back. Then Kiyi and Tom-Tom came rushing back faces all sticky with sweets. Kiyi had been rushing along but watching Tom-Tom and making sure he was keeping with her. If my mother were to ever have any more children with her new husband. Kiyi would be a great big sister.
I know it's something I shouldn't be thinking about at all. But it did cross my mind if I were to give Kiyi some nieces or nephews, she would be a great aunt too. I just couldn't help but think that. Especially as Kiyi asked, "Can I hold the Dark One's hand this time, Big Brother? I have to use the ladies room soon."
"Yes, and we'll find one along the way here." I promised. Remembering just how many times I'd told my mother that I needed to find the same thing when we were small. Back then I had to brave the men's room solo or be taken in the ladies room with my eyes covered. Since Mai had Kiyi's hand, it was only fair that I got Tom-Tom duty. But the second he was handed to me, I caught a whif of something awful. I quickly realized it was his diaper, so while the ladies were hand-in-hand headed for a lady's room. I was on a bench trying to figure out how to change his diaper. I had finally gotten it when the ladies returned.
Mai was impressed, when she saw me folding back up the changing pad I'd had to lay the little guy on. All I needed to know was, "What do you do with the dirty one's?"
Mai took it from me and put it in the nearest trash can. I asked her, "Aren't you supposed to clean the cloth and use it again?"
"Sure," she shrugged, "But I don't intend on carrying that stink all night long. Or making you carry it, we can spare one or two from the thousands back home." She explained. Before asking me, "Are you okay with him or do you need to switch back?"
"No, I'm good," I said as I slid my arms into the straps after a few adjustments. "I think me and Tom-Tom can handle some guy time where I'm not cleaning his mess."
That was when almost disater happened. As Fairy Queen was skipping her shoe caught her dress just right and tore a big split up the right side of her dress skirt. She was almost in tears panicking when Mai realized what was wrong and scooped her up and carried her quickly over to a well lit bench. Saying, "Hold on… don't cry… I can fix it."
Then she asked me for the baby bag, I had slung over my shoulder (It had been on hers when she'd had Tom-Tom. I was giving her a break in more ways than one). She reached in a side pocket and pulled out a tiny sewing kit. She threaded a needle right there and quickly closed back up the split. But Tom-Tom had seen her mess with the bag, and he wanted his sippy cup since he could see it and almost reach it. So I let him have it and I think he got more juice on himself than in his mouth. But he was happy, while Mai was finishing up. She even took a tiny pair of scissors and shortened the skirt so it wouldn't happen again.
I marveled, "All of those scary things didn't scare you. But a tear in you dress and you're almost crying?"
Kiyi pouted at me not sure what to do or say, Mai settled that for her. "Shut up Zuko. You don't know the pressures of a lady, always having to look her best. Especially a Queen."
"Yeah, shut up big brother." Kiyi repeated, "Till you're a girl too, you'll never know."
I know they were shuting me down, but all I could do was laugh. They were already agreeing with each other and sticking together on things. I couldn't help but be thrilled about that. Even when Tom-Tom spit up all over himself.
Then we were back to tents, of treats and tricks. I completely forgot that my uncle had mentioned that the white lotus had been majorly involved with this 'Ghost Walk' this year. That is till the scariest trick we'd seen all night had been King Bumi and Joeng-Joeng working together. Joeng-Joeng used his fire bending like a lot of masters were tonight. To create terrifying allusions in his flames.
Instead of being scared, Kiyi turned to me and asked, "Can you do that, Big Brother?"
Joeng-Joeng answered for me before I could. "Your brother's the Fire lord, he can do anything."
I shook his hand knowing that high praise wasn't common from him.
While King Bumi was a Gargoryle that would seem like a real stone statue… till he was lunging at you. He was wearing a mask but his physic, physicality and snorting totally gave him away.
I'd greeted him, "King Bumi?"
He lifted his mask and said, "Fire Lord Zuko. What a beautiful night for it, eh?"
"You seem to be having fun." I smiled and my sister was amazed.
"Stone-man's a king too?" She asked. Curtsying to him as Mai did the same respectfully. Bumi being the charmer he was he kissed both ladies hands.
Kiyi said, "I didn't know Kings could be ghouls."
Bumi told her, "That's the thing about being King. They never want to let us have any fun anymore. Your brother has started to learn that one the hard way already, I see. Nice costume, covers your scar, but I'd still know any friend of Aang's a mile away."
Then he said, "Here!" And threw my sister an entire bag of candy. Claiming, "People keep leaving their candy and too scared to come back for it. I'm only giving her a whole bag because I've gathered quite the collection for myself. But I like your sister! She can have that one! Happy Haunting Little Monsters! Heeehhehhe(snort)hhehe(snort-snort)hehe(snort)hehhe (Snort-Snort)!"
The next tent was Sokka's former swordsman master, Piandao. He was dressed like a great hero from the fables sparing with another master I didn't recognize. It turned out to be one of the kyoshi warriors dressed as the classic villain and even though I didn't know her as well, Mai did. So we were both way too invested…
When we left my sister asked Mai, "Was that a trick or a treat?"
We both agreed, it was a treat, definitely a treat! We'd clapped and cheered as we went on to the next tent.
The next tent was a trick, being run by Toph personally even though a tent connected to it was being run by her metalbending school students. Mai and I didn't just recognize her Earth bending style (ridiculous). We also recognized her booming maniacal laughter all around us in that tent. There weren't a whole lot of earth-bending tents here so proudly showing off their style of fun. I was thrilled for the diversity she was bringing to this festival of tents. But I still let her know when she jumped out at us right at the exit. All aged and dead looking, "Not FUNNY Toph!"
She laughed in my face, "But the look on your face! Worth it!"
Mai reminded her, "Toph you can't see his face, you're blind."
"Just cause I can't see with my eyes doesn't mean I don't see at all!" She shrugged, before opening the exit and creepily sending us off with an eerie. "Nighty-nighty, my victims! Bye Zuko's little sister, thanks for the non-existent intro. Nice manners there King Fire maker, smell ya later Tom-Tom. He needs a curtsy change. Bye Mai, behave Zuko, hands where she can see 'em."
"I AM behaved," I said back and Kiyi was asking questions a mile a minute.
"Was she your friend? That's Toph? The Toph? How can she see if she can't see with her eyes? She looked pretty, is she pretty when she isn't supposed to be dead? Does she always laugh so evil? Like all the time? Can she really bend metal? How old is she? She isn't so much bigger than me." Yes, Kiyi really did say and ask all of that after seeing Toph.
The tents connected and run by her metal bending school were all more like rides. One was called "the A-Maze-ing Maze" because it was a tunnel earth-bent leading you out to a cornfield maze. Another tunnel lead to a more complicated maze called "The Labyrith" that had been earth-bent out of a mountainside nearby. It was carved outta stoney tall walls deep in the mountain's face. It was much more difficult and dark. Perfect for creeps and freaks to loom and jumpout. There also was a haunted hayride called, "the Scream Ride" where people sat on a bunch of haystacks and were taken through haunted places up a few connected streets where the neighborhoods were in on the prank. How Toph was able to arrange all of this I'll never know. But ince again I was impressed with what she was capable of.
Mai has always had a knack for mazes (spent too much time exploring them when she was bored at rich parties growing up). So we aced both mazes quickly even though Kiyi had to be carried by the end (her feet were hurting) and there were some ghouls chasing us in places.
The Hayride was especially nice because you got to sit in a soft place and I got to pull Mai close. It was much easier keeping my cool when those spooks popped out. Just because we were all so comfortable.
The next few tents were also being run by honorary members of team avatar. Haru and his father were running a tent together with some friends from all over. They were all dressed as grim reapers and were handing out candy-coated apples on sticks. Their Apples were on sticks because they had been dipped and coated in all kinds of different colors and flavors. I picked the orangy shiny apple that tasted like sunshine and honey. Mai picked the pitch-black candied one that shimmered like glitter, Kiyi picked a neon green one and Tom-Tom just licked at an apple slice dipped in straight chocolate. It smelt really nice as he swung it in my face few times.
But they were called "Poisoned Apples." Just standing there talking to our friends we heard four different stories about how strange things have always happened to people when they ate candied apples on Halloween night. So it wasn't just apples dipped in sugar it was a ghost story-sharing post too.
I didn't even let them finish the first story before I was taking a big bite out of mine and I'm still here.
Kiyi asked, "Do you feel different, big brother?"
"I feel less hungry," I'd shrugged.
Mai on the other hand took a more teeny bite. Having always had perfect table manners. Then she played out the whole poisoned thing. Pretending to pretty much die and throwing herself on a bench nearby. While Kiyi was jumping up and down telling me, "Oh no! Oh no! Her's was really poisoned, do something, Zuko!" She was so upset she'd slipped and said my name. Luckily we were surrounded by friends and people who didn't seem to notice her slip. Mai was the center of attention.
I let Haru's dad hold Tom-Tom. If Mai was gonna actually play sleeping beauty, this former banished prince wasn't missing the chance to play along. I rushed heroically to Mai's side. "Mai! Mai! Why did you have to try the black one?"
She'd landed face down on the bench I had to roll her to face me. She had her eyes close and her face impressively blank. I shook her and called out but no response. So I did what any self respecting prince (or in my case fire lord) would do when they're girlfriend has been poisoned. I kissed her and when my lips connected with hers. I felt her laughed right into the kiss, but continued to act as if I was saving her. Kiyi and all of our friends cheered. But what neither of us had expected at all was for their to be a crowd gathered around this performance and they cheered too. Loudly, and it appears to have started a trend for their Candy-dipped poison apples.
Suddenly all of the benches near Haru's attraction were filled with "poisoned" monsters and princesses. All needing "rescuing," Mai told me, "You know that's all your fault. Those girls didn't want just any guy saving them. They're hoping for you or rather your character."
"Even if that is true, and I don't think it is." I told Mai. "It's still more your fault for putting on such a good show." If I hadn't swooped in when I did. Probably some other guy would have."
Kiyi was already at the next tent getting treated to Fairy-Floss at the next tent (cotton candy), I'm beginning to think some of her glitter trail is pure sugar at this point. That tent was being run by a few old ladies who were friends of my uncle and white lotus members.
The next tent was run by what remains of Jet's vigilantes. They called their tent, "The Lost Boys" Where you had to find the twenty hidden objects in the tent. If you found them you were given a special prize. If you gave up, you had sit in the dunking booth and hope you didn't get drenched. Luckily we found all twenty and Kiyi got to keep the prize. A Wand that glows (think glow stick).
The next tent was run by another familiar face, Teo and his father Mechanist. They'd built a huge bon-fire that was a wonderful place to warm yourself (if you were a non-bender or anything else besides a fire bender). Teo was teaching kids how to cook Marshmallows, hotdogs, and other treats on these long sticks and then his father was helping them smoosh them in between the bread of a bun or chocolate and crackers of a smore. Teo volunteered to personally take our two troublemakers and give us a little time alone.
We thanked him and didn't wander far, but we did walk to the otherside of the heath. It wasn't long before Mai was in my lap telling me honestly. "I don't wanna go back, can we just leave them with Mechanist and Teo. They like them okay."
I shook my head and told her, "You know you're not gonna do that."
"This is the only place I've wanted to be all night." She said burrowing into my shoulder a little more. "This was all I wanted for today, and even though I'm having fun. I'm getting to the point that this is all I want for the rest of the night."
"I get it," I tried to be serious and not smile. It was like we had the same mind sometimes. She was saying everything I was thinking myself. "Believe me, I feel the same. But it's like you said about your brother. This could be our only chance to show him Halloween our way. We should walk the rest of the way to the end. And this may be the only time I get to do this with my little sister too. Who lives far away and just came into my life, I want it to be memorable, for all of us."
"I know," Mai said miserably. "I am curious about the rest of the tents too. There aren't a whole lot left, we've almost finished the whole strip entirely. Like back in the day."
"Only this time when we reach the dancing part at the end, we're not too little to go in." I teased, "Aren't you curious to see what all of the fuss was about?"
"Well yeah," Mai sassed back, "Why else do you think I've lasted this long?"
"That's what I thought," I nodded to myself.
Mai added, "The problem is that my boyfriend is the kind of guy who doesn't dance in places like that typically. Not because he can't or doesn't know how. But because he finds it stupid and a waste of time-"
"Yeah, that guy needs to lighten up." I said about myself.
Mai wasn't to be deterred, she got right to the point. "If we go in there tonight, with us both dressed like this. Spiderwasp-mistress and Lee the Opera Phantom. Is Lee gonna dance with the Dark One and let himself find a better ending to his evening? Or is Lee gonna find himself pinned to a wall by an array of knives by NOT dancing with his girlfriend?"
The devil in me wanted to say "No," just to see if she really would pin me to a wall that way again. The last time she had done something so nerve-racking to send me a message. I'd found out how incredibly hot it was when she did things like that. It has only happened once in all the time I've known her. But I wouldn't mind going there again.
But I could see, this wasn't a time to kid. I needed to assure her, so I said, "Yes, I'll dance with you. It's no problem because Zuko's the one who's a stick in the mud who won't dance… and tonight I'm Lee."
"No," Mai corrected, trailing a finger down my bared cheek. "Underneath it all you're still Zuko. If you weren't there's no way I'd go anywhere near that dancefloor. Because I'm just as bored as you usually, you're my perfect match… in nearly every way. I'm usually just as likely to hit the ballroom floor as you are. But tonight has just got me in a really weirdly good mood and I want to be able to finish it right."
I couldn't help it, I had to kiss her after that. It was like all of the things I wanted to say I couldn't, so I put it all in that kiss and hoped she got it. The way she kissed back, I think she felt the same.
Before we were expected to return to babysitting duty and going tent to tent. I had to take this moment to ask Mai something I was too curious about still. "By the way, what did that glitter black apple candy taste like."
She bargained, "I'll let you taste mine if you'll let me try yours."
I warned her, "You may not like it was like sunshine and honey."
She cautioned, "I could tell you the same, mine was a super dark chocolate so it was a bit bitter. But with all of the sweets we've had tonight. It was like a break for my tastebuds."
We exchanged apples and few more kisses before Teo rolled back to us and handed Kiyi and Tom-Tom back to us. He'd even been riding them around in circles in his wheelchair. He was still so bright and cheerful as he wished us all a happy night.
The next tent(s) was Aang (werewolf man) and Katarra (Fortuneteller gypsy lady). Aang was supposed to be running a pumpkin carving tent solo. Katara was assigned the goldfish tent slash bobbing for apples tent. She was feeling like she'd been given both of these tasks because she was one of the only waterbenders to sign-up. So she had a table with a crystal ball in the center of her split tent where she was reading palms and telling fortunes. I questioned her on where she'd gotten the training for this, to qualify for such trust, but Katara insisted "on being taught by her Gran-Gran." And told me to quit being a "total butt."
But leave it to them to keep combining their forces and meeting in between their tents. So it was more like their corner. Aang was giving out small pumpkins and letting the kids paint or carve them any way they wanted. Pumpkins kids could carry, put in their bucket, or just fit a lit candle inside.
Of course Aang was showing off his airbending skills blasting pumpkin guts outta the carved creations and Katara was using her waterbending to paint-bend some white pumpkins she'd found. But there was a bunch of white pumpkins lining the road the rest of the way leading to where the dancefloor was happening at the very end of the line and Katara wouldn't let anyone mess with them.
Claiming that those white pumpkins were perfect as is. Elegant even, sitting there not painted or carved. I kept messing with them just to piss her off. But I couldn't really see how a white pumpkin was any better or more beautiful than an regular one. Until I saw Mai holding one and sharing with Katara. "I think the white ones are classy too, their's something so pretty about them and they don't need a lot of help to be that way. They just are naturally beautiful."
I had to point out, "Like you."
Mai and Katara looked at me, forgetting I had been there. Katara smiled at me like, "Nicely done." While Mai blushed just a touch of color, I don't know if it the costume or the great night we're having but her blushes are super rare and that's the second I've gotten when I was wearing this outfit. I was loving it.
Mai shared with me after that, "The first time I ever saw a white pumpkin was at this event. The first time I was allowed to come with Azula and you. I completely loved it, but my nurses threw it away and wouldn't let me keep it long. They kept telling me it stank and it was rotten but it wasn't. I was just heartbroken."
"Do you want one tonight?" I asked, she gets what she wants. Aang wouldn't care, I'm sure.
But Mai said, "No, it'd be too heavy to carry all that way. Especially after both of us carrying Tom-Tom, Kiyi, the diaper bag and these heavy pails all night. I'm just admiring from a afar."
Tom-Tom picked out a teeny pumpkin that was green as an Earth kingdom's flag. He kept gnawing on the stem and slobbing all over it. No way that wasn't his. He wouldn't let us carve it for him, he just took a bite out of it and clapped at it like he'd created a masterpiece with his bite and teeth marks. It must have tasted good to him or something.
Kiyi painted a few teeny pumpkins and put them all inside of her pail. I didn't know till later how many Aang had let her paint and take but it wasn't the one or two normal kids were making. He let her bamboozle him into creating several. I told her not to take too many, I didn't want her bucket to be too heavy for her to carry. But Aang insisted, "She can have as many as she would like. It's not like everyone is taking pumpkins. Some of these guys won't even get homes tonight."
I asked the Avatar (on the sly, of course) if he could help me out by arranging a few surprises for me when he was done for the night. Of course, Aang had been feeling guilty about all of the pumpkins that would be wasted after tonight's event. So he was happy to help me and I quickly arranged for some little surprises at the palace and Mai's parent's house.
By then, Kiyi and Tom-Tom both had apples in their mouths and little bags of goldfish in their pails. Mai, of course, volunteered to hold the goldfish. Claiming it was because she didn't want the kids to take the chance of killing them. But really, I saw her keep such special care of them. The same way she had since she was little. I'd always loved it how much she actually valued life, even if she said something different.
The adjacent corner was Suki's (Dressed as Medusa) and Sokka's (a Mummy/skeleton combined because he could decide between the two so he was both and freaky looking) tents, but they were not the untied force that we were seeing from Katara and Aang. No they were in a heavy competition against one another that had them borderline fighting each other. As they shouted over top of each other about the treats they were serving. Sokka was serving something called "Street meat." That smelled a lot better than the name. (Think meatballs on a stick covered in a jelly-barbaque sauce mixture - delicious) As well as a melty cheese dip with other tasty veggies cooked in it (think queso) with crispy things to dip in it. Both were absolutely delicious.
If any tricksters showed up to his tent, he treated them to cactus juice. The one that makes you hallucinate and see things. I know because he tricked me into drinking it at his last birthday party. That's why no one remembers exactly what happened that night.
Suki was giving out fans and showing people how to make them if they would like. Or how to flirt with them, if not how to fight with them. They were also giving out cookies and cupcakes they'd baked themselves. Of course Suki had a bunch of Kiyoshi warriors helping out all around her tent too.
If any tricksters showed up at her tent. They got the hell beat out of them quicker than they could possibly stir up trouble. So the atmosphere was very safe in the area thanks to the Kiyoshi warrior's support. I didn't hire them as my personal protectors just because they're my friends. They're all very good at their job.
I asked Suki, "Why are you and Sokka fighting now?"
She explained, "We were supposed to be one big happy area tent altogether. But we fought so terribly about what to serve and do. We ended up being in two separate tents. Sokka wanted to serve something besides sweets, I said tonight's all about sweets. He called our fans dumb and I reminded him that these fans have saved his life more than a few times."
Mai told her, "You're gonna be made up again by the end of the night. Just like Katara's birthday."
Suki agreed, "Yeah probably. I can't stay mad at him, even when I really want to. Sometimes, you know he just- OOOOOOW! He makes me crazy, you know?"
"I know," Mai smirked.
I could sense the girls needed a minute of girl talk, so I headed over to Sokka. Warning him, "Dude, you're messing up right now."
"Huh?" Sokka asked me all oblivious. "What are you talking about?"
"Suki." I said behind my hand, "There's a dance at the end of this thing tonight. You know that! A dance where you had better have made up with her before you get there. Or else you're gonna both be wallflowers or even worse! You're both gonna find yourselves dancing with other people. Can you see that? Your Kiyoshi warrior spinning around that dancefloor with some other undead monster?"
Tom-Tom made a noise and Sokka's blue eyes shot down to see Tom-Tom waving at him cheerfully. Sokka waved back and said, "Hey there little buddy." Then Sokka's tone changed and he warned, "If you didn't have that baby strapped to you. I would have just covered you in hot cheese sauce, but I'll spare you and the kid if you go now."
I told him to, "Stop being stupid."
He warned back, "Stop being all weird! Since when do you dance at dances anyway? Do you even know how?"
"Of course, I know how!" I said loudly, before adding more calmly. "I just never wanted to so I didn't."
"Yeeeeeeah," Sokka dragged on, "Later buddy, see you at the dance."
Mai and I were both showing off our siblings to all of our friends. Kiyi even remembered Sokka, so she'd even managed to make him smile even when he was looking super stressed. Mai got down on her knee beside my sister and was introducing her to all of the lady warriors. Sharing with Kiyi, "Not only do these warriors all protect your brother and his palace. But they also became my friends when Azula put me in prison-"
Kiyi perked up and added, "You were put in jail for saving my brother from my sister weren't you Dark One?"
Mai smiled, "Yes that's right, Azula was one of my best and only friends back then. But I've always loved Zuko more than I feared her. That day I finally told her so, and I regret nothing. Because she put me in jail, I met all of these girls and I've never found it easy to make friends but they are my friends."
Kiyi asked Mai, "Am I your friend?" I tried to not let my heart totally melt.
Mai assured her, "We're better than friends, we're sisters."
"We are?" Kiyi asked all excited, I couldn't stand it anymore. I kneeled down on the other side of my little sis.
"Yes Kiyi, Mai's gonna be your sister when she becomes my Queen."
"For reals?" Kiyi asked, mouth wide open.
"Yeah, for real." I laughed, "We're just a bit young for all of that yet." Then I locked eyes with Mai and had to say, "But between us, I would marry her tomorrow if I was older and a better catch."
Kiyi was totally distracted by the next tent, she had to pull on us both for us to move. I couldn't stop staring at the full blush covering Mai's face.
It took me and Mai a while to recover from the effects of those last comments. I was melting on the inside and she was probably in similar shape. This tent thankfully was being run by Ty-lee and some guy the size of a house called "Rhino." Their tent was dedicated to face painting. Both Ty-lee and her man were wearing the matching jungle costumes they'd picked out at the shop. Both had painted themselves from head to toe and they were just tickled to work on us. Kiyi picked out rainbow hearts and glitter for her cheeks. Tom-Tom's cheeks were peppered with orange and purple spider-wasps. Ty-Lee insisted on painting some ratbats on my bare cheek, the one not obscured by my mask. While Mai was given a few red and black spider-wasps to match her outfit.
While Ty-Lee was working on my face she complimented me. "You're doing good, Zuko. Mai is all a glow with happiness, I just wish you could see what I'm seeing from her right now. Whatever you're doing, keep it up!"
"I'm trying to, but she kinda got stuck with Tom-Tom." I confided, "I hope I can just get her the rest of the way through this night without it making her resent the baby's presence so much."
"Don't buy that noise about her resenting a hair on that kid's head." Ty-Lee scoffed. "If she didn't care, she wouldn't fight so much for him. You and me know better than anyone that only the people she loves most bring out her inner warrior."
"Yeah," I had to agree. "I've always thought that too, are you and Rhino having fun?"
"I don't know," Ty-Lee shrugged. "I hope we can last long enough to dance together at the end of the night. I've caught him flirting with several other girls and I don't doubt I can find someone single to dance with. But-"
I cut her off, "Don't take that crap."
"Huh?" She stopped painting and looked me in the eye.
"I said, Don't take that crap," I repeated, "You're better than that, you're a kiyoshi warrior, you're chi-blocker. Even my sister believed you can do anything, and she was right. Don't let someone treat you any less than awesome."
She sniffled suspiciously and confessed, "I was gonna flub these bats to mess with you. But after a speech like that, I've gotta make them absolutely perfect. Hold on."
"You were gonna mess up my face?" I asked loudly.
"Who else would dare something like that? I was gonna and now I can't, hold still I gotta make them perfect.
After everyone's faces were painted, we were on the the very last tent.
Leave it to my Uncle to have a chain of tents all dedicated to tea, set up throughout the whole street. And the one he's manning personally is the one we walk into. I called out, "UNCLE!" In surprise. Forgetting Tom-Tom was still strapped to my chest, he may have been a little smooshed between me and my uncle. Just a little before I turned him out of the middle of us, we'd just hugged out of happy shock of running into each other.
"ZUKO!" My uncle had said loudly in my ear as he slapped me on my back. "I didn't know you would be out tonight. I thought you had plans in another kingdom. At least that was what your assistant had told me a week ago.."
"This was the plans," I said as Mai reclaimed my hand and I held her hand up in mine. "I'd planned to spend the best night of the year with my girlfriend. Like we used to when we were kids."
"I see," Uncle said before greeting her. "So lovely to see you again Mai."
"Good to see you," she nodded and I could tell she was trying to smile more. Knowing my uncle relaxed more when ladies were smiling. He'd get all flustered whenever she wasn't, no matter how I explained that that was just how Mai's face was. Her effort to make him happy, made me so happy my cheeks were starting to sting from all of the smiling. Mai's face isn't the only one unaccustomed to smiling so much.
She introduced Tom-Tom and Uncle of course was taking him from me and holding him. Putting on a show like he always did with babies. He loves babies and little guys like him.
This distraction gave me a chance to take aside my little sis and kneel down beside her to ask, "Have you met my Uncle Iroh before?"
"Nope, but I've heard all the stories. From Mother and you, big brother. I've always wanted to meet him." Kiyi said excitedly before quietly asking nervously. "Even though he's technically not my uncle… do you think he'll like me too?"
"I know he already loves you, but let me introduce you, okay?" I promised, and kissed her cold little hands. I'd forgotten how long we'd been outside and how chilly it had gotten. I warmed them up between my hands real quickly (fire-bender style).
She nodded at me trustingly, "Okay, big brother."
I stood back up and reclaimed her hand to take her over towards my uncle. He was just helping Mai strap Tom-Tom back to the front of her dress. By helping her with the fastening in the back. He was telling her, "He's gonna break some hearts when he starts school."
"Uncle." I called his attention, while Kiyi hid behind my legs. "I'd like you to meet someone very special." Then I tugged her out from behind me promising, "It's okay… really, it's okay…"
"Who is this lovely little vision?" My uncle asked, always the charmer.
"This is my little sister Kiyi, remember how I told you about my mother's youngest daughter." I introduced, while Kiyi still looked so nervous.
My Uncle gasped, "No! This is my new little niece? I get to claim a Fairy Queen?"
"I know!" I boasted, "Awesome, right?"
"Come here, my dear?" He said putting his hand out and Kiyi took it easily. The next thing I knew. My Uncle was picking her up and hugging her tight. Planting a kiss on her forehead, telling her how beautiful and perfect she was. Telling her, "You know our family has been missing something all this time, we didn't even know what it was. But I believe, that you Kiyi, Mai, and even Tom-Tom could be some of those missing pieces. Good people with good hearts should never be taken for granted. I'm only sorry it took this long to meet you."
"So do I get to call you my uncle too? Like my big brother?" She asked, and Uncle laughed a big belly laugh.
"As long as you're mother and father don't mind, I would love that." He beamed, before treating us all to something to drink. He'd filled Tom-Tom's sippy cup with juice, giving Kiyi juice in a cup shaped like a pumpkin with a cool staw coming out of the top. Before treating Mai and me to portable cups of our favorite teas. After a full night of running around with these kids, we needed the caffeine boost before hitting that dancefloor.
Then we were walking the white pumpkin trail that led to the huge outdoor dance floor. A full band playing creepy music and all kinds of monsters dancing. I thought my mother and her husband would have stayed at the big fancy masquerade all night. It was a more grown-up scene after all, and high society always boasts being so much better than the commoner festivals. We found them spinning on this dance floor together instead. When Kiyi took off and ran right to them.
Mai still hasn't seen my Mother since she was small. So she was struck at the sight of my mother after all these years. But she still followed easily when I tugged her along with me. Telling her in a hushed tone, "Don't worry. She remembers you and already loves you, you look beautiful. Just come on."
My mother rushed to me and hugged me, "Son! You're sister's saying she had a blast with you. Thank you so much for taking care of her tonight."
"Thank you for letting me do it," I said as I shook her husband's hand.
Ikem added, "I don't think I've ever seen her so happy after a Halloween night."
"We loved having her along, maybe we'll make this a new family tradition." I pitched before I felt Mai squeeze my hand. "Oh, I forgot my manners. Mother, Ikem, this is Mai, my girlfriend."
My mother gasped and said, "Mai! My goodness, you've grown so beautifully."
"It's wonderful to see you again your Ladyship." She said softly.
Before my mother was hugging her and reminding her, "Who would have thought that this day would come? When the two of you were pushed into the turtleduck pond by Azula?"
"Mother!" I complained!
"Oh! What?" My mother bit back, "Don't get so defensive son. Mai was there too, it's not like this is news to her."
Then she looped her arm through Mai's and said, "She's grown into such a young lady. So beautiful and refined. Let me see the two of you together."
She asked, but she placed Mai's hand back in mine and walked back over to stand with her husband. Gushing to him, "Look at the picture they make! You are getting a painting rendered to remember the night, aren't you? There are artists all around."
"Oh no," Mai answered before I could. "I never like any painter's rendering of me. I don't smile so they always paint me so that my eyes follow you from my paintings. So I don't get them done if I don't have to."
Ikem had a better idea to repay us for our kindness. He said, "I bet you kids could use a break. Why don't you let us take the kids for a moment and you two take a spin on the dance floor. We're older and our feet are starting to hurt."
My Mother clapped, "Oh yes! Let me hold the baby, I love babies."
So Mai handed Tom-Tom to my mother, and was already charming both adults. Kiyi was talking a mile a minute again. Telling her parents EVERYTHING she'd seen and done. I really should have listened better. But the minute they walked off with both kids and it was just me and Mai on that open patch of dancefloor.
I bowed theatrically and asked her, "Spider-maiden? Would you grant me a dance with you? Even though your Spider King could show up and kill me any minute for looking at you?"
She shook her head and asked, "Must you always be so dramatic?"
"Humor me, here, for a second." I told her still bent over in a deep bow. Still using an over-the-top stage tone of voice. "I am the Opera Phantom after all." I said stealing her hand, pulling her close and kissing it. "I only picked this outfit, because I saw you blushing at it behind your curtain at the costume shop."
She smirked before snapping back, "I wasn't blushing… I don't blush."
"What I think you meant to say was you rarely blush." I corrected, "You're never gonna make it easy, something else I love about you. Now can we please try to dance or do you wanna just go home?"
"I don't wanna go home," Mai shared sadly. "I really don't. I also don't want this to end, tonight. It was fun, more fun than I remember having in… possibly ever."
"Me too," I said before guiding her to the dance floor and watching the way the other people danced around us. I had to mimic the way they were holding on to each other. They were holding hands up high on the right, and holding onto each other's waists (really closely) on the left. When I pulled her close, I couldn't even hear the music anymore. I just wanted to hold her like that the rest of night. I didn't want to let go. The amber of her eyes, and the way they shined that whole time. I don't think I'll ever admit to not liking dancing ever again. I think she may have changed my mind.
I have no idea how long we were dancing and staring at each other out there. All I do know is the only thing that snapped us out of it was being joined on the dancefloor by all of our friends. Aang was dancing with Katara, Sokka had made up with Suki, Ty-lee was dancing with a boxy robot man, Her Jungle man was a wallflower, My Uncle was dancing with Toph. It was the best ending to a great night.
My Mother and Ikem were gonna go ahead and take Kiyi home. So they were calling goodnight to us and handing back Tom-Tom. When Kiyi stopped them and ran to me full speed. When I swept her up in my cape hugging her. She said, "ThankyouthankyouthankyouZUKO!" All as one word it was so fast! "You really are the best big brother." She'd added more clearly. Then she'd given me a teeny pumpkin she'd painted at Aang's tent to say my name. The pumpkin had one big chunk missing out of it where I had my scar. It was even shaped like my scar. She'd painted a smiling face I'm guessing was my face.
Then she'd run to Mai and gave her the same treatment. I think Mai may have found a new friend. I was melting so bad when Mai picked her up and kissed her little rainbow painted cheeks. I was afraid I'd be a puddle on the road by the time she put Kiyi down. Before she left, she gave Mai a pumpkin too, It was a white pumpkin so small it made Mai's hand look big sitting on her palm. She'd painted it to say "Mai," spelled correctly (I think I need to thank Aang and Katara again). It too had spiders to match Mai's dress. Kiyi admitted, "I heard you say you loved the white ones best."
Mai's eyes were suspiciously misty when she thanked my baby sister for the pumpkin. When I asked her what that had been about, and Tom-Tom was back to being strapped to me. All Mai told me was, "Shut up." As I walked them home, holding my girlfriend's hand. When we were getting closer to her parent's place. Her steps were getting noticeably slower and slower because she didn't want to go back to them.
I told her, "Don't go home tonight. Come back with me, we can do whatever you want."
She shared as we were walking passed the entrance gates of her parent's house. "I don't want to go in there, but I also don't want to leave Tom-Tom here either. I know I've told you a million times how much a hate the little spore and how he ruins everything… but-"
I finished for her, "That's not at all how you really feel."
"Of course not," she confirmed what I already knew. "It's not fair to him. They're raising him as cheerless and non-existent as they raised me. If I don't show them the error in their ways, this brat has no chance of growing up happily. As much as I would give anything to go with you… just be with you tonight and say to hell with it… I have to stay and face them. Tonight, before I do anything else. "
"I get it," I told her as she leaned on my shoulder and was face to face with her brother. Who was laughing and waving at her. "He's your baby brother and you've gotta be his voice. While he's still learning to talk, I understand that… but once you've faced your parents and talked to them. Can't you sneak out like the old days and come spend the rest of the night with me?"
After a long pause where she thought about this, she asked. "If I said yes, would you wait up for me?"
"All night if I had to." I confirmed.
She pulled me down into a kiss that made my toes curl inside my boots. Probably smooshing poor Tom-Tom between us a little. Then she told me, "Okay. I'll talk to my parents and then I'll sneak out like the old days. Where will you meet me?"
"Is my private balcony a good place?" I asked, I did have a couple of balconies but the private one was a favorite, and don't ask me how she knows to get into it. Only her, Ty-Lee and the other kiyoshi warriors had ever been able to do it.
"Okay," she agreed, "I'll be there as soon as I can, and I'll bring my pajamas. But I'll probably still be dressed like this."
"Dress anyway you like, as long as it's you, I'm good." I hugged her as she undid the fastenings up my back. Where Tom-Tom was still latched to me. I felt her plant a kiss or two on the back of my neck while she was back there. Once she had him fastened back onto herself, has his diaper bag and pail of candy. She kissed me one more time and disappeared into the house that had never been much of a home to her.
I rushed home just in time to catch Aang who had finished placing all of the spare pumpkins he could fit over on the palace's balconies. He'd even confirmed that he'd placed a huge arrangement of white pumpkins on Mai's personal balcony at her parent's house before coming here. He said he'd gotten caught by some of Mai's family's nasty house staff. But he said he was the Avatar working under the orders of the Firelord Zuko and they'd shut right up, hilariously. Then using some more white ones to fill up my private balcony with white ones too. He said, "Katara's crazy aboutthe white ones too so I put a few on her balcony too. What's it with women and the colors of pumpkins, man?"
"I don't know," I confessed, "But you are awesome. Thanks for your help."
He said, "Thanks a lot for giving so many homeless pumpkins somewhere to go. The bigger kids, and tricksters usually smash them all on their way home, I couldn't do that. We've all taken a bunch for ourselves now we're gonna ride the rest past the orphanages to see if any of those kids want some pumpkins. Happy Haaaaaaaall-o-weeeeeen!"
Then he hopped back onto Appa's back and "Yip-Yip!" He was leading a bunch of carts to the local orphanages. There would be no shortage of pumpkins in this city this year.
I raced off to my room and I know how silly it sounds to race off like that. When I'm probably gonna be sitting and waiting for a while. Or when Mai's likely to be in a foul mood when she gets here after arguing with her parents again. Trying to make them hear her when she tells them Tom-Tom needs something more from them. Just like she'd needed more and was ignored completely. Now that she is older (and possibly more important than them) they pretend to listen sometimes. I love her for every part of her, but I've gotta admit. This protectiveness she carries for the people special to her. Is really beautiful, whenever it shows up. And contrary to what she says about her baby brother. he's one of the quickest people to bring that out of her since he was born.
I busied myself with taking a bath in the meantime. Mother had always told us that was how the costume's magic turns off too. A nice bath and then you're you again. When I stepped out of my private bath again, I was myself again. Hair wasn't slicked, my scar wasn't covered anymore and I only hoped my girlfriend wasn't too sad to see me as such when she did show up.
It took Mai over two hours to reappear again, she was still a spider mistress when she reappeared. But her eyes looked a lot more tired, and strained. The first thing she wanted to know was, "Someone left a huge pile of unique-looking white pumpkins on my balcony at home. Pumpkins suspiciously similar to the ones I'm seeing here on your own balcony, Fire Lord. Care to elaborate on the subject, your highness?"
I shrugged, "Hey? Can't a guy spoil his girlfriend when her witch nurses growing up throw away her favorite kind of pumpkin?"
She kissed me lingeringly before admitting, "They're gorgeous."
"You're the gorgeous one, thanks for coming," I said rubbing at her shoulders when I realized how tense she was. Like she'd been in a shouting match similar to Sokka's and Suki's earlier tonight. It must have felt nice, her eyes closed.
I dared to ask her, "How did it go?"
"It wasn't the best conversation I've had," Mai downplayed her own struggle. "But I'm not gonna worry about it anymore tonight."
"Is Tom-Tom at least sleeping well?" I did ask before we left the subject entirely.
"Like a rock." Mai shared, "If nothing else, I know we tired him out, and he had fun this Halloween. I don't know if any others will be nearly so fun."
"Well, I can't promise we can make this happen every year." I tried to be positive. "But I can promise to try and make this happen as often as we can for the little guy."
She reasoned, "Yeah, and look at you tonight. You are more than just your uncle's nephew now. Tonight you were somebody's big brother, you carried my brother and changed a diaper. You were a very typical son when your mother showed up, you were kind to your stepfather, and you were nice to all of your friends and my friends whenever we met up with any of them. I know earlier in the week you even visited your father and Azula where both of them are being kept. Not to mention you were a great boyfriend always. Did you see all of the girls and ladies eyeing you in that costume?"
"No!" I blurted quickly. "All I noticed was the guys ogling you all night, spiderwasps-mistress. Especially when you staged that whole poison apple thing. If I didn't run over there and kiss you somebody else would have."
"Be serious Zuko." Mai didn't believe me.
"I am serious!" I insisted, "If Kiyi hadn't been holding my hand, if Tom-Tom hadn't been strapped to me so tight, I probably would have fought with a few of them."
"Is that supposed to impress me?" Mai asked in a tone that threatened to put me in my place.
"No, you're far too smart to be impressed by hot-headedness." I complimented. "What I am trying to do is convince you that I am not the only one to find you gorgeous, okay? I'm not the only one by far and away."
She flipped it back on me, "And I'm not the only one who thought you were handsome. But you should know there isn't anyone else I'd rather be with right now. Whether you're wearing that costume or you're the you standing in front of me right now."
I planted a kiss on her forehead before I said, "I feel the exact same way about you."
"I only wish this wasn't happening so late and I'm not greeting you as equally comfortable back to being myself yet." Mai shared. Before I offered up my private bathroom for her to freshen up, anyway she would like. She had a tiny overnight bag on her back and she disappeared for a little bit.
When she came back she was more of the Mai I'm used to, only she wore no more facepaint or makeup at all and her hair was left down. I'd only been allowed to see her this free during sleepovers like this. Very recently, it was my absolute favorite time to be around her. She didn't even walk around her parent's house barefoot. That's how agonizingly cheerless it is around that place. But seeing her this free, here with me. It lifted my heart in ways I can't even explain.
She was more beautiful now than she had been all night. And now she was climbing into bed with me and saying. "Are you as tired as I am?"
"Probably." I reasoned, pulling her closer to me when she settled too far away.
"I have so much I wanted to tell you, and so much I wanted to do the next time I slept over like this," Mai told me. As we both settled down against the covers and pillows into a perfectly compromised comfort. I was laying flat on my back and she was laying on her belly, leaned on me and facing me.
"You did?" I asked chuckling. "You've been thinking about it while you haven't been able to stay here?"
"Yes, I've missed you so much." She said tightening her grip on me and planting a few kisses down one side of my neck. It tickled and I chuckled again.
"I've missed you too," I confessed pulling her into better deeper kisses when our mouths met.
When she pulled away she said, "Now I'm finally here, you're finally here, and is it terrible I only feel like laying here and holding on to you?" She asked in a voice so tired she sounded like she was very close to falling asleep.
"No, because frankly, I'm just as tired. Just as worn out as you though I want to hear more about this." I hope I made this clear. "I'm very interested in whatever things you wanted to do or say."
"It's nothing big really," Mai admitted so self-consciously. "My plans were very simple like, stay up late playing a game together. Or reading a book together, one that we both would really enjoy. Have a moonlit picnic one night or stay up and talk all night."
"Those are great ideas," I tried to snuff out her doubts. "We can do those things, on nights when we're not this exhausted."
"Yeah," she agreed sounding far away, her eyes drifted closed. She yawned, "Sorry we usually end up just sleeping like this almost everytime."
"I'm not," I tried to ease her mind. "I always sleep so much better when you stay."
"Me too." She admitted. Stealing one more kiss, and promising, "Next time, I'll be more awake and hopefully have better suggestions."
"I loved those suggestions, I'll make it happen. Just like we made tonight happen, okay?" I promised.
She did just agree, "Okay." Before her breath evened out and in no time at all. She was sound asleep, as tired as I was I sat there watching her sleep for the longest time. I also made a quick note to myself, on the nightstand. Look into making all of those things happen on other nights when we got to sleepover like this.
I'd meant what I'd told Kiyi out there tonight. If we weren't so young and didn't have so much to prove to the world. I would marry her tomorrow, gladly and let this be her home once and for all. She belonged here and more importantly that being my Fire Lady and Queen. I needed her here… with me. Like she was right now.
Halloween had always been so magical to us growing up. Mai had been so much of that magic, always. When I think back on it she was always around for it. Tonight had felt just as enchanting, even if it was in a different way from when we were kids. I only hoped it really had been the same for Kiyi, Tom-Tom was probably too small to remember this later. I hoped we would get to see them again like this before they were grown and Mai… I hoped that I would always get to share this holiday with her.
As sleep began to blur my sight, I hoped everyone of our friends and family. Were finding the same peace and happiness out there tonight. I thought "Happy Halloween" one last time before everything went blissfully black with the oblivion sleep.
That's all folks!
Thank you so much for reading, this has been so much fun and I hope it brightened your enjoyment this fall! Have a great day! Much Love!
~DarcyBeDippy85
