The sun woke Zuko up early the next morning. It was just beginning to dawn, and the early morning light shone through the windows of his large, spacious room. He took a deep breath, realizing how wonderfully rested he felt. Katara was still tucked between his arms and pressed up against him. Her eyes were closed, and her face was peaceful. She appeared to still be deep asleep.
Both of them, it seemed, had been so tired last night that neither of them had moved much during the night. If he could've, Zuko would've stayed like this until she woke up, but he knew he had no chance of staying still that long now that he was awake. Once the sun was up, he was too fidgety.
With his top arm, Zuko gently peeked beneath Katara's tunic at her scar. He shouldn't have though, because looking at it only made him angry. At himself and at Azula. This never should have happened to Katara. How had a simple girl from the Southern Water Tribe gotten so tangled in the disaster that was the royal Fire Nation family, Zuko wondered. To be fair, Katara was anything but simple, he thought with a smile. She was stubborn, passionate, kind, gentle. She had a childhood and people she'd grown up with that Zuko would never know. A culture he may never fully understand. Katara had dark parts of her past just like he did. So no, he thought again, Katara was not a simple person.
As gently as he could, Zuko slipped his arm out from under her. She moved a little, but settled into a new position, still fast asleep. As quietly as he could, Zuko moved off the bed. He slid his boots on and pulled a formal robe on for the day. As best he could, he tied his hair up and placed the crown in it. He was going to have to skip his usual firebending training this morning.
Reaching for the door handle, Zuko looked back at his bed. Katara was tangled in the blankets and sleeping quietly still. He smiled again, wondering what it would be like to wake up with her in his bed every morning. Perhaps after having done more than what they did last night. Would that be something she would want too?
Zuko remembered back to the previous night. Katara had said she loved him. Words he'd lost hope of ever hearing her say over the years. He'd been convinced they'd missed their chance. But here she was. And beyond that, she'd thought about him through the years too. Wondered and worried about him, just as he had her. And though both of them had shoved those thoughts away, and convinced themselves it wasn't the path, they'd still made it.
Zuko sighed at the memory of her cool skin underneath his hands, the feeling of her sitting on him and running her fingers through his hair, her legs on either side of him. The soft skin at her neck. Kissing her.
He'd done more with Mai, of course, so none of it was new territory. But with Katara, it'd been a whole new refreshing experience. She was like a cool spring, and he wanted to drink and feel everything with her.
A little louder than he meant, Zuko wrenched the heavy, ornate door open and slipped out into the hallway. Two guards were standing watch, and he nodded to them solemnly, straightening his back as he remembered who he was. He saw the guards make eye contact with each other after bowing and knew that the guards from last night had told them that Katara was in his room as well. Argh. Word would spread that she'd spent the night in his room.
Even though they both knew nothing had happened, it looked bad from the outside. Zuko was still with Mai. Spirits. Did Mai know about Katara? Surely if she did, Uncle had filled her in on why Katara had been in his room all night. But perhaps not. When Uncle had seen him carrying Katara into the palace last night, Zuko hadn't explained much else other than barking an order to ensure ten or so firebending guards would be dispatched to the old bunker to find Azula and the chi blocker and collect them. His Uncle hadn't even blinked at the odd order and only spared a quick glance at the limp waterbender in Zuko's arms before rushing off to fulfil his request.
Knowing his uncle would be up early too, Zuko headed straight for the smaller dining area. Sure enough, Iroh was sitting at the low table drinking tea. He stood when Zuko entered.
Bowing low, Iroh addressed him. "Fire Lord Zuko."
"Uncle." Zuko nodded his head curtly. "Please tell me. What happened to the firebenders sent to collect Azula? Where is she?"
Iroh spoke calmly. "They found her. She did not put up a fight." Zuko's eyebrows raised. "From their report, she was in an awful state. The room they found her in was on fire, and her hands were shaking badly. She would not stop screaming, and they were not able to calm her down."
Zuko nodded his head. "Where is she now?"
"She's been on constant watch in the largest prison cell."
"And the other man? The large one?" Zuko asked as he started walking quickly towards the prison cells. He wanted to see for himself right away. Iroh fell into step next to him.
"He's been arrested as well. The guards report he was frozen to the ground. I assume that was Master Katara's doing?"
Zuko made a noise of confirmation. They made their way to a far part of the palace and began their way down a dark staircase.
"Zuko. I must warn you. Azula had a hard night." He turned to Iroh, eyeing him. What did that mean? They hit the bottom of the stairs and started down the long, dark hallway towards the prison cells. He glanced at his Uncle again, knowing Iroh probably didn't like coming down to the place where he'd been locked away for so long. Iroh's face was colder than usual. More serious. But that may have been due to the gravity of the current situation. His Uncle spoke again, the guarded door coming into view. "What happened? When you found her?" They both paused their fast walk to talk briefly.
"She's been living in that bunker under the city all this time, Uncle. Lieutenant Zaid was with her, and she claimed there were others that work for her. Some that even work as royal advisors for me as well." Iroh sighed and looked away. His brow furrowed in thought, but he didn't say anything. "Her intention has been to have me killed so she can take over."
After a moment, his uncle finally said something. "Zuko. Never doubt that you are meant to be the Fire Lord. You have been since the moment you were born. Not your sister. Second. I feel Azula is lying about exactly how many people she has working for her. Those, like Lieutenant Zaid, who did work for her did so out of fear, not loyalty. I knew Zaid. He's a coward. He goes where he thinks the power is and was mistaken in choosing Azula." Zuko remembered back to how uncomfortable the man had looked during Azula's breakdown. "Those in this country who remain truly loyal only to Ozai, and potentially Azula, are few and far between. The country has known only peace and prosperity with you as its leader, and the people recognize that."
It felt like a burden had been lifted off Zuko's shoulder. One he didn't even realize he'd been carrying. Any shred of doubt or worry that Azula had again managed to manipulate and twist into his mind dissipated at his uncle's words. He felt sixteen again. He'd fallen into the familiar pattern of being lied to by Azula and then comforted by Uncle.
Iroh spoke again. His eyes hadn't left Zuko. "What happened to Lady Katara?"
At the question, Zuko felt a familiar anger flare. "Azula." A beat passed. "And me," he said a little more sadly. He took a deep breath, knowing his uncle was still watching him closely. "Azula had me completely helpless. I had no bending and no strength. Katara jumped in front of her and attempted to redirect the lightning."
Iroh didn't seem able to contain his surprise. His old, lined eyes widened, and he sucked in a small breath. Looking away, Iroh considered the news Zuko had just shared with him. After a quick second he smiled, shaking his head in disbelief. "No one can say that girl doesn't have some nerve to her." Zuko's quick anger from a moment ago fell away and he smiled back. His head nodded in agreement, knowing his Uncle was completely right.
"You don't have to tell me," he said through a small chuckle. He could feel Iroh's eyes watching him closely again, and knew his Uncle was reading him perfectly. Like only he could. "Zuko, despite everything that has happened, this is the happiest I feel you've been since I have come to visit."
Zuko flashed him an annoyed look before continuing down the hall towards the door to the cells. He didn't want to talk about this right now. He saw Iroh smile knowingly before following him.
The four guards at the door bowed low and let Zuko pass through to the cells. His uncle stopped and stood with them. Zuko met his eyes for a brief moment, understanding his desire to stay behind. Zuko entered the dark room that contained the prison cells as the door behind him closed with an echo.
He could hear her before he could see her. Bangs of metal and a few screams echoed in the hall of cells. Zuko walked between the cells quickly. A few of the prisoners, who mainly consisted of unskilled assassins from right after the war end and a few people who had sold confidential information, noticed him, and ran to their bars to get a closer look.
He arrived at Azula's cell quickly, and what he saw inside floored him. The two additional guards posted at her cell moved to allow him closer. Azula was on the ground. Her clothes were ripped in some places and it appeared she'd torn some patches of her own hair out. Her skin was scratched raw and bloody in some areas. Large, dark bags hung under her eyes and Zuko figured she hadn't slept at all last night. Her hands were gripping the sides of her head, partially covering her ears. Her thin legs were pulled close to her and she was rocking.
Spirits. Never in his whole life did Zuko think he'd see his sister like this. He bent down to her level, just as she let out another horrible scream and rocked faster. She still didn't notice him though.
"Azula…" he tried carefully, his voice as even and calm as he could make it. Her head whipped up, and her eyes focused on him. Her face contorted into so much rage and hatred as she let out another piercing scream. It seemed something in her had snapped. Well, something in her three years ago had snapped, but this was different. She was unhinged. Zuko wondered if she even recognized him.
She began rocking again, her hands over her ears still and her eyes now closed tightly. Suddenly, she whipped to look at the back wall of her cell, almost as if she'd heard something. Zuko watched the back of her head dart around frantically as she scanned the back end of her cell, looking for someone. Quickly, she turned back around and continued rocking, her hands covering her ears again. Tears streamed down her face.
"Isn't it a shame?" a low familiar voice sounded through the air. Zuko could've sworn his heart stopped completely at the sound of it. He closed his eyes and let his head fall. The guards shifted uncomfortably and Zuko dismissed them with a wave of his hand. Azula seemed to take no notice of the voice. "So much talent and potential. Wasted."
"Stop it," he said commandingly, not walking over to the cell diagonal to Azula's.
"Don't you feel bad, Zuko? You've trapped me down here to listen to my own daughter scream all night."
This made him angry, and he ran to face his father, still standing a way's away from the cell. "Don't you dare act like you ever cared about her," he said forcefully, but not screaming. If he yelled his words would echo for the people outside to hear, and he didn't want that. His father was sitting in a meditative position, his back towards Zuko. He couldn't see his face. "She was only ever a tool to you. Something you could use to further your own reach and power." Coming to Azula's defense was never something he'd done before, but as he spoke, the truth of his words rang in his mind. Maybe she'd suffered just as badly at Ozai's hand as he had. "You manipulated her from a young age. Just like you did me. What she's become is your fault."
"Perhaps," he drawled. "But it's not my name she's been screaming, Zuko."
Zuko's heart sank. Maybe failing to kill Zuko for a second time had been what finally pushed her over whatever edge she'd been on since the end of the war. She'd been obsessed with killing him for three years after she'd failed the first time. When she failed again, she must've finally cracked. He remembered how, after he'd been banished, his father's face had haunted his dreams. Was Zuko's face haunting Azula's now?
"Stop it."
His head shook. "I'm not lying."
Zuko couldn't help but speak slightly louder now. "Don't you see! The hatred she has, the obsession, the evil, that's all you! You've done nothing but control and twist her mind." Azula let out another horrible scream and banged something against the bars of her cell. Ozai laughed.
The anger inside Zuko burst, and he ran forward and gripped the bars of his father's cell. "How dare you," he growled. This protectiveness he suddenly felt for Azula was new, and definitely unfamiliar, but his hatred for Ozai had not, and would not ever disappear. Ozai turned his head but didn't look at Zuko. His eyes were on Azula, and he had a curious expression on his face, almost as if she fascinated him. Azula was rocking again.
Zuko turned to watch her too. The youngest member of the Fire Nation royal family. She looked so small and…fragile. Perhaps she really had suffered too. He thought back to her words on the beach so long ago. My own mother thought I was a monster. Zuko had always thought Azula never liked or craved their mother's attention, but what child doesn't? Perhaps that had truly hurt her. And Ozai had never really loved her either. Not the way a normal parent loves their child. She couldn't cling to Ozai the way Zuko had clung to Ursa. Zuko had faced insane amount of pressure from his father and he'd always resented him for that. But, looking back, Ozai must've placed ten times the pressure on Azula. And at a younger age. She got praise for being a prodigy, but she also probably felt there was zero room for her to mess up. If she had, she would've lost Ozai's protection. And that's how she'd become his puppet. His little monster. What a burden that must've been for her to carry.
The way Azula had acted during that year before the end of the war had been disturbing sometimes, but maybe that was the box she'd been pushed into by her own family.
And of course, the only two people she'd ever received any sort of genuine positive feelings from, since her mother and brother had never reached out to her, and her father was just controlling her, had betrayed her too. Zuko had never stopped to consider how badly that must have hurt Azula. After Mai and Ty Lee had gone, who had she had? No one.
Another scream broke his thoughts. This one was followed by some sobs. Everything Azula had done to him as a child was still burned into Zuko's brain. Deeply. The lies she'd told him…Dad's going to kill you. Really. He is.
Spirits. What was happening? Zuko ran his hands over his face, clearing his eyes and taking a deep breath. The reality of how screwed up his family was finally seemed to be dawning on him. It was worse than he ever thought. It was almost ironic, he thought, that such a dysfunctional family was charged with leading the country.
Ozai was laughing deeply again at Azula's sobs. Zuko controlled his anger and bent down to look at his sister through the bars. Her arms were around her knees and her head was bowed down between them, so Zuko couldn't see her face. Her nails were digging bloody cuts into her skin and she was still rocking. For a split second Zuko wondered if she was faking. That perhaps this was all part of another escape plan.
No. Zuko's instincts told him this was real. Something inside his sister had truly broken. He watched her closely for a few more seconds. She didn't seem to register that someone was only a few feet away from her. Much less that the person was her older brother. The same brother she'd been hell bent on murdering for over three years.
Azula didn't need a jail cell. What she needed was help. Zuko shook his head and stood up. He strode quickly to the door, half his immediate family left behind him in the dark jail cells.
. . .
The flames in front of Zuko felt hotter today. Or maybe it was just the stress of everything else on his mind that was making him sweat through his heavy robes. Whatever the cause, the fact was that he was not at all focusing on what Councilor Song was saying. He wanted to be so many other places. Katara would likely be up by now and Iroh was probably having tea outside. Mai had crossed his mind too during this wretched meeting and now he itched to find her as well, so he could explain…something.
But instead he was stuck here. Listening to his advisors babble on.
"Song, you are missing the point. It's been three years since the end of the war. The Earth King has been pushing us to finish bringing the colonies back into the mainland ever since. We must respect his wishes if we are to keep the peace."
"No, Zhang, you are missing the point. The mainland can't support another jump in population. Especially during this drought. There is no point disrupting the successful economies of the colonies only to bring them here where there are no jobs and potentially no food. We just finished officially relinquishing Omashu. The Earth King should be happy with us." Some murmurs of assent were uttered around the long table.
"No jobs and no food? How do you gather that? In case you missed it, it rained yesterday. And more is predicted to come. This drought is coming to an end. The Fire Nation is strong. We can support our own people. Not to mention the fact that the Earth King is sending a representative here to help with the drought as well. The drought is no longer an issue. The most we can do to thank the Earth King is to continue to remove our people from their land. As per his wish." More murmurs followed this rebuttal.
"Are we even sure that is still his wish? You forget that the economy of the Earth Kingdom benefits from our colonies as well. Continuing to remove them would disrupt the Earth Kingdom just as much as it would us. I assure you, the profit they receive from the remaining colonies is not a burden for them."
Zuko stood. "Enough," he said calmly but forcefully, raising his hand. He was starting to get a headache. "I understand, councilors, the importance of these matters, but I believe we could all benefit from a break. Let us reconvene this afternoon."
The councilors nodded their approval. After standing and bowing respectfully, they filed out of the large doors of the throne room. Zuko took a deep breath and the fire around him slowly burned down. He stepped through them and walked out the doors as well.
To his surprise, a flash of blue caught his eyes. Katara stuck out in a palace full of so much red and gold. She was walking away towards the front doors and hadn't noticed him. Zuko resisted the urge to run up and hug her from behind. That would be extremely inappropriate. Someone could see them. Plus, they hadn't discussed anything last night. Not really. Sure, they both knew how the other felt, but where did they go from here? Argh. Zuko hated that everything was so complicated.
Pushing aside his worries about Azula, and his stress over the council issues, Zuko walked up next to her.
"What are you doing walking around? You should be resting," he said kindly. Katara turned to him when she heard him speak and smiled. It didn't reach her eyes though.
"Zuko," she said politely. "How are you?" Her eyes were scanning his face closely.
"I am well. Thank you," he replied, matching her formal tone. They started walking again, heading outside. Why did she seem so stiff?
"You look less exhausted," she teased.
"Last night was the best night's sleep I've had in a long time," he explained. Katara's cheeks flushed. It really was true. Last night was the first time Zuko had ever felt separate from his duties as Fire Lord. They'd fallen away for a few hours when he'd been with Katara. Even worries about Azula and Mai hadn't bothered him last night. Worry for Katara, and happiness at being with her, had pushed everything else from his mind. They were in the courtyard now and heading toward towards the entrance to the capital city. "Where are you going?" he asked, confused.
"I thought I might check on some of my students. Make sure they're coming along okay."
He grabbed her hand to stop her, shaking his head. "Katara, I'm sure they're fine. It hasn't even been one day. Besides, you shouldn't be bending anyways. You need rest." They had made it almost all the way across the courtyard, and Zuko turned to head back inside the palace.
"Hey, I never said I would ben—"
"And you need bandages. I meant to get you some this morning. I can't believe I forgot."
Katara looked ready to argue again, and maybe at any other time she would've, but at his stare, her face softened and she followed him. "Fine," she said with a small smile and roll of her eyes.
Zuko led her by the hand all the way to the infirmary. He noticed a nurse and approached her to explain what he needed.
"Yzona?" he heard Katara say. Zuko turned around to look at Katara, confused at what she'd just said. Katara wasn't looking at him though. Her eyes were bright, and she was smiling at the nurse.
"Lady Katara," the nurse replied kindly. "It's been so long." Katara walked forward and gave the nurse a small hug. Zuko didn't miss the small grimace on Katara's face as she did so. Her stomach must still be hurting her a lot then. More than she was letting on.
Katara laughed. "Just Katara is okay. And I am well, thank you." How did Katara know this lady? Zuko hadn't even known her name. He suddenly felt guilty at that. "I didn't know you were a nurse as well."
"Yes, I fill in wherever I am needed." Katara was still smiling kindly and Zuko was completely in awe. Had Katara remembered this woman from her stay at the palace after the war?
How was she so good with people?
The middle-aged lady finally seemed to notice Zuko, and when she did, she hurriedly bowed. "My Lord, I am sorry. I did not realize it was you." Her smile had faded. Spirits. Was he that overbearing?
"Please, do not make yourself uneasy," he said, raising a hand to show her she didn't need to stay in her bow. The lady stood, smiling a little more. Something about her was strangely familiar, but Zuko couldn't put his finger on it.
"How may I help you?" she asked. Her face was soft and kind, and Zuko could tell by her mannerisms and her looks that she'd been born and raised in the Fire Nation.
He motioned to Katara. "She needs some bandages for a wound on her stomach. And any medicine you may have that could help."
"Yes, of course, my Lord." The lady, Yzona, nodded and hurried off to retrieve them.
Zuko turned to face Katara. "How do you know her?" he asked, completely confused.
Katara shrugged. "I met her last time I stayed here."
"You mean as in after the war? Three and a half years ago?"
Katara nodded. "She's been working at the palace for a long time. Since you were a child actually. She's very kind."
Spirits. How had Zuko never bothered to get to know someone who'd worked at the palace for that long? Katara had managed to get to know the in only a few days and had remembered her over three years later. He smiled to himself. Why was he surprised?
The woman returned and Zuko had the feeling again that she looked like someone he knew, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe it was just because he'd subconsciously seen her around the palace. Shaking the thought, he watched as Yzona prepared the bandages and Katara began slowly untying her tunic. Both seemed to be hesitating, and Zuko realized this was his cue to leave.
"Thank you, Yzona." The lady smiled at the sound of her name and bowed again to Zuko as he turned to leave.
. . .
The rest of the morning passed fairly easily. Zuko spent most of it in his office, combing over different market analysis reports. He wished he could've spent more of it with Katara, but there was just too much to do. Besides, he knew he shouldn't until he talked to Mai.
Oh, Mai. His stomach churned when he remembered her. What would he say to her? That he was sorry for wasting the last three and a half years of her life? That he hadn't loved her the same since the end of the war? Before he'd left for the South Pole, she'd told him she knew he didn't love her. But uko knew that didn't mean she still wouldn't be angry.
Spirits. That conversation in his office had been the last real one they'd had. Why was he so bad at talking with her? So much had happened since then. Everything in the South Pole, and then everything with Azula, and then the night with Katara.
How had feelings from three and a half years ago surfaced and changed everything so quickly.? A month ago, Zuko was prepared to marry Mai and try and find happiness with her. They'd had a routine together, even if it was a pathetic one. And then, when he least expected it, Katara reentered his life. At the very moment he'd accepted his future with Mai, Katara had unraveled it all. Destiny really was funny.
Would Katara want to be with him now? Stay in the Fire Nation? They'd said they loved each other, but what did that mean for the future?
Argh. Zuko hated thinking about these things. Nothing should be this complicated. Maybe he'd talk to Mai later. He knew he was putting something off that he shouldn't, but he just wasn't ready to talk about all of this with her. Not when he knew it would hurt her. The itch he'd felt earlier in the morning to see her was gone.
And then there was Azula. He knew he needed to find some sort of help for her, but he had no idea where to start. And until he did, she was down below the palace, slowly scratching herself raw and prisoned in her own mind.
Zuko stood from his desk with a sigh, realizing it was time to reconvene with his council. The idea of listening to them argue for another few hours before dinner did not cheer him up. How was he ever supposed to make a decision about anything when all they did was argue? Maybe at least he'd get to see Katara again at dinner. He vaguely wondered what she'd done the rest of the morning.
Ugh. Mai and Iroh would be at dinner too. Why couldn't anything be simple?
Zuko opened the door of his office, stepped into the hallway, and slammed it closed behind him, a little harder than he intended too. He took a calming breath, realizing he couldn't look as distracted as he was while he was at the meeting with his advisors. He needed to look like a monarch. With his back straight, Zuko made his way towards the throne room.
When he was about halfway there, he quickly decided to walk another lap around the palace before the meeting. Maybe he'd wander into Katara. He turned left down another hallway but didn't see her.
After a while, he turned again towards the direction of his room. With a sigh, he realized he probably wasn't going to run into her. Walking back the direction he came, something in Zuko's peripheral vision suddenly caught his attention. A flurry of movement was happening inside the room to his left.
His stomach sank. This was Mai's room. The door was wide open, so he walked through. Mai was pacing around the large room, carefully packing various items into a large bag.
"Mai?" he started quietly.
"Zuko," she said, barely turning to glance at him. "Good of you to finally come talk to me. Let me know that you're alive."
Spirits. He should've gone to find her first thing this morning. But how could he have done that after spending so much time with Katara? He should've at least come to talk to her after his meeting this morning. How did he always manage to do the wrong thing?
"Mai…" he said softly.
"Just stop Zuko. I don't want to know what happened last night or where you've been all day."
"Please Mai—"
But she continued to talk over him, her voice completely devoid of any emotion at all. No anger. No sadness. Her words were sharp though. "But at least now I have an explanation for where you've been the last three and a half years." Her head was shaking, and she was roughly folding some clothes to place in the bag. Zuko walked closer to her. What did she mean?
"I can explain—"
"Stop, Zuko. Don't try to push this all away. You can't fix this." Zuko was standing next to her now but didn't try to touch her. Her face lifted to look at his, her features blank. Her hands stopped their folding. "I knew you didn't love me, Zuko. And you did too. So why did you keep trying when you knew you loved someone else?" Mai wasn't the type to talk of love and feelings, and neither was he usually, so hearing her ask this question now hurt him deeply. Because he didn't have a good answer. "Why did you keep lying to me?"
Zuko turned away, his words filled with sadness. "I…I guess I just thought that it would never work with her."
This was the wrong thing to say. Mai scoffed and continued packing. "Oh, I see. I was a second choice. A backup because you couldn't have the person you actually wanted. I guess that's why you kept putting off marriage." She shook her head and started packing again. "How was I so blind?"
"No. No, I never saw it that way. Please. I truly thought we could be happy. All those years, I never even let myself think about Katara—"
"Don't say her name," Mai said, her tone filled with annoyance.
Zuko continued. "I tried so hard to make it work. I thought we could have a life together."
"No. You didn't try, Zuko. Not enough anyways." Mai finished packing and closed her bag, her voice still completely emotionless. She almost sounded like she didn't care. Like this all meant nothing. But Zuko knew her better than that. On the inside, this was hurting her. Mai turned to leave the room.
"Wait. Where are you going?" Zuko asked quickly, only her back visible to him. He walked to follow her.
"My parents'."
Spirits. That was a long journey. They lived all the way in the southern part of the Fire Nation. "For how long? When will we see each other again?"
Mai turned around. She looked like she couldn't believe how stupid he was. Zuko was just staring at her with wide eyes, completely unsure what this all meant or what to do about it. "For a while, Zuko."
"But…wait...are you...is this…? Are…are you leaving me?" He was completely at a loss and knew she would catch the sadness in his voice.
"You were never here, Zuko. You were never with me. I'm not leaving anything," Mai said simply.
"But…so…you aren't coming back?" He was genuinely trying to understand. Where was this going to leave them?
Mai eyed him for a few seconds. "Did you sleep with her?" she asked sharply.
The question caught him completely off guard. He silently cursed the way rumors spread among the people of the palace. Of course everyone who learned Katara had stayed in his room last night would've assumed that, even though it was completely untrue. To be fair though, he thought, if Katara had hinted that's what she would've wanted to do…would he have stopped it? Zuko's heart sank. Mai hadn't even crossed his mind until this morning. He hadn't thought about her once last night.
"Of course not, Mai." She continued to watch him, her face deadpan. "She was hurt. Azula took her, and she got hit with lightning. I had to stay with her to make sure she was okay. She saved my life."
For the first time, Mai's voice sounded a little sad. She looked out the large window, remembering something. "I remember when I saved your life from Azula. I don't think I ever even got a thank you." She sounded a little amused somehow, too. Spirits. How could he have forgotten? Mai turned from the window to look at him again. "I loved you so much. I think a part of me always will. But I can't do this anymore. It's been too long." A beat passed. "Goodbye, Zuko."
Unable to think of anything worthwhile to say, Zuko watched her walk out the door.
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