Chapter 3: Second Sight

Zuko and Mao got on the ship. He ordered the crew to ship out immediately, due north, just like Mao had told Aang. Zuko smiled with satisfaction, now he understood why Mao was here. She was to help him capture Aang.

"You've grown smart over the years," said Zuko, locking the door to his quarters.

Mao unbuckled her armor and arranged it neatly at the corner of the room. "Would you pass me a robe, Zuko?"

Zuko picked up his robe and passed it to Mao. She turned to look at Zuko, "would you mind turning around?"

Zuko turned around. Mao took off her shirt and pants, and put on the robe. She folded her clothes and placed it next to her armor.

"What do you mean I've grown smart over the years? I have always been smarter than you, PRINCE Zuko," Mao retorted.

"What happened to Lady Mao?"

"She's still here, & that was me politely insulting you, my dear prince."

"You've always been a walking contradiction, Mao."

Zuko leaned against the door and looked at Mao's back. Her neck was as thin as every other part of her body. She untied her hair and it hit the nape of her neck slowly. She stood up and walked towards Zuko. Her legs kept peeking out of the robe. Zuko looked away, slightly embarrassed.

"You're still a child, Zuko," said Mao, touching Zuko's cheek. "Impatient child, can't wait to be a man. But you still have a long way to go." Mao tiptoed and gave Zuko a small peck on the lips, "Your majesty."

Mao walked down to the prisoners' quarters. The guards had put Sokka & Katara in different cells. It's been a while since Mao had a girl to girl talk, so she decided to visit Katara.

"Hey," Mao greeted.

Katara turned away from the cell door, where Mao stood. "I never knew Zuko had a girl on the ship."

"There's a lot you don't know, my dear." Mao entered the cell & the guard locked it. "Too much."

"What do you want with us?"

"Why, the Avatar, of course. You silly, silly little girl."

"Aang would never give himself up to the likes of you."

"Oh really now?"

Katara scowled at Mao.

"Now, now. There's no need to look at me like that."

Katara spat on Mao's face. On reflex, Mao slapped her, grabbed her by the neck & slammed her to the wall.

"You better watch it, you good for nothing little twit. You don't like me, and I'm beginning to not like you either." Mao's hand on Katara's neck started to heat up. "And I don't know why the Fire Lord wants your bald headed freak of a friend who happens to be the Avatar. All I know is, he is the ticket out of Zuko's banishmentand we can all go home quietly without bothering with each other's lives. Now just shut up, cooperate, and no one gets hurt."

Mao released Katara and Katara fell to the floor. Mao knocked on the door and the guards let her out.

"You're a girl, just like me. You should understand a woman's feelings towards a man she loves," Mao said from outside the cell.

Mao was at the ship's pantry. She splashed water on her face, cleaning off Katara's spit.

"Lady Mao," said a voice behind her.

She turned around & saw a guard standing behind her. "Yes?"

"General Iroh wants to see you," he replied.

Mao bowed at Iroh, who was sitting on the deck, drinking tea as usual. There were two seats, & in between was a small table with the tea. Two full cups, one empty seat.

"Join me, my dear," said Iroh.

This had a different feel from Zhao's invitation to tea. She didn't feel uncomfortable. This old man was the same person she had sought comfort from.

Especially when her father had died.

Ever since then, Iroh had taken care of her like she was his own daughter.

"How are things back home, Mao?" Iroh asked.

"Everything is fine, sir."

"No need to be formal with me, my dear. Tell me, how is your mother?"

"Still healthy." Mao gave a small laugh.

"She has certainly mold you into a beautiful young lady. How I miss her cooking…" Iroh closed his eyes, imagining the food Mao's mother had once cooked before he left the Nation with Zuko.

"She certainly does cook well. She told me, she'll throw a feast when you & Zuko return to the Kingdom."

Iroh laughed, "I'll be looking forward to that."

Mao took a sip of tea.

"Mao, there is something I must talk to you about."

"And that is…?"

"It's about my nephew. Well, you & him."

"What about us?"

"I know you have been friends since the day you were born. But your destinies have been set ever since then as well."

"I don't understand."

"I know you love him, he's just too caught up with this capturing the Avatar business to notice that you do."

Mao turned red.

"I don't mean to disappoint you, Mao. But Zuko will eventually resume the throne of his father as the Fire Lord, and you will just continue to serve him as his servant, nothing more."

Mao looked at the cup in her hand. She stood up and placed it on the table. She walked to the edge of the ship and looked down into the sea.

"I understand that, sir. I know I can be nothing more than just a servant to him. And I'm sure he knows it as well. My mother had always told me, 'don't get too attached to the Prince, Mao. You'll just end up hurting yourself'. I tried not to get too attached, but I just can't help it. I see Zuko like no one else see him. I know Zuko more than his father does." A tear fell into the water. "But as long as I can be by his side till the day I meet Death, I'm happy." She wiped her tears & laughed, "I'm pathetic aren't I? I'm still just a little girl with a silly crush."

"You're not a little girl with a silly crush, Mao. Just a woman in love."

Iroh stood up and walked towards the door to below ship. Zuko stood by the door, making sure he wasn't seen. Iroh known that he was there all the while.

Iroh put a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "You heard that, didn't you, my boy?"

Zuko looked away from his uncle. With that, Iroh smiled and walked away.

"You're a girl, just like me. You should understand a woman's feelings towards a man she loves."

Mao's words kept repeating in Katara's head. She kept thinking what Mao had meant. Did she love Zuko? How could she?

"Hey Sokka…" Katara called from her cell. Sokka's cell was next to hers.

"What is it, Katara?"

"You heard what she said earlier, didn't you?"

"It was hard not to hear. You were making so much noise, I can't sleep."

"What do you think she meant?"

"About what? Zuko's banishment or the last part?"

"All of it."

"I don't know how a pretty girl like that could have feelings for someone like Zuko, but she must've seen something that we don't about him."

"You know a lot for someone who never kissed a girl."

"Hey, I've kissed a girl."

"Whatever, Sokka."

"Don't worry. Aang will come & he'll save us and we'll all get out of here safely."

"Aang…" Katara muttered, resting her forehead on her knees.

author's note: sorry if i didnt portray some of the characters properly shoots self. i hope you like this chapter. next chapter will be up soon.