Surprise

Chapter 2

By: GoddesofCsilla (Aka-Arya, FireNationHeiress)

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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N-Sorry it took so long to update! Here is the new chapter I promised…..featuring delusional Zuko:)

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It was as if time had stopped as the laughing ceased, the bartering halted, and the passion that had filled the air was absorbed by the blood pounding in his ears.

With every beat a hundred moments rushed through his mind. Comforting words, a secret kiss, a promise, a betrayal, an exile. He ran, at least he turned to before small fingers met the back of his neck and everything around him went black.

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In a dark hour strong but seemingly delicate hands passed a damp cloth over the prince's forehead. Long fingers traced the scar on his face, down his jaw, and then stopped at his chin where the moonlight stopped and the rest of his face was suspended in darkness. The figure clambered back to the edge of the cell.

Zuko woke in a dark room to the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, the touch of chains holding him the cold steel wall behind him, and the sound of soft crying nearby. His eyes widened in shock as the girl whose face had been buried in her knees was revealed and showed radiantly in the moonlight coming from the barred window.

"Z...Zuko. I'm sorry...I..Azula...don't ask. I'm sorry." She said softly. He scowled at her, and then his face fell to an impassive glare, then smirk.

"Clever. Did you come up with that act yourself or did Azula, or is Ty-Lee with you too?"

"What? Yes-I mean no. Ty-Lee is here, Azula is not." Then she added softly,"We are taking you to her."

He smiled a light in his eyes shown as if he was glad she stumbled over her words while looking at him. She was a light scarlet now.

Silence hung over the two until the sound was heard of a guard passing through the corridor. As he passed Mai rolled quickly into the shadows and Zuko slumped dramatically with his eyes shut. The guard peered in and grunted, soon the sound was heard of the heavy steel door being closed and shut. Mai was locked in, she didn't seem to care.

"Mai?"

"Yes?"

"Come closer, I want to see you better."

She passed her long sleeve over her face before coming to kneel in front of him. The way she held herself was the same as so many years ago, but she was definitely older: beautiful, to him. She sat watching him as closely and was blushing deeply. The crimson brought uncommon color to her pale cheeks. She searched his eyes.

"Wait, Zuko. You're delusional. You fell off the lizard on the way to the ship-your suffering from a minor concussion."

Zuko rubbed the back of his head and grimaced.

"Mai..." He took her hand. With a clatter of chains he was suddenly straddling her, one of her own knives to her throat-her hands out of reach of her of weapons. She gasped.

"Zuko! What are you doing? I'm locked in-I can't let you go, remember?" She whispered as she glared at him.

"I'm not sure. I just thought I should have the advantage over you...maybe I am delusional."

"Maybe."

He folded the knife together and passed it back to her, she stashed it into its holster.

"I probably won't remember anything tomorrow."

"Anything?"

"Probably not."

"How about this?"

She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips, savoring the touch that had been inexistent for so long. When she pulled back, Zuko sat for a moment-seemingly contemplating something and then said, "No…I don't think so but I might remember this."

With a swift move he pulled her close and deepened that kiss as Mai gave into him. She pressed him into the cell wall, the chain pressing hard into his back-but he didn't care. When the need for breath pressed them they stopped and Mai smiled uncontrollably until she noticed something. Zuko's head was now leaning over his chest-he had fallen back asleep.

She yawned, got up and walked quietly to the door, unlocked it with her key, and raced back to her quarters.