"Shoulders back!"
"Stand taller!"
"Quit that crying this instant, young lady."
"What do you mean you don't want to be friends with the princess? This is our chance to advance your father's political career!"
For all her life, Mai had been expected to be seen, not heard. And when she was seen, perfection was expected from her. And emotional expression was highly discouraged, as well. Whenever Mai would cry as a child, her mother was always swift to reprimand her. Whenever Mai felt like smirking after Firelord Ozai's royal groomer accidentally shaved a little too much off his facial hair, her father was quick to scold her.
She often felt like a doll, completely brainless and expressionless. But she complied. She had to.
As a result, over the years, Mai grew silent.
Whenever she was with other children her age, she found it hard to laugh and run around with them. She found it hard to understand children who cried when their parents didn't get them the newest toy. Whenever she saw Zuko fighting tears at his grandfather's funeral, it had struck Mai as odd. Children didn't cry, she remembered thinking. They were seen, not heard. She wondered if his mother ever scolded him for that. Probably not. She also remembered Azula mentioning how Ursa favored Zuko more.
Azula. Mai's mood often soured at the mention of the Fire Princess.
The girl was a complete mystery in and of itself.
Truth be told, Mai did in fact like Azula. Several times, Mai even found herself longing to spend time with the princess. But more often than not, Azula scared her. Some of the things Azula would say, some of the things she would do, made Mai sick to her stomach. One instance in particular that had Mai reconsidering the benefit of being friends with Azula, was when Mai and Ty Lee discovered a charred baby turtleduck in the Palace Garden.
Ty Lee had burst into tears at the sight of the poor animal, Mai fought the urge to vomit, and Azula was simply unphased. And neither Mai or Ty Lee needed to ask whether or not Azula was responsible. They knew.
Mai had gone home that day telling her mother that she no longer wanted to be friends with Azula. The princess was merely ten-years-old at the time and slaughtered a baby animal for target practice. Mai never claimed to be an extremely moral character, but that was just disturbing. Her mother simply scolded her and sent her to her room. After all, her friendship with the princess was encouraged by Mai's parents a great deal.
"Put your father's political career first, Mai," her mother would often chide. "Because you are a non-bender, you're automatically at a disadvantage. You must compensate by making allies with powerful people."
So, over the years, Mai learned to bite her tongue. She continued her friendship with both Ty Lee and Azula (though she enjoyed Ty Lee's company far more than Azula's), and eventually numbed herself to Azula's antics. She thought that maybe if she simply turned a blind eye towards the animals who mysteriously go missing when Azula's around, it would get easier.
When Azula would make her angry, Mai would have to remind herself to practice her breathing exercises as to not betray her emotion.
But today, when Azula approached her in the knife-throwing court with a grin on her face, no amount of silly breathing exercises would've prepared Mai for what the princess was about to say next.
Azula watched Mai throw her shurikens at her targets, each blade hitting the exact center of each target. After a few moments of watching her friend throw knives, the princess cleared her throat. Mai lowered her knife-throwing arm to her side and raised an expectant eyebrow.
"Zuzu's been challenged to an Agni Kai," Azula said coolly, inspecting the tips of her fingernails. "Just thought I'd invite you."
Mai's grip on her shuriken tightened. "What happened?"
She lifted the blade up once more with her arm, swallowing the bile rising in her throat, and flung it towards the target. She flinched when the blade landed slightly off-target. Mai was never off-target. She only hoped that the princess beside her didn't notice the mistake. But from the amused expression on Azula's face, Mai knew that she had.
"He apparently disrespected an uppity general at one of Father's war meetings. He'll be sparring at dusk," answered Azula. The princess' gaze settled on the off-target blade. "What's the matter, Mai? I thought you'd have been more excited about seeing my brother dueling in his first Agni Kai."
Mai flung another shuriken almost angrily, and it hit the target perfectly in the center. Better.
"Agni Kai's are stupid," she muttered. "Not to mention boring."
Azula cocked a brow. "Usually, I'd be inclined to agree. Most Agni Kai's are in fact boring. And we all know how much you despise boredom."
Mai's eyes flashed. "So why would you invite me, then?" she questioned, careful to keep the anger out of her voice. "Zuko may not have mastered lightning generation or blue fire like you have, but he is the Fire Prince afterall. Some butt-hurt general can't just win an Agni Kai against the Crowned Prince of the Fire Nation. Your father wouldn't allow it."
The ends of Azula's lips twitched into an almost-smile, and Mai couldn't figure out why. Surely this entire Agni Kai was just a ploy created by Ozai to make his son look more respectable. The general in question surely had already been paid off by Ozai to lose on purpose to Zuko, that way the prince would command more respect in the future. Ozai may not have favored Zuko as much as Azula, but he wouldn't allow anyone to burn his son... right?
"Oh, Mai," Azula drawled, "My brother won't be facing any old butt-hurt general."
To this, Mai was confused. So confused that she nearly dropped the shuriken in her hand. "Then who?"
Azula started to turn on her heel, a coy grin playing with her lips. Then, the princess replied nonchalantly, "Come and find out."
...
"This is so stupid," Mai complained as her mother sifted through her wardrobe.
Her mother whirled her head around. "Don't use that kind of language with me, young lady." She pulled out an elegant magenta kimono with white frills at the ends of the sleeves. "What about this one?"
Mai made a face. "Not a chance, Mother." She stuck her tongue out. "It's so... colorful."
Her mother sighed and knitted her brows together. "This is important, young lady. This is Prince Zuko's very first Agni Kai. And as Princess Azula's friend and Prince Zuko's potential suitor, all eyes will be on you."
"I doubt anyone will take the time to look at what I'm wearing," huffed Mai.
"I don't know why I even bother with you, Mai," her mother griped. The woman turned back around and sifted through the wardrobe once more. This time, she produced a dark red kimono with no frills. And a bored Mai simply nodded at the option, eager to get this over with.
...
Mai's father gripped her hand tight as they walked into the Angi Kai court. Her mother stayed home, suddenly feeling nauseous. Mai considered faking illness as well, but her father was pulling her out of the door before she could formulate a lie.
"Whatever happens in the court," her father said as he started to find the two of them seats in the audience. "Do not cry."
"I won't," Mai replied.
"I'm serious, Mai. I don't want anyone thinking I've raised a weak daughter."
You've hardly raised me at all, Mai considered snapping. But before she could, she heard Ty Lee's voice calling her name. She located the origin of the noise and saw Ty Lee and Azula sitting in the front row, Ty Lee waving to Mai.
Her father made a shooing noise with his hand. "Make sure you sit next to the princess."
Mai nodded and made her way to the front row, offering Ty Lee a small smile.
Azula twisted her lips into a grin at the sight of Mai. "I'm so glad you could make it." She patted the seat next to her. "Come on, sit."
Once again, the dark-haired girl nodded and took a seat next to Azula. "So now will you tell me who Zuko's fighting?"
Ty Lee looked over to Azula as well. "Yeah, you said you'd tell me if once I came to the court." She gestured vaguely around her seat. "Well, I'm here, aren't I?"
Azula sighed. "Patience, girls. Patience." She started to inspect her fingernails. "I could tell you, but I think it'd be far more amusing for you to see it for yourself."
"You're impossible," Mai said with a sigh.
"Thank you."
A few moments passed before Mai spotted Zuko walk onto the court, completely shirtless with black bands around his upper arms. His hair was pulled up into the traditional royal family updo, and he turned around and kneeled to the ground in the opposite direction. He would remain like that, facing the opposite wall with his back turned to his opponent, until the gong rang.
Mai remembered her mother telling her that it was in reverence to Agni. After all, as the myth goes, Agni defeated his evil brother, Kai, by bowing and yielding to the fire within him. Thus, in Agni Kais, both firebenders will bow and yield to their inner fire until the gong rings.
From the other side of Azula, Mai heard Ty Lee gasp.
"Azula!" Ty Lee cried. "Zuko's going to face... he's going to face..." she kept trailing off, her eyes fixed in the far right direction.
Mai squinted and tried to follow the acrobat's line of sight, but Azula's head was obscuring her vision. And as Azula moved her head back, the dark-haired girl felt her heart plunge to her stomach.
Azula let out a small cackle. "Yes, Ty Lee," the princess said as Zuko's opponent kneeled on the opposite side of the court. The gong rang and both Zuko and his opponent stood and turned to face each other. "Zuzu will be facing the Fire Lord."
Mai's face went pale with a little bit of green. She wouldn't have come if she knew that Zuko would be facing his own father. She had thought the entire Agni Kai was simply a ploy. That Ozai had already paid off Zuko's opponent to purposely lose to the boy. But if Ozai's the one fighting Zuko, there'd be no way the Fire Lord would let his son best him. By the end of this, Zuko would get burned, Mai realized.
Mai's heart twisted and cracked when she saw Zuko kneel before his father. In Agni Kais, the only thing worse than a burn of defeat is cowardice.
"Please, Father," Zuko begged. "I only had the Fire Nation's best interest at heart! I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!"
Fire Lord Ozai only took more steps closer to his son. "You will fight for your honor," he snarled.
"I meant no disrespect," Zuko continued, his voice breaking. "I am your loyal son!
"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!" Fire Lord Ozai commanded.
Zuko only lowered himself more to the ground. "You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher."
Mai let out a choked noise and vaguely heard Ty Lee start crying from the other side of Zuko. Azula simply sneered at both girls. Mai watched, unable to tear her eyes away, as Fire Lord Ozai lowered his hand lower and lower to his son's face.
And when Zuko screamed, she felt as if she was the one who had been burned.
...
"What is wrong with you, Azula?" Mai demanded after seeing the wicked grin on the other girl's face. "Why are you smiling? Your brother just got carried away in a stretcher for Agni's sake."
The trio of girls was sitting in Azula's bedroom, Ty Lee sniffling on the princess' bed. Mai's father returned home after accepting Azula's request of Mai sleeping over at the palace. Mai didn't want to spend another minute in the palace, the girl's heart still hammering against her chest. It had been maybe one hour since seeing one of the most horrific things Mai probably will ever see. Whenever she closes her eyes, she hears his screaming. And Azula's smiling?
"I don't know why you have such a poor opinion of me, Mai," Azula purred.
Mai glared at her. "Not of you. Of your father. What kind of a dad would do that?"
Azula locked her jaw. "Father's punishment was for Zuko's own good."
"How?" Ty Lee cried. "Tell me how burning him like that could be for his own good?"
At her outburst, both Azula and Mai were shocked. Ty Lee never snapped at Azula. Not when she killed the turtleduck. Not all the times she had pulled on Ty Lee's braids and shoved her into the mud. Not the time when she laughed when Mai slipped into the fountain.
Azula narrowed her eyes at Ty Lee, then at Mai. "I know you two have been accustomed to speaking freely around me, but remember your place. I am the Fire Princess; you are my subjects." She hardens her gaze into a glare. "You two answer to me. I could snatch away every luxury the two of you enjoy with a snap of the fingers. And not only is what you're saying now wrong, but it's also treasonous."
The princess turned on her heel and started to walk out of her room. "And the Fire Nation has no place for traitors."
"Where are you going?" Mai questioned warily as Azula stepped out of her room. Would the princess report them to the Fire Lord? After what Mai saw Ozai doing to his own son, she couldn't help but feel a little fearful.
Azula turned her head around and twisted her lips into a small grin. "Relax, Mai. I won't report you to my father for your little slip-up. Everyone says things they don't mean when they're angry."
"Where are you going?" Mai repeated.
The smile slowly faded from Azula's face. "I'll be taking a visit to the Royal Gardens," she answered. "I just need some time to think. Alone."
And as the princess left the room and disappeared into the halls, Mai swore she heard something resembling remorse in Azula's voice.
...
It was the middle of the night. Mai and Ty Lee were both laying on the ground, and Azula was asleep on the bed. Azula returned after being alone for over an hour. And when she did return, Mai didn't fail to notice the slight pink around the rim of her eyes. They didn't talk after Azula came back, the three girls simply retiring for the night. It had been a long day for all three girls.
After about thirty minutes, Azula's soft snores sounded across the room. Mai and Ty Lee on the other hand remained wide-awake. Ty Lee was the most open with her emotions out of the three of them, but Mai had never seen Ty Lee cry like she did today. Today, Mai came pretty close to tears but managed to fend them off. It was the closest she came to crying in years.
"Are you awake?" Ty Lee whispered. After the dark-haired girl didn't respond, her back still turned to the acrobat, Ty Lee tugged at Mai's sleeve. "Hey, are you awake?"
On any other day, Mai would have made a comment about how stupid the question was. Today, the girl simply odded. "Yeah."
Ty Lee sat up and Mai saw the glistening tears still on the other girl's cheek. "I can't stop thinking about it, Mai," she whimpered. "Do you think he's okay now?"
Mai felt her throat tighten. "I don't know, Ty Lee." She didn't know much about burns, but she knew that the one Zuko received was pretty bad. Was it enough to be fatal? That was the question that had been keeping her up.
Then, all of a sudden, Ty Lee was standing up and pulling Mai to her feet. "Come with me, then. Let's go find out."
"Would Azula be mad?" Mai asked. She was still fearful of the princess after seeing what her father did earlier.
Ty Lee made a face. "Yes," she answered. "But I really need to know."
"Me too."
...
The two girls made their way into the palace, avoiding the creaking areas of the floor. Both girls have been to Royal Infirmary, and they're fairly confident that's where Zuko's is being kept.
Once, when they were much younger and Ty Lee was still discovering chi blocking, she had begged Mai to let her practice on her. The knife-thrower had finally agreed, warning Ty Lee that she'd come back as a ghost to haunt her if the acrobat messed up and killed her.
And, well, Ty Lee did end up messing up. The chi blocker either hit Mai's pressure point a little too hard or hit the wrong one, but somehow or another, Mai fainted in the Royal Gardens. Ty Lee naturally freaked out, and even Azula seemed a little worried. So when Mai awoke the next morning, and she woke up in the Royal Infirmary to the worried faces of Ty Lee, her mother, and Princess Azula.
Her father was nowhere in sight.
Mai's still a bit bitter about that. Apparently, he had work to do, but Mai's fairly confident that he could've spared an hour to visit his daughter.
"You sure you know where it is, right?" Mai whispered to her friend. Sure, she had been there before. But that was several years ago, and all of a sudden, all these hallways are starting to look the same.
Ty Lee nodded. "My sister wound up in the infirmary last month. A nasty case of the flu."
Mai gave a short nod and continued walking. The girls rounded another corner and the scent of medical alcohol and healing herbs greeted them. They entered the infirmary silently wondering which of the many rooms Zuko was in. They wandered through the dim halls for a few moments before hearing a low groan from one of the rooms. Zuko.
The knife-thrower's heart clenched and Ty Lee gasped. They peeked through the window and saw Zuko all alone on a bed in the infirmary, one side of his face completely bandaged. Low groans of pain escaped Zuko's lip and a mixture of anger and pity surged through both girls.
"Why is he alone?" Mai asked. Ty Lee didn't answer the question. "He shouldn't be alone. There should be someone watching him. Taking care of him. He's the prince, after all."
Ty Lee shook her head. "I overheard those two old ladies that mentor Azula. He's not a prince anymore. His father banished him."
Mai gritted her teeth. "C'mon," she muttered.
Slowly, she pushed the door open, careful not to wake the fitful boy inside. Mai peered at the boy in the darkness of the room and bites the inside of her cheek. Now that she was closer to him, she could see the bright red flesh that peeked from the bandages. It was worse than she had hoped but better than she had expected. She thought that Ty Lee would start crying again at the sight of him, but instead, the acrobat locked her jaw in place.
Another low groan sounded and Mai realized from his tightly closed eyes and contorted facial expression that Zuko was having a nightmare.
Battling tears, she approached the bed and grasps the prince's hand. Rubbing her thumb slowly across the back of his hand, she watched as his facial expression relaxed and his shoulders lose their tension.
And for the first time since she was a child, Mai cried.
...
Later, when Zuko recalled the half-awake-half-asleep, groggy event, he thought it was a strange dream. He couldn't exactly make out who was in the room with him, but he could sense two feminine voices whispering. Then a soft hand grasped his and he remembered feeling a sense of comfort. In some of his darkest moments, he recalled the hazy memory and took comfort in it.
His mother once told him stories of beings called angiras. They were essentially angelic beings who were loyal followers of Agni who watched over those with a great fire within them. More specifically, those who yielded to the freat fire within them.
For a time, he thought that he was visited by two angiras. And who could fault the banished prince for taking comfort in the fact that two agniras, loyal followers of Agni, recognized him as a person who yielded to the great fire within him?
Several years later, Zuko returned to the Fire Nation and took his rightful place as the Fire Lord. Mai had slipped into his room before the coronation and placed her hand over his. And he was taken back to the night he was burned. The night he thought he was visited by two angiras. And he realized, it wasn't any mythical being.
It was Mai.
A/N: so let me say that I'm wasn't the biggest fan of the Maiko pairing in the beginning. Like I was happy they were happy and I really liked both characters, I just didn't like them together. However, I was reading a few Reddit posts the other day about how Maiko is underrated, and now I'm kinda loving it. Yes, they have a few issues to work out (as clearly described in the comics), but they're pretty adorable and I know they care for each other deeply.
But yeah, so that's where this one shot idea came from. I'm planning on doing more atla one-shots (platonic and romantic), so if you'd like, you can leave a prompt request in the reviews.