Thanks for the reviews! Cookies to all:)

Sort of two drabbles in one, but they had a connecting theme of change.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: the last airbender.

0o0o00o0o0o0o

Change happens.

Sometimes it happens overnight, other times it moves slowly. For Mai change was always a slow thing. She knew it was mostly due to her introversion, not taking the chance to stand up for what she wanted. It was her greatest fear to be alone, where no one would stand with her. This fear had been the fuel for Azula to bring Mai closer to her.

She knew from the start that Azula only wanted her for her knife throwing talent. She was using her, she didn't want her for a friend. Azula didn't have friends in the conventional manner. But she had been the first person to ever really accept Mai and her uncaring attitude. That alone had created a twisted connection between the two of them.

As time had moved forward though Mai discovered her own opinions shifting from Azula. She wondered sometimes how the people she hurt felt as she terrorized their lives.

A monster, the servant to the Fire Lord's demon princess. Whispers that would drift to her ears from the citizens of Ba Sing Se as she patrolled the dirty streets. The words were different from the ones people called her when she was growing up, but the feeling behind them was the same.

0o0o00o0o0o0o

"Mai, Azula said that we have to deal with some up rising in the lower ring" came Zuko's distant voice. She looked over to him, keeping her face blank. He still had not forgiven her for the attack a few days ago, but then, she hadn't really said that she was sorry either.

She nodded her head silently and followed him out the door. They walked, surrounded by clouds of mistrust and confusion, towards the palace exit. She stared at his broad back as he walked gracefully down the stairs, his Earth Nation clothing had been replaced by Fire Nation robes today. She wondered how he felt wearing them after all this time.

Once they exited Zuko stopped walking. Mai had been so spaced out that she ran right into his back. "W-what did you stop for?" she questioned embarrassed by her clumsy moment.

Zuko didn't say anything for a few minuets, his back tense as he seemed to work up the courage to say something. Mai felt a trickle of fear pool in her stomach, she absently touched the area hoping to ease the discomfort.

"You…confuse me" he said keeping his back to her. Mai gave his back a confused look but said nothing. "I had thought for a while that…you were different from my sister somehow" he turned to face her, his face a reflection of the hurt that she had caused. Mai felt her heart lurch, but she kept her expression composed. "Was I wrong to think that?"

Mai knew that she had to answer, there was no way that she could run from this moment. Unused to this sort of confrontation Mai did the only thing she knew how to, stare blankly and hope that he would lose interest. It was always her way of avoiding things. But somewhere inside of her; Mai felt a desire to explain her actions, to ask for his forgiveness. The foreign thoughts scared her.

She must have made some sort of face for Zuko's gaze suddenly sharpened on her, as though she had given him a glimpse of something that confirmed his idea of her. She knew that she had to cover her tracks, she couldn't let him get too close or Azula would use it against her or worse, him.

"I follow Azula, I always have and always will. I am not her, but am no different from the way you have seen me" she responded keeping her voice as even as she could. Zuko looked at her for another moment before turning away and walking again. Mai breathed a silent sigh of relief and moved forward as well.

"No, I am sure now more than ever that you are very different from the way you present yourself" he said smugly, he turned to look at her again; smiling warmly. Mai felt a blush flood her cheeks, Zuko's grin only widened at the sight.

She stormed past him, embarrassed again. "Watch what you say, or-"

"You'll hurl daggers at me again, sorry" he said holding his hands up in retreat. Mai looked at him and realized that he was joking with her. It shocked her to the core, causing her to wondered when he had changed; from the person that usually carried his hurt for days, to someone that could let it go. Or maybe, just maybe he had been merely waiting to show this other side that was already there.

"Well… exactly…" she finished lamely. Zuko nodded to her and walked towards their destination, leaving Mai looking at her hands wondering if he had somehow changed her as well.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

A/N Looks as though these drabbles are going to become a bridge for my other story Shuuryou. So I am going to start moving into the events that lead Zuko and Mai to that point.