Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Author's Note: My first real attempt at Zuko/Mai, though it isn't particularly romantic. Now that they are in the same place in the series, it is likely that we will at least see them interact, so I'm trying to figure out how that might go. With both of them, what they don't say is at least as important as what they say, so it makes for interesting dialogue writing.

Small Talk

Zuko sat on the steps outside the top level of the Earth King's palace in Ba Sing Se. Technically, he supposed it was Azula's palace now. She might claim it was their father's, but who was sitting on the throne and issuing orders, even to Zuko? Not that the last part was anything new.

It was funny, really. All the time that Zuko and Iroh had been on the run, Zuko had hated sleeping on the ground and had longed for the luxury of a palace like this one. Now that he had it, though, he found it stifling and preferred to be outside. Of course, it might have been the presence of Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai inside that chased him out.

Or maybe it's your conscience that won't allow you to enjoy what you have. This inner whisper was bothering him a lot lately, and it didn't help that it spoke in his uncle's voice. Zuko felt more conflicted since he had joined Azula than he ever had.

I just want my father and my throne back, he returned, repeating the phrase that had become his mantra.

And what makes you think Azula is the best way to do that?

She said…

Forget what she said. When have you ever known her to be truthful?

Well, never.

Has she ever seemed inclined to share anything with you? Power? Parental affection? Toys, even?

Actually, no, but that was a long time ago.

Why do you think she will share dominion with you now? the voice pressed on inexorably. She will cast you aside as soon as you are no longer useful to her. Just like Father did. Zuko balled his fists helplessly.

Shut up! You're confusing me!

You were already confused. I'm trying to make you see things more clearly.

Zuko quieted the conversation inside and tried to back up and view his situation objectively. He had chosen to fight with his sister against the Avatar, and the Avatar was now out of reach, if not actually dead. He supposed he might never know, as the Avatar's friends would have taken him far away in either case. His uncle was somewhere in the dungeons below him. At least, that's what he assumed. Zuko was too afraid to ask if Iroh was still alive.

I've made my choice, he stubbornly told the voice. I have to live with it now.

It's never too late to change, it whispered as it faded away.

"What are you doing out here?" Mai asked, coming from the building to sit beside Zuko.

"Thinking," he replied shortly. Zuko knew better than to express the depths of his inner turmoil with a friend of Azula's.

"You seem to do that a lot."

"Yes." There was a silence which, much to Zuko's surprise, didn't feel particularly awkward. He turned to look at her. "How did you and Ty Lee end up working with Azula?"

"Ty Lee's afraid of her," Mai shrugged. "I was just bored. My dad became the governor of Omashu, which is now New Ozai."

Zuko couldn't help it; he made a face when he heard that. Mai's mouth actually quirked up a little in response.

"Yeah, it's kind of a stupid name," she agreed with his unspoken opinion. "Your sister picked it. I don't know if she was sucking up to your dad or just trying to remind people of the Fire Nation's influence in the area. Anyway, life was excruciatingly dull there, and my parents spent all their time paying attention to my little brother."

"You have a brother?" Zuko was surprised. He'd also nearly caught himself smiling at Mai's refreshing bluntness.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot you wouldn't know about him. His name is Tom-Tom, and he's two years old."

"Wow. Accident?"

"I don't like to think about it," she shuddered, and Zuko nodded his understanding. After another long pause, he spoke again.

"What do you want?" he asked Mai.

"What?" she seemed startled by the question.

"What do you want out of life?" he clarified. Mai mulled it over.

"I don't know. Excitement?"

"Has it been exciting with Azula?"

"Fighting the Avatar's friends had its moments. It's mostly been pretty dull, though," she admitted. After a moment, Mai stood and appeared to be preparing to leave Zuko to his own devices again. She half turned back to him, though, and without looking at him, added, "I don't know if it matters, but I'm glad you're here."

Having said that, she fled quickly up the steps and left Zuko to ponder what in the world she might have meant by that.

--

Author's note: Yeah, Zuko's clueless. It really bothered me that Zuko turned to help his sister so quickly, especially knowing that she lies and that she's never been inclined to share anything, especially power, so I thought he should deal with some of those things. It's occurred to me that this could lead into a series of one-shots featuring this couple, but I don't know if I want to open that can of worms or not.

Member of the Boomeraang Squad: charleegirl, Jesus.Lives, Liselle129 (who are all apparently warming to Tokka), plus honorary member SnakeEyes16 (because he asked)

Thank you to Jesus.Lives, Tech-Man, charleegirl, IGAF-kun, moira2, and GreEn-eYeS119, for reviewing Chapter 9.

A Great and Terrible Beauty: Look at the bright side – it gives us lots of time to write fanfiction before a new episode comes along to contradict it!

Piezo: Glad you liked it! And I'm glad at least one of my suggestions wasn't completely awful.

MormonMaiden: I find that I can tolerate any ship that doesn't conflict with Kataang. Can you explain to me why Sukka is called George?

Dakyu: That's possible, but I thought the way I wrote it fit into the context of Chapters 2 and 3. Besides, I can only write what the muse chooses to send my way!

SnakeEyes16: You do get a break for Christmas, don't you? I found college to be a great time of life (the first time around, that is; the classes I'm taking now are mostly a chore). Yeah, I wonder what happened to Suki, too, and I wonder why Sokka didn't ask about her.