Chapter 17:
Conversations: Zuko and Mai
The gloomy couple reached the top of the stairs to their apartment just as Toph walked through the front door of the Jasmine Dragon.
Zuko opened the door and guided Mai through it. The two pale figures walked to their shared bedroom in silence.
"What do you say to knife counting practice?" Mai suggested. Her tone was reserved but her face was seductive and excited.
"You're on." Zuko said, his tone also reserved. Underneath his calm, cool voice, Zuko was burning with passion and desire.
Zuko shut the door to their bedroom behind him. As soon as the door latched, passion consumed them as they passionately kissed each other.
Zuko tore off Mai's clothes. The red and black fabric whooshed and sent cool air around Mai's ankles as it hit the ground.
Mai grabbed the bottom of Zuko's shirt, and he assisted her in taking it off. The dark fabric joined Mai's dress in the growing pile on the floor.
Mai was down to her barest clothing; most of her knives were exposed.
Zuko laid Mai down on the bed and began counting the knives. As he counted, he tossed the knives in a pile next to their clothes. Several of the knives stuck in the floor.
After he had located 116 of the 117 knives he paused.
"Where's the last one?" Zuko asked, confused.
"Not telling." Mai smiled.
Zuko spotted the last one moments after asking the question.
The flash of the sharp metal shone from the inside of her upper thigh.
"Found it!" Zuko said proudly.
Zuko removed the knife with his teeth as gently as possible. He'd never hear the end of it if he accidentally cut her. The knife made a satisfying noise as it left its holster.
"When would you ever use this, or get to it?" Zuko asked after he tossed it in the mountain of knives.
Mai shrugged and then sat up. Zuko sat down on the bed next to her. Mai wrapped her arms around Zuko and kissed up and down his neck.
"You did well." Mai laughed.
"What do you think we should do now?" Zuko said in between kisses.
"I know what we should do." Mai said, she threw Zuko underneath her. She sat up only long enough to take off her remaining clothes.
"What…" Zuko asked.
"I think you'll catch on." Mai laughed.
"That was awesome!" Mai panted.
"You're telling me!" Zuko breathed heavily as well.
Mai got up to put on her clothes and Zuko followed.
After they were dressed again, this time for sleeping, Zuko sat down next to Mai on the edge of the soft mattress.
"I love you Zuko." Mai said, looking into his fiery golden eyes.
"I love you more than anything." Zuko replied, taking Mai's hand in his own.
Mai cuddled up to Zuko. This was the most passion and emotion either of them had shown in a long time.
"I know this is a little nosey, but what were you and Katara, Suki, and Toph talking about?"
"To be honest, I wasn't paying that close attention. From what I did hear, I don't know if she wants me to tell." Mai replied, slightly uneasy.
"Don't know if who doesn't want me to know what?" Zuko's curiosity burned.
"She hasn't even told Sokka yet, so… I don't know." Mai looked away.
"Katara? Or Suki?" Zuko prodded.
"It Suki… she's…" Mai's voice trailed off.
"She's?" Zuko asked.
"Pregnant." Mai blurted out. "But you have to swear that you don't say a word! If I find out that you said anything to anyone, I'll kill you."
Zuko nodded. He fully believed Mai would kill him.
"I swear. How did this happen?" Zuko asked.
Mai sighed. "By doing what you and I just finished doing! Geeze Zuko, you're 18 you should know that!"
"I know how… I meant when!" Zuko raised his voice.
"Ssh! You're uncle is still downstairs. Probably a week or two ago, I don't really know." Mai explained.
"That's great!" Zuko got excited.
Thinking of a baby made Zuko remember when he was small and Azula was only a year old. He made a face that was a mixture of pain and happiness. He remembered how he and his mother used to make sandcastles and his father and Azula would play in the water.
"You look like you're about to throw up." Mai said, her voice concerned. She placed her hand on Zuko's shoulder.
"No I'm fine. I was just thinking about when Azula and I were really small… when my mom was still around." His tone had shifted from excited to depressed in a matter of seconds. This didn't bother Mai, as it was usual of Zuko to be moody.
"Don't think about that Zuko, you know it only makes you upset. I know I seem all reserved and emotionless, but I hate to see you like that."
"Really?" Zuko seemed surprised.
"Yes. It really bothers me. Why don't you think about our future? Maybe we'll have little fire bender babies some day." Mai ran her thin fingers through Zuko's shaggy black hair.
"Well that means we have to be married first." Zuko countered.
"Not necessarily." Mai replied.
Zuko put his hand in his pocket and got down on one knee on the ground in front of Mai. Zuko took his hand out of his pocket and closed the ring in his hand, so Mai couldn't see it.
"Zuko, what are you doing?" Mai asked, curious.
"Mai?" Zuko asked, his voice trembled.
"Yes Zuko?" Mai's voice squeaked.
"Will you… marry me?"
"Yes!" Mai exclaimed.
Zuko showed the ring to Mai and she gasped.
"Zuko- it's beautiful! Thank you Zuko, I couldn't have asked for anything more!"
Mai sat straight up in bed, and Zuko stirred.
"What's the matter?" Zuko grumbled.
"Nothing, I just had a really weird dream." Mai mumbled, and she rubbed her face. She noticed a lack of ring on her finger.
"Ok, just go back to sleep."
"I have a question."
"What?" Zuko sounded irritated.
"Did we, you know, do it?" Mai asked.
"Yes, it was awesome. Now go to sleep!"
End of the chapter! These next few chapters are a little series that all happen at the same time, just to clear up any possible confusion. Sorry for the dirtiness, it's Zuko and Mai so that kind of entails dirty mushy stuff. Hoped you liked it, or gagged your way through it. I did XD. I'll post the next chapter as soon as I can.