He honestly hadn't known exactly what to expect when he finally found the Avatar. But a child was the last thing he'd expected.

"Well, Mai, what do you make of this?" he asked, watching the boy struggle angrily against his bonds.

"Maybe he's just small for his age," Mai offered.

"I am not! I was frozen in ice for over a hundred years, that's all!" Aang snapped. "Now remember, as long as you have me you have to leave that village alone, remember?"

"We made a deal, didn't we?" Zuko said. "Now that I have you I have no reason to attack them."

"Good."

"But you are coming to the Fire Nation with me as a prisoner." Zuko turned around. "Mai, would you keep an eye on him while I tell the others we're going back?"

"Sure." Mai studied the boy as Zuko ran for the deck. "So you're what, a hundred and ten years old by now? You sure age well."

"A hundred and twelve," Aang grumbled.

"Close enough," Mai said. "You know, I'm not really buying that you're the Avatar. You're too small to be that much of a threat, and being frozen for a hundred years you probably don't know all the elements. I don't know why Zuko's been wasting all his time trying to catch you."

"Look, I never asked for any of this, okay?" Aang said. "I just wanted to be normal..."

"Oh, spare me the whining, I get enough of that from Zuko already." Mai rolled her eyes. "Just sit tight until we get to the Fire Nation, okay?"

He glared at her.

"I don't think so." And before she could blink, he exhaled a huge gust of air that knocked her back against the wall. By the time she realized it had come from him he was gone, and the soldiers were in a panic.

"Lady Mai, we saw him headed for Prince Zuko's room," a guard gasped. Mai picked herself up and dusted off her clothes.

"I'd better warn Zuko, then. That kid's stronger than he looks!"

*

Later that evening, Mai and Zuko sat huddled under a blanket as Iroh served them tea.

"At least we know it's no longer a wild goose chase, eh?" Iroh smiled. Mai just rolled her eyes and sipped her tea while Zuko shot a glare at his uncle.

"We made a mistake, but next time we won't underestimate that kid. Next time, he's coming back with us whether he likes it or not."