Let's play in the snow! Come on, we're kids, why shouldn't we get to act like it once in a while?
Mai sneezed, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. She'd been pleasantly surprised to see Zuko smiling and wanting to have fun for once, but now that they both had colds she wished he'd just been his usual dour self about it. Beside her, Zuko sat with his knees drawn up to his chest, coughing and glaring at the floor every now and then.
"Sorry," he muttered. "I knew it was a dumb idea and now we're both sick."
"If you knew it was a dumb idea," Mai asked, coughing, "why did you do it and drag me into it?"
Zuko sneezed and wiped his nose on his hand.
"I dunno. Just felt like it, I guess," he said. Just then, Iroh came in with another blanket draped over his shoulder and a cup of tea in each hand.
"Drink plenty of this and you'll be feeling good as new in no time," he said, handing them the cups. "That is, as long as you two stay in bed and don't jump into anymore snowbanks!"
"Uncle." Zuko shot him a warning look, which Iroh just laughed off.
"I must say, though, it was rather surprising to see you playing in the snow like that! I could have sworn you both hated it with a passion," he teased.
"I guess something sort of came over me," Zuko mumbled into his cup, stifling a sneeze. Mai blushed.
"I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about," she said. Iroh shrugged, draping the other blanket over them.
"Well, I'm glad you two had fun. Every now and then, we must throw caution to the wind and follow our hearts," he said, and Zuko rolled his eyes.
"Is everything a lesson or proverb to you?" he groaned.
"Sounds like he's just telling it like it is," Mai laughed.