Maiko Month Prompt Day 12: Family
Summary: Mai and Zuko use their kid as a middle man to tease each other.
Word Count:720
Warnings: None.
AN: Daughter's name is Kaida, Japanese for "Little Dragon" that is my name of choice, and i'm sticking to it.
"Kaida, what are you doing?"
"Dad says, when he was little, he used to wake up every morning and do a hundred hotsquats." She mused, eyebrows pressed together and her little frame rising and falling each time she bent her knees.
"—and you always do what daddy says huh?"
"Well, I if I want to be like him when I grow up, I want to do everything he does!"
Mai let out a small sigh, followed a warm smile. She was only six and already taking after the determination of both of her parents. She had only found out about her bending a year ago, and pressed the two of them to start teaching her forms as soon as possible.
"Why don't you do something mommy wants right now?"
Kaida stops, sitting next to her mother and looking up at her with hopeful eyes. "Okay! What is it? Do I get to learn knives yet?!"
Mai deadpans, remembering the determination again, "No, I said you can't learn those at least until you're ten." Her fingers run the length of her daughter's hair, before tucking a stray strand behind her ear.
"Oh, then what is it?"
A playful smirk crosses the Fire Lady's features at the thought, "you see, your dad is a little—well, he's a bit of a loser. So he's easy to scare." Mai shrugs, resting her hand on the small of Kaida's back, before leaning in and whispering her plans into the girl's ear.
"That isn't going to work!"
"Oh, you don't think so? Fine, if it doesn't work, i'll teach you knives for your seventh birthday."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
Just as quickly the younger dashed from the room, Mai following behind at a leisurely walk. It was a few turns throughout the Fire Lord's wing of the palace, before you'd reach his study. Finally making it to their destination, Mai gave her daughter a quick head nod, a silent go ahead to put their secret plan in motion, before following and closing the door behind them both.
—
She crawled across the floor, tiny hands and feet staying as silent as possible as she approached the desk. Just as her mother had mentioned, Zuko was sprawled out on its surface, head resting on disorganized papers, and his voice carrying in a soft snore.
She stayed there a moment, looking back to her mother for reassurance, and receiving another small nod, causing her to crawl closer. Her hands reached out, tiny fingers reaching for a couple hairs, wrapping her fingers around their ends slowly as not to wake him up.
"Now pull—-hard." Mai whispers, egging her on and jerking her hand in a pulling motion
"You're sure he won't be mad at me?"
"If he is, i'll pin him to the wall."
Kaida only nods, taking in a breath before giving the small tuft of hair a quick yank.
—
He doesn't think he was dreaming of anything, unless maybe the calm was the dream. Duties had been hectic anyway so he wouldn't be surprised. He had laid his head down for an instant, brush in hand, and ink bottle just to his right. It was calming, and he drifted almost instantly.
A sharp pain erupted in the back of his head, maybe not even ten minutes into his nap, and he screamed and fell back, seeing the small flash of red fabric that moved out of the way upon his descent. His leg caught underneath the desk, hitting the wood and sending the ink bottle, and brush flying and landing directly on his face.
An irritated growl rung in his throat, and he tilted his head back, hearing the chorus of giggles and snorts that erupted from what he could already assume was his family.
"Mai! I know you planned this!" He barked, simply staying tilted backward where he fell on the floor.
"Mom was right! You are a dork!" Kaida responds, rolling around next to him in a fit of laughter, eyeing the black ink that now stains his face.
Zuko only pouts, running his hand along his face, which only smears the ink around more.
Mai quickly brings a hand to her lips, stifling her chuckle, trying to regain some composure so she can construe comprehensible speech. "Come on idiot, clean up, we're going to breakfast."
