AN: Well, looks like it's Maiko Month Again! And it's been a while since I updated wow. Sorry. Here's a tiny thing for Maiko Month Day 1.
Wanderlust
"Uncle Iroh says it'd be nice."
"Travelling is stupid." Mai says, rolling her eyes as she lays next to Zuko in the grass.
Perhaps she was being selfish, only eleven years old and already trying to clingto familiarity. Fromt hsi age onward, all they'd hear of were plans for their futures. Potential marriage, royal affairs and every other duty required of them.
"I wanna see the great wall of Ba Sing Se, and the air temples." Zuko continues, flat on his back as his hands pull at the grass blades.
"You're gonna be a soldier, you'll see all that stuff."
Or maybe it was jealousy? The mere thought that she was bound here, caged and kept as a doll, let in and out of her box only on occasion. While he got to travel, despite his royal title, he got to leave this place, to roam free even though guarded.
"What are you gonna do?" Zuko finally says, rolling over to face her.
"Whatever my mom tells me."
"I mean, what would you like to do?"
"-Nothing." She hates thesekinds of questions and the fact that he always thinks she's allowed something.
"You have to wanna do something." He persists, "No one wants to do nothing."
"I do."
"Then?"
"I-would like to be with my friends...my only friends." Mai smiles then, just barely as the corners of her lips turn up just a hair.
"Who are they?"
"You and Ty Lee, you idiot."
"With us?"
It feels nice to admit that-to admit she has friends, something to cling to. Even if it scary with teh coming years. But she has it now, right? The love, and the support to carry her through for now and hopefully always. With that she sighs, tiny smile broadening as she slips a hand down to hold his. "You guys are nice to me, I wanna go wherever you do."
