Chapter 8: Frustration

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Zuko woke up early, as usual, and was about to jump out of bed to get ready for the day when he noticed a hand on his chest. Mai's hand. All the memories of the night before came flooding back, and Zuko blushed. He'd been so bold. It could've had something to do with all the teasing he'd endured. At least Mai hadn't minded too much. She'd evaded him for a while, giggling all the way, but once he'd gotten his hands on her, he'd heated them slightly, and from there she'd melted and he'd been able to consummate the marriage. He had a feeling he might've relaxed Mai a bit too much, as she'd only really started moving again to tell him to stop crushing her and that she needed to wash up. As he'd been thinking, Zuko had taken to running his fingers up and down Mai's spine.

He looked around the room, trying to remember every detail of this morning—the first night he'd spent in the "couple room." His mind wandered lazily for a few minutes—until it hit him.

Zuko wasn't one to be superstitious, but he had just remembered that he had not gone to his own room after his friends had left the night before. He had collapsed onto this bed, and fallen asleep. Which meant—to the superstitious—that he had excluded Mai from the marriage. Which could mean…

Zuko sat up, letting Mai stay where she was.

If he were superstitious, he would be led to believe that he had just sealed Mai's doom. He fell back onto the pillows. He was not superstitious!

The door was flung open to reveal General Chao.

"Still in bed, I see," the general said.

"Quiet! Mai is still sleeping!" Zuko growled. "Get out of our room!"

"I'm awake, Zuko. You can go to a meeting if you want." Mai adjusted the blankets better around herself.

"But I don't want to go." Zuko glared at the general. "I want to spend the morning after my wedding with my wife." Zuko sat up a bit, tucked the blanket around Mai, and made a fire ball in his palm, aiming it at Chao. "Get. Out."

"The entire council is assembled. Are you going to put your wife above your country?"

Mai silently pulled herself into a tight ball.

Seconds later, Zuko could feel something cold and wet on his arm. "You made her cry!" Zuko roared.

Mai groaned in embarrassment.

Zuko threw the fire ball at Chao. "You made my Fire Lady cry!"

Chao laughed and closed the door.

"Mai, what's wrong?" Zuko learned over her, brushing her tears away.

"Nothing, just leave me alone for a moment."

"But I'm right here… Tell me what's wrong! Did he say something?"

"Look, Zuko, I'm crying here and it's embarrassing, so just forget it's going on!"

"Not happening. I'm still waiting."

"It doesn't even really matter. It's selfish and stupid, so just let me get over it."

"No." Zuko put a hand on her shoulder. "Look at me and tell me what's wrong."

Mai thought about this for a moment, and then looked up at him. "Your country always came first. It came first at the Boiling Rock. It came first when it was either me or a meeting. I get it. I just… thought it wouldn't be wrong for me to come first… just once…"

"I am putting you first, Mai!" Zuko held her tightly, as if that could keep her from going to pieces, suddenly hating Chao more than he ever had. "I just had so much to do before. I still do."

"But Zuko, don't you see? You shouldn't be putting me first… It's wrong… I'm pathetic with all this stupid emotion!" Mai's words were choked off with a sob.

"No! I didn't marry you just to leave you alone all the time! That's how things were when you were just my girlfriend, and when we were engaged. I'm not planning on neglecting my wife!" Zuko looked at her fiercely, trying hard to reach her. He could almost see her pulling into herself.

"But the world still needs you." Mai avoided his gaze, fearing it would convince her of his point of view. She swallowed her tears, and resorted to monotone. "That hasn't changed just because we're married."

"You misunderstand me. The world will not fall apart just because I devote attention to you."

The door creaked open and Iroh stood there, a grave aspect over his features. "Nephew, Niece, my sincere apologies for interrupting. I am afraid the council has taken opportunity to ask the foreign delegates and the Avatar to discuss the state of the world. As they will be meeting in your court, you must be there."

Zuko stared at his uncle, then back at Mai. "What about her?"

"The Fire Lady should be able to attend."

A new option.

"We'll be there. We just need to get dressed." Zuko smiled weakly at his uncle.

"Excellent." Iroh ducked out.

"Why didn't we think of that?" Mai asked, sliding out of bed. "What?"

Zuko was staring. "You… oh, Agni!"

Mai frowned in confusion. Then the answer came to her. "Oh…" Mai dove for her robe, but Zuko was faster. "Get off!" Mai giggled as she reached for her robe.

"Come on, Mai! We wouldn't have to take a lot of time!"

"They're waiting for us and I'm cold!"

"I can fix that!" Zuko heated his body.

"That's not…" It was last night all over again. Mai's resistance was slipping. "What if someone else comes in?" She shot the words out as quickly as she could.

Zuko sighed. "You owe me."

"I know." Mai prodded his chest with her elbow and started to get dressed.

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When the Fire Lord and the Fire Lady arrived, Aang, Katara and Sokka gave them pitying smiles. They themselves had been made to wake up early, and could only imagine how much more inconvenient it had been for the newlyweds.

Governor Xun rose.

Mai shot Zuko a glance as she recognized the governor, the one who had purchased the mines.

Zuko nodded slightly.

"Now that we are all here, I have here a request from former Dai Li agents to gain Fire Nation citizenship. They would like to be employed by several Fire Nation nobles as bodyguards and personal forces."

Zuko massaged his temples. "Couldn't that wait?"

"The Earth King is here, and so are several influential Water Tribe chiefs and the Avatar. This is not the only issue. However, it concerns both yourself and the Earth King, as you would have to transfer citizens."

Zuko glanced to the Earth King, meeting his eyes for a fleeting moment. He could tell that the Earth King was drowsy and didn't want to bother. But he could also see that this issue didn't matter to him.

"As long as the noblemen interview the Dai Li separately and make sure they aren't treasonous, I couldn't care less," Zuko said. "My honorable neighbor?"

"My opinion is the same as yours," the Earth King said with a nod. "I don't see why this is a major issue."

"Excellent." Governor Xun motioned to one of his scribes, who checked something off a list. "Now I would like to bring up the problem of General Fu Yu."

Zuko let out an exasperated sigh. "There are several other things we could be focusing on."

"The Earth King and King Bumi are here, right? So it's the perfect time." Xun told the story of General Fu Yu, the fortunate general who'd lost his talisman.

Mai got a bit uncomfortable, and grabbed Zuko's hand to steady herself.

"Something wrong?" Zuko whispered.

Mai shook her head slightly. "It's just that I've been discussing this problem with Amaya. You know, the one in the library?"

"Ah. You think you can do something about this?"

"Maybe. Let's just keep it quiet for a while. I don't feel like making this guy happy right now."

"Same here," Zuko laughed. They continued to listen to the rather boring story of all Fu Yu's accomplishments. Again.

"Now, you see, there is the problem that we've been unable to locate this treasure though we've been looking since it was lost. We would like a warrant from the Earth Kingdom to search throughout it and reclaim this relic of Fire Nation history."

Zuko made gagging noises only Mai could hear.

Mai kept her face composed but showed her amusement in her eyes.

"Sure," said the Earth King with a yawn. "Next time, can we meet later in the day?"

"Of course, King Kuei. Anything for our guests," Zuko said pointedly, eyes focused on Xun.

Xun nodded reluctantly.

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After miscellaneous agreements between the nations, it was already noon. Sokka stood up. "All you politicians. Don't you ever think about eating?"

"Of course we do, Sokka," Zuko replied with a lopsided grin. "We should be taking a recess very soon." He accompanied these last words with a look at Xun.

"Why don't we send the women away now and the rest of us can leave later?" Xun's words were smooth, and Katara and Mai's warning flags went up at this.

Katara darted a glance at Aang and Mai did the same to Zuko.

"Why should we separate ourselves?" Zuko took Mai's hand, which had been hiding in her sleeves.

"So they can go to lunch sooner, of course," said the governor.

The Water Tribe delegates shrugged in Zuko's direction.

Katara didn't like it, and neither did Mai.

"I think he's trying to split us up somehow," Mai whispered.

"I can handle it," Zuko reassured her. "And Aang is here, too. He can't get to both of us!"

"We shouldn't be listening to this guy, no matter how innocent he sounds," Katara told Aang, glaring at Xun.

"Have some faith in people, Katara!" Aang elbowed her. "Go on, hang out with Mai. Ask her about married life."

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"Lady Mai, if I might speak with you?" It was Lord Wen, a tall, official looking man who often yelled at Order members.

"Of course I'll speak with you." Mai glanced at Katara. "How long will you require my attention?"

"I was hoping for quite some time. It's a serious matter."

"Then we should eat as we speak. Would you begrudge me a friend in attendance?"

Lord Wen cringed. "I'm sorry, my lady. I was hoping to speak with you alone."

"Very well. Katara, I'll see you later."

"Are you sure?" Katara hadn't been worried until now. Why would someone (besides Zuko) want Mai alone?

"I'll be fine," Mai reassured her.

Katara trusted Mai's judgment, so she bowed and left.

"May I escort the Fire Lady?" Lord Wen offered his arm.

Mai nodded and gracefully accepted.

Lord Wen led Mai to a small room designed for small meetings. "Could you bring lunch in here?" Mai asked a servant.

"Of course." The servant hurried away.

"There is a plot against your life," Lord Wen said plainly.

"Already?" Mai raised an eyebrow.
"I was investigating it before your coronation. Now I believe it's moving forward. I believe you should be guarded more carefully," Lord Wen stated sincerely with a concerned look.

"I plan to discuss that with my lord husband."

"Make it quick. You may not have much time."

"I appreciate your concern."

The food was brought in.

"Was there more?" Mai asked.

"I would like to take charge of your special guard."

"Would you now? Will you really be expecting the palace guard to be insufficient?"

"Yes. Poison is always a possibility. An explosion could also be caused. The palace guard may be the best of the army, but they aren't specialists."

"Will you require money to assemble specialists?"

"The money is taken care of. The Fire Lord began funding last month when you accepted his marriage proposal."

Mai smirked and rolled her eyes. "So all that remains is recruiting?"

"Which I will take full responsibility for."

Mai sat back, examining the ceiling. "All that's left for me is signing the order forms?"

"Precisely." Lord Wen nodded sharply. "I will locate an officer to lead them, so you don't have to."

"Is that all you wished to speak to me about?"

"I have paper work."

"Let's see it." Mai then signed several documents after reading them through.

Wen thanked Mai and, as he led her from the room, assured her he would be in contact with her and Zuko.

The door opened to reveal General Haneul.

"May I speak to the Fire Lady?" he asked carefully, as if he didn't want to offend.

"Come on into this room," Mai sighed. "Farewell, Lord Wen."

"Farewell, my lady." Lord Wen eyed the general suspiciously, but left, anyway.

Mai caught sight of Zuko over the general's shoulder, and put up her hand to wave. Her hand was seized by the general, who led her into the room again.

Zuko saw Mai being dragged into the room and smiled. He'd been receiving this sort of treatment for quite some time.

Mai escaped a discussion of her opinion on the Earth Kingdom colonies by bringing up the fact that the Fire Lady had a duty to agree with the Fire Lord on most issues. She then ran to where Katara, Aang, Suki and Sokka were, only relaxing when the door to the guest chambers were shut behind her.

"You missed lunch," said Sokka.

"I ate with Lord Wen," Mai said, seeing with disappointment that Zuko wasn't with them.

"What did he want to talk about?" asked a suspicious Katara.

"Zuko has already raised money for a private guard just for me. Lord Wen wanted to choose who could take charge of them."

"Aw!" Katara and Suki tilted their heads. "That is so cute!" they chorused.

"Yeah, I guess it is cute. There was paper work, too."

"Eew… paperwork…" Sokka made gagging sounds.

"Then a general wanted to know if I disagreed with Zuko about the Earth Kingdom colonies."

Suki frowned. "That's rude."

"Already trying to create tension! That's low." Katara frowned.

Mai shrugged, trying to bring back some levity. "It's not as low as it could be. I'll take what's given me."

Katara relaxed slightly. If this wasn't bothering Mai, then it probably shouldn't bother her.

"They're bound to do something about their disagreement with Zuko, anyway. Now that I'm involved, I'll take half the burden."

"That's so sweet!" Suki said.

Mai blushed and looked away from Suki. "It's a matter of fact, you know. It's my job now."

"It's part of why you took the job," Katara pointed out. "Because you love Zuko so much, you're willing to take on the burden that comes with being Fire Lady."

Mai blushed brighter and sat down, hiding her eyes with her fringed hair. "Did you have to put it that way?"

"Yes," Katara said, sitting down next to Mai. "To make a point. You could say these things yourself, you know."

"If I did, I'd be you and not me."

"And then you probably wouldn't have Zuko, would you?" Katara laughed.

"No, but Aang might have to watch out!" Mai shot back, raising her head to make playful eye contact with Katara.

Katara and Mai broke out into a hearty laugh.

Suki, Sokka and Aang would have laughed… if Mai hadn't been. As it was, they were startled by the strength of her laughter.

Mai stopped laughing and looked around the room. "Sorry about that."

"Don't apologize!" Katara said, pushing Mai's shoulder lightly. "This is fun!"

Mai studied Katara for a moment. "All right. I'll believe you."

Sokka ran up to Mai, startling her slightly. "Blamo!" He screamed in her face.

Mai stared in shock, her mouth opening and closing a few times.

Everyone else in the room burst out laughing.

Mai shook her head, but kept staring in silence, her eyes wider than usual.

"Conclusion: Mai doesn't laugh so much. Just when she understands the stimulation of laughter." Sokka stood up, acting as if he had not just yelled nonsense at the top of his lungs in the face of his friend's wife.

Mai shook her head again, listening to the hysterical laughter of those around her. "What was… Wow."

This just made everyone laugh some more.

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Ty Lee burst into the room. "Where is the Fire Lady?" she demanded, still in a perky voice.

"Over here, silly!" Mai called from the couch.

Ty Lee ran to Mai's side, getting way too close for comfort. "How was it?" she almost yelled.

"How was what?" Mai hadn't thought of what she could say that would satisfy Ty Lee. She was in a rough spot now.

"You know what! Your wedding night! Tell me, tell me, tell me!"

"You know that's private," Mai chided gently.

Ty Lee pouted. "Can't you at least answer my questions?"

"Fine, but just be warned I'm not going to talk about anatomy."

Katara and Suki joined in.

"That's right, Ty Lee," Suki said. "We don't need to know everything…"

"And personally, I don't want to know all about what Zuko did with Mai." Katara blushed a bit. "It would be too… weird… I mean, would you want to hear all about me and Aang on the day after our wedding?"

Ty Lee's braid nearly smacked Mai in the face with the force of her turning head. "Of course not! You aren't my best friend and I haven't known Aang since he was a little kid." She wrinkled her nose. "Besides, I wasn't going to demand every single detail…"

"Then let's get on with the questioning." Suki finally got excited. "I have some of my own!"

Mai groaned. "Let's get it over with."

"First… I want to know who did more of the work." Ty Lee began bouncing.

"Ty! Please!" Mai hid her face in a pillow.

"Tell me, please! It'll always be an incomplete fantasy if I don't know—"

"Zuko was very enthusiastic," Mai cut in, the words tumbling from her. "I was, too, but he just about got carried away."

"You fantasize about your best friend and her husband?" Katara inquired, slightly shocked.

"Oh, yes. I've been following their epic romance from the beginning, you know." Ty Lee grinned. "I must know everything."

"You're not going to know everything," Mai began.

"Oh, but if you don't tell me, I'll paralyze Zuko and put him in an advanced stretch, which, once the feeling comes back to his body will hurt really bad, and I think I'll learn something then…"

"I get the point!" Mai's voice was shrill. "Don't torture the Fire Lord, Ty, I'm begging you!"

"Why? Because if he's in too much pain, you won't get an encore performance?"

"Ty!"

"I bet that's what you're thinking!" Ty Lee clapped.

"None of your business!" Mai shot back.

"Making it my business!" Ty Lee was giggling now.

"What else do you want to know so this can be over and done with?"

"I want to know if he said anything romantic to you!"

Mai laughed. "What exactly is your idea of romantic? I got: 'Are they gone yet?' and 'They won't be listening, will they?' Oh, yeah, and 'Please tell me if this hurts so I never, ever do it again.' Does that count?"

"I guess Zuko isn't all that romantic," Ty Lee said, knitting her eyebrows together and staring into space. "That doesn't match up…"

"Are you telling us everything?" Katara asked.

"Zuko is not a master of words, my friends," Mai said with a shrug. "The best I've gotten is… let me think… oh!" Mai grinned before clearing her throat. "You're so beautiful when you hate the world."

The room exploded in laughter.

"Now that sounds like Zuko!" Katara gasped.

"I told you." Mai shrugged again, feeling pleased.

"When did he tell you that?" Ty Lee asked.

"Remember that day that Azula tangled your braid so badly that you couldn't get your fingers through it?"

"Don't forget, she tied me to a bed post with it," Ty Lee said with a frown.

"Good, you remember," Mai laughed softly. "That was mostly because Azula wanted Zuko to herself for a while… It was a good excuse to get me occupied."

"Ah… She said she was just playing a game like when we were kids… Looking back, I guess it makes sense."

"Did she tie your hair up a lot when—" Katara frowned in confusion.

"Oh, no!" Ty Lee laughed. "That excuse only worked until it actually happened!"

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Mai found Topekaia running a bath and heating it periodically. "You know the servants usually do that, right?" she asked from the doorway.

Topekaia turned to smile at Mai. "I know; I sent them away. I want you to tell me how you're feeling as a newlywed. I figure this is the best possible way to get some time to talk away from Zuko, for you to feel free to express yourself."

Mai's face fell. "Finding me without Zuko is not going to be as hard as you may think."

Topekaia frowned. "What? Why not? Where is he?"

"I don't know." Mai shrugged. "But he told me to come here, and told me to take advantage of all the privileges of being Fire Lady."

"Those certainly won't be in short supply!" Topekaia brightened. "Look at this list I got from the servants!" She opened a scroll. "It lists all the places you can go, like the royal spa… Actually that looks like the most fun… Well, the most fun alone… which brings me back to the first subject. How are you feeling?"

That last question almost bowled Mai over. "How… am I feeling? Um…"

Topekaia clapped Mai on the back. "Stop doing that. Come on!" she pleaded. Then she waggled a finger in Mai's face. "You're going to tell me."

"I already talked to Ty Lee, Katara, and even Sokka. I'm exhausted, Kaia."

"I'll find out eventually, you know," Topekaia chimed matter-of-factly as she began undressing Mai again.

"I can take baths on my own," Mai said irritably.

"You mean you could before you were Fire Lady. Now it's my duty as your Lady in Waiting to help you."

"Ugh!" Mai got into the bath. "This is humiliating, you know."

"Oh, I know," Topekaia laughed. "But the Lady In Waiting handbook clearly states that I must help you get ready for the day, make sure you're always comfortable, and, later, I'll even keep you from being overcrowded by officials, a task I think I would really enjoy."

"There's a handbook?" Mai scrutinized Topekaia.

"Yes," Topekaia said with mock seriousness. "Tell me now?"

"Fine."

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Mai received another note that evening. She'd spent the whole day with her friends, but she was missing Zuko. The note told her to wait for Zuko in a specific room. After Ty Lee wrenched it from Mai's hands and read it aloud, minus the name of the room, everyone laughed, except for Mai, who blushed furiously.

"I'll see you all later," Mai said, and slipped off to go to the room.

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The door to a meeting room slammed open to reveal Zuko.

"Fire Lord Zuko! What are you so angry about?" asked an Order member who'd been monopolizing Zuko's time for the past three hours.

Zuko whirled on the man. "Have you ever heard of a honeymoon, by any chance? Ever considered that maybe I might want to be with my wife the day after our marriage? I'm going to find her. I've wasted the whole day with you and people like you. I'm not going to take it any more! Goodbye!" Zuko stalked to his room.

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The room Mai had received instructions to go to didn't look accommodating. It was dark, which didn't actually bother her, and had a couch but not much else. She got the impression that this was a meeting room that for some reason hadn't been used for a long time. She noticed that the walls seemed uneven somehow. At least she wouldn't have to be bored. What was that sound? It was a clicking: the door was locked! Mai stared. It hadn't bothered her before that there was no window in the room, but now… Maybe this was all part of Zuko's plan… But she wasn't liking the plan.

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Zuko paced the floor, trying to work off some of his frustration before he risked throwing it all at Mai. These Order members were just insane! He couldn't picture them treating his father like this. It was like some sort of sabotage mission—but he couldn't believe that, not in the interest of peace. He didn't need to make them the enemy.

When would Mai arrive? He was getting impatient. Well, more impatient than he'd been two minutes ago, at least. Maybe he should get someone to actually find her. There was a hesitant knock at the door. "Fire Lord Zuko, may I come in?"

The voice belonged to a woman. A nervous one. Zuko didn't much care for her voice or the image it invoked. "What do you want?" he called.

"I was sent to wait on you."

"I'm already waiting on someone else, and have no time for you. Please just go away." So what if he was being rude? He didn't want to see anyone.

"But… I was sent by Lady Mai. She said that since she won't be coming—"

Zuko was at the door, throwing it open before the girl had finished her last word. "What was that? Say it again… and slower this time so I know I heard you right."

"The… Fire Lady… will not be coming to see you tonight."

"What?" Zuko pushed the girl out of his way, and started walking in a random direction down the hall. "Where is she?"

"I don't know any more. She sent me a long time ago."

Zuko couldn't believe Mai had decided not to come to him. All day he'd been doing nothing but trying to find her and now… He looked at the girl. When was the last time Mai had sent him something? He couldn't think of anything past his birthday. And even then it had been a weapon. Never sending him someone to take care of him. That would have been demeaning. He was allowed to do that for her, because that was his job. So why was Mai suddenly so out of character? He went back into the room. "How about you go find her? Tell her I'm waiting for her in our room. I'm not going back out there where someone may stop me again. Now get lost!" Zuko made shooing motions and slammed the door.

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The room was boring. In fact, it was so boring that Mai could have just started screaming. But that would be illogical. What she needed to do was find a way out of the room. There were no ventilation shafts, and upon inspection, the door was very thick. At least she had a full supply of knives…

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Zuko waited several hours for Mai. Or even some news of her. The question of why Mai wasn't with him was killing him. Finally, he snuck out and found Aang meditating in the courtyard. "Hey, you! Wake up so I can talk to you!" Zuko hissed from five inches in front of Aang.

"What's wrong?" Aang asked as he opened his eyes. "Why aren't you… with Mai?"

Zuko sat back and folded his arms. "I can't find her."

"What?" Aang was fully alert now. "But she followed the instructions in your note!"

"My note?" Zuko had no knowledge of a note. Nor did he have any idea who would have sent one to Mai pretending to be him, or what they'd asked her to do. "What did the note say?"

"It told her where to go," Aang said. "The note said you'd be waiting for her in a certain room, so she went there… and I think she's been there for a few hours."

So Zuko wasn't getting the worst of this… "Where did it send her? We have to go find her in case someone's trying to hurt her!"

"You're right. I don't know where they sent her, but we'll have to figure it out somehow. Let's get started."

Aang and Zuko ran off.

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The room was beginning to be more than boring. It was stifling. Mai literally felt as if there was a limited air supply in the room. She was collecting each one of her knives from various places in the wall, and she had a feeling the idea of throwing them in patterns wasn't going to be as novel as the last time. Maybe she should give up and go to sleep. She eyed the couch. She was so… tired…

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Aang and Zuko looked for any sign of Mai. They went to Mai's room. Topekaia was asleep in the adjoining room, so Zuko suggested they ask her.

"Miss Topekaia," Zuko ventured.

"What is it and who is it?" Topekaia sat bolt upright, a ball of fire hovering over her palm.

"It's just the Fire Lord and the Avatar," Zuko said quickly.

"What are you doing here?" Topekaia used the fire to light her bedside lamp. "Shouldn't you be with…"

"I know!" Zuko shouted. He realized he'd been too loud and continued in a quieter voice. "I need to know where she is. I was told she was coming to me, but now I've learned she was told to wait for me… but I don't know where she was sent."

"Neither do I." Topekaia stood up. "She took her note and left. I didn't read it, and she didn't read the location out loud… so…" Topekaia shook her head.

"So now we have to search the whole palace," Zuko said, completely serious.

"I'm sure Mai will turn up," Topekaia said. "She'll figure out you aren't coming and go looking for you."

Zuko knew this sounded like Mai, but something was telling him that something was wrong with her.

Aang put a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "It's only a few hours before dawn. I think you should get some sleep and figure out what went wrong in the morning. I'll make sure we don't get a repeat of this morning, so you'll get all day with her to make up for today."

"Thank you." Zuko hugged Aang. "That means a lot."

"Hey, what about me?" Topekaia pouted.

Zuko paused. "Sure…" He gave Topekaia a hug, too. "I'll see you both tomorrow… maybe." He allowed himself a laugh, and then ran from the room with Aang behind him.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Many thanks to the kind people who took the time to review the last chapter: gloomy maiko lover, Kimjuni2, Millie, and Silvereyes12.