"I don't understand," Mai said, frowning.
"Well," Zuko and Iroh began together, each trying to explain why they had simply been there when Mai woke up that morning.
"Roku, you understand, he is very persuasive," Iroh said finally. Mai looked at him coldly.
"What I don't understand is why, after leaving me here for months to help with Roku's training, you show up here without a word, because Roku told you to."
"It wasn't just like that, Mai," Zuko attempted. "After we saw Ozai and Azula and the dragons, Roku asked why he shouldn't be allowed to finally visit his grandmother."
"And we couldn't give him an answer, so we thought, you know... why not?" Iroh explained.
Mai glanced over at Roku, who was sitting with Ursa, both of them completely lost in their own conversation. Their first.
"Still, you could have given me time. I could have taken Kara away."
"There was no time, Mai," Zuko explained, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. "No messenger could have beat us by much. We came straight here." He looked briefly at Iroh. "Pretty much."
"You absolutely must try this new tea. The Sun Warriors taught me how to brew it. The recipe is difficult but delicious and very spicy!" He chuckled. "I haven't managed it yet, but I brought lots of supplies. Zuko, would you mind unloading them for me?"
Mai gaped, speechless with indignation, and watched as the Fire Lord unloaded his uncle's baggage. It wasn't the best thing to do, Mai was aware, but she sought out Kara on the yard.
"Kara, why don't we show your parents what you've learned with the knives?"
The girl blinked a few times and nodded.
"Follow my lead," Mai instructed when they were prepared, and she and Kara began a synchronized dance, each unleashing the weapons at what was now a very battered tree. Mai could sense the girl was having a hard time keeping up, as Kara's pace had remained relatively sluggish, but pushed those limits regardless. In truth, Kara was performing admirably, nearly as well as Mai, nearly...
"Ah!" Kara cried and clutched her hand. Already blood was pooling in her palm. "I'm sorry... I was careless," she apologized to Mai, her eyes strangely calm. "I'll go find Katara."
"I'll come!" Sokka was at her side immediately, stuffing her hand with scraps from a sleeve he had torn off.
"I'm fine, Dad. It's really not bad." Kara excused herself as Sokka watched anxiously.
Mai watched the girl carefully, ready to slip away and follow her, when Suki took her arm. "Walk with me," she offered, smiling as usual. "Sokka, I think Katara had been tending to Appa. Why don't you go and take over for her?" she called as they left, leaving him no time to argue.
"What's wrong?" Mai asked.
"Funny. I was going to ask you the same thing. What was the meaning of all of that?"
"It's... I'm sorry. It was harder than I should have pushed her."
"Mai," Suki said, looking suddenly serious. "Have you ever seen my daughter be careless with any weapon?"
"Of course not," Mai sighed. "I'm sorry, you've trained her very well. I didn't mean anything... She just wanted to talk to Katara."
"Alone, Mai. She wanted to talk to Katara alone. She actually cut her hand open to get out of your company, and I think you ought to be bright enough to take that hint." Suki wasn't smiling.
"I'm sorry, Suki. I just wanted to find out what's been going on with her... I thought she might tell Katara."
"I agree. That's all the more reason to leave them alone. I told you that she doesn't have many friends. I didn't tell you that so you would invade the few relationships she does have. If she wants you to know something, you'll know. Until then you'll just have to be patient, or you're no friend at all."
Azula's face again, in Mai's mind. Is that really what she had let herself become? Was she really that controlling? Did she want Kara to become a follower? "I'll try to do better," she promised.
Suki's face softened. "I know. And I know those years of your life were especially difficult and you don't have a lot to go on, but... she just needs to be able to trust someone. And you have to start trusting her. And quit meddling before someone loses an eye."
Katara had been avoiding Mai exceptionally well for the past few days. Mai had the feeling she was getting help. She also had the distinct impression that Kara had told her aunt about inflicting the injury on herself to escape Mai, as Katara seemed a bit more hostile than usual. Mai wished Aang had been free to join them; she could have used an interpreter for Katara's moods.
"Mai, seriously, what's going on?" Zuko pressed her. Though they were granted some amount of privacy at home that morning, Mai could only think about where everyone might be.
"I don't know," she replied honestly. "Is Roku out with Ursa again?"
Zuko nodded. "Mother told him about what she did... why she's here, and not in the Fire Nation... he's kind of bursting with questions. I don't think I've seen him out of her company in days."
"I should find Kara," Mai said absently.
"She's probably busy training somewhere, I'd imagine. She's been spending some time with Iroh lately. I think he really enjoyed having a kid to mentor again."
"I thought he was busy experimenting with those new teas?"
"It's Uncle Iroh," Zuko shrugged. "He finds ways to bring the two together."
Mai nodded, smiling faintly.
Zuko contemplated her for a moment. "Come on, let's go do something fun. Spontaneous."
Mai raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"I don't know... something different," he shrugged. "What would Sokka do?"
"I really don't know."
"Wait... here he comes, I'll ask him." Zuko was grinning. Mai had to return the smile. It seemed ages since she had permitted herself, or Zuko for that matter, to act in any matter that might be considered even remotely silly.
"Hey, Sokka!" Zuko called, meeting him at the door. "Hey, I was wondering, what would you-" And that was when Sokka hit him.
Mai didn't remember drawing her knives, but stood poised in case Sokka struck again.
"What the hell, Sokka?" Zuko shouted, rubbing his jaw.
Sokka responded with a string of nonsense and raised his fist to hit Zuko again, when the rest of them caught up.
"DAD!" Kara shouted, distracting Sokka just long enough to throw enough knives to pin his arm against the wall. Her speed was getting better, Mai noted.
"Sokka, calm down!" Suki urged, grabbing his other arm as he struggled to free himself.
"He...! His stupid son...!" Sokka was yelling, still struggling.
Kara marched up to him, punched a few spots, and his arms went limp. "Zuko wasn't the one I kissed, Dad!"
"I'll kill him!" Sokka yelled, impotent.
"Sure you will, Dad," Kara sighed.
"Father, are you all right?" Roku offered.
Sokka began to curse at Roku. "YOU! I SAW YOU! With... with your HANDS! My daughter is not some Fire Nation floozy that you can just... just DEFILE like that!"
"DAD, stop exaggerating." Kara's cheeks and neck were reddening, but she still met her father's gaze.
"I should have known better than to trust him!" Sokka lamented, turning to Zuko. "He is your son after all."
"And just what is THAT supposed to mean?" The shock seemed to have worn off, and Zuko's temper was rising.
"You know what that's supposed to mean," Sokka replied coldly. "You were all over the girls before you settled down with Mai... and I'm just assuming you actually settled down."
"What are you even talking about?" Zuko gaped at Sokka. "It's you and girls!"
"Oh, come ON, Zuko! There was Toph, and you used to be all over my sister, and I know you tried a few moves on Suki even with me right there!"
"You're delusional!"
"At least I'm not a tramp!"
"YOU MADE OUT WITH THE MOON!"
"I'm warning you, Zuko, don't even go there!" Sokka growled contemptuously. "Anyway, compared to you, I'm practically inexperienced!"
"That is so the opposite of what you've been bragging to me for years!"
"Katara's going to be really disappointed she missed this," Suki whispered to Mai.
Mai just shook her head. It was truly amazing what little prompting it took to revert those two back to the boys they were when they met.
"Mother?" Roku said softly. He was nearly her height now. When had that happened? "I need to talk to you." Mai's eyes went to Roku's hand, his fingers firmly laced in Kara's. She nodded and told them to wait for her inside.
"NO! Where is he going with her?" Sokka struggled against the knives pinning him in place, his arms flapping uselessly. "I won't allow it! I don't want him anywhere near her!"
"Take her! I'm sure my son can do better than her anyway!"
"You come over here and say that!" Sokka began trying to pull the knives out with his teeth.
"First, take back what you said about me and my son! I have only ever been involved with one woman!"
Mai took her opportunity. "Zuko, come on. You know I met that Earth Kingdom girlfriend of yours."
"Ha HAH!" Sokka shouted, attempting some kind of triumphant gesture with his legs. "I knew it! That's what this is about, isn't it? Earth Kingdom girls just aren't good enough for you?"
"Please, Sokka. Like you're any better?" Mai approached him and narrowed her eyes, her face inches from his. The color drained from his cheeks. "I know what happened between you and Ty Lee," she whispered, "and I've told Suki everything."
With that, Mai turned to leave. "That should keep them busy for a little while. Don't let them kill each other," she instructed Suki.
Suki nodded and suppressed a grin as Sokka protested, "That isn't... I swear... What did she tell you? I never... IT'S ALL LIES!"
Mai found Roku and Kara waiting for her inside, both of them clearly nervous. Mai seated herself across from them, and waited.
It was Roku who broke the silence. "Mother, I'm sorry you had to find out like this, and that Sokka hit Father because of it, but... Kara and I like each other."
That much was apparent. They were seated close together, still holding hands, both of them blushing and avoiding Mai's eyes, instead exchanging glances with each other, trying to inspire the confidence to continue.
"We know what you think," Roku went on. "We know you wanted to separate us. That you don't approve of us together."
"You don't approve of me," Kara said firmly, meeting Mai's eyes. "You never have."
That was a surprise. "What makes you think I don't approve of you?"
Kara looked like she might have laughed. "Please. You're always talking about what a bad influence I am and what's wrong with me!" Before Mai could object, Kara shot a quick glance at Roku and added, "And I know you broke up Tom-Tom and me because you don't even think I'm good enough for your little brother."
Roku squeezed Kara's hand and met his mother's eyes, watching her reaction.
"That's not..." Mai began, trying to figure out where to even begin to argue.
"You aren't going to deny it, are you? You may have gotten some help, but I know you were behind it."
"I was, but..."
"Right." Kara and Roku exchanged another meaningful look, and Kara began again quietly. "I know that I'm not Fire Nation, or a bender, or from a high-ranking family or anything, but... I've never been ashamed of any of that before."
"And she shouldn't have to be," Roku said to his mother, his eyes defiant.
"I like where I'm from," Kara continued. "And you know how hard I try. I hoped I could prove to you that I'm good enough for Roku, but apparently..."
"I don't need proof," Roku said to her gently.
Mai found herself surprised at the tenderness in Roku's voice. It was new. "When did this start?" she asked.
"We've been writing each other since you tried to separate us," Kara said boldly.
"Ah. So your coming here was her idea?" Mai asked her son.
He seemed insulted at the implication. "Kara just helped me figure out what to say to Father and Iroh. It was my idea, though. Like the dragons."
"I swear, that was him. I didn't know about the dragons until you told me," she insisted to Mai. "I wouldn't have pushed him to do anything that dangerous."
That wasn't strictly true, Mai understood, when she saw the look Kara gave her son. He'd done it all for Kara, to impress her. And it had worked.
"But his recent dedication in his studies? Is that something you pushed him to do?" Mai asked the girl.
"We thought if we could both do really well in our training, we might be able to see each other sooner," Roku answered, squeezing Kara's hand.
"Iroh and Ursa have been helping us find time together," Kara confessed. She smiled shyly at Roku.
"And they seem to approve of her," Roku challenged.
"Roku, Kara... You don't understand," Mai began.
"What don't we understand?" Kara questioned.
"I know you have high aspirations for me, but that shouldn't mean there's no room for Kara. I've looked it up, Mother, and it's not like there haven't been other Fire Lords... who... married...?" Roku trailed off when he noticed Kara shaking her head subtly.
"The important thing shouldn't be what you want for Roku," Kara prompted.
"It should be what will make me happy," Roku finished. Mai fought a smile, wondering how much time they had spent rehearsing this. "And I know I'm a prince and that makes things different... but..." Roku looked quickly at Kara and then added, "Kara would make a really good Fire Lady." Judging from Kara's face, he had clearly deviated from the script they had worked on.
Mai took her moment. "Both of you, quiet."
Kara looked heartbroken. "You can't..."
"I like Kara, Mother!"
"Roku, Kara, quiet," Mai said more firmly. "Kara, I've never had any problems with you. I sent Tom-Tom away because it was upsetting Roku to see you with someone else."
The two of them were stunned. Kara looked suspiciously at Mai and waited for her to continue.
"I separated you from Roku so that he could concentrate on firebending. I had thought his feelings for you were distracting him, and that could be dangerous. Apparently I was wrong to do that, or at least to think I could," Mai apologized to both of them before turning to Kara, making sure she had the girl's attention. "I had also wanted you to work with Ursa, because she was a tremendous help to me when I became Fire Lady." She watched Kara carefully, waiting for the girl to understand.
"Oh."
"Wait..." Roku scowled, trying to piece this together himself. "But I never told you any of that..."
"You did, actually," Mai said patiently, smiling at him. This was the Roku she knew. "Just maybe not intentionally."
Roku continued to puzzle over that, and Kara asked, "Can I ask how long you've known?"
"That this was happening? Maybe 20 minutes. That it would? Considerably longer. Probably since the first time Roku complained to me about you."
"So... all this time?" Kara asked.
"It was never anything official, and it isn't as though this had been arranged. I wanted to give Roku a chance to choose, and he clearly chose you a long time ago."
"And that's why you've been working with me since I was little. You were training me?" It was less of a question, but at least Kara seemed to be keeping up.
"All this time?" Roku was still having a hard time comprehending the true depths of his mother's plotting. He was so much like his father.
"It didn't seem prudent to tell either of you. I had no idea you would construct such elaborate conspiracies against yourselves. You were supposed to have the chance to simply come together on your own."
"I'm sorry," Kara arrived there first. "I should have at least considered that might be a possibility... but it would seem so... presumptuous."
"Don't apologize," Roku told her. "This is insane. I mean, I'm glad, but it's still insane."
"As you said, Roku, you're a prince." Mai smiled at him fondly. "And that makes things different."
By the time Mai reemerged with Roku and Kara, Sokka had resolved his differences with Zuko and appeared to be regaining some movement in his arms.
"So then I saw them on the roof, and I guess I overreacted. Sorry."
"And you saw them from...?" Zuko prompted.
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Yes. The treehouse I was working on."
"Isn't Kara a little old for a treehouse?" Zuko asked, smiling.
"It isn't for Kara, all right?" Sokka admitted. "It's more of a treefort anyway."
"They've been very well behaved," Suki informed Mai. "Once they tired themselves out, it was pretty easy from there."
"Sokka?" Roku approached him, bowing politely. Mai noticed that he remained more than an arm's reach away, just to be safe. "I'm sorry I didn't ask you first, but I like your daughter, and would appreciate your consent to continue seeing her."
"Are you serious?"
"Very much, sir."
Sokka, clearly impressed, turned to Zuko. "I was wrong about him being exactly like you. I think I like this kid. He's all right." He turned back to Roku, serious. "So what will you give me if I say yes?"
"Dad!" Kara interrupted. "Just give him permission or I'm going to continue seeing him behind your back."
"Fine, fine. Though I should really talk this over with your mother."
"She's fine with it," Kara informed him.
Sokka turned abruptly to Suki. "You knew?"
"More or less."
"And you let me make an idiot out of myself anyway?"
"You hardly need my help for that, Sokka," Suki laughed, and, as a peace offering, moved to free him from the wall he was still pinned to.
"I'm just saying, it's brilliant," Sokka argued.
"You just want something else to brag about," Katara accused him.
"Come on, Mai," Zuko pressed, knowing that she was the one to convince. "You have to admit, it's pretty perfect."
"Exactly!" Sokka agreed. "Think about it. With the other nations all worried about Roku taking over the world, what could make them feel better than announcing he's going to marry a girl from both the Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom? It's perfect!"
"Really perfect," Zuko agreed. "We're not saying they need to get married now..."
"Absolutely not saying that," Sokka added.
"But making it more official would have to make the other nations feel more secure!" He looked very pleased with himself. "Right?" he added, a little hesitantly.
"I'm not saying it wouldn't be a good move politically," Mai repeated. She had been over this since Sokka and Zuko had first excitedly presented the idea. "But is that something you want to do to your son, who is still a child, and may change his mind about Kara?" Sokka began to protest, so Mai added, "In the horribly unlikely and catastrophic event that might ever happen."
"Impossible, more like," Sokka said smugly. "Your kid is head over heels for my daughter. I don't see that changing."
"Right, Sokka, and you know everyone ends up marrying the first girl they fall for," Katara said slyly. "Mai's right."
Mai wasn't sure exactly what she was right about, but Katara had been going out of her way to agree with her. She had the impression Katara had not helped soothe her niece's fears about Mai plotting against her so much as fanned them, and was now attempting to make up for it.
"They are still really young, Sokka," Suki said, tonight playing his rational foil. "We should really talk to them first before seriously discussing this."
"They're kids, Suki. They wouldn't understand the politics here."
"That's what I'm saying, Sokka. They're kids."
"It's a lot of pressure to put on anyone that young," Katara agreed.
"Oh please. We were that young when we saved the world. You might remember."
"I remember just fine, Sokka. And I also remember it took you a good year and a half and a near-death experience to work up the nerve to give Suki a necklace."
"You always bring that up." Sokka frowned. "But you and Aang were their age when you were making out all over the place."
"I never...!"
"It's different with royal families, though," Zuko interrupted. "Uncle was Roku's age when he was betrothed."
Iroh looked reluctant to be brought into the discussion so soon. "That's true, Zuko, but it was not a match we made ourselves."
"I would personally rather not marry them for purely political reasons," Mai added.
"Exactly," Katara said supportively.
"Well, obviously," Sokka argued, "if they didn't like each other I wouldn't be talking about it, but they do, so why wait?"
"It could really help us if Roku were publicly tied to someone like Kara," Zuko pressed.
"Just Kara. There's no one else like Kara," Sokka corrected him. "Which is exactly the reason there's no point in waiting." He threw his feet up on the table, satisfied and victorious.
"You're really okay with giving up any hopes of Kara becoming a warrior?" Mai asked. "You'd be fine if she turned out like me instead?"
"As long as everyone else finally has to call her 'Princess' I think he's fine," Suki sighed.
"Well, that, and knowing that she could definitely beat up your kid any day," he added, elbowing Zuko in the ribs.
Zuko no longer looked pleased. "Roku is a really good firebender."
"Well, sure, if you cheat he may stand a chance."
"Bending isn't cheating! Just because your kid can't do it..."
"She doesn't have to! I'd bet you anything that she could still take on Roku and crush him, even with his flashy party tricks!"
"Party tricks?" Zuko sputtered.
"You can argue for betrothing them or making them duel," Mai said firmly. "Not both." Mai looked to Ursa for assistance; without a new voice in the conversation, Mai had a feeling the whole night would be spent this way.
"If the two of them supported a betrothal, would that ease your concerns?" Ursa asked.
"They're still young, but if they're sure..." Katara mulled it over.
"And that is within the realm of possibility," Zuko said, looking seriously at Mai.
"It would make me feel a little better if they had some say in this, at least," Suki added.
"Then it's settled! I'll make out the announcements, if there are no other volunteers..." Sokka made a move to rise, but Suki had him by the collar.
"You leave the art supplies alone, Sokka. And we're talking to Roku and Kara first," Suki clarified for him.
"What? Why? It's obvious they're sure! How could they not be? This is our daughter we're talking about, Suki!"
"Exactly, Sokka... it's our daughter..." Suki groaned and gave up. "Mai, would you just go and talk to them? I'll hold him here."
"They're in the treehouse," Ursa offered helpfully, smiling.
"What...? MY treehouse?" Sokka looked horrified. Suki tightened her grip.
"Treefort," Zuko corrected him, smirking.
"Can I come up?" Mai called.
"Can you?" Kara answered, smiling over the edge, several feet over Mai's head.
Mai took a moment to recompose herself after she reached the top, and faced her son and the girl he had chosen.
"It isn't our intention to rush you into anything," Mai began.
"The betrothal?" Kara offered. "We heard our dads talking about it earlier."
"We've been talking about," Roku told her.
"And we're fine with it." Kara shrugged. "After speaking with you, we had actually kind of thought that's how things already were."
"It would be different," Mai said softly, a little hesitant. "With the world watching, it isn't something we could..." In this little haven Roku and Kara had created, Mai couldn't easily bring herself to continue.
"If we broke up, it would mean a lot more than just 'we broke up'," Kara said, sparing Mai.
"Well, then that's not a problem." Roku was confident. "We talked about it, and we're fine making the promise that we'll get married if it will help you and father." He noticed his mother's hesitation and rolled his eyes. "That's not the only reason, Mother. I'd do it anyway, even if you didn't want me to."
"We know what it means... and what it could mean for you." Kara turned to Roku.
"Father took me along to some of his councils when you were gone," Roku explained, "And I know..."
"We know it could help to have someone like me at the palace. Officially." Kara looked at her hands. "I told you before that I wasn't ashamed of where I'm from... and it sounds like that could actually be a good thing right now."
"Father and Sokka said it would be perfect," Roku added helpfully.
"It isn't a step that you need to take," Mai tried to explain. "There are always other things that we can do to smooth things over. We don't require you to move any faster..."
"She's the one I want, Mother," Roku said, impatient with Mai's caution. "She always has been."
Kara was blushing, but Mai recognized the smile she was giving Roku; it was the same one she had seen Suki and Sokka exchange so often.
Roku wasn't finished. "Mother, I'm sure. I spoke with Aang when he visited, and he and Katara were our age when they got together, and they knew. And that's what I feel about Kara."
"It's not the same, Roku." Mai tried to be patient. "They were your age when they got together, but that's about it. I can't imagine they fought half so often or drove each other half so crazy as you both managed."
"But that was because we liked each other," Kara tried to explain. "We were kids!"
"You still are kids, Kara," Mai said, a little sadly.
"We know that, and we're not actually getting married right away, but it's a promise we can make!"
"Kara..."
"It's just like you and Father, though!" Roku declared defensively. "You weren't exactly best friends when you were little, but that didn't mean you weren't sure." He took Kara's hand and looked back his mother defiantly. "We're sure, Mother."
Mai had to smile. There was clearly no arguing here.
Zuko was waiting for her when Mai came down.
"Mother sent me," he explained. He glanced up the treehouse. "So?" He very much wanted to have done well.
Mai smiled and took his hand. "They're behind the idea. I guess they've actually thought this through."
Zuko grinned. "Between that and his letter writing, I guess he's not exactly like me, huh?"
"It's just a surprisingly grown-up promise for Roku to be making is all."
"You can't protect him from being an adult, Mai," Zuko said seriously. "Besides, if we don't make it official, who knows what might happen? I don't want them to risk losing each other over politics, just because we were too reluctant to see them as anything but children."
Mai squeezed his hand. "That's a very good argument, Zuko. Why didn't you say that earlier?"
"I hadn't thought of it yet," he shrugged.
She sighed. "I suppose we're doing this, then?"
"Doing what, really? She's practically been a part of the family for years. We're just getting around to telling the rest of the world."
"There's more to it than that. There are implications..."
"And none of them will matter unless Roku and Kara aren't right for each other, and you know as well as I do that they are," Zuko said matter-of-factly. He looked at her seriously. "It's like with you and me."
Mai narrowed her eyes. "That's what Roku said."
"I may have been telling him some more about that," Zuko admitted, "but only because they do actually remind me a lot of us."
Mai cocked her head. "Were you actually that sure about anything when you were Roku's age, let alone me?"
"I might have been if you had talked to me more back then," Zuko teased. "So I was probably a little older, but once I knew..." he shrugged. "I knew."
Mai leaned her head on his shoulder as they started back. "That's sweet, Zuko."
"You... you do know I only went out with that Earth Kingdom girl because I had totally given up any hope of ever returning to the Fire Nation, right? And Iroh sort of made me? And I was never interested in Toph or Katara..."
Mai laughed. "Zuko, I don't care."
"Really? It just seemed like before, that you sort of did."
Mai leaned in to kiss him. "We were kids once. And with everything else going on... But we grew up. Just like those two," Mai said, gesturing to the treehouse.
It was fitting that Kara chose that moment to knock Roku out of the tree.
"Roku?" Mai called, a little panicked.
"I'm fine, Mother!" he called back. No sooner had he gotten back to his feet than he started attempting to pull the treehouse ladder away. "Let's see you get down now!" he called up to Kara, each of them grinning.
Mai could only sigh and shake her head.
"Well, they're growing up," Zuko said encouragingly.