Title: Meant to Be
Prompt: #024 Cynical
Notes: Takes place around 'The Western Air Temple'. Listen to "I Don't Care" by Apocalypta, it works for this. Unlike a lot of Zutarans, I actually do really like Mai. I just don't think she belongs with Zuko. So there's no Mai bashing in here. On that note, don't expect any Mai bashing ever.
Meant to Be
Mai did not grow up believing in fairytales. By all rights, she should have. She was an only child, spoiled beyond belief by her doting father (though her mother, who actually did most of the raising, was not so loving), and privleged best friend of the princess. She had a somewhat unwilling Prince Charming and a shy disposition. She should have believed in fairytales.
Maybe, if she had believed in the legends her nursemaid read her, this would not hurt so much. Like Ty Lee, she would be able to look at the elegant words spelling out Zuko's betrayal and see him coming back triumphant to conquer evil and save his damsel. She'd be able to ignore the fact that he had gone to the Avatar, and by proxy the Avatar's little Waterbender. She'd be able to dream of being his lovely Fire Lady after it was all said and done instead of remembering how he flinched when she touched his scar…how he brightened when the Waterbender came up.
But Mai is cynical, and she does not believe in fairytales. She reads his letter for the thousandth time and knows that if Zuko were leaving, that damn "Katara" would never be left like she was.