Chapter Two: Where There is Smoke
My fingers slip fast,
The sands scatter far away,
No bells chime tonight.
Zuko was not having a good day.
First, he had woken up with a horrid hangover because he had forgotten to burn off the alcohol in his system from last night.
And then Mai had barged into his room, declaring that she would be going with him to the Earth Kingdom. He argued that her parents would never let her go, and would kill him if he took her with him. The usually monotone girl exploded at him, saying that he was the Fire Lord and should be able to do whatever he wanted.
He may have been the Fire Lord, but he certainly could not do whatever he wanted. Mai was proof of that.
Typically, this would have been the end of Mai's stubbornness, the girl was normally too apathetic to fight back more. However, when he arrived at the airship that afternoon, Mai was there waiting for him with arms crossed.
Pinching the bridge of nose, Zuko asked in an exasperated voice, "Mai, the air ship going to the Fire Nation is on the other end of the docks."
"I know that. I'm going with you."
His temper flared, "Mai! I told you, I can't just kidnap you from your parents and drag you across the four nations! Think of your reputation!"
"Oh is that your excuse? My reputation?" she poked his chest angrily, "I can do what I want with my 'reputation,' it's mine and mine alone! You're just going to leave me behind and go off and play hero again? Well not this time buster!"
Slumping his shoulders, he sighed, "Mai…what is this about?"
"Why are you being so stupid about this?" she stamped her foot, "Why are you so against me coming?"
He look at the sight of her, a born and raised noblewoman from the plush parlors of mansions. She may have followed Azula around for a while, but the former princess was sure to have considered herself above sleeping on the dirt. There was no way that she could handle roughing it like the Water Tribe siblings or the Earth girl. Her hands were rough from her throwing knives, yet her skin was a flawless paleness that had never spent a day in the sun.
No matter how much she denied it, she was tied to the rules of society and he could never forgive himself if she was ostracized for his actions.
"Mai, it's going to be different traveling with this group. It's not all fun and games," he tried to explain calmly, "You're not going to like it."
At this Mai seemed to turn red, and in a deadly hiss she whispered, "How do you know what I will or will not like? Pig."
And with an about-face she marched onto the airship ramp, her nose high in the air.
Zuko resisted the urge to scream and melt everything in sight. Women! They just did not understand!
"So we're going to stop off at Omashu and pick up Toph on the way. Then we head to Ba Sing Se on ostrich horses and search for clues," Sokka said to his sister and girlfriend, hauling his pack onto his back.
They were on their way to the docks to board an airship to the Earth Kingdom. As usual, he felt it his duty to lead the way, as the self declared alpha male of the group. Katara rolled her eyes, as she had expected Suki to tame him just a bit since the last time they had seen each other. Obviously, all this "architect" business was getting to his head.
"Yes, Sokka," she felt like slapping her brother, "You've said that already. For the fifth time."
"Hey!" he yelled over his shoulder, "I'm just making sure that you girls don't forget the plan and go off shopping or some other girl stuff."
The expressions on the face of the two females darkened. Katara shot a look to Suki, who nodded. Using their combined force, they shoved him into the snow and stepped around him and continued to walk on.
"What was that for?!" came an indigent and enraged cry behind them.
The water bender and warrior ignored him and talked amongst themselves.
"What's happened to him? He's gotten even worse than before," Katara snorted, jerking a thumb back at her brother.
Suki sighed, "I know! I think it's Chief Arnook's influence, always telling him to be the man and excluding women from the reconstruction."
"What?! Oh that ignorant--," she stopped, breathing in to calm herself and prevent obscenities to come from her mouth. It as obvious what Chief Arnook was trying to do, he attempting to slip his stupid Northern gender roles into its sister tribe at a more than prime opportunity. Though she had learned from Master Pakku, who had finally conceded her worth, she was sure that other girls were not so lucky still. The Southern Tribe was different in that they allowed women to take part in all aspects of life, the tribe was in desperate need of benders as it was, and she shuddered to think what the North's influence could do to the future of her people. She made a note to herself that after they returned from the Earth Kingdom, she would have to fix this. She didn't care if she was going to be offending the Chief, women were more capable than he was so fixed into thinking.
The Kyoshi warrior nodded, understanding Katara's frustration. When she had met Chief Arnook, he had completely ignored her after greetings and introductions, only talking to Sokka about his daring escape from the Boiling Rock. Where she had rescued his butt!
"We're going to have to stomp that out of him," Katara finally said, casting a glance to her friend. Suki grinned mischievously in agreement and the two burst into giggles.
"Will you two girlies stop giggling and hurry up?!" Sokka blurred past them, trying to make it to the air ship first.
With a flick of her hand, the water bender raised an ice wall that stopped him in his tracks, causing more fits of laughter as the two girls raced across the ice.
"Cheater!"
"So…tell me. Why is Mai coming with us again?" Sokka stroked his faux beard that he liked to whip out when he felt like being a father figure.
The Fire Lord snorted, letting a small burst of flame out from his nostrils, "Because she's a stubborn wench."
"Ah, I understand," the water boy nodded, "My sister is very much the same."
"Your sister doesn't have her entire reputation riding on every move she makes."
"Whose a stubborn wench now?" Katara raised a brow, sitting down on Zuko's bed next to her brother.
Suki's head appeared in the doorway, "Hey, why are you guys having a secret meeting without me?"
"Close the door!" Zuko yelled, irritated that such a large gathering had happened out of no where.
The warrior rolled her eyes, "All right, geez." She complied and flounced to where the water siblings sat and took a place herself. The three looked at Zuko, who was sitting alone in a wooden chair across from them.
"What is this, an interrogation?" Katara asked sarcastically, "What are we trying to get out of him? Secrets of the Fire Nation?"
"Close," Sokka replied, touching the beard wig, "I want to know why Mai is coming with us."
"Look, I don't know why," the fire bender buried his face in his hands in frustration, "She just keeps yelling at me whenever we speak!"
"Odd, Mai never showed an interest in traveling before," Katara pondered. She glanced at Suki, whose face had turned stony at the mention of Mai coming with them She had never quite forgiven her for stealing the Kyoshi identity for a hostile takeover of Ba Sing Se.
They were two days from Omashu, and the tension between Mai and Suki had risen to unbearable heights. Not to mention the stress of constantly having to hear the fire couple argue as loudly as they could. Katara resisted the urge to rub her temples. She did not particularly dislike Mai, but felt that her presence was bringing the group down already.
Dinner was a nightmare.
It had started with animosity coursing through, but it remained silent for the most part. Occasionally Mai would remark on the food and Zuko would hush her. Suki's mouth continued to be pressed into a thinner and thinner line.
Finally, dessert was laid out, an Earth Kingdom delicacy known as "Golden Coins," which were in essence sweeten fried dough with the Earth Kingdom's currency stamped on it. It was Suki's favorite and Katara had asked the chef to make it especially for her, since she had been away from her home for so long.
"Spirits!" Suki sighed, breathing in the aroma of the coins.
There was a scoff at the other end of the table. All heads turned to Mai who was staring at the sweet in disgust. Finally noticing the attention on her, she pushed away her plate stating,
"I need to watch my figure, unlike some people."
Suki exploded, "EXCUSE ME?!"
"Oh, I'm just saying," Mai pretended innocence, "That you guys are lucky that you're standards of beauty are so different in your nations."
"Oh that is IT!"
The Kyoshi warrior lunged across the table, sending things flying into the air, and tackled Mai who immediately screamed, grabbing a fistful of Suki's hair.
"Suki!" Sokka cried out in alarm.
The two rolled around on the ground, kicking and biting until a sudden force of water separated them to opposite walls and froze them there.
"Cool it!" Katara shouted, holding her stance.
"She started it!" Suki yelled back, glaring at the other girl.
Mai was appalled at her treatment, "Put me down! This is undignified!"
"Look, I'm going to unfreeze you," Katara said through gritted teeth, "And when I do, you guys are going to go to your rooms and CALM DOWN. Mai first."
"Hey!"
Mai sneered, "Looks like the peasant at least knows something about hierarchy."
Ignoring her, Katara lifted her hands, turning the ice back into liquid and bending it back into her water skin. The noble woman landed on her feet gracefully, shooting a scathing look at Zuko, and left the room. The Fire Lord hurried after her, shouting her name.
Once they were gone, Katara did the same for Suki, who fell in a heap. Sokka rushed to her and helped her up.
"Sorry," Katara said sheepishly, not knowing what else to say.
"Don't worry about it," the other girl grumbled, "I shouldn't have let her bother me like that."
Without another word, she stomped out the door, Sokka trailing after her silently.
The water bender was left in the room alone, standing in the middle of the mess caused by Suki and Mai's fight. She sighed, looking at the fallen Golden Coins on the ground.
What a night.
"You're WHAT?!" Sokka yelled, his hands flailing around.
"I'm going to stay in Omashu when we land," Suki repeated, packing her things as the ship jolted.
The water boy leaned his face in front of her, trying to get her attention, but she was purposefully avoiding his eyes.
"And exactly what are you going to do in Omashu?" he asked, his jaw thrust forward and lips pursed.
She shrugged, "I don't know. Find a way to go back to Kyoshi Island."
"Suki, please don't do this."
Suki looked to the boy she loved and felt her heart clench. She didn't want to leave him, but knew that if she stayed, things would only get worse between her and Mai. His brow was knitted together, his eyes pleading her not to go.
She sighed, "I'll still be in Kyoshi when you come back. Don't worry."
Toph was greeted by a sullen group. She got a short "hey," from Suki and Sokka, while Mai and Zuko kept arguing under their breaths. Only Katara hugged her, but Toph could feel her heart beating rapidly from stress.
"Well, um…" Toph said awkwardly, which felt weird for her because Toph Bei Fong did not do awkward, "Bumi invited you all for dinner. And some games apparently, but you guys don't seem like you're in the mood for that."
"Dinner would be lovely Toph," Katara touched the earth bender's shoulder.
The ride to the palace was tense and silent. The carriage that Bumi had sent seemed too small to hold them all as they rode, pointedly trying to ignore each other. Toph was just glad when they arrived, being disconnected from the earth was bad enough, but add five hormonal teenagers to the mix? That was just too much.
Once in Katara's room, Toph turned to the water girl and demanded, "Okay, spill it. What's going on?"
Katara shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, and finally collapsed on the bed. She stared up at the canopy and shouted, "I don't know! Zuko and Mai just seem to be yelling at each other all the time. Suki decided to go back to Kyoshi Island because she got in a fight with Mai and Sokka is being a baby about it! And I just can't take it anymore! They're driving me CRAZY!" She gritted her teeth and the water in the vase next to the bed froze.
"Whoa whoa," Toph tried to calm the girl down, she didn't want the pond outside to suddenly flood the room, "Slow down Sugar Queen. Why is Mai here anyway?"
"I think she's just tired of Zuko leaving her behind," Katara closed her eyes, "Which I understand, but she keeps putting everyone down and she hates everything Toph! EVERYTHING! If she's going to be like that the whole trip, I'm seriously considering going back to Ba Sing Se."
The bed dipped next to her as Toph sat down, "Well then tell her not to come! She's obviously a pain in everyone's ass."
"I know," the water bender sighed, "But she's Zuko's girlfriend. The Fire Lord, remember?"
"The Jerk Lord, you mean," Toph snickered, "Can't even handle his own girlfriend. We should talk to Zuko about it. I'm not sure if I could handle being with you guys like this."
"Maybe we should."
Of course though, Zuko was no help.
"I can't control her, all right?" he growled, "You can't seriously be expecting me to make her stay behind! I've tried that! She doesn't listen to anyone!"
"Then tell her to stop being such a bitch!" Toph yelled back.
"Toph, language."
"Can it, Katara. That's what she is and I will call her that," Toph shot her friend a glance and then back at the increasingly angry Fire Lord.
His golden eyes narrowed, "Don't insult her."
Zuko knew that Mai was being a bitch to all of them, but she still his girlfriend.
"Look, the group is falling apart already Sparky," the earth bender crossed her arms, "And we haven't even stepped out of Omashu. What does that say to you?"
He winced at the nickname, "Okay, okay. I'll talk to her about being nicer to all of you. I don't make any promises though."
"You better, because if she's part of the Sparky deal," Toph threatened, "We may just leave you behind."
"You can't do that, I'm the Fire Lord," Zuko was incredulous. A little girl that barely came up to his shoulder was bullying him.
"You can't do that, I'm the Fire Lord," the blind girl repeated in a mocking manner, and then hardening her voice again, "Deal with it, Sparky."
With that, she turned on her foot and left. An apologetic looking Katara trailed after her.
Zuko fumed, Deal with it Sparky?! Who did that girl think she was?! She may have been good friends with her Uncle, but that gave her no right to treat him this way! He was five years older than her for spirits sake! She didn't know anything about Mai! She didn't know how Mai could be!
After he was certain the two girls were gone, he stormed out of his room to find Mai. He was certain that he pushed down several people on the way, but he did not care, his anger blinded him and made him prone to violence. The Fire Lord finally found her sulking under a tree and picking at some moon flowers. He resisted the temptation to yell and took a deep breath.
This was going to take a while.
Author's note: Don't you just love Toph? She adds an element of Badassery to the world of Avatar. Haha. I mean, come on! Metal bending? Feeling the earth's vibrations? She could TOTALLY be a super hero. Yes. So Zuko is a wussy, we have established this.
Read and review, I love reviews! They make me happy and want to write more…please?