Thirty-five
Over the next few days, Maya began to notice that Zuko's behavior was becoming odd. He would be fine during the day, but then at night, he would just disappear into town and no matter where she looked for him, she could never find him. Then she'd return to the ship and stay up with Uncle until the small hours of the morning, waiting for him to get back. He'd come up onto the ship and act as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn't been up all night, and any time she tried to ask him where he went when he disappeared, he'd brush her off.
But Maya was persistent. One night she decided to follow him to his room to interrogate him. If it was just that he was seeing some girl in town, then at least she'd know that he was safe. But somehow, she highly doubted that was the case. Zuko was not a very friendly person, not even with her, but she also did not think he would be an ass enough to get a prostitute. She shook her head. Why were her thoughts automatically strolling into the gutter about this? Maybe he just liked to think at night… Maybe he was taking walks or something… Still, she had a weird feeling in her gut that made her need to know the truth. What if he was in some kind of trouble?
When she went to his door, she found it ajar. She was tempted to barge in, thinking he was hiding something, but then she realized how ridiculous that would be, and knocked. A moment later, he was at the door, staring at her blearily. He looked exhausted. Of course he would. It was at least four in the morning at this point. She had stayed up all night also, so she swayed a little as they stood there.
Eventually, he said, "What, Maya?" As he spoke, he rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.
"What the hell have you been doing the past few days, staying out at night?"
"You're blunt, aren't you?"
"I get it from you."
He scoffed. "Come in, I guess."
She was slightly surprised, but followed him into his room nevertheless. "Does this mean you'll tell me where the hell you've been?"
"No."
Sighing, she sat down heavily in Zuko's uncomfortable desk chair. "Then what do you want?"
"Nothing. But we're friends, right? That means you can be in my room."
She looked at him carefully as he flopped onto his bed. He didn't seem to be hiding anything. She sighed again and put her head back, closing her eyes. "You're confusing."
"I know." His tone of voice was a sort of mock mysteriousness, as if he were trying to sound attractive about it.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Now you're just toying with me."
He grinned. "A little bit."
"Well, whatever. I'm going to bed now. Good morning, since I can't say good night." She stood.
He laughed. "Good morning."
As she turned to leave, something caught her eye. She looked up. Sitting on Zuko's desk was a mask. It was blue and white, with a smiling mouth and fangs. It seemed to stare at her as it sat there, taunting her, as if it knew something she didn't. With a shock, she remembered her dream from a few days before. "The Blue Spirit," she whispered, unconsciously touching her face where the dream flame had burned her.
"What?" Zuko said.
She jumped, having forgotten he was there. Then, slowly, the puzzle pieces began fitting together. Slowly, she turned to look at Zuko, then back at the mask. But it couldn't be! It was just a dream, she thought to herself. Maybe my brain made it up because I saw the mask in his room the last time. She thought hard. But the mask wasn't there last time…
"Maya, what the fuck are you doing? You're just… standing there."
"O-oh," she stuttered. "Uh, nothing. Just… admiring your mask."
"Not mine. My mother's."
"Your mother's?"
He rolled over on the bed. "Go to sleep, Maya."
She sighed and shook herself. Whether or not her dream and the mask had any significant correlation, she knew she'd never get it out of him. She walked to the door, and before she left, she turned her head over her shoulder and said, "Whatever you're doing, please be careful, Zuko."
"Don't worry," he said quietly.
She left.