disclaimer: Mike and Bryan own the ATLA universe; Mariko belongs to me (: enjoy!

Homecoming

'How could you turn your back on us?'

Another tug.

'You should've never been with us!'

"Good grief, what have you been doing to this hair, Mariko? Mariko, are you listening to me? Mariko!" A particularly sharp tug on the thick locks jerked her out of her thoughts.

Amber eyes snapped closed for one split second; she opened them to deliver a scowl at her hairdresser in the vanity mirror's reflection. "Yes, Mother." She bit out.

The older noblewoman sighed heavily, continuing to comb out her daughter's messy curls. "I'm just so glad you're home, where you rightfully belong. I was worried sick, you know, and then to hear that you were involved in the great conquer of Ba Sing Se…" Her face covered with light makeup brightened in something the girl knew to be pride. "I couldn't be happier."

Of course you're happy, you weren't the one who stabbed her friends in the back; you weren't the cowardly brat who ran with her tail between her legs… "I'm glad you're happy, then, Mom." At least one of us is.

"There! Gods, you look so beautiful now…" Emiko Khan smiled brightly at her daughter's reflection, pleased with conquering the task of combing out the girl's thick mane of hair and taming it into the half-way style that was suitable.

Mariko looked at her reflection and felt like she wanted to puke.

Her usually-blemish-free skin was now coated in a light layer of makeup that included just a bit of unnecessary pink rouge on her cheekbones, and dark brown eye shadow that complimented her amber eyes 'perfectly' (according to her mother), making her look like a china doll; her mane of black hair that had grown to come to her mid-back had been tamed after all, pulled half-way up, a red clip holding the traditional topknot at the back of her head.

Crap she practically looked like a Kyoshi Warrior.

"I doubt any man could take his eyes off you now, and that includes Prince Zuko." Her mother said as more of an afterthought, perking her ears.

She ignored the slight blush at hearing his name be mentioned; she doubted he would keep a straight face if he saw that she looked like a lemur with rouge on its cheeks, in fact she hoped he would laugh so at least something about their homecoming would seem normal.

Who am I kidding? That's not gonna happen, no matter how much I hope.

"Lady Khan, your carriage is ready." One of the servantmaids announced meekly from the doorway of the master bedroom.

Mariko stood from the bench and sighed, leaving the room without another word, her mother following quickly. Let's get this over with, she thought.

The hall was abuzz with chatter and laughter, the clinking of china with chopsticks a hollow noise that hummed in her ears.

She glanced at the main table in the center towards the back of the wall, to which the royal family was seated, namely the three figureheads: Azula sat to the right of her father, the Fire Lord seated at the head, a spitting image of the previous Fire Lord Azulon (she'd seen pictures of him but had never met the old bastard) save that his hair was brown like Azula's, and Zuko was on his left… Wait, why was his seat vacant?

"You have no idea how boring it is over there." His familiar low voice mused blandly at her side as she heard a chair be pulled up to her left, pulling her from her observations.

She looked at her friend and noted he'd put his hair into the traditional topknot; she smirked wryly, folding her arms and slouching in her seat. "Is that why you chose to grace me with your presence?" She returned in the same tone.

"Partly." He muttered, noticing the makeup she'd put on, smirking back; probably forced on, for all he knew.

Mariko was never one to like being girly, even when they were kids.

She huffed, fidgeting slightly and putting a hand up to rest her left cheek on her palm, elbow propped on the tabletop. "Don't tell me my mother conned you into coming over here." She knows I hate pity but she does it anyway.

"Worse, Azula." He shook his head, grimacing.

She snorted, putting the ladylike getup and her title in question, a true scowl forming on her brow. "That is worse; congratulations, you win in regards to having the more nagging family member." She gestured with a flourishing hand to him, feigning worship. "I submit the crown." She said dryly.

"Don't tell me your mother forced the warpaint on you." He returned.

Her cheeks colored slightly and she sighed. "Okay, I won't. I feel like a hog-monkey with clown makeup." She groused, the scowl remaining on her brow.

"It doesn't suit you; you looked fine without makeup." He mused, perking her ears.

She blushed at his compliment and looked down at her now-cold tea, doing the instinctive thing and slugging his arm.

"Ow! What was that for; I was trying to be nice!" He bit back the urge to yelp, scowling at her and rubbing his arm gingerly.

"You succeeded, though I just needed to punch something… And you were the closest thing." She tilted her head and smiled sweetly when being met with his burning gold stare. "Thank you, Zu."

Zuko grumbled and cut his gaze away with a snort, distinctly hearing a giggle from his fiancé. "Bite me."

"So are you glad to be home?" Mariko asked suddenly, pulling his attention to her again, her amber eyes neutral; he could swear he saw just the slightest hint of concern there beneath the surface.

He glanced down, shrugging. "Part of me is, but the other part… I'm not sure, how the other part feels." He looked past the table at hearing a laugh, his gold eyes registering on her father talking with another admiral, looking at her as she seemed to follow his gaze before pulling back. "What about you?" He asked quietly.

She smiled wanly at the sight of her father, lowering her gaze to the table. "I miss the friends that I made, but at the same time I'm not sure they're going to trust me again… I came back because of you, and that's what mattered most to me, what still matters. I followed you after you were banished three years ago because life wasn't the same without you. So whatever you decide, I'm with you, Zuko. No matter what." She promised, looking up at him, determination swimming in her eyes and on her stubborn mask.

He held her stare before closing his eyes with a soft huff. "I'm glad one of us is at least resolute in their decisions." He muttered.

Mariko smiled softly, lifting a hand to touch his right cheek, her fingers grazing his cheekbone. "Try and lighten up; it's your homecoming party." She reproached quietly.

Zuko met her softened gaze and felt his own soften even if only a little, pushing the sadness away, smirking faintly. "Since when're you so bossy?" He half-joked, seeing her purse her lips with a huff.

::::::::dOb::::::::

"Lady Mariko?"

She exhaled, opening an eye. "What is it?" She had to get used to being called that; three years away from home left a bitter taste in the back of her mouth in regards to her birthright title.

"Prince Zuko is calling."

She smiled a little, inhaling. "Let him in, it's all right." Meditation was getting boring anyway.

The servant girl shuffled away from the door of the courtyard and returned with the prince in tow, dipping her head down in respect as he passed by to step onto the porch.

"Hasn't even been two days, love," her comment trailed off at seeing the thin line his lips were set in; she regained her wits on reflex, the light tone in her voice fading. "What happened?"

He sat down next to her and began, "I'm not sure, but I think Azula knows about the Avatar."

She readjusted her posture so she stretched her legs out, dropping her gaze to the dark maroon color of her pants. "You saw what she did; no one can survive a blow like that… Did your father ask you about it?" She dared not mention Aang's name unless she wanted the flow of bitter thoughts to resurface again; she'd barely had a good night's sleep the evening before they'd hit the shores of the Fire Nation.

"I know! He didn't even ask, he just said that Azula told him everything about what happened in Ba Sing Se." He bit out, curbing his tone out of apprehension of eavesdropping servants bustling here and there in the house, looking down.

"So why is this bugging you?" She asked straight-out.

"It's not; it's just unnerving to be so damn paranoid." He snapped, gold eyes rounding on her, a reflexive angered scowl formed on his brow.

She quieted and dropped her gaze, lifting it again as she took his face in her hands, holding his scowl patiently. "Like it's easy for me? It's not, Zuko. I know I betrayed them, and I know they'll probably never trust me again. It's painful to think of that day, when I saw Katara's face…" She closed her eyes tight, opening them slowly to focus her gaze on the gold lining of his shirt. "But we're both here. We're both home." She rationalized softly.

"So I'm the one who's crazy, then." He mused when she released his face, looking down with a scowl.

Mariko glared slightly, exhaling to calm herself and keep from slapping him upside the head, leaning in to softly kiss him, throwing him for a momentary loop.

Zuko's eyes sharpened in surprise before he let her draw back, not realizing he'd grabbed her elbows on reflex, dropping his gaze. "What was that for?"

"You're not crazy. Not more than you already are, anyway." At his sharp look she shrugged innocently, shifting from seriousness to something he guessed was fondness. "I don't think you're like that, you lunkhead. You're just confused. I know how that feels, all too well." Her fond expression faltered at the last sentence as her gaze lowered too.

He opened his mouth to say something but closed it, realization hitting him like a boulder as it dawned on him that he was the reason she had been confused, confused on where her loyalty stood.

With him… or with the Avatar.

A/N: sorry the chap was short, it was kind of like a prologue of sorts.. ^^; anyway, so i made this twist in the plot because i was morbidly curious about how Mariko would fare going back home with Zuko and i wanted to test the waters... so, here it is.

feedback would be loved~. thanks, and later!