Chapter 2
"I can't believe what I'm hearing!" Azula sighed, watching Zuko standing in the middle of the living room of her Ba Sing Se estate and ranting angrily. "You'd really stab me in the back like that? After you promised to help me only yesterday!"
"Well, what do you expect me to do?" Azula shot back. She was starting to regret her decision to start the day by having an earnest heart to heart with her brother to explain to Zuko that the situation had changed and he'd have to tackle the next world championship cycle without her promised help. Unfortunately, Zuko was taking the news worse than Azula had thought he would. "I have to stand with my wife, surely you have to understand that? I can't be helping you to beat Yue, that's just… I'm sorry, Zuzu, but I can't do that," Azula said, shaking her head.
"Yes, Zuko, please be reasonable," Katara added, sitting on the sofa nearby and watching the siblings argue with a worried look on her face. Making Katara worried was yet another reason why Azula now regretted having asked Zuko to come over so that she could explain the changed situation to him in person. Azula had intended Katara's day off to be a day where she got to pamper her wife and help her destress. Azula had already arranged a spa visit, and then in the afternoon, they planned to pick up Yue from the academy and enjoy a meal at a local Water Tribe restaurant. Instead, the day had gotten off to a stressful start.
"I'm trying to be reasonable," Zuko sighed. "But try to see it from my point of view. Aang, Toph and I, we have been working hard for these past eight years since Yue retired, trying to claim the title. And sure, Aang has already won it, but you have to understand how unfair it would feel if Yue were to come in without putting in any of the work over the past few years and just waltzed off with the title."
"Why do you assume that Yue is going to just waltz in and steal your title?" Katara asked. "It's not that easy, you know."
"Oh, please," Zuko snorted. "With you and Azula coaching her, she's already halfway there."
Azula winced as she watched Katara's face turning a deeper shade of red. "That is an incredibly disrespectful thing to say, Zuko," Katara said stiffly. "You make it sound like Yue has no talent of her own and that she's just coasting. That's a very hurtful thing to say about a friend."
"I didn't mean it like that and you know it," Zuko replied, having the decency to look a little guilty. "But you know how good you both are as coaches. That's why I was really looking forward to Azula's help."
"Well, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do, Zuko," Azula sighed. She really had been put in a regrettable situation, because she had been looking forward to helping her brother. But as soon as Yue had delivered the news, the decision had been made for Azula. Privately, she was a little frustrated about the timing of Yue's decision, but also, it was not her wife's fault in the slightest. With her and Katara always dropping hints that Yue should consider a comeback, Azula knew that she didn't have any right to act surprised.
"Why can't you help me anyway?" Zuko asked, sounding a little petulant. "Katara can help Yue. That seems fair."
"I don't see how that would be at all fair," Katara shrugged. "Sorry, I'll get it," she said when the estate phone suddenly rang. Katara rose from the sofa and went to answer.
"Yes, I would still be working against my wife, Zuko," Azula shook her head. "And honestly, now that I think about it, that was kind of a messed-up implication you made there. If our coaching means so much, then I guess maybe you think that my and Katara's world titles are also down to coaching and not to us being talented enough as players?"
"You're twisting my words now!" Zuko shouted at her. "Of course, you and Katara deserve your titles!"
"But Yue wouldn't?" Azula snapped, also starting to get angry. "Because she's the weaker and less talented between the three of us?"
"Yes! Yes, okay! Everyone who knows anything about Pai Sho actually thinks that, Azula!" Zuko barked, the siblings both getting carried away with their argument. "Without you and Katara propping her up, Yue wouldn't be anywhere near the elite!"
"You will take that back!" Azula growled dangerously, getting ready to unleash her nails in an open-palmed slap to Zuko's face.
"Why don't you come and make me?" Zuko challenged.
Azula was about to do just that, when she was suddenly interrupted by Katara walking past her and Zuko, appearing to be in a hurry. "I need to get to the hospital, now," Katara merely said, looking unusually pale in the face.
"Kat, what's going on?" Azula asked worriedly, watching her wife pull on her boots and throw on her coat before rushing out through the front door. "Damn it!" Azula cursed.
"What's wrong with her?" Zuko asked, also looking worried.
"I have no idea, but I hate that stupid hospital for running her ragged, I fucking hate it," Azula snapped. "Screw it, we'll finish this argument another time, Zuzu. I need to go after her. Be a good brother and please close up here?" she asked, rushing out into the hallway, quickly pulling on her boots and putting on her trench coat before running after Katara. Katara was already sitting in the Jaguar, pulling out of the garage, and Azula had to literally throw herself in the path of the car, causing Katara to slam on the brakes at the very last moment to avoid hitting Azula.
Azula quickly got in the car, giving Katara a stare that was both concerned and admonishing. "What's the big idea, running out on me like that, Kat?" she demanded. "You would have left me stranded without a car." They had entertained the idea of getting a third car, something they could easily afford, but annoyingly it would require modifications to the estate, because between the Jaguar and the Porsche that Yue had taken to work earlier in the morning, a third car wouldn't fit in the garage. And usually, two cars were more than enough for the three of them, as long as they remembered to actually communicate about who was taking a car.
"Sorry, I got some bad news from the hospital," Katara replied. Azula immediately noticed that it wasn't just Katara's voice that was trembling, but so were Katara's hands. She was in no condition to drive, and the fact that she had been about to attempt something so ill-advised made Azula just a little bit mad. Still, for the sake of Katara's mental state, Azula bit back any comments. Instead, she jumped back out of the car and walked over to the driver's side, wordlessly ordering Katara to move over to the passenger seat. At least Katara did so without raising any arguments.
"Talk to me," Azula said as she quickly pulled out of the garage. Despite still feeling a little annoyed with Zuko, she gave her brother thumbs up as she watched him lock up the estate before leaving himself.
"The boy I did surgery on yesterday," Katara spoke, sounding very subdued. "His condition changed for worse during the night. Ty Lee called to let me know that he'd been moved into the intensive care."
"You're worried that it's because you overlooked something," Azula remarked, safely picking their way through the busy streets of Ba Sing Se.
"No… yes? I don't know?" Katara replied, looking close to tears. "I told you that it was a very difficult surgery. I just hope that he'll recover."
"Me too," Azula nodded, reaching out and taking Katara's hand, squeezing softly. Azula had long since reconciled herself with the undeniable fact that medicine was Katara's true calling, but oftentimes Azula still found herself hating what this profession and Katara's workplace in particular did for her wife's mental state. Sure, Katara often came home in an almost euphoric rush following a successful surgery or having managed to save a life, and Azula and Yue both fed on her ecstatic emotions and experienced extraordinary amounts of second-hand happiness. But there was also the occasional low that really got to Katara and threatened to send her spiraling. Because of Katara's history with mental health issues, Azula and Yue were both very vigilant for any worrying signs. Azula seriously hoped that after several months of nothing but positivity they weren't heading for an unexpected crisis.
After arriving at the hospital, Katara quickly exchanged some brief nods and greetings with the reception staff before getting into the elevator, with Azula tailing her. Azula had visited the hospital often enough to know her way around, so when Katara pressed the button for the fourth floor, Azula knew they were heading straight for the intensive care unit. Azula immediately feared the worst when she saw commotion nearby, some visitors arguing with the hospital staff and speaking in demanding voices. Azula was surprised to see that one of the people involved in the arguing was Ty Lee, but she had by now changed out of her nurse's outfit and into her street clothes. Upon seeing Azula and Katara emerging from the elevator, Ty Lee immediately rushed towards them.
"Come on, we should leave," Ty Lee's words surprised them both, Katara in particular.
"But-" Katara tried to protest, but Ty Lee would have none of it, insistently tugging on Katara's arm.
"Azula, please, if you trust me, help me get Katara out of here," Ty Lee spoke hurriedly.
"Very well," Azula nodded, grabbing Katara's other arm and ignoring her struggles as they turned back towards the elevator. "Come on, Kat, I'm sure Ty Lee will explain everything. Won't you, Ty Lee?"
"Of course," Ty Lee said, appearing relieved when they finally got inside the elevator and Azula hit the button for ground floor. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called you on your off day, Kat. I should have known you would rush to the hospital right away," Ty Lee sighed, steering Katara towards the hospital cafeteria and then forcing her to sit down at one of the tables. Katara stubbornly refused the offer of coffee, but Azula went and ordered three cups of macchiato anyway.
"Well, what's wrong with that?" Katara asked. "Why shouldn't I be here? If anything happens to the boy-"
"You shouldn't have come, because the parents are here and they're being very aggressive and confrontational," Ty Lee explained. "And I knew that you would want to speak with them, and I think that would be a really bad idea right now."
"It was them upstairs by the ICU, yes?" Katara asked, quickly putting two and two together. "I should go speak with them," she stated predictably.
"No, that's a terrible idea," Azula spoke up immediately. "Listen to Ty Lee, Kat. What are you going to tell them, anyway? Do you have any idea of what actually happened?"
Katara grunted in annoyance, turning to stare at Ty Lee. "Do you know what happened? Was it my fault?" she asked, sounding a little frantic.
"The intensive care doctors said there was some bile leakage," Ty Lee replied uncomfortably.
"So, it was my fault," Katara said, looking dejected. "It would have been dangerous and painful, but at least it wasn't likely to be fatal. Small consolation. I definitely owe the family a personal apology."
"It can wait until everyone has calmed down," Azula said. She wasn't going to let her wife anywhere near frantic and overly emotional parents who were likely to shout abuse that Katara definitely didn't deserve, even if she had made a mistake.
"The hospital will launch an inquiry, I suspect," Ty Lee said. "Especially because those parents have been shouting about a lawsuit all morning."
"That's another reason not to talk to them," Azula added. Katara didn't look happy, but it appeared as if she was coming around to accepting their arguments.
"I know what happens in cases like these," Katara sighed. "I'll probably end up suspended until the matter is resolved."
"I'm afraid that's very likely," Ty Lee nodded unhappily. "I guess I might escape the fallout, even if a mistake has really been made, I'd be just as guilty as you, Kat. I mean, yesterday, it was a mess. I was trying to clean that excess bile away as well as I could, but it was still hard to see what we were doing."
"You did the best anyone could have done in that situation, Ty," Katara smiled weakly.
"Well, so did you, that's why I don't think we should beat ourselves up about what happened," Ty Lee nodded. "It was just one of those unexpected oh shit moments that would have sent far more experienced surgeons panicking. I think you also did better than anyone else would have done in that situation."
"Thanks, Ty," Katara smiled more genuinely now. "It's not much of a consolation when that poor boy must have been in so much pain all night. But I'm happy that you won't be suspended over this. You don't deserve it."
"Yeah, and I probably couldn't afford it," Ty Lee said uncomfortably. Her nurse salary wasn't much, and when put together with Jin's customer service pay, they really needed the money. At least while Azula's father somehow clung to life, Ty Lee still received the monthly payments of five thousand yuan, which helped a lot to cover the rent and other expenses for the two women and their son. It also helped that they were renting a house together with Sokka and Zuko. It was mostly done as a precaution in case child protection services ever decided to look more closely into their family situation. With these living arrangements, they could easily pretend that Sokka was raising Kya with Ty Lee, and Jin was raising Lee with Zuko. It was an arrangement that actually worked out for everyone involved, and it had led to Kya and Lee becoming fast friends as they grew up together.
"I'm sorry that's a concern for you, Ty. I could probably get away with being suspended without pay," Katara said. She also received the by now unnecessary monthly installments from a paralyzed Ozai, and Katara had built up a safety cushion from the publication of her own book detailing her Pai Sho career and path to the world championship title. It hadn't quite made Katara a millionaire the way her book had done for Azula, but it had pushed Katara fairly close to that mark.
"I guess we'll see what happens next," Ty Lee shrugged. "I was told to take the rest of the day off. I think those suits in the administration just don't want me around because they fear I might tell the parents something I'm not supposed to say." Azula privately agreed with these concerns of the hospital administration. Ty Lee was an amazing friend and Azula had heaps upon heaps of affection for her old childhood crush, but she also recognized that when it came to discretion, Ty Lee occasionally struggled with it as a concept. "Anyway," Ty Lee continued, giving her and Katara imploring stares. "Can I hang out with you for a bit? Lee is at pre-school and Jin's shift has just started. I don't want to simply go home and be alone."
"Of course, Ty Lee," Katara said. "Azula and I will be happy to keep you company. We had planned for this to be a relaxing spa day, but I'm not sure how much I can relax given everything that has happened."
"Yeah, I kind of want to make this my occasional get stupidly drunk day," Ty Lee confessed. "I really want to stop having feelings right now, because they all hurt."
"I think you girls need a relaxing spa day more than ever," Azula said decisively. "And even if it's still very early, I don't oppose the plans to get stupidly drunk. Also, I don't see why we have to choose between the two."
"You mean, we could get stupidly drunk at the spa?" Ty Lee snorted. "I've never heard anything as silly as that."
"That sounds like a recipe for disaster. One of us will probably drown in a mud bath," Katara smirked. "But if you can make it happen, love, I'm willing to give it a try."
"Oh, you know," Azula smirked, retrieving her wallet and doing a little bit of waving around with it. "For a bit of extra cash, I'm more than certain that the spa attendants will not only help us getting seriously sauced, but will also keep a very close eye on us…"
"I can't believe that sneaky bitch!" Toph cursed, speaking on the phone. "Of all the people to blindside us like that, she's the one I would least expect to do that!"
"Well, I'm not comfortable with that kind of language," Aang replied at the other end of the line. "She's still our friend, after all."
"Is she, though?" Toph frowned. "A friend would have consulted and informed us beforehand. We're only finding out because Azula told Zuko. If it was up to Yue, I guess she'd let us hanging for weeks before letting us in on the news!"
"I suppose she could have handled it better," Aang admitted. "I still don't think there's any reason to be that upset. Yue hasn't played a single tournament in eight years. It's not going to be easy for her to come back after so much time has passed. Maybe she won't enjoy it as much as she thinks she will."
"Hmm, that gives me an idea," Toph said, grinning wickedly. "I think we should find out what we can about her plans and then perhaps make sure that she doesn't enjoy her return to the pro circuit."
"I don't know about that, Toph," Aang sighed. "You're my best friend, but I think you're being a little mean."
"Oh really?" Toph grumbled. "Easy for you to be so understanding, you already have your world title in the bag. Anyway, I'm not talking about anything underhanded or unsportsmanlike. I'm talking about things like finding out which tournaments Yue is considering signing up for and then just wiping the floor with her, so that she loses all appetite for pro game."
"I mean, I guess there's nothing wrong with playing her hard just because she's a friend," Aang admitted. "Yue has never given me an easy time at the board, after all."
"I knew you'd see things my way, Twinkletoes," Toph grinned, appearing excited. "We should meet later and strategize about this. And invite Zuko, too. I bet he's not happy about the news."
"Oh, he was mad like a fire breathing dragon," Aang said. "Azula had promised to coach him the previous day, only to then change her mind because she's helping Yue now. Zuko is taking it pretty hard."
"Good, we need Zuko on board," Toph nodded. "Maybe we can knock Yue out quickly before she becomes a serious threat. You know, remind her that being a teacher and running her little Pai Sho club is way more fun than the stress of the professional circuit."
"Alright, Toph," Aang sighed again. "I'm sympathetic, but you should know that there are some lines I'm not crossing. I won't take part in any dirty and underhanded tricks."
"Wouldn't dream of trying anything like that, Twinkletoes," Toph said, disconnecting the call and hanging up the handset. Toph then left the hallway, entering the living room to face the questioning stare of her husband. Teo was sitting on the sofa and playing with their cat, Miyuki, splayed out in his lap. "Can you believe that?" Toph asked, aware that Teo had probably realized what was going on from listening in on her conversation with Aang. "Just like that, Yue suddenly decides that she wants to have a world title like her two bitches, so she's going to come back and claim it for her own. And she still hasn't told anyone about her decision. I never thought I'd be saying this about the Snow White, but she's being a lousy friend."
"I'm sure she didn't mean to be disrespectful," Teo tried diplomatically. "Maybe it just didn't occur to let you all know because she's a little overexcited?"
"Of course, I knew you'd be making excuses for her," Toph sighed. "I've been working hard every day for the past ten years since I turned pro, perfecting my game because I want that title. But she goes on a vacation of eight years and then just jumps right back in, thinking the title is hers to claim. Talk about entitlement." Teo frowned, clearly disagreeing, but electing to stay silent. "So, you think I'm being unfair," Toph challenged. "Come on, don't be shy, I thought you knew you didn't have to hide your real opinions from me."
"I understand why you're annoyed, love," Teo said eventually. "I think you deserve the title more than Yue does. But I hope you'll choose to prove it at the Pai Sho board and not in some other ways that might damage our friendship with Yue, Katara and Azula. We've been friends for so long, it would be ridiculous to let something like this to ruin it."
"Of course, I'm talking about proving it at the Pai Sho board," Toph groaned in frustration. "What did you think I was considering? Ambushing Yue in a dark alley with a baseball bat? I mean, violence towards my friends can sometimes feel like an appealing idea, but it's not something I'm going to try. It's all about Pai Sho, and being strategic…"
Suki briefly fumbled with the keys before unlocking the doors of the cozy three room Middle Ring apartment she shared with Jet. It had been another busy day at the offices of The Harmony Ring, but with plenty of material to write and edit, she had left the office early, resolving to finish her articles back at home. Suki was in a buoyant mood, as was usually the case following another heated and dramatic finish of the Pai Sho world championship, her coverage of the event helping to sell the copies of the magazine like hotcakes.
Usually, following the championship finals, there came a bit of a lull of a couple of months before the next play cycle resumed towards the end of the year, and Suki had been a little concerned about the magazine maintaining its readership… until she had learned the fascinating scoop that her good friend Yue Taqqiq was seriously contemplating a return to the professional tour. Now that was some serious content with which to tease the readership and tide them over to the end of the year when the tournaments would resume in earnest. Yue had become a huge attraction during her brief stint on the pro tour, and she had quickly built up a very dedicated and passionate following. Suki was certain that articles about Yue's return would help to move plenty of editions of The Harmony Ring.
Suki was a little miffed about having to find out these new developments from a rather upset Zuko. Suki had hoped that Yue would tell her something so important personally, but she didn't want to hold it against her friend. Perhaps this was a very recent decision and Yue simply hadn't gotten around to telling her. Suki wasn't too sympathetic to Zuko's suggestions that Yue was stabbing her friends in the back with this sudden announcement. Sure, even if she was supposed to remain neutral as a journalist, Suki had felt very bad for Zuko. Zuko had once again failed to claim the title when one of his hands had already been on the trophy. But she also didn't agree with Zuko's assertion that he somehow deserved the title more than Yue. Just because Yue hadn't been playing actively for eight long years, it didn't mean that she had been just lazing about, doing nothing. And from her point of view as the editor of The Harmony Ring, this was a fortuitous turn for Suki. Yue coming back and totally disrupting the balance of the Pai Sho world was great news, because it added excitement and drama, which meant more sales of her magazine.
Carrying her files, Suki kicked off her shoes and stepped inside the living room, where she was confronted with an unexpected sight. Jet had collapsed on the sofa with a beer bottle still in his hand, and two empty bottles on the floor, her boyfriend sleepily eyeing one of the brainless daytime soap operas, running on the TV. "What are you doing home at this hour?" Suki asked as she faced her bleary-eyed boyfriend. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"
"This is my work now," Jet returned, raising the bottle of beer at her.
"Oh, for fuck's sake, not again," Suki groaned, plopping on the sofa next to her boyfriend. "Another round of end of project lay-offs? Or did you actually manage to successfully piss someone off?"
Jet snorted at her comment. "Nah, it was a wrap," he replied, shrugging. "The gig was too short and sweet for me to piss anyone off."
"I was hoping that this one might last a while longer," Suki sighed, leaning in and lowering her head on Jet's shoulder. "Or maybe you'd impress someone that they'd decide to keep you long term."
"Well, I guess I'm not that impressive, after all," Jet said, a little bitterly. Suki could understand his bitterness, even if she hated to see it. For the past few years, Jet had really struggled to maintain steady employment as a sound engineer, managing to attach himself only to various short-term projects. He was still highly respected by his peers, but it didn't seem to count for much. Jet's way of doing things was by now a little bit behind the times, largely because the war in Yu Dao had stolen so many years of his life. And the war had been very unkind to Jet's health, still affecting him and slowing him down many years after.
"You'll find something," Suki said comfortingly. "You always do."
"Sure, I already got an offer," Jet replied, still sounding bitter. "From some traveling circus coming to Ba Sing Se, if you can believe it. I'm tempted to offer myself as a performer, actually. A washed-out sound engineer. They could put me in with the seals to bark and balance a ball on the tip of my nose."
"Don't be like that," Suki frowned. She didn't like how Jet's bitterness with the situation was escalating and spilling over into their otherwise harmonious relationship. It clearly wasn't just about Suki being the bread winner among the pair. There was something more serious building up, and the issue was starting to really affect her boyfriend on a more profound level, making him deeply unhappy.
"You're about to suggest getting me a spot at your magazine, aren't you," Jet snorted. "Please don't."
"I wasn't going to, I tried that once already and I have no desire to have that conversation again," Suki groaned. She should have known that Jet was too proud to accept a job if the offer came from her. Indeed, Jet's reaction had been very negative. It seemed like trying to be positive right now would not go over well, and the best Suki could do was to leave Jet wallow in his negativity for a while. "Anyway, I'm going to do some writing for a few hours," Suki said, getting up and gathering her files.
"Have fun," Jet shrugged. "At least one of us still has their job." Suki sighed, deciding to simply give Jet the space he clearly needed right now. Her boyfriend always bounced back from these disappointments. The only thing worrying Suki was that lately it took him more and more time to do so.
Aang had only just finished speaking on the phone when he heard the doors of the apartment opening with a light creak. Raising a curious eyebrow, Aang stepped into the hallway to see Mai standing there, looking as elegant as ever in her long black trench coat and dark shades, worn despite it being an overcast October day. "Oh," Mai said, hesitating upon seeing him. "I thought you would be at the university at this hour."
"Uh, yes, I was supposed to be there, but I got some news from Zuko," Aang began. "Did you hear that Yue is coming back to play at the pro level?" he asked, but one look at Mai's face told him that his wife wasn't particularly interested in the matter. Nor did she seem to be particularly interested in being his wife at this point, if the past five months of living separately were anything to go by.
"I'm just here to pick up a few things," Mai said quickly, pushing past him and entering the bedroom they had once shared. "We should probably do this properly, so that I don't have to sneak in every week for this or that," she said, going through the drawers of her dresser.
"I don't mind," Aang said. So far, neither of them had earnestly brought up the matter of divorce. As far as Aang knew, it was because neither he nor Mai were currently interested in dating other people, at least Aang knew that with certainty about himself. As for Mai, she seemed to be utterly immersed in the new spring collection she was working on for her private brand. Aang had figured out that Ty Lee was the one with all the gossip among their shared group of friends, and she was usually easy to bribe with chocolate or other sweets. And according to Ty Lee, Mai was not seeing anyone else.
"Well, if it's not inconvenient for you, then I suppose we can just leave everything as it is," Mai shrugged, having finished transferring some of her things from the dresser into her bag. "At least for the time being."
"Sure," Aang nodded. "We don't really have to be going through this, though. I'd be happy to take the sofa, if you wanted to-"
"Aang, no," Mai turned to look at him, shaking her head. "Don't you think we've had plenty of time to realize that we both want different things from life?" she asked. "I think you made that very clear."
Aang winced, very much aware of what Mai was referring to. Their relationship hadn't been one full of fiery passion to begin with, but they had found their own ways to express their love and appreciation for each other. And the first four years following their marriage had been a very happy period of Aang's life. Still, watching Sokka and Zuko raising Kya, and Ty Lee and Jin raising Lee, had stirred something within Aang, and he had waited patiently, hoping that watching the children grow would awaken motherly feelings in Mai. Unfortunately for them, it wasn't just that Mai was very focused on her career, she genuinely was not fond of children. Mai herself claimed that it likely had something to do with her brother Tom-Tom, fourteen years younger than her, and the way her parents had forced her to constantly babysit her brother against her wishes.
And perhaps Aang should have just accepted Mai's choice and kept his mouth shut, but as time passed, he had found himself wanting children more and more. And he had started to bring it up with Mai more and more often, something that gradually annoyed his wife to the point where she was starting to avoid him, and eventually coming up with a suggestion to go their separate ways for a while. Why Mai hadn't insisted on divorce, Aang wasn't sure, and he was almost afraid to ask. He hoped that it meant that Mai still loved him, but there was a nagging doubt in his mind that kept telling Aang that perhaps it was simply because being married to him was on some level convenient for Mai. And so, here they were, stuck in a relationship limbo, with Aang waiting and hoping that Mai might change her mind about having children, and Mai seemingly content with the way things were.
"I know I pushed you harder than I had any right about that, Mai," Aang tried in a conciliatory tone. "I can try to be better about it, I promise."
"I know you could, but it's not about that," Mai shrugged. "The important thing is that you made me understand that our differences about that are irreconcilable. And sure, I could move back in, but do you know why I don't?" she asked.
"Tell me," Aang insisted.
"I am literally offering you a chance to find someone who wants the same thing as you do," Mai replied. "I'm trying to stay out of your way, okay? I'm honestly confused as to what you're waiting for. You're not seriously hoping that I'm going to change my mind about kids, are you?"
"Uh… no," Aang lied blatantly. "Of course not. That would be silly. I mean, you made your thoughts on that perfectly clear."
"Exactly," Mai nodded, leaving the bedroom and heading towards the exit. "I mean, to not understand that would be pretty embarrassing for someone with such a scientific and analytical mind." Aang remained silent, feeling rather foolish at Mai's comment. He'd been so busy these past months with the Pai Sho world championship finals, so he hadn't been thinking about the future beyond that, but perhaps it was finally time to listen to what Mai was actually saying and come to a decision about how important being a father truly was for him.