Flowers and Fire Lords

Zuko slipped through the massive doors to his chambers. He sighed, removed the royal crown from its place atop his head, and placed it on the bureau. The meeting had been longer than expected, dragging on through the stifling heat. Aang had looked about ready to drop by the time they finished, and he was surprised Sokka had made no complaints.

Though I guess he had more on his mind than the heat, you idiot.

Zuko flinched. There it was again; that twinge of anger and self-doubt. He had felt the blame lift this morning, though, by the bonsai tree. Speaking with Katara had helped to unburden him, even if just temporarily. If only it were so easy to let this go. Sighing, Zuko went to the small vanity table in the corner. He poured some water from the jug into the washbasin and soaked a small rag to cool his face and neck. Doing so felt calming; it soothed him to have a brief respite from the heat and to wipe the sweat from his brow.

A small, hesitant knock came from his antechambers, and Zuko glanced up. Another knock, this time from the inner doors. Zuko quickly dried his face on a towel, "Come". One of his guards, a woman named Ming, appeared. "My Lord," she said, "Lady Mai is here to see you."

Zuko's throat constricted. He hadn't forgotten the hastily folded robes placed in the garden that morning. He couldn't let what had happened between them linger, so he had asked a messenger to send for her. Still, as much as he wanted to make things right, part of him dreaded the conversation. He smoothed his hair back and braced himself. "Thank you, Ming. Let her in."

Mai strode confidently through the doorway, not even glancing at Ming as she closed the doors behind her. She stood there in the middle of the room for a minute, her eyes examining Zuko, as a hawk might eye a gopher-rat before it struck. Finally, she spoke.

"I see you found your robes."

Zuko cleared his throat awkwardly, "Yes, I did. Thanks for bringing them."

Mai's eyes narrowed and she crossed to the bed and sat down, looking away from him. Zuko smoothed his hair back again and then moved to sit by her. She turned her body away.

"Look, Mai … about last night- "

"What about it?"

"I ... I'm sorry."

Mai didn't look at him. Instead, her eyes remained resolutely fixed on some corner of the wall, her hands clasped firmly in her lap.

Zuko sighed, "Mai, really, I … I am sorry. I shouldn't have treated you like that."

"And you think summoning me here will help? I am not some dog you can kick, and then call to heel when you want me." Her voice was icy cold.

"Mai, for Agni's sake, I swear, I never intended -"

"Why don't you just summon Katara here to comfort you?"

Zuko was taken aback, "What?"

Mai's body whipped around, her hair flinging itself around her shoulders, "Really, Zuko? Do you think I didn't notice the way you treat her? The way you act around her? You leave my arms and I find you WITH HER!"

Zuko sighed, "First Uncle, now you. We just … passed out, that's all. We both couldn't sleep and we were exhausted."

Her eyes were no longer calculating, cold, and detached. They had changed to pools of hurt and anger. He had only seen that look there once before, and he hated it.

"Mai, I swear, nothing happened."

She scoffed, "Agni, Zuko, you are dense. You tell me you can't confide in me. I worry about you, Zuko! I just want to help you! But you tell me you can't talk to me, you storm off, and when I come to find you, you're with Katara. Why can you confide in her, and not in me? What did you tell her that you couldn't tell me?"

She got up off the bed and walked to the window, her arms crossed around her body, "You didn't talk to me about your mother when she vanished. You didn't talk to me when you left to join the Avatar. And now, you're shutting me out again. But you let her in. Why?"

Zuko gawked at her.

"Well?" Her gaze met his defiantly, questioning.

"I … I don't know, Mai. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shut you out."

The second the words left his mouth, he knew they weren't entirely true. Sometimes, it was easier to shut her out than to explain how he felt to her. Why did he let Katara in? Why did he feel so at ease with her?

She was silent for a while. When she finally spoke, her voice had regained its iciness, "We're done, Zuko. I'm done. This will never work if you refuse to let me in."

Zuko stood, reaching for her hand, "Mai, please, I'm sor-"

"Do I have your leave to go, my Lord." her voice dripped with false courtesy.

Zuko couldn't move. He stood there like a pillar of stone, hoping she would take it back, hoping she would give way. When she didn't, he merely nodded silently.

Mai stormed out of the room and he was left alone.

*/*/*

Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in exasperation, "And why, General Hwan, do you oppose Lieutenant Jee's promotion to Commander?"

High General Hwan stood, his overly long, feathery white beard dragging over the war table as he did so, "Fire Lord Zuko, it is highly unusual for one to skip the rank of Captain. It simply is not done!"

Iroh and the six other High Generals surrounding the war table sat in silence, awaiting Zuko's response. General Hwan had always been fond of his rules. If there was any discrepancy between Zuko's decisions and protocol, he never hesitated to point it out, even if it was merely a formality. Out of all his advisors, Hwan was the one Zuko despised the most. If it had been up to him, Zuko would have taken him off the council as soon as he could, but Iroh had advised against it. "Hwan's family is very influential, Nephew." Iroh had said, "Offending them would not be wise." Therefore, despite his growing frustration, he reminded himself he needed to stay composed. Still, he couldn't stop a little of his frustration from entering his voice.

"General, I need Lieutenant Jee for a diplomatic mission to the Southern Water Tribe. It is imperative that the Commander in charge of the fleet be an honorable man who can maintain order among the soldiers. I trust Jee is that man. Are you questioning my judgment?"

Hwan cowered slightly at the edge in Zuko's voice "Of course not, my Lord, I just do not think this breach of protocol is -"

Iroh interrupted, "Lieutenant Jee served as Captain aboard the Fire Lord's ship for three years. Despite not holding the official rank, he has more than shown his capabilities as a leader. If the Fire Lord believes Lieutenant Jee is worthy of the rank of Commander, he is well within his rights to promote him."

Hwan huffed, "Yes, of course, General Iroh, however tradition dictates that -"

Zuko's voice was penetrating, "Guards, please escort Lieutenant Jee in."

The two guards saluted and one stepped outside the curtain briefly. A few seconds later, he returned, followed by Jee. The Lieutenant held himself with assurance and pride as he made his way passed the High Generals to the edge of the dais. He bowed, "You summoned me, my Lord?"

Zuko smiled at the Lieutenant's confidence. Jee had never been one for politics. He had always been willing to state his mind, and to hell with the consequences. Zuko admired him for that, though it had annoyed him when he was younger. If anyone would appreciate what he was about to do, it was Jee.

"Lieutenant Jee," Zuko began, "There is a diplomatic mission of some urgency for which I require your assistance."

"Of course."

"You are to take five ships and escort Master Katara and Ambassador Sokka to the Southern Water Tribe. You leave two days from now at the first tide. Therefore, I am giving you the rank of Captain."

"Thank you, my Lord." said Jee, "But, if I may ask, how can I command a fleet if I only hold the rank of Captain?"

Zuko grinned, "You can't. Which is why, now that you are a Captain, I am promoting you again to Commander. Will that allow you to fulfill this assignment?"

Commander Jee nodded; Zuko thought he could just make out the traces of a smile in the older man's expression, "I believe that will be sufficient, sir."

"Good. I expect a full report of your preparations tomorrow evening. Dismissed."

"My Lord." Jee bowed again and left the throne room.

Zuko turned his attention back to General Hwan, "I believe that takes care of tradition, General?"

Hwan's face was flustered. He was clearly upset, but he managed to mutter a quiet "Yes, my Lord."

Zuko nodded, "Very well. Are there any other objections?"

No one spoke.

Zuko rose from the dais, "Then you are dismissed. Thank you for your advice."

As the Generals exited the room, Iroh hung back. When the room was empty, Zuko stepped down from the dais, "Well, Uncle, at least something is going my way today."

Iroh smiled, "Indeed. That was well played, Nephew. Though long-term, I fear you may regret embarrassing the dear General Hwan like that."

Zuko returned his smile wryly, "You may be right, Uncle, but I doubt the man will die from embarrassment any time soon. Was there something you wanted to discuss?"

"I hear Lady Mai and her family have requested to move back to their family's estate."

And there it was. Zuko's mood soured instantly at the reminder, "Yes. They have."

"I wondered if there might be a reason behind this move?"

"Yes. Mai … Mai and I are no longer together."

"Ah. I see. And I suppose this decision was made after the … incident this morning?"

Zuko bristled, "It was hardly an incident, Uncle, it was a nap. But … yes. Mai was upset. She told me she was tired of me shutting her out."

"Flowers rarely blossom in the shade, Zuko."

Zuko laughed, "Flowers? Mai isn't a flower. She doesn't even like them!" He sat wearily on the steps of the dais, "Anyway, I can't think about that right now. There's too much to do. Sokka will be here any minute to help."

Iroh sat down beside his nephew, "I understand. But know this; love can be a burden, or it can be a respite. The choice is yours. When you find someone with whom you can truly share your heart, that is the greatest blessing you will ever receive."

*/*/*

The morning sun streamed through the window. Sokka blinked as the beam of light burned his eyes. Groaning, he stuck the pillow over his head defiantly. Behind him, he felt the coolness of Suki's skin on his, her arm draped lightly over his side. He sighed and tightened his arm gently around hers.

He knew with the sun up, he wouldn't get any more sleep; He couldn't keep the pillow over his head forever.

Could he? No, probably not.

Relenting, he gently moved out from under the pillow and Suki's arm, placing both gently back on the bed as he rose. Quietly, he moved to the desk across the room and rested his hands on its smooth wood.

Today was it. The last day he would spend in the Fire Nation. Tomorrow, he and Katara would finally go home. He had spent the previous evening helping Zuko with the logistical problems of their journey, though the man had been tight as a knot the whole time. There were rumors going around the palace staff that Mai and her family would be leaving the living quarters soon, but nobody seemed to know why. Sokka had asked, but Zuko just told him the rumors were true, and left it at that. That was fine with Sokka.

Anyway, most of the preparations were done now, and what wasn't could be handled by Commander Jee and the captains he had chosen. Sokka took a deep breath as he reviewed the papers on the desk. He picked up the compass and carefully placed it over the Fire Nation's harbor, charting for the hundredth time the route to Kyoshi Island and then to the South Pole.

He was going home. Even now, the idea felt strange. It had been nearly a year since they had left. So much had happened in that time. And now, finally, he could see Gran-Gran again. And now, Dad would be home too. So much had changed.

Suki's arms slid comfortingly around his waist as she leaned against his back, "Hey, you ok?"

Sokka turned to face her and wrapped his arms around her in return, "Yeah, I'm good … Did I wake you? I'm sorry."

She smiled and smoothed his worried face with a touch to his cheek, "You didn't wake me, silly. What were you thinking about?"

"Just the trip. Are you sure you don't want to come with us to the Pole? Gran-Gran would love to share some sea prunes with you."

Suki laughed, "Sea prunes, huh? From what Aang has told me, I'm not sure I'd like those."

Sokka smiled, "Nah, you'd love them. Aang had Bato's sea prunes, and I gotta admit, they weren't nearly as good as Gran-Gran's."

Suki rested her head on Sokka's chest, "Your Gran-Gran sounds lovely, Sokka, and I really do want to meet her. But I have to be with my people in Kyoshi. You know that."

"Yeah, I know. And they need you there. I'm just going to miss you." He hugged her tightly, "Hey, you know what?"

Suki looked up at him, "What?"

"I bet Gran-Gran would love fire-flakes!"

Suki laughed, "Well maybe you should bring her some."

Sokka thought. He didn't really have anything to do today. And he really didn't want to spend all day moping about. Gently undoing Suki's arms, Sokka rushed to his wardrobe and began rummaging through it, pulling out his bag and heading towards the door.

Suki stopped him, "What are you doing?"

"Going to the market. I want to get Gran-Gran some stuff!"

Suki pulled a pair of pants from his dresser and handed them to him, "You're going to need these, then, haha."