Hey There,
Welcome back! This is my second post on this little mini-arc. I am here as promised with a piping-hot new chapter. Hopefully, it is reaching you all very well, and one or two of you are happy to see it.
Special thanks to my friend Rose-Aki for your kind reviews. For not only being so kind and such a great friend. But for also giving me a little peace of mind when I make these chancer posts that I'm so nervous about. God bless you!
Standard Disclaimers Apply - I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender, Nickelodeon or MTV... I don't own any of the trademarked items mentioned. I am merely borrowing all of these things for my own plots and fun. Most will be returned unharmed.
Dedicated to my friend who helped me imagine Ty-Lee's Dream Circus. You know who you are! It's all for you!
Enjoy!
"They Forgot!"
Chapter 13 - The Black Lioness
(Zuko's Perspective)
I can't believe it, but Azula's totally right. If I keep Mai in the dark about what is going on and why. I really am no better than any of the people I'm trying to steal her from. She's no helpless damsel and won't appreciate being treated like one. No, she should know what's happening and I should be the one to tell her. Then we should decide together, how to move forward. That is what married people have to do, might as well start getting used to that now.
It was the right plan, I still can't believe it was Azula who thought of it. I really need to stop underestimating her. Even if I'm still not sure I can trust her… I've always known she was crazy, long before we faced off and she was institutionalized. I could never trust her, but the way she's trying lately has me wondering... if there will be a day that changes.
As I walked back into the room I'd shared with Mai for a full Thirty-two hours now. Thirty-two of the happiest hours I've ever known. Resting or being locked up here to stay safe from the passing storm. I knew that not only could all of that happiness disappear once this news broke. But I knew we were likely gonna need to leave and set some things straight with Mai's family. Before more rumors and damage could be made to hurt either of us. I knew her parents could be brutally self-serving, but this was even beneath them.
I didn't want to do it, any of it. I especially didn't want Mai to have to deal with any of it either. This was all my fault, my slip-up, my mess and this wouldn't have happened if I had been more careful. But as my sister had pointed out, Mai needed to know, plain and simple. So I walked back over to the bed fully intending to wake her up and tell her what was going on in our city back home while we were here…
I did…
But when I got there I ended up just watching her sleep for a few more minutes. Trying to find the right words while I also tried to let her have just a few more minutes of peace. But not even five minutes into this time, Mai told me with her eyes still closed. "I can just feel you staring at me."
"How can you?" I played along, "I haven't made a sound and you haven't even opened your eyes yet."
"Because I can just feel it." Mai insisted. "Like I can feel that we need to talk about something that you don't want to tell me."
I had to know, "Were you listening at the door?"
"No," she said sounding honest. "I heard a knock and felt you kiss me before you got up and left."
"It was the only way you would loosen your grip," I explained.
Mai opened her eyes to pin me in place with a stare and cut to the chase, "What don't you want to tell me?"
"Two things," I said holding up two fingers, and I really don't want to tell you about either of them right now. But I'm afraid I have no choice."
"Are you leaving?" She asked.
"Maybe," I had to admit, it was very likely.
"Can I come with you?" She keeps asking good questions.
"You may want to or have to, but let me tell you these two things. Then you need to help me decide what our course of action will be." I tried to make this simple sounding. When she nodded for me to continue, I began with. "Do you remember how I told you that I had been planning to propose to you all along… But it didn't really hit me till the morning of your birthday, the day before yesterday?"
"Yes." She followed along.
"Something I didn't bother to share was the fact that it happened right in front of your parents. During Sokka's meeting with them. When I was yelling at them because they forgot again and-"
Mai finished for me, "Let me guess, you called them out on it and they weren't even sorry? Right?"
"Yeaaaaah." I dragged on.
Mai asked, "What's so horrible about that? It just means nothing has changed from the way they've always been. Why wouldn't you tell me that?"
"Because… it doesn't sound good, ya know?" I tried to clarify while maintaining this wasn't what happened. I went on, "It kinda makes it sound like I said it in anger. Like I asked you to marry me out of rage."
"Is that what happened?" She asked but she didn't sound like she was even on guard about it. Mai's a person who rarely lets that guard down too.
"No, that's not what happened at all." I hope I assured her. "I didn't ask you because I was mad, I asked you because it was what I wanted more than anything. I hoped that you would feel the same."
She sat up and took both of my hands before she told me, "I know… and I do." I was so relieved that she understood and wasn't mad, I kissed both of her hands. And let her pull me back to lay with her.
"Is that all of the first thing you didn't want to tell me?" She asked once we were both laying flat again.
"More or less," I answered.
"Then can we move on to the second thing? Or does the first one need more explaining?" Mai tried to encourage me.
I revealed, "I think it's important for you to know that nearly everyone who knew about my plans was here on this island with us. There were only two exceptions to that fact. And that was-"
"My parents, who are still back home, right?" Mai deduced on her very own.
"Yes," I confirmed, but I think she could see we had reached the main thing I didn't want to tell her.
She felt the need to encourage, "Just get it over with, so we can figure out what happens next."
I couldn't find the words so I handed her the news scroll, "Azula was the one knocking, to show me this."
Then I just waited for it.
She silently read over the scroll, and most people would think her expression didn't change. But I knew to watch her eyes and not the rest of her face, and I could see the hurt and realization break there. I could even hear it in her breathing, I wanted to just steal her somewhere where these people couldn't do this to her anymore. Always using her for personal gain and never treating her like she was a person at all. It was despicable! Disgusting! Something she should never have to deal with ever again.
As she finished and still didn't say anything I asked her. "Please tell me what I should do… Anything I can do, to fix this... I didn't want to tell you and handle it myself… it's my mess in the first place. It wouldn't have even happened if I hadn't blabbed my plans to them that morning." I said as I was bowing in front of her on the bed. On my hands and knees, with my face smooshed into the covers, I begged for her to let me fix it. To let me fix it for her.
Still silent, she placed a gentle hand on the back of my head and told me, "None of this is your fault, Zuko."
"Yes, it is," I insisted turning my face so I could speak more clearly. Without my voice getting muffled by the covers. "If I had just kept it to myself this wouldn't be happening. I tried to make them remember better next year and I've already failed-"
"No, you didn't… you were just trying to help me." She clarified. "You can't help it, that they will selfishly always put themselves first. Of course, my father has twisted this in a way that he thinks can benefit him greatly. Not caring who it could hurt or what it could ruin for either of us. It's always about political gain, anywhere he can get it. He's so blinded by his greed that he never sees the holes in these little schemes. Especially when I'm not around to point them out."
She sat up and pulled me up, made me face her as she told me, "You have done nothing but love me. Even though it has never been easy to do."
"It's been entirely too easy." I let her know, "I'm just not good at it, any of it… apparently."
"I think for two people who grew up as cheerless and loveless as we did. I think we do pretty… okay. Especially these last couple of days." Mai tried to make me feel better. But I still felt horrible as she began to turn back her covers and get up somehow. Even though I had been practically on top of her.
I asked her, "Where are you going?"
She told me, "Home to fix this, but I think I need to get dressed first."
"You don't have to, I can-" I tried.
But Mai didn't let me finish before she was already saying, "No. This isn't something anybody else can do."
I practically begged her to, "Please… let me try."
But her instinct was clear. "I appreciate it, but it's gotta be me and it's gotta be now before things get much worse."
"Are you sure?" I had to ask.
She was absolute, "Yes. If we don't nip this in the bud, things will only get worse from here. We've got to set them straight here and now. But I'm afraid I'm gonna have to cancel Katara's plans for the day… again. Do you think she'll mind belaying her itinerary till we come back later on today?"
"She'll be fine," I said, knowing Katara would understand that this couldn't wait. So would everyone else if they hadn't already heard the news downstairs.
As Mai was collecting her things to change into, she asked, "Azula brought this to you? Did she even know about your little plan? Or was she completely blindsided and pissed?"
I smirked, as I let her know. "Azula had no clue and was beyond pissed. But I think she'll be over it by the time we head down to where everyone's gathering downstairs. They want to hear what we plan to do. What should we tell them?" I asked since that topic hadn't been covered in our conversation. Even though Mai was already setting her course, and accepting no variations to her own plots.
"Ah, the truth." She shrugged as she dug for something deep in the wardrobe. "I doubt they'll be terribly surprised by my decision to set things straight. Or to do so myself."
"You won't let them help either?" I questioned.
She stopped her digging to look me in the eye, when she said, "This is something I have to do. If we leave now we can be back by lunchtime if they hold it a little late." She said, like it was the only solution. I had to trust her on that.
I asked, "Why don't you stay here and enjoy the activities we didn't get to do yesterday. While I go handle this?"
She told me right between the eyes, "Because this is one of those things, that I have to do myself. There's no way anyone else will get through their thick skulls, if you want to see what I'm talking about you're welcome to come along. But I have to be the one who tells them where they messed up. It's the only way this can be done."
With that, she disappeared into the bathroom with her usual clothes folded over her left arm. She wasn't even in there fifteen minutes before she was coming out completely and pristinely Mai. Presenting the perfect picture her parents would be expecting. After getting so much time with her not trying to be so put together all the time. Seeing her way more relaxed and her authentic self. It made my stomach hurt, that she had to be that way again so soon.
But I worried when I noticed something missing from around her neck. I asked her, "Hey? Where's your necklace." Because she hadn't taken it off since I gave it to her. At least not that I know of. When she had worn this dress to dinner last night (or an identical one) she had worn her necklace over the high neckline so it could be seen. Now it looked bare again.
She showed me though, "I'm still wearing it, I just tucked it inside."
"Why?" I had to ask, "If they see that around your neck-"
"They'll know they've already won," She made plain. "If I want to get through to them at all, I have to make them sweat a little. It's still there just hidden."
"Aren't you going to tell them? Before it's over?" I asked again.
She answered honestly, "I haven't decided yet, but this most recent plot demands immediate retaliation, and if I don't say something about it. If I let this slide and don't embarrass them very publicly. They'll never learn where they went wrong, then Tom-Tom will have even more trouble with them when it's his turn and he finds the person he wants to marry. Now, go get ready if you want to come along, I'm gonna go try to arrange for a ride back to the city. A quick one, I don't intend on this taking long."
Before she could leave before she could head off to begin all of the preparations she would have to make. I caught the door and spun her back to me, I closed the door behind us and asked her to, "Wait."
"What?" she asked me shooting me her game face. She was already switching into battle mode, ready to take on whoever she needed to.
"I just wanted to kiss you before you go, so we don't make a scene in that hall downstairs," I explained, after the way this morning was starting. I knew I would get carried away.
Her hardened warrior princess expression softened and she let me pull her to me. As we finally made contact, I was glad I'd caught her before she left. It made my heart feel lighter when I wasn't the only one who had gotten carried away in that shared moment. She'd needed it even more than I had, and when we stopped she promised me. "We won't be long and we'll come back here. They won't always have this power to wreck things."
"No, they won't," I agreed. "Because I am taking you outta there as soon as I can."
"If I don't leave before you get the chance." She said, and I know she meant it. Just as I knew one of the only reasons she stayed was for her brother's sake and happiness. When she stepped away from me, she straightened the robe I was still wearing, kissed my cheek and left. Saying, "Meet you downstairs."
Just like that, she was already gone out of our room.
So I got ready as fast as I could, so I could join her. But I didn't get to be as quick, or comfortable as Mai was. Dressing as the Fire Lord always takes longer than a very high-maintenance teenaged girl. But if we were gonna humiliate and terrify these HORRIBLE people. Might as well go for the gold!
((Mai's Perspective))
When I left our room, I was expecting there to be a big struggle getting us off this island. Even if I had every intention of this being a fast trip and not staying home long. Even if we would probably be using an airship and the inn-keeper was only warning that the water wasn't safe for travel yet. I had heard Zuko mention that the others were gathering down in the dining hall. But I didn't put together just who that meant.
When I walked through the doors, not only was I immediately assured of their support on ALL sides (from everyone). All of them had scrolls in their hands and were as mad at my parents as I felt. It wasn't nearly the job I had been anticipating because everyone just wanted to help me somehow.
I don't think I'll ever get used to that.
Aang had already figured out the quickest route to and from the capital using Appa. Had already fought back everyone else who wanted to come. Clarifying, "How much stronger will Mai's message be made when she not only shows up with the Fire Lord this time. But also me? The Avatar?" He even added elbowing me, "We're gonna get them good, just you wait and see."
I couldn't doubt him. It was genius, with his presence alone, it would no longer be an embarrassment to our nation. It will be a global mistake that could follow them for some time. It couldn't have been more ruthless... or perfect.
Suki and Ty-Lee both let me know that they would be accompanying Zuko. But they also let me know that they were going for my sake just as much. They both went out of their way to let me know they had my back. Then Zuko's Uncle Iroh made sure I ate something before my journey, even though my appetite was nonexistent this morning.
He told me on the sly, "Now that you and my nephew are official. I'm your Uncle too, you know? Even though I have already felt like you were part of the family for some time now. Feel free to call me 'Uncle' or 'Iroh' if you choose."
He may not have known it, but I really needed to hear that not all family is like mine. So not only did he get a thank you, and me calling him 'Uncle' for the first time. But I hugged him, it was just the kind of day I was having.
As I forced myself to ingest a piece of toast smeared in something sweet. A jam made of some weird fruit now native to the island. Can an island that was just created really have a native food source so soon? ... Anyway, I was shocked to be seated at the same round table as Azula and her brand-new husband. In their matching robes and smoldering glances, over the brim of their tea cups. That they kept giving each other when they thought no one was looking. They kept touching and or having silent conversations too. Like typical newlyweds.
They were eating too, I was treated to one of Azula's hilarious attempts at a pep-talk. They always come out sounding too intense and dark, I'd forgotten how much I used to look forward to those. The demoted Fire Lord now simply Princess again said, "Those people will never stop using you if you don't make this one count, Mai. Don't pull your punches, don't let them off easily, and whatever you do. Don't feel the least bit sorry for them. They did this to you... and brought this on themselves not the other way around. Be that cunning and clever lioness I kept close when I was at my height of power... you know, before your betrayal at the Boiling Rock... saving the guy you're sharing a room with upstairs..."
"Lioness?" I repeated because that had been a choice.
"Yes," she said flatly. "Blame Ty-Lee for that analogy. She was sharing with me how she thinks she misses her circus family. Because she keeps dreaming of all of us as animals in a circus. I had been a fire-breathing wildcat, and you (Mai) were a pitch-black lioness and I still had that picture in my mind. It suited you too well."
I had to ask her, "Was Zuko still the simple uncross-breed ostrich with his head in the sand? Like when Ty-Lee first came home from the circus."
Azula laughed so loud and true, most of the people around us stopped to look at her for a second. Some who have even fought with her before looked on in worry (We see you Sokka). Till they realized she really was just laughing. She was still laughing and wiping at tears when she shared, "I'd totally forgotten about that!"
Then she called to Ty-Lee, "Hey! Was my brother still the ostrich? With his head in the sand?" A reaction laugh followed when the others actually heard what had cracked the princess up.
"Of course!" Ty-Lee laughed now too. "I can't see him in my circus any other way!"
"You were hanging with Ty-Lee this morning too?" I asked. Bringing the princess back to her original subject of conversation.
"Yes, I placed my order for breakfast before all hell broke loose. I was sitting with her when the scrolls were being placed on all of the tables." Azula explained. "I was the one who knocked and brought one up to Zuzu… in case you didn't know. But I hear even though your parents are soulless husks still. Congratulations are in order?"
"Um, yes. Thanks." I said awkwardly. "And thanks for telling us, so we can take care of this today."
"I figured you would need some time on your side." Azula shrugged. Before circling back to, "I can't believe my brother and I both have reached this point in our lives almost at the same time."
"I'm probably just as shocked as you were." I had to agree.
"I don't know that 'shocked' is the word I would have used, in your case." Azula confided. "I always knew you two would end up together. I just didn't count on his proposal happening the same night as my actual wedding."
Her husband added on her behalf, "She's not blaming you at all, Miss Mai. This was all planned to catch you by surprise. Miss Ty-Lee explained that to us. I'm afraid however that my wife is a bit miffed at her brother, however. For not clueing her in when he had a few chances and he didn't take them."
"I'm don't get miffed, Kavin. We've talked about this," Azula corrected. "What I am is pissed off. Where does he get off hiding something like that? It's not like it's the kind of thing one can hide or deny for long. And Why? If his plan was to conceal it for any length of time, why would he tell your parents? Of all people? He might as well have painted a sign and let the Avatar's sky bison drag it behind him."
I couldn't help it, I laughed darkly at how right Azula was. After a morning where all of my happiness had been so disrupted. It was an unexpected surprise to find myself hiding a laugh behind my napkin. While Ty-Lee and Kavin openly laughed, and Azula asked us, "What's funny, I'm serious. He may be the Fire Lord now, but that doesn't change the fact that he just doesn't think sometimes."
I asked my friend, "Take it easy on him, Azula. Believe it or not, I think he's beating himself up more over this than even you are right now."
"Well, I doubt that," Azula said, head held high. "I'm his sister, and I shared my big news. Why didn't he? It's not like I don't approve of the match or anything. You were my friend first, or so he'd like us all to forget. You already are family to me, even if I did once tell you that you were dead to me."
"I know," I said with appreciation. "If our biological families are any sort of example. That moment should have made it official. That we're truly family." I teased right back in that dark way Azula and I always found so natural. It was something we'd always smirk about.
"See? You clearly get it! Why doesn't Zuko?" Azula smirked, but I could tell. This had really hurt her.
So I tried to lighten her up, "It's like you just said. This is Zuko we're talking about, I think he was nervous about what he was planning for me. Then shocked by your news, even if it was good, I think that he messed up a little. Just know that if I had had any way of knowing what was happening. I would have still told you even if I was surprised."
"I know you would have," Azula told me before she said, "Which is why I was hoping I could talk to you this morning. Before all of this happened." She went on, "Even though we're already married. We will need to hold a small ceremony in front of the Fire Elders. So that they'll acknowledge this marriage the right way. Uncle Iroh was filling us in on the steps he needed to take with our Auntie, once upon a time. So I've started trying to prepare for whatever else these geezers want us to do. Whatever flaming hoops they'll make us jump through."
"That's really smart." I nodded, wondering where she was going with this.
"When we're going through with this hugely ornate and ridiculous formality. I was hoping you could stand with me… You and Ty-Lee… Could you?" Azula asked.
I was so overwhelmed, I forgot to swallow the bite I'd just taken. When it was finally down, I let her know. "Of course. Are you sure you want-"
"Oh yes," she waved off, "You two will stand with me. Zuko will give me away and I'm hoping Mother can witness it for us as well. I'm drafting the letter to Mother as we speak."
I advised, "Maybe don't tell her everything in the letter. Just invite her for a visit so that you can tell her everything in person. This is stuff someone shouldn't have to hear from a letter."
"Or a news scroll!" Azula said, still bitterly scorching another scroll. I watch Kavin smooth down her hair with a finger as he sipped his tea. And she immediately calmed down. Am I the only one seeing this? "No, you're right! I want to do this right. Things are still so strained between my mother and me. Not that they were ever all that great to begin with. And I've been replaced by a cutesy little porcelain doll. Perfect in every way."
Kavin said something in her ear and she got back on track. "Maybe I'll even set up this little girl talk session to happen after I've got all the dates set."
I told her, "Let me know whenever it's happening. I'll make sure I'm there."
Kavin said, "Thank you so much, for agreeing to stand with us."
As Azula stepped over to tell Ty-Lee that I was in for this second ceremony too. Kavin stole Azula's seat and said, "My wife is getting a little stronger every day. But even she was adamant about having you with us that day. How much better it would make her feel. I know we've just met, but I've heard a lot about you. Your friendship means so much to her. Thank you for agreeing to be there with us."
I had to say to Kavin, "Thank you so much for making her so happy. She's still the friend I remember, but the war and her life back then twisted her into something so dark. None of us knew how to help her. Thank you for helping her find the light again."
He seemed to realize, "So you were the friend that Azula gifted her painting to?"
I had to own up, "She's always shown a talent for making the gory and macabre beautiful. I've always appreciated that trait too and I've kept more than a few of her creations... But that was the first time I'd ever seen her acknowledge a ray of light in her work. It was even more beautiful and hopeful… I hung it in my room."
Kavin said, "Not gonna lie, I begged her to keep that one. But Azula kept swearing to me that this friend would need to remember the light and hope. Even more than either of us would. I'm beginning to understand what she meant. Good luck today with your family. If you ever need to talk, I'm here."
"Thank you." I nodded, just as my fiancée showed up. Dressed once again as the stiff and structured Fire Lord. Complete with man-bun, headpiece, and all.
His sister reappeared just in time to greet him, "There's Zuko the ostrich."
Zuko shook his head and said, "Not again! Don't tell me Ty-Lee's been dreaming of the circus again."
Ty-Lee whined, "I just miss my circus family, Zuko. I gotta go see their new show when we get back."
He told his sister pointedly, to "Let it die, already."
"I can't because you're obviously still every bit that oversized bird as you were when I first brought Ty-Lee home again. You've STILL got your head in the sand too." She laughed, then leaned on her husband's shoulder. Who whispered caution in her ear. Because her reaction was too obvious, reminding him. "He may be the Fire Lord to you, dear husband. But to me, he is still that annoying little brother I need to straighten out here or there. If I don't he'll think nothing's wrong with him."
Zuko ignored this and stole the seat next to me, he asked, "Ready to go?"
"Almost." I shrugged. "You're uncle's gonna make sure you eat first. He just did the same to me." Zuko made a noise that sounded like he wasn't hungry either. So I shared more of our current plans, "Aang's giving us a lift on Appa and accompanying us too. He knows that if I want them to be embarrassed, it'll be so much worse with him there to see it."
"That's brilliant," He had to acknowledge. "But how are you gonna humiliate them? How does that work into your plot exactly?"
"Don't worry about it, just eat quickly and let's go get this over with," I told him softly as his Uncle showed up to take him over to where a table of food had been set out. So that all of us who were planning to travel could eat quicker.
I tried to focus on that, and ignore the observations being made on Zuko and my relationship from the three people talking like I wasn't here. But Kavin asked both his wife and Ty-Lee, "I noticed no kiss, no hug, no outpouring of affection, even on a day like this? Is that common for these two? I'm new here, and relying on you two ladies."
Ty-Lee told Kavin, "Pfft, are you kidding? The most PDA I've EVER seen between these two was at that birthday party the other night. And maybe the ride coming here. The rest of the time, they're always like this."
Azula asked, "Still? Even after these many years of carrying torches for one another. That just seems silly."
I couldn't stay silent anymore, so I told Azula, "Good thing I'm not you and neither is Zuko."
All three of them started to laugh, having been caught. They apologized, and I shook my head, but ultimately accepted. Then Azula surprised me by telling her husband, "Mai is refined, elegant and poised. What she sees in my weirdo brother, I'll never know. But what's happening between them... and has been since we were kids. It's somehow scattered in all of the things they say and do, in this unique way. It's somehow hidden and so obvious all at the same time that you can't help but root for them. Even when your little brother is a moron and your friend deserves better. Thankfully Zuzu knows this and tries to be better. But then he messes up like today and makes you wonder."
Ty-Lee added, "I secretly wonder what it is like when they think they're alone. How different is from what they're giving us now."
Azula asked her, "You really wonder about that?"
Kavin nodded, "Interesting... very interesting... from a professional standpoint, of course."
Azula reminded him, "Uh Ah! None of that doctor, you are simply my husband today and the couch is all mine."
Kavin chuckled and said, "Okay, okay. You're right, I was slipping back into work mode."
They're conversation drifted off as I watched Zuko making a plate. Until Katara came and talked to me. Letting me know she would begin everything whenever we returned and she would just keep everyone entertained in the meantime. She said, "I hope everything goes well. Whenever you get back, Toph and me have a few fun things planned too. To welcome you all back."
I had to tell her, "Thanks. I hope we won't be long, and I hope it'll go better than I'm expecting."
Even though I was going to have to face some major repercussions this morning with my own family. It lifted my heavy heart to have so many caring friends' support and that some of the most important parts of Zuko's family already counted me as one of them. I hoped that when I did get to face my own problems this morning. And ending this bright could be reached there too. Look at Azula and me both looking to the future with such hope... Who could have guessed that would ever happen?
I hoped it could last for the both of us, and never be snuffed out again. But I had a sinking feeling in my gut that told me, what I was about to face... wouldn't have a happy ending.
That's all for today!
But don't worry the next chapter will be up tomorrow. Thank you so much to anyone reading this right now. Please review if you can, I love hearing from you. Hope you're having a great day! Much Love!
~DarcyBeDippy85