Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: Again, the same conditions apply, but with that said, maybe Bigears? No prizes for guessing why.

Zigzagdoublezee: Yes, I can understand that, but when it came to Yue's new Earthbending teacher I realised a few things, some more important than others. First, the Yuad is already very upper class. Yue is, obviously, a Princess, the institution of the Southern Monarchy being stronger in this world means Sokka and Katara are full-blown Royalty too, and Suki is a leading member of her island's warrior elite. But mostly, and this was by far the most important reason, I just wanted to do it so Yue's Team Avatar was just a bit different from Aang's.

As Always, Please Review!

The door closed behind them with a little more force than was necessary, and Zuko and Mai stepped into their apartment. It was night-time outside, and the room was pitch dark. Zuko fumbled his way over to light a candle, which he did with a flick of his wrist. He looked over to where Mai was changing out of her paint- covered robes, into new ones, and sliding herself under the pile of blankets that served as their bed. She bedded herself down, making sure she was good and comfortable, and then looked up at him.

"Big day tomorrow," she said. "A big performance in front of all the air nomads."

"I think we'll nail it," Zuko said optimistically. "I know we haven't had long to learn it, but it seems simple enough. And Chomden knows what she's doing."

"She does," Mai agreed. "It was lucky we bumped into her. Literally."

"... Did you mean it?" She asked. "About staying neutral in the war?"

Zuko shrugged. He likewise took his robes off and threw them in a bag, to be taken to one of the communal laundrettes at the next opportunity. Then he too began changing into new, clean ones.

"Look, I can't blame Chomden for thinking like that," he said. "She's right. The Air Nomads are not soldiers, everyone knows that."

"And what about us?" Mai asked. "Should we stay out? Just keep running to nowhere?"

"What do you think I've been trying to do since the night Lu Ten put me in a boat?" Zuko asked. "And you know why. My father will kill me."

Mai didn't say anything for a moment.

"This city is under siege," she said. "What happens if it falls? Even if we get out, and go on to the next, the Fire Nation takes that too, and on it goes until finally there's nowhere to run."

"It won't fall," Zuko scoffed. "The walls-"

"Yes, but what if it does?" Mai interrupted him.

Zuko scowled at her. "Where's this coming from?"

Mai shrugged.

"The thing is... I'm not sure if I want to run any more," she told him. "The world is at war. Why do we get to run and hide while others are fighting?"

"Because one side will kill me and the other will imprison me?" Zuko reasoned. "Seems like enough of an excuse not to go near either side if I can help it."

"That's just it though, I don't know how much longer you will be able to help it for," Mai said. "As far as anyone in the Fire Nation knows, you were kidnapped and I am trying to rescue you. If they break into the city and catch us, that's not what they're going to see."

Mai rubbed her eyes.

"And as for being killed or captured, do you think one of our soldiers who gets captured by vengeful earthbenders would be treated well? Are our men being fair to any earthbenders they capture?"

"They won't have to answer to dad though, will they?"

"If they're murdered, will it make any difference whether it was the Firelord himself or some private from an outlying island?" Mai asked, tilting her head.

Zuko had to admit she had a point. He trudged over to her and rolled under the blanket. The flame of the candle cast shadows across the dimly lit room which danced on the walls. The rest of the conversation was conducted in whispers, just in case some neighbour was listening in. It would not be good if they spoke too loudly and brought the Earth King's enforcers to their door.

"What would you do, then?" He asked. "Is this about joining the Earth Kingdom army again?"

"No," Mai shook her head. Then she sighed.

"I don't know. I don't know what we should do. I only know we should do something."

"The best thing we can do for ourselves is wait," Zuko declared. Then an idea struck him.

"Maybe we could try to influence those air nomads into helping," he suggested. "We could help that way."

Mai huffed.

"It's an idea, but I'm still not sure about sending others into battle while we sit here. That is what we would be doing."

"So what then?" Zuko demanded. "Join the army? Hand myself in to the Earth King and offer to join him? Try to find Avatar Yue?"

"We don't even know where the Avatar is. She could be anywhere."

"We know she's out there. That Air Nomad said so."

"And how do we find her? Sneak out of the city and through a Fire Nation siege line? And they might not trust you, we are Fire Nation."

"I wouldn't worried about that, we've met before," Zuko pointed out. "The whole reason we're in this mess is because I helped them escape my father without knowing. I'd be fine in that case."

Then he frowned.

"But you are right about the other stuff. Like I said though, one side will kill me and the other will lock me up. Which is why I am going to stay right here."

"Zuko, I've known you for a long time," Mai folded her arms and stared at him. "I've never known you to run from those who need you before."

That comment did sting, but then Zuko saw his father's face before him in his mind's eye, contorted with rage, as he had been at the North Pole finding about his accidental betrayal. He swallowed.

"I don't know how many times I have to say it, my father will kill me," he said, swallowing. "I'm... scared, Mai. Of him. You don't realize what it's like, having a father who would do that. And even if I did, that would be treason!"

"You've already committed treason."

"Not like this! Proper, intentional, treason! Could I take up arms against my own country?"

"What?" Mai sounded disbelieving. "Zuko, they've taken up arms against you!"

Zuko huffed, and rolled over away from her.

"I'm tired," he announced. "I don't want to talk about this any more."

"Fine," Zuko felt Mai also lay down. She said nothing else.

It took Zuko a very long time to get to sleep.