Work Text:
It was a crisp spring day, the stained and the wilted leaves were replaced with new and bright flowers.
The firelady sat eloquently in the courtyard, the golden rays of the sun reflecting onto her golden crown. She has busied herself with feeding the small ducklings which graced the royal family with their birth, aligning with the birth of spring. Splashing water into her burgundy hanfu, the ducklings filled morning with their unintelligent quacking–fighting among each other for a bite of bread from the firelady’s blessed hands.
Despite complaining to her husband about the disturbance these animals bring to her sleep–which she valued preciously, Mai found herself with a smirk smeared across her face. Even her stoic energy was unmasked by these fuzzy blankets of baby turtleducks.
After a morning of arguing with the education minister and 3 hours of enduring blatant sexism without a break, Mai found herself in the garden, sitting on the foundation, feeding the ducks which swam in the waters she and Zuko fell into decades ago.
Even though those years were lost long ago and even they lost their youthful energy–and their lack of horrendous back pains, their love for each other preserved its youth throughout the years. It had survived banishment,imprisonment,breakups, crazy priests and their measly arguments and disagreements.
They have been crafted for each other since the beginning of time, surviving all of the obstacles the universe threw their way, at least according to the letter from the avatar which Mai had found in his desk while trying to find him.
Slow and calculated footsteps pulled her out of their nostalgic album of memories, the grass rustled quietly as the owner of the footsteps tried to keep them undetectable. A wry smile painted her face before she turned back, ready to meet her husband's golden eyes tilted with a mischievous smile, his hands ready to grab her shoulders.
“How was the meeting?” She asked, teasing him about his failed attempt at scaring her, her smirk widening as she saw his face twisted with miff.
“ughhh I was trying to scare you!” Zuko whined with his hands falling to his legs as he dragged himself to a seat next to Mai, dropping his head to his wife's shoulders, his bangs tickling the small bit of her exposed neck.
“Come on honey, you know it's hard to scare me,” Mai said,the honey being the final nail in the coffin, turning to her ducks, tossing the last bit of bread to the mother duck who was a few swims away, watching her newly born children, ready to strike if something were to happen.
Mai turned to zuko, who was still on her shoulder. His hair was disheveled and unruly, unlike how he left this morning, after he teased her about her lack of laughter before proceeding to tickle her, falling into their velvet bed. That morning he was able to hear Mai's uncontrollable laughter and a prob in the ribs from the knives Mai kept under her pillow.
“How was your meeting?” Mai asked in a less teasing way, lifting his face and cupping his cheeks again. His face fell with annoyance and slight disappointment before he spoke,
“It went ok but a letter from aang came” he said with a serious expression, dissolving the playful atmosphere.
“Is something wrong?” Mai asked, her eyebrows knitted together with worry. She had heard about his visits to the abandoned air temples from zuko, maybe a robbery or something of the sort. With the uprising of the anti bending group, worry had settled in everyone's hearts
“nothing is wrong, I hope, “ he started, shifting his eyes towards the grassy ground. " he sent the letter asking me to accompany him to Mount bayo. He ran into some trouble with the denials, so it's something something” purposefully skimping the details in order not to worry her.
“Something something?” Mai asked, arching her eyebrows, hinting that she knew what he was trying to do. Zuko looked away uncomfortably, scratching his face as he tried to cook up some excuse.
“Listen, from the letter, it's quite obvious he wants me there,” he said, quitting beating around the bush, meeting her eyes with the seriousness the situation held. Mai's eyes softened as his gaze dawned the truth on why he insisted on going. He wanted to pay the avatar back over a debt aang had forgotten.
Within a few hours into noon, the preparation for the air balloon and packing the Firelord’s clothes was wrapping up. The large machine waited outside the palace ground, waiting for take off.
Inside, Zuko was running around the room getting ready, changing out of his royal robes and into something stuffier and cold resistant—mount bayou was known to be the coldest point in all the lands— as Mai sat on their bed with her legs crossed..
It felt different to Mai to see him in his casual robes, considering they only see each other with their royal robes with respect to their working schedule.
‘the denied. Mount bayo. something dangerous. emergency’ these words ran over her mind, occupying her attention as she carelessly picked her fingers as her pale fingers slowly reddened as blood rushed under her touch.
“mai, Mai, MAI!” his sharp voice pulled her out of their thoughts. A smirk slowly appeared on his face as he stared at her dilated pupils. “Did I just scare you?” He teased as Mai's mind slowly connected the puzzle to what was going on.
“No!” Mai huffed as she tied her hands to her chest, refusing to admit defeat. “I was just thinking of what to do about the spring festival”
“Whatever you say” he mumbled before plopping down next to, their eyes stayed connected like magnets for a few moments, a few moments without politician's voices clouding their lives or the continuous taunting from the fire priests about the fragility of the throne. It was a few moments where they were in their own world. Their eyes speaking a language only they knew.
Mai fell into his embrace, her hands tied around his torso as if he would wither away if she let go. Without a flicker in his eyes, Zuko embraced her back. His eyes closed as he rested his head on her head, a few strands of hair tickling his face.
It had dawned on Mai, how many days of their marriage was lost in meaningless political debates and hearings, she flicked through countless memories in a flash, holding them close to her as if this would be the last memory they would share.
Slowly they pulled away, the moment ended in a zap.
“Are you certain that you must go?” she spoke, pulling her lips apart as they were stuck. Her request dripped with fear and worry.
“I must go, I owe everything we have to the avatar, I should show up when he needs me” he sighed. Looking out the window, his gaze fell on the air balloon which awaited his presence.
“But I promise you, I'll come back safe” his gaze shifting to his worrisome wife. He lifted her hands, placing a kiss on them, assuring that he would be back. He would do this before every of his travels, whether if it oceans away or whether it was a day trip to ember island.
“Until I come back, I want you to look after the fire nation, you're the best person for this job” zuko said, brushing a strand of hair from the side of her head before pecking a kiss on her cheeks.
“I'll write to you, I swear, besides I'll be back within a few days” he said before lowering himself down to her bump, pecking the fabric lightly.
Mai smiled back at him, burying every thought of any misfortune happening as if ignoring them would wipe out the possibilities.
It was odd—this sensation—he leaves for trips every week or so but something unknown settled into the linings of her stomach inviting anxious thoughts.
Mai came outside to bid him goodbye. The air balloon slowly lifted off the ground as she lowered her hand, only leaving when the air balloon was no longer in her sight and disappeared into the clouds.
The sight evoked a feeling of deja vu.
Mai walked along the tall lacquered walls of the palace, so quiet a pin drop would sound as an alarm. Though etched with color and luxuries, the palace always felt isolated and cold. But there were some specific areas where warmth and life made home.
The palace became colder without him…
She dragged her palm across the wall as her mind escaped carelessly through time, as if she was an observer who was watching her grow within the walls which never started as hers before slowly evolving into a place of solace.
Mai fell into the chair with a heavy sigh, the next few went perfectly according to predictions. A long day of sitting in the stiff throne of the firelord which worsened her shoulders and back as she listened to the over the top speeches and meetings, the grand chamberlain slowly climbing on her nerves—this man was truly as annoying as zuko described
A meeting with the most chauvinistic men with archaic views. A migraine slowly crept into her temple, the scrolls on the desk increasing with each day.
The news coming out about the avatar's team was concerning her each day, no one had heard from them after the rumored attack on them from the denied, after that no one had seen their balloon.
Mai would wait by the window seat awaiting the eagle which would carry zuko's letters to her, whether he was oceans away or by the neighboring state.
Days went by and no crying eagle came nor did letters carrying his messy writing as he hurried to finish fast but Mai's hope remained intact as she waited and waited.
Mai busied herself in the days of his absence. She fed the turtleducks, she did calligraphy, she brewed tea, she occupied herself with books, went to her daily checkups and wrote down any development the healer informed about the baby. They had found out a few months prior. No one knew, just the two of them sharing information which was a crucial development in the lives of the ones around them. --------
The sun's glare decreased with the growing days, they were fully into the spirit of spring. The air was cooler but not cold, the sky was clear but not empty. Flowers and fresh leaves had completely replaced the orange dusky ones which withered during autumn.
Mai's eyes observed the changes around the garden as she waited for the tea to cool. The ducklings had grown bigger than they were a few days ago, if zuko was here, he would be the first to notice and would drag Mai to the garden to look at the ducklings which had grown while the mother duck would linger around, flapping around the water gently
‘Look at her, she's filled with pride and she's showing off’ he'd say, Mai thought with a small smile.
“You know, the taste enhances with a second brew onwards,” the old man next to her said with a smile. Uncle iroh had traveled from ba sing se, insisting that he was here to experience the spring festival.
“Life is like tea, you need to taste the unsatisfying tea first and finish it before you get to experience the wonderful brew the second one holds. After clearing the first tea successfully, you're going to experience better brews in the future” he said, looking at her to confirm what he meant. She understood clearly.
A thunder clanged the skies, the clear skies were inked with a purple and dark energy, the ink spilling into the caldera faintly and slowly but surely.
“My lady, sir we need to get you to safety” the guard barged into the gazebo, guiding the two out of the structure and into the main palace, though the chaos seemed to be miles away, the chances of it coming into their vicinity was growing at an alarming rate.
“General Kwan, what's happening?” Mai asked as she stared out the dark skies through the long windows of the halls. Her eyes fell on the fountain, the mother duck was running away with her children seeing the chaos within nature.
“I'm unsure my lady, but we're trying to gather information” he informed, maintaining the attitude he was taught to maintain during unpredictable situations.
‘What are the chances of the avatar's team getting involved in that? what are the chances that zuko was injured or risked himself to save someone else?’ hurried thoughts ran miles in her mind as her fingers unconsciously grazed along the fabric enhancing her small baby bump.
He always had that tendency to save others while putting his life at risk, once jumping in front of a running ostrich horse cart to save a little girl and ending up with a crying child in his shoulders and a bruised forehead.
“Announce to everyone, tell them to get shelter and not to move until the situation is cleared” mai said in a calculated and well planned manner “We don't know what exactly this is but it's something spirit related” she added.
“Yes ma'am”
If there was something which was a little ethical she picked up from her father's political career, it was to maintain the situation till where you can handle and observe if the situation goes out of hand before taking any extra measures.
“Send the guards— except a few— for rounds, make sure no one is one streets and if there is any, bring them to the palace until due time”
—---------------
She was pressed against the window as the obvious plumes from the battlefield invaded the atmosphere. The purple blots of energy plagued the skies.
It was from republic city. The guards had informed her. The avatar and his team were at the scene, trying to save Republic City from getting crushed by something foreign levitating from the sky, a temple some said which was previously residing in the spirit world.
If someone had told her this 18 years ago she would've taken their word with a value of a few grains of salt but after involving herself with the avatar and his friends and their crazy spirit world shenanigans, Mai wasn't sure on what not to believe.
Her mind ran through all possible scenarios, busy like a metropolitan city, trains of thoughts paced her mind and buildings of settled fears made home.
It was late afternoon by the time the purple blot disappeared into the atmosphere, an unsettling silence polluted the air, leaving it as an unanswered question.
The nib of the candle had fallen into the pool of wax and her tea had fallen cold as she glued herself to the floor, standing near the window and praying for his safe return.
Mai was never the religious type. In contrast to her family’s religious values and the atmosphere she grew up in, mai could never find herself in solace within the temple her family went to every once a week.She found it odd when the old women at the temple would cry their eyes out to an altar of fire.
But today, everything was at odds. Like that one day 17 years ago, she fell to her knees once again and prayed to the altar of fire, to bring the same boy she prayed about to come home safe years ago.
Hours had passed since the battle. Mai slowly trudged outside the marbles of the temple, her hanfu dragging itself in the dusty ground, where the guards were waiting for her by the ostriche horse carriage—these carriages had begun to rank up in popularity and even replaced the slow palanquins.
When she got home, the atmosphere felt colder than before, the silence grew louder and more suffocating. It was already late in the evening, the sun’s rays mixed into multiple colors as a streak of orange split the skies, orange hues escaping into the rooms through the windows.
‘Such an awful color’ Mai thought.
“My lady, there is a letter for you” “it’s from the fire lord”
She rushed towards the guard, grabbing the letter residing in his hands. She clutched onto the parchment, reading through the carelessly written letters.
My dearest mai,
Are you well? How are things going with the nation? Don’t busy yourself too much, I’ll take care of the rest of my duties when I’m back
I’m not sure what to write to you at this point, I’m sure you must have seen the chaos from afar. I want you to know I’m safe and well. I will tell you everything once I get back. Unfortunately I had suffered a few minor setbacks and will be residing in republic city and will leave for fire nation the next day.
See you soon,
With love, zuko
The letter read. for what was criminally short, the words were enough to put her worries aside.
Mai's fingers caressed the inked letters carefully as a heavy feeling was lifted from her
So as the letter informed, she waited.
She had readied the medical supplies, she knew what minor setbacks meant in zuko's life—a broken arm, maybe a few stabs or heck even a lightning to the chest— and she had the chef cook up something he liked.
She was up all night. unable to sleep and as she tried to figure out whether it was the excitement of seeing him again after all these days or fear of what injuries he might have suffered.The next morning, mai busied herself, in the throne room, attending to as much of his schedule as she could as she prepared to spend rest of the day with him, no meetings, no politicians grabbing onto their hanfu throwing tantrums like children.
The turtleducks had returned back to the garden, they splashed around the waters as mai sat, legs crossed on the cool marble.
She broke down the soft warm bread, feeding it into the ducks who hurried for a bite. The mother duck had gotten comfort with her to come take a few bits of bread.
The air was cool and light, the garden which was once engulfed with dusky leaves now a rebirth of greenery.
Mai finished off the last of the bread, slowly petting the beak of the mother duck. Dusting off the crumbs on her palms. She dusted her skirt before getting up, balancing her support in the cool stone of the fountain.
Her eyes slowly rose up, her gray eyes intermixed against his sunlit eyes, buzz of shock and excitement lined her heart.
He stood a few steps away, bandages covering parts of his body. He was dressed in a red hanfu with golden embroidery on the sleeves as his long hair spread over his back.
A small smile painted his face as he opened his lips as his awkward stance raised his hand.
“hey mai—”
Without thinking she reached for his collar, pulling him down to her height as she met his lips with a firm peck. Zuko's eyes widened in shock before slowly melting into the warmth of her lips, his thumb stroking her jaw before bringing her closer to his touch.
Mai lips gently pulled back from him,A small smile spread over their glossy lacquered lips, meeting each other's eyes in desperate vulnerability.
Zuko's arms pulled her waist back in,answering her with a firmer one of his own, his fingers gently ran his fingers through her long black hair before sliding to her face and then to her neck.
Zuko buckled her hips, lifting her up to his level, her long legs tied against his torso, Mai's slender fingers curled into his brown hair, her long nails dug into his scalp, a few waves of his hair sticking out through the gaps of her fingers. Her slight groan disappeared into his mouth as he smirked against her lips
Every emotion she felt for the past few days uncoiled in his touch. The sun was beating down on them. A buzz of warm fluttering of softness cut through her flesh, pouring down to her core. This felt like it was so long ago that they had a moment like this to themselves, this felt so needed. They melted into each other like wax, their lips perfectly aligning with each other's.
Mai pulled away, catching her breath as warmth climbed up her neck and to her face, heat settled on the skin along her cheekbones.
Her gray eyes flickered against his. His face, equally flustered with a pinkish hue deepening across his face. His hanfu was wrinkled, his hair disheveled from her hands.
He slightly opened his mouth before shutting it again, Mai's lipstick smudged his face, his lips and the area were stained with vermilion lip stamps. His blush blending perfectly with her lipstick
She looked at him with adoration, her hands cupped his flustered face, bringing it closer to her, she never realized his eyes had a little brown stroke in them, that made her adore him more.
It was just the two of them in the garden, no sounds except for the occasional quaking from the turtleducks and the fountain