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It was a late morning in early autumn, Zuko had woken up very early, as the days were getting shorter and the gift of the sun had to be appreciated while it lasted, to practice firebending on the balcony of the main hall while the sun was shining its first rays. Early autumns always made Zuko feel lighter. It was the time of ripe red apples, turtle ducklings hatching, and the time of sweet childhood memories. He thought it was a great time to share the first apples together with Mai in the garden. He wanted to do something to lighten her up. She seemed overwhelmed recently, quieter than usual, even when they were alone together.
When he came back to their room for a shower, he opened the door without caution, believing Mai would be awake by then. The room was dim, feeling as airless as midsummer. He sighed when he saw Mai was buried under the blankets in such stuffy air. He quietly walked over to open the window.
“I want to sleep more. Zuko, draw the curtains.”
“It’s too stuffy here!”
“Please I’m still tired because of yesterday, let me rest.”
“I didn’t assume a private session with Shihan could make you this exhausted! How did the revis—”
“I just told you I’m sleeping!”
“Rise and shine my lov—”
“ZUKO DO I REALLY NEED TO SHOUT TO LET YOU KNOW I’M NOT JOKING?”
“Oh, you and Druk are twins!”
“GET out.” She frowned and covered her head under the blanket.
“ Duh. Mai, I know something’s wrong. Let’s figure it out together. Okayyy?”
“Nothing’s wrong. You’re messing up with me again.”
“Nothing’s wrong and you merely go to the academy and sleep all day? You don’t even come to the table! What’s wrong with YOU!!”
“I feel so tired Zuko, I just told you! leave me alone.”
“Fine You’re tired. But why?”
She threw the blanket away from her body. “You really don’t understand the meaning of “DON’T TALK”! You’re worse than my students.”
He took a deep breath to control himself. “Whatever. I’ll bring our breakfast here. And we’ll talk.”
“You’re annoying me so much.”
“You too!” Zuko left the room and came back with a tray. “I’ve brought three kinds of tart for the Firelady.”
“Nah I Just want some tea.”
He poured her some tea and handed the cup to her “Are you hiding all day because of the sages? I told them one more thing about our personal life and they’re fired.”
“Fired…or fired?” She smirked, sipping the hot green tea.
“So, is that the reason?”
“No. I just feel so tired Zuko! I can’t even stand my students’ murmuring. I want to change the time of my morning classes.”
“Maybe a refreshing hea—”
“I’ve told you a MILLION TIMES I’M NOT GOING TO THE HEALERS FOR NOTHING. AM I wounded by a sword or possessed by the spirits??”
“you’re not. sorry.” He cut a piece of tart and brought it closer to her. “Your favorite one. Made with the fresh raspberries.”
“No Uuuugh I’m sick of raspberries…” She continued quietly, “I appreciate your dedication though.”
“So, you’re finally awake.” He approached to kiss her. His lips rested on her for a second after pecking. Mai gave his hair a gentle stroke and pulled back slightly.
“The thing is that I haven’t been feeling well for some time, though I know there’s nothing really wrong with my body. It’s just that my cycle is messed up again, which I never care about.”
“Oh…ah… I see...”
“I know it rings a bell. And I don’t know. And because I don’t know, I’ll do nothing about it. And I don’t want to talk about it. But it’s just so irritating that I don’t know. AND NO FURTHER ASSUMPTIONS.”
“So that’s it. I’m relieved to know what I thought is not–”
“You thought I’m so tired of being a Firelady and I want to get away.”
“I mean, it’s really complicated, I get so overwhelmed we can’t be like a normal couple and we’re always surrounded by some royal jerk stuff. I should have appreciated our younger days more.”
“I always knew it was going to be like this, you big goof. Now seriously move that tray out of the way.”
“This explai—”
“NO THIS DOESN’T EXPLAIN ANYTHING!”
“You’re cutting me off a lot today. So annoying.”
“Annoying? You’re the one who didn’t let me sleep.”
“Get up, Mai. Let’s go feed Druk and pick some apples. A little sunshine will do us some good.”
Mai stood up with a smile.
“Man you really love Druk more than me. It’s getting to me now.”
“Now you’re jealous of a dragon? You always find new ways to surprise me.” She combed her hair, but didn’t tie it like always.
After a few minutes, Mai was finally feeling awake, now motivated to tease his dumb feelings, as she was walking faster than him to the garden.
“I thought you’re tired!”
Zuko had emptied a great deal of the royal gardens for the juvenile dragon, they entered the garden. “He’s growing up so fast! I should find a new place for—” This time Druk cut him off. The red dragon was flapping toward them. Considering his giant size, the dragon could’ve crushed them if he had flown toward them.
“Good job buddy, you’re learning to control your pace!” Zuko said as he got closer.
Mai smiled “These boys! He’s just like Tom-Tom when he was two!”
But then Druk got too close.
Zuko said anxiously, “No NO NO Stop boy!”
Druk bumped into Mai. She didn’t fall, just stumbled a few steps. She patted the big head. “Hi Druk. This move of yours will make some people jealous.”
Druk sniffed and as if assessing her carefully, he sniffed all over her, and let out a roar. He was on the verge of opening his mouth for a breath of fire.
Zuko panicked and shouted, “UP TO THE AIR, UP TO THE AIR!” He had spent a lot of time trying to tame him, and it still sounded rewardless sometimes. Zuko tried to pull Mai away.
Druk raised his head and erupted toward the sky, meanwhile, he tightened his serpentine neck around Mai’s legs, preventing Zuko’s attempt.
Zuko shouted, “You’ll hurt her!”
“No don’t worry, he knows. But it’s just a bit itchy…” His long magnificent tail was hitting the floor every second. The dragon roared again, and curled his torso around her further.
Mai patted and rubbed all around his head stronger. “Hey boy I didn’t know you’re also this dramatic! Calm down!”
Zuko frowned. “Druk. You don’t want to greet me? I’m the one with food!”
After some seconds of roars and fires, the rushed excitement settled and he stared at Mai. She liked it now, but at first, she was startled by those huge bulging eyes. Zuko finally let out his long-held breath.
He was more stressed, as it was Zuko who witnessed a whole tree being burned by Druk, not Mai.
Druk uncurled her, then brought his face in front of her torso. He sniffed her all over again, but let out a continuous rumble as he sniffed her belly. She touched his muzzle. “Are you trying to tell me something, boy?”
Zuko’s eyes were now as bulging as the dragon's. “What? How does he know?”
“There is not enough research on dragons, but apparently, he knows something. Maybe by these huge nostrils.”
“Yeah, wow he’s never done this before!”
Mai bent to level her head with the dragon “I should’ve come sooner to you little boy!” He rumbled softer, and contracted himself, as if he understood her words. He was really a rival of Zuko.
Mai turned around to see the quiet Zuko. She knew better than anyone that when he was processing way too deep emotions, he became silent. Zuko’s eyes were shining with welled-up tears, with the widest smile. She chuckled, “Now look at MY little boy!” She held a hand on the dragon’s muzzle but opened her arms to welcome a hug from Zuko. Zuko’s tears fell as he embraced her. “Mai…”
“Uh-huh”
“I love you so much… my heart aches to death…”
“Apparently you have to double the painful love. Hope you’ll survive.”
He chuckled, held her neck, and kissed his unbothered queen, a soft kiss growing deeper as she eased the tension of former suspense, and melting perfectly beneath her lover’s lips. As she felt she had received enough of his love, she returned the kiss slowly. Druk lay down on the grass next to them as he felt the soft energy. Still breathing very close to Mai’s body. They separated when they ran out of breath, Zuko hovered his hand close to her belly to ask for permission, the very silly appearance of him made her smile.
Zuko sat on his knees and touched her yet-to-be-grown belly softly with his palms. He whispered with his gentlest voice “Hi there! I’m… Zuko…” the word ‘dad’ still feeling too heavy to be uttered. “…I’m so happy you’re here…and I love you so much… I promise you’ll have the best family…”
Mai was getting flattered. “Hey, it’s too early to feel overjoyed...we’re not sure…”
“Come on! You already knew!”
She smiled and dared to touch her belly as well. “Kind of!”
Zuko pecked a soft kiss to her clothed invisible belly, and stood up. “You won’t let me tell the others, right?”
“Yes. It’s too early. This is now our…and Druk’s top secret. And absolutely no maids of course.”
He patted her shoulder “Oh, let’s go inside. You haven’t eaten anything since last evening! Do you feel a little bit cold?”
“I want bitter chocolate tart. Not sweet at all.”
“What a drastic change.”
“Hmmm. I’m going inside, you feed Druk, the smell of the meat makes me nauseous. I’ll pick apples for us.”
He stared at her while she was walking away. The moment— sunshine on her thick black hair as she was choosing the ripe apples to pick from the tree, soft breeze fluttering the leaves, and apples shining like tiny red lights was ethereally pleasing. At the same time, thousands of thoughts were popping into his mind.
She’s truly the most beautiful person in this world. I hope we’re going to have a perfect little girl just like her.
The days of early autumn still continued to bestow Zuko with sweet memories, and soon a day would come when their own turtle duckling would hatch.