Firelord Zuko: A long Walk

A Long Walk

Authors Note: Hey guys! This is a little Zuko and Mai story. I hope you all enjoy it!

Oh and I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, any of the characters, or the cover. Enjoy!

It was the first time he had any peace in what felt like a year, being Firelord is hard work. He was supposed to be getting ready to go to the earth kingdom for an important meeting, all meetings he went to were important. He just wanted a little quiet so he snuck out past the guards not telling anyone where he was going, in truth he was only going to take a walk around the town a nice relaxing walk. He hung his head and pulled his hood on, in hopes no one would notice him, he had changed out of his formal Firelord wear and let his ink-black hair fly loose. He walked down the streets of the busy city watching as people walked in and out of the small stores. He didn't know where he was going he was just walking. But a part of him did know where he was going, to Mai's aunt's flower shop, his old girlfriend, he couldn't help but miss her, he was supposed to move on she had. She had a new boyfriend, he hated knowing that. He kept walking until he came upon the flower shop, only having ever been there on Firelord business, he stopped and stared at the bouquets of flowers in the window unnoticed by anyone in the shop, he strained to see who was inside the small shop, a part of him was hoping to see Mai. But she was nowhere insight 'probably out with her new boyfriend'  he thought. He was a nice guy and he made Mai happy and she liked him, and he really liked her, and if she was happy he was happy, well he was trying to be happy for her. He hung his head and turned to leave but was stopped by red robes and black hair. He looked up from the ground to face who he had just run into "sor..." he started to say "Mai!" he was startled "I didn't see you"

"Oh it's, you," Mai said not looking at him, she seemed down, well downer than she normally is.

"Are you ok?" Zuko asked "you seem moodier than usual"

"I'm fine." she snapped "besides don't you have something important to do, Firelord," she said in her normal dismal voice

"You don't have to call me that you know." Zuko said "and you know you can still talk to me," he added reaching for her hand, she pulled away making him drop his hand uncomfortable "we may not be a couple, but we can still be friends, we've both moved on" That last part may have been a lie.

"I don't want to talk to you," she grunted "it's all your fault. He broke up with me because of you"

"Mai I'm so sorry"

"Good. Because he dumped me when he got jealous of you, he thinks I still like you"

An awkward silence fell between the two teens, they stood staring at each other as people passed by them on the streets as if nothing was happening.

"He's an idiot you know" Zuko finally said

"So are you" Mai stated "I hurt him, I let you help me, I let you talk to me and hold my hand. You don't get to do that anymore!"

"Mai..."

"Don't" she demanded walking past him

Zuko stood there for a second deciding what to do, he was never good with words for so long he was so mad at everyone... everyone but Mai, he lied he hadn't moved on, he never stopped thinking about her he didn't know if he ever would.
"Was he right?" he asked grabbing Mai's hand before she could leave.

"That doesn't matter" she snapped "but in case I didn't make myself clear were done"

"Mai I know I broke your heart and you don't have to forgive me just let me say what I need to say," He spoke

She didn't move, she didn't do or say anything she just stood there.

Zuko took a deep breath, taking her silence as an OK to speak

"I love you." He stated "I've loved you since I pushed you into the water fountain when Azula set fire to the apple on your head. I never stopped loving you and I don't know if I ever will. You were part of the reason I wanted to come home so bad after I was banished. I missed you, I thought about you all the time. you were the only thing that kept me in the fire nation when my dad was on the throne after I came back, you were the reason I stayed for so long and it may not seem like it but you were part of the reason I left. I wanted you to be safe." He ranted "I wanted us to be safe, to be together. I left so I could help Aang save the world and make the world a safer place. When we stopped my dad, all I could think about was what you were going to say what you were going to do, would there be an us? And I know I blow it, I'm not asking you to take me back, you deserve someone better but maybe... we could be friends"

Mai finally turned around and stared at him for a moment, her cheeks ever so slightly red, finally deciding what to do she throw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

He was shocked, he wasn't expecting her to kiss him, hoping, yes. He grabbed her waist, it felt so good to hold her again. When Mai finally pulled back she said "I don't hate you"

"But that would mean..." he started

"That I don't hate you, anymore" she finished

"But if you don't hate me, then are we friends?" He asked, "Was that a goodbye?"

"You're an idiot," she said almost smiling "but... you're my idiot"

She kissed him once more than he reached for her hand, and this time she didn't pull away, she grabbed his hand back.

"Do you want to... I don't know... go on a date?" he questioned scratching the back of his neck.

"I've missed your awkwardness," she said resting her head on his shoulder

"So that's a yes?"

"It's a yes" she answered, a faint smile growing on her lips.

And with that, they walked back towards the palace hand in hand not hating each other anymore.

Super short, I know. But thanks for reading. Bye!