ATLA: Azlua

Aftermath part two

Mai stood at the base of the secluded manor where Zuko was being held, a lump forming in her throat. The thought of facing him again after their last argument made her stomach twist. She still remembered every word exchanged—the anger in his voice, and the pain in his eyes. She had left, choosing the easier path of avoidance, but now it seemed impossible to keep doing so. After what she went through on the blimp and during the battle, she knew she needed to see him. No matter how much it scared her, she couldn't put this off any longer.

Her fingers tightened around the pendant she always carried—a reminder of Zuko, a reminder of her love. Even if they couldn't talk, even if it ended in another argument, she needed to at least see him. She took a deep breath, summoning whatever courage she had left. She had faced armies, rebels, and Azula's wrath, but nothing felt quite as daunting as facing the one person she cared about the most, with her heart on the line.

Mai made her way through the darkened halls of the manor, her footsteps echoing faintly in the emptiness. It was strangely quiet, the kind of quiet that only seemed to amplify the thoughts racing through her mind. She walked past guards who gave her curious looks but did nothing to stop her. She ignored them all, her focus solely on reaching Zuko.

She thought of Azula and Ty Lee, of everything that had happened since they returned. She thought of how the fight had changed things, broken the facade she had spent so much time maintaining. She felt different now—exposed, vulnerable. But maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. Maybe, just maybe, this would allow her to be truly honest with Zuko.

The door to Zuko's room came into view, and she stopped just before it, her heart pounding in her chest. She knocked softly, hoping he'd let her in. But silence greeted her. For a moment, she considered turning back, walking away again, but her feet refused to move. She had to do this. She couldn't keep running. She reached for her lockpicking tools, her hands steady, and worked the lock until it clicked open. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door ajar.

His room was better than when she first came, everything was tidy and the holes in the walls were filled. Zuko sat at a desk reading a book. They made eye contact, both of them frozen. After the argument, the only time she actually talked to him was after Azula and his fight at the beach. Even then, they didn't speak—she didn't have the words to talk to him then, and she wasn't sure she had them now.

Zuko stood up, speaking first. "Mai... it's been a while."

Mai closed the door behind her, but she remained silent, her eyes now fixed on the floor. Her fingers clasped the edges of her clothes tightly, her body rigid.

"I thought a lot about what you said, and I'm sorry. I was being unfair," Zuko began, his voice sincere.

Hearing this, Mai flinched. "Please stop. You don't need to apologize. You're the last person who needs to," she replied, her voice barely audible.

But Zuko shook his head. "No. You were right, I wasn't listening to your side of the story. But I can now. If you want to talk... I'm here." He took a step closer, closing the distance between them until they were only an arm's length away.

Mai looked up, her eyes glistening. She walked closer to him, her heart pounding. "Can we not talk about this? Can you just... hold me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Zuko didn't hesitate. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close. For a moment, Mai stood stiffly, the vulnerability almost too much for her to bear. But then, she slowly allowed herself to relax, to let the weight she'd been carrying fall away, just for a little while. His warmth enveloped her, his steady heartbeat echoing against her ear.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around," Mai whispered, her voice cracking. "I just... I couldn't muster the courage to face you. Even now, I can't even look at you, and yet I selfishly need your comfort. What kind of shitty person am I?" She let out a broken laugh, the self-mockery evident in her tone.