The fire war renaissance

Chapter 13: Blank to Hide

Eh hem.

Okay, first things first, yes I suck. Second things second, please don't hate me too much. Third things third, this story has regained my attention.

On a better note, Maiko fans rejoice because this is your arc!

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar…sigh.

Chapter Thirteen: Blank to Hide

He breathed in and out in an out. This was the fifth time in the last week he had tried to ask her, and it was really starting to get annoying. He would get her someplace romantic, and they'd talk for hours about nothing in particular. But every time the perfect opportunity came up, he missed it, and didn't even notice until it was gone.

But today was going to be different. Today was going to be the day. Today would be the day he would ask her to marry him, and there was no turning back now. He had brought the ring, everything was set, and he was ready…kind of…somewhat…not even remotely.

"Having second thoughts, Zuko?" Aang asked when he saw him standing in front of Mai's door that night after dinner. Everyone was getting ready for bed, as Mai probably was, and Zuko decided to do the task then, when they were least likely to be interrupted.

"Uh, no, but I am nervous." He admitted, smirking a little oddly. Aang just laughed quietly.

"She's going to love the ring you picked out for her," he tried to make him a little more confident.

"I hope so, we spent two weeks looking for just the right one," Zuko said. Aang just kept laughing, recalling how much they stressed over finding the perfect ring that would fit her personality as well as to fit the symbol of the occasion. They must've put at least twenty rings on hold in all the markets in the city.

"Someone want to tell me the punch line?" Mai suddenly entered the scene, in her sleeping robes, hair pulled back for sleep, and a rather amused look on her face.

"Uh, hi Mai, we were just…" Zuko trailed, scratching his arm in nervousness. Aang took that as his cue to leave, placing a reassuring hand on Zuko's shoulder and giving him one last look of hope. Zuko valued his good intentions and smiled a small smile back before being left alone with Mai.

Not even remotely.

"So you want to come in, or are you going to stand there?" Mai asked a slight yawn in her voice. Zuko gulped. He was staring to think too much.

"Yeah, yeah, I have to talk to you anyway." Mai met his eyes with a look of apprehension and curiosity, all glazed over with her normal blank look. Zuko stepped in cautiously. He had been in Mai's room numerous times, but never this late at night, when they were so alone and so uninterrupted.

"So you want to talk?" Mai started. "Should be worried or curious?"

"I don't exactly know," Zuko answered uncertainly, only making Mai's face grow even duller. But he knew her well enough to know that the duller her facial expression was the more she was worried. So maybe he wasn't so alone?