Chapter Text
Six months have passed since their trip to Ember Island. Once stepping foot off their plane in Republic City, Mai and Zuko continued with their lives as if nothing ever happened. That was the deal after all.
But something did happen during that fateful trip, something that disturbed the two of them so much that they couldn’t stop mulling over the memories, questioning every word and action to the point that it drove them nearly mad.
Mai coped in the way she normally did, as unhealthy as it was. She suppressed all those budding emotions and forced herself to move forward, convincing herself it was for the best. As guilty as it made her, she relied on Kei Lo as a distraction, hoping that after a while she could forget the old feelings Zuko had reignited within her.
Meanwhile, Zuko still had yet to announce to the rest of his group that he and Mai had “broken up”. He knew if he told them, he would have to endure their pestering questions and constantly be reminded of the girl he had let slip away. He would tell them...eventually. He just needed some time.
He desperately wanted to move on. Although it was quite hard when Mai would often visit the shop with Kei Lo to redeem her complimentary drink, a painstaking reminder of what he had let slip away. Zuko would merely put on a smile, barely uttering a word until they departed. Then he would let his shoulders sag, his heart suddenly feeling like a heavy weight in his chest.
It really was painful to watch, especially from an outsider’s perspective. This was where Ty Lee entered.
She somehow found herself in the middle of this angst-ridden relationship, and she had never been more frustrated in her life. It was obvious that the two were meant for each other, yet the numbskulls were too stubborn to realize it.
Zuko was more dour and gloomy than ever. His aura was so hopeless and bleak that it even affected the taste of Ty Lee’s drinks when he took her orders. She felt sympathetic for the sad sap, even though he did completely wreck her best friend’s heart only a few years prior.
Ty Lee couldn’t escape the dreary cloud, even at home. Because Mai was right there with her own gloomy aura, that she fought so hard against.
Ty Lee could only watch as Mai tried to move on, quickly pushing things forward with Kei Lo. It was obvious that she was forcing herself to like him, convincing herself he was what she needed. And in the course of it, she started losing herself.
Ty Lee sat cross-legged on Mai’s bed, cringing as she watched her roommate prepare for yet another date. The dress she settled on was form-fitting and riding dangerously high up her thighs. It was something Mai would normally never wear but yet forced herself to purchase because “Kei Lo said I look good showing off a little skin”.
A feeling of dread was settling at the pit of Ty Lee’s stomach. This date wasn’t going to be like any other date. She knew of the plan Kei Lo was concocting (mainly because he had asked her for Mai’s ring size). And knowing Mai, Ty Lee was quite sure she was going to say yes, even though it would land her in a completely unhappy marriage.
Now she still had yet to fully forgive Zuko for his past actions, but Ty Lee would certainly pick him over the perfect prince charming Kei Lo any day.
He had an effect on Mai that Kei Lo had never given her. She noticed it right after picking up Mai at the airport after their Ember Island affair. Her aura was so abnormally bright it nearly blinded her, and Mai could not stop cracking a smile as she went on and on about the highlights of the trip.
The Mai that stood before her at that moment was not the Mai that Ty Lee had picked up from the airport. Her aura was dull and almost sickly. She was always a little snappy before going on dates with Kei Lo, but for some reason, this date had her especially on edge. It was almost as if Mai knew what was going to happen that evening.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Ty Lee dared to question.
Mai sighed sharply. “Yes, Ty Lee. He’s a nice guy. I don’t know why you don’t like him.”
Ty Lee pouted as Mai applied a bright shade of lipstick that was so not her color, before slipping on some heels.
“You know you can call me if you need a get-out-of-jail-free card,” she added. Mai hummed in slight amusement, even though Ty Lee wasn’t joking.
She couldn’t live with herself if she let Mai give her happiness away over some stupid ex. So, after Mai had stumbled out of the door and driven off, Ty Lee lept into action. She had a last-ditch attempt up her sleeve, and she was going to make it work.
Fall in Republic City brought even wetter than average weather. With the bands of rain filing in from the bay, customers seemed less interested in walking over to the Jasmine Dragon, leaving its hard workers bored and unoccupied.
Zuko slumped over the register, arms resting lazily over the computer screen. It was only him and one other barista, a new kid who he didn’t bother learning the name of and was currently hiding in the break room most definitely on their phone.
He heaved a sigh, watching cars cut through the sheets of rain outside. Zuko hated slow days.
And then, like a small, wet whirlwind, the bright familiar face of Ty Lee is storming into the empty shop, leaving small puddles on the floor with her rain boots. “Mai is about to go on a date with this guy who’s about to propose! And if you don’t do something now, you may never have a chance again!”
Again, there was that dull throb that he had unfortunately grown accustomed to. Zuko’s face remained flat.
“The usual?” he sighed, and Ty Lee gave a frantic nod.
Zuko pushed himself up from his position and languidly went to prepare Ty Lee’s usual beverage.
“Mai and I are over. We agreed that we’re better as friends. That’s what she wants.” He explained as he brewed the tea.
She pinched her nose, groaning in frustration. “Listen, this Kei Lo guy is like a literal angel. He owns a successful business, he has girls swooning at his feet. He’s charming, charismatic, and sweet,” Ty Lee took the liberty of hopping over the counter and following Zuko as he worked. “But he’s not you.”
“Thank you?” Zuko didn’t know if he should take Ty Lee’s statement as a compliment or an insult. He brushed past her, as he finished preparing the beverage. Ty Lee continued to follow him.
“You should’ve seen the way she talked about her trip. She was practically glowing! Mai never glows! Not even with Kei Lo.”
Ty Lee noticed that her words were barely getting through, and she was nearly on the brink of pulling out her braid in frustration.
“What I’m saying is that Mai is heading towards a life of complete unhappiness. She loves you Zuko! She always has! She’s just too stubborn to admit it.”
Zuko seized mid-pour, spilling her tea on his apron. He hissed a vulgar curse as the heat from the fresh brew seeped through his apron and sweater.
Ty Lee grabbed one of the small cleaning towels from under the counter, quickly pressing it against Zuko’s apron to soak up the mess. “You don’t have much time,” she continued. “I still don’t trust you, Zuko, but I couldn’t live with myself if I let my best friend marry the wrong person.”
Zuko looked down at the smaller woman with wide eyes, taken aback by her sincerity. He saw no reason Ty Lee would lie to him. She was the queen of reading people, and despite not knowing her fully, he found himself oddly trusting her judgment.
This was his last chance to fix things with Mai before he would lose her forever.
“What’s the address?”
Zuko didn’t have to think twice to know that he loved Mai. He didn’t think he ever stopped loving her, despite the hardships, breakups, and the years apart. His love for her was so much that he found himself racing through the pouring rain to break up her imminent proposal, nearly slipping off the curb multiple times.
The restaurant was only a couple of blocks away from the tea shop. It was a classy, fine dining establishment that most likely served meals the price of a two-week grocery trip for him. Everyone that walked into the restaurant was dressed to the nines in suits and elegant dresses.
And then there was Zuko, completely drenched and still in his dirtied work apron.
As he tried to enter, the doorman braced a hand to his chest. His brow is lifted, face twisted in a judgemental stare. “Reservation only, sir.”
“Listen, buddy, I’m only here to find someone. I’ll be quick, I promise.” He tried to push past, but the doorman held fast.
“Reservation only.”
Zuko pressed his lips in a thin line. The doorman was a spindly older man who he could definitely body in an instant. But the last thing Mai would want is for him to cause a scene, so Zuko begrudgingly complied.
He jogged over to the intricate windows, pressing his face against the glass in the hope that he could spot her.
Sure enough, Zuko finds a familiar pair of buns peaking out near the far wall. His stomach flipped as he noted that they had just barely gotten their meals. He still had time.
Zuko dug out his phone, sending her a quick text. He pressed his face back against the window, anxiously waiting for her reaction. The customers by the window eye him with perturbed glances, but he didn’t care.
“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” the gruff voice of the doorman commanded. Zuko blatantly ignored him, and when the man tried to push him away, he remained cemented in his position.
Inside, he saw Mai casually glance towards her phone, immediately stiffening as she read his text. C’mon, Mai… Zuko bit his lip nervously.
She turned her head towards the window, eyes widening. Kei Lo also turned in his direction, snickering as he muttered something to her.
But Mai doesn’t pay attention. Instead, she excused herself from the table, grabbing her purse and umbrella and leaving a bewildered Kei Lo in the dust.
If the doorman hadn’t been hassling him, Zuko would quite literally be jumping for joy.
With a curt nod from Mai, the doorman ceased his pestering, hesitantly resuming his post.
She turned to Zuko, eyes narrowed. “What are you doing?” She seethed in a hushed tone. He knew how much Mai hated him causing a scene, and he would most definitely apologize for it later.
“Mai get out of here,” Zuko pressed. He shivered beneath his soaked clothes, and stuffing his hands in his pockets could only do so much to protect him from the chill. He was going to feel terrible the next day, but he hoped it would be worth it.
“Excuse me?” Mai responded, dumbfounded. Had he lost his mind?
But Zuko hadn’t in fact lost his marbles. He met her scalding glare with confident, piercing eyes. “This isn’t you, Mai. I can see that you’re miserable with him.” He extended a wet hand. “Leave with me.”
Mai took his hand, only as a way to bring him under her large umbrella and out of the rain. It was a scene she expected in a romantic movie, yet here they were in real life.
Mai knew this was only the beginning of a heavy conversation. A conversation that should be held in a more private area and not in front of the doorman of a lavish restaurant while it rained cats and dogs.
She led him to the small parking lot behind the building with a huff, motioning for him to get in her car. Zuko took it as a good sign. Mai was willing to talk, something she wasn’t normally keen on doing in complicated situations such as this. He settled into the passenger seat, keeping himself flush against the door to give Mai as much distance from him as possible.
“Is this because of what happened at Ember Island?” She muttered, keeping her eyes trained on the windshield. “Zuko, none of that was supposed to mean anything. I’m moving on now, and you should too.” She pinched the bridge of her nose, wondering how he could have misunderstood the deal they made.
“Mai, I love you. I always have,” he confessed with a tired smile.
Mai shook her head, wanting nothing more than to drown out his honest words. “ No. We are not doing this. Not here, not now,” she raised.
Zuko continued to speak above her. “The feelings I’ve had for you have never gone away. And I know you feel the same way, even if you don’t want to admit it.”
Mai snapped her head towards him. He could see different emotions flicker through her eyes- from shock to awe, to frustration. She inhaled a sharp breath. “You hurt me, Zuko. I’m not going through that again.”
“I know,” he rasped. “And I know apologies won’t ever be enough. But I’m not going to run away ever again. I’m ready, Mai, and I’ll do anything to prove it to you.”
There was a small moment where her face softened, a moment where she truly wanted to believe everything he said. But it was only fleeting. Her face hardened.
“Why here? Why now? Of all times, Zuko!” Zuko had a fancy for pulling stunts at the worst times imaginable, but this was quite frankly too far. “Right as I’m finally trying to move on from you, you do this! Where was this six months ago?”
“I was still trying to figure it out. It was all so confusing and you were just starting things with Kei Lo,” he paused. “That’s not the point. I’m sure now, Mai. I’ve never been more sure in my life.”
“And what about me? I should just upend everything I’ve done because you’re finally sure? I should just suddenly trust you again?” Mai’s blood was boiling. How dare he should suddenly galavant his way into her life again. How dare he try to steal her heart.
As enraged as he made her feel, Mai couldn’t find it in her to leave him. There was something deep down that urged her to stay. The same voice that urged her to follow him to Ember Island.
She had tried to convince herself that she was ready to move on, that everything that happened between them was nothing but pretend. She was so sure she was ready, but now, Zuko was back at her doorstep making her question, making her doubt.
Her eyes stung with unshed tears threatening to fall.
“Mai,” he whispered, his hand slowly finding her’s. Cautiously, he snaked his pinkie around her’s, and to his relief, she let him. He bit his lip, his eyes downcast. “I can understand if you hate me for this.”
“I don’t hate you, Zuko,” she said suddenly. Zuko’s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat.
Mai breathed a heavy sigh, eyes drifting out her window. “I’m scared, okay?”
Mai scared? Now that was an admission Zuko never expected to hear. He let his hand fully grasp her own, squeezing it softly.
“The truth is I never stopped loving you. Even after everything, I stupid part of me kept on loving you.” Mai chuckled defeatedly. “And when I finally thought I was over with you, Ember Island came around and I was suddenly falling for you again.”
She finally mustered up the strength to look towards him. “But I’m afraid, Zuko. I’m afraid to fall in love with you again.”
It was a tough pill to swallow knowing that he was the root of Mai’s fears. Zuko only hoped he could recover from such a terrible mistake.
“I’m sorry, Mai,” his voice cracked. “I was an idiot and you deserved more.”
“So much more,” she added.
“Yeah, so much more,” he continued. “But I will do everything I can to give you the world, Mai. All I ask is for you to give me one more chance.”
Zuko looked at her with pleading, glassy eyes, his hand still tightly holding her’s. The muffled sounds of the rain hitting the car roof filled the tense silence. Mai pressed her lips into a thin line, while her fears and her love for him clashed in a heated battle within her.
She no longer doubted that she had a love for Zuko. It had never left but was just hidden away until it was finally the right time. Mai could have never expected that now would be that time, right when she was about to be proposed to by another person and start a new life.
She had two options, one of which could truly lead her to the happiness she knew she deserved.
With lips pressed into a thin line and brows furrowed, Mai met Zuko’s eyes. “You promise you won’t run away again?” she whispered.
Zuko lifted her hand to his chest. “I promise.”
The mask Mai had struggled to retain began to waver, different emotions hitting all at once, until eventually, a tired smile played at her lips. “You make me so frustrated, sometimes,” she revealed, squeezing his hand.
Zuko grinned with relief. “I know,” he spoke.
No longer able to contain her budding desire, Mai grasped the collar of his sweater, pulling him over the center console. In an instant her lips were in his, as years of hidden feelings finally gave way.
It was a soft, brief kiss that was filled with so much unspoken love for the other. After what felt like an eternity of dancing around conflicted feelings and fear of the unknown, they had finally found relief.
Mai slowly pulled away, her forehead resting against his.
“Now what?” he whispered.
Mai sat back just far enough so that she could meet his eyes. “You know, I could really go for a free drink at the Jasmine Dragon.”
Zuko swore Mai would be the death of the Jasmine Dragon with all the money he lost giving her free drinks. But how could he say no?
“And Key Lime?” he questioned with a raised brow.
Crap. Mai had totally forgotten about the date she had left behind. She was honestly surprised he hadn’t come out to find her after all that time.
With a meager shrug, she turned the car on. “He’ll be fine.”
They would all be just fine.