KAITO
It ends up with Aang and me soaking wet, Sokka laughing, but not for long. Then I have him show me how much he's improved with the sword.
And it's when he's almost disarmed me, that Katara and an unfamiliar figure enter the backyard.
"Go Sokka!" the girl cheers.
He falters, and I use the opening he provides to disarm him.
"Aw man!" he whines, "I almost had you!"
"You did," I admit and extend my hand for the forearm clasp that signals the reconciliation after the spar. "Next time, you'll beat me. Maybe Yranna will have some time to show you some more tricks when I introduce you tomorrow."
"How about an introduction now?" the girl prompts.
"Ah, Toph, this is Kaito. Kaito, this is Toph, she's Aang's earthbending teacher!" Katara introduces.
"Right," she says, crossing her arms. "And how do you know him?"
"He travelled with us from the Northern Watertribe."
"And he taught me facebending!"
"Facebending, Twinkle Toes? Are you sure he wasn't pulling your nose?"
"I certainly wasn't," I cut in, "Hello, Toph. It's nice to meet you. Hello, Katara."
"He really wasn't, look!" and before I can stop him, Aang cuts a grimace and sends a splash of water their way. Small, but about to ruin their makeup. So I intercept.
"Now, Aang," I admonish, "Don't go around ruining people's makeup. You can show them later. Maybe, to really impress Toph, you could try earthbending with your face."
He rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "Right."
"So what was that about introducing Sokka to someone who can show him a few tricks?" Katara asks, stepping closer.
"Kaito's working to overthrow the Dai Li and he's gathering allies. And he thinks that they have something to do with Appa's disappearance because the Dai Li has a Ju Di division who try to control the flow of information in Ba Sing Se. They tried to collect all of the flyers you had printed, so…" Sokka explains. "He's going to introduce us tomorrow, if you haven't got anymore plans to go to get your makeup done."
"Don't knock it till you've tried it," I tell him, "It can feel really nice to have someone massage your face."
He gapes a little.
"Also, who doesn't like massages?" I add. "That's just weird."
"Wha- you're weird!"
"Me?"
"I can already tell," Toph cuts in, "That you're going to be fun to have around, Mr Facial."
It sets me laughing and Sokka, too, although he's going beet-red. "Toph!" Katara exclaims.
Aang looks like he doesn't get what's going on. He's too young. I can't read Toph. So I hope she made that joke in all innocence. She's smug, but that doesn't have to mean anything.
...
ZUKO
Uncle gave him some extra money with the words, "Go take Mai somewhere nice. And comb your hair!"
Like Zuko doesn't take care of his personal hygiene.
Well. He asked Mai where she wanted to go because these days he can't be sure of much, except for 'no fish' and by now he thinks it's hers and Kaito's way of saying goodbye. He's kind of curious how Kaito makes the fish if it's become like that. Anyway, Mai smiled when Zuko did ask her where she'd like to go, so that was the right choice. He refuses to acknowledge how proud he feels about that.
So here they are and for some reason, Zuko is nervous. Normally, they can talk easily, but Mai looks really beautiful, hair done up and for once, she's missing the Watertribe necklace. It bothers Zuko more than it should, he realises. He just. Doesn't like Kaito that much and Mai is. His girlfriend. So.
But he doesn't know if it's too soon to offer a replacement.
He. That would be like saying they can build a life together here, in Ba Sing Se. And…
Uncle would like that.
Zuko just… doesn't. So he doesn't want to make any promises.
But Mai is beautiful, and cool, and smart and… He just likes her. She makes his heart jump against his breastbone, and he can just talk to her because she knows where he comes from, who he is. He doesn't have to pretend with her.
"You're quiet tonight," Mai observes, fiddling with her cup.
"I- it's just… You look so nice," he blurts finally, not knowing what to say.
But it seems like the right thing because Mai blushes and it's- Zuko likes her blush.
"Thank you," she smiles. "So what did you think of my lesson plans?"
And that. Is one of the points where she impresses him and makes him question everything he knows. Because she found so many rituals and phrases that are – according to her and Kaito, propaganda. It serves, they say, to encourage a militaristic mentality, to perpetuate the belief that the Fire Lord is a god among men, which makes it seem like he can do no wrong. And if he can't, Mai said to him one night, bluntly, his hand in hers, then what he did to Zuko wasn't wrong either and she disagrees.
"They're very structured. And easily understood," he says. "But I've heard all the- the rituals before, so maybe you should speak to someone who hasn't if they understand you."
He's not ready to confront all of this yet. But Mai just. Sets it all before him, lays it out. She even put in how firebending training is specifically structured to foster competition. And that puts Azula, in their childhood, in another light. He still can't believe that she lost her memory, burned two guards to a crisp, escaped with Kaito and after being captured by pirates somehow regained her memory. It's not something he'd believe if it weren't Mai telling him all this.
"Yes, you're right," she agrees and smiles at him again. "So I heard from Mushi that…"
...
"… He was offered an opportunity to open up a teashop in the Upper Ring because some noble liked the tea he makes."
And isn't it strange how Mai says 'some noble' like she's not still one herself? Zuko knows generals or valuable merchants sometimes receive honours in the form of lesser noble titles – but that is what they are, titles. They don't mean much. Mai is of one of the oldest families supporting the Royal Line. She will always be noble by birth and that is what counts.
"Yes. I think we might be moving in a week or so. Uncle is very eager," Zuko affirms, thinking of how much more time Uncle and Kaito are spending at that school, plotting. His uncle, lover of tea and Pai Sho, man who has left behind his title as Prince of the Fire Nation to be with Zuko, is plotting to educate the masses so they may one day govern themselves. It's… an absurd concept. Peasants politicking? They wouldn't know the first thing about diplomacy, etiquette or the logistics of governing a country, much less a city of Ba Sing Se's proportions.
Uncle can be an absurd man.
And he's found equally absurd people to conspire with. It is, to Zuko, slightly terrifying. He's not stupid, after all. He knows what that could mean for him, if his identity were ever revealed. And he knows what Kaito thinks about him, exiled Prince of the Fire Nation, pretending to be Lee. It's in the way the man looks at Zuko. Kaito thinks Zuko is naïve and a little stupid to still be thinking that one day, he can return. He can. The Avatar exists. Zuko had him at the North Pole. He had him, and he would have-
Mai nods and frowns. "It will be harder to meet for us then. Kaito moves between Rings so easily because of the University pass he got for giving his account of the Invasion of the Northern Watertribe."
"He doesn't even tell everything," Zuko mutters, not intending for it to be heard.
But Mai has sharp ears. "No. But if it were your home, would you?" she pauses. "Well. If you wanted to still protect it. I'm not sure that… But we were talking about how I can still visit you when you're in another Ring."
She's right, of course, about the information. What did Uncle like to say when they would play Pai Sho? Know your enemy and you have won half the battle. But the Fire Nation is. It's. Zuko doesn't know. It's home and it's not. It's what he's wanted for so long that he doesn't know how to stop or if he wants to try.
"Maybe, if you became one of Uncle's employees. People would prefer their tea to be served by you rather than me," he suggests.
Mai laughs, not really taking the offer seriously, which is irritating. "Depends on how much he'd pay me."
They wouldn't have to worry about the money back home. He doesn't voice the thought because he knows Mai would look at him, sad and a little angry.
She would say that she's not sure she'd want money if it meant people worked twice as hard to feed her, clothe her, allow her to afford luxuries that she doesn't need. She would say that she now sees shame in making others work for her. She is ashamed of her own past ignorance and lack of empathy.
...
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