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The plum that blossoms in autumn	By : MaiLee Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female Views: 16840 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Autumn seeped into the Fire Nation, cooling its ground from the summer heat. The wind surged through the small streets of the Palace city, chasing around the fallen leaves; its tiny howl - the only sound echoing through the deserted place. The overturn had drastically changed the court: those favored by Fire Lord Ozai were no longer welcomed by Fire Lord Zuko, and vice versa. After all, there had to be new people for the new era, of love and peace….

But the autumn air didn’t care much for politics, it just brought change, no matter which one it was – for the good or bad. It kept blowing, brewing up heavy grey clouds in the skies, preparing the earth for cold winter.

Suddenly there was a monotonous sound of stomping feet, and the wind settled down to see, who dared disturb its work. In a second a palanquin turned a corner, four strong men carrying it hurried down the street, heading towards the city’s end.

When they neared the edge of the volcano, a voice from inside told them to stop. All men obeyed, slowly lowering the palanquin, and bowing to their mistress, as she set out on foot. The young woman was tall and thin, her whole figure concealed by a heavy red cloak.

The wind followed her carefully, trying to find out who she was: but she kept her hood on. So air tried to set a trick on her and blew right under the heavy fabric, but thin hands flew up fast to keep it on, although some loose strands of jet black hair got out.

The woman walked on, looking around for any signs of danger; she clutched something in her hands and after a small peek, the autumn wind saw a glint of metal in the wide sleeve of her robe.

She kept going, until she reached a steep slope, with a narrow pathway snaking down to a round and tall tower. There were guards at the entrance, but she needed only a moment to pin them to the wall. They tried breaking free, but she just looked at them from under the hood – and each bowed in a silent promise to keep quiet.

She walked along the cold deserted corridors, remembering the day she was set free. Her Uncle rushed to the Palace city, and personally opened her cell. When she asked him, what had happened, he answered that the war was over, and Zuko would be Fire Lord.

On their way out, he gestured down one dark corridor on their right, saying that it was the new home of Phoenix King Ozai. She averted her eyes, making an indifferent face, but memorized the path in her mind. She tried her best to follow it by heart, and after one or two wrong turns, she was standing outside a shabby door that held a special prisoner behind it.

She stopped for a second, breathed in and out, and then entered the cell. It was relatively dark inside, with the clouds heavily drifting behind a tiny window and two single torches at the sides of the entrance.

A man sat on a mattress, leaning against the wall. His hair was a mess – dirty, greasy and now with a bit of silver at the temples. His eyes darted towards the visitor, still golden and shining brightly in the dark.

- Is this you again? – he hissed under his breath, looking down at his knees. At times like these, he wished he had rather died, than experienced the humiliation he was put through every day.

- No… - Ozai’s head jerked up, looking into the darkness beneath the red hood. Only now he noticed that the figure was smaller than his son’s, and long black hair was showing in the robe’s folds.

He exhaled, as the young woman slipped off the hood of the robe, letting her hair fall loose against her back. She looked down at him, blinking sheepishly.

- Mai… - he managed to speak out and jumped up to the metal lattice, reaching out his hand to her. She looked down at it, and after a few moments let her own palm slip through his fingers – so much weaker than before.

He pulled her to her knees, and traced his hands along the straight black hair. It was so soft – like silk fabric sliding through his grip, water running along his dry skin. He pulled her face to his and kissed her rigid lips.

- Why didn’t you tell Zuko where his Mother is? – she eased out of his embrace, staring down. He noticed then that she avoided looking him in the eye.

- If this is the only thing that brought you here, get out… - he squeezed her hands, making her flinch, - because I don’t know.

He let go, turning his back on her, and leaned against the bars.

- It’s not just that…, - she spoke softly.

Her whispering ceased, as she kneaded the long sleeve of her robe. She couldn’t say it out loud, because it meant admitting she was a pervert, and somehow cared for the person that had tormented her, even though she knew he was the enemy.

- I always loved when you let your hair down… - he interrupted and turned around, pulling her into a soft kiss. – What did he say about your bruises?

- Turtleneck, long sleeves do the trick… - she lowered her head, resting her forehead on his shoulder. – And the fingerless gloves.

- So you haven’t even… - he forced her to look up at him. She shook her head:

- He’s not interested… I guess, he doesn’t need it… - she shifted on her knees. Ozai realized the familiar body gesture, and pulled her in for another kiss.

- But you do, Mai, -his hands trailed to the back of her neck, clutching her soft skin. She moaned, as she felt a new bruise blossom on her white skin. – I wonder though, what will my son say, when he finds out about us.

Mai opened her eyes, shrugging off his hands. Ozai wasn’t as strong, and his weak limbs fell into his lap; but his eyes kept burning in the darkness of the chamber:

- There is a great chance that you’re carrying my child. Zuko will be surprised that his powerless Father, now prisoner of the Fire Nation, was the first man to pick his precious flower….

- I have to go… - she stood up and put on the hood of the dark red robe. She hurried to the door, as Ozai clung to the bars, whispering to himself:

- You’ll come back.

She walked from the Prison as fast as she could, and only when Mai was seated comfortably in the royal palanquin, she let the hot feeling of the bruise seep down her spine.

Zuko leaned back in the big plush pillow at the tea table. Mai sat on the floor by his side and poured him a cup of steaming jasmine tea.

- I’m so tired… - he took the crown piece out of his hair and let the free black strands fall loose.

The Fire Lord’s face was in fact weary and pale; his eyes were surrounded by bluish circles. He took the teacup with a grateful look on his face and hungrily gulped on the tea. He could never eat or drink properly during work, but once a week, when he had his one-on-one time with Mai, hunger and thirst came alive in the depths of his stomach. During those happy hours, Mai amused herself by feeding the Royalty like a small child.

- I think we should take a break, - he passed her the cup, and let her feed him grapes. – You know… from the Fire Nation… and the Palace. I thought of going to Ba Sing Se.

- That’s a great idea, - she replied, watching the fruit disappear behind those soft lips. Her voice was even and smooth, but Zuko could recognize the sparkle in her eyes – she was happy. – We could visit your Uncle.

- Yeah, - he bent down and took a handful of grapes. – You look at me, like you’re going to eat me alive. Open your mouth…

And he took one round juicy fruit and placed it between her lips, as her teeth bit into the tight purple flesh. She looked up at him, chewing on the grape, then rose up and kissed him. Zuko smiled and kissed back, pulling her with him onto the plush pillow.

After a while, their lips parted and both breathed hard, trying to steady the intense beat of their hearts. Zuko looked at his beloved, admiring her pink-tinged cheeks and the shy smile that she tried to hide. But her eyes shone brightly, like two drops of burning amber.

- I was meaning to ask you something, - his voice was a bit shaky. Mai got off of him and sat onto the floor, pouring her boyfriend another cup of tea:

- Ask, - she put it in front of him, and looked up. Her blush faded, and the amber eyes were now clear and wide open.

- I wanted to ask you… - Zuko tried hard to remain determined, putting the grapes back onto the table, especially that Mai was as serious, as always. – Will you be with me?

He breathed out, as if he just dropped an unbearable load. But Mai remained confused:

- Well, I am, aren’t I? – her lips quivered into a slight smile.

- No… - he looked down, and tensed again. At that moment, her heart jumped, and everything seemed to fall into place. She exhaled loudly, and Zuko looked up. Their eyes locked and he took her hand in his, - I mean, always…

Ever since girls began thinking about boys, marriage, and love - all they could dream of was a beautiful proposal with expensive jewelry, flowers, and flaming confessions of passion. Mai kept away from such discussions – she hated the beaten clichés.

But that cheesy sentence suited them well: Zuko’s crimson blush, and his trembling hand. It didn’t even matter that much, now that she had finally gotten what she wished for.

Her memory rushed back to the previous day, when she threw away another spoiled cloth. She wanted to cry, like she did just a month ago, but instead she ordered the palanquin bearers to get ready. Very soon she was at Ozai’s cell door.

He looked up at her, and his eyes burned up for a second, or it could only be the flicker of the torchlight. He hissed out mockingly:

- Here, so soon, Mai? What about Zuko? Did he… - but she didn’t let him finish, blurting out:

- I’m not pregnant, - she walked closer to the bars, kneeling in front of the metal.

Ozai’s expression remained unreadable: his eyes followed her moves, but his jaw slackened, his figure slumped down against the wall. His lips arched, but not a single word erupted from his mouth.

- I thought, I should tell you, - she stood up and left the cell. His wild, loud growl pierced the air behind her.

She was free, and Zuko was finally acknowledging her as an important part of his life: someone he trusted and wanted to have by himself.

- I think I can bear your presence for a while longer, - even though her voice was uneven, she tried to pull off her usual attitude. – A very long while.

He suppressed a chuckle, and replied:

- I won’t be boring, I promise.

The palanquin bearers stopped by the Palace prison, and while their mistress was away, found some time to mould over their future Fire Lady’s odd behavior. She kept returning to the eerie place, and what was even more intriguing – they weren’t allowed to tell where she went. They kept their promise, but nonetheless, couldn’t help but gossip amongst each other.

Meanwhile, Mai hurried along the dark corridors of the tower. There wasn’t much time today – she had errands to run, and she barely squeezed that hour into the busy schedule.

She opened the door to the dark chamber, and stepped inside. A man in the corner of the cell looked up at the entrance: his eyes widened and he breathed out:

- Mai…

- Ozai… - when she took off the hood of her robe, the man’s dim eyes glided along the careful braids of black hair. His mouth twitched in a bitter smile – she hadn’t let her hair loose for a while now.

He stood on his knees and crawled to the bars – strength was leaving his feeble body with every day. He straightened, pulling himself to his feet. She looked up at him – he almost forgot she was smaller in height.

- Why isn’t your hair down? – he leaned onto the lattice, and reached out his palm to touch her.

- I don’t have the time, - she touched his chest, as his hand ran along one tight braid. She lowered her eyelids, feeling his heart pound, as he cupped her head and pulled into a slight kiss. Her lips were just as soft as he remembered them – like petals of a young fire lily, and he nibbled at the smooth skin, taking in her scent.

Her eyes fluttered open, and there was a sudden sharp clearness in them. The young woman looked up at the aging man, embracing her – no longer the powerful ruler, even though he still possessed his regal manners from the old times: he still held her like his property, but the truth was – she had found a new owner:

- Ozai… - her palm traced along his lined cheek and fell down into the air, brushing the heavy fabric of her cloth.

- Will you come again? – his eyes were pleading, but she averted her gaze.

- No, Zuko won’t approve of this.

- So, you are together after all.

- Besides, you said that I am a good daughter.

She took a step back, slipping out of his grip. His arms were still held out, as his eyes widened. A quick heavy breath flew from his lips, and she took another small step backwards. Her hands trembled, she could barely keep from screaming, but the old man only had eyes for her face, her beautiful plump lips, the delicate line of her jaw and the amber eyes that kept him company through those long days as prisoner.

- No, - he wanted to reach out to her, but couldn’t. In fact, he could no longer keep standing, and his body slid down against the bars. The metal was so cold and there wasn’t any fire to warm him. It was only autumn, what would happen during winter?

She turned on her heels and walked towards the exit, but stopped at the door, turning her face sideways. His dimming eyes caught another glimpse of her beautiful profile, before she uttered:

- I do as I was taught, Ozai. I must obey my Fire Lord, - and she was gone. Ozai’s eyes darkened, his breath caught in his throat.

How many times he wished they had rather killed than imprisoned him in his Kingdom? But then he knew death was much worse, for his life was over.

So, this is over, but... not quite - there is a small epilogue to round it up.
Please, read and review - it looks like there are some people who read my stuff - please, just take a second to write what you think of the end and the story, as a whole.
Thank You every one, for reading and expressing your opinions, I'll be around here, writing more stuff - you just wait, you just wait...
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The plum that blossoms in autumn