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Everything Happens in Ba Sing Se	By : CanadianGirl Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Mai/Zuko Views: 4070 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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Everything Happens in Ba Sing Se
Chapter 2: What was so hard about that?
Fire Lord Zuko leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes briefly. He had been stuck in his office for most of the day already and longed to leave. The cheerful afternoon sunshine that streamed in through his office's large window mocked him. He felt its warmth on his face and reveled in it before sighing and sitting up again, returning to his paperwork.
"You've been here a long time," his advisor, Kenji, noted as he pushed open the door and took a seat across from the Fire Lord. "Don't you think it's time for a break?"
"You sound like Mai." A wistful smile flitted across his handsome features.
"You saw her this morning, didn't you?" Kenji laughed. "Agni, you really have it bad for that woman, not that I blame you. Well, you know what I mean."
"Yes, I know exactly what you mean. And the morning seems like forever ago." Zuko flushed as he briefly recalled his early morning lovemaking with Mai. That was becoming a habit, one he most definitely did not want to break.
"Look, Zuko, there's something I need to bring up, and it will probably upset you. So brace yourself." The middle aged man looked at Zuko with warm and intelligent brown eyes. He scratched his clean shaven chin, unusual for a Fire Nation man, and waited for the Fire Lord's reply.
Zuko's gold eyes clouded over immediately. He had a pretty good idea what Kenji was referring to and it made his royal blood boil.
"The council members are complaining about me and Mai sharing a bed while not being married. Is that it?"
"Yes." Kenji's reply was certainly succinct.
He waited for Zuko to explode, but the sparks never came. Instead, the Fire Lord laid his head down on the desk wearily and let out a heavy sigh. "What difference does it make? I love Mai. She loves me. I'll propose when I'm ready. It just seems like it's never the right time and I don't want to mess it up either. Mai deserves more than that."
"I know you well, Zuko, and I know Mai. Trust me when I tell you that she doesn't care about splashy proposals. She adores you. And she will marry you no matter how you ask."
"Thanks, Kenji; she may not care, but I do. Anyway, I won't be forced into anything by a bunch of old men who can't deal with change very well. How does our being married or not married affect anyone?"
Kenji thought carefully before replying. "You've lived together here for over a year now. I suppose they simply think it's time that you make an official commitment. And there's the whole propriety thing too, of course. Those old guys are big on that, even though most have had several affairs over their lifetimes."
"Hypocrisy," Zuko rasped. "You've got to love it."
"I know, I know; but you have to appease them a bit, Zuko. Think about proposing soon. That's all I ask."
"Fine, I'll think about it." Zuko sighed once more and fiddled with the papers on his desk.
"Come on; let's go for a walk in the gardens. You could use some fresh air and Mai might be out there."
The young Fire Lord took one last look at the documents still cluttering his desk and then pushed back his chair. He gave Kenji a bright, dopey sort of smile.
"Well, if there's a chance that I'll see Mai, I'm in."

"Okay, what's bothering you?" Mai watched as her boyfriend stared blankly down at the scroll in front of him, black ink dripping from the end of his brush. "You haven't written anything and you've been sitting there for fifteen minutes"
They sat in their private rooms, luxurious, beautiful rooms, the only place in the palace where they could be guaranteed privacy. Mai lounged on a comfortable couch. Her legs were stretched out and her head rested on a pillow. A book sat open on her stomach and she reached for her cup of tea on the table.
"You know, the usual stuff; cranky councilmen and enough work to make me feel as if I've been buried alive."
"Oh, well that won't change for a long time yet. Is there something I can do to help?" Mai put her tea and her book back on the table and stood up. She walked over to the small desk and wrapped her arms loosely around Zuko's neck. "A letter to Iroh?"
"Yeah; could you handle a visit? I'd like to get out of here for a few days at least." Zuko placed the sodden brush on its holder and looked up at Mai. His deep gold eyes were almost pleading.
"Sure, you know I love Iroh."
"Great; I'll get going on this and send it off. Hopefully we'll leave at the end of next week."
"Whatever works," Mai replied easily, but she had a feeling something more was on Zuko's mind.

Zuko tried several times to propose to Mai over the next week or so they spent at the palace. Once, at dinnertime, inside their rooms with the rain pouring down dramatically outside, he had looked deep into her eyes, opened his mouth, fully intending to ask for her hand in marriage, and then asked her about the seasoning in the stew instead. Another time, when they walked in the gardens late in the evening, enjoying the relative coolness and the moonlight playing mischievously on the water of the pond, he had reached for her hand and held on gently, stroking each finger with the greatest of tenderness. Mai had looked at him curiously as if expecting him to say something important. But, he took the coward's way out and wondered if the turtleducks were hungry. Mai had rolled her eyes and shook her head, a look of disappointment crossing her lovely features.
"What in Agni's name is wrong with me?" The Fire Lord spoke with Kenji after the end of an important meeting. The rest of the council had already shuffled their way out into the hall and he and his advisor were completely alone. "I can't seem to do it. And it's not like she's going to say 'no'. We're practically married now already."
"Perhaps, like you said the other day, it just hasn't been the right time yet. I advise not worrying so much. Try to let it happen naturally?"
"Have you ever proposed to anyone, Kenji?" Zuko looked at his friend and advisor with mirth filled eyes.
"Um, no, I haven't." He looked back at the Fire Lord sheepishly. "But I can still give advice. Wait until you're truly relaxed."
"All right; I'm going to stop thinking about the damn proposal and just let it happen. Thanks, Kenji. Somehow you always say the right thing."
"I'm here to be of service, my lord." He stood up then and gave his friend, the Fire Lord, an exaggerated bow. His body was shaking with restrained laughter as he left the council room and went in search of some lunch.

Mai and Zuko, both wearing Earth Kingdom green, cloak hoods pulled up to aid in their disguise, slipped unnoticed through the back door of the Jasmine Dragon a week later. They found Iroh in the kitchen experimenting with yet another special brew. His assistant was serving customers in the front of the busy shop.
When he saw Zuko, his beloved nephew, along with his girlfriend, Iroh's face practically exploded with joy. He wrapped them both in a bone crushing bear hug, and then guided them to a small table that sat in a cozy nook of the kitchen. Autumn sunlight poured in through the window, giving the room a warm and inviting glow.
"Ah, I'm so happy to see you both. How was your journey? Let me get you some tea. It's a new one; I want to know what you think of it."
"It's good to see you too, Uncle. Our trip was fine, uneventful."
Zuko gave Mai a glance from across the tiny table and she smirked in reply. They had actually scandalized the airship captain when he found them engaged in a rather passionate kissing and groping session just outside the bridge. Mai had looked at the man, no shame or embarrassment at all in her glance. Her eyes had been heavy lidded with lust, and she had said as naturally as breathing, "What? We were bored." Turning an almost purplish shade of red, the man had retreated to the bridge, shutting the door behind him. He didn't emerge for the rest of the trip.
Iroh bustled about brewing a pot of mango spice tea and filling a plate with fresh tarts. He set a tray down on the table and then pulled up a chair, joining his two favorite people in the world.
"Are your Fire Lord duties getting any easier with time, nephew? It's been over a year now since the war ended; but I suppose that the issue of the colonies for one is still not completely settled."
"I don't know if we'll ever come up with a satisfactory answer to that issue; no one is happy with anything. There are too many sides, all of them wanting the same and no one willing to compromise."
"I'm confident that all of you together will eventually come up with a suitable solution for everyone. It will take time and hard work and patience, Zuko."
"Patience, huh?" Mai gave her boyfriend a kick under the table. "Someone doesn't have a lot of that."
"Someone is working on it." Zuko gave her an answering kick, his much gentler than hers had been.
The tea maker chuckled at their banter. As always, he was thrilled to see his nephew so happy and well adjusted. Mai was a large part of that happiness; she and their group of close friends had all shown Zuko that he was worthwhile, someone deserving of love and friendship and joy in his life. It took long enough, but the end result was worth the wait.
"So, how long are you staying; the usual week?" Iroh asked. "Oh! And how do like the new tea?"
"Um, yeah, we'll stay about a week. I've got tons of work at home, well Mai does too. I'd collapse under everything without her. And the tea is pretty good." Zuko caught his girlfriend's hand underneath the table and began to stroke the tender flesh of her palm.
"There are some good theatre productions you might want to take in and there's a great new spa just around the corner. Or you could just relax right here. It doesn't matter to me."
"We'll decide later, Iroh. I think the tea is great, very mellow and soothing." Mai nodded approvingly.
"All right; your room is waiting for you. Everything is fresh and clean and the bathroom is stocked with lots of soaps and towels. I need to get back to my work for a bit. How about we meet up again for dinner? We could go out or would you prefer to eat here?"
"Here's good," the pair replied at the same time.
"And we can help cook, Uncle. We'll be here before dinnertime. We might go for exploring for a bit. There's always something interesting to see in Ba Sing Se."
"Fine, fine, I'll see you later." Iroh returned to his brews and soon became absorbed in the work. Mai and Zuko climbed the stairs to the living quarters, entered their room and shut the door.

Stretching out on the bed, Mai eyed Zuko like a predator would its prey. "I think we should finish what we started on the airship, don't you?"
She began to loosen ties and sashes, opening herself to Zuko. Never one to refuse time in bed with his lovely girlfriend, the Fire Lord grinned and pounced, raining kisses on every bit of bare skin he could find. He explored her breasts with his mouth and then moved further down, teasing her most sensitive spot with his tongue. Mai grabbed hold of his head and ran slender fingers through his hair. She tightened her grip then and pushed downward, holding him in place. Zuko chuckled against her, his hot breath stimulating her even further.
"Mmm," Mai purred with pleasure.
Wriggling her body beneath his, she deliberately rubbed against his hardness and was rewarded with a guttural grunt from her boyfriend. He pressed himself into her bare thigh, the cloth of his trousers an irritating nuisance now.
"Hang on a minute." Zuko's words came in breathy gasps. He stood up and tore off his clothing then reached down and pulled Mai's silk underpants the rest of the way down her pale, slender legs.
Those legs drove him crazy and what was between them crazier still. He nuzzled her there, his tongue darting in and out quickly, tasting her essence and stimulating her beyond reason.
"Zuko," she cried in a husky voice, grabbing hold of his hair once again, looking for something to anchor her to the world of reality.
As she eased her way down from the sheer intensity of sensations, sparks of pleasure still coursing their way through her body, Zuko pushed himself inside, emitting a low groan of ecstasy. They were a perfect fit and Zuko liked to imagine that they had actually been made for each other. It was a foolish, romantic notion, but he couldn't quite put it aside, this idea that he and Mai were meant to be.
"Agni, Mai, feels so damn good."
He began to pump then, Mai matching his speed and rhythm with her own movements. Lowering his head, he nipped at her throat and breasts, Mai mewling in response, then pulling his mouth to hers. She opened her lips automatically, granting permission to his tongue. His senses overloaded then and it was all too much.
Zuko rested his damp head on her chest and Mai stroked him gently. She loved how he looked after sex, all loose limbed and relaxed, the tension gone out of him, eyes almost glassy with pleasure. He said the most tender and sentimental things too and then would have been the perfect time to propose. But he fell asleep instead and Mai joined him shortly after, the weight of him pleasingly heavy.

"Did you have a good rest?" Iroh asked as soon as they climbed down the stairs and began to help with the dinner preparations.
If his wink had been any broader, the tea maker's face would have collapsed in on one side. Predictably, Zuko flushed a bright purplish red reminiscent of a certain root vegetable. Mai took it all in her stride and answered with a calm "Yes, we did."
"I hope that you're hungry. I have some fresh chickenduck and some tasty vegetables that I grew out back. You'll have to take a look at my garden later. It's quite lovely under the moonlight."
They both nodded, Zuko's flush lessening slowly and began to peel and chop the vegetables. Iroh prepared the meat and put it into a huge cast iron pot to simmer along with good, hot Fire Nation seasonings and fresh herbs. Mai added the vegetables next, scooping them into the already steaming water while Zuko opened a bottle of wine.
"You don't mind, do you, Uncle?"
"Of course not; I love a glass of wine with my dinner as long as there's tea later on."
Zuko looked to Mai who nodded and poured her a glass. It was cool and fruity flavored and rather delightful. By the time dinner was ready, the shop closed and a table set prettily for three, Zuko was pleasantly drunk.
Mai smirked through the entire meal, watching her husband talk and giggle and generally act like a bigger dork than he usually did. "Enjoying the meal?" she asked when he helped himself to more meat and a scoopful of rice.
"Mmmhmm, it's amazing. You're quite the cook, Uncle. And this wine is terrific." He poured himself another glass and gulped it down rather than sipping.
"He doesn't drink often, does he?" Iroh whispered to Mai.
"How can you tell?" She giggled and gave Zuko's thigh a suggestive rub underneath the table. "He holds his liquor about as well as he lies."
Iroh broke out into a hearty laugh. "Oh, he could never tell a lie to save his life. His attempts were pitiful."
"Hey, don't make fun of me," the young Fire Lord objected. "Is there any more of this stuff?"
"No, and I wouldn't let you have more anyway. You're done for the night." Mai's voice was firm. "I don't want you throwing up on me later."
"Fine, fine, be like that." Zuko's words were slurred now and when he got up from the table he lost his balance, putting his hand down into his bowl to recover. It came up covered in meat juices and bits of rice. Without thought, he wiped his hand down the front of his robe.
Rolling her eyes, Mai guided her boyfriend outside. "Some fresh night air will do him good. We'll clean up in the morning, okay Iroh?"
"Don't worry. I'm going to enjoy some tea and read for awhile. Then I'll take care of the dishes. Go, enjoy, and sober him up."

They sat on a metal bench in the middle of Iroh's garden, flowers and vegetables surrounding them on all sides. Two large trees dominated the space, providing shade during the day and a sort of looming presence in the night. Zuko leaned his head on Mai's shoulder.
"I love you," he said very seriously and then began to giggle.
"Oh for Agni's sake; no more wine for you."
"K," he agreed easily. "I love you, Mai."
"You said that once already."
Zuko seemed to struggle then, looking for something different to say to his beloved. "I want to marry you. Will you marry me?"
"You're drunk, Zuko."
"I know, but I'm serious. Mai, will you marry me?" In his gravelly voice was the barest hint of worry.
"Yes, I'll marry you. I've been waiting for you to ask though I never thought that it would be this way?"
"Oh, oh," Zuko groaned as he got up from the bench and vomited into the nearby greenery.
"He is so making up for this." Mai moved to help her fiancé, shaking her head the whole time.
"So," he said, wiping at his mouth. "Want to set the date?"
"No, but I do want to kill you. Upstairs and into bed now; and don't even think about touching me.'
"Yes, ma'am," the Fire Lord giggled.

Zuko made conciliatory gestures the entire next day; he took Mai to the spa, bought her a brand new blade, the likes of which she had never seen, and then took her to the theatre. It was a long day, a good day and they both enjoyed every minute of it.
As they got ready for bed, Zuko finally broached the subject of his proposal. "So, about last night and my…"
"Zuko." Mai put a finger over his lips. "It's fine, really. I'm glad that you finally asked and I'm thrilled to be your fiancée. That's what's important."
"Really? You're not angry with me?" Zuko looked incredulous. He reached out and traced the line of her cheek with his fingertip.
"No, but I do hope the wedding is better."
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Everything Happens in Ba Sing Se