Chapter Text
“Ozai’s cell is that way,” Ursa points out the window.
“I don’t want to hear him tell me he’s sorry either,” Mai tells her without turning around. “I never want to hear his voice again.”
“Oh, believe me, I understand,” Ursa murmurs, both bleak and amused. “Before you go, I do have to ask if you love my son.
Mai stops. “That really isn’t any of your business.”
“Maybe not,” Ursa sighs. “But either way you should tell him. He loves you.”
Mai knows that already. She isn’t stupid. “Is he waiting outside?”
“Probably. He knows you’re here.”
Mai glowers. “Coward.”
“You or him?” Ursa asks, eyebrows raised. “There’s mothing to be afraid of. He’s not Ozai.”
“No.” And Mai herself isn’t sure if it is acknowledgement or denial.
“I feel… I know what it’s like, Mai, and I thought maybe somebody needed to remind you that life goes on after him, that once you get away, you really are free, and you have a right to live your life. He can’t take that away from you now.”
“Don’t you dare!” Mai snarls, rounding on her. “You don’t get to manipulate me into dating your son to spite the man who raped me!”
“That’s not what I’m trying to do.” Ursa’s voice grows hard. “If you want to tell him no, do it. Don’t be afraid he will act like Ozai, because he is not Ozai. If you want to say yes, you don’t need to be afraid he will turn into Ozai. Either way, he deserves your honesty. He won’t hurt you with it because he’s not Ozai.”
“I love him,” Mai mutters. “But I can’t. I’m not ready. I can’t be his Firelady right now. I can’t do it. I can’t.”
Ursa smiles at her, sad. “Then that’s what you need to tell him.”
But what if I don’t want to, she wants to ask. What if I just want to run away?
Mai starts for the door again shaking. Her hands slip on the handle. “While we’re sharing secrets here, Ozai never would have let you stay.” She grips the door handle, but she doesn’t open it. She just holds it, letting it steady her. “He wanted you gone. Ozai gets what he wants.”
“Not anymore. He’s in a prison cell.” Mai hears the smile in her voice.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Oh yes.”
“But my point,” Mai begins, voice calm when the rest of her is not. “Is that what he did isn’t your fault.”
Ursa sighs again, weariness creeping into her words. “It’s not your fault either.”
And that’s when Mai opens the door and walks out, dry eyed but still shaking. And as predicted, Zuko is there outside in the corridor, back against the opposite wall, studiously not looking at her. “Zuko.”
“Hey, Mai,” he says, suddenly and obviously embarrassed.
“I need to talk to you.” She swallows. The words stick in her throat and she forces them out. “I have something to say.”