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Mai's footsteps echoed in the hallways as she approached Zuko's chambers. She remembered words Zuko had once said that, at the time, she didnt give much thought to.
"So much has changed. I wonder how much I've changed..."
She had brushed off his feelings at the time, trying to be coy and teasing but now in this moment...it was a statement she pondered when she was left at Boiling Rock Prison when she faced off with Azula. While she was truthful in how she felt about Zuko...maybe it was time to learn more about herself.
She quietly opened the door to witness Zuko struggling to put his robe on. She gave a small smile to herself. As much as her heart told her that she could go on and continuing loving Zuko...Her mind knew this was the right thing to do.
She leaned against the doorway and tried to be as non-chalant as she could be. "Need a hand?"
When Zuko turned around, his face light up. "Mai! You're ok!"
When he approached, he held out his arms to hug her but she gently put a hand to his chest to stop him. She saw the confusion on his face when she did that. This hurt alot more than it should but she needed to do this.
"I'm only here to help you change, not get lovey-dovey with you."
"Mai, I'm sorry---"
"No," she said, interrupting him before picking up articles of his royal outfit. "I'm sorry."
She turned him around and began help him dressed. "I remembered a conversation we had when you first came back to the Fire Nation after..."killing" that bald monk kid. You wondered what changed about the Fire Nation and how you changed. I guess I thought you were just being "emotional" for being back in the Fire Nation after three years."
She wrapped his belt around his waist and then began helping put on his second robe.
"Now, that question came to me after Azula arrested me. How much have I changed? Have I changed? I told her the truth: I loved you more than I feared her."
She straightened the shoulders of his robe and beckoned him to sit down.
"But now, after taking more time to think," Mai said as she began to brush his hair, "I think it's time I loved myself more than I love you. We're both different now. I always tried to please my parents, trying to be their perfect daughter. Doing what they wanted and behaving the way they wanted. I never got to know myself."
"Mai..."
After Mai finally brushed Zuko's hair into a topknot, she backed away as he stood to look at her.
"I love you, Zuko. But I want to love myself more. Maybe we can try again in the future but right now? I have some catching up to do with myself."
Zuko frowned. "Are we...really done? Is there anything else I can do to make it up to you?"
Mai shook her head. "No. I'm sooo over it," she said, trying to be as casual as possible. She gave a small smile before bowing.
"To the Fire Nation, Your Majesty."
When she straightened, she turned to walk. Before she walked out, she said, "You'll make a great Firelord, Zuko. I think everyone will see it."
And with an aching heart knowing this was supposed to happen...she walked out a single girl.