The device had Mai's attention long enough for her to assume it wasn't something useful, and she tosses it onto the bed before she stands. Her eyes sweep the room, taking in it's layout, and once she spots a window she goes that way to look outside. Surely that would give her an idea of where she is, even if she has no idea on how she would have gotten there.
She pulls the curtain back, and then freezes at the sight outside of the window. It is something she has never seen before, and even to a certain extent, it's not anything she's ever dreamed of. All the instincts in her that try to warn her of danger are put on mute as she gapes out of the window.
Voices coming from the other side of the door snap Mai from her daze, and she turns sharply to face the door. She doesn't wait to recognize voices or what is being said. The first conclusion she comes to is that who ever is out there is probably a threat, and if they aren't, well then there isn't any harm in her proving to them that she isn't someone to be messed with.
Without any hesitation, she grasps the candle sticks set near by her on a table, not wanting to waste her knives in case she is wrong. And just as the door shifts open, she throws one candle stick toward the door frame, roughly five feet from the ground. Then a couple moments later, the other two candle sticks she has are sent to hit inches away from where the first hit, her aim now to go through whatever open space there is between the door and it's frame.]
The hard thunk of the first candle stick against the door frame startles Zuko. It can't be Jet waiting to assassinate him somehow, Iroh clearly called whoever's in his room a SHE. Zuko means to drop into a duck like the ninja that he is to avoid any more projectiles flying his way and ends up taking the second candle stick directly to the face, the impact knocking him back to stagger into Iroh.
Zuko manages to grab onto the door frame just in time to keep himself from completely falling into his uncle, and that's when the third candle stick connects smartly with his chin, leaving a sharp throb in its place once it falls away to the floor at his feet to roll away.
Thankfully his nose didn't break, however, the warmth that does trickle down onto his upper lip is unmistakable. As is the taste of metal on his lips. The firebender's momentarily dazed and finds his vision blurring as he stares at the ground and forces his head to lift, staring across at the slender figure that can't decide whether to split between multiples of two and three.]
[The sounds of someone falling got Mai to grin. She even let out a satisfying sounding grunt as her target fell to the ground. For a moment she stood with pride about showing her skill and that she wasn't a girl to be underestimated.]
[Her victory is short lived though, dying the moment that she hears Iroh shout Zuko's name. That word seeming to cut through her like a knife would, and her eyes dart between the two men. The barking and scolding not really getting her attention once her eyes focus solely on Zuko once his head is up.]
[The pain feels like a kick to her stomach, and while she forgets to breath for a moment, she doesn't show any other sign of her pain. Well other than how her mood switches to anger, expression turning cold, and her eyes narrowing into a glare.]
Like he would care at all where I was.
[Her arms cross, a foot slides out so that her stance is more solid and she firmly holds her ground to show that she has no plans at all to move from that spot.]
[The disorientation lingers but gradually begins to clear. The multiples of Mai drop from three to two and finally to one.
Zuko recognizes the stance she's taken. All he can do is stare at her, oblivious for the first few seconds to the blood dripping down onto the ground, down his chin and chest.]
M-Mai?
[Yes, that was Zuko croaking her name in disbelief.]
[He should be grateful and happy, shouldn't he? He should be pleased that it isn't Ozai waiting in his room to strike him down, that it's only Mai instead.
Shame that Zuko remembers that no matter how tiny and thin she is, nimble and lithe on her feet, Mai is a force far deadlier than his own father at times.
Now is that time, as he slowly pulls away from Iroh to straighten and bring a hand up to his nose to staunch the bleeding somehow.]
[Her voice remains flat, even and emotionless, though the corners of her mouth tighten, forcing her mouth into a thin line each time she stops speaking.]
Would you rather I leave you a note? That seems to be your preference for communication these days.
[Iroh looks between Mai and Zuko. It's always been difficult to tell what Mai is feeling, but he's guessing it's somewhere in the realm of pissed off. And Zuko appears dumbstruck. Obviously there is some sort of history here that he is not aware of.
He debates the wisdom of leaving Zuko alone with Mai, but decides his nephew can take care of himself, and this is a conversation that deserves privacy.
Who knows if they're even aware he's here, anyway.]
Obviously you two have a lot of catching up to do. I'm going to go downstairs and make a pot of tea.
[Honestly Zuko is a little too stunned with the sight of Mai and knowledge that she's there in the City now to remember that Iroh's standing nearby and then leaving them to their 'talk'. Zuko does hear his uncle, but can't bring himself to respond; Mai's comment brings back the memory of writing the letter that would inevitably end their relationship.]
It was never my intention to hurt you. But it was something I needed to do.
[If Iroh didn't close the door, Zuko's snapping it shut. He kicks some of the candle sticks out of the way and goes to pick up a discarded shirt off the ground, using it to wipe at the blood from his nose, wiping his hands clean on it.
Despite how little sleep he got, the fight with Jet, the fire, the emotions from earlier, the fact that their tea shop was half destroyed and it was half his own fault-- Zuko was surprisingly in control of his emotions for once.]
I didn't think you would understand!
[He's standing a little closer now to her and lingering near the dresser, not fully realizing it. His mind's stuck on how to explain it to her.]
The device had Mai's attention long enough for her to assume it wasn't something useful, and she tosses it onto the bed before she stands. Her eyes sweep the room, taking in it's layout, and once she spots a window she goes that way to look outside. Surely that would give her an idea of where she is, even if she has no idea on how she would have gotten there.
She pulls the curtain back, and then freezes at the sight outside of the window. It is something she has never seen before, and even to a certain extent, it's not anything she's ever dreamed of. All the instincts in her that try to warn her of danger are put on mute as she gapes out of the window.
Voices coming from the other side of the door snap Mai from her daze, and she turns sharply to face the door. She doesn't wait to recognize voices or what is being said. The first conclusion she comes to is that who ever is out there is probably a threat, and if they aren't, well then there isn't any harm in her proving to them that she isn't someone to be messed with.
Without any hesitation, she grasps the candle sticks set near by her on a table, not wanting to waste her knives in case she is wrong. And just as the door shifts open, she throws one candle stick toward the door frame, roughly five feet from the ground. Then a couple moments later, the other two candle sticks she has are sent to hit inches away from where the first hit, her aim now to go through whatever open space there is between the door and it's frame.]
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The hard thunk of the first candle stick against the door frame startles Zuko. It can't be Jet waiting to assassinate him somehow, Iroh clearly called whoever's in his room a SHE. Zuko means to drop into a duck like the ninja that he is to avoid any more projectiles flying his way and ends up taking the second candle stick directly to the face, the impact knocking him back to stagger into Iroh.
Zuko manages to grab onto the door frame just in time to keep himself from completely falling into his uncle, and that's when the third candle stick connects smartly with his chin, leaving a sharp throb in its place once it falls away to the floor at his feet to roll away.
Thankfully his nose didn't break, however, the warmth that does trickle down onto his upper lip is unmistakable. As is the taste of metal on his lips. The firebender's momentarily dazed and finds his vision blurring as he stares at the ground and forces his head to lift, staring across at the slender figure that can't decide whether to split between multiples of two and three.]
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[Iroh catches Zuko by the shoulders, grunting slightly. He winces at the rest of the candles hit Zuko in the face.]
Are you all right? [Barking at Mai] Mai! [now back to the all-important Zuko]
...you really didn't know she was here, did you?
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Like he would care at all where I was.
[Her arms cross, a foot slides out so that her stance is more solid and she firmly holds her ground to show that she has no plans at all to move from that spot.]
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Zuko recognizes the stance she's taken. All he can do is stare at her, oblivious for the first few seconds to the blood dripping down onto the ground, down his chin and chest.]
M-Mai?
[Yes, that was Zuko croaking her name in disbelief.]
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Shame that Zuko remembers that no matter how tiny and thin she is, nimble and lithe on her feet, Mai is a force far deadlier than his own father at times.
Now is that time, as he slowly pulls away from Iroh to straighten and bring a hand up to his nose to staunch the bleeding somehow.]
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[Gingerly presses against his nose, wincing behind his hand, all of his words somewhat muffled.]
...You also didn't have to throw things at me to get my attention.
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[Her voice remains flat, even and emotionless, though the corners of her mouth tighten, forcing her mouth into a thin line each time she stops speaking.]
Would you rather I leave you a note? That seems to be your preference for communication these days.
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He debates the wisdom of leaving Zuko alone with Mai, but decides his nephew can take care of himself, and this is a conversation that deserves privacy.
Who knows if they're even aware he's here, anyway.]
Obviously you two have a lot of catching up to do. I'm going to go downstairs and make a pot of tea.
[Aaaand he's gone. Scared of Mai? Please.]
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It was never my intention to hurt you. But it was something I needed to do.
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[Her voice gets sharp, and a moment later she jerks her face away from him.]
You couldn't even tell me to my face and just left me a letter to find after you were gone. Like a coward.
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Despite how little sleep he got, the fight with Jet, the fire, the emotions from earlier, the fact that their tea shop was half destroyed and it was half his own fault-- Zuko was surprisingly in control of his emotions for once.]
I didn't think you would understand!
[He's standing a little closer now to her and lingering near the dresser, not fully realizing it. His mind's stuck on how to explain it to her.]
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[She looks back to him, eying him and how he was getting closer. Then her eyes lift to attempt to lock with his.]
You just didn't think at all.
[Her arms unfurled and fell to her sides, hands clenching into fists as she spoke.]
Because if you had, you would have at least tried talking to me first.
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Then we'll talk now.
[His eyes open to lock with hers once more, gold on gold.
He owes this to her, doesn't he?]
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