Fic: Seeking the Why
Fanfic: Seeking the Why
Title: Seeking the Why
Rating: K
Words: 1,205
Genre: General, Family
Characters (Pairings): Mai, Tom-Tom, Zuko, Aang, Katara. (Implied Kataang and Maiko)
Warning: Finale spoilers
Summary: A visit from the family Mai left behind.
Seeking the Why
Despite himself, he felt nervous. Really, he shouldn't. At least, not for his current reasons. Certainly, it would be natural to feel a bit self-conscious around the Avatar, but he'd spent the last day in Avatar Aang's company and the monk had turned out to be a surprisingly personable and fun young man. Important people had never played games with him before, but Avatar Aang treated it like the most natural thing in the world. It had been... relaxing. Of course, many not-yet-teenage boys might feel some anxiety around a pretty foreign woman like the Waterbender Katara, but she had been quite nice, and her overly-familiar fussing made her seem like just another aunt or cousin. Of course, considering that this same Katara had kidnapped him from his parents' house and taken care of him for a night when he was a toddler, she was actually more involved in his life than most of his extended family.
Tom-Tom (he resolved once again to think of a more mature nickname) took a deep breath and entered the Fire Lord's palace behind the Avatar and his wife.
There was another very good reason for the uneasy feeling in his stomach. Tom-Tom would be meeting the Fire Lord, the supreme divinely inspired unquestionable may-his-flame-ever-burn ruler of the Fire Nation. Even the slightest breach of manners or protocol was legal grounds for death, or so the tutors said. However, Tom-Tom wasn't really worried. For one thing, being well-mannered was so ingrained into him that it may as well be genetic. More importantly, Fire Lord Zuko was by all accounts, including Avatar Aang's, a "swell guy". The various laws and pronouncements issued by the Fire Lord supported this view. To be honest, Tom-Tom considered the chance to meet his scarred Lord an honor and a treat.
No, it was really rather obvious. He was nervous about meeting her. The talk about the Fire Lord's wife was much less definitive.
Tom-Tom stared around the massive hallways as he followed the Airbender and the Waterbender to the inner residential wing. The palace was even more gaudily decorated than his own home, with every surface covered in layers and layers of burgundy fabrics. The gold detailing was often actual gold. And the portraits! They were four times as tall as a grown man! Tom-Tom noticed that three of the most recent portraits sported black frames instead of gold, but he didn't wish to betray his ignorance by asking the reason.
The reflexive deceit set his hands shaking again.
Rumors abounded about the Royal Consort's rise to power and the various ways she kept hold of it. Many said that she was a thoroughly unpleasant person, and a significant minority accepted the accusations that she had committed war crimes, back during the conflict with the Earth Kingdom. Everyone wondered about her current loyalties, and everyone plus their brother speculated why the Fire Lord bothered with her at all.
Those people didn't know her. Their talk was useless to Tom-Tom.
He asked Avatar Aang and Katara, of course. Katara had actually been reluctant to answer, and just said that she respected his sister, that Zuko loved her, and that she was completely loyal to the Fire Lord. Tom-Tom wondered if Katara actually disliked her, but couldn't figure out a way to politely ask (although he gave himself a headache thinking about it). Avatar Aang was both more and less helpful. He was willing to answer any question factually, but outright stated that he knew Tom-Tom was trying to form an impression of his sister, and the only fair thing to do would be to wait until he met her. Father and Mother had always taught that advance information was the most effective weapon a human could possibly wield, but monks apparantly thought different.
The trio reached the end of the hall, and a suitably fancy (gold, of course) door opened.
Avatar Aang and Katara actually sprinted to the Fire Lord Zuko and hugged him, instead of bowing properly. The Fire Lord didn't seem at all displeased with this; he was smiling warmly, in a way that really softened the appearance of the large scar on his face. Tom-Tom wondered if he should be doing something less formal even as he sank to his knees and lowered his forehead to the floor. The Fire Lord's voice was scratchy-sounding, but friendly. "You don't have to bow in here, Tom-Tom. Stand up and let us get a good look at you."
The young boy complied, and as soon as he was up, his eyes locked on the room's other, silent occupant. She didn't say anything, didn't react. Her face was blank, and her eyes dull.
It was Mai. Sister.
To Tom-Tom's surprise, she reminded him vaguely of their mother. Something about her face, while not at all the same, still formed a vague echo that he recognized. He wondered if their voices would be similar. Tom-Tom bowed formally at the waist. "Thank you for allowing me to visit. Mother and Father send their greetings, and their hopes for your continued prosperity."
Mai didn't respond right away. "Please be sure to return the sentiment for me. Hello, brother." Her voice was not at all what Tom-Tom was expecting. Mother's voice was musical, exuberant. Mai's sounded like a soft growl. He risked a quick look at Avatar Aang, and got a confident smile in return.
"Maybe Tom-Tom and Mai would like to catch up," the Airbender offered.
Zuko nodded. "That's a good idea."
Mai arched an eyebrow. "Catch up? Don't we have to be familiar with each other in the first place to 'catch up?'"
Tom-Tom blinked. Was that a joke? The twisting feeling returned to his stomach.
The Fire Lord just looked at his wife, and something unsaid passed between them. Mai sighed, and turned back to her brother. "Okay, sure, let's go out to the balcony." She began moving, and Tom-Tom noticed that she glided even more gracefully than their mother. That was impressive, as Mother had turned posture and movement into a full-time trade.
The dark night sky was a heavy contrast to the decorative palace interior. It seemed to suit Mai more, though. Tom-Tom wondered if it suited himself, as well. Silence floated through the darkness for a while. Finally, Mai sighed and spoke. "So, you're attending the Earth Kingdom's new academy, right? You like it?"
Tom-Tom worked to keep his hands from shaking as he gripped the balcony's edge. "Do you hate me?" He said it politely, without accusation. He was good at being polite.
Mai looked down at him. "Interesting question. Do you think I hate you?"
Tom-Tom shrugged.
Her stare unfocused, aimed somewhere into the blackened vista. "You know, our parents never let me hold you."
The young boy considered that, and as suited his age and view of the world, found a simple solution. He stepped over to Mai and hugged her. His head only came up to her stomach, and his arms fit neatly around her waist.
Tom-Tom waited and hoped she would return the gesture.
Her hands rested on top of his head, and he could feel their lack of warmth even in the night air.
END
Title: Seeking the Why
Rating: K
Words: 1,205
Genre: General, Family
Characters (Pairings): Mai, Tom-Tom, Zuko, Aang, Katara. (Implied Kataang and Maiko)
Warning: Finale spoilers
Summary: A visit from the family Mai left behind.
Seeking the Why
Despite himself, he felt nervous. Really, he shouldn't. At least, not for his current reasons. Certainly, it would be natural to feel a bit self-conscious around the Avatar, but he'd spent the last day in Avatar Aang's company and the monk had turned out to be a surprisingly personable and fun young man. Important people had never played games with him before, but Avatar Aang treated it like the most natural thing in the world. It had been... relaxing. Of course, many not-yet-teenage boys might feel some anxiety around a pretty foreign woman like the Waterbender Katara, but she had been quite nice, and her overly-familiar fussing made her seem like just another aunt or cousin. Of course, considering that this same Katara had kidnapped him from his parents' house and taken care of him for a night when he was a toddler, she was actually more involved in his life than most of his extended family.
Tom-Tom (he resolved once again to think of a more mature nickname) took a deep breath and entered the Fire Lord's palace behind the Avatar and his wife.
There was another very good reason for the uneasy feeling in his stomach. Tom-Tom would be meeting the Fire Lord, the supreme divinely inspired unquestionable may-his-flame-ever-burn ruler of the Fire Nation. Even the slightest breach of manners or protocol was legal grounds for death, or so the tutors said. However, Tom-Tom wasn't really worried. For one thing, being well-mannered was so ingrained into him that it may as well be genetic. More importantly, Fire Lord Zuko was by all accounts, including Avatar Aang's, a "swell guy". The various laws and pronouncements issued by the Fire Lord supported this view. To be honest, Tom-Tom considered the chance to meet his scarred Lord an honor and a treat.
No, it was really rather obvious. He was nervous about meeting her. The talk about the Fire Lord's wife was much less definitive.
Tom-Tom stared around the massive hallways as he followed the Airbender and the Waterbender to the inner residential wing. The palace was even more gaudily decorated than his own home, with every surface covered in layers and layers of burgundy fabrics. The gold detailing was often actual gold. And the portraits! They were four times as tall as a grown man! Tom-Tom noticed that three of the most recent portraits sported black frames instead of gold, but he didn't wish to betray his ignorance by asking the reason.
The reflexive deceit set his hands shaking again.
Rumors abounded about the Royal Consort's rise to power and the various ways she kept hold of it. Many said that she was a thoroughly unpleasant person, and a significant minority accepted the accusations that she had committed war crimes, back during the conflict with the Earth Kingdom. Everyone wondered about her current loyalties, and everyone plus their brother speculated why the Fire Lord bothered with her at all.
Those people didn't know her. Their talk was useless to Tom-Tom.
He asked Avatar Aang and Katara, of course. Katara had actually been reluctant to answer, and just said that she respected his sister, that Zuko loved her, and that she was completely loyal to the Fire Lord. Tom-Tom wondered if Katara actually disliked her, but couldn't figure out a way to politely ask (although he gave himself a headache thinking about it). Avatar Aang was both more and less helpful. He was willing to answer any question factually, but outright stated that he knew Tom-Tom was trying to form an impression of his sister, and the only fair thing to do would be to wait until he met her. Father and Mother had always taught that advance information was the most effective weapon a human could possibly wield, but monks apparantly thought different.
The trio reached the end of the hall, and a suitably fancy (gold, of course) door opened.
Avatar Aang and Katara actually sprinted to the Fire Lord Zuko and hugged him, instead of bowing properly. The Fire Lord didn't seem at all displeased with this; he was smiling warmly, in a way that really softened the appearance of the large scar on his face. Tom-Tom wondered if he should be doing something less formal even as he sank to his knees and lowered his forehead to the floor. The Fire Lord's voice was scratchy-sounding, but friendly. "You don't have to bow in here, Tom-Tom. Stand up and let us get a good look at you."
The young boy complied, and as soon as he was up, his eyes locked on the room's other, silent occupant. She didn't say anything, didn't react. Her face was blank, and her eyes dull.
It was Mai. Sister.
To Tom-Tom's surprise, she reminded him vaguely of their mother. Something about her face, while not at all the same, still formed a vague echo that he recognized. He wondered if their voices would be similar. Tom-Tom bowed formally at the waist. "Thank you for allowing me to visit. Mother and Father send their greetings, and their hopes for your continued prosperity."
Mai didn't respond right away. "Please be sure to return the sentiment for me. Hello, brother." Her voice was not at all what Tom-Tom was expecting. Mother's voice was musical, exuberant. Mai's sounded like a soft growl. He risked a quick look at Avatar Aang, and got a confident smile in return.
"Maybe Tom-Tom and Mai would like to catch up," the Airbender offered.
Zuko nodded. "That's a good idea."
Mai arched an eyebrow. "Catch up? Don't we have to be familiar with each other in the first place to 'catch up?'"
Tom-Tom blinked. Was that a joke? The twisting feeling returned to his stomach.
The Fire Lord just looked at his wife, and something unsaid passed between them. Mai sighed, and turned back to her brother. "Okay, sure, let's go out to the balcony." She began moving, and Tom-Tom noticed that she glided even more gracefully than their mother. That was impressive, as Mother had turned posture and movement into a full-time trade.
The dark night sky was a heavy contrast to the decorative palace interior. It seemed to suit Mai more, though. Tom-Tom wondered if it suited himself, as well. Silence floated through the darkness for a while. Finally, Mai sighed and spoke. "So, you're attending the Earth Kingdom's new academy, right? You like it?"
Tom-Tom worked to keep his hands from shaking as he gripped the balcony's edge. "Do you hate me?" He said it politely, without accusation. He was good at being polite.
Mai looked down at him. "Interesting question. Do you think I hate you?"
Tom-Tom shrugged.
Her stare unfocused, aimed somewhere into the blackened vista. "You know, our parents never let me hold you."
The young boy considered that, and as suited his age and view of the world, found a simple solution. He stepped over to Mai and hugged her. His head only came up to her stomach, and his arms fit neatly around her waist.
Tom-Tom waited and hoped she would return the gesture.
Her hands rested on top of his head, and he could feel their lack of warmth even in the night air.
END