Fanfic: Working It Off
Title: Working It Off
Author: Loopy777
Summary: Mai dreams of monsters.
Word Count: 667
Rating: PG
Warnings: Here There Be Monsters
Characters/Animals: Mai, Koh
Written For: Avatar Spirit Forum's Drabble Contest- "Redemption" Prompt
Working It Off
Every night, Mai dreamed. It was always the same nightmare.
She was in a hole, beyond light and fresh air. The shadows wrapped around her host, the monster. Its insect body blended with the dark of the cavern, but its faces somehow stood out against the artificial night. The monster had more faces than Mai could count, but it only showed one at a time.
As always, it began with a face of white paint.
Hello, Mai, the monster said.
Hello, Monster, Mai replied with an empty expression.
How was your day? the monster asked.
Boring, Mai replied, as she did every night, the word and inflection always the same.
Tell me, the monster commanded kindly. Then it took on the face of a komodo rhino and roared at her.
My whole morning was spent in meetings with diplomats from the Outer Islands, Mai began with a flat voice. She went on to list each of the attendees, beginning with the representative from Shu Jing, and gave a full rundown of the negotiations. She spoke without tone the whole time, finishing with, Although the goal was to bring the islands voluntarily back under formal Fire Nation rule, no conclusions were reached during this, the third day of conferences. The diplomats all promised to send messages back to their masters, and return to negotiations with me as soon as possible.
Your husband must trust you greatly, to give you such responsibilities, the monster noted with the bony face of a starved child.
Mai nodded, her expression still blank, and continued her litany.
In the afternoon, I attended a formal social gathering of the Capital's most prominent citizens. Most of the conversation was superficial, about the trivialities of everyone's lives, and the atmosphere was light and serene. I gave my full attention to all of the most popular figures, as is expected of a proper Royal Consort, and refrained from disturbing anyone with my own talk. They served biscuits, there. None of my friends were present.
The monster grinned with the face of a barbarian king, teeth filed to points, and said, It sounds like a vapid experience, but Ty Lee would have made things better, if she had not left in search of atonement.
Very vapid, Mai whispered, and then paused for a moment. I had dinner alone, because Zuko was away on Seijin Island, dedicating the new temple there. To keep myself occupied, I read the latest intelligence reports while I ate, and afterward I met with my agents to personally give them their latest surveillance instructions. By the time I finished, I realized it was midnight, so I went to bed without practicing my knives.
So diligently, the monster sang with the face of an aged beauty, do you stand between your husband and his enemies.
I love him, Mai confirmed with an impassive visage.
Perhaps he will return tomorrow.
Perhaps.
The monster's face returned to the mask-like white paint, and he smiled at Mai as he spoke again. As ever, you have my sympathies, my dear. Your crimes during the war were not so great as to merit this. I offer you the gift of rest, the gift of deliverance from the Kingdom of Torment that you have constructed for yourself. You need but remember how to smile.
Mai bowed, lowering her face away from the monster to stare at the darkness below her, and spoke affectionately, Thank you, but I would rather settle accounts over the long term, and perhaps enjoy a moment of peace once the debt is paid.
I will always be here for you, the monster whispered, and I will always love you.
Thank you.
Once the dream was over, Mai awoke with the dawn, the haunting mostly forgotten. She dressed and prepared for a full day of meetings and negotiations and gossip, her facing constant and unmoving. She considered scheduling time later in the day to smile, but decided against it. Maybe in a few years.
END