He didn’t mean to overhear the conversation between Mai and whoever it was she was talking to, but hearing his own name, and his sisters, and talk of heirs wasn’t a topic that’d really been broached at all between the couple yet. Their relationship was going strong, sure, but talks of a Royal Wedding had yet to even be discussed, let alone any of the children Zuko would be expected to produce as the active Fire Lord. He was only nineteen, sure, but he couldn’t prolong either for too long.
So coming in as casually to their bedroom as he could, the teenager gave his girlfriend a sidelong glance as he began the daily routine of getting undressed so he could get dressed for bed.
“What’s this about heirs and stuff Mai?”
One of her attendants had been the one to ask such a serious question. There had been a silence after she had, and instantly the poor girl had turned white in fear, fully prepared to apologize for stepping over the line. Mai hadn’t been offended, which is precisely why she’d so calmly answered the inquiry - but afterwards, she dismissed the girl and took to removing her hair pins herself.
She hadn’t expected for Zuko to overhear any of that, and she stopped, her fingers tracing over the jade pin idly. The noir was already freed from her gown, instead a silk robe draped over her shoulders to cover her still bound breasts. A blush had lightly dusted over her cheeks, the only sign of embarrassment he’d overheard her.
❝ I was just talking to one of my attendants…
—- She asked if I was worried that I might only give you nonbender children…“
Well his manhood is a little bruised so that ego might need to get stroked rather soon, just saying. He’s a lot little jealous, but mostly more wondering the why.
Come on, Zuko, don’t be jealous.
Yours is the bed she always in, not that girl from two years ago. Besides, it’d just been a fling.
kuraikako: "And there's a letter from a messenger hawk for Mai being delivered from one of the servants. It reads: "Got sidetracked with the departure, I'll be back tonight instead of this morning like I had planned. Sorry to be late Mai. -Zuko""
She heaved a heavy sigh, rolling the message back up and half-heartedly retying the string keeping it shut.
Well, the upside was she’d have more time to ensure he got a proper ‘welcome home’.
fxrelord: And why does Zuko gotta get into a girlfriend ravishing mood when I gotta sleep soon :|
fxrelord: Gdi
monotonxus/gxnsen: OHOHOHO
indxstrialist: well she is beyonce so i don't blame him
monotonxus/gxnsen: Suki Minaj tho
monotonxus/gxnsen: IKR
monotonxus/gxnsen: LIKE COME ON
monotonxus/gxnsen: MAIONCE
indxstrialist: driver roll up the partition pls
indxstrialist: maionce omfg
indxstrialist: Lady Sa To
monotonxus/gxnsen: also guys remember like
monotonxus/gxnsen: Jun 30-July 6 I'll be on a vacation
monotonxus/gxnsen: xD
perseverxnce: ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
fxrelord: sobs
perseverxnce: T_T
fxrelord: what's Zuzu gonna do for a week without his wifey
perseverxnce: hes gonna
perseverxnce: lose it
fxrelord: or die of boredome
perseverxnce: shes gonna comebafk and zuko has stubble
perseverxnce: he let himself go
fxrelord: AHAHAHAAHAH
fxrelord: drinking like 5 cups of tea a day
monotonxus/gxnsen: omfg
perseverxnce: the palace is in shambles
monotonxus/gxnsen: IT'S ONLY A WEEK
fxrelord: /dying
fxrelord: xD
perseverxnce: theres a new heard of turtleducks roaming the halls
perseverxnce: AWEEK IS ALL IT TAKES
It isn’t until Mai marries Zuko and officially becomes the Fire Lady that she ever actually has to take the duty to visit the poles during business with the Water Tribes - and even then, Zuko of course would never make it mandatory if she really didn’t want to go. She absolutely hates the cold and snow, and will complain quite a lot about both when in the private company of her husband.
However, considering she wants to be a Fire Lady that actively partakes in the affairs of her Nation, she always goes with him to the poles anyway.
To try and remedy how cold she gets (being a nonbender and thus incapable to warm herself with chi), she basically clings to Zuko for warmth the entire trip and bundles herself in layers. The cold weather makes her much more physical, which of course Zuko never complains about.
Bonus: It’s during one of their trips to the Southern Water Tribe that their daughter is conceived.