“Shh!”
Zuko furrows his brow scanning past her, before rounding the corner of the counter and pushing her toward the back door. “We’re being stupid talking out here.” He turns back as he goes to close the door, sighing with relief as he sees the shop is empty.
”It’s safer to talk in here.”
There isn’t much, a wash bowl and a few empty vases that line the shelves. Awkwardly, he pauses for a moment, trying to find the words, “Last resort or not—it’s my choice, and i’m telling you you can’t do it.”
It isn’t really his place to make orders, not yet, but protecting her own innocence was the only goal in that moment.
“No one’s dying anyway. Not me, or him—anyone. It doesn’t matter what you decide because I won’t let it happen.”
Though, she was right. Her father was committing some form of treason and would be punished in full had he been caught. All it depended on now, was how or when.
What would my father do?
——don’t think about it.
”No matter what happens. It’s my burden. Stay out of it, Mai.”
She left because the duties were too much, right? because he lied—because the time was simply not there—so why would she…?
All the same, he was sick of being protected, sick of people trying to harbor the guilt on his behalf—mainly her. “Like I said,” Zuko sighs, “just stay out of it.”
“There’s no reason for anyone to get their hands dirty, and even if it comes down to that, it’s my job. Not yours.”
Truth be told, she’d been triggered into such a rant that she hadn’t even considered the possibility someone could have been watching. It was a good thing Zuko had kept his wits about him while she failed, lest they find themselves on a slippery slope of trouble.
Not that Mai believed her aunt had spies or something around, not that anyone would have ever considered a flower shop to hold some sort of treat. Then again, it was probably more widely known Mai had such close relations with the new Fire Lord than she ever considered. Nobles liked to gossip, after all, and servants loved to snoop in on conversations to gossip with other servants.
She should’ve known better than to open her mouth so blatantly before checking their surroundings, but there wasn’t much she could do about it now except hold her tongue until they shuffled into the back room to finish the conversation.
However, when they finally did get to much safer surroundings and Zuko had spoken his piece, Mai was silent. She was thinking, processing everything he’d said and that stubborn attitude he’d always had. Finally, she exhaled a large sigh.
❝ Fine, I’ll back off. But don’t think that means I’m just going to walk away from it entirely. For one, he’s still my father and whatever happens, I’m stll his firstborn and Tom-Tom isn’t old enough to pick up the pieces to the mess he’s made. And secondly—-“
There was another pause, almost as if the words she wanted to say had gotten caught in the back of her throat. Her mouth shut and pressed into a thin line, and then she inhaled and exhaled.
❝ —- Secondly, I want to share your burdens. Because that’s what people do when they love someone, Zuko. They help them carry their burdens. Which is why it was so irritating when you wouldn’t just talk to me.”