Honored Son Chapter 3 Preview

"So, how is the Academy going?"

"Its been interesting," Mai answered, getting a raised eyebrow from Zuko. From Mai, interesting basically meant anything remotely exciting. "Azula is annoyed with the other girls talking about you so much."

"They actually tried to use Azula to get to me?" Zuko asked skeptically. "They have met my sister, right?"

"Only the new students were that stupid," Mai answered with a brief quirk of the lips. "But Azula keeps a finger on the pulse of gossip and rumors around the school. And most of them are now about her big brother."

"And she is hating it," Zuko said, relishing the feeling far, far more than he knew he should. "Well, I'm sure she'll recaputre everyone's attention before the year is out. I guess that explains why she seemed so on edge lately. I just assumed it was because she's still having trouble with lightning."

"Yes, she had some colorful commentary about that," Mai agreed, eyes dancing with enjoyment as she remembered Azula's ranting. "How about you? You've been in an awefully chipper mood. By which I mean. if you had smiled much wider yesterday, Ty Lee would have been jealous."

Zuko couldn't help grinning. "Things have been going great, actually. I've finally been making breakthroughs in my firebending training with Uncle helping me. Even if he makes me play Pai Sho at least once a day with him. Which I am still horrible at," Zuko admitted sheepishly. "And I even started sword lessons again with Master Piandao last month."

"Piandao? Wasn't he the guy that left the army, than your grandfather told them to leave him be after defeating a hundred soldiers with just his sword?" Mai recalled with some surprise.

"Yeah, well, I think he helps the Fire Nation better teaching others than fighting himself," Zuko commented fondly. "I stopped after, well, Dad became Firelord and everything was a bit hectic for a while. Piandao is just happy that I didn't get too rusty over the past two years."

"I can imagine," Mai remarked, tilting her head. "Did you try out swords to impress me?"

"What?" Zuko askedi n legitimate confusion. "No. Back than you were still, well "Azula's friend" in my mind."

Mai blinked. "Huh. A lot of olders girls talk about putting boys in the friendzone, but they never talk about being put in it themselves."

"Okay?" Zuko murmured without understanding, deciding best to change tracks. "Anyway, I'm trying not to brag, but apparently I have great potential as a swordsman. And I don't think he was, as Azula would say, brown-nosing me."

"That's great, Zuko," Mai said with a warm smile before turning concerned. "Does the Firelord have issue with you learning this though?"

Zuko shrugged. "He said something that...hoenstly sounded a bit like Uncle," he stated awkwardly. "Something about how a Swordsman cannot be the Firelord, but the Firelord can also be a Swordsman?"

"What does that mean/" Mai asked in confusion.

"I guess that I can learn to use them, but I shouldn't neglect my firebending?" Zuko answered uncertainly. "What about you? How have things at home been going?"

Mai rolled her eyes, looking up into the pond. "Fine, I guess. Mom mainly leaves me alone now that they have new kid to look forward to. She does these weird little rituals and eats these strange meals to promote good luck for the kid. Dad is just trying to keep Mom happy and comfortable as she gets, you know, rounder. I just get a few reminders to be on my best behavior and some small talk at the table," Mai explained neutrally. "Guess I can't complain, they're leaving me alone."

There was silence, and Mai was tempted to look back, wondering just what had Zuko's tongue tied. The grass rustled and she blinked, feeling his arm lean againt hers, his hand finding hers and interlocking. "You don't have to be alone, Mai," Zuko promised.

"I hate that you can do that," she stated with frustration. The second his hand pulled away, she gripped back. "I don't hate that you do it though."

"And I don't hate that you let me," Zuko said cheekily, leaning in more.

"Don't ruin the moment," she warned despite her smile.

Zuko let the moment stretch out into several more before he slumpped. "I'm leaving, Mai."

Mai opened her mouth, than closed it as she looked thoughtful. She tried and failed to understand his meaning, and couldn't conjure up a worthy guess. "What do you mean?" she asked in concern.

"I talked to my dad the other day. He told that me that it was about time I went hunting for the Avatar," Zuko explained carefully.

"The Avatar?" Mai repeated, scowling. "So, that's a real royal tradition?"

"I suppose it is becoming one," Zuko answered, rubbing the back of his head. "And it does sound like a good idea for the crown prince to go out and see the world for himself."

Mai nodded absently. "When?" she asked tensely.

"Within the month, but I can leave in two weeks if I really wanted too," Zuko explained, looking  to her apologetically. "I just-"

"You don't have to say goodbye," Mai cut off swiftly, refusing to meet his gaze. "You'll be back in a couple years, three at most?"

"At least two, yes," Zuko confirmed with a nod. "What about you?"

Mai took  deep breath. "I'll be fine."

"Mai-"

"Zuko," Mai cut off, looking at him with a stern look before return to juggling a dagger in one hand. "Don't make this sappy or anything. I'll be here when you get back. And its not like you'l lbe gone all the time, right? And can't send messages?"

"Well, Uncle says that it wouldn't be a bad thing to have shoreleave at the captial once or twice a year," Zuko answered in confirmation. "It's not an exile or anything."

"Who knows, maybe after I graduate next year, I'll sneak aboard your ship," Mai suggested in jest.

"Mai, you do realize that the minute anyone but me finds you, they'll throw you in the brig, right?" Zuko pointed out cautiously.

"Than I'll just sneak into your room before I get caught," Mai answered without missing a beat, smiling minutely as they both blushed. "Zuko, don't worry about me. I can handle my parents. Its not like they hurt me or anything. Go, have fun. I'll make sure your sister doesn't go completely crazy."

"Yes, Agni forbid out father approve of me for even a moment," Zuko muttered in exasperation befire his face lit up in mirth. "Oh, did you know there's a reward for capturing the Avatar?"

"There is?" Mai asked skeptically. "Beside the usual dull stuff of eternal glory and everlasting honor?"

"Shush," Zuko said in mock annoyance. "No, Dad explained that each Firelord makes an obligatory prize to make the quest seem more, well, real."

"Hm, and what did Firelord Ozai offer to his teenage son for this impossible quest?" Mai asked, feigning thoughtfulness. "A harem of the beautiful girls in the first nation?"

"Maybe?"