Author’s Note: Decided that I was going to do a Zumai or Maiko fic. Regardless of what you call it, here it is. R&R please, thanks! PEACE!

P.S. FLUFF WARNING! Must where lifejacket lest you drown within the wonderful fluffiness. Lol.

Mai cuddled closer to Zuko, looking high up into the night sky that was lit by a hundred balls of exploding flame.

Celebration.

“The color of fire is horrible repulsive,” she remarked quietly, shifting her gaze downward toward the platform where the Avatar performed with his odd, southern friend, the girl whose name escaped Mai. They were putting on a show, a show to signify that the war was finally over. Zuko chuckled quietly, propping himself up on the roof of the palace and looking down on the girl whom he loved so much.

“You’re sure?” Zuko asked, raising an eyebrow at her and sitting up fully, lifting an open palm in front of him. Mai sat up next to him, looking at his palm, watching as a small blue flame formed and slowly grew. The noble ability of blue flame had returned to the no-longer prince now that he was fire lord and his father was dead. Slowly, the fire grew larger, and through Zuko’s easy, trained manipulation it became what resembled an oversized butterfly.

The flaming creature flapped its wings as Zuko commanded, and slowly flew around the couple, forcing Mai to move even closer to the fire lord. “Not your fire, the orange kind,” Mai breathed into Zuko’s ear, causing him to smile slightly, even though his breathing was now ragged, and close his hand, extinguishing the blue butterfly. She leaned back slowly, pulling Zuko’s arm with her, and cuddling up to his warm body.

“Aww, but you’re so cute when you hate everything,” Zuko whispered back, and then nuzzled his nose into Mai’s hair, inhaling deeply. Mai smiled and wrapped her arms around Zuko’s robed form, resting her head up against his chest and looking back up at the lit night sky. Balls of flame flew up from the crowd, firebenders showing their excitement that the world was finally free. Her gaze eventually drifted back down to the Avatar’s show, watching as fire, water, rock, and air continually circled him, twining together and apart easily, symbolizing the new unity of the 4 elements and 4 nations. The water tribe girl was putting on a show foreign to the fire nation, bending and flowing with the water that intricately moved around her body. The crowd cheered as she gathered the water in a ball above her head, and then suddenly turned it into many tiny icicles, letting them drop and bury themselves in the ground around her.

Mai smiled sadly to herself, if only she could firebend, then she would be more worthy of Zuko, more worthy to be his girlfriend. She popped a stiletto from its holster in her wrist, twirling it in deadly arcs, but never hurting herself. She would have to settle for being able to master daggers, even though fire would be much more enjoyable, despite the horrible color of it. “And by the way,” Mai commented, “I don’t hate everything, just the color of fire.”

Zuko sighed sadly and looked down at Mai. His hand drifted to the pocket of his red robe, slipping inside, and then drawing out, clutching something small in his closed fist. Mai looked at his hand curiously, sitting up to get a better view. What could he possibly be holding? Mai slipped the stiletto back into its place and watched Zuko expectantly. “You’re sure?” he breathed again, his face so close to hers. She nodded mutely, unable to speak.

His eyes saddened as he opened his hand, palm up toward her so that she could see. Mai gasped.

There lay a golden band, carved and shaped like flame, and it seemed to move and flow when the light hit it. Set into it was a beautiful gem, something unique to the fire nation, it was red and orange and yellow all at once, the colors moving and flowing within its many depths as though a flame existed inside of it. It was a fire agate. That was why he had asked her if she really hated the color!

“Mai, will you be my fire lady?” Zuko whispered, unable to bear looking up toward her, his head bowed and hand held out slightly. Zuko seemed to be attempting to hide his scar, tilting his face slightly to the side.

Mai’s head was in a million directions. Of course she would love to, and she knew that she loved Zuko SO, SO, SO MUCH. But still… they were a bit young, and it was so early in their relationship. It was so very sudden… Mai sighed quietly, making up her mind.

“I suppose it’s not such a horrible color,” she remarked offhandedly, tilting Zuko’s face upward and looking deep into his now-happy golden orbs. With that, she pulled his face to hers with her left hand, the other one held within Zuko’s grasp as he slipped the beautiful ring onto her waiting finger.

It was DEFINITELY not such a horrible color.

Author’s Note: AWWWW. So sweet. Lol, I hope you wore your lifejackets. Anyway, R&R please and tell me how you like it. I’ve always loved Mai and Zuko as a pairing, they go so well together. Previously exiled, scarred prince and beautiful, goth dagger chick. Perfect for each other. R&R! Thanks! PEACE!!

--Quinny