meetings without zuko present are the worst.
in his absence, his chancellors grow smug, and are quick to sideline the ‘junior’ adviser & disgraced princess in favor of puffing themselves up, seacocks comparing plumage. recognition eclipses result, only they’re too busy patting themselves on the back to notice that, this time, the result has more holes in it than sliced lotus root. mai sighs and, in her silent misery, her gaze find’s azula’s.
kill me now.
for a flash, they’re back at school, bored to tears while he shihan demonstrates the basic firebending stances. mai half expects a folded note to land in her lap, a snarky observation that almost makes the wasted time worth it... then she frowns and glances away. that they’re still able to communicate with just a look years later sits in her stomach like bad shrimp.
the one benefit to their moment of silent camaraderie comes later, when azula flounces into her small office. mai doesn’t even need to glance up from her desk to greet her with a sigh.
❝ and the day’s trials only continue . ❞
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