The plum that blossoms in autumn

Late autumn in the Earth Kingdom was mild, without the bursting cold air currents of the South that passed through the Fire Nation. Mai thought it could become a good tradition, after their wedding with Zuko, to come to Ba Sing Se and spend the fall season there.

The gentle breeze of the wind tangled their robes: brown and green. Zuko’s hair was loose, the long bangs got into his eyes and Mai kept pushing them from his face:

- Oh, I’m gonna cut your hair one day, I can’t see you, - she parted the thick bangs and kissed the young Fire Lord’s forehead.

- But I won’t be able to wear my hair-piece! – he leaned back against the tree trunk and pulled her into his arms. They were standing in the small garden of the Jasmine Dragon, and enjoyed the warm weather.

- I could hammer it into your skull… - whispered Mai, and lay her head on his shoulder, indulging into the safe feeling of his strong arms. Zuko laughed and exclaimed:

- I can’t believe you’re threatening your Fire Lord!

The last words were like the sound of a whip coming down, and the girl barely kept herself from jumping up. She tried hard not to think, not to remember, sighing loudly. Zuko noticed the uneasy coldness that crouched into their moment, and patted his future wife’s head, asking:

- What’s wrong?

- We lost… so much time, - she bit her lip, raising her head. Her voice trembled, and Zuko was surprised at the sudden softness, almost fragility, that he rarely saw in his girlfriend. He had noticed odd things about her before: Mai’s awkward quietness, or the sad, scared look in her eyes. Could this be what she was thinking about all the time?

He put his hand to his chin, and thought: “What would Uncle do?” Suddenly, a blossoming plum tree caught his eye:

- Do you see that plum tree? – and he hugged her shoulders, turning Mai around. She nodded quickly, and Zuko continued: - It’s autumn already, but it’s blossoming. It is never too late.

At that very moment, Iroh walked onto the terrace with a broom in his hands. He started sweeping the orange leaves in the yard, when Zuko called out:

- Uncle, what do you think about the plum that blossoms in autumn?

Iroh looked up at the tree, then considered for a moment, eyeing the couple:

- Well, it really depends what point of view you’re looking from. It may be too late, but it may also be too soon.

Zuko mumbled something, scratching his head. But Mai didn’t pay any attention – she couldn’t help but bury her face in Zuko’s neck – just to hide, while she thought of the man in the Palace prison.