sparklefiction

Scenes taking place between Zuko's grounding Irana for life and Zhi's revolt/Yun's return, as Zuko tries unsuccessfully to arrange suitable Fire Nation husbands for his oldest and youngest daughters.

Zhi: *comes stomping back from a tea* He's an idiot.
Mai: *unsurprised* What's wrong with him?
Zhi: I just told you.
Mai: He was at the top of his class at the Royal Academy.
Zhi: He doesn't believe in benders using weapons. He knows nothing about swords. His bending is better suited to a circus than a fight. He scoffed at the idea of sparring with me. And he thinks I will, and I quote, "grow out of my tendancy to be so opinionated." Why don't I just kill myself and save you the trouble?
Mai: *eyes Zuko and sips her tea* Hm.
Zuko: *silent eye twitching*
Zhi: Can I go now?
Mai: *subtly pats Zuko's thigh under the table* Sure.

Irana: *marches out of the tea room* No.
Mai: What did he say?
Irana: *crisply* He tried to touch me.
Mai: . . .What did you do?
Irana: *smoothing her shirt* I stabbed him.
Zuko: *closes his eyes and breathes slowly and deeply*
Mai: Touch you where?
Irana: It doesn't matter where. He tried to touch me without my permission. I pinned his hand to the table with a double bladed knife. You'll want to call someone to clean up the mess.
Mai: All right.
Irana: *bows stiffly and leaves*

(PS: He tried to touch her hand because she wouldn't look at him. -_-;)