Maikka Week - Not Here

Maikka Week - Not Here

Katara waited at the foot of the gangplank so that she could be the first to greet her brother and his betrothed. Thus, she got the full impact of the look that landed on Mai's face, a gaping expression of complete and utter horror. The Fire Nation noble's gaze passed right by Katara's head, and was fixated on the Southern Water Tribe's primary settlement.

Home.

Sokka began babbling loudly and he hugged his sister, commenting on how good it was to be with her again, then moving on to various exclamations about the many changes to their home, without pausing for breath. Katara's heart warmed at the familiar display of her brother's happiness, and a content smile spread widely across her own face. Then she caught sight of Mai again, and a little chill tingled at the center of her heart.

Mai still looked like she had just stumbled across the body of a loved one.

Katara also noticed that the Fire Nation girl was wearing both a heavy cloak and a parka, and yet she still hugged herself with an intensity that could very well be generating its own gravity. Had she ever been in an environment this cold? Could she get used to it?

Sokka finally remembered his beloved companion, and swung over to put an arm around Mai and formally introduce his home village. Something about the contact with Sokka jolted her out of her waking catatonia, and instantly the usual crafted expression of apathy was back on her face.

"So where do you keep the real buildings? Behind these little snow forts?"

He didn't laugh out loud, but Katara could tell that Sokka appreciated the attempt at humor. His smile tilted to a smirk, and his eyes met Mai's for an eloquent moment. Katara, however, didn't find it funny. (Honestly, she rarely thought Mai's jokes were in good taste, never mind humorous.) The Waterbender couldn't help but feel that the joke had a little too much truth in it. Mai's eyes were narrowed, and her back's usual stiffness actually looked unnatural for a change. She still hugged herself, and didn't lean into Sokka like she usually did when they were in contact. Mai must be miserable.

That's when Katara realized it. She knew where her brother would finally settle down and start a family.

Not here.

Katara and Aang had been married only a short while, but they had traveled together with few breaks since the Avatar had first emerged from his iceberg. They had long ago mastered the art of compromise, the most important factor in a long-term relationship. From what she had heard, Sokka and Mai had more or less (was it really necessary to involve knives in domestic arguments?) done the same.

Mai wasn't going to live at the South Pole. Sokka, at the same time, wanted to spend his life with her.

Someday, their father would retire as Chief, or... Sokka had always been everyone's first candidate for succeeding Hakoda. He had shown real leadership skills both throughout the war and afterward, and plenty of odd but effective wisdom. He had proven himself as a warrior many times, and his talent for invention was already helping to improve life in the tribe. Sure, he had a long way to go yet before he could be counted on as reliably as their father, but he had the potential.

Mai was going to waste that potential.

Maybe she should let it go, but Katara wouldn't be Katara if she didn't have hope. Mai was miserable now, but there was time to change her mind, maybe get her to warm up to the snow and igloos and crisp icy water. Katara would certainly try.

A thought struck.

Maybe a parka with room for all her knives would be a start...

END