Mai had left the capital just after the invasion. She didn’t trust herself not to cut her ex’s throat, for the way he’d left her. Or Ty Lee’s, for the way she didn’t care that the man she was screwing was an enemy. Or Azula’s, whenever she surfaced, for her persistent attempts to off Zuko. There wasn’t anything left for her there. Of her two childhood friends and sweetheart, she now had, instead of a slightly unbalanced liar, an overly-optimistic acrobat, and a high-strung gentleman, she had a full-blown psychopath, a slut, and a man she couldn’t look in the face. Three strangers. It was easier not to hate them when she didn’t have to face them every day.

So she packed her things and left the palace, and the capital, going to her family’s estates in the country, where she spent most of her time using the trees for target practice. As she grew bored, she moved farther and farther afield for her games.

As she collected her knives and senbon, a low groan filtered through the trees.  It sounded like a man, and he sounded like he was in pain.

She frowned, and slunk through the trees to find him.

It fortunately didn’t take too long — the man was not particularly small, and he was wearing Fire Nation reds, which made him easier to spot.  His clothes and skin were burned, and his face was bruised.  He’d apparently been set upon by bandits and robbed.

She swore under her breath — having a boyfriend who spent three years with sailors had vastly improved her vocabulary — and checked his pulse.  It beat firm and steady under her fingers, so his life fortunately wasn’t endangered.  At the touch, however, clear gold eyes opened and caught hers.

“You’re conscious, and your heart’s going strong. Hold still, I’m going to try and figure a way to get you somewhere someone can clean you up,” she said, then stood up to see what she could find.

“Okay,” he said, his voice weaker than his pulse but still deep and rich.  But there was something off about the accent…

She pushed it to the back of her mind to consider later. For now, it was more important to get him to someone who could clean him up properly.  The problem would be getting him there — as she had observed before, he wasn’t a small man, and his build was muscular rather than slim.

Dragging him would do more harm than good. But she’d need more people to carry a litter. “…I’ll be back. I’m going to get help. Wait here.”

A pained laugh.  “Don’t have… much choice.”

“Try not to laugh either. It sounds painful.” She stood up and walked off.

When she returned with help, he was still conscious, but only just — probably only through sheer pig-headedness.

She directed the men she’d brought with her in constructing a litter, and helped load him onto it, then led the way back to her manor.

Those golden eyes never left her the entire way there; he didn’t drift out until there was a roof over his head.

She was waiting when he woke up. He was a diversion — something to do that wasn’t the same things she’d been doing for days on end.  “Hi,” he said quietly on opening his eyes again.

“Hi.”

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

His face, eyes, and clothing were Fire Nation, but his accent was pure Earth Kingdom.

She shrugged. “It was something to do.”

“Then I thank the spirits you were bored.”

She favoured him with a very tiny smile.

The man smiled back, then asked if he was allowed to sit up.

“As far as I know.”

He promptly did so, dragging himself up until his back rested against the head board.

“What happened?”

He frowned.  “I got careless and got jumped for my troubles.  Normally, folk see the muscles and back off.”

“Who jumped you?” she asked. It was close enough to her lands that she should know.

“Bandits, as far as I know.  Looked to be a mix of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom — one of ‘em was an earthbender.”  He eyed his bandaged arm.  “Damage from that doesn’t show up quite so well as that from firebenders.”

“How many?”

“About… ten?”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure, my lady.”  He bowed to her from his seated position.  “I am called Liàng.”

“Mai.”

Something flickered in his eyes, there and gone in less than a second.  “I am grateful for your hospitality, Lady Mai.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Did they say when I would be able to travel again?” he queried after a moment.

She shook her head. “Not for a few days, I don’t think.”

Liàng sighed in vexation.  “Might I borrow a messenger hawk, then?”

“Of course.”

“My thanks to you once more.”

She waved a hand dismissively, but he smiled.  “It truly means a lot to me, my lady.”

She smiled again, that tiny smile. “You’re welcome, then.”

He rather liked that smile.

Too bad it came from someone he was obligated to hate.

After a moment, she stood up, gave him a polite goodbye, and left the infirmary. The hawk he’d asked for was brought twenty minutes later.  Quickly, he wrote a note to the General explaining that he had been delayed and why, and informed the hawk’s keeper that the message was to the palace.

The keeper arched an eyebrow, but only bowed and said the message would be sent off immediately.

“My thanks to you.”

He bowed again, and left.

Carefully, Liàng lowered himself and considered his option.  It was clear that the noblewoman hadn’t recognised him, which was hopefully a good thing.  He’d have to see what the next few days brought.