Best Friends Forever?[SPORATIC UPDATES]

14: Mystery Room

The tension in my body increases for a short moment before releasing as I stretch and yawn.

That was a good rest. Best sleep I've had in a while.

My hazy eyes crack open before blinking slowly a few times.

This isn't my room.

This ceiling is too nice to be my room.

Where am I?

Sitting up, I scan my surroundings.

Everything is too nice to be my room.

I spot a tall figure slumped in a chair to my right. I squint my eyes to try & figure out who- maybe I'll figure out why I'm here. Or maybe where 'here' is.

Squinting isn't making it any better, so I sneak out of the, ever so comfortable, bed and tip toe over for a better look. The way their head is angled makes it difficult to tell who they are. The parts of their face that aren't curtained by their dark hair, are so by shadows. Curse the dim lighting of this room.

They shifted in their sleep. Which scared me half to death, but also gave me a better view of this mystery stranger.

Are you-

Their eyes shot open and they flung their arms up in defense. 

"Ow! Zuko!" I shout after he uppercuts me with the side of his forearm. "Fair, but ow."

"Azeala! What are- what are you doing?!"

"I just wanted to know where I was & figured the mystery person on the mystery chair in the mystery room would give me a clue." I say while rubbing my jaw. He swung like he was ready to fight a Platypus bear. I'd hate to see Meela from back home take him on. 

"You're... in my room..." he said, after a pause, and looked away. Side eying me.

"Well I figured as much." I said, with perhaps a bit too much sass. I'm still bitter about the pain in my jaw. Sure, I may  have scared him... but he scared me so I say we're even. "Why am I here anyway?"

"Uh... you kinda... fainted"

"..." I think back on what happened yesterday. Everything  that happened yesterday. "Yah that makes sense." I shrug my shoulders and stretch them after feeling the tension in them. "Thanks for taking care of me, Zu." I flash him my biggest smile. He's always so tense around me. What will it take for this guy to loosen up a bit?

Silence.

"Well... guess I'll be going now..." 

And with that, I exit Zuko's fancy room- and exit Zuko's awkward energy. 

I blow out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding once I close the door behind me. "At least that's over." I murmur to myself. 

And then it hits me.

I have no idea what Azula was trying to achieve yesterday! Do I even want to know?! 

I sigh, placing a hand over my face, and begin walking to the left. Quick movement catches my attention for a moment, but when I look up, I find nothing but the fabric & paintings that decorate the hall. 

I'm... just not going to worry about it. What I AM going to worry about, is where I'm going to go when I get kicked out of this place. Kapuco's is at least  a weeks travel from here. and I don't even know how long I have to gather resources.

Stupid Azula. Dragging me around all over the Nations and then back to the 1 place I thought I'd never find myself in again, only to try and make me look like a fool so that you can kick me out. 

I always knew she was evil.

Okay. THAT'S not true, but shouldn't have said yes to her little escapade in the 1st place. I've barely seen Ty Lee, let alone Mai  since being here. 

Maybe I should just leave before she makes a spectacle of me & has me formally kicked out of the palace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GUESS WHO'S NOT DEAD?!

(It's me... incase you got confused)

That's right. I'm not dead. Was close there for a bit, but I'm good now. Just dealing with some things like anyone else. I truly appreciate all of you are reading my little story (even if you're NOT reading this) and to those of you who are STILL reading this story... 😭😭😭 i love you guys (as an author would love a reader)

Hope you enjoyed the update & will continue to join Azeala (and me) on her journey 

(I already have plans for continuing with this reality into Legends of Korra. But that's top secret 🤐)

Hope you all have a wonderful rest of your day. &-- as I will now be wishing you-- sweet dreams.