Fighting Fire with Fire ~ ☼ ZUKO X OC ☼

Chapter 3

When I wake up it is still dark outside, the night is yet to release its hold on the world, yet my eyes are wide open and my brain has no signs of turning off again. I slightly lift my head to look up to the others, still peacefully sleeping in their beds, before dropping my head back to the pillow and staring at the ceiling above. I am barely able to make the lines and shapes of the planks of wood that make up the roof over us.

I shuffle beneath the covers, closing my eyes and attempting to force my body to fall back asleep. I sigh with defeat after a few minutes have passed and my muscles still haven't relaxed. Generally, when I was travelling alone, I was always up well and truly before sunrise, packing up my camp so I could spend all hours of the day travelling from one point to the next. Groaning, I pull back the sheets and swing my feet onto the floor, dropping my head into my hands, staring at the ground even though I can barely see it. My long hair topples over my shoulders, falling in front of my face, reminding me how desperately I need to cut it.

Pulling my hair away from my face, I quietly pull my shoes out from under my bed, leaving behind the over layer of my everyday outfit on the edge of my bed. Looking back up to the others, I quietly move to Laia's bed which is closest to mine.

"Pst, Laia." I whisper in a hushed tone, lightly nudging her. She snaps her head towards me before dropping back into sleep, her eyes never opening as I study the bags under her eyes.

"What." She grunts with irritation.

"I- I just wanted to let you know I'm going out." I mutter.

"Oh, okay. Why are you telling me for?" she whispers back, pulling the blanket over her shoulder. I stop for a moment thinking about her question.

"I donno, just so if I'm not back by sunrise you guys know why-" I trail off, "That's what you do in teams, tell each other where ur going, right?" I ask now, second guessing myself.

"I guess." she huffs, finally opening her eyes as my gaze shifts to her hair. "Where are you going?" she mutters.

"For a run, they help clean my head." I explain looking down to the shoes in my hand.

"Hm, okay. Have fun then, don't get lost." she mumbles, turning away from me going back to sleep.

The front door quietly closes behind me as I look past the terrace to the colours of sunrise peeking over the inner wall. I sigh as I sit on the top step, tying my shoelaces before standing up and dusting myself off. I wear dark green baggy pants which are usually mostly hidden by my dress, however now they are only accompanied by the shirt I normally wear as an under layer. It's fitted, pale green, finished just below the begin of my pants and the sleeves reach the middle of my upper arms.

Stretching my legs I take notice of the surrounding monuments so I can find my way back, before taking off across the bridge that leads into town.

☯

By the time I return to the house, the sun has fully risen and is beaming on my back as I drag my feet up the stairs. Every time I go for a run, it's great at the beginning, but by the end I am regretting all my previous life choices.

I slowly push open the door, to find the house buzzing with movement. Katara and Laia are in the kitchen while Sokka sits in the sleeping area, his legs resting against the wall as he throws his boomerang in the air and catches it, repeating the movement again and again. Toph sits opposite him simply staring into the distance, most likely caught up in a day dream of some sort.

"Welcome back!" Katara grins, as I close the door behind me. I smile back as I let go of the doorknob and walk over to her.

"Morning." I smile in return, looking past her to the ingredients sitting on the bench.