When Hatred turned to Love (ATLA Zuko x OC)

Chapter Forty - The Guru

Her eyes opened at the sensation of a warm hand caressing her cheek. He was finally awake. Iris felt so much relief when she saw him, realizing that she had slept all night on the floor next to Zuko.

"I know your face," He said softly at her as he caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers.

She sat cross-legged beside him and he tried to wake up. The blanket slipped off his body as he tried to wake, exposing his bare chest and shoulders. Iris pushed him back down with her arm but when she noticed that she was touching his bare chest, she felt a blush chasing her cheeks.

But she pulled it off and she said "You need to take it easy, okay? You had an intense fever,"

He noticed the paler color her hand was, comparing it to his skin and he took her arm in his giving it a gentle squeeze recognizing how cold it was. "Are you okay?" Zuko asked worriedly.

"Yeah, I-I'm fine, it's just..." She tried to say hesitantly. Iris didn't want to trouble him for her health after the 'metamorphosis' Zuko had passed through. But seeing the determinedly worried look on his face she could say that he would not stop asking until she gave an answer. "...I've... I'm just tired,"

She didn't have the mood to give explanations about how she got to Lake Laogai and how she was injured, she just needed more rest.

Iris tried to change the subject "How do you feel?" she asked.

"Better... much better," Zuko answered gratefully "Thanks to you,"

"Oh, I've just been sitting beside you, I didn't do anything," Iris said waving her hand.

"'Sitting beside me' was enough," Zuko said smiling at her.

She smiled back at him. He seemed... different... lighter? Maybe. But she didn't stick to figure out what it was as she felt his lips coming in contact with hers giving her a hungry kiss.

Iris kissed him back. She wanted to kiss him the entire day and she started burying her fingers in his pitch black hair. His tongue teased her lips and she gladly accepted it. He bit, tenderly, her bottom lip forcing a pleasing groan out of her as her hands, instinctively, examined his bare muscles.

Zuko cupped her cheek and he pushed behind only to look in her eyes. "You know I love you, don't you?" he asked.

This was a ridiculous question to ask but she answered "Of course, I do,"

"Have I ever hurt you?" Zuko asked.

Iris stared at him for a small moment, confusion clear in her eyes. What did he have in his mind? "Zuko, where is this coming from?" she asked.

"Just tell me, please," He begged, caressing her cheek.

"You haven't hurt me, Zuko. You won't hurt me. I know it because I trust you the way you trust me," Iris answered taking his hand in hers.

He pulled her into a tight hug resting his chin on top of her head, while her nose nuzzled in his neck. They both wanted that moment, to never last...

_________________________________

"What's that smell?" Zuko asked as they both got in the kitchen Iroh was cooking in.

"It's juk, I'm sure you wouldn't like it," Iroh said.

"Actually, it smells delicious, I'd love a bowl, uncle," Zuko said kindly taking a bowl.

Iroh looked confusedly and suspiciously at his nephew. He glared over at Iris moving his head like 'What's going on?' but she just shrugged confusedly as well and she raised her hands in defeat.