The Blue Spirit ღ (Zuko x OC)

Chapter ⅤⅠⅠⅠ: In Ashes

A note from the Author:

Hello, readers!
Here are some musical suggestions for the
mood of this chapter (in chronological order):
* Shiro Sagisu - Here to Stay 
* Emmelie De Forest - Only Tear Drops

       - Heather

----------------------------------~*~-----------------------------------

Chapter ⅤⅠⅠⅠ: In Ashes

"Uncle, let the Captain know we'll be staying a bit longer." Iroh was taken back by Zuko's cheery mood. "Tell them to ... go have a nice bowl of noodles in one of the villages and enjoy themselves."

A heartfelt smile spread itself across the older man's face. He nodded, happy to oblige his nephew.

*✧*

The pair had been walking a while along the beach, not saying too much, content with each other's company. Zuko sometimes considered taking her hand, but found himself to suddenly be a terrible coward at the thought.

"So how do you keep your hair ..."
"Not looking like the pelt of a Platypusbear?" Nala finished his thought amid a discussion of hair maintenance.

"Oh, I don't know about that ... I'm sure it doesn't look particularly ... refined today." Nala tittered to herself. Zuko smiled. It was a little wilder than usual.

"I couldn't even imagine what a Palace must look like from the inside. Tell me more about these royal combings ... You said there was water involved? Is that uncomfortable?"

"Uh ... no, actually. It's kinda nice." Suddenly, Zuko's tongue acted before his head. "I could brush your hair for you if you ... want to know what it's like."

"Really?"

"Y-yeah ... I couldn't really do it the same as in the Palace, but ..."

"I'd like that."

He smiled at her, feeling a flutter of joy that she'd accepted. He felt her walking close to him, her hand brushing against his, and he decided to coyly slip his fingers into her's, letting them intertwine. He looked over at her, and not even minding the way his cheeks burned or the smile that crinkled his eyes. He felt peaceful drinking in her unusual beauty ... a pair of sparkling gemstones set against marble, framed by rushes of flaming topaz that caught the sunlight and wind like agrestal fields. She certainly wasn't the kind of beauty found poised in a palace, or painted and packed firmly to paramour perfection. She certainly wasn't a dainty wisp of a thing being moved about by servants, and it showed in the toning in her body that could be made out beneath her clothing.

He found himself starting to love the strange mannerisms she had. Even her animalistic movements, and the way her gait was less of the graceful shuffle of a noblewoman or courtesan, but steady shifts of weight ... like she was carrying herself through dance steps or a fight. Zuko found himself lingering on the thoughts of her and caught himself in his runaway emotions.

Soon, they came to the edge of had been a forest. The two began to walk through the blackened wasteland cautiously, stepping over entire trees that had fallen and been burnt from the inside out. Nala seemed to look incredibly morose as she scanned the remains of the swamp.

"This is terrible." She said grimly.

Zuko felt guilt welling inside him for bringing her here so soon."I'm sorry."