The Blue Spirit ღ (Zuko x OC)

Chapter ⅩⅤⅠⅠ: Madame Ying

Halfway between their destined towns to show, the troupe had made camp by a stream in a grassy clearing bordered with beautiful flowers. Miss Akihiko and Li Min were stoking the flames of a campfire, preparing meals from the ingredients Ying had told them they'd bought in town a day before. Nala had felt relieved that he was able to keep his mouth shut about how they'd stolen them.

The clearing filled with the aroma of delicious food, and Ying and Nala sit by the stream watching Qigo and Chikaro dance. They were beautiful together, like petals opening and closing. Qigo would lift her love above her, then swoop her about, keeping a tight grip on her wrist. There was always a look of tranquillity and affection that glittered on Qigo's face, a look that Nala had never had the pleasure of witnessing otherwise, but it filled her with glee to watch their happiness in performance. Chikaro paraded about, her long hair swaying in it's intricate braids and twists, as she twisted her body into shapes for Qigo to unravel her from. Her soft, innocent features were almost a perfect and direct contrast to her partner's. Nala was freed from her trance as she realised there were a set of eyes on her. She cocked her head at Ying.

"I thought your mouth was broken." He jested. Nala self-consciously wiggled her jaw. "I could hear you saying 'wow', then I looked over and your mouth was ... unhinged." The usual mischievous grin played on his face as Nala shifted about nervously.

"Well ... I ..." She  began, then realised there was no way to play it cool, and so instead she laughed. "They're amazing, aren't they? Qigo's so strong." She couldn't help but admire Qigo's purling muscles that swung Chikaro around effortlessly.

"Yeah, they are lucky." Ying mused, making Nala turn to look at him. "In all the world, they found each other — a perfect match. Qigo is as strong as metal, and Chikaro is as malleable as a leaf. Deep down, Qigo is fragile and guarded, and Chikaro is warm and steadfast. Imagine how it must feel to find someone like that ... for the differences you have, you make up for in a balancing act." Ying sighed as he laid back in the grass, tucking his arms behind his head. Nala continued to watch the performance as Qigo spun Chikaro about and caught her, dipping her low.

"I'd love to find someone like that. But with my luck, they'd be from the Fire Nation." Ying heard Nala huff and laughed. "Sorry ... but I mean you're living proof that it happens."
"Well, I don't know that ... uh, 'Spiceball' was ever a perfect match for me." Nala grumbled.
"No?"
"There were times ..." She drifted away to the time in the swamp, by the campfire and the walk along the beach. "But then he'd turn into ... someone else. It was like two people resided within him. And the good one wasn't allowed out."

Ying's brow furrowed. "Yeah. I guess that's another thing that can happen, then."

"Maybe we can find perfect people in friends?" Nala's eyes fell upon him gently and lovingly. Ying sit up staring at her deadpan, but a wily smile escaped from it's cage and found it's way to his face.

"Oh?" He said with the kind of sardonic energy that tickled Nala. "Did Blue-eyes just admit she likes me?"
"I didn't say that."
"Are we perfect friends, Nala?"
"You're pushing your luck!" She barked, but he pulled her into a loving headlock.

"Hey, guess what!" Ying exclaimed, getting Chikaro and Qigo's attention mid-movement. "Nala just said we're friends! She likes us!"

Chikaro, who was being held above Qigo's head began to kick her legs in glee and cheer. Qigo's arms trembled beneath the energy being exerted above her, but held strong as her cheeks puffed up to hold her breath. She lowered Chikaro gently, taking a deep sigh of relief as her small girlfriend bounded about the moment she was back to the earth.

"This is great news!" Chikaro cheered. Qigo turned to Ying and Nala, looking as if she'd caught the smirk disease going around, her hands rested on her hips.

"This calls for celebration ... Fancy-Potato-Sack Ying.."

Ying suddenly froze, letting go of Nala who broke free only to see the look of terror on his face. An impish twinkle found the eyes of the three girls who were about to spend the evening making a garment from potato sacks, ribbons and topped off with a pair of fancy slippers for Ying to shuffle about a Fire Nation campsite in.