The Blue Spirit ღ (Zuko x OC)

Chapter ⅩⅩⅠ: Reprieve

"We have the chance for a new life here." Uncle urged Zuko.
"I don't want a life here." 

Iroh had seemed so excited to receive the news that he'd be able to open his own store, and that they would get to live somewhere nicer. This of course meant he'd have to travel more every day to see Nala, but that wasn't what bothered him. Zuko was still holding onto the promise of restoring his honour, and finally being able to return home. Of course, now he was hoping to return with Nala.

All he needed now was a plan of action. A way to achieve his dream. He pushed out the door, into the street for fresh air. Finally, everything was starting to fall in to place . . .

As he leaned against the wall of their house, he watched a piece of paper float down from the sky. He grabbed it from the air and examined it, his eyes widening as he realised it was a flyer for the Avatar's bison. Everything was starting to fall in to place.

*✧*

Nala stood outside the tea shop Zuko had mentioned he worked at. She peered around, making her way up to the counter to the disgruntled looking man behind it.

"Excuse me, sir. Are Lee and Mushi around?" She asked gently.
"Why? Are you going to offer him a new tea shop, too?" The man huffed.
"I'm sorry?"
"Who do they think they are in the upper rings ... stealing my best staff! And they'll be leaving within the week."
"Are they here today?"
"No." The shop owner grunted. "I haven't seen Lee all day and Mushi just left."
"Do you know where they went?"
"Who knows! Maybe to start telling everyone about their new shop!"

By this point, Nala figured she wouldn't be getting anything much more from this man; he seemed far too caught up about his own problems. Nala, however, was impressed and now she wanted to see Zuko and Iroh for a different reason. She wanted to congratulate them and tell Zuko how proud she was that he was finally starting to settle. Her mind started to toy with ideals of living a new life with Zuko. Perhaps she would even leave the troupe, and stay in the city with him. She felt a heat coming to her cheeks as she left the shop.

It seemed that the colour had lingered, even as she returned to the troupe, because Ying came bounding over to her as ecstatic as ever.

"Went to repay the kiss to your firecracker?" He teased with a sardonic smirk.
"Well he wasn't ther— ... how do you know about that?" Nala had almost choked on her air.
"We were spying, obviously!" Ying laughed, then took her hand and led her to the field. "Come on, I had an idea. We should try putting your feelings into the show."
"Ying, that's crazy I don't—!"
"You're seriously going to try deny it Blue Eyes?"

Ying's laughter broke through Nala's scowl, and she gave in with a roll of her eyes, taking up a stance. He nodded and mirrored her, letting her lead this time. She focused how she felt for Zuko, creating the shapes of her emotions with her body, just as Ying had suggested. They practised all through the day, getting down a cohesive routine. As the coolness of the evening settled in, Nala found she was quite fired up from having explored her feelings for Zuko. She excused herself, heading back to the tea shop in the hopes of finding him and telling him how she felt.

*✧*

Nala arrived to see the lights on inside of Zuko's house and gave the door a few taps. After a moment, Iroh opened the door with an expression that wasn't befitting his usual charisma.

"I-is everything alright?" Nala asked. Iroh responded with a sigh as he looked from inside the house back to Nala.
"My nephew is quite unwell."
"I'm sorry. Should I go?" She felt herself sinking into concern.
"No . . . in fact, I believe he would benefit from your presence." Iroh stepped back, holding open the door for Nala to enter before closing it behind her. 

The space inside was quaint, and Iroh showed her to where Zuko was resting, looking feverish. She knelt beside him and watched as his eyes found her's, reaching a hand out to her. She held onto it, murmuring softly to him that he'd be alright, that she was here for him and petting his hair affectionately.

"How did this happen?" She asked, not taking her eyes off of Zuko.

"He's at war within himself." Iroh said. He had made it sound so simple, and yet Nala could see how much this inner turmoil was affecting him. She took some solace in understanding what exactly he'd meant by it, however. Zuko had obviously been struggling for a long time with a lot of dissonance regarding his place in this world. As much pain as he was in now, she had hope he'd come out of the other side a better man.

"Is there anything I can do?"
"There is nothing much we can do for now." Iroh said, replacing the cloth on Zuko's head with a fresh one before leaving the room. As the door closed, Nala felt her hand squeeze.

"Nala . . ."
"I'm here, Zuko."
"Please don't leave me . . ."
"I won't, Zuko. I promise."

As the night grew darker, Nala stayed beside him, tending to him. She did so for the next few days, sleeping in a bed Iroh had made up for her beside him, and only leaving him during the day to help Iroh run errands, or to go back to practise with the troupe.
Occasionally, Zuko's hand would move to seek out Nala's, and she'd take it and murmur to him to keep him calm.

A few days later, in the night, he woke up and turn over, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He'd remembered her presence in the haze of his fever, and there she was . . . asleep beside him looking peaceful.

"Nala?"
"Zuko? What's wrong?" She sat up with a tired grown.
"You're here . . ." She nodded. "Thank you . . .  for staying."

She laid back down, turning on her side to look at him with a kind smile curling up her lips. He held her hand in his, lacing their fingers together and looking into her eyes glittering in the candle light, still glassy from sleep.

"I won't leave, Zuko." She purred softly to him. "Get some rest."

--------------------------------------------------------

A.N:

Hello Beautiful Readers!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I updated! Here is
a chapter full of fluff! More to come! Hehe

The next chapter is almost complete so stay tuned!

Thank you for all the beautiful comments, all the votes,
and anyone who has stuck by this fic! It means so much
to me! You guys are so wonderful! I love reading all your
commentary one everything that happens, too! It makes
me laugh!! I hope you're all taking care of yourselves!

Stay well, drink water, take care! ♥

~ Heather