Flame of the Heart - Book 1 // Zuko

Chapter 5

Sunlight streaming through the window was what roused Zuko the next morning. Sighing sleepily, he carefully moved so as to not wake Shira before glancing outside. Considering how high the sun was on the horizon, it was about eleven. An hour before the beast was let out of the cage.

Zuko turned to look at Shira who was lying on her side. Her hands were tucked up underneath her chin and she was sound asleep. Her mouth slightly parted as she breathed peacefully, her eyelashes brushing her soft cheeks. Zuko found himself staring a little longer than usual before he snapped himself out of it.

Climbing out of the bed carefully, he packed his things up and swung his bag onto his back. He straightened his clothes before looking back at Shira. She had sat up and was stretching, yawning.

"Did you have a good sleep?" Zuko asked hopefully.

The girl looked at him, trying to remember what had happened before she smiled and nodded shyly, "Thank you Prince Zuko."
"Zuko," the boy corrected fondly.

"I should probably get tied back up soon," Shira remarked, climbing out of the bed.

Getting up from the bed, Shira located the perfume that Azula always uses before spraying the sheets to get rid of her and Zuko's scent so that Azula wouldn't suspect anything. She straightened the sheets to perfection and made the bed with a little help from Zuko.

With a few minutes to spare, Zuko reached into his bag and pulled out a book before holding it out to the girl. Shira took it and looked at it. It was a book of ballads and fairytales.

"I thought you might like something to do when you're cooped up in here when Azula is out," he said, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

Shira looked at him, then the book in wonder before throwing her arms around his waist, hugging him, "THANK YOU!"

The girl hugged the book to her chest like it was a treasure before looking around for a place to hide it. Finally, she made a choice and hid the book underneath Azula's bed, under the corner of the carpet where no one would see it. After climbing back out, Shira looked at the wardrobe with deep foreboding but tried to hide it.

"Shira," Zuko asked, "Can I ask you something?"
The girl nodded.

"Are you a water bender?" he asked, looking at the window.

The girl cocked her head to the side, "Would you be upset if I was?"
Zuko looked at her in surprise and shook his head vigorously, "NO! I wouldn't care even if you were a mud bender! You're amazing for who you are!"
Shira looked at him, her eyes dancing and trying to stifle a giggle. Zuko realized she had been playing with him.

"Well I'm not a water bender anyway," she said, playing with her hair, "I am a bender... but not a water bender.... Or a fire bender...."
Zuko looked at the girl before smiling, "if you don't want to tell me I understand."

The girl smiled at him cheekily, "What if I'm a snake bender? I'll call snakes to come and haunt your dreams and slink into your bed! You'll find them in your lunch and in your clothes!"
Before long, Shira had tackled him to the floor, and they were rolling around in laughter. Zuko finally pinned her and a devious smile flashed on his face.

"Zuko.... Don't." the girl started but was too late as Zuko attacked her stomach.

The girl let out muffled giggles as she tried to not be too loud as the boy tickled her. Suddenly, Zuko stopped and Shira sighed. There was a long silence before Zuko froze... he had just heard the faint sound of a door slamming. Ty Lee's room was several floors up but you could still hear the door slam..... that gave them five minutes before Azula returned!

"Hurry!" Shira cried.

They jumped to their feet and rushed to the wardrobe. Shira climbed in and Zuko tied her ankles together and then her wrists.

"Don't forget your bag and the gag!" Shira cried, "Oh and unlock the door! Use the window!"
Zuko grabbed his bag and unlocked the door before locating the gag which he had left on the bed. Rushing back to the wardrobe and reached out with the gag, prepared to tie it around her mouth.... But paused.

Shira looked up at him, her eyes laced with worry and desperation. Zuko couldn't move.... He couldn't leave her like this. It would be almost another twelve hours before he had the faintest chance of seeing her again and relieving her from this agony. The girl looked at him puzzled but Zuko didn't speak. He just stared into her bright blue eyes and found himself lost in them.

Finally throwing all caution or care to the wind, he leant forward and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, letting his lips linger there longer than need be. As he slowly brought his face away, he paused, looking down into her eyes and finding their faces centimeters apart. He could feel her breath touch his cheeks and he felt himself shiver.

Touching her cheek gently with his finger, he allowed his lips to hover over hers.... Almost touching.... He could almost feel them.... Before he tore himself away reluctantly and tied the gag around her mouth. He gently touched her arms, her shoulders, her sides..... her face before closing the wardrobe and rushing to the window.

Taking one last look, he jumped out the window just as Azula burst into the room. Zuko stayed low in the bushes till he heard Azula leave the room again before he rushed back to his own room. When he finally reached his room he realized in shock that he had left his hair ribbon in the room! He hoped Shira found it before Azula did! Tying his hair back up, the boy headed out and tried desperately to not let anyone see the huge grin on his face.